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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JONATHAN WEINER

Jonathan Weiner is a rock photographer. He recently shot Wayne Coyne and Moby walking through downtown LA in full mariachi regalia for Rolling Stone.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Pinning down the food highlight of my year is a pretty hard thing to do, I really love finding new places as often as possible. I think the most mind melding moment was being introduced to the burrito shop Freebirds. I do not often frequent fast food or chain restaurants for that matter, so I feel like this is a weird selection for me. However, it totally changed my world when I found it. I am vegan, so for the most part a burrito means black beans and veggies, MAYBE rice and guacamole if I’m lucky (unless I’m going to a fully vegan restaurant). Most places I can’t eat at completely since mexican food typically uses lard in everything. In comes Freebirds, set up the same as Chipotle where you build your own burrito, except one major difference: EVERYTHING aside from the obvious is vegan! I can have refried and pinto beans, spanish rice, and so many flavorful add ons. It’s really quite simple, give me tons of tasty options instead of just quinoa and kale on a menu and I’m impressed!

Honorable mention is Pizzanista in the Arts District of LA. The only reason this isn’t my main choice is because I have a feeling that I discovered it in 2012. However, I LOVE it and wanted to mention it anyway. Where else can you get $2 tuesday NY sized slices, vegan garlic knots, and a skate or die shirt?! I bring a new person there almost every other week.

What was the music highlight of your year?

There has been so many awesome musical adventures I’ve been able to take part in this year. So many bands from my childhood that I never saw or haven’t seen in 15 years have been playing lately. Knapsack, Quicksand and Sparks were all really cool for me. The two highlights above all the rest I’d have to say were Flag and Johnny Marr, each in their own right. 

I was lucky enough to be invited to photograph Flag’s first real show together, a secret invite-only show at the Moose Lodge in Redondo Beach. There was about 150 people there, no stage, and its the same venue in which Black Flag played their very first show, before I was born! That show was amazing. Everything I remember going to punk shows to be growing up in DC. No cell phones, just pure fun. Every person in the crowd sang every song.

Next, I got to see Johnny Marr play at the Masonic Lodge in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Seeing Johnny Marr play Smiths songs for the first time in over two decades is incredible enough, but then add that into a tiny venue in the middle of a cemetery…enough said! I’m pretty sure every person who plays guitar in that room decided they might as well give up after hearing him play those songs.

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

I’d say my favorite music/food coming together moment of the year was when Mark Trombino’s Donut Friend opened in Highland Park. I had been waiting months for this place to open. For years now the only vegan yeast donut option was to go to Ronald’s in Vegas (which is always amazing). Now there is a place 10 minutes from my home. If that wasn’t enough reason to get me excited, it comes with donut “compilations” with names such as Rites of Sprinkles, Coconut of Conformity, The Jelly Sound, Dag Nutty, Fudgegazi, ect. How could that not be awesome?!

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