Tis the Season for Lists!

Driving out to the burbs the other day (and, yes, probably judging the music they were playing), I laughed at the DJ who admitted that he hadn’t realized that December 31 would be the end of a year and a decade. I laughed even though it was news to me, too.

Maybe the end of a decade seems anti-climatic after the end of the millennium. Maybe the end of a decade seems less important than the march of time that continues on my own age, as well as humanity’s. Maybe the end of this particular decade is overshadowed by the end of a particularly crappy 2009 and I don’t really want to be bothered with extraneous and unnecessary observances.

But a decade is a good, healthy amount of time, and it does make for interesting retrospection. I started this decade as a senior in high school and will end it far away in New York (though just for a visit), a city that was far from my imagination while ringing in 2000. One constant has been the music, which first became important in my life around the time we were all storing bottled water in fear of Y2K.

Which got me thinking about my decade in music and the many genres and bands that have shaped the 2000s for me. This is a blog, not a dissertation, so I’ll spare you the lengthy list I came up with, but here are my top 5 musical highlights.

5) Titus Andronicus at the Market Hotel in Brooklyn (2009)

An amazing show, great energy, and my very first crowd surf (yes, I was a late bloomer).

It wasn’t nearly this well lit, though.

4) Thais starring Renee Fleming at the Lyric Opera of Chicago (2003)

Fleming is a commanding soprano, and even in the worst of the worst nosebleed seats, I felt like her voice could have knocked me over.

3) “From Here to Infirmary” by Alkaline Trio (2001)

One of my favorites from a band I will never be too old to listen to.

2) “I Miss You” by Amy Gerhartz (2007)

The realization my friend had such tremendous talent was quite a shock, but this song was a especially meaningful at a time when it hit particularly close to home. And I still cry when I hear it.

1) Airborne Toxic Event at Mercury Lounge for CMJ (2007).

My first CMJ show, my introduction to a band I still love, and the beginning of my hunt for fun indie experiences.

Your turn. What song, band, show inspired you this year, decade, life? All entries welcome!

*By Jesy, who is wondering where this Bears offense was all year… especially now that it doesn’t matter.

Similar Posts:

• Alkaline Trio – This Addiction – 2/23/10
• Alkaline Trio – Agony & Irony indeed
• Airborne Toxic Event, Moving On Up