Things I've Done Over the Past Few Months 

Aside from working 60+ hours a week, I've been lucky enough to go to some pretty cool stuff over the past couple of months.

It started with seeing Ben Folds at The Orpheum.

Ben Folds at The Orpheum

Actually not one of my favorite Ben Folds' shows, but it even a bad Ben show is pretty fun. He played his whole new album as his set (followed by an encore of solo and Ben Folds Five stuff), which would normally be ok, except the album hadn't come out yet.

Next up was the first Dear Leader show in a good while at TT the Bears.

Dear Leader at TT The Bears

I love me some Dear Leader. It'd been awhile since they'd played together, but it was just like old times.

I also was lucky enough to see Fleet Foxes play in Somerville. Such a great great sound.

Fleet Foxes at The Somerville Theater

Then, I got to go take advantage of my season tickets and see opening night of the Celtics, watching them raise the 17th NBA Championship banner. It was a moment that solidified to me that I've always been a bigger Cs fan than a Sox fan (though it's close). I loved being at opening day in 2005 when the Red Sox raised that first banner in 86 years. Being at the Garden and watching the Celtics raise the first banner in 22 years had a much more significant impact on me. Just the byproduct of growing up with the original Big Three, I guess.

Celtics Raise Banner 17

Later, another one my favorite unknownish bands played *their* first show in a while. Stellastarr* rocked out at Great Scott and the gf and I got to watch from about 5 feet away.

stellastarr* at Great Scott

Being 5 feet away left me with some temporary hearing issues, which thankfully went away the next night, where we went and saw The Decemberists at The Orpheum, and what might be my favorite show of the year.

The Decemberists at The Orpheum

A week or so later, we headed over to The Paradise to see an entirely different type of band, as Bang Camaro came and rocked our faces off.

Bang Camaro at The Paradise

Changing styles yet again, the gf surprised me and took me to see someone I consider quite possibly the greatest pop musician/performer of all time: Brian Wilson. While it's a bit depressing to see him perform these days, it's just such a monumental thing to be *seeing Brian Wilson.*

Brian Wilson at The Orpheum

Finally, thanks again to my wonderful gf, we got some upgraded Celtics seats and rather than sitting in section 305 row 11, we sat in section 6 row 3.

Tony Allen Dunk

And now I'm on vacation. So, expect to read some more from me.