The best thing to happen to the club scene this year -- if not this decade -- was the blessed freedom from cigarette smoke from June 1 onward.
Despite warnings of dire consequences, people adapted, smokers moved outside and clubs still managed to sell out, leaving us with the novel experience of being able to see the musicians and breathe as well. Hallelujah! Here are the live club highlights of my year:
The semi-reunion of the legendary proto-punk band MC5 could have been sad or disastrous, with two members dead, the rest getting on and the fill-ins including the annoying wingnut Evan Dando. But damn it if survivors Wayne Kramer, Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson, plus Mudhoney's Mark Arm on vocals, didn't pull it off, kicking out the jams with passion and energy to shame kids half their age.
Another guy with supernatural rock 'n' roll energy is Ian Blurton, who kept powerhouse drummer Randy Curnew from Blurtonia and added former Nashville Pussy bassist Katie Lynn Campbell's Southern grooves to make a dynamite new band -- perhaps (gasp!) his best ever.
Hips shook, hearts raced and sweat flew. Must be that mystical Toronto-New Orleans-Newfoundland axis.
A breathtaking show that was mostly solo, except for lovely keyboards from Geraint Watkins on a few songs, and proved that the Basher's voice is still in fine honeyed-whisky form and that his songwriting has few equals. A highlight was the acoustic What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding.
The Whitby native adds soul, rock, reggae and R&B to hip-hop, broadening its reach, expanding its barriers and saving it from staleness and mediocrity. This sold-out, confident, ground-breaking extravaganza proved that the kids are listening, and that in fact no one can resist K-OS, or at least his Krabuckit.
A beautiful songwriter and singer -- whose album inexplicably went nowhere despite the devastating single Somewhere Else -- parted ways with his label and treated a few lucky fans to a gorgeous solo acoustic set with sporadic guest vocals from protege Kathleen Edwards. Make an album!
The toast of Paris returned home triumphantly for a packed show, during which she showcased the versatility of her lovely voice and delicate songs, rocking some up and making the Bee Gees sound like Bacharach. Can do no wrong.
Television's guitar god teamed up with Jimmy Ripp to perform Music For Film, live soundtracks to avant-garde films by Man Ray, Fernand Leger and others. Lyrical, flowing, dazzling and highly atmospheric -- an ode to the powers of the sensitively played guitar.
Ah, the rewards of constant touring -- from loose and raggedy (but still endearing) small shows to transfixing a huge outdoor crowd with a seemingly effortless mix of a dozen players and a multitude of beautiful sounds in a year. Man, they're bloody arena-ready!
The amount of pure concentrated rock energy that can emanate from one supercharged singer/drummer and an equally manic bassist is still astounding. It's impossible not to move head, hips and feet in time to the relentless beat, and hum along as well.
This birthday show marked 20 years of solid, sometimes brilliant alt-country-rock with smiley vibes, old friends like Jack de Keyzer and fans that sang every word to Hasn't Hit Me Yet. A love-in for a band that despite its popularity, can get taken for granted.
