C*'s top of 2013

For me, the majority of impressive gigs were by known and established artists this year. I only discovered few new bands really. Of the new groups I did learn about, Savages and Destruction Unit stick out. Though the former have immediately been catapulted to stardom stage, they are still new on the scene and they are offering something new and exciting - music has been waiting for them. Destruction Unit play more of a "best of" of noise music, mixing elements of punk, psych, industrial and wave. They rock so hard with it though, it's a dream. 

In other news, No Age returned with a fantastic album and show to match. Dirty Beaches is, yet again, my winner of the year. And Festsaal, oh lovely Festsaal, burned to the ground. Its abesence was very noticable throughout the second half the year. We leave 2013 with the knowledge that it will be rebuilt. Will it ever be the same? Hopefully, it will be better than ever! Definitely worth a mention is the new label Späti Palace. An overdue project, Berlin now finally has a label that focusses on showcasing Berlin-based music to the rest of the world. Things will change from hereon, don't you believe it!

1. No Age at Privatclub (October)  
2. Dirty Beaches at Teenitus Festival (May) and at Foreign Affairs Festival (July)
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Columbiahalle (May)
4. Civil Civic at Kantine am Berghain (June)
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Admiralspalast (February)   
6. King Khan & The Shrines at Festsaal (January) 
7. Savages at Lido (May)
8. Teen at Comet Club (March)
9. Rocket From The Crypt at Festsaal (April)
10. TOY at O2 World (November)
11. Otto von Schirach at Urban Spree (June)  
12. Man Or Astroman? at Lido (October)
13. Destruction Unit at West Germany (October) 
14. Classic Muscle at a private party (November) 
15. Austra at Lido (June)   
16. Mikal Cronin at West Germany (May)
17. The Babies at Monarch (June) 
18. Wooden Shjips at Berghain (December)
19. Dead Skeletons at SO36 (December)

Admittedly, I had the most fun abroad this year. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs curated a most fantastic line-up at Alexandra Palace in London this May. Belle & Sebastian, supported by Best Coast, in an open-air canyon theatre with a Santa Barbara sunset is hard to top, by anybody anywhere. Maybe I'll write a (6 months) late review of that at some point. But maybe I will just keep that one memory to myself after all.

ATP's I'll Be Your Mirror curated by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (May) 
Belle & Sebastian and Best Coast at Santa Barbara Bowl (July)