With the year rapidly coming to a close, and the holiday season fully upon us, we wanted to get the HT Crew together for one last hang to talk music before we throw the cover on BBQ for the winter. Since ’tis the season to reflect back on what went down over the last 12 months, we thought we’d invite the gang over to HT Headquarters to warm up by the fireplace, throw some large hunks of meat on the grill and crack open a few Anderson Valley Winter Solsticeses for another rousing edition of At The Barbecue.
This time around, we thought we’d continue our year-end housecleaning by discussing our Break Out Acts of the year, which ranged from new discoveries to some acts that just hit it out of the park with a monster 2010.
Andy Kahn – The Morning Benders
Without a doubt The Morning Benders stood up and demanded to be noticed this year. Particularly on the heels of their sophomore album Big Echo & their relentless touring, the band has proven to be a force in the studio & on the road. The quartet from Berkeley, CA is led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Christopher Chu, whose impressive songwriting is filled with dreamy lyrics and catchy pop sensibilities. Whether on stage or in the studio the band creates a lush but airy sound tucked into a cool, laid-back vibe.
Excuses, their captivating single off Big Echo, was my song of the year after the first listen and has made it “big” being featured on a television commercial. The band is on a seemingly never ending tour, crisscrossing the States and beyond several times this year alone, opening for acts like Broken Bells, hitting festivals and headlining bills as well. Keep an eye out for these guys there’s a good chance they’re playing your town soon.
READ ON for more of our picks of the Break Out Acts of 2010…
In a Hidden Track giveaway that’s open until tomorrow night, we offer our readers a chance to win a copy of PhanFood – a new book that compiles a variety of interesting recipes from Phish fans around the country. Tomorrow, December 11th, PhanFood makes its official debut at a kickoff party held at Nectar’s from 7 to 9PM, which will be followed by live music from Dopapod.
We recently chatted with PhanFood co-editors Taraleigh Silberberg and Pete Mason about the concept behind the book, their favorite lot food of all-time, the charities that will benefit from this non-profit endeavor and much more…
Hidden Track: How and when did the concept for Phan Food first come about?
Taraleigh Silberberg: I was walking on the bike path in Burlington, which is where I get most of my good ideas. I was thinking about a way to help the community and that is when the cookbook idea popped into my head. Why not make a cookbook by Phish fans for Phish fans that could benefit people that can’t afford to feed themselves? The first person I thought of to work with was Pete Mason and the rest is history.
HT: Did the published edition of the book stray from your original concept?
TS: Nope. It is the exact concept.
HT: How many recipes are included in Phan Food?
Pete Mason: Eighty-six in total, split somewhat evenly amongst appetizers, breakfast, snacks, drinks, entrees, salads, soups and sandwiches (Page’s favorite).
READ ON for the rest of our interview with Pete and Tara…
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