Curious what notable personalities in the scene think was great this year? So is TGEFM! So we reached out to some of our favorite luminaries ranging from musicians, label personnel, and more for their “Best of 2023” lists. Now, listen: TGEFM is not a taskmistress. Contributors can write these out however they want. So if it doesn’t actually look or read like a list… and sometimes it really is just a list with no other observations! Who cares?
There are some people who hustle, and then there are others who HUSTLE. Craig Cirinelli is certainly one of the latter. The alt-rock renaissance man is involved in so many projects I may need a nap after listing them… but here goes. Craig books shows at 3 North Jersey venues, most notably the Legion Halls to Tap Room Walls series at Chatham, NJ’s Twin Elephant Brewing, hosting members of The Bouncing Souls, Farside, Onelinedrawing, Taking Back Sunday and Thursday among others. On top of that, Cirinelli has created album layouts and event posters under his House Without Walls graphic design venture. If that wasn’t enough, the man still somehow finds time to write and perform music as part of The Atlantic Union Project, Covert Stations, (Damn) This Desert Air and Flowers for War (currently on hiatus). Craig is also working on a new yet-to-be-public project, Painted Fiction, of which we at TGEFM hope to have more information on in the new year. Check out this Linktree for a full scope of all the awesome stuff Craig has worked on. Somewhere between all of those endeavors, Cirinelli was kind enough to share some of his favorites of 2023.
Nine Impactful Things in 2023:
I don’t even know where to start even though it’s been an incredibly busy year in terms of music related activity, all the while chasing my tail to juggle my heavily increased uptick in entertainment booking, Two music series that I book have been in full bloom this year, both beginning partially through last, while I’ve now engaged in a third and picking up a fourth spot for boutique, focused events. Not to mention I also book year round local/regional shows at two of the spots. With this being the focus of more than half of my week every week, I’ve listened to so, so many songs and styles. From links to demos, to singles, EPs and proper full albums. All the while finding the time to fit in albums I’m anticipating or just love as a way of cleansing. Have to feed what inspires as much as what is for work, you know? I fall for plenty of new music as to me it really is seemingly an endless pool.
Since this list is open ended, I’m unsure where to start or how much content to put into it. I’m certainly not a pre-conceived ‘list’ guy. I don’t genuinely like ranking things we all know are subjective. I tend to just stick with what sticks to me and don’t really downgrade what doesn’t. There’s someone out there that’ll pick up what we don’t grab onto. I do often tell people what I’m enjoying and/or I think they’d enjoy after something does stick with me, drawing me back for multiple listens. Or if a show, the impact it had or that feeling you truly wished everyone you think would’ve loved it would’ve been there. Fortunately, that happened many times this year due to the uptick in booking work. Something I don’t take for granted. Anyway, here are some of those suggestions that I can say confidently hit me in the right place this year…
Albums
Each of these were released this year and received quite a bit of playing time:
• Josiah and the Bonnevilles – Endurance
• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
• Ryan Bingham – Watch Out for the Wolf
Music performances
So, so hard to choose from so I’m going to simply pluck a handful from venues I hold close to heart:
• Chamberlain, acoustic trio at Boonton Coffee Co.
• Michael Glabicki & Jenna Nichols at Boonton Coffee Co‘s first year anniversary.
• The Samples at Krogh’s Brewpub
• Vinnie Caruana at Twin Elephant
• Geoff Rickly at Twin Elephant
Other:
• Chris Gethard—I have to admit the amount of times we were in one another’s company, coupled with his generous, humbled personality, along with his agent only rivals the amount of laughter he brought with him every single show. This gave me such a high respect for him and break from a music-only focus. My aim is to use this outlook and expand upon it.
