Auld Lang Syne Set 3:
Chuck Garvey, Wilco, Billy Martin, Guster, the Zen Tricksters, Galactic and more
Mike Greenhaus
2006-12-23
Once again a year has come and gone too quickly and, once again, we are left with twelve months of music to sort through. For the second year in a row, we asked a number of our favorite musicians, managers and industry gurus to talk about their favorite albums, bands and performances. Look for a new “set” each week in December (be sure to take a look at Set One and Set Two, if you haven’t done so yet). BILLY MARTIN
What will you remember most about 2006?
That the people who voted for Bush finally woke up to the nightmare he created. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
If not Socket, it will be Ceramic Dog. What was your favorite show in 2006?
I wish I saw Ceramic Dog. What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Gyorgy Ligeti: Chamber Music and Viola Sonata. RYAN MILLER (GUSTER) What will you remember most about 2006?
"We're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it anymore!" Who will be the band to see in 2007?
I’m really excited to see what the Peter Bjorn and John live show is all about. What was your favorite show in 2006?
Fiona Apple at Vegoose. Hell hath no fury! What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Harry Nilsson-Nillson Schmillson. JEFF MATTSON (ZEN TRICKSTERS)
What will you remember most about 2006?
Two things come to mind. One is the formation of my new band, Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue. The band grew out of some collaborations with Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay that we did in 2005 and we just felt a musical and personal chemistry that really needed to be explored. The other is the defeat of the Republican Congress in the November election. This provided to be a much needed ray of hope in some pretty dark times. Which band is the band to see in 2007?
At the risk of self-aggrandizement, I'd have to say the band to watch in 2007 is Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue. What started out as a band of seven, including The Zen Tricksters, Donna Jean, Mookie Siegel, and Wendy Lanter playing each other's songs together, has turned out to have a strong, unique personality all its own. With about 30 shows under our belt at this point, and an album on the way, we're ready to make our mark in 2007! What was your favorite show in 2006?
One of my favorite shows that comes to mind was Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris on their All the Roadrunning Tour at the Beacon Theater in NYC. They've both long been favorites of mine and I thought the match-up worked really well. They provided some real gooseflesh moments! Also, Bob Dylan at the NY City Center playing most of the new Modern Times CD proved that he's still worthy of his stature as a "legend." What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
I spent a lot of time listening to the live Wilco set, Kicking Television. They not only can perform live the magical performances they produce in the studio, but they also manage to add another dimension to it. The Richard Thompson box set has been a complete joy but now I'm neck deep in the Tom Waits box set, Orphans. So much great stuff! REED MATHIS (JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY) What will you remember most about 2006?
Gigging in Europe! After 13 years of touring, I finally got to play overseas in '06 and I made it over 4 times in 12 months. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Looking forward to some new Wilco, some new Radiohead. Plus, The Slip sounds better than ever! What was your favorite show in 2006?
Tie: JFJO at the Berlin Jazz Fest (11.4.06) and Greyboy Allstars (when I subbed for Stillwell) at Tipitina's (5/6/06). What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Grateful Dead, Barton Hall, Ithaca NY (5.8.77) TOM HAMILTON (BROTHERS PAST, AMERICAN BABIES)
What will you remember most about 2006?
The Beatles still manage to put out the best sounding music, South Park still pushes the
"line" further than anyone, Springsteen is in charge, and Britney doesn’t wax/shave her
taint. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Besides American Babies? My Morning Jacket!!!!! What was your favorite show in 2006?
Tie: Radiohead at the Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
Chris Harford and the Band of Changes at John and Peter's New Hope, PA What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Patsy Cline - Greatest Hits DENNIS MCNALLY What will you remember most about 2006?
The election is the beginning of a very slow turnaround, if it's not already too late? Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Well, of course Bob Weir & RatDog, Boris Garcia, and Shannon "No Relation" McNally... and if you've never had the privilege, Zakir Hussain. What was your favorite show in 2006?
Zakir Hussain and Antonia Minnecola at Herbst Theatre, December 2006. Magnificent! What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. CHUCK GARVEY (MOE.)
What will you remember most about 2006?
Being completely resentful of the fact that our government is corrupt, inept and relatively clue free. Oh, and playing shows with The Who!!!! Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Akron/family, The Shins, Andrew Bird What was your favorite show in 2006?
The Avett Brothers' rainy set at moe.down . This isn't (only) a gratuitous plug for moe.down, I just don't get out much.
What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Django Reinhardt - Golden Greats. Between this and a Chet Atkins compilation, there are about 200 songs! Most recently, I have been listening to Cracker's Greenland and Camper Van Beethoven's New Roman Times. ROBERT MERCURIO (GALACTIC) What will you remember most about 2006?
That the New Orleans Saints might make it to the Super Bowl! Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Galactic, of course What was your favorite show in 2006?
Playing a surprise show at the Maple Leaf with Galactic, Paul Shaffer, and David Letterman What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Corinne Bailey Rae PATRICK JORDAN (RED LIGHT MANAGEMENT, DJ QUARTER ROY) What will you remember most about 2006?
Moving back to NYC...I love Charlottesville but there’s nothing like
home. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
This is a hard one with so many great bands on the horizon every day so I
will just play it safe and say DJ Quarter-Roy. Epic. Confirmed. What was your favorite performance in 2006? I have three that really stand out. First was Chris Harford and Band of Changes somewhere in NJ. Band consisted of Harford, Dean Ween, Dave Dreiwitz and Joe Russo. I knew hardly any of the songs and I was completely memorized from the first note. This guy is too good to be slept on! Second was Dave Matthews Band in Charlottesville ¬ it was a rare show where I didn’t have much work to do so I just watched the show with my wife and was completely reminded what amazing musicians they are and how completely lucky I am to work for them. Third was Trey ‘s Halloween show. Coming straight off of Vegoose the last thing I wanted to do was see more music but I was not sorry I made my way to Austin as Trey reminded this lucky audience why we love him with a crazy show that featured a complete impromptu horn section and some of the best versions of his new Bar 17 material. Stubbs is a sweet venue too! What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
I went completely old school this year ... Old school punk, old school rap and old school metal and plenty of yacht rock. I also bought plenty of amazing new records however I just think my iPod favors Ace Frehley’s solo album over the Shout Out Louds debut or the Midlake’s record (which are both amazing too). JOHN MULLINS (EKOOSTIK HOOKAH)
What will you remember most about 2006?
Rejoining ekoostik hookah after almost a ten year absence. I am having the best time of my life with these guys.
Which band is the band to see in 2007?
ekoosik hookah. We'll be out there in 2007 with a full head of steam. What was your favorite show in 2006?
Roger Waters in Cleveland was the one the best productions I've ever seen. I've seen a few Widespread Panic shows that were incredible, too. What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
I don't have iTunes but my CD player currently holds a live John Hiatt show. RICHARD GEHR (THE PHISH BOOK, EMUSIC, THE VILLAGE VOICE) What will you remember most about 2006?
I heard something about an election on, like, The Daily Show? Like they decided the
alcoholic fundamentalist can be president for two more years, but he's not the boss of Donald Rumsfeld anymore? It sounded promising, like a good start to impeachment followed closely by beheading. Thomas Pynchon's new novel Against the Day blew my mind daily during the month or so it took me to read it. Any writer who can slip Residents references into a 1075 pages about time, light, and anarchy is alright by me. Musically, I finally started to wrap my head around all the great Indian classical
artists I became obsessed with thanks in large part to the World Music Institute's
terrific Festival of India series and eMusic.com: Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Sanjay
Subramaniam, U. Srinivas, U. Rajeshn, Snehashish Mzumdar, Kushal Das, K. Sridhar,
Debashish Bhattacharya, Purbayan Chatterjee, etc., etc. I even took an evening-long
seminar on Indian rhythms. I run in seven but now I can listen in thirteen. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Umphrey's McGee are hitting their collective rage capacity these days, with maximal
music and minimal drama. The men don't know but the little girls and boys seem to
understand. Runners-up: Steve Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra, Wayne Krantz, the Nortec Collective, Aterciopelados, the Slip, Extra Golden, Jon Langford and Sally Timms, Skerik, Blue Cheer, Apollo Sunshine, Yo La Tengo, etc. What was your favorite show in 2006?
Does Jazz Fest count? I had to be there in case of another bad hurricane season and they
decided to simply pull the plug on Louisiana once and for all. My favorite act was the
Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians, who addressed the whole Katrina/EPA thing in typical New Orleans style by constructing elaborate black costumes decorated with skulls. After going into a trance and almost passing out from heat exhaustion (those get-ups get HOT), the chief improvised semi-rational chants about hurricanes, the government, and how Indians survive anything you throw at them. I really hope he's right. The other great spectacle was when jazz trumpeter Donald Harrison, who'd been jamming with pianist Eddie Palmieri and saxophonist George Coleman, suddenly transformed into Big Chief Donald Harrison and led a long drumming session that took his set well into overtime as thousands of people crammed into the tent. What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Easy. "Music of Indonesia, Vol. 3: Music from the Outskirts of Jakarta: Gambang Kromong" over the years. This week I've been listening a lot to Aterciopelados's "Oye" and their bassist Hector Buitrago's "Conector." JOHN STIRRATT (WILCO) What will you remember most about 2006?
Well, for sure the birth of my first child and all the sleepless nights since then. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
The Grizzly Bear record kind of blew me away. I’d love to see them next year for sure. What was your favorite performance in 2006?
Scratch Acid at The Hideout Block Party in Chicago. What album appears most often if your iTunes?
That last Cat Power album for sure. For some reason it keeps coming up! JESS BESACK (SIRIUS JAM_ON) What will you remember most about 2006?
Spending an entire year preparing clever answers for the Jambands.com end of year poll,
only to come up short at the crucial moment. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
I'm excited to watch Tea Leaf Green, RAQ and Toubab Krewe expand in 2007. Also, any band from Scandinavia is guaranteed to be The New Hip Band to See for at least forty-five minutes or so. What was your favorite show in 2006?
So many good shows, I can't pick just one. But at SIRIUS, I see live music performed nearly every day—some of the best Sirius sessions from 2006 were Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes, Jurassic 5, Raconteurs, YMSB, Widespread Panic...so many more. Watching Trey Anastasio play acoustic for an audience of three was truly amazing.
Also, during an interview with Chris Isaak. He wrote an impromptu song for me and I melted like a Fudgsicle. Unfortunately, he'll now spend the remainder of his career bitterly embattled with the Allman Brothers Band for title rights to "Jessica." What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
I like very much Corky Bucek. Do you know Corky Bucek? He very famous in Kazhakstan for song "Bing Bang Bing"...is niiiice! High five! DREW HELLER (TOUBAB KREWE) What will you remember most about 2006?
Life at 75 mph on American highways. Beautiful music. Early morning World Cup parties on the west coast. Experiencing new cities, deserts, and mountains. Quality time in our beloved tour vehicle "Zo". Late check-outs. Our friend Lamine Soumano on the road with us. Who will be the band to see in 2007?
Uncle Earl. What was your favorite show in 2006?
Seth Kaufman with Tyler Ramsey at CMJ this last Fall. Great songwriting. The instrumentation is rad. Along with electric guitar and bass, Seth and Tyler both play various parts of a drum set using foot pedals. I hope I get a chance to see them perform again this next year. What album comes up most often in your iTunes?
Abdoulaye Diabate. Bende. Senior Editor Mike Greenhaus stores his typos at www.greenhauseffect.com. As always, special thanks to Randy Ray for his extra eyes and critical ear.
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