Man, what a year. It started with the loss of a friend, then terrible grief with another friend; work frustration, then an unexpected career change. But through it all ran a theme of friendship, learning, and growth. And baseball. And—of course—music. Oh, and I also turned 40! I’m looking forward to continued friendship, learning, and growth and baseball in 2019, but for now the journal of my year through music, with a collection of my favorite personal moments. Happy New Year!
Favorite Songs of 2018
’The Tree of Forgiveness,’ John Prine
‘Dream State,’ Son Lux
‘Begin Again,’ El Coyote
‘Living In The Future.’ Dawes
’The Bottle Never Lets Me Down,’ Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
‘Damn Your Eyes,’ Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa
‘Don’t Stop,’ Jon Batiste
‘Love You So Bad,’ Ezra Furman
’Not Running,’ The Beths
‘One Day At A Time,’ American Aquarium
‘Holy Water,’ Cody Jinks
‘Wish You Well,’ Emma Louise
‘Once In My Life,’ The Decemberists
‘Little Dark Age,’ MGMT
‘Pure Comedy,’ Father John Misty
‘Hunter,’ Anna Calvi
’Try,’ Red Shahan
’Things Have Changed,’ Bettye LaVette
Favorite Albums of 2018
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Years
El Coyote, Begin Again
Brian Eno, Music For Installations
Emma Louise, Lilac Everything
Cat Power, Wanderer
Son Lux, Brighter Wounds
Anna Calvi, Hunter
Kamasi Washington, Heaven & Earth
Dawes, Passwords
John Prine, The Tree of Forgiveness
Brandi Carlile, By The Way, I Forgive You
John Coltrane, Both Direction At Once: The Lost Album
Kurt Vile, Loading Zones
The Beths, Future Me Hates Me
Soccer Mommy, Clean
Snail Mail, Clean
The Joy Formidable, Aaarth
Ezra Furman, Transangelic Exodus
Favorite Shows of 2018
American Aquarium, Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA 8/11/18
Foo Fighters, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA 9/1/18
Dawes, Showbox, Seattle, WA 10/1/18
Pearl Jam, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA 8/8/18
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA 7/25/18
Milk Carton Kids, Showbox, Seattle, WA 11/1/18
Absinthe, Las Vegas, NV 03/10/18
Harrison B, Barboza, Seattle, WA 12/1/18
Erin Rae & the Heartbeets, Columbia City Theatre, Seattle, WA 7/26/18
Primus, Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA 6/22/18
Nada Surf, Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA 5/14/18
Devotchka, Showbox, Seattle, WA 9/20/18
The Joy Formidable, Neumos, Seattle, WA 10/28/18
Dawes, Crystal Theatre, Portland, ME 9/14/18
Defining Moments of 2018 (in chronological order)
Becoming a part of the Seattle music community and making new friends here
Jen’s birthday in Vegas!
Opening Day with Jason and the entire baseball season
Spending a weekend in Santa Cruz with Donna (Movies! Pizza!)
Spending a Sunday in Sacramento with Dave (bowling!)
Hanging out with Rich in San Diego
Spending a few days with my Dad in Santa Cruz
Exploring Seattle and Vancouver Island with Clayton and Thatcher
Being taught by Bill how to catch, throw, and bat
Pro baseball lesson for my birthday
Exploring Maine with Jen and enjoying time with Julie, Dave and Cora
Whale Watching with Jen, Sarah, and Leah
Performing with two local bands on Halloween
Continued learning and deciding to go back to school in 2019
Running a successful consulting business
Joining Erin Rae & the Heartbeets on bass, rehearsing, and recording
Thanksgiving in Seattle and Christmas in Houston
Mine and Jen’s 2nd Annual ‘Holiday Party’