ANDREW LOW

Andrew Low sings and plays guitar in The Jazz June. The band reformed in 2014 and released their first studio album in 12 years.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I think it might have been eating the fried chicken and biscuits at Pies and Thighs on a recent trip to Brooklyn. That place seriously knows how to fry a bird. I can't find amazing fried chicken like they do down South where I live, so biting into those little, crunchy thighs was like poetry in poultry.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Definitely playing the Brooklyn Vegan CMJ show this October with Beach Slang, Pity Sex, Cayetana, and Sport. First off, every band member I met or talked to was awesome as hell, and they all also slayed live. We don't get to practice very often because i live in London, so our live shows can be a bit hit or miss. This one happened to be a hit for us. It was a combination of the energy of the crowd, the rad staff and sound people at Baby's All Right, and the fact that we didn't fuck up the songs. Also, a load of my really good friends came to the show. It was definitely one of the top 10 shows we have ever played.

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

For sure. We recorded out latest album After the Earthquake at Gradwell House Studio in South Jersey, and the engineer/owner Steve Poponi introduced us to the Panzerotti, which is like a calzone stuffed with meat and cheese and then deep fried. It ate it just before i did one of my guitar takes and the greese from the Panzerotti helped my fingers slide across the fret board. It also helped me channel Lil' Stevie because I am sure he would dig a nice hot one with peperoni.

@thejazzjune

TYLER RICHARDSON

Tyler Richardson sings and plays bass in the Australian band Luca Brasi.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Finding a vegan restaurant in Shanghai on tour that specialized in mock abalone, jellyfish and chicken feet.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I'm really bad at end of year polls but Beach Slang are fantastic and I've been hammering their eps from this year!

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

That Vegan place is China on tour for sure! Also, I was told that bananas are good for your voice so I've been smashing those on tour.

@lucabrasiaus

ALEX BACA

Alex Baca wrote about music and DJ'd at the Black Cat in Washington DC before recently relocating to San Francisco.

What was the food highlight of your year?

This year, I moved from D.C. to San Francisco by way of a snack-fueled road trip. I've been learning about my new city by eating through it. I love a local novelty like Craftsman & Wolves' The Rebel Within and have been on a steady diet of carnitas tacos, but my favorite discovery is Mitchell's ice cream. It's 16 percent butterfat and 100 percent the dreamiest ice cream ever. The pistachio is the best.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Beach Slang's existence, period. Both Beach Slang EPs are exactly what I want music to sound like, and I love how the band manages to be as goddamned poetic on social media as they are with their lyrics, which are simultaneously joyous and heartrending. I hope when I die, I feel as alive as I did while seeing their Saturday night set at Fest 13.

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

My going-away party in D.C., at Black Cat, was also our last Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault DJ night. My dudes Matt, Justin, and I played a lot of sentimental pop-punk for all our friends; after, we got our drunk asses some pizza at Manny & Olga's. It wasn't anything special, but it's nights like that I miss the most living on the other side of the country.

A close second: Eating lemon poundcake from It's All Good (whose building has a tremendous history) at a hardcore show in Oakland. I haven't gone to many shows on the West Coast, and have gone to even fewer house shows. It reminded me of D.C., and the poundcake was incredible.

@alexbaca