GREG JACOBS

Greg Jacobs has managed Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Big Drill Car, and Supernova; worked at SST, Cruz, and Cargo Records; and photographed musicians for print, TV, and the Death or Glory web series.

What was the food highlight of your year?

2014 is the first time that I realized why people love Prime Rib. Our friends were recently married and they served prime rib at the reception. It was catered by Johnny Rivera (of San Diego restaurants: Hash House Au Go Go, Tractor Room, Great Maple) and the food was stunning. The prime rib was cut thick and ate like a steak ... It wasn't thin and fatty and serviced on a plate of liquid ... It was awesome. Plus the roasted asparagus, mac and cheese and sausage skewers with pollenta cubes were great too. Not to mention the Old Fashioneds.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Bob Mould at the Roxy in Hollywood had to be the highlight of 2014 for me. I had seen Husker Du a few times back in the old days, but never saw Sugar or Bob Mould solo until this show. I was shocked at how many Husker Du songs were in the set ... Plus Sugar songs and his new stuff too. It was a great, well thought out set list that concluded with "Love is All Around" (Mary Tyler Moore theme song). Amazing.

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

Joe Jost's is a place where food and music come together for me regularly. Joe Jost's is the longest serving beer bar in Long Beach, CA - Open since prohibition was repealed, they are famous for their pickled eggs, hog dog sandwiches (called "specials"), roasted peanuts and of course, their schooners of beer. Whenever friends come up from San Diego to play at Alex's Bar (Hot Snakes, Night Marchers, Heartaches and more), we always meet at Joe Jost's before the show. There's nothing better than sitting with great friends over some pickled eggs and a schooner of Busch and catching up.

@ribshots

GREG JACOBS

Greg Jacobs has managed Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Big Drill Car, and Supernova; worked at SST, Cruz, and Cargo Records; and photographed musicians for print, the Death or Glory web series, and an upcoming TV show. Photo by: Rinzi Ruiz

What was the food highlight of your year?

I was on my annual baseball spring training trip with some friends in Scottsdale, AZ. We had just left a day game, we were hot, drunk, and hungry.  I saw Grimaldi’s and dragged our crew of 8 there hoping to find it as good as I remembered it in NYC, knowing full well that I would be subjected to serious hazing for the rest of the trip if my suggestion failed. We ordered salads, wood-fired pizzas, beer, wine - all fantastic, all friends satisfied, and I plan to return in 2014 spring training trip.

What was the music highlight of your year?

This is tough. This year I was lucky enough to attend and photograph 2 secret shows by bands that were way too big to play the venues I saw them in: First was Rocket From The Crypt on Easter night at Bar Pink in San Diego (150 people I’d guess), next was Foo Fighters at a pizza parlor in Moorpark, CA (guessing there were around 100 people there). But I honestly think my musical highlight of 2013 was at a festival, and I hate festivals. It was a weather-shortened, 15 minute set by FLAG! I saw them at Riot Fest in Denver. They were absolutely insane! Powerful, energetic, tight, and ferocious! The wind started blowing so hard during their set that it tore the giant banners off of the PA stacks. Then the rain started. It was raining huge Colorado rain drops (I swear the rain drops are smaller in Southern California). FLAG was about 15 minutes into their set when a voice came over the loudspeaker advising everyone that the National Weather Service have issued a storm warning and to “shelter in your car until further notice.” The festival continued after a weather delay, but FLAG was done for the day. They played for 15 minutes and it was the best show I’ve seen all year. I can’t wait to see them again (maybe Ron Reyes will join them on stage now that he’s been booted from Black Flag That would be awesome).

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

When I first read this question, I went totally blank and had no idea what I would say. Now I have a few ideas. The first is not 2013-specific, but it’s MY LIFE. Before I was married, I used to think that the perfect girl for me would be a “Casbah/Keva” girl, meaning, I wanted to find a girl who would go to a dirty rock show at The Casbah with me on a Saturday night and then feel equally comfortable at brunch with my parents on Sunday (Keva Grill was a place in La Jolla for brunch). I found her!

The 2013 collision was after the Rocket From The Crypt, show with my wife and our friends Josh and Mona, standing outside of Bar Pink after the show we made a plan and left for Roberto’s #10 on El Cajon Blvd. We ordered at the window, sat outside on the circular cement table, ate burritos, rolled tacos, nachos, drank Cokes from the can, and just talked. It was just like the old days and it felt great.

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