JORDAN LUFF

Jordan Luff plays bass in the band Old Flings

What was the food highlight of your year?

I have to include two highlights: the first is my hometown Asheville, NC’s only vegan restaurant, Plant. It’s a little out of my price range for an everyday dinner, so I keep it in my back pocket for special occasions. The hazelnut crusted seitan is quite possibly the most decadent food I’ve put in my mouth since becoming vegan. Served with whipped cauliflower, grilled broccolina and romesco, pickled onions, and shiitake bacon. Absolutely breath-taking dinner.

Second, Farmburger, another Asheville favorite. They serve a vegan burger made up of sea island red pea, Smiling Hara smoked tempeh (local brand), and black eyed peas, topped with clover sprouts, red cabbage, and a basil tofu spread on the bun. It’s like it melts in my damn mouth.

What was the music highlight of your year?

My band Old Flings got to play a lot of regional and national festivals this year, including Fest 12 in Gainesville, FL. I got to see some of my all-time favorite bands play, including Torche, Iron Chic, Knapsack, Hop Along, and Restorations. But the best band I saw this year was probably Superchunk in Asheville at the Grey Eagle Music Hall on August 23rd. Watching them was about as close to a religious experience as seeing Coalesce back in 2009 at FEST 8. It’s been a great year for music!

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

Any time Old Flings gets to hit the road, be it for a weekend, a tour, or a festival trip, I try to incorporate food into my adventure. While down at Fest, we had the opportunity to dine at Harvest Thyme, a vegan-friendly sandwich and smoothie joint, and Reggae Shack, one of the best Jamaican-style restaurants I’ve ever had. And I can’t forget Richmond, VA. We only played there once in 2013 (which sucks), but we hit up Ipanema Cafe, Panda Veg, Strange Matter, and Harrison Street Coffee Shop. Richmond has great, great food.

@oldflings

MATT EVANS

Matt Evans plays guitar and sings in the band Old Flings.

What was the food highlight of your year?

This is such a hard question, because I’ve eaten so much great food this year. Being from Asheville, NC, the food game is on a new level, and it takes a lot for other places to meet the bar.  Even after mentioning that though, my food highlight of the year was homemade.  

I recently had to cut dairy out of my diet which meant that I couldn’t eat pizza like a college slob anymore (because what is pizza without pounds of cheese). My girlfriend helped me in the woe process by convincing me that we could make homemade pizza.  It ended up being delicious!  We crammed so much stuff on there.  I never would have thought that chorizo on pizza would be amazing! 

What was the music highlight of your year?

I would say the music highlight of my year would be around the release of our new singles.  My band worked really hard to write a string of songs that we would release on 3 different 7”s.  It meant that we had to push ourselves and I was nervous about where our music would land after our first LP.  Getting to play FEST 12 was a close 2nd though.  It was quite possibly the best show I’ve ever played in my life.  

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

I once did an acoustic show at Cook Out, a local fast food chain in the south - kind of like IN-N-OUT. It was myself and the glorious PJ BOND. If you’ve never eaten at Cook Out then you should and if you’ve never listened to PJ BOND then you definitely should. 

@oldflings