“There Are Days That I Can’t Remember. There Are Days That Last Forever.” – Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters. ‘Under You’, But Here We Are 2023.What a sensational and suiting statement from the divine DaveGrohl for the year that was 2023. In reflection, it all feels like a blur – so many incredible events, releases, changes, and achievements; but on the other page there was loss, disappointments and negative outcomes that were traumatising. Although I have prevailed and mostly with a delirious smile on my face – sometimes this is just a mask from what is wrenching within. It is beyond amazing how music can soothe, stimulate, invigorate, rehabilitate, and generally empathise and sympathise with people through sound. Never underestimate how powerful this art form is, I am forever thankful.The band I am fortunate enough to be a part of still SwordfishTrombone faced turbulence with triumphs and (near) tragedies. In 2023 we had the honour of supporting some of our favourite (and influential) bands including: He Is Legend and KingParrot; we were invited to support DarkestHour – a dream come true, who sadly did not make it in time for their Adelaide show. We played an abundance of local shows, which were at times delightful and sometimes damaging. We were nominated for Best Heavy Act at the South Australian Music Awards (did not make final nomination stage) for a third year in a row; having won the award last year, this was astonishing. Our newest single ‘HurriCarter’ was featured on Triple J’s The Racket (Thank you LochlanWatt!) and of course Wall Of Sound for the support. We recorded two new tracks and then could not afford to progress to the mixing or mastering stages for an inconceivable amount of time (this is somewhat rectified). There is a lot that comes with a band that isn’t seen on a public scale, it can be arduous, but as per the last paragraph, music has too much power.As a journalist, this year was ridiculous and radical. I was invited to be a music journalist mentor with the Music Writers Lab program and help educate some very talented writers at the wonderful WOMAD festival (thank you SoseFuamoli). I was nominated for the “Best Live Music Journalist Award” at the National Live Music Awards; an achievement that was beyond my wildest dreams (see previously mentioned thanked person for who deservedly won). WoS presented me with opportunities to interview and review my favourite artists/bands as well as venture to Dark Mofo festival again. The other publications expanded my horizons which is a venture I (mostly) enjoy, and I only burnt out a handful of times.I have a full-time job that I feel very lucky to be a part of and I became an uncle once again. This biography of the Willidiot is a bit of a wild ride, but one where the adventures just continue to grow.
TOP 16 RELEASES OF 2023
16. Fixation – More Subtle Than Death15. Johnny Booth – Moments Elsewhere14. Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask13. Lune – The Change Around Us & The Change In You12. Trophy Eyes – Suicide & Sunshine11. Blackbraid – Blackbraid II10. Vexed – Negative Energy9. HELGA – Wrapped In Misthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV7x7CtkI_k8. HEALTH – Rat Wars7. Polaris – Fatalism6. Gideon – More Power. More Pain.5. Nytt Land – Torem4. Spiritbox – The Fear Of Fear EP3. Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing To Us2. Better Lovers – God Made Me An Animal EP1. Myrkur – Spinehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BGHeXxmD10
TOP DOZEN SONGS OF 2023
12. Carla Lippis – 'You Will Be Happy'11. Freedom Of Fear – 'Concerto'10. Unearth – 'The Wretched; The Ruinous'9. Haelos – 'Last Days'8. Darkest Hour – 'Perpetual Terminal'7. The Gaslight Anthem – 'History Books'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyUgfrCegOs6. IDLES – 'Dancer'5. The Smile – 'Wall Of Eyes'4. Better Lovers – 'Two Alive Amongst The Dead'3. Eihwar – 'Beserker'2. City And Colour – 'Underground'1. Chelsea Wolfe – 'Whispers In The Echo Chamber'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0o2GraeMlo
TOP 5 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2023
5. Kvelertak – 'Morild'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm004_7VzjM4. Frenzal Rhomb – 'Thought It Was Yoga But It Was Ketamine'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5yT_wGiXVM3. LO! – 'Rat King'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vJYSt2k6hs2. Better Lovers – '30 Under 13'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU-nwWuyKXc1. He Is Legend – 'Endless Hallway'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPUZqu9NxHo
BEST GIG YOU CAUGHT THIS YEAR:
Aussie Band: Reliqa at Froth & Fury Festival, Pirate Life Brewery, AdelaideInternational: Heilung at the Forum, Melbourne
FAV NEW BAND/MUSICIAN DISCOVERED IN 2023
Predatory Void from Belgium. I have this overwhelming desire for another Belgium band called Oathbreaker to reunite, their album Rheia is a masterpiece of blackgaze screamo. Sadly, it doesn’t look like it will happen. However, Predatory Void are filling this void to an extent with their blackened sludge death metal formula (guitarist Lennart Bossu was in the defunct outfit and is also in Amenra) and vocalist Lina R. has one of the most devastatingly brutiful voices out there.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tzi_5dhxVY
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACTS TO WATCH IN 2024
The Empty Threats and Coldwave from Adelaide are both threateningly cool and will be taking over Australia (possibly further) sooner than later with new waves of post-punk.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzx74WreqTkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i29FJSOq9A
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2024
Better Lover’s new album (and an Australian tour), Thrice’s new album, The Cure’s new album (still waiting), Evergreen Terrace’s new release (is recorded), new material from new Chelsea Wolfe album, Botch to tour Australia preferably with Poison The Well,Thursday to do the same, more festivals to come to Adelaide, new Totally Unicorn tunes, new Millencolin music, Obituary tour - actually what we have had occur in 2023 but better and with a more affordable way of living. Myrkur tour would be amazing too.[wpadcenter_ad id='171758' align='center']SwordfishTrombone to release these new tracks and support them properly, hopefully in more areas of Australia and to tour with Totally Unicorn and Better Lovers (please and thank you universe).I am always excited to see where Wall Of Sound is headed, boss-man Paul ‘Browny’ Brown goes above and beyond and supports us and musicians so well. I am privileged to be a part of the team, it’s not easy putting up with the Willidiot.I have broken my promise of surfing more and being better at a lot of life needs for myself. So, I am going to do some self-improvement and focus on progressing in multiple fields of what I adore, instead of being narrow-sighted to an extent. Who knows, maybe I will upgrade to Willarikin?Written by WillOakeshott@teenwolfwillhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ox2jeJCeWk
