JOE RUSSO
What will you remember most about 2014?
Our first Shpongle Live Band show at Red Rocks
Recording/engineering my studio’s (Burgs N’ Dogs) first official release: Cass McCombs “Evangeline” & “Like A Local Boy”
Almost Dead taking it to the road!
PhilRAD NYE run
The Complete Last Waltz
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
Barr Brothers – Sleeping Operator
The GOASTT – Midnight Sun
What was your favorite show of 2014?
Beck/GOASTT Le Zenith, Paris FR
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
Wolf!
Delicate Steve
Hawaiii
Any big plans for 2015?
Releasing my solo record.
Making lots of records with awesome people.
Launching my new band Hawaiii with Erik Deutsch and Jon Shaw.
Almost Dead
ELI WINDERMAN – DOPAPOD
What will you remember most about 2014?
I’d say my musical highlight of the year was probably playing Prince’s 1999 with most of the Umphrey’s guys on stage on their 1999th show. That was just a ton of fun and it felt extremely memorable. This most recent fall tour was probably my favorite one yet. I’m also going to always remember recording our new album back in March. That was just a good time of life for me. Just being focused and holed up in a recording studio for a couple weeks felt awesome. I’ll also remember how great and basically rain free this summer festival season was. I think there may have been only one rainy festival (that we attended at least).
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
I’ve been absolutely/possibly unhealthily obsessed with Steely Dan this year. I just had one of those revelations some point in the van while listening to their album Pretzel Logic. That led me listening to every one of their albums up through Aja pretty much non-stop for a while. I’ve also been kinda obsessed with St. Vincent. I really love her new record and the David Byrne record as well.
What was your favorite show of 2014?
I think my favorite show was our recent show at the Gramercy in NYC when the sound system caught on fire. Before the fire it just felt like a very tuned in show. The crowd energy felt really great. The fire happened in the last 30 seconds of the last song in the first set. It was just very unexpected and I’ve never really experienced anything like that. At first I was just amazed and started taking pictures of it. Then I was like “Oh damn I should probably get out of here, that thing is on fire”. Then the scene outside of the venue was just crazy. Hundreds of people out on the sidewalk and 3 fire trucks with the lights on. I just stood out there hanging out with fans for a while taking it all in. We’re going to make up the missed set in the spring with some special NYC plans.
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
We just toured for two weeks with Tauk. They’re a great band! All badass musicians with really great melodic music.
Any big plans for 2015?
Very big plans for 2015.. I can’t really announce what I’d like to announce right now… But I can say that we’re starting the year with a months worth of writing and rehearsals. So definitely expect a lot of new music. We’re also planning to finish mixing a couple b sides from our new album Never Odd or Even and release the whole thing on vinyl. I don’t know when we can expect that, but probably in the spring.
LUKE MILLER – LOTUS
What will you remember most about 2014?
Doing The Talking Heads Deconstructed at Red Rocks with Lotus.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
I guess it’s not a completed album yet, but the forthcoming Lotus record. Between the time working on the songs and mixing the record, I’ve listened to that hundreds of times. Beyond that, probably Frozen Sun by Damn Right.
What was your favorite show of 2014?
Can’t beat a triple rainbow at Red Rocks during Tedeschi and Trucks.
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
Vulfpeck
Any big plans for 2015?
Lotus is hitting the road hard in 2015, and we’re going to put out at least 1 record and probably an additional EP or something.
JOHN OATES
What will you remember most about 2014?
Well, a lot of things. Doing almost 100 shows, about 70 with Daryl and 30 by myself—probably more shows than I’ve done since the 80s—that’s one thing. I’ll definitely remember the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Remember the fact that my son went off to college, freshman year. I’ll remember that I went back to Colorado one weekend and it snowed almost five feet in three days. I’ll remember some great recording sessions in Nashville. This Another Good Road DVD session was really a highlight. I’ll remember going to England and touring England for the first time in ten years with Daryl. So there’s a lot—a lot of stuff happened last year.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
My own. [Laughs.] You know, to be honest with you, I don’t listen to a lot of records because I’m always making new music and writing and so I’m always kind of focused on what I’m doing at that moment. I listen to other writers and other people’s work if I’m like—like let’s just say I’m going to write with Jim Lauderdale, you know I’ll listen to one of his records. Or, if I’m writing with Ryan Tedder or something I listen to OneRepublic record just to get a sense of what’s going on, but most of my listening is informational.
What was your favorite show of 2014?
One of the best shows for me, either shows that we played, was playing the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, with Daryl. We recorded it live and it’s a very famous venue. The Beatles played there. U2 did their early shows there. And believe it or not, we’d never been to Ireland, so that was a really cool show to play. I did the Jam Cruise, with Brett Dennen and Michael Franti. That was awesome. I really enjoyed that because I got to jam with all those guys and that was a fun cruise and we did that. Boy, there’s just been a lot of good things. A lot of it’s a blur
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
Lone Bellow is high on my list. I really think they’re great. They’ve got great vocals and they’re really cool. I love Jason Isbell. He’s not exactly emerging at this point—I think he has emerged, but he’s still fairly new and I think he’s really, really good.
Any big plans for 2015?
We’re living it right this moment. [Laughs.] I started out by releasing this DVD at first of the year and I’m doing press and playing City Winery tomorrow, celebrating the millionth glass of wine at City Winery, which is kind of crazy. And then, playing a lot of showing and here again, going on tour with Daryl. The year’s already kind of laid out. Oh! And we’re playing the White House, February 22nd. We just got the invitation and we’ve never done that so anytime—after doing this for a really long time—anytime there’s a first, I think you have to make note of that because it’s kind of cool.
DAVE KATZ – EKOOSTIK HOOKAH
What will you remember most about 2014?
Probably the Acoustic Hook set at The Ville in August. It was a blast doing an all-acoustic set, mostly made up of tunes I had never played before, with most of my band members and a bunch of other Ohio Grown musicians. It was a pretty magical night.
What album or albums have you listened to the most this past year?
Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark, Blood Sweat and Tears – Live and Improvised, Garcia, Grisman – Not Just For Kids would be a few.
What was your favorite show of 2014?
Ringo Starr’s All Star Band with Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, and Todd Rundgren was a definite highlight!
What emerging band or artists should our readers watch out for in 2015?
I think Glostik Willy is one that is not only unique and talented, but they’re great guys too.
Any big plans for 2015?
I’m hoping to see The Ville Music Festival grow. The lineup for Memorial Day weekend is fantastic.
