Best of 2009 ?

As there are not many gigs around at the moment, and we have cyberspace pages to fill, we asked our regular contributors for their favourites of 2009 :  Got your own or disagree? then add a comment or drop us an email.

NH - Nigel Hull - Reviews Editor (oop north) :

• Joe Bonamassa - Who Killed John Henry
• Europe - Last Look at Eden
• The Answer - Everyday Demons
• Saxon - Into the Labryrinth
• Chickenfoot

Gigs - Difficult - how do you compare U2 with GMT ? I've tried to look at the whole night out, Value for Money etc...

• GMT - Swindon Great gig, the sound had been awful at Wakefield the week before. sound and view great at Swindon. not many gigs where the drummer stands with you during the solo. And met all the band after the gig,
• Joe Bonamassa - Sheffield. great seats great gig, met Oli brown
• GMT - Yeadon Bernie Torme in a Pub!!!! Ok I struggled to see but the sound was great, the band loved every minute of it. one of those "once in a lifetime" type nights
• AC/DC - Wembley let down by a Thin Lizzy no show. great gig but price knocks it down the list also seats a bit high up.
• Saxon / Doro - Sheffield A blond german that can sing metal seems a good start to me. Saxon back to their best on decent size stage. 
• U2 - Sheffield the whole stage show was awsome, if it had been cheeper it would have higher.

ME - Mark Evans - Reviews Editor (darn sarf)

• Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver linings
• Winger - Karma
• W.E.T.
• Europe - Last Look at Eden
• Chickenfoot

DVD:

• Iron Maiden - Flight 666
• Metallica Orgulla,Pasion y Gloria  ..and ...
• ...One Night In France (One stadium show, one in the round in a roman ampitheater both fantastic)
•  Journey Live In Manila
•  Thunder at Hammy O(last gig)

Gigs:
Chickenfoot...
..followed by AC/DC an unbeatable 24 hours!
Mr Big
Europe at the Restless Garage
Thunder at Hammy O(last gig)
Special mention to Threshold. On musical ability way up there,  but as the crowd was only 200ish the vibe was nowhere near the other gigs.

My highlight of the year was the interview with the marvellous Danny Vaughn for this website!

AS for 2010 gigs lined up include Europe,Trivium,Winger,Bad Company and Kiss. Music to look out for the return of FM ,Giant, The Scorpions, AC/DC live dvd and maybe the new studio cd from Iron Maiden. Might be a strange year this one. A lot of the heavy hitters have released cd's n the last 18 months. So maybe a few smaller surprises to come.

Shazz - Sharon Evans - Reviews Editor's better half, Coverdale groupie and Dropbox expert
Gigs:

• Metallica
• AC/DC
• Nickelback (1st gig for Dan)
• Dream Theater
• Black Stone Cherry

NR - Nige Robins - Editor in Chief.

• Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
• Chickenfoot
• Blackberry Smoke - Little Piece of Dixie  - Southern rock is BACK!
• Shinedown - The Sound of Madness
• Europe - Last Look at Eden
• Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
• Cheap Trick - The Latest 
• Special mention for the Joe Bonamassa, The Answer and Duff McKagen's Loaded albums too.

Gigs: Not too many gigs for me this year -

• Green Day. Absolutely magnificent gig. Excellent songs, atmosphere, stage show..
• Chickenfoot. a real fun gig with no fancy gimmicks just pure showmanship and skilll
• Black Stone Cherry Never fail to deliver - last time we see them in a small venue?
• The Answer First time I've seen these guys live - good old fashioned rock n roll at it's best.
• Australian Pink Floyd do "The Wall"  The closest thing you will get to seeing Floyd these days. The steep ticket price for a tribute act is well worth it You get all the usual Floyd bells and whistles.

2010 ? I reckon this will be the year that pink fluffy melodic rock makes a comeback in the UK. Journey are high in the charts thanks to X-Factor. A couple of new movies I saw over Xmas had REO Speedwagon and Kansas soundtracks ..  and with Giant and FM  on the verge of new albums.... get ready for the year of the Power Ballad.  STOP PRESS: Boston on a Barclaycard ad?  See it's coming people.. it's comin' !! - ED