With 2010 now officially over, we can now truly look back on a year that brought much promise for the music world and many changes to each of our own lives. Below we asked Zach Miller, Reed Mathis, Chris Frantz, George Porter Jr. and a number of other friends a series of year-end questions and, this time, their responses touched mainly a sense of excitement for new bands, new projects and, in many cases, new kids. From the sound of it, we already have much to look forward to in 2011. Look for new installments regularly throughout the month as we continue to turn to our friends to recap their favorite moments from 2010. In case you missed our eariler installments, Click here to take a look at Set 1 and click here for set 2.
GEORGE PORTER JR. (7 Walkers, Runnin’ Pardners, The Meters)
What will you remember most about 2010?
Two bands: one, the Runnin’ Pardners band as it is today is a great growing movement
and two, the 7 Walkers – also a great growing movement. The music of both bands I am very happy about.
*What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes? *
Well all this year I have been going back and forth with the “16 Meters” song I just recorded w/ Runnin’ Pardners, a Christmas CD that I did for my mother, and some of the Dead music for the 7 Walkers .
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
Well, all shows were shows I played on:
1) April 6, 2010 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Big Room Chico, CA w/ 7 Walkers
2) Runnin’ Pardners first run to the northeast this summer.
3) Sept. 19th – a sit-in with Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste” at Pier 22, also sitting in was Ivan & Ian Neville: A real New Orleans moment.
*What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Both Runnin’ Pardners and 7 Walkers
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
At this point I don’t know, but Eric Krasno and Adam Deitch have been talking about doing something for well over a year. Maybe next year is the year.
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ZACH MILLER (Dr. Dog)
What will you remember most about 2010?
A lot of hard traveling: 30 hours to get from Primavera to Sasquatch; four days driving back and forth across a sheet of ice that was Iowa I-80 in February; throwing our hitch pin under 30th St. Station and dragging the (empty, thank god!) trailer for a quarter mile after our last show of the year. It all made for a very “exciting” year going from point to point.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
Ariel Pink: Before Today; Floating Action: s/t; A.A. Bondy: When the Devil’s Loose; Various Artists: Excavated Shellac: Strings.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
Ariel Pink at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly. Of our own? Selling out the Electric Factory in Philly.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Floating Action. New album Desert Etiquette out on Park the Van.
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
Marc Ribot
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CHRIS FRANTZ (Tom Tom Club)
What will you remember most about 2010?
Tom Tom Club rocking the house all over the USA!
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
James Brown Gold.
What was your favorite show in 2010?
Tom Tom Club live at Brooklyn Bowl.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Princess Chelsea from New Zealand- Here’s a look
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
Money Mark, Mexican Institute Of Sound, Mark Mothersbaugh….to name a few.
REED MATHIS
What will you remember most about 2010?
2010 will live in my memory as the year I finally grew a beard! Also, I finished my first ever solo record, and I started playing bass with a pick, after 20 years of finger-style. And TLG took off its training wheels….
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
Earlier this year I went deep into the Bob Dylan catalog, and discovered a lot of real gems that I’d never heard before. Also, I spent a lot of time listening to Of Montreal, Nathan Moore, and Duke Ellington. I loved Phish’s newest album. And my addiction to remastering Charlie Parker’s records has continued its feast of hours.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
I really enjoyed playing the Independent in SF with Marco Benevento & Andrew Barr. The Wakarusa festival in June was a highlight of the year, both for TLG and 7 Walkers. The boat-cruise in NYC last August was pretty rocking. I’m sure I’m forgetting some…..there were literally hundreds of amazing gigs this year!
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
My favorite new artist I’ve heard recently was Yellowbirds, from Brooklyn NY. They’re part of the Royal Potato Family, and are led by Sam Cohen (formerly of Apollo Sunshine). Sounds like Grizzly Bear with Roy Orbison on vocals.
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
In 2011 I’m looking forward to performing the music from my forthcoming solo record with some of the 15 musicians that helped me craft it. Specifically I’m looking forward to collaborating with my brothers in TLG, including our newest member Cochrane McMillan, and my continuing apprenticeship with Marco Benevento and Andrew Barr.
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GRAYSON CAPPS
What will you remember most about 2010?
Moving from Tennessee back home to Alabama
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
I don’t use iTunes I still buy CDs. I’m Neanderthal that way. That being said, albums by Grinderman, Les Paul & Mary Ford, JJ Cale and Dylan LeBlanc.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
Favorite tour was Grinderman which I missed because i was playing Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta. I did make it out for Roger Waters on The Wall tour.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Grayson Capps & The Lost Cause Minstrels.
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
Doc Watson
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MATT BUSCH (Manager: Bob Weir, God Street Wine)
What will you remember most about 2010?
The Evolution of Furthur.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
1: Dan Bern & Common Rotation: Live in Los Angeles
2: God Street Wine Live @ Gramercy Theatre & Irving Plaza, NYC July 2010
3: Anything Bruce Springsteen.
4: Johnny Cash-The American Series.
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
1: Furthur at Madison Square Garden
2: God Street Wine at Irving Plaza
3: Furthur’s National Anthem before NLCS Game 5 in SF.
4: Savannah Woody singing the last verse of “Soulshine” at “Another One for Woody”.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2011?
1: Bob Weir & The Marin Symphony Orchestra
2: Lil’ Kim
Who would you want to collaborate with next year?
I’m not a musician so I don’t really get to collaborate, but that being said I’d love to work with Phish’s Management on a Furthur-Phish event for 2012..
VINCE HERMAN (Great American Taxi)
What will you remember most about 2010?
I will remember 2010 as the year of heavy petting at airport security points.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
What’s an album?
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
Fourmile Revival show in Broomfield Colorado was my fave. Yonder, Big Head Todd, Cheese and Salmon together was long overdue.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010? Elephant Revival will blow up this year the new album Break in the Clouds is great.
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
I’m looking forward to writing and playing with Todd Snider this year.
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MATTHEW WHITE (Fight the Big Bull)
What will you remember most about 2010?
Our week long stint at Duke re-interpreting Alan Lomax’s Sounds of the South box set with our good friends Megafaun.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
Otis Redding box set
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010
First night of the residency with Megafaun at Duke. a performance that had been in the works for many months finally coming to fruition.
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Karl Blau’s new work on Spacebomb Records, Ivan Howard’s new record out on Merge
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
Kasai Allstars, also Howard Johnson
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EVAN MANN (Relix Magazine)
What will you remember most about 2010?
Everything…including my family, friends, and girlfriend who all helped me smile day in and day out. 2010 was good to me.
What album or albums appeared most often in your iTunes?
Dawes – North Hills, Local Natives – Gorilla Manor, LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
What was your favorite show or tour in 2010?
Phish Camden, 6-25 (MJ 2001!)
What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2010?
Alberta Cross
What artist or artists would you most like to collaborate with next year?
Can’t answer this, BUT, I can tell you who I would like to see collaborate. Reid Genauer and Jon Trafton…it’s been too long, SF in 2011!
