As part of our year-end wrapup, the staff has put together their top moments of 2012 and are sharing them with you, enjoy!

As a freelance music journalist, I am blessed with the opportunity to go to countless concerts and festivals every year. Some of these performances are good, some so-so, and some stick with me for the rest of the year (or years in many cases). Though many stood out to me this year, below are my Top 5 Most Memorable Performances of 2012, by new bands of course.

5. Death Grips At Echoplex, December 6, 2012

Known as the most controversial band of the year for their shenanigans involving screwing with “The Man,” getting signed and dropped from Epic Records, canceling a month-long tour at the pique of their hype, and releasing a sophomore album that forces listeners to walk around with a picture of a wang on their iPods, Death Grips has had a hell of a year. But despite the connotation they’ve associated themselves with to record labels, fans are still loyal, and in return producer/drummer Zach Hill and rapper MC Ride give an intense, sweat-drenched performance without any pauses that will get engraved in your mind just like that damn album cover.

4. Jack White At The Shrine, August 11, 2012

Though Jack White is not a new musician by any means, he released his debut solo record this year to much acclaim and has been touring in support of the album for the better half of 2012. Aside from the fact that White is a profoundly talented songwriter and guitarist, what makes his solo performances so interesting is twofold: He doesn’t play with a set list, so neither the audience nor his backing band knows what to expect that night, and he chooses between an all female or all male band the day of the show, so you never know who you’ll see him play with. Add the fact that he throws in selections from The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather and you’ve got yourself a damn entertaining performance.

3. Father John Misty At Austin City Limits, October 13, 2012

Father John Misty’s debut album, Fear Fun, has been topping many of this year’s “Best Of” lists and for good reason. The ex-Fleet Fox takes that band’s brand of flannel folk and turns it on its head with twangy guitar riffs and rockabilly harmonies for his solo endeavor, but honestly I hadn’t given the record many spins before I headed down south for Austin City Limits this year. Though I hadn’t heard much I decided to watch his set, and it completely blew me away. His recorded material is a little on the slower end of the spectrum, but the way band-founder Josh Tillman swaggers and sways during his live performances breathes new life into the songs. After returning to Los Angeles from Austin I immediately housed the album in my car CD player and haven’t stopped listening since.

2. Foxygen At The Echo, September 19, 2012

Foxygen, hands down, is my favorite new band of 2012, and here’s why: The band’s founding members, vocalist Sam France and guitarist Jonathan Rado, are only 22 years old and they write music that sounds like it came directly from The Rolling Stones or The Kinks. They’re prodigies, to say the least, and this is reflected in their live performances. France has already nailed Mick Jagger’s swagger without conveying any sort of Rock Star misdemeanor, and Rado is proficient in his guitar playing ability. The duo’s debut album, Take The Kids Off Broadway, is on my best of 2012 list, and I’m sure this will be name you’ll hear a lot more often in 2013.

1. Gotye At The Greek Theatre, September 4, 2012

To anyone who thinks Gotye receiving the Number One spot on this list is a cop out; let me ask if you’ve ever listened to either of his records from beginning to end. What frustrates me most about Wouter De Backer is that he had to go and write that damn hit song, “Somebody That I Used To Know.” Though this track jumpstarted his career, it also may have killed his credibility to some, but let me tell you, he is so much more than this song, and anyone who’s seen him live knows this. In 2012 I saw Gotye perform at The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Coachella, Greek Theatre and Austin City Limits, and each time he impressed me. De Backer is a cunning personality and outstanding artist. During one set, he will jump behind a drum kit, play keys, guitar, sing; he does it all. And behind him and his band projects intricate and custom-created animations that sync perfectly to the music. Not only is a Gotye show an outstanding performance, it’s an experience, and he deserves to be known for that instead of one song.

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