SERGIE LOOBKOFF

Sergie Loobkoff plays guitar in Samiam, Knapsack, and Felled Trees.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I love a restaurant in Silverlake called Cliff’s Edge. From the outside it looks like a muffler shop next to a 99¢ store…but when you walk through the gate, you discover this Tolkien-like outdoor multi-tiered garden with tables build around a giant Oak tree (maybe it’s more like the tree from Pan’s Labrynth without the gross toad). There is a full bar to get sloshed from and at the end the chocolate lava cake is retarded-good. In the middle part of the evening, meat and fish is awesome and the salads are of the yummy variety. Each February, the discussion comes up to where to go for Valentine,s Day… can’t go there every year (according to my girlfriend) but 2013 was a Cliff’s Edge…which made it a good year.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I went out to Florida again for The Fest. It was my third time. Samiam played a couple of shows, Knapsack played, and I have little quartet with George from Hot Water Music and my bubs Mike and John called Grievers. Playing was fine and dandy, but I also got to see Iron Chic, who were awesome….and Off With Their Heads who were also awesome, and a new favorite, Old Flings. I made a new buddy from Michigan called Kevin, which is fun. I hate seeing bands usually, it’s so 1988 for me….but this was a good time.

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

Speaking of Knapsack, we went out to Chicago a few weeks ago to play a show. This famous chef guy likes the ’90s emotional rock music thing, of which Knapsack was a part of, so he invited us to his restaurant for a feast. Graham Elliott is his name and he treated us really, really well…like we were ‘somebodies’ even though everyone knows we are ‘nobodies’. Drunk? Yes. Full? Yes. Tummyache? Surprisingly, no…go figure.

@deadcosmo

SERGIE LOOBKOFF

Sergie is a founding member of Samiam and has played guitar in Solea and Knapsack. He has designed as many punk rock records, t-shirts, and logos as anyone on this planet.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Mo Chica is a hella yummy peruvian asian fusion place in downtown LA. It does have that hipster vibe that sort of bugs me and most people love…but at least there isn’t a DJ or anything. There is this spicy drink that literally knocks your socks off over your shoes. I suggest: LOMO SALTADO to eat and OAXACALIFORNIA LOVE too drink. What? You want me to descibe them? I don’t know, they taste GOOD…that’s all I know.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I would have to go with Dinosaur Jr. at the observatory a few weeks ago. I’ve seen them about a thousand times since the late ’80s and they are still on my favorite band list. So good. Were they too loud? Yup. Did J wank the whole time instead of playing the tasty leads from the recordings? Unfortunately. Are they unpleasant to look at in their advanced age? Not to be mean, but yes. But they still are awesome!

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

I never eat fast food…how could I keep my boyish figure as an old fella? I mean McDonald’s tastes as exotic to me as a 5-star meal. Let’s face it…it’s different and shittier…but also delicious. On the way back from helacious Orange County to downtown after that Dinosaur show, we decided to try that new Taco Bell Fresco crap…there is nothing else in the suburbs late at night. So we sampled from, ahem, that ‘health alternative’ gourmet (sic) menu. I have to say, it went down the shoot pretty well but almost instantaneously we both got huge stomach aches….it actually really HURT! Memorable? I’ll always think of it as I pass their sign on the highway…