Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2008

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

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Banner Pilot (Nick Johnson)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2008?

  1. Lemuria - Get Better
  2. Monikers - Wake Up
  3. Bridge and Tunnel - East/West
  4. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
  5. Howard Stern Show

What band did you discover in 2008 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Jonesin' and Iron Chic in a barn at the Fest that I think doubled as a bicycle repair shop. Seeing old friends in great new bands was awesome.

How will you remember 2008? (In terms of music)

Let's see?. Getting Cory from the Manix to play secnd guitar in our band, playing with Snuggle in the backyard of the FBK house in Seattle in front of a fire and behind a unicorn-shaped bouncy house, barely making it in to 1982 in Gainesville to catch an awesome Unlovables set, and camping out in an elk preserve in Redwood National Forest on our way to Thrillfest in San Francisco. Tip: if you don't eat all of your hot dogs and hamburgers don't burn what's left in a bonfire.

Vinyl record sales saw a significant increase this year while hard copy sales continued to dwindle. Is this a return to the glory days for vinyl or just a phase? Explain.

If it's a return to the glory days I need to fix my turntable. Then I'll finally be able to rock out again to my brown splatter copy of the Vindictives' Leave Home (if I can find it). Shameless Plug: "Resignation Day" will be available on vinyl on Kiss of Death in January, yea!

What was the most memorable moment for you in 2008? (Can be in terms of anything)

Playing one of the Triple Rock 10th Anniversary shows with The Hanson Brothers. Those guys put on a hell of show! Their two roadies wear referee jerseys with one running sound effects and the other on merch. At one point while the merch guy was over at the board talking to the sound guy, the duct tape gave out on a shirt they had stuck to the wall. I looked over to see the sound guy pointing and blowing his foul whistle. Classic!

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

More blistering punk rock. We'll be putting out a new LP mid-year and also hope to put out a couple of split 7"s, maybe with the Measure (SA) and The Copyrights if we're lucky. Tour wise we're looking at either the UK or Japan and maybe both. Fest definitely!

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2009?

Dear Landlord, Drunken Boat and Ben Weasel

Homepage: http://www.banner-pilot.com

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