Top Ten of 2013 by Roy Coughlin
“transcends the forms and wrestles with the truths of existence”
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1. BEST REUNION SHOW THAT DOUBLED AS AN EMOTIONAL TOUR OF MY PAST: Neutral Milk Hotel at the 40 Watt Club on November 24th, 2013
The long-awaited reunion of influential band Neutral Milk Hotel finally came to pass in 2013. I was fortunate to get a ticket to one of the 3 shows in their hometown of Athens, Georgia. The show more than exceeded the hype and anchored what became an intense and rewarding trip home for me too. I wrote all about it for NAILED in my review/essay, "Life We Used To Love: Neutral Milk Hotel."
2. SIMPLEST YET MOST EFFECTIVE IMAGE REPRESENTING THE STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN AMERICA: Wendy Davis' pink running shoes
When the Texas Senate attempted to pass Senate Bill 5, intended to enact new restrictions on women's access to abortions, Senator Wendy Davis filibustered it for over 11 hours. Largely because of this filibuster, the bill wasn't passed until the deadline for the end of the legislative session had passed, effectively killing it (although it later passed in a second session). Suddenly Wendy Davis and the pink running shoes she wore that day were all over the news. A lot has been written about the unfair and often detrimental coverage of women politicians' clothes, but the image of those pink sneakers rang true for a lot of us as a symbol of struggle and perseverance.
(A close runner-up image is that of Davis' putting on a back brace, which is referenced beautifully in the poem "Wendy Davis VS The World," by NAILED contributor Robyn Bateman.)
photo credit: Eric Gay/AP
3. SURPRISINGLY-EST GOOD SHOW BY A BAND THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WELL AND ATTENDED MOSTLY BECAUSE MY FRIEND IS IN THE BAND: Man Or Astro-Man at Doug Fir on May 17th, 2013
I spent the late 1990s and early 2000s in Georgia, and Man Or Astro-Man was part of the soundtrack. The surf-y, mostly instrumental Alabama band was always just there catching the edge of my radar, but I didn't pay all that much attention. In fact, when I found out a couple years ago that my friend Sam was playing guitar with them, my first thought was, "They're still around?" They were, and when they played in town I went, largely because I wanted to see Sam tearing it up on stage again. Lucky me, the show was a blast. They were tight and energizing, with a great stage setup that included multiple screens projecting images behind the band, playing up the sci-fi themes they've always indulged in but never letting the camp overwhelm the rock. I sometimes forget how fun rock n' roll can and should be, and Man or Astro-Man gave me a much needed reset that night. The new album they were supporting is a deceptively nuanced take on the form they've been working in for over 20 years now.
4. FUNNIEST-HUMBLEST-MOST RELEVANT ESSAY ABOUT A "WOMEN'S" SUBJECT BY A MALE COMEDIAN: Rob Delaney's abortion essay
Rob Delaney is perhaps best known as the King of Twitter, squishing strange and hilarious jokes into 140 characters. His tweets can be ridiculous, but they often manage to weave in astute social and political commentary. Delaney's essays can also walk that same line between funny and serious. In July, The Guardian published his essay, "Why I Support Women's Access to Safe, Legal Abortion," in which Delaney explains how much he loves making babies with his wife yet wholeheartedly supports the right to choose. It's not a tidy argument or read (which aptly mirrors the complexity of his thoughts about the subject), but it thankfully doesn't come off as a finger-wagging lesson or self-righteous polemic, both of which would rub a lot of people wrong, especially coming from a man on this subject. It's thoughtful and honest and a good reminder that allies of the abortion-rights movement can come from many places, even from a male comedian who "combusts with excitement" when he hears someone he knows is pregnant.
5. MOST ANACHRONISTIC CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES BY A MODERN INDUSTRIALIZED NATION: Russia's treatment of its LGBT citizens
A year after putting members of punk protest band Pussy Riot in prison, the Russian government again kicked civil rights in the teeth by passing a law banning the spreading of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations." Essentially, the government said, "Don't talk about gay rights, gay marriage, or gay equality under the law." This gem of legislation further fueled an already unhealthy environment in Russia, leading to increased (and now seemingly state-sanctioned) violence against members of the LGBT community. As far as we still have to go in the United States to secure civil rights for all our people, the situation in Russia right now helps to remind us how far we have actually come.
6. SILLIEST THINGS I PHOTOGRAPHED FROM MY WORK TRUCK AT MY DAY JOB:
7. MOST NAILED PIECE ON NAILED MAGAZINE THIS YEAR (I.E. THE ONE THAT MADE ME CRY HARDEST): Brian S. Ellis' Boston Marathon bombing essay
When I first heard about the bombing at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, I immediately thought of the people I knew who were from or had ties to that city. Brian Ellis was one of those people. The editors of NAILED were reticent to ask him to write about this, though we knew it was on his mind, but when we finally did he submitted this beautiful essay: "The Heart of the Boston Marathon." In the midst of a sensationalized news cycle, we asked him to pause and reflect on what the city and race meant to a native son, but he was already there in his mind and heart, because he's that kind of human.
"The running of the marathon in our modern era is at its core a refutation of death."
8. BEST BADASS AND NOT IRONIC COVER OF A TOOL SONG BY PRE-TEENS: Music teacher Aaron O’Keefe's class covering “46 & 2” by Tool
This one came in just under the wire as the year closed. One randomly shared link and I'm rocking the fuck out with some little kids. I love this Tool song even more than I already did.These kids totally nail it.That sweet girl's voice running through Maynard's fucked up lyrics about evolving? The rhythm section holding shit DOWN (cymbal grabs!)? The sudden tiny little boy with the claves? Are you kidding me?! Brilliant.
9. HARDEST LOSS OF A VOICE FOR THE LONELY: The death of Jason Molina
My friend Gabe sent me a text message on March 18th with the news that the musician Jason Molina had died. I got online and read this post from Molina's friend, and Chunklet magazine publisher, Henry Owings. It was true. And what the hell will we do now, I thought. It's strange to admit that the biggest death ever in my life was a singer-songwriter I only met a couple times, but it was. Jason Molina wasn't just a musician I admired whose music moved me, he was the closest thing to a spiritual hero I reckon I'll ever have. In the big picture of celebrity deaths, Molina's barely registered; but for some of us, his was the moon going black before our eyes. I wrote this piece for NAILED within days of hearing the news.
10. MOST NAILED COMMENTARY ON LIFE BY A MAINSTREAM COMEDIAN ON NATIONAL TELEVISION: Louis C.K. on Conan
*A Note from the Current Editor: This post remains published in the interest of preserving our archives. Links and images relating to C.K. have been removed.*
A lot of American comedy in the last 10 years has reached a good balance between thoughtful social commentary and funny, and nobody does it better right now than Louis C.K. In both his standup act and his television show Louis, he transcends the forms and wrestles with the truths of existence, without sacrificing hilarity or vulgarity. There are so many such Louis moments floating around the Internet (his rant on The Tonight Show about the historical context of slavery is exceptional), but this one is the best. He's always great when riffing on parenting ("I'm not raising the children, I'm raising the grownups that they're gonna be."), but it's the second half about the value of empathy and feeling sadness that resonates most with me.
"Sadness is poetic. You're lucky to live sad moments."
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