My 2024 was largely defined by health issues that lead to job issues that lead to general life issues. But I think this all made me appreciate live music, Los Angeles, and my favorite venues and bands even more. Here’s my End of Year Mix and a bit of a reflection on what each song and artist meant to me this year.

1. The Virginmarys – “White Knuckle Riding”
Album of the year, song of the year, band of the year, The Virginmarys hold a very special place in my heart. I saw them in London in March for my birthday week despite the fact that standing and walking were both very painful activities. Their 2024 album, The House Beyond The Fire, speaks to my soul. When people ask me how I’m doing, the routine response has been “I’m surviving,” but I should just send them this song/album.

2. Twin Atlantic – “Asleep”
This was my most played song of the year according to Spotify. Twin Atlantic was also part of my birthday week celebrations where I saw them in Nottingham (home of Robin Hood) at Rescues Rooms. At the show they gave a sneak peak of a few songs of their 2024 release, Meltdown.

3. Orla Gartland – “Why Am I Like This?”
I became an Orla Gartland fan after seeing her supergroup, Fizz, perform at a music festival last year.  I was lucky to be able to see her in LA at The Troubadour towards the end of the year, right around the time I was becoming obsessed with the TV show, Heartstopper, which features this song.

4. Joe P – “Birthday Baby (The Girl with No Smile)”
Joe P released a fabulous album, Garden State Vampire, around the time I was interviewing for a job in New Jersey. While I did not end up moving to New Jersey, I was able to see Joe P in Anaheim in one of those perfectly timed/placed events as I en route from a music festival in Dana Point.

5. The Fever Dreams – “Ain’t No Stopping Me”
Anyone in need of a new band love? Look no further than this dream duo of Jamie N Commons and Ben Epand who just began releasing new music in 2024. This was the first song out the gate of what will hopefully be a long and successful run (that includes a live show in the near future).  

7. Griff – “Anything”
2024 had an absolute explosion of female pop artists, but none grabbed me more than Griff and her album Vertigo.

8. Badflower – “Detroit”
Badflower has been a top Band Love for over a decade now, but in 2024 they really made my year by coming back to LA to play back-to-back intimate shows, busting out a few old bangers as well as new hits like “Detroit”.  As happy as I am for Badflower’s recent success, nothing beats seeing this band in a small rock club, just like how we started!

9. Wheelwright – “Battle Cries“
My most seen artist of 2024 is Wheelwright. This is the song that has been opening his sets and hearing it makes me smile in anticipation. Wheelwright has been busy releasing new music this year and continues to impress me with his lyrics, his showmanship, and his general warmth as a human being.   

10. Morgxn – “To Be Human“
In February, Morgxn headlined one of those magical evenings at the Hotel Cafe, a place I spent a lot of time this year. This song, off his 2024 album Beacon, brought me to tears and continued to resonate throughout the year.

11. Holding Absence – “Wilt“
I saw Holding Absence headline for the first time this year and they blew me away. As soon as I exited the venue, I put in my earbuds and played this song on repeat during the long walk back to my car. It’s been on my playlist ever since.

12. Bastille – “Intros & Narratives”
One of the great pleasures of my year was being able to sit front row for a performance of Bastille’s new album, & (Ampersand). This album was also the somewhat unlikely soundtrack of a 6 hr. road trip to see a baseball game.

13. Snow Patrol – “The Beginning”
I have decided that at the top of my bucket list of bands I need to see is Snow Patrol. The band released a new album (The Forest Is The Path) this year and this first single hits me just as hard as any tune from Final Straw, one of my all-time favorite albums.

14. Vincent Lima – “In the Cold”
In the spring, I spent some time in San Francisco with a couple of cats. The cats, along with the hills of the city helped me with my physical therapy. I went to several shows during my stay (K.Flay, The Veronicas, Waterparks) but was most excited to finally (and I mean FINALLY) see Vincent Lima live.

15. Ashley Kutcher – “House On The Water”
I attended a few remarkable single or album release events this year, but perhaps the best was Ashley Kutcher playing her new album, House On The Water,  on the beach.

16. Linkin Park – “Over Each Other”
I’ve always enjoyed Linkin Park, but I’m an even bigger Dead Sara fan and when the music announcement of the year revealed that Emily Armstrong was the new lead singer of Linkin Park, I felt connected to a “bigger” band in a way I haven’t for a long time. Linkin Park released new music which embraces Emily’s unique rock vocals and I’m here for it.

17. Chinchilla – “Little Girl Gone”
No artist made a bigger first impression on me this year than Chinchilla whose LA showcase for School Night at Bardot gave me that feeling I chase every time I go out for music. This tiny power house blew the roof off the place!

18. Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Benson Boone’s debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades got a lot of play from me (and many others) this year. The fact that I haven’t seen him perform live is just criminal, but I have plans to rectify this early next year…

19. Beauty School Dropout – “Fightmode”
From my first show of the year, these guys have come to represent the LA rock music scene for me. They do a fabulous job creating a sense of community with local, intimate shows often ending in the beautiful chaos sparked by this song.

20. Nico Vega – “Make it Out Alive”
Nico Vega, one of the best bands to every grace the LA music scene, released new music after their triumphant comeback last year. I was able to see them a handful of times this year, including an unforgettable show at The Troubadour where they ended their set with this song.

21. Jet – “Move On”
What might be my favorite show of the year was celebrating 20 years of Get Born at the Troubadour with the one and only, Jet! The music felt both nostalgic and contemporary (not many doing the rock genre any better) and what a sing-along it was! This song hit particularly deep.

~ Kristen