BEST OF 2019 — BEST SHOWS, BEST ALBUMS, BEST SONGS, BEST [TV] SHOWS, and BEST MOMENTS

by Spencer Storch • December 30, 2019

Welcome to the BEST OF 2019 by Shows I Go To. The SIGT family includes everyone we meet at shows. The “I” in Shows I Go To represents all of us. It’s everyone who listens, feels, and goes to shows as a way of dealing with dark times, bright times, or just time in itself. We are not exclusionary. SIGT represents those who just want to go out and have a good night with friends and everyone who goes to shows alone. We are here to serve the community and share what we love – music.

Check out our staff picks BEST SHOWS, BEST ALBUMS, BEST SONGS, BEST [TV] SHOWS, and BEST MOMENTS. Some very special guest contributors – Erik Payne (Andrew WK), Austin Young (Gary Lazer Eyes), Irish Griffin (Cogs Of War), Dizzlephunk (DJ), Michael Remus (Audio Engineer), and Brian Schanck (Green Bench Brewing) – are listed below the staff!

Let’s start with music that came from our home – Central Florida. It’s incredibly awesome to see so much art produced in just one short year. Think of the hours spent practicing and perfecting these songs, preparing them for the recording process. So it would only be fair for us to spend a small percentage of that time to check for the spectrum internet cost and get a stable connection to enjoy the music on our devices. It’s wild to see over 455 songs on the Spotify Playlist we created to pair with this list. If the release is on Spotify, it’s on the Playlist. Listening on “Shuffle” is highly recommended to ride the Central Florida sound waves. Cheers!

BEST CENTRAL FL RELEASES (Alphabetical)

Adult Life /// ‘Here’s To Nostalgia’ EP
Ajeva /// ‘Ajeva’ LP
Aloma /// ‘A Sample Of Mojo’ EP
Amy Robbins /// ‘Maple Sparrow’ EP
Anthill Cinema /// “Efflorescent Atonement” & “Always Christmas with You” Singles
Black Valley Moon /// ‘The Baleful Sounds Of Black Valley Moon Vol. 1′ LP
Brittany Schewizer /// ‘Claws’ LP
Charles Irwin /// ‘Beach Lake Park’ LP
Chuck Magid Page /// ‘Traveling Home’ EP
Clang! /// ‘Whac-A-Mole’ LP
CLoud9 Vibes /// “Rearview” Single feat. Kash’d Out
ColorBlind Dinosaurs /// “Life Lucid” Single
Cool Grandma /// Split EP w/ Boy Muscle
Critical Hits /// ‘S/T’ EP
Curtains /// ‘High’ EP
Danfield /// “Olivia” Single
Debt Neglector /// “So Bored In The USA” Single
Dial Drive /// ‘Wasted Time’ LP
Dog Island /// ‘New Breed’ EP
Emily Jones /// ‘Cut Out’ EP
Euglossine /// ‘Coriolis’ LP
Evan Taylor Jones /// “Fly Away” Single feat. J Tesfa
FELICITY /// ‘Old Habits’ EP
Fever Beam /// “Young Guns” Single
Gary Lazer Eyes /// “Weekend” and “White Noise” Singles
Glove /// “Personality Change” and “Enervate” Singles
Hannah Harber & The Lionhearts /// ‘Long Time Coming’ EP
Have Gun, Will Travel /// ‘Strange Chemistry’ LP
His Hem /// “Hair” Single
Hungover /// “Fright Night” Single
Immalaise /// ‘We Could’ EP
Jade Koth /// “Doses” Single
JOYEATER /// ‘Naysayer’ LP
Kerry Courtney /// “Wes Anderson” Single
Kit Allen Wiley /// ‘It’s Not Over’ EP
Liam Bauman /// ‘Passing Through’ EP
M99 /// “Rise Again” Single
Meatwound /// ‘Culero’ LP
Melody Trucks Band /// ‘Walking in Gratitude’ LP
Mere /// “Leaves” Single
The Mona Lisa Tribe /// “Faithfully,” “Lesson Learned,” and “Gloria” Singles
Moonmen From Mars /// “Checkmate!” “Orbs” and “Losing The War” Singles
Nervous Monks /// ‘View from a Softer High’ EP
New Fang /// “Dry Well” and “Dirt” Singles
Otherworld /// “Be” Single
P.A.O. /// ‘The First One’ LP
Pathos, Pathos /// ‘Sadness Can Be Smart’ EP
Please Be Kind /// “If Only We Were Astronauts” Single
Recreational States /// ‘Recreational States’ EP
REELS /// “Enough” Single
Sad Halen /// ‘frens’ EP
Silent Running /// “Best I Could” Single
Slumberjack /// “I’m Alright” Single
Soapbox Soliloquy /// ‘Entartete Musik’ LP
Someday River /// “Are We Free” Single
Sonic Graffiti /// ‘Bad Twin’ LP
Souljah Bless /// “WALL” Single
The Spoon Dogs /// ‘Spoon Dogs’ LP
Stoney Hoop /// ‘Voices’ EP
Stucco /// ‘Pink Glitter Hummer Limo’ EP
Suck Brick Kid /// ‘Salt To Taste’ LP
Summer Spiders /// ‘Pieces’ EP
Take Lead /// ‘Runaway’ EP
Tank Top /// ‘Side One’ EP
Taylor James /// ‘Sentimental’ EP
TEEN AGERS /// “Insane” Single
Terri Binion /// “Between Midnight and Dawn” Single
The Dark Arctic /// “Postdiluvian” Single
The F.A. /// ‘We Play Their Game’ EP
The HeadTones /// ‘Solid Ground’ EP
The Indigo Project by AJ Dee /// ‘The Lion’ EP
The Noctambulant /// ‘The Cold and Formless Deep’ LP
The Plush Monsters /// “The Miracle (of When Mike Flew)” Single
The Problem Addicts /// ‘Bad Breaks’ LP
The Reality /// “Wanna See You Dance” Single
The Spring /// “Victoria” and “Colors Of Consciousness” Singles
The Woolly Bushmen /// ‘In Shambles’ LP
They Hate Change /// ‘Juices Run Clear’ EP
Timothy Eerie /// ‘Ritual’ LP
Traverser /// ‘Jupiter Doesn’t Care About You’ LP
Universal Funk Orchestra /// “Humalien” & “For Our People” Singles
Viper /// ‘Bout Tha Money’ LP
Virginity /// ‘With Time’ LP
Wet Nurse /// “Getting Off” Single
Whyte Tygers /// ‘Here We Go’ EP
Wolf-Face /// ‘Still Golden’ LP
XZYLO /// ‘Lost in Delfino’ EP
Yeah, Sure /// “Squid Pig” Single
Zap Dragon /// ‘Attacks’ EP
ZETA /// ‘Mochima’ LP

BEST CENTRAL FL PLAYLIST

Mitch Foster /// @fmitchfoster
Founder, writer, shitty photographer, and editor.

BEST SHOWS

Andrew WK /// Vans Warped Tour in NJ w/ my 14-year old Nephew (his first festival).
Thursday /// Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California with my best friend, Nikki Bowles.
BUSH /// Midflorida Amp in Tampa + party bus trip experience with a bunch of friends.
Evan Taylor Jones /// Lizzy McCormack’s in Orlando at the SIGT Magazine Launch Party.
The Groove Orient /// Final performance at Orange Blossom Jamboree in Brooksville.
Universal Funk Orchestra /// Dance party with new friends at OBJ in Brooksville.
The Get Up Kids /// The Abbey in Orlando.
Kaleigh Baker – Janis Joplin Tribute /// The New Standard in Winter Park.
Amigo The Devil /// 1904 Music Hall in Jacksonville.
Incubus /// Welcome To Rockville Fest.
Buddy Guy /// Hard Rock Live in Orlando

BEST ALBUMS

BASK /// ‘iii’
Jimmy Eat World /// ‘Surviving’
Mount Eerie /// ‘Lost Wisdom Pt. 2′
The National /// ‘I Am Easy to Find’
The Raconteurs /// ‘Help Us Stranger’
Thom Yorke /// ‘ANIMA’ (and Netflix Movie)
Bria Skonberg /// ‘Nothing Never Happens’
Drugdealer /// ‘Raw Honey’ (discovered this at Park Ave CDs at the listening station!)
Daniel Meron /// ‘Embracing Wild’ (Best jazz album, listened to this CD maybe 100 times)
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra /// ‘I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This’
Sturgill Simpson /// ‘Sound & Fury’ (and Netflix Movie – Must-watch)
The Get Up Kids /// ‘Problems’
Kelsey Lu /// ‘BLOOD’

BEST [TV] SHOWS

‘Undone’ – Amazon Prime
‘November 13: Attack on Paris’ – Netflix
‘ABSTRACT: The Art Of Design’ – Netflix
‘Money Heist’ – Netflix (Watch in Spanish)
‘The Umbrella Academy’ – Netflix
‘The Good Place’ – Netflix & NBC
‘Our Planet’ – Netflix
‘Woodstock‘ – Netflix

BEST PHOTOS

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Amanda Laferriere /// @ajpgphoto
Photographer /// Visual Artist

BEST SHOWS

Cage The Elephant /// Shaky Knees
Local Natives /// Orlando, FL
Foxing /// Atlanta, GA
The Japanese House /// Orlando, FL
The NBHD /// Orlando, FL

BEST ALBUMS

Foals /// ‘Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost’
The Japanese House /// ‘Good At Falling’
Cage The Elephant /// ‘Social Cues’
From Indian Lakes /// ‘Dimly Lit’
Local Natives /// ‘Violet Street’
Palace /// ‘Life After’

BEST MOMENT

Getting to see Cage The Elephant and shoot them for the full set earlier in the year. They’ve been a favorite of mine and a bucket list artist to photograph for years, so it was great to see them for the first time and get to photograph their whole set from the photo pit.

BEST PHOTOS

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Dave Pokk /// @swampjohnson
Photographer /// Guitarist & Vocalist for Glowing Nowhere

BEST SHOWS

Daikaiju /// Will’s Pub
Bosco Mujo /// Will’s Pub
Dan Deacon /// Will’s Pub
Kruangbhin /// Central Park, NYC
Unknown Mortal Orchestra /// Plaza Live Orlando

BEST ALBUMS

Brittany Howard /// ‘Jaime’
CHAI /// ‘PUNK’
Ty Segall /// ‘First Taste’
Danny Brown /// ‘uknowwhatimsayin ‘
Desert Sessions /// ‘Vols. 11 & 12′

BEST MOMENT

Playing guitar for a song during Bosco Mujo while the singer went berserk in the crowd!

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Elizabeth “Ebay” Bates /// @lizbatesphotography
Photographer & Social Media Master

BEST SHOWS

ADTR /// Orlando, FL
Twenty One Pilots /// Orlando, FL
Bad Suns /// Orlando, FL
The Mowgli’s /// Orlando, FL
Sweet Cambodia & Raising Cadence /// Punk On The Patio, Orlando, FL

BEST ALBUMS

Hobo Johnson /// ‘The Fall of Hobo Johnson’
AJR /// ‘Neotheater’
XZYLO /// ‘Lost in Delfino’

BEST FEST

Sad Summer Fest /// Orlando, FL

BEST PHOTOS

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Joshua Jauz ///@joshjauz
Photographer & Writer /// Drummer & Vocalist for @thedarkarctic

BEST SHOWS

King Crimson /// Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL 9/10/19
SLEEP w/ Big Business /// The Ritz at Ybor, Tampa, 6/17/19
Transkam /// Will’s Pub, Orlando, 11/4/19
Baroness and Torche /// The Plaza Live, Orlando, 8/10/19
Tool at Welcome to Rockville /// Jacksonville, 5/5/19

BEST ALBUMS

TOOL /// ‘Fear Inoculum’
NYOS /// ‘Now’
Bees and Enormous Tigers /// ‘The Red Flower’
Torche /// ‘Admission’
Battles /// ‘Juice B Crypts’

BEST PHOTOS

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Randy Cook /// @horns_raised
Photographer & Writer

BEST SHOWS

Iron Maiden /// Sunrise, FL
Slayer/Lamb of God/Amon Amarth/Cannibal Corpse /// Tampa, FL
Metallica /// Raleigh, NC
Slipknot/Volbeat/Gojira/Behemoth /// Tampa, FL
Sebastian Bach/Jackyl /// Pinellas Park, FL
Foreigner /// Tampa, FL

BEST FEST

Monsters of Rock Cruise 2019

BEST ALBUMS

TOOL /// ‘Fear Inoculum’
Death Angel /// ‘Humanicide’
Volbeat /// ‘Rewind, Replay, Rebound’
Queensrÿche /// ‘The Verdict’
Steel Panther /// ‘Heavy Metal Rules’

BEST MOMENTS///SURPRISES

1. Being part of the team/creation of the SIGT Magazine!
2. Nothing can top being in the photo pit for a Slayer concert – OMFingG the adrenaline rush!
3. Impromptu acoustic jam in the cruise terminal waiting to board the Monsters of Rock Cruise
4. Total exhaustion after seeing 50 shows/sets in 5 days/nights on the Monsters of Rock Cruise
5. Every show I saw this year was memorable in its own right – from the friends I went with or new friends I met at the show, to every exhilarating click of my Nikon in the photo pit(s).

BEST PHOTOS

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Spencer Storch /// @swstorch
Festival Writer & Editor

2019 was a great year! I was lucky enough to attend over 50 shows and 12 festivals! Here is my list of my favorite performances from this past year:

BEST SHOWS

Star Kitchen /// Jam Cruise 17 out of Mami, FL | Spinnaker Lounge, January 2019 | The Disco Biscuit’s bassist, Marc Brownstein, leads an all star cast through a maze of obscure covers and amazing jam sessions.

Blues Traveller & moe. /// Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, FL | August 7, 2019 | The iconic Blues Traveler and jam band moe. embark on a huge nationwide tour. An awesome set by each, but the sweetest was the super group jam session in the middle covering The Grateful Dead, Booker T, and more!

Gov’t Mule /// Jannus Landing, St. Pete., FL | May 1, 2019 | Warren Haynes & company bring their southern blues and rock to the cultural center of Florida. You got to let your SOULSHINE!

Umphrey’s McGee /// Jam Cruise 17 out of Miami, FL | Pool Deck, January 2019 | The boys of South Bend, IN take over the boat and bring the heat. I was on a cruise with my favorite band (most of whom I got to meet) and I caught lyrics that were thrown into the crowd!

Late Night Jam Session /// Suwannee Rising Music Festival at The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL | Secret Location, April 5, 2019 | A powered jam session featuring artists from the festival, including the headliners: Lettuce & Ghost-Note. Arguably the most special moment I have experienced in my 25+ festivals in that park.

BEST FESTS

Score Key – Lineup + Venue + Overall Fun! /// (1-10) x 3 = 30 BEST SCORE

Jam Cruise 17 /// Umphrey’s McGee, Galactic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe /// NCL: Belize, Cozumel, Progresso /// A sprinting marathon! A music festival in a luxury hotel on the water! /// 8 + 10 + 10 = 28

Hulaween 2019 /// The String Cheese Incident, Anderson .Paak, Bassnectar /// Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL /// A deluxe costume party at the premiere music festival venue in the country. /// 8 + 10 + 9 = 27

Suwannee Rising 2019 /// Otiel Burbridge & Friends, moe., Lettuce, Ghost Note /// SOSMP /// A budding event that feels so special. Great music with a smaller crowd. Next year should be even better. /// 7 + 10 + 8 = 25

Orange Blossom Jamboree 10 /// The Grass is Dead, The Heavy Pets, Roosevelt Collier Trio, The Groove Orient, Comeback Alice /// Sertoma Youth Ranch, Brooksville, FL /// A Florida family affair with more friends than you can shake a stick at. Come to hang with your friends and discover all the best bands Florida has to offer. /// 5 + 7 + 10 = 22

Suwannee Roots Revival /// Keller Williams & The Keels, Sam Bush, Del McCoury, The Travelin’ McCourys /// SOSMP /// A mature festival with great music but even better late night jams! /// 4 + 10 + 8 = 22

Natalie Maurer /// @natalie_maurer
SIGT Intern & Traveler /// 31 planes and 15 cities in 2019

BEST SHOWS

The 1975 /// Nashville
LANY /// The Greek Theater in Cali
Bastille /// Miami
Fletcher /// NYC
LANY /// Hawaii

BEST ALBUMS

FLETCHER /// ‘you ruined new york city for me’
Bastille /// ‘Doom Days’
Kehlani /// ‘While We Wait’
Clairo /// ‘Immunity’
Wrabel /// ‘one of those happy people’

2019 ALL SHOWS

8123 Fest /// Phoenix
This Century /// Phoenix
COIN /// Orlando x2
Nightly /// Orlando
Tori Kelly /// Orlando
This Wild Life /// Orlando
The 1975 /// Nashville, Orlando
Fletcher /// NYC
Joan /// Orlando
Bastille /// Pittsburgh, Miami
The Band Camino /// Orlando
The Maine /// Orlando
Clairo /// Orlando
King Princess /// Orlando
Role Model /// San Francisco
LANY (14) /// Miami, Orlando, Boston x2, Raleigh, Atlanta, NOLA, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, LA x2, Hawaii, Clemson

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Richie Williams “The Sober Goat” /// @thesobergoat
Writer & Photographer

BEST SHOWS

Umphrey’s McGee /// The Fillmore, Miami Beach FL 8/16/19
moe. w/ Blues Traveler /// Daily’s Place, Jacksonville FL 8/7/19
Trey Anastasio Band /// Jannus Live, St. Pete FL 5/28/19
Ghost-Note w/ Electric Kif /// The Abbey, Orlando FL 2/13/19
Pennywise /// Ace Café, Orlando FL 11/14/19

BEST ALBUMS

TOOL /// ‘Fear Inoculum’
Lettuce /// ‘Elevate’
Sturgill Simpson /// ‘Sound & Fury’
Iya Terra /// ‘Coming To Light’
Electric Kif /// ‘Jefe’

BEST SONGS

“Fear Innoculum” /// Tool
“Trapezoid” /// Lettuce
“Sing Along” /// Sturgill Simpson
Iya Terra /// “Wash Away”
Electric Kif /// “Jefe”

BEST FESTS

Suwannee Hulaween Festival /// Live Oak FL 11/24-27/2019
Reggae Rise Up Festival /// St Pete FL 03/15-17/2019

BEST [TV] SHOWS

‘Brockmire’ /// IFC
‘American Horror Story: 1984′ /// FX
‘Ozark’ /// Netflix
‘Baskets’ /// FX
‘Corporate’ /// Comedy Central

BEST PHOTOS

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Hannah Wistort /// @hannah_lee._
Graphic Design & Layout, Video

BEST SHOWS

The 1975 /// Phoenix, AZ
Jimmy Eat World /// St. Augustine, FL
Starbenders /// Orlando, FL
Buddy Guy /// Orlando, FL
The Sound of Animals Fighting /// Orlando, FL

BEST ALBUMS

Ariana Grande /// ‘thank u, next’
Vampire Weekend /// ‘Father of the Bride’
Billie Eilish /// ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’
Lana Del Ray /// ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell’
The Japanese House /// ‘Good at Falling’

BEST [TV] SHOWS

‘Mindhunter’ /// Netflix
‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ /// Netflix
‘Explained’ /// Netflix
‘Abstract’ /// Netflix
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ /// Amazon Prime

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Chris Miglioranzi /// @respectable_youngman
Writer, Photographer, Videographer /// Founder of @respectivecollective

BEST SHOWS

A$AP Rocky /// I think this is my show of the year. He closed out the very first Rolling Loud NYC and it did not disappoint. To begin the show he had 50 masked men run out on the stage (with his branded caution sign on the mask, of course) and stage dove. This set the tone for the rest of the set as he would bring out 50 Cent, Swae Lee, and the entire A$AP Mob. I also got the best 360 degree video I’ve ever shot so that made it even better.

Da Baby /// No surprise his set at Rolling Loud Miami went viral when he was throwing large bags of “marijuana” to the crowd (it was just grass but still funny) He has unmatched energy that you don’t see everyday from a performer. I would recommend seeing him anytime he’s on a lineup.

Rob Zombie /// I’ve heard of Rob Zombie from his film career but never really knew he was an artist until introduced to me at Rockville. His set was a performance with everyone dressed up in different costumes. Rob Zombie brought the energy and made the show fun for someone who may not usually be into this genre of music.

BEST FEST

Rolling Loud /// I’ve literally never seen a festival like this. I had the pleasure of covering this festival over three times this year (Miami, Bay Area, NYC) and I have never seen a crowd go as hard! Patrons attend each one which is crazier so I will see kids in the pit from Miami in San-Fransisco … dedication at it’s finest.

BEST ALBUMS

Vampire Weekend /// ‘Father of The Bride’
Tyler The Creator /// ‘Igor’
Toro y Moi /// ‘Outer Peace’
Taylor Swift /// ‘Lover’

BEST SONGS

“Follow God” /// Kanye West
“Cruel Summer” /// Taylor Swift
“Lights Up” /// Harry Styles
“Circles” /// Post Malone
“Posthumous Forgiveness” /// Tame Impala
“RNP” /// YBN Cordae feat. Anderson. Paak
“Body Aint Me” /// Pink Sweat$

BEST MOMENT

I think my favorite thing about this year was Kanye’s “Sunday Service” Church. It was a totally different perspective of some of his songs and how I viewed church. On top of that, he released ‘Jesus Is King’ and almost changed his name to “Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West.” What a fucking weird year lol.

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Jordan Petty /// @dot.petty
Videographer @gnarlyvisual.x & Badass Drummer

This was hard to make, but it was nice remembering some of the good stuff that happened this year!

BEST SHOWS

Men I Trust /// Will’s Pub, Orlando
Sabrina Claudio /// The Beacham, Orlando
Tyler The Creator /// Addition Arena, Orlando
Gary Lazer Eyes with Take Lead /// Soundbar, Orlando
SWIMM with Talk With Your Hands /// Will’s Pub, Orlando

BEST ALBUMS /// (Favorite Track)

Goldlink /// ‘Diaspora’ (“Zulu Screams”)
Men I Trust /// ‘Oncle Jazz’ /// (“Say Can You Hear”)
Sabrina Claudio /// ‘Truth Is’ /// (“Problem With You”)
Emile Mosseri /// ‘The Last Black Man In San Francisco: Original Soundtrack’ /// (“The Last Black Man In San Francisco”)
Alina Baraz /// ‘Urban Flora’ /// (“Make You Feel”) /// I know this one didn’t come out this year, but it was for sure one of my favorites this year!

BEST MOMENTS

I did my first ever tour playing drums with Pathos Pathos – one of the coolest, most fun weeks of my life. /// I started production on my very first short film as the cinematographer, which is set to drop in spring 2020. /// I went to emo night at Soundbar and Travis Clark from We The Kings was there. The girl I was seeing at the time is a fan of him and his family, so while I was chilling with him in the greenroom, I FaceTimed her and they both chatted for a bit. It definitely made her night, and I was happy I got to do that for her.

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

Rachael Welsh /// @lifecoachrachael
Writer & Astrologer /// @innerglowcircle

BEST FESTS

Suwannee Hulaween /// Live Oak, FL
Electric Forest /// Rothbury, Michigan
Gasparilla Music Fest /// Tampa Bay
Lockn’ Festival /// Arrington, VA
Burning Man /// Nevada

BEST ALBUMS

Lettuce /// ‘Elevate’
Lizzo /// ‘Cuz I Love You’
Greensky Bluegrass /// ‘All For Money’
Illenium /// ‘Ascend’
Billie Eilish /// ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’

BEST SONGS

“Ruby Waves” /// Live version performed by Phish July 14, 2019
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” /// Lettuce
“Sunflower” /// Post Malone
“Truth Hurts” /// Lizzo
“Riptide” /// Trivecta

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

G U E S T C O N T R I B U T O R S

These are some of our good friends and we’re honored to have them contributing on the SIGT Best Of 2019 list. <3

Austin Young /// @austindangeryoung
Lead vocals of Gary Lazer Eyes /// @garylazereyesfl

BEST ALBUMS

Magic City Hippies /// ‘Modern Animal’
FL boys! Easily the record I’ve spent the most time listening to this year.

White Reaper /// ‘You Deserve Love’
Love how much their sound has evolved. Went from a mostly garage rock sound to a hybrid of garage, classic rock, and pop.

Anderson .Paak /// ‘Ventura’
Yes Lawd! (If you know, you know.)

Harry Styles /// ‘Fine Line’
Surprised? If you listened to his 2017 debut album you shouldn’t be.

Twin Peaks /// ‘Lookout Low’
Another band with an evolving sound! Reminiscent of The Band & Grateful Dead. I’m missing some of their earlier (punkier?) songs, but this one is still incredibly sweet.

BEST SONGS

“Franny” /// Magic City Hippies
Technically dropped in 2018 but my favorite song off my favorite album of 2019. Indie Funk goodness.

“Trippin'” /// Futurebirds
Makes me wanna slam bourbon and cry. But also party? It’s been a weird year … beautiful song and can’t wait for their new album in January 2020.

“She” /// Harry Styles
This song is what really sold me on the album. Brit Pop + Psych.

“Easy Love” /// Goldensuns
Met these dudes through FL natives/LA legends SWIMM and since then I’ve just been a big ol fanboy.

“They Say” /// Hoops
Overlooked “Hoops” for too long but for some reason this song got me.

BEST SHOWS

Leon Bridges /// House of Blues in Orlando

Maggie Rogers & Tame Impala /// Shaky Knees
Knew one song by Maggie and was blown away by her voice and stage presence. Had been listening to Tame Impala for 10 years and had a cathartic moment beneath the lasers.

Local Natives /// The Plaza in Orlando

Pathos, Pathos /// Standard Collective in Melbourne
Was so heartwarming seeing my dudes crush it in my hometown and bring the same energy they do in Orlando. RIP Potatoes, Potatoes.

SWIMM /// Echoplex in LA
Seeing the love they receive across the country and the name they’ve made for themselves had me so stoked for these dudes. They were truly in their element and sounded better than I’d ever seen them in Florida.

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

G U E S T C O N T R I B U T O R

Irish Griffin /// @w.o.r.l.d.w.i.d.e.i.n.k.
Co-Founder of @cogsofwarmosh team!

BEST SHOWS

TOOL /// Welcome to Rockville
Weezer /// Daily’s Place
311 & Dirty Heads /// Daily’s Place
Orlando Mega Con /// I was Wonder Whoa-Man!!
Exit 111 Fest /// Slayer

BEST ALBUMS

2019 had some incredibly amazing albums come out this year!

The HU /// ‘The Gereg’
I was blown away by the Mongolian Metal band The HU. Their debut album, ‘The Gereg’, is a true masterpiece and the world is going berserk!

Rammstein /// ‘Rammstein’
This self-titled record quickly rose to the top of my charts

Mötley Crüe /// ‘The Dirt Soundtrack’
This made history with #1 hits in 3 different categories – Movie, Book, & Soundtrack!

In Flames /// ‘I, The Mask’
Really thought they brought the electricity in this!!

Darkthrone /// ‘Old Star’
One of the most underrated bands out there!!

BEST MOMENT

Exit 111 was truly the best show of 2019 for me. I saw Slayer for the last time, along with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Anthrax! Fever 333 woke the crowd up and Zakk Wylde knocked us out. The pit in Slayer was like churning death from the bowels of hell!!!

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

G U E S T C O N T R I B U T O R

DJ DIZZLEPHUNK /// @dizzlephunk
Bass & Beats in @universalfunkorchestra

BEST SHOWS

Suwannee Hulaween 2019 /// Live Oak, FL
Orange Blossom Jamboree 2019 /// Brooksville, FL
Creative City Project/Immerse 2019 /// Orlando, FL
Big Gigantic /// Orlando, FL
Marc Rebillet /// Hulaween 2019

BEST MOMENTS

Opening for Big Gigantic/Flamingosis 2019
Playing Silent Disco for a wild crowd at Hulaween 2019
Raging on stage with Tom Morello at Hulaween 2019

G U E S T C O N T R I B U T O R

Brian Schanck /// @skankpresents
Tender at Green Bench Brewing in St. Pete

BEST SHOWS

Woodsist Fest [Whitney, Woods, Kevin Morby, Real Estate, Bonny Doon, Little Wings, Waxahatchee & more] /// Arrowood Farm Brewery (Accord, NY) 09/28/19
Frankie and the Witch Fingers /// The Bends (St. Petersburg, FL) 10/19/19
Freddie Gibbs /// Center Stage Theater (Atlanta, GA) 11/25/19
Amen Dunes /// The Social (Orlando, FL) 01/21/19
Big K.R.I.T. /// The Ritz (Tampa, FL) 09/19/19

BEST ALBUMS

Freddie Gibbs and Madlib /// ‘Bandana’
Kiefer /// ‘Superbloom’ EP
Cass McCombs /// ‘Tip of the Sphere’
Charley Crockett /// ‘The Valley’
Frankie and the Witch Fingers /// ‘ZAM’

BEST SONGS

“The Cleaner” /// Squid
“Sunny” /// Kiefer
“Fake Names” /// Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
“Costa Rica” /// Dreamville
“Domino” /// Corridor

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

G U E S T C O N T R I B U T O R

Michael Remus /// @solaceviasoundwaves

You may have seen Remus at a show. If you didn’t see him, you’ve almost certainly heard him – his audio mixes, that is. He’s a sound engineer at The Social, The Beacham, Plaza Live, Soundbar, HENAO, and at almost every SIGT Event.

BEST SHOWS (all Orlando, FL)

Florida Man Music Fest /// Orlando Amphitheater
Sit-Down Comedy Show /// Person Cave (Ali’s Backyard)
PUP /// The Beacham
Levitation Jones /// The HENAO Center
Gogol Bordello /// The Beacham
Reggie and The Full Effect (solo) /// The Social
Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness /// The Beacham

BEST ALBUMS

Blink-182 /// ‘NINE’
Jimmy Eat World /// ‘Surviving’
PUP /// ‘Morbid Stuff’
Allen Stone /// ‘Building Balance’

BEST ORL FISHING HOLES

Baldwin Harbor
Lake Aldair
Blanchard Park
Kings Landing

BEST ALBUMS PLAYLIST

G U E S T C O N T R I B U T O R

Erik Payne /// @whereiserikpayne

Erik provides the party power in Andrew W.K. and plays in his own central florida thrash metal band – @intoxicated_downsouth (who have a new record coming out soon!) /// Erik plays @ESPguitars through @MESAengineering cabs.

BEST SHOWS

I was fortunate to see Slayer a few times this year this year. So badass, classy, and inspiring!

Obituary /// Jacksonville, Florida
Slayer /// Chicago, Illinois
Alice In Chains /// Columbus, Ohio
Ice Cube /// Louisville, Kentucky
Napalm Death /// Download Festival, England

BEST ALBUMS

Obituary has always been one of my favorite bands. Adding Orlando based guitarist Ken Andrews, has put them over the tasty edge!

Obituary /// ‘Obituary’
Toxic Holocaust /// ‘Primal Future’
Gruesome /// ‘Twisted Prayers’
Exhumed /// ‘Horror’
Intoxicated /// ‘Walled’ EP

BEST MOMENTS

1. I’ve been the guitarist for Andrew W.K going into 20 years, and 2019 has been a great one. Playing Conan O’Brien again was a highlight for sure.

2. Our tour bus broke down in the mountains on our way to San Francisco. I believe the town was called Weed. Within 30 minutes we’d picked up a Uhaul, and were tossing gear. We made it to the show and were able to play. There’s tons of stuff like that, and those are the things I really remember, and love. It’s intense, but our team is great.

3. This year I built a new studio. Writing and recording a new record with Intoxicated has been so rewarding. The new stuff is super heavy. I love the dudes I’m playing with, and the team we’ve built. Thrash is alive and well!

4. I’ll tell you, it’s a true gift to be able to travel, and learn, and experience so much, with close friends.

5. Last but not least, no more can it be said, “good festivals are only in Europe,” because there were so many great festivals we did in America this year where we were truly cared about. They were ran so well. All together this year has been sick, but also things are building, that can’t be stopped.