For me, 2024 was an up and down year.

Things have not always gone according to plan. I had to absorb a rather large blow to my Bernie Worrell book and other negative events while my brain chemistry was not fully effective. The result was a bit of a mental health crisis that lasted from the end of last year into the first couple of months of this year.

Things are a little better these days, but my online output has been … sporadic at best. A lot of ideas and essays have been started and stopped. I have a lot of makeup work to do.

Still, the negative part of my brain — which said not much of anything happened last year — has been enthusiastically overruled by the section that reminds me of what I’ve done, where I’ve done it, and whom I’ve done it with. As it happens, there was quite a bit to be happy about.

So, rather than do a favorite releases of the year exclusively, I’ll just point to some of the year’s highlights, that may or may not include new releases. But it’s all music!

THE BUCKET LIST GIG

In April, I found myself at the Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver, Colorado. I was there to see A Perfect Circle, Primus, and Pusifer as they celebrated Maynard James Keenan’s 60th birthday. I was able to cross a BIG goal off my concert venue bucket list. It was cold, windy, and rainy (with a touch of snow) right up until showtime. But it was worth every minute.

The sound in the venue was absolutely PERFECT. I was even able to take out my earplugs, which is an absolute no-no when I go to any show where something electric is being played.

Yet I always briefly pull out one plug during the performance, mainly to prove how grateful I am to have taken the effort to get custom earplugs. The band was going full throttle, but the sound wasn’t loud at all. I removed the other plug and continued to work joy a remarkable experience. I have to go back there someday.

GETING THE BEAT

I’m still recovering from seeing BEAT here in Chicago. What an INCREDIBLE show! My favorite era of King Crimson played by Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin, and Danny Carey. Adrian and Tony created this music, so it was great to see them dig in and enjoy it again. Danny was his usual brilliant self replicating (but not exactly duplicating) Bill Bruford’s drums.

It was Steve Vai who blew my mind the most. He put so much swagger into Robert Fripp’s guitar parts. I’d call it a respectful anti-Fripp approach, in that he was more apt to groove and sway with the music. He’s also more likely to put on a show with his playing style. It was so much fun to watch.

Plus, I got to meet Steve in person for the first time after interviewing him several months ago for my YouTube channel.

As always, I spent a few minutes chatting with Adrian Belew, who’s starting to feel like that cool uncle I get to see once a year or so. His enthusiasm offstage matched his utter joy onstage. It was great to see. Same with Tony Levin, whom I’ve started to see every few months, it seems. I hope we get more from this quartet (as do they), but it will have to wait. Everyone is quite busy.

POST-ROCK HEAVEN

My love for post-rock has been well documented on this site. So, imagine my joy when I got to see some of my favorite bands up close in 2024. And So I Watch You From Afar damn near tore the roof off the House of Blues. And they were part of a double-bill with Caspian, another favorite. It was an amazing night, and I was leaning right up against the stage.

By the way, Caspian lights the stage in such a way that photography is quite difficult. While that certainly keeps you in the moment musically, it can be tough on the music journalist. Oh, well.

On back to back nights (including my birthday), I was able to see This Will Destroy You and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. (This also falls within the eight days in which I saw BEAT. That’s an AMAZING eight days!) The music I heard was positively heavenly, even as it blew us toward the exits.

A look at This Will Destroy You …

… but not Godspeed (I was perched toward the corner of the front row. It was hard to get a good shot).

Best of all, I was finally able to see Sigur Rós in person for the first time. I don’t think I’ve been more moved at a concert. I seemed to spend two hours trying to hold back tears of joy. My only regret is that they didn’t play two nights, because I would’ve been there for both!

PROGSTOCK REDUX

In October, I made my second trip to Rutherford, New Jersey for the Progstock festival. Three days of terrific music featuring Saga, David Cross, Tu-Ner, and Lifesigns among many others. There was no weak spot to be found!

I was also lucky enough to spend a little time with my friend Mike Keneally, who played his own set and sat in with a few other bands. The man’s talent level is just staggering!

It was a pleasure to see the David Cross band twice during the year. First at Reggie’s in Chicago, then a second time at Progstock. Both shows lit into King Crimson’s Larks Tongues in Aspic (in which Cross played a key role) with fire and vigor. Sets like this never get old!

I was also taken by a young band called Kyros. They were able to mix the new wave sound of eighties pop with progressive rock in the most impressive fashion. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them in the future. And thanks to my buddy Thomas Hatton, we ended having breakfast with them before they hit the road!

It was a great weekend of music that was supposed to be capped off with almost three days in New York City. Alas, my back had other plans. I was able to visit Harlem before heading to the airport. I walked past the Apollo Theater, but I was unable to catch a show. So, there’s another goal for next year.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

For the second time, I went on a weekend tour with my friends in Sons of Ra, an up and coming Chicago trio I’ve come to call my “band of brothers.”

I also got to visit Paisley Park, home and musical complex of the late, great Prince. It was a most unexpected experience, as I was sure I wouldn’t have time to make the trip before heading back to Chicago. Thanks to my friends in Source (who shared the bill with Sons of Ra) for letting me hang with them for that bonus and for getting me back home.

I’ll share more of this experience down the road.

SAVING THE MOMENT

I finally got a chance to see nineties stalwarts Dada in person, after falling in love with their album Puzzle some 30 years ago. And once again, I was right up front. And it’s a good thing, because I saved guitarist Michael Gurley from a minor disaster.

Gurley moved around quite a bit while he was on stage, including right up to the edge. I missed being hit by his guitar’s headstock at least twice by six inches or less. And I loved it!

At one point, Gurley’s guitar cable got snagged around one of his effects pedals as he backed toward his amplifiers. He didn’t see the problem. I knew he was going to get snagged, and I was less than two feet from his pedalboard. What to do?

As a rule, you never EVER touch a musician’s gear, especially when you’re that close to it. But I didn’t want to see anything go wrong, especially when it could easily be avoided. So, I took the risk and crossed the holy line of demarcation just long enough to fix the cable. It took less than three seconds. Once again, our guitarist was free to move about.

Gurley saw me and nodded his thanks. I nodded back and the song went on. That was more than enough for me. But when the song ended, Gurley surprised me by walking right up to me and tossing me his guitar pick. How kind. Even funnier, his pick was the same one I used for quite some time. Go figure.

THE THIEF IN THE NIGHT

Thanks to my pal Chuck Renner, I got the chance to meet and greet the guys in The Pineapple Thief, who played a terrific set at the House of Blues. Before the show, our group was treated to an acoustic set and a chance to get our merchandise autographed and to say hello. I was particularly happy to meet Gavin Harrison, one of my favorite current drummers. It’s been great getting to say hello to my favorite musicians when the time arises. I’ve led a charmed life and I know it.

YOU’RE WHERE NOW?

I had been chasing drummer Pat Mastelotto for ages in an attempt to get an interview for my YouTube channel. We were finally able to get on the same page and we set up a day and time.

The night before our scheduled chat, I got a message from Pat, saying he would have to postpone again. “Something has come up,” he said. Okay … no big deal. We’ll try again down the road. The following morning, I got a text from a friend informing me that Pat was undergoing a heart procedure. Something came up?! This is a pretty BIG “something!”

I reached out to Pat’s wife Deborah, who told me the procedure was successful and that Pat was in recovery. Good deal, I thought and told Deborah I’d reach out in a week or so to schedule the chat.

A few hours later, I received a message from Pat. “Are you ready to do this?” he asked. Do what, I thought. “Let’s do the interview,” he wrote. Now I was the one in shock. But I managed to pull myself together and take the five minutes I needed to get things going. And just like that, I was conversing with Pat Mastelotto from his hospital bed.

I’m pleased to report that Pat is doing just fine.

The music world is weird!

THE SHOUTOUT

There I was, minding my own business and enjoying yet another show featuring Bent Knee, easily among my favorite acts since 2010. Through interviews and casual conversations, I’ve gotten to know the band over the years. In fact, I consider them friends.

So, imagine my surprise when I heard lead vocalist Courtney Swain take a moment to thank me personally as a long time supporter of the band. It’s one of the sweetest, kindest, and most generous moments I’ve experienced in music.

I was in the midst of changing camera lenses, so I was left absolutely shocked. Of course, no one in the audience knew who the hell she was talking about, so I took it upon myself to shout out, “Who the hell is that?” It drew a good laugh and the show went on.

There were warm hugs all around when I thanked Courtney and the gang for what happened. I hope to see them all again soon.

There were many other moments, many other meetups, many other bands. So, I think I can say with assuredness that 2024 wasn’t such a bad year after all.

There are more adventures ahead in 2025. More bands, more road trips, more chats. And hopefully, more effective treatments for my back. It’s time to crank up the machine once more.

Let’s GET it!

#cirdecsongs

If you would like to have your music reviewed, contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com