I was planning to post this on actual Festivus, but I got distracted in the best way possible (getting together with old friends and playing Super Smash Bros.). In any case, it's less of a holiday post and more of an end-of-the-year-lollapalooza sort of thing. I started out with just the odds & ends but somehow this turned into an actual project that involved me reviewing all my blog posts from this year, because it's Christmas Festivus break and there is time for these things.
So without further ado, here's my Favorites of 2014 post, i.e. a rambly recap of stuff I blogged about in 2014, with probably too many links.
Nikki's Favorites of 2014
Favorite Concert: It was an *excellent* year for shows. I got to see three of my very favorites: Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, and Tom Petty, plus was introduced to Deerhoof, Mac DeMarco, and awesome local band James Rabbit. I saw OK Go for a 7th and 8th time, the Mountain Goats for a second, and The Spencer Owen Timeshare for an umpteenth (I added some photos!). But I think my favorite show, even with the obnoxious drunk couple next to us, was Kishi Bashi. It was so much fun and I'm super stoked he's coming back to play at the Palace of Fine Arts next month!
Favorite New Album: My favorite for purely personal reasons (plus the fact that "I Won't Let You Down" is my jam) was Hungry Ghosts. OK Go foreverrrrrrrr.
Favorite Rockstar Tweet: Probably Ringo and his gratuitous use of emojis.
Favorite Book: So like everything on here, I'm subject to extreme bias, and also I didn't read that many books that actually came out in 2014. I did really love I'll Give You the Sun (YA), but Wolf In White Van was both my most anticipated and most enjoyed.
Favorite Movie: Boyhood. For a disgustingly sentimental person like me, there's no other choice.
Favorite Obsession: Queeeeeeen! Music videos in drag, songs about space, Roger Taylor's face, etc. It was bound to happen. (I wonder if I'll ever stop being such a fangirl...I sure hope not.)
Oh yeah, and those resolutions? I like to think they were pretty successful. The big accomplishment was redoing this blog and moving it over to Wordpress, which I'm still very happy about. And I definitely listened to more records, thanks to spurts of record-hunting with Alex and the addition of biweekly game nights at our apartment (listening to Vangelis while playing Wiz War is super legit). The last resolution was to read more, which I have been (I joined a book club at work!). But I have to admit, I'm only still halfway through that Beatles biography, hahah. For 2015: finish that Beatles biography!!
A few more odds & ends:
- Joe Cocker: we lost a great voice in rock and blues the other day. :( If watching a waterfront performance with my dad from a kayak in the San Diego Bay counts, Joe Cocker was my first concert. I used to listen to his Beatles covers on record and imitate his spastic way of singing. Mandatory video link: "Con un poco de ayuda de mis amigos" :)
- I get weirdly into watching chick flicks when I'm at home for the holidays (probably in the same way Alex always watches classic action movies while I'm away). This week I've already watched Love Actually and You've Got Mail, and next on the list is Hannah and her Sisters...although you probably wouldn't classify that one as a chick flick.
- I also tend to rekindle my silent movie love when I have lots of spare time alone. This year, it's Buster all the way. I've been watching YouTube videos like a fiend. I don't think I've ever fully expressed how much of a dreamboat I think Buster Keaton is, so I will leave you with this, a montage of Buster's romantic escapades throughout film:
https://youtu.be/4UKTIbaXOSY?si=VzhwncSzJ_Cf59kN