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?
SF/Bay Area’s Shaun Osburn is the front person and voice of Middle-Aged Queers. Irreverent, fun, and a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, they’re a blast. Here’s what Shaun liked in 2023:
BEST MOVIE: Talk to Me (A24, 27 Jul 2023)
I fell in love with horror in the late 80s during the cavalcade of slasher movies that began migrating from B-movies to big box office releases. As I got older, I started to prefer films that explored the occult, beginning with the original Evil Dead films. A24 has been killing it lately, and the auteur-driven Talk to Me was their flagship release of the year. If you enjoy movies about hauntings and possessions, I highly recommend it.
JustWatch (streaming service aggregator)
BEST ALBUM: 100 Gecs – 10,000 Gecs (Dog Show Records/Atlantic Records, 17 Mar 2023)
I watched this duo play their hearts out to a small audience in 2018. In 2022, I watched them sell out a historic theater in Oakland. Love them or hate them; they are doing something right. The songs on this album are well-written, with excellent hooks and arrangements. The glitchy electronics and hard autotuned vocals might take some listeners a minute to adapt to, but once you’re in the zone, you’ll be able to appreciate the full scope of what’s happening. If you’re not some first-wave purist waving the “punk is dead” banner, you’ll undoubtedly understand when I say that the genre is constantly re-inventing itself, and 100 Gecs is simply yet another iteration.
Link page (links to streaming and purchase options)
Best Reunion: 90 Pound Wuss
I never imagined this happening. By the last time I saw them live in 1999, it was clear that they were burnt out on being associated with their label, the association of their first and most popular release, and didn’t see a path forward they’d be happy with. This band had several different incarnations, with the only core members throughout their entire discography being their vocalist and drummer. All three studio albums explored different styles the band unabashedly delivered without hesitation. Despite the sonic changes, all their releases had a common thread. I’ve managed to catch 3 out of 4 of their comeback shows, and all three were stronger performances than they’d done in their heyday. I’m crossing my fingers for a future release with new material.
Best City for Shows: Reno, NV
Jeff Ott once called Berkeley the “Punk Rock Wonderland.” And in some ways, it’s accurate. The Bay Area, especially the East Bay, has been home to dozens of bands that became staples in record collections worldwide. But that legacy means every touring band insists they must play here, resulting in hundreds of shows a month. Combine an excess of shows, an aging punk population who’d rather stay home and watch Netflix, and the mass tech-fueled displacement of people who would come to shows, and you get hundreds of empty shows every month. Reno, however, doesn’t have as many shows. And it certainly doesn’t get bands from other cities making stops in their town. Do you want a well-attended show where people enthusiastically dance and would rather buy your shirts than beer? Skip the Bay Area and play Reno.
Best Meme: Taste the Biscuit
Sure, the original debuted in 2011, and it has bubbled up into the zeitgeist a few times since then, but Toaster & Moose performing at festivals in 2023 is the kind of slow-building absurdity I live for.
Know Your Meme
