Another self-explanatory post. We see a lot of shows as a team, as bros, etc. So here’s a list ranking our favorites of the year. What were some of your favorite performances?
-grizzly
Previous Year-End Lists: The Best of Television in 2012 | The Best of Sports on the Internet in 2012 | The Best Memes of 2012 | The Best Music Videos of 2012 | The Best Mixtapes of 2012
photo credit: weworemasks
10. Linkin Park/Incubus (Honda Civic Tour)
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion; The Woodlands, TX
August 28, 2012
This was just a good, commercial tour with two veteran bands who know how to put on entertaining sets. Say what you will about LP’s albums, but their live show is very impressive for a band who doesn’t necessarily have to care about it all that much. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad Incubus set. Wish we got there on time to see MUTEMATH though.
photo credit: weworemasks
9. Vans Warped Tour
Reliant Park; Houston, TX
July 1, 2012
This year’s Warped Tour lineup was the best in about 6 or 7 years. We were busy seeing bands all day, with great ones from the likes of Every Time I Die, Make Do and Mend, New Found Glory, Kris Roe, Bayside and Polar Bear Club. Hopefully the Vans folks keep up the good work with the lineup building and keep the good times rollin’, and thus, keeping my old ass in the crowds.
photo credit: weworemasks
8. Deftones (Koi No Yokan US Tour)
Sunken Gardens Amphitheater; San Antonio, TX
November 15, 2012
Deftones, despite how great they are on wax, are sort of an inconsistent live band. Sure, they’re great most of the time, but often times, they’ll play uninspired and lethargic in essence. Thankfully – this was NOT one of those times and far from it. The Sunken Garden Amphitheater provided a beautiful backdrop for a great set, too.
photo credit: Adam Sweeney
7. The Shins (SXSW Vevo Performance)
Spaghetti Warehouse; Austin, TX
March 16, 2012
There was absolutely nothing to dislike here. It was the first time for me to see The Shins in my 8ish-year love for the band, and there was an open bar sponsored by Titos Vodka and VEVO, who notoriously goofed at last year’s SXSW with the Kanye West performance. Don’t worry, they made up for it in droves with the successful planning and execution of this wonderful free show.
photo credit: twilightlemonade
6. The Faint (Danse Macabre Anniversary Tour)
Emo’s; Austin, TX
November 28, 2012
One of three road trip shows we made in the last couple months of the year, and it delivered. The Faint hadn’t been to Houston since 2006, and this Austin show was the next best thing. And the fact that they were doing Danse Macabre in its entirety was a clincher. The newly renovated Emo’s is quickly becoming one of my favorite venues in Texas.
photo credit: weworemasks
5. Converge (All We Love We Leave Behind US Tour)
Fitzgeralds; Houston, TX
November 3, 2012
Kids moshing, everyone sweating and Converge thrashing about without a care in the world made this one of the best shows of the year. I’ve been going to hardcore shows since I was 15, and Converge’s display was one of the most intense shows I’ve ever been a part of. Missing Fun Fun Fun Fest (mainly Refused) was offset with the opportunity to check a Converge performance off the list. Jacob Bannon is a monster.
photo credit: SCKNOWS
4. Kendrick Lamar (Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City US Tour)
Warehouse Live; Houston, TX
December 29, 2012
I held off doing this particular year-end list because I was seeing Kendrick Lamar perform on the ass end of 2012, and I’m glad for the holdout. The young and exciting emcee’s postponed show at Warehouse Live was everything everyone hoped for it to be. Rap shows have the tendencies to not be intense, but when you have a wall-to-wall packed Warehouse Live singing every word to every song, you’re definitely proven wrong. The love for Kendrick Lamar is strong in Houston.
photo credit: weworemasks
3. Thrice (Farewell US Tour)
Emos/Warehouse Live; Austin & Houston, TX
May 10 & 11, 2012
I mean, I’ve seen this band live about 25 times. For every album, every tour, etc. The outfit has yet to disappointment with a performance, so for their farewell tour, I made sure to catch the show twice, so that the band’s farewell has plenty of residual feels to leave around in my mind. Great setlists both nights. Great everything.
photo credit: Sasha Ramos
2. Radiohead (King of Limbs US Tour)
Toyota Center; Houston, TX
March 3, 2012
One of your favorite all time bands comes through town and you get to see em. I first heard a Radiohead song in 1995 or something and so math not withstanding, I was able to cross Radiohead off of my bucket list. The only reason why this isn’t my number one show of the year is a combination of having upper deck seats and the setlist having about 4 too many King of Limbs songs. Other than that, perfect.
photo credit: National Post
1. Bloc Party (Four US Tour)
House of Blues; Dallas, TX
December 11, 2012
I fucking love Four. It’s one of my favorites of the year, so the attention paid to it in a live setting is fine by me. Couple that with the fact that I got to see it with all of the weworemasks crew in Dallas (another road tripper) and the whole experience gets the top notch on this list. Yet another personal bucketlister, and one of my favorite bands of the past decade make this one an easy choice.
photo credit: stereogum
Honorable Mentions:
a. The-Dream (SXSW)
Fader Fort; Austin, TX
March 15, 2012
Terius Nash brought a full band to the Fader Fort stage and performed an incredible, greatest hits set. The only reason it’s an honorable mention was due to the 30 minute set time, but I had a blast.
b. Against Me!/Fake Problems
Warehouse Live Studio; Houston, TX
November 1, 2012
Considering Sunbear has seen AM! like 473 times, it was important that I witness AM! live at least once. After getting into White Crosses, I obliged and did not regret the decision. The night was a ton of fun, with nothing but good ol’ rock jams from start to finish. Fake Problems weren’t too shabby either.
c. Schoolboy Q
Warehouse Live Studio; Houston, TX
June 30, 2012
This was a really fun show. With opening sets from my friends Dustin Cavazos and The Niceguys, it was all rounded out nicely. The only reason it was docked was because it was on “rap show” time, with everything running late as hell, and thus, killing any anticipation and excitement.
Hopefully 2013 will have plenty of great shows for us to get drunk at!
WEWOREMASKS IS DEAD. 
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