Jonny Leather’s Favorite Albums of 2022
Listed in alphabetical order by artist, these are currently my favorite albums of 2022. A much longer list of what I've enjoyed during the year can be found here. The Afghan Whigs - How Do You Burn? [Royal Cream] Come to hear Mark Lanegan's ghastly voice one more time, stay to catch one of the most under-appreciated alt-rock bands of the '90s tap into the fire, heart and soul of the group's heyday. Essential Tracks: "I'll Make You See God" "Please, Baby, Please" "A Line Of Shots" Alabaster DePlume – GOLD [International Anthem] A colorful exploration of self-worth within a shape-shifting odyssey of spiritual jazz and spoken word.Essential Tracks: "I'm Good at Not Crying" "Don't Forget You're Precious" "The Sound of My Feet on This Earth is a Song to Your Spirit" GOLD – Go Forward in the Courage of Your Love by Alabaster dePlume Aldous Harding - Warm Chris [4AD] The New Zealand singer-songwriter shifts between an endless supply of voices, all equally beautiful, bizarre, and equipped with cutting turns of phrase.Essential Tracks: "Precious Babe" "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" "Fever" Warm Chris by Aldous Harding Angel Olsen – Big Time [Jagjaguwar] The contemporary queen of melancholy finally fully commits to the Nashville sound and it fits like a well worn sweater on
2022: Year in Photos
After a couple of years of hibernation, I dusted off my trusty old camera and returned to photo pits to document live events in Asheville, NC. This is how the year looked through my lens.
Favorite Live Performances of 2022
When I walked into The Mothlight on March 13, 2020 to catch a performance by Algiers, I had no idea that it'd be the last one I'd see in well over a year. The rest of 2020 was mostly spent indoors. 2021 wasn't much different aside from a couple of shows late in the year. When 2022 began, I was hesitant to spend much time in crowded venues. Favorites such as Andy Shauf, Nick Cave and Iceage drew me out of the comfort of my living room. As the year progressed, I suddenly found myself spending more and more time at music venues, and back to photographing and writing about concerts. Out of the well over 60 music and comedy performances I was able to catch during the year, these are the 25 that I most enjoyed (in chronological order). Andy Shauf @ The Grey Eagle 2/23/22memorable moment: Setting foot back into The Grey Eagle for the first time since COVID struck wasn't an easy feat mentally, but the opening moments of "Neon Skyline" provided instant comfort. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium 3/1/22memorable moment: Sure, seeing Cave sing "Into My Arms" sent shivers down my spine, but it was
John Waters
In what still feels like a surreal fever dream, I recently had the opportunity to procure a brief phone chat with the “Pope of Trash” himself, the legendary John Waters.