We really put out some stellar original content in 2010, so here are my top picks of the year. Cheers to Nadia, Clay, Bobby and Toby for making all this happen!
10. Tea Leaf Green - Exclusive Interview & Live Performance:
This interview - if you can call it that - will definitely give ya a chuckle. There's lots of laughter, dancing and impromptu singing along the way. As the interviewer, I hardly got a question answered...but I really got a feel for what these guys are like together on the road!
9. Brothers Past - Live Performance:
Philly's Brothers Past made a one-off tour stop in our fair city back in March. And not only do I dig their tunes, but they were all super nice, chill guys. If you're not familiar with their music, the first set from their 3.11.10 show at The Parish makes for some easy listening at work...just saying!
8. Cypress Hill - UnCut:
So I got to hold the boom on this one...probs for half an hour total. And let me tell ya, that sheeeit gets real heavy, real fast, especially when you're meandering around the narrow aisles in your friendly, local record store (thank you, Waterloo Records!). Muscle aches aside though, I love the idea behind the piece - Sen Dog and B-Real picking out must have albums for the folks at home - and think that any music fan would enjoy it, considering that these critically acclaimed hip-hop icons cover a broad spectrum of genres and decades with their picks.
7. Motorhead - Overdose:
"We intend to deafen you for the rest of our lives until we drop dead doing it." Yup, I'm hardly a metal fan, but god damn, Lemmy is a straight-up BADass! This piece, shot during SXSW '10, features Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister talking about the documentary based on him, Lemmy: 49% Motherf*cker, 51% Son Of A Bitch, that's to hit theatres in early 2011. With outtakes from the movie, you really get a feel for Lemmy, while others feel him out - and sing his praises - too. Thanks be to Lemmy!
6. ACL 2010 - Spin the Roxwel RoxWHEEL!:
Riding the success of the Lady Gaga Lolla piece (whoops, wrote these backwards...see #5!), we took our new festival coverage idea even further and created the Roxwel RoxWHEEL - complete with your host, a suited up Bobby "Barker" Nall! From thumb war and reciting rap verses from memory to ad libbing songs about ACL and picking bands to fight/marry/make whoopie with, the RoxWHEEL was a hit with hilarious contributions from the Black Lips, Matt & kim, The Ettes, Cage The Elephant, Ozomatli, Asleep At The Wheel, Dan Black and more!
5. Lollapalooza Artists - How Would You Spend Lady Gaga's $250k Stage Budget?:
Finally, festival coverage that's fun for all involved! Don't you know how old it gets to ask - and be asked - the same questions over and over again? Well, that's festival season for ya and that's why we did something a little different at Lollapalooza, asking all the artists we interviewed what they'd do with Lady Gaga's redonculous $250k stage budget. And then we edited all the responses into this one lil' bright & shiny piece. "Dusts, powders, pills...you name it, we did it" - nuff said.
4. OK Go - Exclusive Live Performance:
Daayyyuum, what a fun show! I really had no idea what I was getting into at OK Go's 5.19.10 show at The Parish. I had seen their videos, of course, but after seeing 'em live - and filming their backstage interview before the show - I became a fan. They've got all the elements to really draw an audience into their musical world, and they definitely got me, as I noted in my blog post on the show.
3. Phoenix - Exclusive Live Performance:
I think my review of Phoenix's 4.29.10 show at Stubb's, which begins with the word "bliss," best sums up my feelings on Phoenix - their music, the experience and the band personally. Their 12.17.09 La Zona Rosa show topped my list for best live performances of '09 (that I saw)...whatta Christmaaaas present it was!
2. Mumford & Sons - Exclusive Live Performance:
I truly heart this band. On the same label, Glassnote Records, as Phoenix, Mumford & Sons - like their labelmates - are such genuine, talented and humble musicians. Their debut album, Sigh No More, was released in the States in February 2010, and they've achieved such extraordinary success this year. Selling out venue after venue, you're in for a real treat with these guys. As Bob Lefsetz said in his popular blog, The Lefsetz Letter, their music "sounds like life."
1. The Disco Biscuits - Exclusive Interview & Live Performance:
Gawd, what a nervous wreck I was when plans changed for this interview - with my favorite band - 5 minutes before it started. I'm interviewing Magner in a port-a-potty. Seriously? Yep, naked from the waist down. It's rock 'n' roll, man...just gots to go with it! And I absolutely LOVE how the piece turned out. I've watched it countless times and will forever remember the experience. The Biscuits were killing it throughout '09, and I fortunately got to catch 13 shows that year and interview 'em twice. This interview was published in January 2010, capping off a phenomenal year for them - and me!
by @crunchyMunckin