At the beginning of the season I told friends and coworkers that I thought this Duke team would back a bowl game. Everyone laughed.

And yet

This wasn’t supposed to end this way: victory over UNC, first bowl game in 18 years, amazing crowd cheering the team on at the bowl… That story should end with a victory, but football is a cruel game.

Still, though, during the final play a familiar Duke basketball rang through the football stadium: Thank You Seniors! Thank You Seniors! Thank You Seniors!

Jackson Anderson, Kenny Anunike, Lee Butler, Jordon Byas, Walt Canty, Teddy Force, Tony Foster, Austin Gamble, Travis Gibson, Conor Irwin, Patrick Kurunwune, Brian Moore, Sean Renfree, Desmond Scott, Conner Vernon

Thanks y’all.

With special thanks to Sean Renfree & Conner Vernon.

Hopefully building on your four years next year, hopefully we’ll be back at a bowl game next year, hopefully it’ll end better.

And isn’t it nice to end a Duke football season not just with the familiar pain and heartbreak, but also with pride and hope.

This isn’t about my most techically perfect photos, or the most sale-able, or the most viewed. Those lists would all look very different. These are my favorite concert photos I took this year. If I had to pick 20 photos to remember my year in concerts by, it would be these 20.

1/14/12- Spider Bags, Local 506

1/14/12 – Red Collar, Local 506

2/4/12- Grogh, Casbah

2/4/12- Braveyoung, Casbah

2/7/12- Samantha Crain, Local 506

3/23/12- The Avett Brothers, Kings

4/7/12- Midtown Dickens, Cradle

5/18/12- The Wigg Report, Carrack

6/6/12- The Beast, Motorco

6/23/12- Schooner, Pinhook

6/30/12- Random Orbits, Motorco Garage

6/30/12- Arliss Nancy, Motorco Garage

7/6/12- JKutchma & The Five Fifths, Pinhook

8/4/12- Janelle Monae, ArtsCenter

9/7/12- Pipe, Slim’s

9/7/12- Midtown Dickens, White Collar Crime

9/8/12- Jane Jane Pollock, Pour House

9/8/12- Whatever Brains, Slim’s

10/23/12- Red Collar, Pinhook

12/15/12- Reese McHenry & company, Kings

This year I started shooting a fair amount of video, so here are my 10 favorite videos I shot this year (not including the videos from Hopscotch proper, which are still being culled and edited for official posting):

1. Red Collar – Pilgrim – this is why rock and roll is awesome and transformative

2. American Aquarium with Chip Robinson – Abe Lincoln

3. Reese McHenry & company – Think

4. Arliss Nancy – Abacus (Racing in the Street)

5. Josh Ritter – Lillian, Egypt

6. Red Collar – Jinx Removing (Jawbreaker)

7. Cory Brannan – Skateland South

8. Filthybird – Night Comes In (Richard & Linda Thompson)

9. JKutchma – Durham Bull

10. Widowspeak – Wicked Game (Chris Issak)

Happy days. Celebrate how you celebrate if you celebrate. Enjoy the days.

For the folks who aren’t feeling so celebratory:

And for the folks who are:

1. 1/14/12 – Red Collar w/ Spider Bags & Rat Jackson – Local 506
I love when a show early in the year sets the bar high. And all year long no single show topped this one. Just a fantastic kick start to the year. From Rat Jackson covering Alan Jackson to Reese McHenry joining Spider Bags on stage to the energy and passion Red Collar poured into every moment – this show was packed full of memorable moments. photo set

2. 4/19/12 – John Darnielle, Mac McCaughan & Greg Cartwright – Motorco
Amazing night for a great cause. A completely unique chance to see these three songwriters trade songs and play off each other. photo set

3. 5/10/12 – Des Ark w/Midtown Dickens – Tir Na Nog
The best show Local Beer Local Band show I saw all year. But what really makes this night stand so high on my list is that it was exactly the show I needed at that moment. photo set

4. 4/27/12 – Lucero w/J Roddy Walston & The Business – Orange Peel
This show was nearly a shoe in, after all we decided to drive to Asheville to see the combo of Lucero w/ J Roddy opening. At the same time it was a show I had mighty high expectations for. They were more than met. photo set

5. 6/9/12 – Bombadil w/ JKutchma & the 5/5ths- The Farm
I really hope there are more shows at The Farm next year. Absolutely a stunning place to see a show. The scenrey adds to the music; the chance sit in a chair on the grass listening to great local music chorus with the sounds of night setting in on a summer night. photo set

6. 8/24/12 – Reigning Sound w/Last Year’s Men – Nightlight
Reigning Sound at Nightlight? Yes, please. photo set

7. 9/29/12 – Team Dresch w/ The Butchies & The Tomboys – Pinhook outdoor stage
Another year, another amazing Pinhook concert for Pride. This year, finally, the chance to see Team Dresch. photo set

8. 2/18/12 -Ted Leo w/ Mac McCaughan – Coffeehouse
Great night. Never had the chance to see Ted Leo play before this, but the highlight of the night may just have been McCaughan talking about the first show he saw at the Coffeehouse. photo set

9. 5/11/12 – Vandaveer – Local 506
I love to see full shows, and am saddened when a band doesn’t draw as well as I hoped. And man, y’all all missed this one. It meant we got to sit on the riser at 506 and enjoy an amazing and intimate Vandaveer show. Lovely. photo set

10. 1/6/12 – Crooked Fingers w/ Mount Moriah – Kings
What a great way to kick off the year. A packed Kings, great sets by both bands.

Up next in the year count down: favorite videos & favorite photos.