JESSE MILLER – LOTUS
What will you remember most about 2012?
I traveled to the Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and across the US multiple times, but I’ll probably remember the presidential election most since it was drilled into my mind through every media…that or the opening scene of Melancholia.
What album or albums have you listened to this most this past year?
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
Television – Marquee Moon
What was your favorite show or tour in 2012?
Favorite show I played – probably Lotus 2/4/12 at Fillmore Denver. Favorite shows I saw – Unknown Mortal Orchestra 6/11/12 and Ital Tek / Grimace Federation 11/7/12
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2012?
I’m hoping for some great new recordings from my friends in The Record Company. Listen to their track “On the Move” and try not to rock out.
Any big plans in the works for 2013?
New Lotus album Build is out in February and there is a massive US tour in support of the album. Quite a few other studio projects will be released as well – we are sitting on a cache of studio material.
2013 marks the 40th year of Relix Magazine. Do you remember the first time you read Relix? Is there an article that stands out for you?
Wow, 40 years, that is impressive. Lotus was picked as an “On the Verge” act way back in 2002 – that may have been the first time I read Relix.
*****
CRIS JACOBS – THE BRIDGE, CRIS JACOBS BAND
What will you remember most about 2012?
The world not ending.
What album or albums have you listened to this most this past year?
Tedeschi Trucks Band Revelator. I love this record. Susan’s voice and Derek’s guitar playing on their own can kill me, but featured with such excellent songwriting is a sound I feel like I’ve been dying to hear.
Also discovered a Texas songwriter named Willis Alan Ramsey, who released one album back in 1972 and never put out another one. This is a perfect record as far as I’m concerned. Every song is genius. I was hoping he’d put out another to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first, but I guess he’s holding out and making us wait a little while. His answer as to why he hasn’t released another is great – “What’s wrong with the first one?”
What was your favorite show or tour in 2012?
New Orleans Jazz Fest – too many great shows and musicians to name, but I’ll try… The Meters, Papa Grows Funk, Donald Harrison, Anders Osborne, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk, Eric Lindell, Honey Island Swamp Band, Bonerama, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Russell Batiste, The Wild Magnolias, The Golden Eagles w/ Big Chief Monk Boudreaux…there was so much music back to back to back. Maybe its the humidity or something but I swear music just sounds better down there.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2012?
Cris Jacobs Band! It’s taken me almost a year to really get my “solo” band off the ground and cooking. I’ve been writing my ass off for the last year, and rounding up one killer musician after another. I now feel fully armed with some heavy artillery to do some damage. We’ll be playing quite a bit this year.
Any big plans in the works for 2013?
I just did a really cool session down at Dockside Studios in Lafayette, LA with Ivan Neville, Charlie Wooten, and Eric Bolivar. Ivan and I had been discussing a collaboration for a little while and we finally got together and did some co-writing and recording down there for 2 days. With very little time and rehearsal, we got a few great tunes written and recorded. The vibe was very relaxed and flowing, I feel like we really only scratched the surface on what we could accomplish together. I’m excited to hopefully spend more time digging in on writing with him and very looking forward to the possibility of playing some shows together with this project.
2013 marks the 40th year of Relix Magazine. Do you remember the first time you read Relix? Is there an article that stands out for you?
I don’t remember specifically, but I remember it was the “Grateful Dead” magazine, which to a high school hippie kid was the coolest thing ever.
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