Well, the temperature is dropping, office holiday party tour is in full swing and my chapped lips are making me look like the kid on the cover of U2’s War, which can only mean one thing: Year End List Season has officially started. As in years past, we’ve asked a number of musicians, writers, photographers, managers, promoters, non-profit organizers and other members of our extended Relix/Jambands.com community to reflect on the past year. This year we also look back on the past decade, which I’m told is coming to a close at the end of the month. We’ll be posting a range of reflections into 2010, so be sure to check back throughout the year.

PATTERSON HOOD (DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS)

What will you remember most about 2009?

Having our son (Emmett 90/09/09), touring with Booker T., going to Australia and making our new album The Big To-Do.

What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?

Iron and Wine Around The Well
Bob Dylan Together Through Life
Bloodkin Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again
A bunch of Gillian Welch songs (particularly from Time (The Revelator) and Hell Among The Yearlings).

What was your favorite show or tour in 2009?

Gillian Welch and Iron and Wine at No Depression’s Fest in Seattle, Springsteen at Bonnaroo, M. Ward at 40 Watt (Athens GA) and The Pogues at The Tabernacle.

What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?

The Low Anthem, The Girls, Pride Parade, Justin Townes Earle.

What artist or artists will be most synonymous with the past decade?

Radiohead, Jack White, Wilco, Bob Dylan.

*****

HOWIE SCHNEE (CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP/SULLIVAN HALL)

What will you remember most about 2009?

My son Arlo being born.

What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?

Fela Kuti – Yellow Fever
Sigur Ros – With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly
Putumayo’s African Dreamland
Anders Osborne – Coming Down
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres

What was your favorite show or tour in 2009?

Tour: Phish!

Shows:
Phish-3/7, Hampton
Krantz Carlock Lefebvre—2/25, Sullivan Hall
Anders Osborne—11/7, Sullivan Hall

What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?

Zach Deputy, Christina Courtin, Cornmeal and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave

Also, not emerging: Anders Osborne. He’s been around for a long time, but something happened in 2009, turning him into the most exciting live act (apart from Phish) that I’ve seen in a long time.

What artist or artists will be most synonymous with the past decade?

Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens, Radiohead, Kings of Leon, My Morning Jacket, The Bad Plus, Amy Winehouse, Fleet Foxes

And I will never forget Umphrey’s McGee for showing up three days after 9/11 to play Lion’s Den, when almost every other local, regional or out-of-town band had cancelled their performances in NYC that week. I don’t think the 150 or so in attendance will ever forget that either.

Pages:Next Page »