I thought of a lot of wildly awesome moments from 2011 that I neglected to include amid the epic story of love and theft, career and disaster, trials and travel. I also neglected some records I wish I had included in my list of “Best of.” So this follow up post is 100% awesome, and mostly just photos and lists.
Like the photo above, where Blair sprang 20th row seats to the Braves v. Cubs game in August on me for my birthday. But it wasn’t just any Braves/Cubs game. In this game:
– Dan Uggla broke the Braves hit-streak at 32, by going 3-3 with 2 HR
– Chipper Jones, Jose Constanza and Freddie Freeman all homered
– Bobby Cox had his jersey retired
– Carlos Zambrano was tossed, from the mound, in the 5th for throwing at Chipper
Braves won 10-4. Mike Minor got the win.
Pitt 27, Kentucky 10 in the BBVA Compass Bowl. I’m fairly confident I was the only person at this game on January 8 in Birmingham and at the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale on January 10.
The Alabama Shakes had a phenomenal year. From Athens, Alabama, I watched them open for the Drive-By Truckers in Tuscaloosa. I’m eager to watch them grow.
Shonna Tucker left the Drive-By Truckers this year. Here she is from the same show in Tuscaloosa.
UAB’s annual loss to Memphis – this one in overtime.
I watched a Civil War re-enactment. It was fun.
I went to a zoo. I saw this elephant.
Dexateens tornado relief show at Egan’s in Tuscaloosa.
I had a lot of friends at my apartment to watch the Auburn v. Mississippi State game. At some point, we walked outside and noticed a gaping hole in the street below my porch. Here, Joey is standing in it. To this day, the hole has not been repaired, it has only had blinking signs put around it.
Rihanna at the BJCC. For tornado relief.
More from Kid Rock at the BJCC.
Gogol Bordello at Bonnaroo
Greg finds $20 and half a key chain on the ground at Bonnaroo
Huey Lewis and the News at Chastain Park in Atlanta
Another Monotonix shot from BottleTree
Greenhill’s The Secret Sisters open the first Abalabip! show at the Alabama Theatre, showcasing the “Year of Alabama Music.”
My Morning Jacket in Tuscaloosa. For tornado relief
Tornado Rider. On the bar at The Nick. One of the best shows I saw in a year I saw a lot of great shows. Just couldn’t crack the Top Ten.
More from Taylor Swift
Taylor talking to a group of 20 of us in the Vibe Room.
We went to the UAB v. Central Florida game. It was a very bad year for UAB. No one was at the game. When I say no one, I literally counted 800 individual heads. Here, Joey is planking. Six months after planking was cool.
Forgotten Record Mentions
I knew I would hate myself for the first list. But I’m not going to redo it, I’ll just mention other records I loved, have grown to love over the last weeks of the year/first few days of this one. In no order.
– Beats Antique – Elektraphone
– Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
– Cults – Cults
– Skrillex – Bangarang EP
– TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
– Jay Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne
– Bon Iver – Bon Iver
– The Decemberists – The King is Dead
– The Roots – Undun
– Wilco – The Whole Love
– Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Okay. I think I’m done now. 2012 is filling up quickly. So, goodbye 2011! It was fun!
Blake Ells 