Jesse Menard (Foxfires/Mountain Man)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)
- Swans - To Be Kind
This is all I listened to for months straight. My favorite means to forget that I'm alive. Absolutely devastating band live. Awe inspiring. - The Furs - demo
Andrew Nordstrom, a very dear friend and my favorite musician of all time, played me a sneak peak of his new band's material and, once again, it is absolutely incredible. Hendrix vibes. - The Hotelier - Home, Like Noplace is There
Central Massachusetts is a small place and I've had the privilege of knowing these kids for a long time, and all that aside, the first time I heard An Introduction to the Album was like the first time I listened to Stay What You Are or Tell All Your Friends (which are two of my all time favorites.) And, I got to play a helping hand in filling the club with artificial fog while I was tripping on mushrooms during their set at Pouzza Fest in Montreal. It was insane. - Daydreamer - Hardly There
The ambient band of my dreams. Bill, their bassist/vocalist and the cellist of my other band Mountain Man, was the other person tripping on mushrooms with me during the aforementioned fog event. We spent the rest of the night doing shots of whiskey and watching the wood grain on the bar. We're good friends now. - Lovechild - Migraine Music
Excellent punk rock by talented people. Do not miss the opportunity to catch them live.
2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Bob Dylan. I'll have to answer this question with the distinction of "re-discovering" because you'd have to try pretty hard not to encounter his music somewhere in life. I go through spells of having a really dark frame of mind from time to time, and "The Freewheelin'" popped back up at just the right time to suck me in, beginning an infatuation that has extended beyond that particular dark spell. Try and listen to "The Man in Me" and not feel pretty good.
3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)
In two parts: writing for the new Foxfires record that we are set to record in a matter of weeks as of this writing, and recording a new Mountain Man record. Both have been large undertakings and a long time coming, and will be worth it. That's pretty much it.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?
2015 is going to be INSANE. In January we are recording the new Foxfires LP; shortly afterwards the new Mountain Man LP will be out. At some point in that timeframe I hope to have recorded and self-released a demo for a new band I just started last week with my good friend Erik Perkins (of literally every band,) and that's just getting into spring.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?
The Furs. Keep your eyes open for that band.
6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?
Tumblr. Is that from 2014?
