Feature / Music / Year End 2019
Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2019

As the year ends, it's time once more for us to hand over to the artists and record labels that made some of our favorite music of 2019 and ask them about their year, the music they enjoyed, and what they're excited about for 2020. Here's the questions we're asking them:

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)
2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?
6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Read on below to hear from such luminaries as the Lawrence Arms, Frank Turner, The Locust, Blag Dahlia and tons more.

Aaron Rice

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. FKA twigs - MAGDALENE
2. Velvet Negroni - Neon Brown
3. Toro y Moi - Outer Peace
4. Sophie - Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides (I think it was 2018... but still on heavy rotation)
5. Thom Yorke - Anima

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Velvet Negroni. The depth of sound design, lyrics... all very moving and energizing. His music makes life more beautiful.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

2019 will always be the year I witnessed the FKA Magdalene live show.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

At least a few new singles, if not more.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

Oof I haven't even been paying attention to what's coming up. I'm a very slow music fan.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Listening to classical music, sing alongs, true crime podcasts.

Body Stuff (Curran Reynolds)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Jorge Elbrecht - Gloss Coma 002
2. Olivia Neutron-John - Olivia Neutron-John EP
3. Sunn - Life Metal
4. The Trash Bags - The Trash Bags
5. Coarse - Cut and Preserved EP

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Miranda and the Beat. Awesome singer, old-fashioned sound.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

I finished making my new EP, Body Stuff 3.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Body Stuff 3, out January 10th.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I hope Today Is The Day releases their new album.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

When Body Stuff hits the road, I suspect Ryan and I will listen to slam!

Photo by Justina Villanueva

Cloud Rat (Brandon Hill - drums/electronics)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Pedestrian Deposit - Dyer's Hands (Monorail Trespassing)
2. Clipping. - There Existed An Addiction To Blood (Sub Pop)
3. Dead C - Rare Ravers (Ba Da Bing!)
4. False - Portent (Gilead Media)
5. Devourment - Obscene Majesty (Relapse Records)

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

HUGE vital question.

Wow. The year started off with a deep study of Pauline Olivero's works via this amazing box-set Important Records put out. Her vision and approach to sound and more over, 'deep listening' is unparalleled and awe inspiring. BEST zone.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Very heavy and vividly rich with great works -- SO many boundary pushing releases in ALL genres. Artists of the last 15 years got more mature and vivid. Death metal is having a huge renaissance. Electronics and noise have seeped their way deep into even the most pop of releases, and hip-hop was stronger than ever. Love it.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Doing some really rad festival dates and cool tours with some people we are excited to jam with!! Hope to drop some truly WEIRD music in 2020 -- Keep it strange!!!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

New Today Is The Day!!! DEFTONES, Whatever Griselda drops, new Kakerlak, Grimes, Kesha, and apparently like a lost Static-X album!? Woah.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Deeply into Last Podcast On The Left - Rorik and Madi just went and caught them live! But lots of weird true crime, nerdy videogame ones and shit.

Personally I like to listen to records!!! But I might force these cats to swallow NOISEXTRA which is a noise-centric podcast helmed by some brilliant L.A. dwelling noise artists that used to live here in Michigan -- Killer!!!

Photo by Ryan Vestil

Dirt Cult Records / Low Culture / Macho Boys (Chris Mason)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

This list could change at any given moment, but for now I'll just say:

1. Hidden Spots – New Me, New You
2. Martha – Love Keeps Kicking
3. Amyl and the Sniffers – s/t
4. Mountain Goats - In League with Dragons
5. Loose Nukes – Behind the Screen

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Though the band isn't a new discovery by any means, a large chunk of this year was spent just diving head first into the Mountain Goats extensive discography, and realizing that they're easily one of my favorite bands ever. I also discovered that I fucking love The Kinks.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Sadly, 2019 easily holds the record for the year I played and attended the least amount of shows in my adult life. I still love going to shows and certainly still make it to more than most people, but the older I get, the harder it is to find the motivation to attend every show I would like to. Maybe I'll turn that trend around in 2020.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

In terms of band stuff, Low Culture will be playing some shows in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest in 2020. In terms of Dirt Cult stuff, we have some releases for Era Bleak, Primitive Teeth, and Needles//Pins lined up in 2020. I'm sure some other stuff will materialize as well. It always does.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

Aside from what Dirt Cult has coming up, I'm not really in the loop about what's in store for 2020. I've heard about a few releases like a new Dark Thoughts LP on Drunken Sailor and a Personality Cult LP on Dirtnap though. Otherwise, I'll be monitoring labels like Sorry State, Beach Impediment, Feel It, Iron Lung, Dead Broke, etc. to see what they've got lined up for 2020.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I didn't tour in 2020, but I do listen to a fair amount of podcasts. Behind the Bastards, Reveal, and Turned Out a Punk are a few of my favorites.

Dwarves (Blag Dahlia)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

What are your top five songs that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Sucker - The Jonas Brothers
2. Let’s Pretend This Song Is Good Because I’m Sad - Adele
3. Let’s Pretend This Song Is Good Because I’m Young - Billie Eilish
4. Let’s Pretend This Song Is Good Because I’m High - Post Malone
5. Let’s Pretend This Song Is Good Because I’ve Got Really Big Management - DJ Khalid

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Everybody else discovered the Misfits this year. I saw them in 1983.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

This was the year that hip/hop pretty much gave up.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

The Dwarves are still the best band ever, no real question there. Meanwhile, me and Andy Carpenter are making tracks with Lisa and Bob from the Bellrays. Her voice is amazing, I basically just sit there and say, “Wow” a lot.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I’ve been making a solo record, it’s really funny. I hope it comes out in 2020, though I’m not sure anyone really gives a fuck.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I like young women and old records. Also, cocaine.

photo by Cameron Postforoosh

Fathers (Eddie Maestas - guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

Man, I feel like 2019 was not a very good year for music. Fortunately there were a few bangers that stood out.

1. Monolord - No Comfort
2. The Munsens - Unhanded
3. Bummer - Thanks For Nothing EP
4. Tim Hecker - Anoyo
5. Full of Hell - Weeping Choir

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Well, I didn't discover Whores in 2019, but I definitely slept on their last record, Gold. It's been on my turntable for a few solid months and it's not leaving any time soon. Hands down, the best guitar tones I've ever heard on a heavy album. Crushing riffs and lyrics that have a general hate for everything. This is as tough an album as heavy music gets.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Again, this year was very underwhelming for me, as far as music is concerned. From a personal stand point, I was very happy to be back in the studio with Fathers to record our sophomore release.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Well, we are planning a few short tours in the next few months. Mostly short regional dates, followed by a longer trip to the south. By then we should have enough material to blast out another album. No rest for the wicked.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

Dead Cross revealed they were about to record again. I also read something about Whores going back in the studio, so that probably won't let anyone down.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Last tour we were in a bus, so I had my Playstation with me. A couple of us are heavy gamers, so that was pretty cool. I also listen to a lot of podcasts ranging from MMA, true crime, and history.

Forever Unclean (Leo Wallin)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

I am always a bit behind -- probably because it takes a while for me to get into an album. Therefore all my favorite recent albums are from '17/18. However if I were to choose some from this year that definitely caught my attention and that I think will be my favs next year, it would be:

1. AddisAbabaBand - II - Full on crazyness from this Danish balkan/punk/jazz outfit. So many layers to dive into.
2. Actionmen / Dead Nect - Defections split - Two of the best skatepunk bands on the planet. Especially Actionmen is almost otherworldly in their anti-industrial way to write and play their music. Face melting from first to last.
3. Microwave - Death is a Warm Blanket - What a welcoming development from this band that now have taken "weezercore" and molded it into something dark, deep and almost numetal sounding.
4. Press Club - Wasted Energy  - It is impressive how these endearing Australians have been able to consistently churn out only bangers for two albums straight. The energy and feels are through the roof and they are in the competition for becoming the greatest live act in the world.
5. Not On Tour - Growing Pains - Speaking of bangers, this face melting pop factory have really re-discovered their sound with a slightly new lineup and the precise delivery of shredding and catchy vocals is tighter than ever before.

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Screaming Females. They totally took me by surprise on this year's FEST and even though I was having a rough day they still intrigued me enough to stay throughout the show and I have been streaming their library steadily for the last couple of weeks.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

A lot of smaller bands I was into ceased to exist for some reason, or barely exist anymore only playing rarely, which makes me a bit sad. On the bright side there are more really cool underground festivals in Europe than ever which makes it very exciting to tour as well as book your holiday around the mainland + UK.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

My band Forever Unclean are working hard on writing the last couple of tunes for our next release which will be out in 2020 at some point. Simultaneously we are building a new studio in Copenhagen which will hopefully have us become active in the music scene in even more ways than we already are.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I honestly don't know. I try and stay out of the loop since I want to be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Conversing with my best mates and listening to new music that we just discovered the night before.

Frank Turner

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. The Wildhearts - Renaissance Men
2. Deux Furieuses - My War Is Your War
3. Idles - A Beautiful Thing
4. Sean McGowan - Curate Calm, Create Chaos
5. The Hold Steady - Thrashing Thru The Passion

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I discovered and fell in love with Idles this year (I'm behind the times I know). Incredible band. Bringing threat back into music for the first time in a long while.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Recording and touring No Man's Land. It's been quite the experience.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Endless touring.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I can't say I know what's coming, I tend to get to stuff when I get to it.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

 I read, for the most part. History, economics, poetry.

photo by Lisa Marie Gee

Iron Lung Records (Jensen)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Eddy Curren Suppression Ring - All In Good Time LP (Castle Face)
2. Pornography Glows - s/t MLP (Violent Pest)
3. Flowdan - Full Metal Jacket MP3 (Tru Thoughts)
4. Nosferatu - Solution A LP (Media Disease)
5. Padmanaba/Strongman Duo - Americana Raga LP (Good Karma Bad Karma) 
6. Heterofobia - Queremos Ver El Mundo Arder LP (Drunken Sailor) 

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I had heard of Steve Reich a few different times over the years and tried out the recordings here and there but it never really clicked until this year. It always seemed that I wasn't in the right head space for it when I listened or that it was a little too smart for me. I had the opportunity to see a couple of the pieces performed live in a more educational setting and it really blew me away. "Clapping" was the song that did it for me. So simple and graceful. It was a marvel to see two people really going at it clapping at each other, sweating and concentrating, eyes closed purely listening to the ever twisting alternating syncopated rhythms. I was changed. It will still take me a while to fully understand what SR is messing with but I will enjoy the journey as it unfolds.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

The year I got to just be a singer in a band. That is the most free I've ever felt on a stage. Scary free.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

New albums from IRON LUNG, NASTI, and INNUMERABLE FORMS. And of course there will be a ton of releases on the label to look forward to. SMUT MLP, LUKE SICK CS, INTERNAL ROT LP, and SHRINKWRAP KILLERS 7" are all at the plant now.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I expect great things from BRAIN TOURNIQUET and RUDIMENTARY PENI in 2020.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Sleeping. For me there just never seems too be enough time to actually rest. Any time I'm awake, I'm working.

Lamniformes (Ian Cory)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

Once you pass a certain threshold of quality, its hard to establish a ranking hierarchy so bear in mind that this order will likely change by the next time someone asks me to make a list. For the sake of objectivity, I won't list any releases that I contributed to, but I encourage you to listen those as well. I also have a ton of albums that I haven't caught up with yet, so if your record isn't listed here, don't take it personally because there's a high probability that I haven't heard it yet.

1. Love & Decay by Spotlights (This one has the most riffs that I wish I had written first)
2. U.F.O.F. by Big Thief (Deceptively complex folk rock. Big Thief make difficult music sound effortless.)
3. Forever, A Fast Life by Infinity Shred (The score to the future I wish we lived in.)
4. Deserted by Gatecreeper (BIG RIFFS)
5. i, i by Bon Iver (Vernon writes melodies you feel like you've known your whole life and surrounds them with sounds that you never imagined possible.)

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I'm going to list a band and then a song, both of which had an impact on me in very different ways.

First, the band Spotlights. Hearing them for the first time this spring was invigorating. It was encouraging to hear another contemporary act breathing new life into the "post-metal" style. As I alluded to previously, Spotlight's music isn't all that dissimilar from the kind of music that I'd like to make myself. It makes me happy that I'm not the only one that wants to make music like this in the late 2010s. Even more encouraging was seeing them make new fans on their first full US tour this summer.

Second, the song "Telstar" by The Tornados. Despite showing up as the credits music to an episode of Mad Men, one of my favorite TV shows ever, this incredibly strange tune had never registered with me before. Then, while making my way through a playlist of songs that had reached number one on the American billboard charts, I heard "Telstar" and instantly fell in love with it. I felt like I had discovered a secret that had been deliberately hidden from me. That an instrumental tune this rickity and strange made it all the way to the top of the charts boggles the mind. Of course the composition itself is just astoundingly beautiful, but what really strikes me is the humble, home-made quality of the recording. Listening to it, I feel like I'm on the receiving end of a message beamed in from some planet lightyears away. Even if in reality the song was made just across the pond 57 years ago I find that sensation, of music reaching across space and time, incredibly moving.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

I'll remember music in 2019 mostly through my own participation in it. I toured in Gabby's World in January, played on a Bellows album that dropped in February, dropped my own album Sisyphean in March, toured with Bellows and Gabby's World for all of July, started a podcast where I interview musicians in August, wrote a song a day for the month of September, then joined Humeysha as a live drummer in October. Easily the busiest year I've had as a musician, but hopefully 2020 will top that.

As a listener, I'll remember 2019 as the year that I got off the treadmill of current releases and allowed myself to catch up on older music. That meant a lot of John Coltrane, Steely Dan, Sepultura, and vintage number one hits. When I did engage with newer music, I tried to do it socially, listening to albums recommended to me by friends or seeing bands live. Reconnecting with the New York hardcore scene live and in person has been especially rewarding. The last few years I had worked semi-professionally as a music critic, which required me to listen a ton of music, most of it bad, and gave me almost no time to return to the releases I enjoyed. 2019 was the first year in a few years where I had complete freedom to listen at my own pace, which did wonders for my enjoyment of music overall.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

I will try to under-promise and over-deliver here. The plan is Lamniformes live shows, appearances on stage with Humeysha, gigs as needed with Gabby's World, Bellows, and Small Wonder, plenty more issues of my newsletter, and episodes of my podcast Lamniformes Radio. There may be some records coming from some of those bands as well, but to my knowledge nothing is locked in quite yet.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

The most exciting records will be the ones that I don't see coming. I'm also excited for the music that my friends and collaborators are working on, and I hope to help them complete that work however I can. I also guess that we're due for another Kendrick Lamar album sometime soon, but you can't rush genius.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I'm lucky to have bandmates that I'm also close friends with, so a great deal of time gets eaten up by conversation. If we run short of subjects, the latest episodes of The Daily or Reply All are usually a good spark to get us going for another hour. When I needed alone time, I'd throw on headphones and listen to NBA podcasts like The Lowe Post, Cookies, No Dunks, and The Full 48. If you don't get motion sickness, I'd highly recommend reading on the road. Brian Philip's Impossible Owls was a crucial tool for surviving the long drives through the American West this summer.

Photo by Richard Gin

Locrian (André Foisy)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains
2. Arthur Russell – Iowa Dream
3. Kim Gordon – No Home Record
4. Iggy Pop – Free
5. Black Belt Eagle Scout – At the Party With My Brown Friends

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Pretty sure that I discovered Bowl Ethereal this year, which is Pen Rollings from Breadwinner, and it’s the thing that reminded me I still like metal.  

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

This is the year that no one can escape Steely Dan.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

I’ll let you know once I get through 2019!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

KING DIAMOND

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Check out the Everything Is Stories podcast.

Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band (Nato Coles)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

• Eleganza - Full Length
• Smarthearts - On The Line
• Vacation - Zen Quality Seed Crystal
• Partial Traces - Low Definition
• Tommy and the Commies - Here Come...

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Nothing really stands out, not this year. Just delving further into stuff I already listen to. Lucinda Williams and Willie Nelson deep cuts maybe?

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

We finally, finally, FINALLY released our second studio and we're very proud of it!

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

More shows and new songs, but probably not a new record.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I hope Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires put something out consisting of new material.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I interpret this to mean pass time while in the van on tour? Because out of the van, I like seeing old friends, making new ones, and plenty of intoxicating substances on the side. In the van: reading books in the daytime, reading articles on my phone at night. I don't listen to all that many podcasts but I like the PosCast with Joe Posnanski and Michael Shur.

Qui / Cunts (Matt Cronk)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Torche - Admission
2. Hepa.Titus - Blue Fat Pussy
3. Sleaford Mods - Eton Alive
4. Cocky Bitches - Mercy
5. Idles - A Beautiful Thing: Idles Live at le Bataclan

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Wolf Eyes. I was aware of them before and actually played a festival with them in Italy a few years ago, but I didn’t really connect with what they were doing. This year I decided to check them out again and found myself really enjoying it. I like a lot of squeak-and-fart-type noise stuff and really got off on their harshness. I like to listen to them in the car.  

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

I dunno, the years all start to run together after a while. This year I spent about a month listening to “Borstal Boys,” by The Faces on repeat. Prior to this year I’d never heard it. It has that same Sticky Fingers-era Stones feel that I can’t get enough of. I also grew a mustache this year so, ya know, that.  

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

In February Cunts will be playing some dates with the Melvins and Hepa.Titus. During that run we will get to play with Mr. Bungle and the Melvins at the Fonda Theater in LA. Super stoked for that. We’re also working on getting to Europe in the Spring. Qui is in the woodshed writing new music but will release an EP later this spring. We have plans to do a short-ish EU run in Oct.  

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

• Run The Jewels 4
• Algiers - There Is No Year

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

On the last Qui tour in May, we started listening to audiobooks; mostly murder mystery, trashy stuff. It wound up being a great way to pass time in the van. Other than that, I like to take naps and try not to eat too much candy. That takes up a lot of my bandwidth because I have an insatiable sweet tooth and I have to be very deliberate about limiting my sugar intake. Otherwise, I’ll just eat it compulsively until I get sick. It also makes me super grouchy.  

Red Scare Industries (Tobias Jeg - founder)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

Hmmm, let’s do “5 Good Punk Songs NOT on our dumb record label”

1. Bad Religion - "End Of History"
2. Not On Tour - “Call It Freedom"
3. Teenage Bottlerocket - “I Wanna Be A Dog"
4. Little Teeth - “Thinning Out"
5. Masked Intruder - “Maybe Even"

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I moved to the West Indies (for reasons too boring to discuss) and I got exposed to a lot of music from the Caribbean: Soca, Jab Jab, Reggae, etc. I think the 2019 album I heard the most was Farmer Nappy’s Hooked On Soca. And I mean, the songs were everywhere: coming from cars, bars, ringtones… Soca is pretty poppy and upbeat, so it’s not for everyone, but if you’re open to some island vibes, there are definitely some jams on that record.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

For Red Scare it was a pretty healthy combination of established comrades and young upstarts. In regards to the legends, we put out a Copyrights single, a Sicko anthology, and The Lillingtons did a picture disc for Record Store Day. As for the new blood, we had great debut albums from Philly’s Ramona and Scotland’s Billy Liar.

The label turned fifteen years old in 2019, so again we put forth something that combined the established Red Scare bands and the new acts. It’s a comp called 15 Years of Tears and Beers and it has 15 unreleased songs from all sortsa bands. They all really overachieved with their tunes and people seem to really love the collection. High five! If there’s ONE thing that kinda defines 2019 for us, it’s that compilation.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Red Scare is releasing new music from Guerilla Poubelle, Sam Russo, and Broadway Calls. That stuff is already in motion. As for my 2020 wish list, I would love to work on new stuff from Red City Radio, Sincere Engineer, The Copyrights, Arms Aloft… everybody, really! There’s always some surprises that pop up too, and that’s the fun stuff. 2020 should be a good ‘un!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I am the Tour Manager / Merch Servant for The Lawrence Arms and they’re probably my favorite band. If all goes as planned they’ll have a new record in 2020, so that’ll be a reason to hope we survive Trump’s WWIII. What else? The Euro Cup, for sure. Vince Staples, Worriers, and The Psychedelic Furs are all doing new records and I like them. You hear The Weakerthans have a new album?! I just made that up.  Sure would be cool though.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Hoo-wee, I talk a lot in the van. Like, A LOT a lot. I like to pry into weird personal shit just to get laughs, and it’s got to be super annoying for the band, but sometimes I get some real chestnuts outta them. In my mind I’m on a 6-hour TV show, but really the only one in the audience that cares is me. As Tour Manager I also am usually pre-occupied with boring shit like advancing with the promoter, sorting the guest list, etc etc. If they had any sense, they would pile on a bunch more busywork to keep me quiet, but they haven’t figured that out yet. 

Salinas Records (Marco Reosti)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

• Cheap Vacation - Cheap Vacation
• Dark Thoughts - Do You Dream?
• Evening Standards - World's End (The consensus pick of the crew involved with running Salinas)
• Jfbrontosaurus - Nerdin' on Swerain'
• Upset - Upset

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Salinas helped release a record called Telling by Friend of My Youth from Corvallis, OR. It's pretty rare that I take much interest in stuff sent my way by people I don't already know, but this record was so exciting to me. It wasn't just that the record is beautiful (it is), but putting out that record helped me feel connected to people still really involved in the DIY scene in ways that I don't feel as much since I've stopped touring myself.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Two of my closest friends, both of whom have been involved in Salinas, got married this year. It was a beautiful event with lots of love from a large group of friends made through years of touring, booking, recording, writing and roadie-ing in the world of independent music. It made me feel good that this community I've been a part of has an impact beyond the music itself.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Jason Anderson - Restless LP

Second Narrows - Second Narrows LP

Quaker Wedding - In Transit LP

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

Dark Thoughts - Must Be Nice LP

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I haven't been on tour in quite a while, but I read a really great book about the history of New York City called Fear City this year while I was doing some traveling. Does that count?

Sam Russo

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Red Scare – 15 years of Tears and Beers
2. Cradle of Filth – Cruelty and the Beast (Remistressed)
3. Age of Unreason – Bad Religion
4. Teenage Bottlerocket – Stay Rad
5. Midsommar – OST

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I discovered Birdcloud this year. I almost had to be hospitalised. What made them significant was the fact that I laughed so hard I almost choked and died three times. Thrice. Also, and this is going to infuriate so many people, but I got into Morrissey in 2019. Bona Drag, not his politics. I was so disappointed when I read about all the England First shite that I somehow ended up storming through charity shops and angrily buying his records. What’s worse is they’re good. Prick.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

I’ll remember being lucky enough to tour the West Coast of the US in not one, but SEVEN different vehicles. I’ll also remember it for being the year in which I recorded an album that I think is the best thing I’ve ever done. It was an absolute turnip fight, but I’m really proud of it. I loved playing a Halloween show this year too. I dressed as Death and played Misfits jams. It was brutal.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

I have a new album coming out in March, I’ll be playing a string of release shows and hopefully touring my turnips off. It’s going to be unbearable. For you. I’m going to LOVE IT.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

The Lawrence Arms have a new record coming out and I’m always excited to see what kind of gorgeous mayhem those chums pop off. That will just about make my year. I’m actually also really looking forward to my album coming out. Also, I just realised I don’t know who’s putting out new music until it’s out.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Mostly I just fart and cry. I’m kidding, I can’t cry anymore. I spend so much time just looking out the window and talking turnips. I listen to audiobooks (currently The Secret History of Twin Peaks, last tour was just a shedload of Stephen King) and read (with my eyes) and play dice, work on my stand-up comedy, play mind games (not like, psychologically abusing people; more like warped versions of I Spy), and I skate! I also keep a diary and I write a lot of lyrics. I try not to just do things to pass time, though, I try to just live. To pass time, I just live.

Seizures (Cameron Miller)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Lust For Youth - Lust For Youth
2. HTRK - Venus in Leo
3. Teeth - The Curse of Entropy
4. Ithaca - The Language of Injury
5. Night Sins - Portrait in Silver

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Orville Peck. I’m not into country but I’m into Chris Isaak and Roy Orbison. Orville sounds like a more western version of them and I really like his message/image. One of my favorite records and performances this year. Glad I got to see the new gay icon perform his hits to an intimate crowd at the Troubadour before he gets huge.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

There’s too many bands, which is good and bad. You might think people are sleeping on your own music but there’s just so much new stuff coming out right now. I think it’s a good thing too because I know I’ll probably spend the rest of my life discovering music from this decade that I “slept” on.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Seizures is already working on new material. Definite touring and possible release(s) in 2020.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

The Cure, it’s supposedly darker like Pornography and Disintegration. Haven’t really looked at the record forecast, always want rad weirdo surprises.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Just audiobooks and records in between Longmont Potion Castle.

Signals Midwest (Max Stern)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Big Nothing - Chris
2. The Hold Steady - Thrashing Thru The Passion
3. Laura Stevenson - The Big Freeze
4. Hallelujah the Hills - I'm You
5. The Mountain Goats - In League With Dragons

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I got really into Tom Petty and Neil Young. I've been really fascinated with traditional folk-rock songwriting, in particular from the '70s -- trying to figure out what makes it so good and what makes it tick. Their narratives and mystique really engrossed me this year: rebellious kids from small towns who went on to make some of the greatest music ever made, completely on their own terms. Punk as fuck.

I also listened to a ton of Jason Molina / Songs: Ohia / Magnolia Electric Co.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

I will remember seeing Ted Leo and the Pharmacists play in a batting cage in Philadelphia in July. I'll remember this killer Sidekicks single. I'll remember seeing Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires blow the roof of of every venue they enter. And I'll remember seeing Wild Pink play in the practice space down the block from my house and being absolutely entranced.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Signals is gonna tour the UK, which we haven't done since 2014. I'm also finishing up a solo record and am planning on playing out in support of that. I made it with Adam Beck from Sincere Engineer, Kyle Pulley from Thin Lips, and Jon Hernandez from Timeshares. I'm so stoked on how it turned out.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I hope TACT from Philly puts a full length out. They're incredible. Members of Amanda X, Pears, Paint It Black -- they're so good.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I pretty much only listen to Reply All and Disgraceland.

The Holy Circle (Rob Savillo)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. USA/Mexico - Matamoros
2. Diät - Positive Disintegration
3. Cherubs - Immaculada High
4. Have A Nice Life ‎- Sea of Worry
5. The Twilight Sad ‎- It Won/t Be Like This All The Time

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

USA/Mexico. Can't believe I've slept on this. Listened to 2019's Matamoros first and was just blown away. Sludgy and ugly and groovy.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Loud and sad.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

We're piecing together what will be my second album with The Holy Circle.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

The next Holy Circle record, ha! I'm not really on the pulse. I have no idea what's coming.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

Longmont Potion Castle. Books on tape. Nintendo Switch. Checking out a local brewery. Record shopping. Food.

Photo by Derek Rush / The Holy Circle at Brooklyn Bazaar re:nu gatherings.

The Holy Circle / Axebreaker / Locrian (Terence Hannum)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Diat - Positive Disintegration
2. Turquoise Days - Further Strategies (Reissue)
3. Vaura - Sables
4. TR/ST - The Destroyer - 2
5. Curse - Metamorphism

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Dos Monos, around the time The Holy Circle signed with Deathbomb Arc, Brian released their new LP and I fell in love. The LP is noisey and poppy hip-hop that has so many interesting sonic ideas packed into it. I listen to it all the time, and it's brilliant.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

Feels kind of like a limbo, I don't think major changes were made or genres progressed. Honestly it feels like a lot of looking at the past -- I don't mind it. I just don't know the band that stands out like -- that is the future.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

My solo cassette Dissolving the Bonds will be released on Flag Day in early 2020, as well as my new cassette from AXEBREAKER, my anti-fascist power-electronics project, the album is called Vigilance and will come with a live CD included on Obsolete Units. LOCRIAN is writing a bunch of new ideas and should record. THE HOLY CIRCLE has about half a new full-length that we're playing live as we write the rest of the LP, should be recording soon.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

FOTOCRIME's new one.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

On the recent HOLY CIRCLE tour we were pretty deep in LONGMONT POTION CASTLE, it definitely got us through the drives. I am not the biggest podcast fan, not many people are that interesting to listen to (sorry, not sorry), the only one I listened to is COCAINE AND RHINESTONES, mainly because I love country music, but who knows when the second season will come on.

The Lawrence Arms/The Wandering Birds/Red Scare Industries/The Falcon (Brendan Kelly)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. The Menzingers - Hello Exile
2. Bad Religion - Age of Unreason

I don’t know what else exists. 

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I got into Dave Van Ronk.  Highly recommended.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

We toured with Bad Religion. That is the culmination of 30 years of fandom for us. Real dream come true. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

We (The Lawrence Arms) will have a new album out at some point on Epitaph and I think I can speak for everyone in the band when I say you’re gonna love it and remember why we’re known as the “world’s greatest band."

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

Sam Russo has a new one coming out and it’s awesome, and the Bombpops do too. I’ve heard both, but I’m excited to see everyone get their minds blown by both of these amazing and underrated acts. 

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

We actually do a lot of talking to each other on tour. We play lots of dumb word games and brain teaser type stuff. When everyone is finally sick of me and starts ignoring me, I do a lot of twitter bullshit. I also really like the podcasts Talkin Simpsons, Chapo, and Cum Town, and I’m looking forward to the next season of Cocaine and Rhinestones. 

photo by Charlie Wrzesniewski

The Locust / INUS / Holy Mokar (Bobby Bray)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Battles - Juice B Crypts
2. Secret Chiefs 3 - The Book of Beri’ah Vol 10—Malkhut
3. Deaf Club - Contemporary Sickness
4. Koenjihyakkei - Angherr Shisspa (Revisited)
5. Thom Yorke - Anima
6. The Sound That Ends Creation - Music Designed to Give You Ideas… Incase You Should Run Out of Ideas

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

A buddy named Jesse Kranzler moved out of San Diego to New York and has a great band called Marateck that released an album called Time is Over a couple of years ago. It slipped by me at first but I was stoked to finally hear it! Hopefully my band INUS will play some shows with them on the West Coast next year.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

2019 was a non-stop year of focused music-work for many people.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Working on new albums for The Locust and The Institute For Navigating The Universal Self (INUS). Both bands will be playing shows too, I’m sure. Also, I think I might release some of my solo stuff under the name Henk.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

Looking forward to being surprised by something off my radar.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

A good book on tour is the usual plan. In terms of podcasts, Intercepted and Democracy Now! are my favorites when it comes to world news. Radiolab and On the Media are a couple of my other favs.

Photo by Becky DiGiglio

Theologian / Annihilvs Power Electronix (Lee M. Bartow)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Heilung - Futha
2. Octonomy - Warhorse
3. HTRK - Venus In Leo
4. Kollaps- Mechanical Christ
5. Uboa - The Origin Of My Depression

*Honourable Mention: M83 - Knife+Heart Soundtrack
(I listened to this so often this year that I got yelled at, so technically it should be number one)

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

My friend Derek Rush (CHTHONIC STREAMS) released the Warhorse cassette by OCTONOMY over the summer, and it was the first time I’d heard her music. I suppose one might consider it somewhat reductive to make this comparison, but for the sake of a superficial reference, the sound is reminiscent of very early Zola Jesus, but if that style had been refined and expanded into a new genre entirely of its own. It has a lot in common with that minimal sound of early-mid '80s European crossover synthpop/new wave, but darker, grittier, and more atonal. I love this album so much that I had OCTONOMY perform at the grand opening party for my new record shop, and I hope to book her again in the near future.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

I put out close to a dozen releases on Annihilvs this year, including some of my own work, and Ukrainian label OLD CAPTAIN produced a double CD reissue of one of my earliest cassettes from nearly 20 years ago. Yet I continue to feel, as I did when I answered this question in 2018, more and more disconnected from the “scene,” even as I feel reinvigorated on certain levels to push onward with my various activities. This year, my partner Gretchen and I opened a very small record shop called MONOMER AUDIO EMPORIUM in my hometown of Nyack, New York. As of December 1, we’ve been open for three months now, with several live events having taken place since the summer. We’re trying to build a local scene here, and so far we’ve had some fun times. On December 14, we’ll have LUSSURIA, Chris Goudreau (AKA SICKNESS), and COMPACTOR live at the shop, as our final show of the year. A month ago, Gretchen and I travelled to Stockholm to show our support for my friend Marcus Labonte of CLOISTER RECORDINGS, as he held his label’s fifth anniversary festival, which was an insane three day affair including performances by NORDVARGR, TREPANERINGSRITUALEN, BRIGHTER DEATH NOW, DA-SEIN. The fest included the final performance of MEGAPTERA, and the first performance of BLITZKRIEG BABY, and a whole lot more. It was an inspirational experience, which gave me a bit of renewed purpose when it comes to continuing my efforts to bring this music to people. I am immensely grateful for this. It’s been a hard, stressful year with a lot of medical issues to deal with. Opening a new business just added a heap of new things to stress about, but it has placed me in a point at which music is now, when I’m burned out after 22 years of doing this shit, the main focus of my life, and not just something I do on the side while working a low-paying job that I hate… Life is funny.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

I’ve started planning more events at the shop for the new year, as well as our third AUTUMN ELECTRONIX festival at the Garner Arts Center in Garnerville, New York. It’s a huge pre-Civil War textiles mill which has been renovated into an arts center with studios and event spaces, where we’ve previously had some very successful experiences. I’m also working on another APEX FEST for 2020, with industrial artists from the U.S. and abroad. Maybe some live gigs for Theologian will happen as well. We’ll see how things shape up. Maybe none of it will happen.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I have tentative plans to release an album by ORMUS on Annihilvs, and there are a few other things in the works in that regard. As for stuff I’m not directly involved in, I honestly have no idea what’s coming...

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I haven’t played live since June, and the last tour I was part of was in 2016, so I don’t have much to say here. We used to listen to a lot of Longmont Potion Castle on the road…

Tiltwheel (i am davey i do lots of dumb stuff.)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

My top five albums...I dont think I had 5 top albums. I an't rank anything because my emotional responses to stimulation happens in the moment and are determined by moods, settings and gd distractions. BUT as of this writing there are 5 records that have made an impact on me this year that I can recall in my current state.

Most listened to is def EVENING STANDARD's World's End. It is a perfect record at any time.

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS' Be Good is a re-imagining of the band. There was a point where I'd question the band's validity: "You can't get paid a couple thousand a show and still complain about twentystuff but this one...this one is real and it holds as much hurt as harmony in its groove(s).

LIZZO Cuz I Love You is all over the map musically and I love it! She oversaturated very quickly which will mean an early career demise. Still that album...

Even tho the HIDDEN SPOTS' New Me/New You record was recorded 9 years ago it finally came out this year and yes its one of the best punk records ever released.

Two records that easliy became faves upon release but are too new to have lived alongside are UPSET, Lauren Freeman's songs are always magic!) and the new MICHAEL MONROE record, which is fantastic and I hope to see a tour with BACKYARD BABIES (whose January-released Silver and Gold LP is amazing!), BLACK STAR RIDERS and MICHAEL MONROE in 2020.

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I found 2 surprising re-discoveries in 2019: JAWBOX and JULIANA HATFIELD THREE.

Yeah, I finally caught up to the real meat contained within. It took that Fest Jawbox show to see what they were like when they open up the windows and start mooning everyone. I rediscovered the JH3 after having a bad reaction to The Police covers record she did. The Police with a drum machine? No. So I went back in time and BOOM there she was. I would love to do a JH3 cover set next Fest because it would be challenging AF for me.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

2019 I was mostly a listener. As in 2018, depression and pain made sure I couldn't see bands but I forced myself out when I could. I did spend a lot of time recording stuff and mixing music. I spent 6 days a week at the record shop and still didnt learn anything about music or running a record shop. We had some amazing bands come through AALVARET, SHIT, FOOTBALL ETC.

As a person who plays musi, I had a great year and have been re-teaching myself guitar and hopefully I'll get more drumming time in. Believe it or not, playing drums keeps the pain at bay for hours, days sometimes. I joined a new band, got to play a few touring shows with CITY MOUSE and TOO MANY DAVES and filled in on bass for DIRECT HIT, which I really enjoyed!!! INTERNATIONAL DIPSHIT officially parted ways in every way imaginable -- which is a shame. TILTWHEEL put out 3 new songs on a 25-edition lathe cut record.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

As every year, I hope Tiltwheel gets to finish up enough songs for a record. If we practice, it will happen.

I joined a band called DFMK from Tijuana, MX and on Wednesadays I go down to Mexico to practice. We are writing songs and plan on a few releases during the year.

I'm gonna bug Miski to let me work on CITY MOUSE stuff.

I've got a TOO MANY DAVES 7" in me and I've been on the search for a non binary humyn to continue doing INTERNATIONAL DIPSHIT stuff, which I feel weird about, but id rather feel weird than not have this form of communication.

SANTA ANA KNIGHTS are dealing with health issues but we do play a lot and plan to record another 7" this year.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I just hope I get to see EVENING STANDARD in 2020.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I pass the time all the time by looking at porn. Porn, for me, is defined as music gear and schematics.

Tiltwheel at The Fest 18. Photo by Loren Green.

To Live A Lie Records / Tired Of Everything (Will Butler)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2019? (In order 1-5)

1. Loose Nukes - Behind the Screen
2. World Peace - Towards A Supreme Understanding
3. YACØPSÆ - Timeo Ergo Sum  
4. Armor - Some Kind of War  
5. Video Filth - Hypnosis

2. What band did you discover in 2019 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I always go off the deep-end with musical research and have been on a darker kick and discovered darkwave/syth band Molchat Doma. They are significant because its perfect music for a lot of situations, it's dark and depressive for everyday listens, its dancey if you were to have a party, and its quiet enough to have in the background at work.

3. How will you remember 2019? (In terms of music)

2019 was the year I put out four LPs in one year and hurt a bit financially because of it. 2019 had lots of good local shows as well as some good bigger shows -- saw Youth Of Today, Judge, Agnostic Front, Slayer, Ministry, Jawbreaker, etc etc.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2020?

Hopefully a new Tired Of Everything release since we didn't pull it together in 2019 and we have a stack of songs.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2020?

I sent the Sidetracked/Suppression split to the plant and I'm excited about that one. There is also a Capitalist Casualties tribute comp that I'm excited about, RIP Shawn Elliott.

6. What is your favorite way to pass time while on tour? Any apps, podcasts, etc you're into?

I like to read and I have been playing a lot of retro games lately too.