The Top 5 Concerts I Saw in 2012: 5. Childish Gambino, Skrillex at Bonnaroo (tie). 4. Japandroids at the Firebird. 3. Alabama Shakes at Bonnaroo. 2. TuNeYaRds at Bonnaroo. 1. Bob Mould at Wonder Ballroom, Portland, Oregon. To celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of its release, Mould played the seminal Sugar album Copper Blue from start to finish to open the show. The crowd could have been sent home happy right then, but the indomitable Mould went on another hour, playing much of the outstanding "Silver Age" as well as several Husker Du songs.
Top 5 Music Resolutions: 5. Stop deriding others for their deficient taste in music. After all, if they are going to actually listen to that Kenny Chesney album, isn't that punishment enough? 4. Go back, as I go forward. Too often I am guilty of only caring about the music of the moment in an effort to keep up. It is just as important to listen to those who came before and influenced what we enjoy today. 3. Stop singing impossibly dorky elevator songs while wearing douchey hats. (Whoops, that one is for Jason Mraz). 2. Learn the guitar. My hope is that learning an instrument will enhance my love of music and make me feel less of a hypocrite for pushing my daughters to play the piano without being able to play anything more than a kazoo myself. 1. Never stop rocking. This is the only resolution I have been able to keep in every one of my 40 years. Music is important to the health of one's soul. When you stop making music a part of your everyday life, when you stop attempting to expand your musical horizons, a part of you dies. Never stop.
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