JESSE MILLER – LOTUS
What will you remember most about 2014?
Writing, recording, mixing. Building, rebuilding, patching my modular synth. Putting together and performing our two Talking Heads Deconstructed sets.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
Spoon – They Want My Soul
Parquet Courts – Sunbathing Animal
What was your favorite show of 2014?
My own: Lotus at Red Rocks 9/19/2014.
Others: Caribou at Union Transfer 11/13/14, Dawn of MIDI at Johnny Brenda’s 9/29/14.
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
Vulfpeck
Any big plans for 2015?
A big Lotus tour starting in January. A new Lotus album. Making as much music as I can.
DAVE BRUZZA – GREENSKY BLUEGRASS
What will you remember most about 2014?
I think the show we did in Las Vegas when we all wore Elvis costumes. That was a pretty memorable moment for me.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
I love Beck’s album Morning Phase ! It’s a weekly listen for me.
What was your favorite show of 2014?
Well as far as my own band there were a lot this year, too many to name. But The Infamous Stringdusters at The Northwest String Summit this year was amazing! The best show I’ve ever seen them play.
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
So many great bands out there that I want to name, but there are two bands out on the road with amazing songs and killer harmonies and one is Fruition. I’m sure lots of you have heard the name, if you haven’t seen them, do it! The other is The Tumbleweed Wanderers. Both of these bands have been on the road with Greensky, and those were two great tours!
Any big plans for 2015?
Hugetime plans for Greensky Bluegrass, I guess you’ll have to keep in touch with us and find out.
JEFF MATTSON – DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
What will you remember most about 2014?
J: 2014 was the year the Donna Jean Godchaux Band w/Jeff Mattson finally released our album, Back Around. We took our time making this album and as a result we made something we are really proud of and feel represents us well. We got the Muscle Shoals soul vibe, nicely wrapped up with the San Francisco psychedelic vibe, which is what we hoped to do. This also was the year of our “new” bass player, Skip Vangelas in Dark Star Orchestra. His excellent playing and infectious energy has really pushed us to a higher level of music.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
This is the year I discovered Calexico, the band. They’ve been out there for a long time, but I am just going back and discovering their records. I am also loving the complete Basement Tapes box set of Dylan and the Band. I got my Pono player now and will begin to fill it up with the good stuff!
What was your favorite show of 2014?
I just saw Los Lobos last night at the City Winery in Manhattan and they killed it with an acoustic set of traditional Mexican folk music and a hard-rocking electric set that featured a sit in by Marc Ribot that was over the top. I also loved the Wilco show at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY. Those guys are getting like the Dead in that they can go a week without repeating any tunes!
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
My newest project is Mattson/Barraco & Friends, that features Rob Barraco, Skip Vangelis and myself from Dark Star Orchestra, and Rob’s son, Tom Barraco on drums. This band gives us a chance to play a whole variety of music, including each individual member’s original songs. We just did three shows and we had a fantastic time. Other than that, I think that based on the one album I have heard, Lake Street Dive are going to have a big year.
Any big plans for 2015?
I am really excited that once again Dark Star Orchestra will be doing the Jam in the Sand III in Negril, Jamaica, also including the David Nelson Band and Keller Williams in several configurations. I think there will be some serious jamming going on! Can’t tell you a whole lot about the Dark Star Jubilee in Legend Valley, OH on Memorial Day Weekend yet, but that is going to be incredible too and we are really psyched to be returning there.
JOEL CUMMINS – UMPHREY’S MCGEE
What will you remember most about 2014?
2014 for me has been a very bittersweet year. We’ve had some really amazing accomplishments as a band including selling out Red Rocks, that’s something that will of course come to mind. We played a really good show at Red Rocks and played for all these people, which was really special. Obviously, I also lost some really close friends this year, not only Mike Mirro but also a really close friend of mine, who passed away after running the Brooklyn Half Marathon. So, for me 2014 is bittersweet and that’s the nature of life I suppose. Gotta keep moving forward, that’s the only choice.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
I’ve definitely listened to The War on Drugs album a few times. I’ve listened to, my breakfast music has gone back and forth between Tycho and Miles Davis. I just did this holiday show with Brendan and Jake so I’ve actually been listening to Claude Debussy piano music over the past three or four months to get reacquainted with that to make sure I knew the music inside and out.
What was your favorite show of 2014?
Music of William Onyeabor at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
Tauk and The Revivalists.
Any big plans for 2015?
I’ll tell you this, it’ll probably be early February that we’re going to drop something that is going to completely blow people away and they’re going to be like ‘how did they pull this off?’ There’s something that we did in 2014 that nobody knows about, that is going to happen in 2015 that I think is going to be pretty awesome. That’s all I’m going to say right now. Be ready, come about February, to see something that—this is going to be, I’m not going to say ‘career defining’ thing because I don’t want to build it up to much. But when it happened, it was something that we’re incredibly proud of and something that I’d never dreamed would happen for us. That’s all I’m going to say.
ROB COMPA – DOPAPOD
What will you remember most about 2014?
Tough question!! There’s a lot of great moments from the past year. I’m really proud of our album, Never Odd Or Even, that we recorded and released this year. Also, we spent a few weeks opening for Umphreys McGee, which was a really great experience. Not only was it great exposure, but we learned a lot for watching how they do things.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
I’ll just make a list:
Lyle Brewer Wicked Live!
Umphrey’s McGee Similar Skin
Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East
Frogwings Croakin’ At Toad’s
What was your favorite show of 2014?
That’s almost impossible to answer since we’ve played so many shows in the past year, but Peach Fest in Scranton, PA is one that keeps coming to mind. The crowd was great, we felt creative, and the vibe was wonderful from start to finish.
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
We just did a two week run with TAUK and I thought they were unbelievable. Amazing players and great guys. Aqueous is another incredible band that I’ve been a fan of for a few years now. They’re new album, Cycles is really terrific, too. I’ve also been digging the Main Squeeze a lot lately. They’re really badass.
Any big plans for 2015?
VERY big plans! Beyond that, I’m not really sure what I’m allowed to talk about at this point, so I’m gonna stay mum about it for now. Just know that we are very, very, very, very excited for what’s in store for 2015.
