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RTE Bonus: Top 5 of 2012

2012 was a good year for me, which was nice after 2011's shitshow. I accomplished so many things I wanted to - 15,000 minutes in the gym, 20 books read, increased philanthropy, hitting some financial milestones. I took myself on some amazing adventures - the Eiffel Tower, the West End, Austin City Limits Festival, ending happy hour with a beach bonfire, dressing up like a zombie and not crying at my own reflection, starting a new job that I love. All that, plus I saw some incredible live music.

Trying to pick the top five concerts from this past year was hard - top five performances? top five experiences? In the end, I went with the five that now, however many months later, I can still remember exactly how awesome the show made me feel.

In no particular order:

fun. - April 25, 2012
"And I really do believe, that if everyone could feel the way I felt driving home that night - exhilarated, alive, in love with life, able to conquer anything - the world would be a much better place."

Mumford & Sons - August 7, 2012
"...I couldn't understand how the majority of these songs were simultaneously so melancholy and so sensual. Like, kissing someone while crying is usually so awkward but that's exactly what the majority of this makes you want to do. Sit down in someone's lap and cry all over his face while you kiss the heck out of him (just me?)."

Snow Patrol - March 7, 2012
"This was such a special night for me - seeing one of my very favorite bands for the first time, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, while on the vacation of a lifetime."

Florence + the Machine - October 12, 2012
"At the beginning of 'Dog Days', she indicated that it was a tradition and the plinky beginning of the song started. She started to hop up and down. The whole crowd started to hop up and down. It built and built and built until the song seemingly erupted out of the anticipation. That was the moment - being in that crowd clap-clap/clapping while singing along like a fool and bopping around like crazy. It felt like being enveloped in joy."

Dave Matthews Band - July 3, 2012
"The tease of Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' during 'Lie in Our Graves' made me lose my mind, looking around to make sure that others heard it. The really long vamp into 'Funny the Way It Is' was everything a jam should be - a long, slow tease that built and built (with Dave muttering random song titles over it) until it exploded into the first verse."

Honorable Mentions: The Sheepdogs (for shear awesomeness), The Leagues (for the unexpected surprise of an awesome opening band), The Features (for starting a new obsession)

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