Beyond the Grooves. Biggest 10 Moments of 2023
2023 has been a big year for music. Sometimes for all the right reasons and at other times for all the wrong reasons. In this list I’m going to cover, what I believe are this years biggest music moments. Expect huge gigs, massive songs, and even some controversy.
In terms of the website and for me it’s been a big year, here’s what I think are the biggest moments. Let me know what you think!
10. Pulp Return
I don’t think anyone had this reunion pencilled last year, but in typical Pulp fashion they ignored the 25th anniversary of arguably there most famous album and instead celebrated ‘This is Hardcore’s’ 25th birthday with a series of huge celebratory gigs.
Pulp’s year was also a sad one as they lost bass player Steve Mackey in March, but decided to celebrate his life by playing the gigs, for themselves and for the fans.
A celebration of those great songs, from a band who could always put on a good show. In a year that gave us so many iconic live shows, and even a couple of unexpected reunions, it’s important that we don’t forget Pulp.
9. Indie Bangers vs Budget Airlines
This years most shocking story in the world of music, has to be Easy Life vs Easy Jet. A band who had grafted and made something for themselves, building a fan base, releasing records. Since 2015 had everything they had worked so hard for from them.
By a budget airline, Easy Life has now become a menu icon on Easy Jet’s website.
The band were threatened with High Court action if they didn’t give up the name. In a case that sure a corporate Goliath, go up against an indie band, and excerpt there authority in the worst way possible.
In a time where young bands have got to face, touring restrictions, streaming being a prime source of revenue and gig venues closing down by the day, now they have to compete with huge companies. It’s a joke!
8. By Way of Fabulous, Las Vegas Nevada
Reading, 27th August 2023. The Killers, the adopted Brits take to the stage, to headline Reading & Leeds for the second time. In a true show of Vegas Showmanship and backed up by indie bangers. For the 40,000 strong crowd they were witnessing something special.
Brandon Flowers & Co always bring their a game to the U.K. and this performance was no different.
Playing to a young crowd, most of which weren’t born when The Killers released their debut album ‘Hot Fuss’ it showed the bands staying power and just how good those songs really are. The Killers might be from Nevada, but they’re ours. Adopted Brits!
7. Foo Fighters Churnup
Glastonbury 2023, had quite a weird name on the line up. ‘The Churnup’s were third from top on the Pyramid Stage, just before Royal Blood & Arctic Monkeys, fans speculated wondering who this mysterious outfit were.
Foo Fighters took to the stage, playing in the same slot as there 1997 debut Glastonbury performance. Taking to the stage for the first time in the U.K. since the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert.
Only having an hour slot means the band do what any self respecting rock band does. Shut up and play the hits, and they give music fans one of the best shows of the year. Attracting one of the festivals biggest crowds and huge TV audiences to boot.
‘Everlong’ played out in front of all of those people provided one of the most beautiful music moments of the year. After what they had been through Dave and the boys deserve this one.
6. Courteeners, What Took You So Long?
2023 saw ‘St Jude’ the debut album by Manchester indie legends Courteeners celebrate its 15th birthday, and upon its re release it did something it did not manage to do in 2008. Reach Number One.
The album also saw the band becoming record breakers, it took them 14 years and 9 months from release to hit Number One, better late than never lads.
The band would have a proper party by playing the album in full at a sell out show in Manchesters Heaton Park in June.
5. Arctic Monkeys take ‘The Car’ for a spin
May and June 2023 saw Arctic Monkeys hit the road in the U.K. for the first time in five years, playing there biggest shows to date. Like the greats before them, they had made the leap from arenas to stadiums.
Giving these new songs from albums ‘The Car’ and ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ the environment they need and deserve as well as revisiting some of the old bangers.
‘Mardy Bum’, Fluorescent Adolescence’ and ‘The View from the Afternoon’ would all get a run out in stadiums up and down the country. It was quite a big leap for the band to make but they absolutely smashed it.
A band who are exceptional live, and now have a discography that allows them to please a 50,000 strong crowd but also experiment. ‘Body Paint’ live was a breathtaking experience and it sat perfectly alongside ‘R U Mine’ and ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.’ The Monkeys no longer have a point to prove, they’re the last men standing, looking out on what they’ve done. Still the best band of there era. Let’s face it they always were!
4. Hometown Hero!
June 9th and 10th 2023, Newcastle.
Sam Fender plays the biggest shows of his career at St James Park. In front of his people. He’s one of there’s.
In a year of amazing fetes for Sam, this one is the cherry on top. Well these two. These two shows saw Sam celebrate where he’s from but more importantly who he is.
With songs for the Everyman. Mass sing alongs about some of the most tragic and heartfelt topics, from poverty to male suicide. He has managed to rally the people, around brilliant music.
These gigs were full of special guests as well from his brother Liam, to his old guitar teacher and even Brian Johnson to cover AC/DC classics ‘Back in Black’ and ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’.
Two nights where the city came together to celebrate one of their own, their hometown hero.
3. Blur Wembley
I was always going to include a Blur moment on this list, it was just which one? Me getting to see them in Amsterdam, the announcement of a new album ‘The Ballad of Darren’ in the end I chose the catalyst for it all. The Wembley show.
Which saw the four friends play the bands biggest gigs to date, and play a real show for the ages. Complete with all of the hits, the b-sides and some new songs. In total the band would play 25 songs for the 90,000 strong crowd.
It was a real show for the ages, from a band on fine form. When Blur reunite it’s for all the right reasons and that really showed with these summer shows. It was four friends on that stage playing those songs they all love and we all love too.
2. Rocket Man’s Final Flight
Sunday Night at Glastonbury is almost always reserved for a legend, 2023’s legend was Elton John, so let’s set the scene.
It’s Elton’s last ever U.K. gig, he’s coming off the back of a huge tour. Oh and he’s never played Glastonbury before. It might be worth mentioning as well that the last legend to headline Glastonbury was Paul McCartney the year before.
So he had quite a lot of expectation, and yet he blew us all away. Elton’s set at Glastonbury is one of the greatest headline sets ever. He attracted one of the biggest crowds the festival has ever seen, broke BBC viewing figures and kept us all hooked.
Playing all of the classics from his career. From ‘Candle in the Wind’ to ‘Rocket Man’ and everything in between. He found time to praise George Michael and used his set to promote young upcoming artists who one day might headline themselves. A real legend.
The best way to bow out, playing one of your best gigs, to one of your biggest crowds!
1. Now & Then, The Fab Four together again
I’ve had the idea for this list for a while now and Elton was always going to be at the top, until about two weeks ago. When on November 2nd, the world of music was hit with something special.
A new song from The Beatles…
John, Paul, George & Ringo together again on a song.
Lennon & McCartney’s harmonies, Harrison’s guitar and Ringo on drums, it’s perfect. With the new technology used to help record the song each of the band members shines, all of them doing what they do best. Lennon’s vocal shines through, McCartney backs it up perfectly, Harrison’s guitar work is simple yet beautiful and Ringo did what he always did keep it all together.
The band used backing vocals from songs throughout their career, including ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Because’ to add more of a Beatles feel to the song. McCartney even starts the song the same way he started 1963’s ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ counting us in.
It’s the final chapter in musics greatest story. A story in which four lads from Liverpool took on and took over the world, a story filled with chaos, tragedy, beauty, controversy, sadness and joy, friendship and soundtracked by some of the greatest songs ever written. Has its final chapter. For those who are still here and for those lost along the way.
A final chapter that they’ll all be proud of…
Thank you ever so much for reading.