WARREN OAKES

Warren Oakes co-owns Boca Fiesta restaurant, plays drums in Sunshine State, and is a former member of Against Me!

What was the food highlight of your year?

My food highlight was a pilgrimage to the very recently closed Hot Doug's in Chicago. (RIP)

I have eaten at Doug's easily a dozen times over the past 8 years and consider it to be, perhaps the most perfectly executed concept I've ever experienced. The menu was focused and expansive simultaneously, with the format unwaveringly tube-shaped meat, but the variations were epic. I had venison, wild boar, kangaroo, foie gras, buffalo, elk, and reindeer dogs at various times, paired with duck fat fries on the weekends. As far as I know, Doug Himself took every single order every single day. Believe the legend! Hot Doug's was the real deal and will be missed. 

What was the music highlight of your year?

Directly after waiting in line at Hot Doug's for about 5 hours in order to get our final fix, my fearless co-pilot and I rented a car and drove to the twin cities to eat a Jucy Lucy (burger with a molten cheese core) at Matts bar in Minneapolis and then crossed over to St. Paul to see the Replacements! Old buds Hold Steady and Lucero opened the show and every band KILLED IT. Perfect combo trip of food and music. Shout out to MKR for being my partner in crime!

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

Eating Cuban sandwiches in Miami after a really fun Sunshine State show at Gramps deserves a nod. Yum!

@bocafiesta

ADAM ZUCKERT

Adam Zuckert works for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant in the LA area. He has played drums with Final Conflict, Garbage Hearts, Red Five, F-Minus, Matt Costa, 1971, and his solo project, Music for Bad Dreams. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

The costata alla fiorentina 42oz 175 prime dry-aged bone-in new york at Chi Spacca with 2001 Cathiard Aux Malconsorts, Vosne-Romanee was pretty amazing! The resto is all about grilled meats and this piece was singing. The wine was equally beautiful. In a great spot with developed aromas and flavors along with fruit.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Failure at El Rey, Los Angeles. Love the band and records back in the day and seeing the reunited playing their tunes after something like 16 years off was really fun. And they were good!

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

Yes, many times in NOLA! Pretty amazing how food and music are so revered there. Experiencing real deal jazz musicians at the legendary Preservation Hall and gulf seafood at so many of the city's restos is something not to be missed.

@adamzuckert

MATT EVANS

Matt Evans plays guitar in Old Flings, a rock band from Asheville, NC.

What was the food highlight of your year?

My food highlight of 2014 was discovering this great Pho place in Asheville, PHO R US. I mean, it has a horribly great name. The pho itself is quite extraordinary. I've been there about 20 times after discovering it in late 2014.

What was the music highlight of your year?

My music highlight of 2014 was probably playing FEST in Florida. Fest is such a good time with the right ingredients: people, music. I got to see a lot of folks that I hold dear to my heart.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

We played a sushi place in Toronto. It was my first time in Canada, so that made it memorable. The meal that I had was pretty good too.

@mattbbqevans

ANNE LEE HUFFMAN

Anne Lee Huffman owns Castle Gourmet Plant Based Cuisine and produces the EastSide Food Festival in LA. She is also a former record label owner, club promoter, and DJ.

What was the food highlight of your year?

The first ever EastSide Food Festival here in LA that I produced with Mack Sennett Studios and Food is the New Rock in November 2014. It was incredible! On the topic of food and restaurants in LA, the West side - be it Santa Monica/ Venice/ Beverly Hills - always seems to get the spotlight of attention from news outlets and ongoing food festivals that happen around town. The idea with EastSide Food Fest was to celebrate our neighborhoods and the communities on the EastSide - where some true talent is deep rooted, but often goes without the attention it deserves. We worked diligently to curate a phenomenal group of chefs and restaurateurs from LA's EastSide Communities to be a part of the EastSide Food Fest, an event independent of high profile magazines or newspaper backing. The result was something truly authentic and super delicious. We ended up with over 20 vendors that were very diverse - from "hot topic" spots like Pine & Crane or Alimento in Silverlake, to lesser known but amazing places like Little Beast or Kitchen Mouse in Highland Park, and even well known establishments like Umami Burger. Getting all of the best restaurants from LA's EastSide in one place at a sold out food festival event would FOR SURE be my food highlight of 2014! It was so awesome that we plan on doing it again this year, so look out for it! 

What was the music highlight of your year?

Simian Mobile Disco live at Pappy and Harriet's in Joshua Tree. They performed 100% live (which for an electronic band is difficult and unusual) and used the live performance as the recording of their newest album - Whorl. It was mindblowing. Plus Joshua Tree is a magical place!

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

This is also an easy one, as i have to go back to EastSide Food Fest - the other aspect of this festival is that it's not all about food. We are embracing the culture of the
EastSide too. One of the ways we are trying to do that is to include a music element as part of the event. We hosted discussion panels and food demos throughout the day in which we wanted to include diverse opinions on each subject, so each included both chefs and musicians. There was the food and music "Superpanel" discussion, hosted by Zach Brooks of Food is the New Rock (a weekly podcast whose focus is both food and music) and Evan Kleiman of KCRW's Good Food. The panelists included Chef Jessica Koslow (Sqirl Restaurant and Jams), Chef Craig Thornton (Wolvesmouth), Chef Ari Taymor (Alma), and musicians Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint) and Morgan Kibby (M83/White Sea). They talked about their favorite local restaurants and dishes, answered questions from the audience about their late night go-to spots to eat then they are drunk, discussed the food culture of Los Angeles, and made jokes about "redefining the Eastside of LA", referring to the unexpected controversy around the name of the festival. It was amazing!

@castlegourmet

TOM MULLEN

Tom Mullen is Director of Digital Marketing at Sony Legacy and hosts the Washed Up Emo podcast and DJ night.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Living in NYC, I don't have the room or the time a lot to cook. I don't mind too much as I can eat with a swipe of an app or taking a different way home. That plays in part to my highlight. Xi'an Foods, a favorite restaurant in the city opened up a new location a block away from my apartment. Loved by all the food TV personalities with their photos near the front, it's a simple noodle place with a few vegetarian options. It's turning into one of the best deals and places to get something hot and fast in the neighborhood. As with anything in New York City. Location, location, location.

What was the music highlight of your year?

The music highlight of 2014 for me has to be the Mineral reunion. Sure many mention American Football and others, but nothing compared to Mineral for me personally. The band wasn't supposed to reform with Chris even denying it when I interviewed him for the podcast. I just never in my mind thought they would do it. Once I heard the rumor from a connection to the band, it started all of these emotions about how I never saw the band live and I was going to get that chance. It really was a dream come true. What made it sweeter was that I was in a position to help the band and help connect the band to their current fan base with advice to their team. I couldn't have been happier with how they are doing this reunion. It wasn't pretty at times and sometimes not with all the dots connected, but is it ever? This was four guys with families, lives and homes and they're taking a break and sacrificing a lot for the fans. They deserve this last swing which will most likely their last. Take it in and smile.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

I hate to keep on the Mineral tip but I will. Prior to Mineral's first NYC show of the reunion at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, a few folks were going to get some food around the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn before the show started. What happened was one of those meals where all anyone could do was talk about the upcoming show, memories, favorite bands, etc. Just non stop talk about music. I don't remember what I ate, what I drank or how I finished. It was one of those times where you felt full at the end both emotionally and physically.

@washedupemo

JAVIER CABRAL

Javier Cabral is a journalist and scout for L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I just got back from visiting my girlfriend's family in Puerto Vallarta and I was absolutely mesmerized by the locally-caught, fresh yellow fin tuna available there. We picked up a couple of kilos for our Christmas dinner and enjoyed it simply sliced raw with soy sauce, scallions, avocado, lime and jalapeño, paired with an ice cold Chupacabra IPA (Mexican craft beer) as a starter. We seared the rest. Until that point, I had only been used to the mealy, previously frozen raw tuna available at most American sushi places (even at the most expensive places, most of the fish is previously frozen) and fish markets. But this fresh tuna, man it was something else. It dissolved in your mouth like caramel or something.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I think that would have to be that one time when I came out on Fusion network talking about the underground backyard punk rock scene raging in East LA and South Los Angeles. The show was Al Madrigal's one-hour-special called "Half Like Me" and it interviewed local bands like Skeptical Youth and Los Corruptos who don't get any love in the media for their hard-work, until now. The show even aired bits and pieces of their hit urban single "Mota-vation," "mota" as in the Spanish word for weed, haha.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

Crispy sweet potato fries and Teenage Bottlerocket. Specifically, parmesan n' parsley dusted sweet potato fries and Teenage Bottlerocket at last year's Warped Tour. It was off this random food truck and it hit the spot because of course, I had royally pregamed before going in with lots of beer and had the beer munchies. And then I saw this year's lineup and I was like "yup, I probably went to the last warped tour that was at least a little cool."

@theglutster

JOSH NEWTON

Josh Newton has played in Shiner, Sie Lieben Maschinen, Every Time I Die, From Autumn To Ashes, and The Damned Things.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I'd have to say the first time I had Hash House a Go Go's chicken and waffles. The portions are insane and it was quite tasty.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Releasing the first record by my new band, Sie Lieben Maschinen.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

The catering at festivals seems to be either wonderful or inedible. Sadly it seems to fall on the crappy side more often. We tend to make up for it with great dinners around the world on days off.

@jnewton

JONAH BAYER

Jonah Bayer is a music journalist, plays in the band United Nations, co-hosts the Going Off Track podcast, and co-created the web series Sound Advice With Janessa Slater.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I took a family vacation this year to Santibel Island, Florida. There is not a lot to do there other than lie around and you could get a dozen gulf oysters at most places for a quarter of what they would cost in New York City. I ate a lot of oysters down there, like, a lot. Oh also my sister caught a fish (I think it was a trout) and we took it to a restaurant that night and had them prepare it. That was a highlight, too. This story probably would have sounded a lot cooler if I had caught the fish but everything I caught was either too small or got away. Story of my life.

What was the music highlight of your year?

This year my band United Nations played Fest again and I was lucky enough to get to see the Marked Men when they performed at Bo Diddley Plaza in between our soundcheck and set. The Marked Men are one of my favorite bands and almost never tour anymore so it was a real dream getting to witness how tight and solid they were live. They also closed with "Fix My Brain" which is probably one of the most perfect rock songs I'd ever heard. I'm sure if we had got in early enough the previous day when the Descendents played that would have been on this list as well but even though we were only down there for one day I still got to see The Melvins, Frameworks, Whores, Hot Water Music and a ton of other great acts.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

We did a west coast tour with a band from Los Angeles called Silver Snakes in November and they managed to know about every cool coffee shop or brewery in every single city. It was real amazing to get to hit some of the best spots in both of these categories and get to sample everything that they had to offer, even if it meant showing up to the shows extremely late in most cases. I'd also say getting fish tacos in Berkeley the day we played 924 Gilman was a huge highlight as anytime I have a chance to eat Mexican food on the west coast, it's a real treat.

@mynameisjonah

KEVIN DEVINE

Kevin Devine plays solo, with The Goddamn Band, and in Bad Books (with Manchester Orchestra).

What was the food highlight of your year?

I went all over the place & ate a lot of delicious stuff, but I have a comparatively pedestrian answer: There's an Italian spot in Bay Ridge, where I live, called Peppino's. They've got an eggplant parm roll that is a legit treat, comfort food I associate with home, and something I look forward to and let myself have a handful of times a year. It's layered, melted cheese, the dough is plump, the sauce is well-balanced - sweet but not over the top. It's awesome and a bit indulgent. Most recently had it and loved it close to my birthday.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I toured a lot this year, criss-crossed the US fully once and partially a handful of other times, three different UK & Europe trips, and Australia. It kind of blurs together into one extended highlight. It's hard to pick one. That said, we had a really memorable set at Bonnaroo. Blazing heat, on two hours sleep, really wonderful, generous and fun crowd, cool seeing people collect and get weird and excitable that way. As a fan, the Angel Olsen record was a big deal to me this year. Haunting, gothic, hypnotic, wry, killer voice, well-made, stuck with me.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

We make an effort on tour to find good coffee and eat as local as possible. You're in a place for a day and I learned a few years back that to maintain sanity and balance I can't live like a tourist 200 days a year. Finding someplace that's specific to where you are ensures at least a small cultural experience where you can kinda sample the place through its people and what they're eating and drinking. For whatever reason, a specific memory this year is the Westmoreland services in Northern England, en route to and from Scotland, set on a farm, fresh food from the grounds, always different, delicious, abundant, and you eat looking out at rolling hills, a pond, big sky, beautiful place I'd never have seen if I wasn't playing and touring there.

@kevindevinetwit

TRACY CANDIDO

Tracy Candido runs Supper Studio, a food + music event series. Her past projects include the renegade bake sale Sweet Tooth of the Tiger, experimental cooking class Community Cooking Club, and Food in Art at the Whitney Museum. She is also the founder of Lady Boss, an initiative for women in creative industries.

What was the food highlight of your year?

It's a tie! At work on the Airbnb SXSW experience, we worked with Austin-based Good Pops to make Glazed Donut with Hemp Milk custom popsicles based on our guest host, Snoop Dogg (they were the late night munchy snack at the popup park we built) – super creative and actually really, really delicious. Then later in the year, Supper Studio hosted chef Carolina Santos-Neves from Comodo and Colonia Verde who made a coconut-based smokey salmon ceviche with corn nuts for the performing musician Xenia Rubinos, connecting Xenia's super fun, weird and latin-folky jams with a dish that meets tradition with something new. Again, really creative and so freaking tasty.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Sleater-Kinney releasing tracks from their new record and announcing a 2015 tour (thank you riot grrl goddess) and Mirah playing a packed house as a pre-tour show at Supper Studio. Sleater-Kinney just speaks to my feminist punk soul and I can't wait to see them play this year. And I get some serious pleasure creating moving experiences for people – the Mirah Supper Studio was transcendent.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

I've mentioned both Supper Studios in 2014 (Mirah and Xenia Rubinos), so mentioning them again, however memorable, might be excessive. Another moment might have been on my birthday while eating a slice of my favorite cake, Momofuku Milk Bar's Chocolate Chip Cake (passion fruit curd, chocolate crumbs, and coffee buttercream – don't sleep on this) while Built to Spill was playing on the speakers at the outdoor patio I was celebrating at. Outerspace tunes, friends, and a flavor explosion in my mouth.

@vivaladyboss

RAY HARKINS

Ray Harkins manages partnerships for peta2, helps run No Sleep Records, hosts 100 Words or Less the podcast, and is the vocalist of Taken.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Crossroads in Los Angeles, CA. A relatively new establishment that focuses on plant based (i.e. vegan) cuisine that was opened by renown chef Tal Ronnen (creator of Gardein) just over two years ago. My wife and I were able to have a date night up there and fell immediately in love with how each small plate was satisfying and tasty. It's a must for anyone visiting or living in LA. Some of the best food I've ever had in my life.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Selfishly, it was getting my old hardcore band Taken active again in releasing our discography on vinyl as well as playing a few shows to celebrate it. Fortunately it doesn't feel like a bunch of old guys rehashing the past, but friends doing what we've loved for years.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

There is something about the ritual of eating a good vegan meal before a show and I think nothing reflects that more than a great thai place called Bulan up in Los Angeles, CA before I went to see Failure play a reunion show at The El Rey Theatre in February 2014. Anytime I am able to have great food before a great show is an incredible evening for me.

@xpurposex

MATT LEMAY

Matt Lemay is a drummer (Kleenex Girl Wonder, Mike Pace and the Child Actors), songwriter (Get Him Eat Him), recording engineer (White Hinterland, Mr. Dream, BELLS, Capstan Shafts), and writer (Pitchfork , 33 1/3 series).

What was the food highlight of your year?

Dinner with my wife at La Buvette in Brussels. It was one of those rare meals that makes you want to run into the kitchen like "HOW IS THIS SO GOOD DO YOU EVEN REALIZE HOW GOOD THIS IS HOW IS THIS RESTAURANT NOT A BIG DEAL HOW IS THIS ALL EVEN REAL." It was probably the only time I've ever walked into a restaurant that initially reads "this place serves totally decent mid-level bistro-style food" and walked out saying "that may be the best meal I've ever had." Wait, did I really just write that?

What was the music highlight of your year?

Lots of them, but one particularly wonderful experience this year has been mixing a handful of songs by my good friend Jessica, who I met in an indie rock chat room when we were both teenagers. There's something extra-magical about working on music with somebody when you spent a good portion of your teenage years talking with that person about music.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

This happens more or less constantly in my life, which is awesome, but I think my fondest music-and-food-related memory from 2014 is driving with my wife from Houston to Austin for SXSW, enjoying an all-BBQ menu and an all-Steely Dan playlist. It doesn't get much better than that.

@mattlemay

CARLOS DONOHUE

Carlos Donohue is a tour manager and sound engineer who has worked with Lagwagon, NOFX, Pennywise, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Bassnectar since 1994. He also spent a summer as Foo Fighters' BBQ chef.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Its been coming home to Portland after tour and seeing great new restaurants opening closer to my house. Pono Farm is puting out some amazing dishes, BTU is showing great promise (and I loved eating at single pebble, the chef's father's restaurant in Burlington, VT), and Smallwares, while not new in 2014, is a always a regular stop the day I get home.

What was the music highlight of your year?

The three times I saw Queens of the Stone age play live they Killed it! They are one of my favorite bands and its great to still see a band thats been around for a while keep putting out interesting, amazing records, stay true to themselves, and still put on captivating performances.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

Getting to tour with Bassnectar in Europe again, somewhere I use to spend up to 5 months a year, and go back to old food haunts, from dirty Kebab at 3am, weiner schnitzels, beer halls with brats, and ending the trip with an amazing meal at Katz Orange in Berlin.

@gnarlos

TIM MORTENSEN

Tim Mortensen plays in Into It. Over It. and co-founded SoundSupply.

What was the food highlight of your year?

For my birthday, my wife took me out to Stephanie Izard's The Girl & The Goat restaurant in the West Loop where we ate Pig Face, which I thought was just some clever name, but in reality is exactly that: a pig's face. It was amazing, just like everything else at that place.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Do I have to pick just one?! To say this year was unreal would be an understatement. I got to travel the world with some of my best friends playing over 100 shows. I got the privilege of playing multiple shows with two of my all-time favorite bands (Mineral and American Football). We got to play Lollapalooza this year. As I'm typing these things, they still feel like stuff I'm making up, but there's pictures on the internet to prove that all of this stuff is real!

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

Food is very important focal point when Into It. Over It. is on tour. It dictates a lot of our decisions and sometimes the main motivator when we're facing long overnight drives and it's great respite battling homesickness. One moment that sticks out was in September in New York. Typically, we rely on things like Yelp to find really good food when we're on the road, but we decided to try something different that we now call "Drake Eats," which basically is us finding out where Drake eats and then going there to eat. We got pizza from Drake's favorite pizza spot, Tony's, which was excellent, and then ate it on the floor of Webster Hall while watching American Football soundcheck. I don't think I could imagine a better combo of food and music.

@timmort

JUSTIN SCURTI

Justin Scurti techs for Interpol, owns Saint Vitus, and plays guitar in I Hate Our Freedom.

What was the food highlight of your year?

In 2014 I got to go to Noma! Thanks to a good friend they made some room for myself and a couple of the other Interpol crew while on a day off.  Everything from being greeted by the entire staff upon walking in the door to every course and wine pairing was nothing short of amazing.  We also got a full tour of the restaurant and as an added bonus Pastry chef Rosio Sanchez and a few of the other staff arranged for a boat, filled with champaign, to take us through the canals of Copenhagen and over to friends restaurant Amass where we got to visit the restaurant, farm and meet chef/owner Matt Orlando.  As the day turned into night I was invited to spend the rest of the evening with the staff at Mikkeller Bar where i tried very hard to taste everyone of the namesakes beers.

What was the music highlight of your year?

So much happened in 2014.  Interpol released their 5th album and I have been lucky enough to be a part of it from the very start.  We've been on tour for most of 2014.  But for Christmas last my girlfriend Elena bought me a plane ticket to San Francisco to see Rocket From The Crypt play The independent in March 2014 for one of their first US reunion shows.  I stayed with my good friend and chef Bill Corbett.  We ate too may burritos and sang every word.  I also got to see a few other reunions in 2014 including The Strokes as well as Slowdive and Soul Side twice each.  But of course there was the epic Nirvana "reunion" that happened at Saint Vitus.  Seeing Dave, Krist and Pat Smear play those songs on that stage along with Joan Jett, J. Mascis, St. Vincent, Joahn McCauley and lastly Kim Gordon was absolutely mind blowing.  The year ended with Quicksand playing through midnight on New Years Eve at Saint Vitus and it was the perfect cap to a great year.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

I tour with a great group of people that are also into food.  I can almost always count on a text or email from, guitarist, Daniel Kessler with a couple of vegetarian suggestions in almost every city we hit.  And anytime I get to see Scott Winegard it always involves food and music.  Especially when I stopped at his restaurant M.A.K.E. and he treated me to a 20 course tasting menu that you would have never known was vegan and raw. He and I also did the tasting menu at Alma in LA while I was holed up at the Ace Hotel across the street. But one of the best memories of 2014 was when Elena and I went out for a "family" dinner with some of our best friends to Lil Frankies in NYC before I left for 3 months and they played nothing but Jawbreaker, Fugazi and Quicksand on the radio for us.

@squish108

KYLE FORESTER

Kyle Forester has played in the bands Crystal Stilts and The Ladybug Transistor.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Everything that's coming to mind is from a trip down the California coast, which I did for the first time this year. We stopped in Pescadero for the artichoke soup at Duarte's and then at Swanton Berry Farm, with their amazing honor system till, and it was all just so California. Next morning we had breakfast at the hobbit-like Deetjen's Big Sur Inn and I don't really remember the food that well, but I think it was very spiritually-nourishing. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

The end of that very trip was Los Angeles, and we got to see this Blood Orange show at Ace Hotel. The band was amazingly tight and they had dancers. It was the best kind of show biz razzle dazzle.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

I mean, the first thing that's coming to mind is a number of sets I played on a very full stomach during a Crystal Stilts European tour. Got to play in Greece, had a particular abundant dinner at some very stylish taverna in Thessaloniki, and then went down the street to the venue and played the organ that the promoter had bought specifically for me to play at the gig. Those guys were the best.

@kyleforester

JEFF TAKACS

Jeff Takacs hosts the underground music podcast Rocket Fuel.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I had a number of different highlights that made 2014 a good food year for me, mainly centered around eating at places that were either new or that I hadn't had a chance to try. In the Orlando area, the BBQ chain Four Rivers has grown to legendary status and I was able to find out why. Locals say that each location always has a line that stretches out of the door every day come lunch and dinner time and I can tell you that their Southern style side dishes and brisket (that is so good and juicy that you don't need any sauce) were well worth the wait. This lunch was extra special because it was with my brother from another mother Rob, who got married later that day.

Closer to home, I was able to enjoy the variety of burgers at Midtown Caboose and Tucker Duke's Lunchbox for the first time and was extremely happy with both. Also, since donuts are all the rage these days, I have to mention that the red velvet doughnut at Donut Kingdom here in Tallahassee is an amazing item to stuff your face with.

What was the food highlight of your year?

In recent years, it seems that my music highlights come from Riot Fest and The Fest, and 2014 was no different. Getting to see Hot Snakes and Weezer (who played the Blue Album in full...YAY) for the first time was a blast and well worth the trip to Chicago. In and of itself, going to Gainesville, Florida every year is a music highlight because there are so many great friends who attend and awesome bands that play. This year at Fest, the standout for me finally getting to see The Marked Men. They were so darn tight musically and everything that I had hoped they would be and more. Oh, and since the Descendents played both Riot Fest and Fest this year, getting to see this seminal band, one of my favorite bands ever to grace the planet, twice in the span of six weeks was mind-blowing.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

A couple of months ago, I went to the aforementioned Tucker Duke's Lunchbox on my lunch break with my friend and co-worker Matt. While we were having a great meal, our conversation turned to music, as our conversations often do. We were talking about bands we were into and the 90s, when we discovered that we both had a love for the 90s Gainesville, Florida band For Squirrels. Matt was in college there at the time and had heard them through the local scene and as a kid who grew up in and was in Philadelphia at the time, I had heard them from watching MTV's 120 Minutes. This obscure band, which had a very tragic ending, had a big impact on the two of us and it was cool to geek out about that over burgers, mac and cheese and sweet potato fries.

@rocket_fuel