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Year in Food & Music

The Year in Food & Music

BRENT STICKELS

January 24, 2015 Colby Mancasola
brent-stickels

Brent Stickels is a reformed tour manager, co-founder of design and branding firm YYES, and director of See Change, an annual conference on visual communication.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Ishnala Supper Club sits deep in the forest on a rock outcropping above Mirror Lake in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. Originally a log cabin trading post built in 1826, the Hoffman brothers bought the land in 1953 and created a supper club that may well have inspired Disney’s Frontierland. This past summer Jane, my wife, and I rented a cabin around the lake from Ishnala. One evening, we canoed up Mirror Lake at sunset, beached the canoe under the restaurant, and climbed the steps up the bluffs to Ishnala’s front door. Arriving feels like steak-house Mecca, from cocktails at the glassed-in arrowhead-shaped bar in the treetops to shrimp cocktail and ribeye steaks in the panoramic dining room. An after-dinner cocktail on the wraparound deck, then we canoed back in the moonlight across the inky lake. There might be better steaks in the world, but the whole experience of Ishnala makes it unparalleled.

What was the music highlight of your year?

The Replacements hometown return was Minneapolis’ most anticipated event in a very long time. Held at a shuttered minor-league ballpark near a train yard, the madness for tickets, the press buildup, and the radio tributes all created an air of excitement: this was the 'Mats, and they were coming home. I don’t have much tolerance these days for large crowds or long sets, but when the Replacements took the stage it made me feel like I was 17 again. By the time they were done tearing through the 2-hour set I was ready to buy an Ampeg SVT and start a band again.

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

The city of Avalon, on Catalina Island, is a place where time stopped and you can still glimpse pure California beach culture the way I imagine it was in the 60s. This past fall we rented a place on the hill above town and, in the afternoons, we would walk down to the shack at the end of the pier to buy fresh fish for dinner. One evening we were cutting up opah for ceviche and drinking a crisp white wine. I scanned the FM dial and came across KISL, Avalon’s community radio station. As the playlist careened from an all-girl Black Sabbath cover band to Tom Waits to Bill Withers, it reminded me of the college stations I grew up with, like KSDT and KCR, and the importance of hand-picked music in this era of algorithms. The simple pleasure of home-made ceviche, a deck overlooking unspoiled California, and an eclectic playlist buzzing over indie airwaves. Perfection.

@yyesbrent

In 2014 Tags brent stickels, yyes, see change, ishnala supper club, the replacements
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ANDREW LOW

January 23, 2015 Colby Mancasola
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

 

In 2014 Tags andrew low, the jazz june, pies and thighs, beach slang, pity sex, cayetana, sport, grad well house studio, steve poponi, panzerotti
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KATHERINE CLAPNER

January 23, 2015 Colby Mancasola
katherine-clapner

Katherine Clapner is chef and co-owner of Dude, Sweet Chocolate. She collaborated with the Flaming Lips on a chocolate human heart that contained a USB of their songs.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I gotta say going to the Dominican Republic with Valrohna. It is a very small production cacao plantation called Lomo Sotavento that is special for the flavor and the proceeds go towards a childrens school in the poorest part of the country. Special in so many ways.

What was the music highlight of your year?

It was a christmas eve yoga class. I know this sounds weird but it was a season sun salutation class that started with Planet Caravan by Black Sabbath then proceeded with Lynyrd Skynrd, Neal Young, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Sub Oslo, Joe Cocker, and The Orb. It was pure magic and a great class lead by LJ at Sync Yoga, Dallas.

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

Every year Ron Thai comes to town either with Guns and Roses or himself. He stops at my shop and Pecan Lodge BBQ. This year it was the guitar gods tour. Holy shit that was loud but Ron kicked ass. But as I was in the crowd with my roomate Eddie and Justin and Diane from Pecan Lodge, he started out thanking them and wishing and singing me Happy Birthday to start the set. I was so sweet and he really loves food and knows a lot more than about it than you might think.

@clapner

In 2014 Tags katherine clapner, dude sweet chocolate, pecan lodge bbq, lomo sotavento
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BEN RHAU

January 22, 2015 Colby Mancasola
ben-rhau

Ben Rhau is Managing Editor at Mode Media (Foodie.com, Glam.com).

What was the food highlight of your year?

Friends of ours who’d recently taken a cooking class in Hanoi hosted a small dinner party where they prepared and served a Northern style pho. Their house smelled gloriously of charred onion, roasted bones, cinnamon, star anise, and clove. Like other guests, we assumed that the sliced peppers on the side were jalapeños. They were actually thai bird chilies, which are (for the record) a bit hotter.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Sharon Van Etten’s performance of “All I Can” this year at The Independent was probably the funniest and most memorable. Guitarist Doug Keith interlaced the opening lines with a Smoove B style talking sequence, resulting in a bizarre call and response duet with a mostly straight-faced Van Etten. Highlight #2 was being introduced to the not-new music of Brandi Carlile. What a talent.

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

Seeing Yo La Tango for the first time at Outside Lands while famished, dehydrated, and grimy with the unique combo of sweat, music festival filth, and sunscreen. I had a half-vegetarian, half-lamb poutine from The Whole Beast with a crappy, $8 lemonade while listening to Autumn Sweater. At that moment, I was tasting the best thing in the universe.

@brhau

In 2014 Tags ben rhau, mode media, foodie, sharon van etten, doug keith, yo la tengo, outside lands, the whole beast
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NATE FARLEY

January 22, 2015 Colby Mancasola
nate-farley

Nate Farley has played guitar in Guided By Voices and The Amps. He currently runs the kitchen at a specialty market in his native Ohio.

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In 2014 Tags nate farley, guided by voices, the amps, sierra mar, big sur bakery, ace of cups, scrawl, ray ray's hog pit
2 Comments

ROB WILCOX

January 21, 2015 Colby Mancasola
rob-wilcox

Rob Wilcox does alternative radio promotion for The Syndicate and plays in the band By Surprise.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Since moving here five years ago, a lot has changed in terms of my eating habits. When you work in an industry that keeps you out late most nights, you spend a lot of time (and money) eating out, which doesn't always mean you're eating healthy either. With the exception of "brunch," which I willfully subscribe to, most of the time you have to grab food on the go. So, I've started to cook at home more often, and while it's still something I'm very much a novice in, it's incredibly fun and relaxing when you make the time to do so -- especially when you have a cooking partner in the kitchen!

In cooking at home, my highlight of the year was just last week when I decided to make stuffed peppers for the first time. I wanted to "healthy it up," so I tried substituting rice with quinoa, using ground chicken instead of beef, and tossing black beans to the mix for some extra flavor. I added some sautéed some garlic and asparagus as a side dish and it all tasted pretty fantastic. The whole meal was simple to make, cost-effective, and absolutely delicious!

What was the music highlight of your year?

I can't name just one, but several shows in particular stand out: 1. Watching both Chvrches and Cage The Elephant deliver career defining performances at Lollapalooza. 2. Attending American Football's first public performance in 15 years at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago. 3. Singing my heart out to The Replacements at their Forest Hills Tennis Stadium show in Queens.

On a more personal level, working closely with The Rentals and Braid was a pretty big highlight for me. Looking back on my 20s (I turn 30 next week), I think about which bands I've held onto as personal favorites, and how their albums played out more like a soundtrack for my own life. Getting to reintroduce both bands to radio programmers was a deeply personal and important experience for me. Both 'No Coast' and 'Lost In Alphaville' were among my top ten favorite albums this year.

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

I saw The Pizza Underground (a pizza-themed Velvet Underground parody band) and they gave out free pizza to the audience during their set. I don't think I'll ever forget that, or how weird it felt to eat pizza within 30 feet of Macaulay Culkin.

@heyrobwilcox

In 2014 Tags rob wilcox, the syndicate, chvrches, american football, the replacements, braid, the rentals, pizza underground, macauley culkin
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TANNER JONES

January 21, 2015 Colby Mancasola
tanner-jones

Tanner Jones sings and plays guitar in You Blew It.

What was the food highlight of your year?

This year You Blew It was lucky enough to tour in the UK and some parts of Europe. There, a very sweet and quiet Belgian man served me these green beans that I don't think I'll ever really get over. Real hefty chunks of garlic and cooked with some kind of root in olive oil. The language barrier prevented any kind of constructive interrogation of the contents, but as simple as it looked, it had this real complex, earthy quality about it.

What was the music highlight of your year?

It's honestly so difficult to choose. Personally, the touring You Blew It got to do this year was life-changing and memorable to say the very least. If I had to choose anything outside of my own experiences, though, seeing Braid put out their first LP in 16 years and kill it the way they did was completely wild to me. So very uplifting and inspiring.

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

I feel sort of rotten for copping out like this, but it has to be the way that music carried me to the best damn green beans I've ever had in my life.

@tannerjonesfl

In 2014 Tags tanner jones, you blew it, braid
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JASON VINCENT

January 21, 2015 Colby Mancasola
jason-vincent

James Vincent was named 2012 Grand Cochon King of Porc, a 2013 Food & Wine best new chef, and a 2014 James Beard semi-finalist, Great Lakes region.

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In 2014 Tags jason vincent, grand cochon, james beard, spqr, alta ca, state bird provisions, swan oyster depot, bloodshot records
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GRAHAM LEBRON

January 20, 2015 Colby Mancasola
graham-lebron

Graham LeBron has played in the Rogue Wave, The Album Leaf, and Port O'Brien in addition to releasing solo albums under the Golden Gram moniker.

What was the food highlight of your year?

The food highlight of my year was realizing you can use yogurt instead of milk to make amazing scrambled eggs. It blew my mind. I always have yogurt, I rarely have milk.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Same as last year. Huichica Music Festival because I got to DJ again, but this time with my old friend Eric "EDJ" Johnson.

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

That would be Huichica again. Their food and wine selections were a perfect compliment to the mellow outdoor music vibes.

@goldengram

In 2014 Tags golden gram, rogue wave, the album leaf, port o'brien, huichica, eric d. johnson
1 Comment

SEAN COURTNEY

January 20, 2015 Colby Mancasola
sean-courtney

Sean Courtney is a partner in the This Is American Music record label. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

This November, my wife, Rebecca, ran the NYC marathon, and while I am not a runner, I am a serious eater and walking all over New York for a week and eating everything in sight was incredible. Totto Ramen, oysters in Greenpoint, hitting a few of David Chang's places, amazing duck-liver pasta at Osteria Morini in SOHO, mutton chops at Keens, pastrami at Katz...not to mention daily helpings of bagels with smoked fish and slices of pizza or other street meat at 2am. Honestly...I felt like I ate New York City over the course of a week. I was lucky enough to have a hat-full of recommendations and as most people know, everywhere I turned was another bar, another bodega, another smell to chase...and I did my damnedest to accommodate it all. I can't wait to return.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Standing in the wings while the Replacements played had to be the highlight, right? I mean...it's the REPLACEMENTS and I'm standing in the wings about to have a heart attack...but to be honest, the music highlight of my year is almost the same thing every year: SXSW in Austin, TX. Of course, it has become a bloated ghost of what it was in years past...but it is still one hell of a time. It doesn't hurt that I meet up with a couple dozen friends from all over the country (and abroad) every year and seeing old and new favorite bands with them is probably the greatest thing I can imagine. This year's highlights included a raucous mess from Nashville called Diarrhea Planet with four or five guitars going at once, old friends like Have Gun, Will Travel and Lydia Loveless finding new audiences, seeing Ex Hex for the first time, and slamming a few tacos & Tecates between Natural Child and Reigning Sound...two of my all time favorites.

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

Food and music are always intertwined in my life...aside from friends, family & pets...what else is there? Thinking back to SXSW, I remember the deep fried deviled eggs, fried chicken & gizzards and Moon Pie Pie (that's right...a pie of Moon Pie) at Lucy's Fried Chicken as well as I remember who was playing (L'il Cap'n Travis, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Ramsey Lewis) that day. That same week, I was sweating every ounce of energy I had out to Grand Champeen at the Hole in the Wall...right after ducking out of the back door for ramen and sticky buns at Paul Qui's East Side King. We actually head to SXSW a day early so that we can do a "BBQ crawl" in Lockhart, TX...always starting at Black's and then on to Smitty's, and never making it any farther than a barstool at Lily's for a couple beers before heading back into the city. It's easy to find BBQ and tacos in Austin, but the town has so much more to eat than that...of course you do worse than a week of tacos & bbq.

@wigginstock

 

In 2014 Tags sean courtney, this is american music, totto ramen, david chang, momofuku, osteria morini, keens, katz, the replacements, sxsw, lucy's fried chicken, east side king, paul qui, black's, smitty's
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SCOTT WINEGARD

January 16, 2015 Colby Mancasola
scott-winegard

Scott Winegard is a chef at Matthew Kenney Cuisine and played bass in Texas Is The Reason.

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In 2014 Tags scott winegard, texas is the reason, matthew kenney, m.a.k.e., plant food, drive like jehu, soul side, slint, slowdive
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GEOFFREY WEISS

January 15, 2015 Colby Mancasola
geoffrey-weiss

Geoffrey Weiss is a 25 year industry vet (A&M, Warner Bros., Hollywood Records) and record collector. He currently manages Dylan Gardner.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Chengdu Taste (Alhambra, I haven't tried the other one) has so many overwhelming and fantastic dishes I would go there every day if I could. The toothpick lamb is mostly cumin, the numb-taste wontons are mostly heat, the roasted eggplant seems to get some essence out of eggplant I've never tasted before. The combination of finesse and brutality never fails to amaze. I dream about this place.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Ty Segall's Manipulater is a great rock record in an era with too few of them. He writes real songs, delivers them with fire, and surrounds himself with like-minded true-believer souls. People who say he releases too many records have it exactly backwards.

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

Stepping out of a car blaring Vaughn Williams into Teo's Hot Dogs in Pittsfield, MA was a memorable moment.

@geoffreylweiss

In 2014 Tags geoffrey weiss, dylan gardner, chengdu taste, ty segall, toe's hot dogs
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MIKE FADEM

January 14, 2015 Colby Mancasola
mike-fadem

Mike Fadem is drummer for Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band and Manager at Roman's in Brooklyn.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I got to go on a research trip to Italy with my friend and chef of Roman's, where I work, Dave Gould. This was of course the highlight of the year. We just ate for 10 days. it was extreme. Truffle hunting, lasagna soup, Roman pastas...

hat was the music highlight of your year?

2014 is the year I started listening to Bad Brains. I know I'm so late but there are always bands that for whatever reason you never really hear, and then you do. I think I always assumed they were a straightforward hardcore band but there's nothing straightforward about them. Also, the new Perfume Genius record is really great. So excited to hear a new record with songs this good and honest, and that is cohesive.

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

I love the Stillwater Artisanal beers and as soon as I heard their Lower Dens collaboration beer was available I ordered it for the restaurant. The whole staff is obsessed with Lower Dens. Its kind of an ultimate music/food mash up, they are constantly being played in the restaurant, and people are drinking the beer. Kinda cool, at least i think so.

@mikefadem

In 2014 Tags mike fadem, kevin devine, roman's, stillwater artisinal, lower dens, perfume genius
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JORDAN LUFF

January 13, 2015 Colby Mancasola
jordan-luff

Jordan Luff plays in the Asheville, NC band Old Flings.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Every summer, my fiancée and I take a week-long trip somewhere fun and full of delicious food. This year, we spent a week in New York City with our dear friend Meghan, and we ate our way through countless restaurants between Brooklyn and Manhattan. We ate at a pizza place in Greenpoint called Paulie Gee's that not only had a solid vegan selection, but the very best vegan pizza I've ever had in my life: the In Ricotta Da Vegan (I'm assuming/hoping that's an Iron Butterfly reference). The pie is topped with tomato sauce, house-made vegan sausage, and post-oven topped with house-made cashew ricotta dollops, baby arugula, and extra virgin olive oil. Sweet Jesus. Just typing that out makes my mouth water. Meeting the amiable and gracious Paulie Gee later really sealed the deal on how much I love that restaurant.

Additionally, if you're ever in Brooklyn, go to Champ's Diner for breakfast/lunch and Dun-Well Donuts for tasty confections, both located in Williamsburg. At Champ's, I had a vegan Eggs Benedict that ruined vegan breakfast for me--and by ruined, I mean that I can't eat vegan breakfast anywhere else because nowhere else I've been stands up to the greatness that is Champ's breakfast food. And Dun-Well Donuts basically did the same thing for me but with donuts. Going home to North Carolina where our options are Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts (neither of which offer vegan donuts) was a sad, sad donut day for me.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I'll have to point to NYC, again. While we were there, we got to see one of favorite current hardcore bands, Incendiary. I've been wanting to see them since I bought their split with Suburban Scum a couple years ago, and lucky for me, they played my favorite song, "God's Country" from that split. Their full-length, "The Cost of Living", is a perfect record full of poignant New York hardcore and relevant political/social commentary. That set made me feel the same energy and excitement that I used to experience on the regular back in 2003-2008, when I used to go to hardcore shows pretty regularly. Also, I got to see Brand New perform in my own city last month, and they were absolutely incredible. "The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me" has got to be one of the best post-hardcore/rock albums of the last decade. So much power and energy in that band, who continually evolve from record to record in ways that surprise and excite me.

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

Old Flings got to travel to Montréal on our last tour this summer, and let me tell you, I can't wait to go back. Of course, every tour we do, experiencing the food of the city we're in is a top priority. Getting to eat poutine for the first time was a major success for me, although vegan poutine is arguably not considered real poutine, but whatever. 10/10, would eat poutine and tour through Canada again.

@oldflings

In 2014 Tags jordan luff, old flings, paulie gee's, champ's diner, dun well donuts, incendiary, brand new
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MATT BROWN

January 12, 2015 Colby Mancasola
matt-brown

Matt Brown owns Bunk Bar in Portland and plays in the band Phantom Ships.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Herring in a Red Fur Coat at Kachka. Such a badass 7 layer appetizer with beets and herring and potatoes. Looks incredible. Google a picture. And the carafes of cold vodka to boot. Love. 

What was the music highlight of your year?

Album: Blank Realms "Grassed Inn" and Purling Hiss "Weirdon". Incredible year in music. So many young bands that are influenced by Modern Lovers and the Feelies. Love the new trend in indie rock.

Live: Fat White Family. Scary. Classic. They may not live much longer.

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

I love shows at Bunk. I always end up in the kitchen at some point drunk having tomato soup with potato chips in it. It's my drunk show jam.

@laserass

In 2014 Tags matt brown, bunk, phantom ships, ashley stove, kachka, blank realms, purling hiss, fat white family
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CHARLES HODGKINS

January 11, 2015 Colby Mancasola
charles-hodgkins

Charles Hodgkins writes about music, food, and travel. Founder of BurritoEater.com, he has served as a San Francisco taqueria expert for the New York Times, Cooking Channel, and other press outlets.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I've eaten a boatload of doughnuts/beignets in 2014, and somehow I still fit into these 46-waist slacks I got for Xmas last year. I'm a Bob's on Polk man. Mark Trombino's clever joint in Highland Park is also fun (if kinda pricey).

What was the music highlight of your year?

Oh, I could say it's been my five-month Neil Young binge, in which I chronologically listened my way through *everything* (including rafts of live shows) the man's done over the decades; an epic journey I had to beg out of at...1991. I'll pick it up again eventually.

I could also say it's been Nothing's 'Guilty Of Everything,' Cheatahs' self-titled debut (which sounds just like Swervedriver, and it's OK with me), Cloud Nothings' 'Here And Nowhere Else,' Solids' 'Blame Confusion' (which sounds just like Japandroids-lite, but it's OK with me), and Spoon's 'They Want My Soul' (which I think sounds just like Spoon) -- nutbusting 2014 records, all of 'em. I could even say it's all the Explosions In The Sky I've been subjecting my ears and neighbors to for the last couple weeks straight, daily and loudly.

And how could I almost forget my excitement over the idea of seeing Ride reform and perform in 2015? Really, I can't forget that. But I have a strong feeling my music highlight of the year will turn out to be Centro-matic's 'Take Pride In Your Long Odds,' which is not only my top album title to come along in many moons, but also one hell of a swan song for My Main Band Of The Last 15 Years. I'm off to Chicago and St. Louis to witness their farewell tour this month, which not only will probably be the finest rock shows I catch all year, but only furthers my long-held belief that compiling a best-of-year list in December sells our twelfth month of the year ruefully short. Why must we annually front on December? Why?? It's high time I stand up for my birthday month. I'm a December Boy and I like September Gurls just like everyone else, but dammit, I'm demanding the year's darkest month gets some respect handed down from Swimmingly's editorial crew. We're dealing with a legitimate month here -- like April, like September, like all those other months. It's more than just one holiday hoohaw after another; it's more than Bing-and-Bowie duets; it's more than drunken uncles doing the lampshade shuffle into the indoor pine tree after a couple too many eggnog-and-Fireball-chasers. Cool shit goes down in December, man. OK, happy new year.

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

This year, no...but there was that time in 1993 when I bought a Pepsi at 7-11 and 'Right Here, Right Now' came on the radio -- right there, right then. Totally wild. Just unbelievable.

In 2014 Tags charles hodgkins, burrito eater, mark trombino, donut friend, neil young, nothing, cheatahs, swervedriver, cloud nothings, solids, japandroids, spoon, explosions in the sky, centro-matic
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TYLER RICHARDSON

January 11, 2015 Colby Mancasola
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

In 2014 Tags tyler richardson, luca brasi, beach slang
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ALEX BACA

January 9, 2015 Colby Mancasola
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

 

In 2014 Tags alex baca, the black cat, craftsman and wolves, the rebel within, mitchell's ice cream, beach slang, bad scene, bad scene everyone's fault, manny and olga's, matt cohen, it's all good
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ERIC D. JOHNSON

January 8, 2015 Colby Mancasola
eric-d-johnson

Eric D. Johnson is the founder of Fruit Bats and co-founder of the Huichica Music Festival. He has composed music for film and served as a multi-instrumentalist for The Shins. His 2014 solo album came out under the moniker EDJ.

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In 2014 Tags eric d. johnson, fruit bats, the shins, edj, huichica, pickathon
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JAMIE BISSONNETTE

January 8, 2015 Colby Mancasola
jamie-bissonette

Jamie Bissonnette is the James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of Toro NYC, Toro Boston and Coppa. He also wrote The New Charcuterie Cookbook.

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In 2014 Tags jamie bissonnette, toro, coppa, the new charcuterie cookbook, wu tang clan, james beard
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