Finally I have announced my choices. The awards are listed on Christmas Day.

This ia a late gig, first band at 12.00 and Bleech are on at 1.30am. On a normal busy week I might have given it a miss, but there are virtually no gigs between Christmas and New Year, and I don't have to get up for work for a week or so. I nearly saw the Males a couple of years ago when they supported a band I knew, but I went to a different gig that night. I added them as friends on myspace at that time, and thus have watched as they changed band members and played gigs around Cambridge, but I don't think they have played London since. I'm not sure but I think 2 of the 4 current members were in the original band. So it was tempting to catch this rare London show. Then Bleech were added to the bill which made the gig compelling.The promoters play with the light in what can only be described as a drunken manner. With no obvious connection with the music of either band it is rather distracing for the audience. I just give up and use flash and add some strobing at appropriate points of Bleech's set. If I carried a big torch I could provide better lighting than many London venues!
The night bus isn't full even though it's Saturday night, and thus the journey home is relatively quick.

2008 has been a great year for gigs and of the many bands I've seen there are not many that I have not enjoyed. Generally (unless crushingly and arogantly awful) I don't mention the bands I didn't enjoy, and I don't go to see them again. Some of the awards may sound not very serious, but all the winners deserve to win something and you should go and see them.

Last year Little Fish were the big winners in the 1st annual Wildblanket awards, since then they have gone from strength to strength and picked up the Best Rock Act from the Indy Awards before signing with Custard Records and recording an album for Spring 2009 release. I have decided that they can only have one award this year and that is:

Biggest Leap Forward Award: Little Fish - From Oxford to LA (with a European tour supporting Supergrass en route)

Wildblanket Tip for 2009 - Bleech - previously known as Slummin Angels these guys are playing live as often as they can (which is very often). Since they are now all 18 (Katherine was 18 in December) there seems little to hold them back. I think they have the quality, enthusiasm and determination combined with humility and respect for their audience that will make them many friends.

Wildblanket Tip for 2010 - JAR - I saw their first gig at the Dublin Castle in early December and was impressed. I really think that if they work at it this year they will get a big following and press interest.

Biggest Gift offered to Wildblanket - The Brownies - Coming from Norwich I haven't seen as much of the Brownies as I'd like. I'm expecting a lot of their album which I think is coming out in the spring. They gave me a crate of beers from Norfolk.

Best Interpretation of a Katy Perry Song - Rubella  - Rubella are another band whose first gig I saw. They have got a lot of energy. Their amended version of 'I Kissed a Girl' doesn't spare any blushes.

Most continuous plays on my car CD player - the i hearts - Their 3 myspace songs stayed on repeat in my car as I travelled from Sailsbury to Fleet Services. That's a lot of plays, but their songs are well worth listening to more than once; in fact they become rather addictive. Yet another band where I saw their first gig.

Everybody's Favourite Band - No Cars - No Cars are a Japanese Band (don't tell anyone but really they live in London). They are so charming even the most hackneyed gig goer has to smile. If you need cheering up go and see No Cars, if you don't need cheering up you have probably already seen No Cars.

Most Inviting Band - Anna Calvi - When a band go to the trouble of posting full details of their gig including the full venue address and their stagetime, it not only makes life easier, it also makes me feel properly invited to the gig. Some bands are so vague in the details they publish you really wonder if they care whether anyone turns up. Anna Calvi are not just welcoming but well worth seeing and listening to....

Best Monthly Night - No One Died - this monthly promotion at the Enterprise puts on consistently good bills with some very special bands. I originally visited the night as bands I knew were playing, but by the end of the year I was investigating the bands on their bill before they happened. I came across both Anna Kalvi and Kaputt through this promotion. They also are very generous in putting me on the guestlist :-)

Best Jump into the Audience - Joana & the Wolf - In fact Joana must be responsible for many of the best leaps into the audience I have seen this year; although she is not without competition, barefoot forays into the audience during 'Wild Dogs' have been a highlight of the year for me. The music's good too !

Best Lift to Brighton - Eugene Machine - Eugene Machine don't do enough gigs, but when they do they are good. I particularly enjoyed a trip with them to Brighton where they played a great gig.

Best Festival - Southsea Festival - Josie put on an amazing festival with a huge number of bands at around a dozen venues in one road in Southsea.

Best album - Royal Treatment Plant, Hope is not Enough -  I have seen Royal Treatment Plant quite often since I first came across them in March this year. Their album was released in July and has been a favourite ever since.

Best Venue - Dublin Castle - Venues are only as good as their last gig, but there are some that have a better long term record than others. The Dublin Castle is my favourite because of the excellent London Pride and the lovely staff. It also scores highly on ambiance and location. This is the only category where I will mention a couple (well 3) of the other close contenders: The Cross Kings (excellent beer and good ambiance), The Vibe Bar (Good Ambiance, always free, adequate Guiness), The Enterprise (Nice Youngs Special, good lights).

Best Gig - Death Cigarettes @ Proud - Of the many brilliant gigs that I have seen this year , this is the gig that I just had to tell everyone about. Death Cigarettes are the most subversive band I have seen this year and never fail to produce a memorable live performance. I have seen them destroy a guitar and trash the drum kit (at seperate gigs). They are probably the most challenging band to photograph and the most satisfying to capture a good shot of.

Highly Commended:

And some other bands who deserve a mention but I'm running out of categories and these are bands I have only managed to catch a couple of times this year:
Ghostcat - Don't play enough, but I have enjoyed them a number of times since early 2007.
Kasms - I only came across Kasms in December but was impressed. Hope to see more of them in 2009.
Fever Fever - A distinctive Norwich band who I'm hoping will play London more in 2009.
The Johnsons - Not played in London so much this year but still worth seeing when you can.
Vulgarians - These guys would have had an award (probably for coolness) but I hear they are between drummers and so we shall see what the new year brings. If they play, I'll be there.
The Drawing Room - A wonderful venue where Richard the owner puts on bands he loves.
Carnival of Souls - Token all boy band, who I have known for quite a long time. They are still rocking the Barfly, although they are planning a change of direction and name in the new year. I'm sure they will still be worth seeing in their new guise.

And finally a huge thank you to everyone who has made 2008 a great year for live music and provided me with opportunities to photograph them, drink with them or just ramble on to them about Little Fish. At the end of the day I'm just a fan with a camera.

Although very convenient, I've never been very fond of the Metro - mainly due to badly deployed lights and lack of proper beer. Bleech however have taken to the venue and played some good gigs here. It seems to be a venue where their crowd turns out in force and like tonight it makes for a good evening.  The Metro is closing within the month to make way for the crossrail development of Tottenham Court Road. This will be a pity but at least it's for a better cause than most venue closures. So in my book the Metro goes out on a high note.

Proper beer has returned to the Water Rats. I can't remember the last time the Spitfire pumpclip wasn't turned to the wall. Suddenly the Water Rats is a much better venue. Anna Calvi seems to bring good karma to venues, all the little niggles which occur at various venues seem to disappear when she plays. I don't think it can really be down to her, but the way she takes the trouble to put her stage time and venue details on myspace makes the evening immediately relaxed. Tonight I know that I don't have to rush down for 7pm to be sure of catching the band, and I know I have plenty of time to get down to the Metro for Bleech headlining. Amongst all the special bands I have enjoyed this year I am still finding Anna Calvi particularly special. And the Spitfire was worth waiting for too.

This time last year Little Fish played the Beard Museum at the Wheatsheaf. It was well attended and enjoyable (Juju threw sweets into the audience) A year later the most obvious difference is that 50 people are turned away as the venue is quite small and Little Fish have progressed a long way in 2008. They haven't played in the UK since September 14th and it's great to catch up with so many people including others who have travelled from London. The Wheatsheaf now has a light which is nice. The band have also changed a bit since I saw them in Berlin 6 weeks ago. There seem to be some American rock influences added, of which I am not entirely sure. Vaguely similar to Give 'em enough rope from the Clash produced by Sandy Pearlman. Anyway we shall see. It's late by I get in from Oxford after dropping off a car load of fans in Camden.

....when I arrive I find that Kasms have started. I have missed maybe a couple of songs, and they finished nicely in time for me to catch the last tube. I should say that the Old Blue Last was free otherwise this could have been an expensive plan. It's rather satisfying to have my cake and eat it!

This is Carnival of Souls' last gig. I would also like to see Kasms at the Old Blue Last (Rough Trade Christmas Party). I am undecided what to do until almost the last minute. I decide I will head for the Barfly via the Old Blue Last (Northern Line from Old Street to Chalk Farm). So I pop in and establish that Kasms are playing at 11.30. It seems possible but unlikely that I might make it back after Carnival of Souls. On the other hand if Kasms play any later than 11.30 I will miss the last tube. When Carnival of Souls finish at 11.00 I decide I may as well give it a go.....

I have missed No Cars twice recently, so I am pleased to get to this gig. It's a strange pub where the lights look fine until the band come on, then the soundman switches on some program which makes them flicker like a broken fluorescent bulb. The general effect for the audience resembles apower cut. It's nice to see everyone's favourite band play several of everyone's favourite songs. We rush off for something to eat afterwards, so it's a relaxed evening and I am early to bed.

Today we have a work lunch in Soho followed by drinks in a pub in Bloomsbury. Rubella are playing Catch in Shoreditch; Kaputt are playing the Water Rats. I had harboured thoughts of doing both, but had my doubts about how I would feel after an afternoon in the pub. I therefore declined Kaputt's kind offer of a place on their guestlist, as I never get on a guestlist and don't turn up. It turned out that the pub we were in was a short bus ride to Catch. Although not a great venue its pleasant enough. So my record of seeing all of Rubella's gigs continues. It's a bit quiet when they play at 8.15. I decide that I should get an early night rather than waiting for the main band Slow Blade who are good, and on any other night I would have stayed to see.