Well what sort of year have you had?
As always Vive Le Rock's been bringing you the best in music throughout the year, both in the pages of the mag, and here on the website via the wonder of video.
And it's been a helluva year! As society creeps ever towards seemingly inevitable doom and gloom, old favourites and sprightly newcomers have been increasingly inspired toward cynical commentary while others have resoundingly yelled "Sod it!" Life's too short, is the message, so let's make the most of it and have fun at any cost!
So to ease us into 2023, whatever that may bring, here, in no particular order, are some of our favourite videos of 2022....
MARC VALENTINE - LAST TRAIN TONIGHT
Disengaging himself from the comfort zone of Last Great Dreamers, frontman Marc Valentine unveiled his debut solo album Future Obscure. Heralding this widely praised collection of Grade A powerpop was this ingenious video from longtime collaborator Darren Stockford.
SOUL-GLO - JUMP!! (OR GET JUMPED!!!)((BY THE FUTURE))
Turning hardcore heads on their visit to the UK this autumn, Philly punks Soul Glo dropped their fourth LP Disapora Problems, from which this firecracker is filched. “Essentially the video makes fun of the people who have asked our drummer what it’s like being the only white member of the band, playing upon the presumption that we aren’t actually friends and have TJ in the band just to be able to bully them," explains singer Pierce Jordan.
CIVIC - END OF THE LINE
Aftershocks from the Aussie Punk Explosion continue to ricochet around the globe, evidence amply delivered by this post-Birdman barnburner from the Melbourne champs. Their second album Taken By Force - produced by Rob Younger, no less - arrives in February. UK dates to follow, hopefully.
GRADE 2 - UNDER THE STREETLIGHT
Everyone's favourite Isle Of Wighters returned with news of a new album for Hellcat Records, with this anthem leading the charge. “Even though there are times when life can feel stagnant or things aren’t going to plan, there will always be people there to support you whether it’s mates, a partner, or your family," say the band. Agreed, say us.
THE SPEEDWAYS - A DROP IN THE OCEAN
Also giving the UK powerpop scene a much-needed shake-up, The Speedways delivered the latest in a series of wonderful videos as a taster for their smashing fourth album Talk Of The Town, proving that there's no would-be chartbuster that can't be improved by making a kitchen-sink drama out of it.
THE WISE MONKEYS - VIVE LE ROCK
One of the sadder events of 2022 was the loss of our dear friend, Members founder and Vive Le Rock writer Nick Tesco. Thankfully his onetime bandmate JC Carroll and his folk-punk outfit were on hand to put a smile on our faces and a spring in our step with this paean to the Camberley legends.
THE MEFFS - BROKEN BRITAIN, BROKEN BRAINS
It's fantastic to see young Brit punks making a splash on the world's stage and The Meffs from Colchester - a city with a fine and longstanding reputation for sticking it to the man - are the latest, hooking up with Fat Wreck for this angry anthem.
MIRACULOUS MULE - O DEATH
One of our favourite punk-blues bands, Miraculous Mule returned after a long lay-off with Old Bones, New Fire. Rightly one of our albums of the year, it was trailed by this haunting version of the old Appalachian folk song, fronted by returning vocalist Alex Petty and elegantly visualised by video artist Stéphanie Cousin.
DROPKICK MURPHYS - TEN TIMES MORE
Proof here that you don't need a lot of bells and whistles to make a point with your video. Drawing on the stirring words of the great Woody Guthrie, adding some footstomping, hand-clappin' and hollerin' and a few white lights, the Murphys make a righteous racket. Like the man said, all you fascists are bound to lose.
MICHAEL MONROE - DERELICT PALACE
As the Hanoi Rocks frontman celebrated his sixtieth spin around the sun, he couldn't have been in better form, delivering perhaps his best solo album yet in I Live Too Fast To Die Young. Shot in the spooky forests of Finland, this classy song finds Monroe vocally channelling his old friend Stiv Bators. Catch him stepping into the great man's shoes for a one-off reunion of the Lords Of The New Church at the Vive Le Rock Awards in London this April!
Check out our review of 2022 in the latest edition of Vive Le Rock magazine, out now!