Happy New Year! Before the year comes to a close I wanted to just mention a few of my favorite musical happenings from 2009.

Best 2009 Album Never Released: Pela’s Rise Ye Sunken Ships

I heard live versions of these songs and was eagerly awaiting this follow-up to Anytown Graffiti, but alas, the group broke up. So, recorded versions of “East Los Angeles”, “Rise”, “Juarez”, “Strange Days”, and “Augustine” are out there somewhere…if only they could make their way to my ears. Seriously, if you have them, send them along.

Best Group Reunion/Comeback: Boyz II Men

This was a surprise, to say the least. Apparently it was not the end of the road.

My prediction for musical reunion/comeback of 2010: Ok, so I wanted to say Kris Kross (the mack daddies of backwards clothing fame), but it turns out that they already reunited in 2007. So then it was Bell Biv DeVoe, but I found out they, too, have reunited, as did En Vogue, All-4-One…

Best Star Sighting at a Concert: Beyonce and Jay-Z and Co. at the Grizzly Bear show in Williamsburg in August. More pics here.

Notable Indie Rock Musicians Playing at Fancy Venues: M. Ward at the Apollo Theater, Band of Horses at Carnegie Hall, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Gilman Opera House at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Dark was the Night performers at Radio City Music Hall.

Best song that started as an SNL Joke song: “I Wish it was Christmas Today” featuring Strokes man Julian Casablancas.

Best Concert Line-Up: Dark was the Night at Radio City Music Hall. Really, how often do you get to see Bon Iver, Dirty Projectors, Feist, David Byrne, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, and The National all in one night?

David Byrne and Dirty Projectors

Best New Band: I’m going with Hockey.

Saddest Festival demise: Monolith Festival in Denver, CO. Read about the sad state of affairs here, and hey if you’ve got some extra millions maybe you can sponsor the festival this year.

Monolith Festival at Red Rocks main stage

Favorites songs of 2009:

“While you wait for the Others” by Grizzly Bear

“Slight Figure of Speech” by The Avett Brothers

“Too Fake” by Hockey.