I managed to dredge up my memories of news, shows, and records that happened this past year. It wasn’t easy. I’ve fried a lot of brain cells with black coffee and fumes from the subway, so remembering what I had for dinner the night before is sometimes a chore.  Not to mention that a lot of albums have come across my desk, I spent a lot of time listening to music, almost to an obsessive level sometimes.

So to highlight my favorite stuff of the year, never mind remembering what exactly came out this year, is sorta fucking hard.  I mean the last CD I really loved that I got is a CD version of two Scream records, and that band broke up in 1990.  Most of the bands I really like are off the beaten path even in punk rock, and a bunch of them aren’t even active any more.

Yes, I really am that hip.

But I figured that if I instead thought of what I remembered about the year in more general terms, then that’ll work.  So here we are. And while the names that you see here might not be ones you recognized this past year, what’s here was still pretty significant to me and in the end, in some way to everyone.

Read more after the jump.

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Photos by Bill Shouldis

The Hot Water Music reunion trail found it’s way into NYC’s Terminal 5 last Saturday. It had been a while since the boys had played in Manhattan so the crowd was very ready to scream along and get sweaty. And boy was it sweaty. The air surrounding the floor smelled of rich, B.O. Mmmm. Anyways, the boys blazed through a passionate and blistering set. The highlight of the show was “It’s Hard To Know,” from the band’s best record No Division. I think everyone in the audience was screaming “live your heart and never follow” louder than the band at one point. 

This was very much indeed a special show. Three amazing bands together during a weekend when it seemed like every great punk band was in town. An unforgettable and amazing concert all around. 

Check out photos, the set list and a video after the jump.

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As we said below, Thursday is playing a huge show with Hot Water Music and Paint It Black at Terminal 5 in NYC this weekend. Along with all the excitement that comes with HWM’s return to the Big Apple, It’s also Thursday first official show in the city in nearly two years.

We talked to Geoff a few months ago, but I had a chance to talk with him recently about the show, the infamous Warped Tour 2006 incident in Long Island, and the new full-length. Stay tuned for all of that and the rest of my interview with Geoff on Monday. For now, read about his thoughts on the show this weekend.

Do you feel like this show is sort of your NYC comeback?

Geoff: It’s more about Hot Water Music playing. I love that band. Our first demo, we axed a song because the beginning of it was Blacktop Cadence and the end was Hot Water Music. We were like, ‘we can’t do this. This is too fucked up.’ It’s one thing to wear your influences on your sleeve. It’s another to take somebody’s song and pass it off as your own. [Laughing] This weekend, it doesn’t feel like [it's] about Thursday to me. [Hot Water Music is] back and I’m stoked about them playing again.

Why did everyone and their mother book an awesome show this weekend? Let’s rattle them off.

The almighty Hot Water Music return to NYC. The lineup includes Thursday and Late Night Wallflower favorites Paint It Black. The show goes down at the huge, 3,000 cap. Terminal 5.

Alkaline Trio and American Steel are playing a sold out show at Irving Plaza the same night. I don’t know about you, but having the Trio and HWM in town on the same night but on different bills just feels wrong to me.

The F Yeah Fest makes two stops in town this weekend. The Circle Jerks, Dillinger Four, Matt and Kim, Team Robespierre will play Saturday in Manhattan at Highline Ballroom and Sunday at Club Exit in Brooklyn.

Trash Talk will be at Fortress Of Solitude on Saturday.

Matt and Kim will also be playing with a 22 piece orchestra on Sunday at McCarren Pool with The Breeders.

Am I forgetting anything else?

I’ve gushed about this show for awhile and now with the addition of Thursday, I think it’s safe to say you would be a royal dumbass not to attend Hot Water Music’s NYC show. Let’s recap; Paint It Black, Thursday and Hot Water Music on one bill. Plus, Dillinger Four is in town that weekend. Need I say more?