Wounded Messenger’s Top 13 Albums and Shows of 2013

Again it’s time to take stock of the year in music as it relates to my life. The leeway afforded by cutesy use of the year for the number of entries – 13 this year – is really coming in handy, as there were a lot of good albums and shows this year. Here we go, in alphabetical order by artist.

TOP 13 ALBUMS OF 2013
Elvis Costello and The Roots – Wise Up Ghost
Foals – Holy Fire
Jason Isbell – Southeastern
Jim James – Regions of Light and Sound
Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze
Lorde – Pure Heroine
Paul McCartney – NEW
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
Superchunk – I Hate Music
Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin
Volcano Choir – Repave
White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade
William Tyler – Impossible Truth

TOP 13 SHOWS OF 2013
The Breeders – September 7, Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh, NC
Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola – April 5, Billsborough Music Hall, Hillsborough, NC
David Byrne and St. Vincent – June 15, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Father John Misty – June 13, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Foals – June 14, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Jason Isbell – July 2, Lincoln Theater, Raleigh, NC
Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration – June 20, Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC
Mike Dillon Band – March 18, Pour House Music Hall, Raleigh, NC
Paul McCartney – June 14, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Pearl Jam – October 30, TWC Arena, Charlotte, NC
Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers with Edie Brickell – September 28, IBMA Festival, Raleigh, NC
Tame Impala – June 15, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Umphrey’s McGee – January 23, Ziggy’s, Winston-Salem, NC

Recent Music Reviews and Upcoming Warren Haynes Christmas Jam Coverage

Here’s a look at my most recent articles and photos for Glide Magazine:

Show Review: Mike Doughty Plays Soul Coughing at Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC, 11/21/13

Festival Review: IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass, Raleigh, NC, September 2013

Album Review: Mike Doughty – Circles Super Bon Bon….

The 25th Annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam is coming up, and as always you can look to my twitter feed (@woundedtweeter) and possibly even the Glide Magazine Twitter as well (@glidemag) for up-to-the-minute updates on all the madness in Asheville. Happy trails! Enjoy a few photos from the aforementioned shows below.

doughty6
Catherine Popper of Mike Doughty Band

doughty2
Mike Doughty

mccourypaisley
All Star Jam

stringdusters1
The Infamous Stringdusters

stevemartin2
Steve Martin

del4
Del McCoury Band

sambush
Sam Bush

punch2
Punch Brothers

del1
Del McCoury

greensky2
Greensky Bluegrass

Bonnaroo 2013 Photos and Reviews, and more

It’s been almost three months since I have posted here, because I’ve been super busy. Here’s a look at the stuff I’ve produced since then…

Glide Magazine has undergone a wonderful makeover, and you can see all of my Bonnaroo 2013 coverage there. Check out the Photo Gallery and reviews of each day featuring artists like Foals, Matt and Kim, Paul McCartney, Wu-Tang Clan, Father John Misty, David Byrne and St. Vincent, Hip Hop Superjam, Weird Al Yankovic, Bjork, Tom Petty, Tame Impala, and more : Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

I also reviewed and took some photos of the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes in Raleigh a few weeks ago – see them, along with a video, here.

Looking forward, there will be a beer post soon, and more music reviews and photos at Glide. Here’s a teaser from the Bonnaroo album!

Random1

Wounded Messenger’s Top 12 Albums and Concerts of 2012

If I replace a top “ten” albums or concerts of the year list with a number corresponding to the year, by 2030 I won’t even have to decide anymore.

It’s dangerous and a bit cheesy, just like most popular music. But I will give in to the urge to not have to chop two more albums off this list and roll with my top 12 albums of 2012, in alphabetical order.

Ben Folds FiveThe Sound of the Life of the Mind
Choir of Young BelieversRhine Gold
DiivOshin
Father John MistyFear Fun
Hiss Golden MessengerPoor Moon
Maps and AtlasesBeware and Be Grateful
Matthew E. WhiteBig Inner
The Mountain GoatsTranscendental Youth
Patterson HoodHeat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance
Punch BrothersWho’s Feeling Young Now?
Sharon Van EttenTramp
Tame ImpalaLonerism

What’s that you say? Serve myself? OK, here are 5 honorable mentions, AKA albums 13 through 17….

First Aid KitThe Lion’s Roar
Jason LytleDept. of Dissappearance
Jimmy Herring BandSubject to Change Without Notice
Titus AndronicusLocal Business
WoodsBend Beyond

If you follow the Twitter, you know I saw a ton of shows in 2012. Here are my 12 favorites, in alphabetical order.

The Grandmothers of Invention – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
The Hold Steady – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Journey/Pat Benetar/Loverboy – Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
Matthew E. White – Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh, NC
Puscifer – Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
Roger Waters – PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Rodrigo y Gabriela – Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
Superjam – Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
Toon & The Real Laww – Pour House Music Hall, Raleigh, NC
Warren Haynes Presents The Christmas Jam – Asheville, NC
White Denim/Maps and Atlases/Tiny Victories – The Lincoln Theater, Raleigh, NC
Victor Wooten Band/Jimmy Herring Band – Carolina Theater, Durham, NC

Look for live tweets from the 24th Warren Haynes Christmas Jam this weekend, and a review too. Happy Holidays!

Update: New Album Review and Two New Concert Reviews, Plus Photos

I’ve been stupid busy lately with shows. Thankfully I have a couple of weeks off until more great music rolls our way.

Here’s what I’ve been up to over the last few weeks:

Concert Review – White Denim, Maps and Atlases, Tiny Victories at Lincoln Theater, Raleigh, NC

Album Review – The Infamous Stringdusters, Silver Sky

Concert Review – Jimmy Herring Band & Victor Wooten Band, Carolina Theater, Durham, NC

Enjoy these shots from the shows!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hopscotch Music Festival Review, Patterson Hood Album Review

There are a couple of new items up at Glide Magazine. Firstly, my review of the Hopscotch Music Festival, which continues to amaze year after year. Then there’s my review of Patterson Hood’s latest, Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance. There is so much good stuff on the horizon – The Hold Steady, Jimmy Herring and Victor Wooten, Liquid Soul (in Chicago!), and THE WHO. Stay tuned, and thank you…