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.
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