ROB MARSCHER (MATISYAHU)
What will you remember most about 2009?
Obama in the White House, my wife is pregnant again, and I toured with Matisyahu and Dub Trio.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
For new stuff… I enjoyed Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Phoenix) and Veckatimest (Grizzly Bear). Probably on a ton of people’s top album lists. I saw Phoenix at Summersonic in Tokyo—pretty good live too. The Dub Trio turned me onto a lot of older stuff I hadn’t heard before. “Witness Dub” off of Roots Manuva’s Dub Come Save Me record was probably the most played song backstage. Amazing stuff.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2009?
I went to Rothbury for the first time which is a really nice festival. It’s my favorite show because my daughter, Maryn, came up on stage and sat on my lap during the song “One Day.” She grabbed the mic to beatbox – her voice is too soft to be heard on the tapes though. Now she expects to get up on stage at every show 🙂 We also watched the Dead that weekend, and I realized I’m “that guy” that took his daughter to a Dead show when she was 2. Ha!
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Not a band nor exactly new… but you guys should check out Nico Muhly if you haven’t. Our drummer, Joe Tomino, turned me on to him and then it turned out that he collaborated with Grizzly Bear on their last album. I think people that dig the intricate compositions that a lot of jambands strive to create will enjoy Nico Muhly’s music. Nashville band Moon Taxi also recently opened for us on tour. They’re fresh out college and have a lot of fire which reminds me of what it was like for me 10 years ago.
What artist or artists will be most synonymous with the past decade?
I think Radiohead will be up there. Even though they did great work in the ‘90s, I think it was this decade where they really got unanimously recognized as one of the best bands in the world. Other than that… it’s pretty difficult. There’s such a wide variety of stuff now that bubbles to the surface since everyone got an iPod. I will say that autotune will probably be the sound that dates this decade… so for that, I guess I give T-Pain a nod (or a shaken fist, not sure which).
SARAH CORNIN (DRUG RUG)
What will you remember most about 2009?
Coming to terms with keeping alive the important ideas from when you were younger, and learning more and more how those ideas can influence and drive your life.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
The Breeders’ Mountain Battles, Bobby Bland’s Two Steps from the Blues, Broadcast’s Tender Buttons, Lazy Smoke’s Corridor of Faces and Dr. Dog’s Fate are just a few.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2009?
We had so much fun this year touring with both Dr. Dog and Portugal. The Man. We had an incredible time playing a handful of dates in Florida in February with Dr. Dog. The people who came out to the shows there were more excited than any audiences we have ever seen. They truly appreciate bands who come down their way, and we really loved seeing all the fans and also the sunny skies and palm trees during the winter months.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Nina Violet’s voice and song writing will knock you out and you’ll never want to wake up. She’s from Martha’s Vineyard and is recording a new record soon. Try to see her live if you can, it’s so refreshing to hear someone’s lyrics match so perfectly the feeling in their voice.
What artist or artists will be most synonymous with the past decade?
I’m not sure if we’re really qualified to answer that question…we don’t listen to much music from this decade, not that there aren’t a lot of great artists to get into, but in a lot of ways we have our ears stuck in the past. When I turn on the radio I hear music that sounds like it was born, lived its life, and died inside a computer. I guess my hope for the coming decade is that auto tune will be put to rest and we will be allowed to hear people’s real voices again. and then maybe everyone can be appreciated for their own weird musical selves.
ANNA BOROFSKY (CLEAN VIBES)
What will you remember most about 2009?
2009 was a year when greening (of festivals and so much more) became the norm as opposed to the exception. With this transition came an increase in awareness, some substantive change, and a lot of greenwashing. As with so many things, as awareness about environmental issues becomes more mainstream, it is easy for the substance to be diluted or lost all together. My hope is that, in the coming years, the substantive efforts to make festivals more sustainable win out over the greenwashing and jamband festivals will continue to find themselves at the forefront of the movement to minimize the environmental impact of outdoor events.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
Lots of Acoustic Syndicate, Jackie Greene, Girlyman, Two Gallants, Jamey Johnson, and Zero….oops that was artists, not albums.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2009?
I’d say it’s a tie between 2 very different shows ¬ The Dead tour opener in Greensboro in April was a very special show for me ¬ I really didn¹t think I¹d feel that energy and magic ever again. My other favorite was just this past weekend when the original lineup of Percy Hill reunited to play a show at the Stone Church. Six incredibly talented musicians playing together publicly for the first time in over a decade ¬ and still sounding amazing!
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Nate Wilson Group and Zach Deputy
What artist or artists will be most synonymous with the past decade?
Michael Franti & Spearhead for their ability to use music as a tool to inspire change and their amazing ability to create a frenzy of positive energy through music.
No Comments comments associated with this post