Top 20 Live Acts of 2011, Part Two

If you missed numbers 20-11, check out part one before proceeding. How does one rank for a list such as this? For example, the artists that occupy numbers 9-12 were all equally impressive for completely different reasons. The answer lies a combination of factors including everything from emotional attachment to dramatic effect, with attempts at tacking the completely subjective with some degree of objectivity thrown in for good measure. And now that the secret behind lists like these has been revealed, on with the show.

Top 20 Live Acts of 2011, Part One

Seeing bands live is my favorite thing in the world to do. Unfortunately, I have not been able to attend nearly as many shows as I would have liked this year, missing live favorites such as Little Dragon, St. Vincent, and that ball-dropping Arcade Fire Coachella set. Nevertheless, my 2011 gig history includes two stellar festivals and some rare treats, and in any case, Simply Fuss Free is back in business.

Full reviews of Primavera Sound and the Asbury Park edition of I'll Be Your Mirror are available at Consequence of Sound and One Thirty BPM, respectively.

Make a Pledge for Emmy the Great's New Album and Get Cool Swag

So Emmy the Great, one of my favourite artists from the past few years, is about to record a follow-up to 2009's stellar First Love. Studio and producer time is expensive, especially for independent musicians, so fans now have the opportunity to guarantee the release of a new album and to relieve any guilt that came from downloading First Love instead of buying it. Plus, you are rewarded for your pledges with rather interesting gifts. Autographed album for £12? Watch a rehearsal gig for the next tour for £50? Hang out with Emmy backstage at Bestival and interview artists for WaterAid (all money for this particular pledge goes to WaterAid) for £150? Songwriting workshop for £100? And did I mention that a portion of all proceeds go to charity? For some items, such as the aforementioned Bestival hookup, all money goes to a charity. Support worthy charitable causes and help fund a new Emmy the Great album? What are you waiting for?

Click here to pledge to Emmy the Great

If I can't convince you, maybe this charming video will:

In Case You Missed It: Another "Cymbal Rush"

So last month at the 40th anniversary edition of Glastonbury, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed a secret set for the massive crowd of fans that found the rumors too compelling to ignore. During the nine-song set, the breathtaking and apparently versatile "Cymbal Rush" from Yorke's The Eraser was given yet another live interpretation. When performed at the Radiohead gigs in 2008, Thom Yorke took the stage alone at the piano. While not as different as Atoms for Peace's funky, tribal performance of the song, this new take benefits from Greenwood's French Connection, giving the already spell-binding song an added layer of eeriness.

So what's your favourite?

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood at Glastonbury:


Atoms for Peace in Boston:


Thom Yorke (minus the rest of Radiohead) at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2008:

So I Went to Glastonbury 2010

Last year I went to Glastonbury and loved it so much, despite the overwhelming nature of the fest, the weather, and the toll it all takes on the mind and body, that I just had to return this year. Read my formal review of Glastonbury 2010 here. For a recap, here is a far-more detailed account of last year's adventure.

How did they compare? Sadly, I got sick by Wednesday night due to the stress involved with getting there and setting up, plus breathing in all that dust, and those extreme drops in temperature between day and night. Yes, I had to go to the onsite emergency room and was prescribed antibiotics for my chest and sinus infection. I only got to have one cider the entire time. Life isn't fair.

But besides this, it was the best Glastonbury yet. The Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performance and the Jarvis Cocker DJ set elevated a great lineup to the level of amazing, the artwork was better than ever, the weekend was full of Glastonbury moments that will be remembered for years, and the boiling heat and impenetrable cloud of dust gave us all a newfound appreciation for the rain and mud of previous years.

Some more photos:


Brothers Cider!


Massive crowd for England vs Slovenia


Sunset at Stone Circle is nice.


Subtle?


Deliciousness!


Every kind of craft imaginable is available at Glastonbury, and then some.


Best thing ever.


Our Father who art in Dublin, Bono be thy name...


A replica of Stonehenge made out of glowing cubes of light. This was a performance space, too.


The Rabbit Hole, an Alice in Wonderland-themed tent with "secret" tunnels that lead to all sorts of other places and venues, even a cinema. Sadly, I did not discover them all, but I got to see Jarvis Cocker dj here. Only at Glastonbury!


Scrapping plans to see Florence + the Machine, get a good dinner, and stake out a spot for Gorillaz in order to see if the Thom Yorke secret set rumours were true was the best decision ever. Jonny Greenwood was there, too!


Arcadia's amazing laser-firing, flame-spewing mega-stage monstrosity.


Dog-Faced Geisha Bar, and a bunch of tentacle-themed cartoons. Only at Glastonbury...and Japan.


Glastonbury has a Spiegeltent, and like everything else at the festival, it's a bar.


Snap!


Drum Machine. Very fun. If you did a good job playing it, it would say "the machine is happy" and you could hear every little thing you did, even with several others also doing their own thing at the same time. The best art is of the interactive variety.


Say no to crack.


Sunrise at Stone(d) Circle, aka the laughing gas capital of the world.

Who Could Replace U2 at Glastonbury?

According to official sources, Bono just had emergency back surgery, putting the upcoming U2 tour in jeopardy, most notably their headlining performance at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts. While rescheduling other tour dates is sure to be a logistical nightmare with baseball and football in the equation, Glastonbury only happens one weekend a year, with a fallow year every five years or so, so it doesn't have that luxury. Back surgery is a serious procedure, and with the performance less than five weeks away, will there be enough time to make a full recovery? Playing Glastonbury is important to the band and Bono will want to give it his best, so if there's a significant chance he won't have fully recovered and rehabilitated by then, cancellation seems likely. Official word either way is expected next week.

If U2 does have to cancel, what act would fill in for them? Specifically, what artist is both able and willing?

Pulp
Why? Would be the best thing to ever happen.
Why not? Still not reunited.

The Libertines
Why? Pete Doherty is a Glasto favourite.
Why not? Exclusive to Reading/Leeds.

David Bowie
Why? Previously rumored, everybody wants to see Bowie.
Why not? Hasn't played live in over five years, isn't going to start now.

Rolling Stones
Why? Previously rumored, have never played, superstars.
Why not? Still not on tour.

Paul McCartney
Why? No gig scheduled that day.
Why not? A performance at Millennium Stadium on Saturday and Hard Rock Calling on Sunday would mean three shows in three days, something acts of that caliber don't do.

Pearl Jam
Why? Popular, never played.
Why not? Playing Hard Rock Calling that night.

Jay-Z
Why? Silenced naysayers when he headlined in 2008.
Why not? Too soon for a return.

The Prodigy
Why? Touring but currently no gig on that day.
Why not? Played last year.

Arcade Fire
Why? Popularity went through the roof thanks to phenomenal live shows, just like U2 in the 80's.
Why not? Glasto would be their first live show in ages, plus they already sold out to Reading/Leeds exclusivity.

Prince
Why? Headlining Roskilde the following weekend, legend, has never played Glastonbury, would be as impressive of a booking as U2.
Why not? Famously difficult to book, and would he agree to being broadcast on the BBC?

Lady Gaga
Why? No performances scheduled that weekend, no issues with exclusivity at any competing festivals.
Why not? Performed in 2009 and already received an incomprehensible amount of media attention over it.

Beyonce
Why? Was rumored late last year, beloved pop star, husband famously headlined in 2008.
Why not? Would be a controversial choice even under normal circumstances.

Gorillaz
Why? No gigs scheduled that weekend, Mos Def and Snoop Dogg will already be playing.
Why not? Damon Albarn headlining two years in a row?

Radiohead
Why? The other major contender for best live act in the world. Their previous headlining sets were pure magic.
Why not? Recording next album.

Atoms for Peace
Why? Atoms for Peace have yet to appear in Europe.
Why not? Despite their popularity, they aren't billed as a headliner at other fests. Thom might be too busy recording at the time.

The Chemical Brothers
Why? Strongly rumored for months, still rumored despite a debunk from Emily Eavis, still tweeting about being at Glastonbury, only to delete them. A live show with a full production on the Pyramid is a proven crowd-pleaser.
Why not? Already an excess of big electronic acts closing out their respective stages on Friday night.

Coldplay
Why? Were rumored for a secret set in 2009, then were rumored to open the fest in 2010. While neither of these rumors panned out, maybe there was something to them. Michael Eavis recently said they might play next year. Chris Martin is a noted U2 fan.
Why not? Not currently touring, although it wouldn't take long for them to get ready for another show.

Kings of Leon
Why? Playing Hyde Park the following week, no gigs scheduled during Glasto.
Why not? Too soon, V Festival two months later may or may not be a factor.

Rolf Harris
Why? Hugely popular among Glastonbury punters, so much that police had to block off the dangerously overcrowded Jazzworld area during his set last year.
Why not? Will an early-in-the-day nostalgic novelty work as well at the end of the night?

Dizzee Rascal
Why? Even more popular than when he performed last year, and it would not be the first time a pre-headling act on the rise gets promoted to headliner (Pulp filling in for Stone Roses in 1995).
Why not? Major difference in popularity between Dizzee Rascal and U2.

The Flaming Lips
Why? The Flaming Lips live show is made for festivals, and the Other Stage headliner (Basement Jaxx) filled in when Kylie Minogue had to cancel in 2005.
Why not? Also a significant difference in popularity between them and U2.

Recent album reviews

I've reviewed some albums recently, including an underrated gem from 2001, so keep reading and enjoy listening.

Pulp - We Love Life

Booka Shade - More!

Stereophonics - Keep Calm and Carry On

Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks

Original content will return to Simply Fuss Free sometime this weekend. It will be worth the wait, I promise.