2024 has been…a year. Of that I am certain. Luckily, music is the greatest escape so let’s relive some of my favorite moments in punk music this year! We have six of each: songs, albums, concerts and concert photos, so 24 total. So creative.
Songs
1. “Act Violently” – SOFT PLAY
First up we have “Act Violently” by English punk duo SOFT PLAY. This single came off their fourth studio album Heavy Jelly (which we will talk about again later!)
2. “Starburster” – Fontaines D.C.
Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. had a big year. They released their fourth album, Romance, on August 23rd. It won The Album Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, received a Grammy Awards Nomination for Best Rock Album in addition to a nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance for “Starburster”.
3. “U Should Not Be Doing That” – Amyl and the Sniffers
The follow up album to Amyl and the Sniffer’s largely successful 2021 album Comfort to Me was released on October 25th, titled Cartoon Darkness. “U Should Not Be Doing That” was one of the first singles released from that album. Their world tour for the album release starts in January of 2025!
4. “You Hear Yes” – Destroy Boys
This single was released on August 8th off of Destroy Boy’s Funeral Soundtrack No. 4 album. “You Hear Yes” has the most killer collaboration featuring Kat Moss of Scowl and Missy Dabice of Mannequin Pussy.
5. “Sliding Doors” – Boston Manor
“Sliding Doors” is off of British emo pop punk band Boston Manor’s newest album, Sundiver. I’m always a fan of heavy riffs blended with softer emo vocals; this song still hits hard!
Albums
1. SOFT PLAY – Heavy Jelly
This entire album is one banger after another. Released on July 19th, 2024 with BMG music, Heavy Jelly is the first album SOFT PLAY has put out under their new name (they were formally known as Slaves). Harsh yet catchy, some of my favorite tracks include “Punk’s Dead”, “Act Violently” and “Mirror Muscles”.
2. Drug Church – PRUDE
I first saw post-hardcore band Drug Church at Riot Fest this year and I’ve been a fan ever since. PRUDE is beautifully written and worth listening to beginning to end. Check out a more in depth review of the album here!
3. Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
Hardcore band Knocked Loose released this album on May 10, 2024 via Pure Noise Records. The single “Suffocate” features experimental artist Poppy and was nominated in the 67th Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance. If you’re like me and want to just scream into the void all day, then this album is for you. Knocked Loose also has a killer live show (see below for more on that!)
4. Shellac – To All Trains
Chicago’s noisy post-hardcore band Shellac is brought to you by the one and only Steve Albini, who sadly passed just days before To All Trains was released. The album was recorded over several years and released on May 17th through Touch and Go records. I don’t think this album has been talked about enough. Each song feels like you are anticipating something looming in the shadows, only to be hit with lyrics like “I am the last day of your life, lived beyond all expectation / My wives and concubines are all fecund and pulchritudinous / And I hope that that’s correct, the way that I used ‘pulchritudinous'”.
5. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
With an impressive amount of fourteen studio albums under their belt, The Cure released Songs of a Lost World on November 1st, their first in 16 years since 2008’s 4:13 Dream. The atmospherically dark album quickly rose to #1 on the UK Albums chart.
6. The Jesus Lizard – Rack
Fans of Shellac will probably also love The Jesus Lizard. Equally loud and hectic, Rack is their seventh studio album released September 13th on Ipecac Recordings. It is their first studio album release in 26 years since 1998’s Blue. The Jesus Lizard are just as scathingly powerful as ever.
Concerts
I won’t lie, I probably cannot remember every concert I have been to this year because there was so many. Not really a bad problem to have! Here’s six that stood out for me:
1. PJ Harvey at The Salt Shed, Chicago, 9/20/24
I waited so many years for the moment I could finally see PJ Harvey. The show was sold out (of course) and I was absolutely mesmerized with her artistic performance.
2. Knocked Loose at The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 11/1/24
The tour for the release of You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To had a stacked lineup; DRAIN, Militarie Gun and Danny Brown were at their Chicago stop, all of which were absolutely fire. Knocked Loose recently played on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and while there was some laughable complaints from viewers watching, it is great to see more hardcore/metal representation to larger audiences.
3. OFF! at Lincoln Hall, Chicago, 7/18/24
OFF!’s show at Lincoln Hall was bittersweet; it was a final farewell show for the band and also originally had legendary Steve Albini’s band Shellac on the lineup. Despite the sadness of both of these, it was still a great show and Chicago-local band FACS stepped in to fill in some rather large shoes, and did so wonderfully.
4. Death From Above 1979 at Metro, Chicago, 11/7/24
DFA1979 toured for their 20th anniversary of album You’re a Women, I’m a Machine this year, and will continue the tour into 2025. The Canadian noisy dance punk duo teamed up with another favorite band of mine, garage punk duo Teen Mortgage, to deliver an incredibly fun and energetic performance. I am always blown away by the lighting set up DFA1979 has.
5. Riot Fest, Chicago, 9/20-22
Of course Riot Fest is going to make the list! Every year I have such a fun time and discover new artists that I cannot wait to talk about. Just a few highlights from this year was GEL, Drug Church, Health, the Laura Jane Grace/Catbite mashup performing an Operation Ivy set and…*drumroll*…the John Stamos butter statue.
6. H.O.O.F. at Blue Island Beer Company, Blue Island, 10/19/24
You might have seen a lot about H.O.O.F. here at Dying Scene lately. The Chicago local music festival celebrating the women, femmes, and thems of the punk scene was a huge success this year!
Honorable mention: Chelsea Wolfe at The Vic Theatre, Chicago, 3/19/24
This is an honorable mention because Chelsea Wolfe is more on the goth/doom side of things, not quite punk. However, watching her live was another dream come true. I was fortunate to be able to photograph her as well, check that gallery out here!
Concert Photos
Another category that is hard to narrow down are my favorite concert photos from this year, but let’s try!
Honorable mentions 😉
Needs more concert pics? Check some out here and also throughout Dying Scene! Enjoy the bonus playlist below from all the bands featured here, both new and old hits!