Nadia Elkharadly: My 2013 Musical Highlights

2013 has been a long and tumultuous year, filled with many challenges, some failures, many successes, tons of new discoveries and an innumerable amount of wonderful memories made with the family and friends I love so very much.  For my first DBAWIS article of 2014, I thought I’d highlight a few of the musical and otherwise amazing things that have come to be my “favourites” of this past year.

Arctic monkeys – AM

It’s a difficult thing for a music junkie like me to pick one single album out as a favourite among the many, many I have listened to over the past year.  And while there are many bands I’ve discovered, and songs that have been extreme earworms of mine for the past 11 and change months, there isn’t one album that I can listen to from start to finish like this one.  The latest effort from Arctic Monkeys gets under my skin in a way that no full record has in a long time. And for those of you who know of my Soundgarden obsession, yes, AM does beat out King Animal – great record, stronger comeback than I could have hoped for, but not as welcomely mentally invasive to me as the stunningly gorgeous AM.   I dare you to listen to a song like “Do I wanna know?” and not immediately feel a shiver of excitement up your spine.  Hell, I’d think you were dead inside if you told me that song didn’t turn you on, even just a little.  And that’s just the first single gem on a record that’s a true cave of gems just waiting to be mined by an opened minded music lover.

Favourite Live Music Moment

Heart – Molson Amphitheatre

There is nothing like the feeling of hearing and singing a song you absolutely love, and have loved for years, played live, loud and in person, right in front of your eyes.  This summer, I got the chance to cover Heart’s tour stop in Toronto with Jason Bonham and his band.  Along with seeing every amazing Heart song played pitched and note perfect, I got to experience an incredible encore made up entirely of Led Zeppelin songs, with Bonham playing his own fathers parts on drums.  From the moment I heard the opening strains of “Battle of Evermore”, a song I’ve been obsessed with since hearing it on the Singles soundtrack when I was a teenager, I was positively transported.  Tears streamed freely down my face, goosebumps covered my skin as I enjoyed every last moment of this unparalleled experience.  It’s something I’ll never forget, and it will always count as one of my most amazing experiences as a music journalist.

Favourite Music Journalist Experience

In the Pit:  Soundgarden – Sound Academy

If I had to pick what was actually my most amazing experience as a music journalist, not just of 2013, but of my entire life, it would be getting to set foot in the photographer’s pit for Soundgarden’s January show in Toronto.  I’ve written about the experience before, so I won’t rehash it here, but suffice it to say it was pretty much the culmination of my career as a music writer and photographer so far.  To be able to photograph and write about (OFFICIALLY for that matter) the band that pretty much  made me love music enough to attempt to turn it into a profession was just mind blowing.  I’m pretty sure I was a shaking, giggling mess in that pit, but I still managed to get some great shots that I’m extremely proud of.  And those memories of those up close moments will be treasured for the rest of my life.

Favourite freak of nature incident

I’m glad I waited so long to  write this article, because my last favourite “thing” of 2013 happened just today.  For the first time in over a century, there is SNOW in Egypt!  In a time of complete political chaos and general upheaval, it’s been amazing to see photographs of Egyptians, men, women, children, expressing wonder and excitement at the strange power of Mother Nature.  To see the streets of Cairo blanketed in snow is surreal to say the least, but also beautiful.  To see people building snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other, smiling from ear to ear is a shining light in an otherwise dark (yet ever changing and hopefully progressing) time.  It was clear that many people took the time to step away from the chaos to just be free, and enjoy this insane moment in childlike wonderment.  I sincerely hope that everyone over there stays warm, comfortable and safe, and most of all that as many people as possible were able to take that moment, and just live and be happy once again

Favourite new project with awesome people

The Bobcast

A reminiscing about 2013 would not be complete without a shout out to the amazing Bobcast talent and crew.  Mondays at Cherry Colas became my favourite night of the week, and I want to thank Bob for the great opportunity he gave me as the show’s Talent Coordinator.  Being able to showcase some of my favourite bands, while watching Bob do his radio thing was honestly a blast.  And getting the chance to meet my rockstar mama Roxanne Tellier just sweetened the pot.  I’m honoured and blessed to call this incredibly talented and kind hearted woman a friend.  And Brian, Xprime, the Cherrys staff and of course Cherish for giving her run of her bar for 20+ weeks:  you’re all amazing, and I’m so happy to have had this experience with you.  Here’s to a new year of more Bobcasts!

Favourite Accomplishment

To wrap up my favourites of 2013, I want to talk about something I’m extremely excited about and proud of.  My top accomplishment of 2013 was helping my best friend start Addicted Magazine.  Together, we took a little blog and turned it into a real magazine, that is growing faster and going farther than either of us could have ever imagined.  From the many concerts I’ve covered, to the many events we’ve attended and all of the hard work our editors and contributors have put in to get us this far.  I see nothing but incredible things for my little internet baby in 2014, and I want to thank everyone who’s supported Mark and me in this endeavour so far.  And most of all, I want to thank Mark for being an amazing friend and for working so hard to try to make one of my own dreams a reality.  So here’s to more adventures and Addicted victories in the New Year.  I hope you’ll all join us for what’s sure to be a fun and wild ride.

So here’s looking forward to a new year filled with great times, mild hangovers, and more amazing memories.

Until next time,

Xo

N

=NE=

Nadia’s column appears every Wednesday

Contact us at: dbawis@rogers.com

Nadia Elkharadly is a Toronto based writer with a serious addiction to music. Corporate drone by day, renegade rocker by night, writing is her creative outlet.  Nadia writes for the Examiner (.com) on live music in Toronto and Indie Music in Canada.  She has never been in a band but plays an awesome air guitar and also the tambourine.  Check in every Tuesday for musings about music, love, life and whatever else that comes to mind.