Mark Trombino owns Donut Friend in LA and plays drums in the recently reunited Drive Like Jehu.
Read MoreCHARLES HODGKINS
Charles Hodgkins writes about music, food, and travel. Founder of BurritoEater.com, he has served as a San Francisco taqueria expert for the New York Times, Cooking Channel, and other press outlets.
What was the food highlight of your year?
I've eaten a boatload of doughnuts/beignets in 2014, and somehow I still fit into these 46-waist slacks I got for Xmas last year. I'm a Bob's on Polk man. Mark Trombino's clever joint in Highland Park is also fun (if kinda pricey).
What was the music highlight of your year?
Oh, I could say it's been my five-month Neil Young binge, in which I chronologically listened my way through *everything* (including rafts of live shows) the man's done over the decades; an epic journey I had to beg out of at...1991. I'll pick it up again eventually.
I could also say it's been Nothing's 'Guilty Of Everything,' Cheatahs' self-titled debut (which sounds just like Swervedriver, and it's OK with me), Cloud Nothings' 'Here And Nowhere Else,' Solids' 'Blame Confusion' (which sounds just like Japandroids-lite, but it's OK with me), and Spoon's 'They Want My Soul' (which I think sounds just like Spoon) -- nutbusting 2014 records, all of 'em. I could even say it's all the Explosions In The Sky I've been subjecting my ears and neighbors to for the last couple weeks straight, daily and loudly.
And how could I almost forget my excitement over the idea of seeing Ride reform and perform in 2015? Really, I can't forget that. But I have a strong feeling my music highlight of the year will turn out to be Centro-matic's 'Take Pride In Your Long Odds,' which is not only my top album title to come along in many moons, but also one hell of a swan song for My Main Band Of The Last 15 Years. I'm off to Chicago and St. Louis to witness their farewell tour this month, which not only will probably be the finest rock shows I catch all year, but only furthers my long-held belief that compiling a best-of-year list in December sells our twelfth month of the year ruefully short. Why must we annually front on December? Why?? It's high time I stand up for my birthday month. I'm a December Boy and I like September Gurls just like everyone else, but dammit, I'm demanding the year's darkest month gets some respect handed down from Swimmingly's editorial crew. We're dealing with a legitimate month here -- like April, like September, like all those other months. It's more than just one holiday hoohaw after another; it's more than Bing-and-Bowie duets; it's more than drunken uncles doing the lampshade shuffle into the indoor pine tree after a couple too many eggnog-and-Fireball-chasers. Cool shit goes down in December, man. OK, happy new year.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
This year, no...but there was that time in 1993 when I bought a Pepsi at 7-11 and 'Right Here, Right Now' came on the radio -- right there, right then. Totally wild. Just unbelievable.
NORMAN BRANNON
Norman Brannon is General Manager of Collect Records and plays guitar in Texas Is The Reason.
What was the food highlight of your year?
I went to Scott Conant's Scarpetta here in New York for the first time a few months ago, and I usually have this thing at restaurants where I always order the seemingly simplest thing on the menu — the idea being some variation on that theme that you can judge a chef by how well he cooks an egg. It makes sense to me. Anyway, there was a $24 plate of spaghetti with tomato and basil. Like, literally, that was how it was described on the menu. There was something that was so bold about that to me. They didn't even try to spruce it up for description's sake! So of course I ordered that, and from the first bite I was absolutely floored. The pasta was perfection—a firm, thick flavorful noodle like none that I've ever eaten before—and the tomato and basil were so harmonious it actually felt like something new. I cannot stress this enough: To say that you've just eaten the best plate of spaghetti and tomato in your life after 40 years of eating spaghetti and tomato is TOTALLY MOMENTOUS.
What was the music highlight of your year?
People never really believe me when I talk about how much I love Take That, but they are sincerely my favorite band ever. Here's the thing: I'm actually of the opinion that it's super easy to write sad songs. It's almost cheap to me at this point; it's our go-to emotion when we're writing songs. But writing a song that makes you feel like you want to dance like Fred Astaire through Brooklyn—that takes real talent! Take That's new album, III, does a little bit of both, and while I sometimes wish they hadn't ever been the horrible '90s boyband that everyone thinks about when they hear the name, I actually think that's part of the reason why I love them. They are all accomplished songwriters now, they're all accomplished musicians. They proved that they weren't just a bunch of cute boyband hacks, but that you can use that experience and grow into a musician of substance. That is a serious hill to climb, and I am in awe of them.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
I'd heard a rumor that Mark Trombino's Donut Friend in L.A. had a Texas is the Raisin doughnut and I was really hoping that was true. I wound up getting the Custard Front Drive, which was insanely rich, but satisfying to say the least.
BOB PENN
Bob Penn plays drums in The Jealous Sound and The Night of the Gun.
What was the food highlight of the year and why?
I recently moved to Pasadena in an apartment complex that is actually a functioning train station and across the tracks there is an awesome restaurant called The Luggage Room. When they start up their cooking fires at 5pm you can smell the delicious aroma throughout my building. You suddenly find yourself in the elevator taking a life detour to locate the goodness.
The standout favorite item on the menu for me is their brick wood-fire Avocado Festival pizza, which is thin and chewy sourdough pizza crust with super bright flavors on top, including cheese, sundried tomatoes, lemon, fresh basil, and avocado. For dessert they make these killer sea salt chocolate chip cookies that they handout complimentary at the door as you leave. You might need to bring a buddy to distract all the hot waitresses, so you can stuff your pockets with this amazing treat (not that I would ever do that). They also serve an outstanding brand of gelato, my favorite is the mint chip which tastes like a fresh mint slap to the face.
What was the music highlight of your year and why?
I’m pretty lucky, I’ve had a few highlights this year:
The Jealous Sound started the year on an awesome February tour with some great bands. For the majority of the dates we played with Balance and Composure and Daylight. It was great to watch those guys every night. They’re both very talented bands, their fans love them and so did we.
It was also great seeing the Knapsack reunion in Los Angeles, it was nice to see friends reunite and play songs that I’ve always loved. I still remember picking up Day Three of My New Life and blasting it in my crappy Ford Taurus back in the day. I actually kept gallons of fluid in my backseat because that shit car overheated so much.
I’m lucky to be ending the year with another musical highlight: I recently had a really collaborative set of sessions with a longtime friend, but first-time bandmate Adrian Verloop. After about seven practices we created enough songs for a record. I found myself sneaking back into Studio 606 with my favorite guy to track drums with, John “Lou” Lousteau. New project is called “The Night of the Gun” and we’re set to start tracking guitars.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
After recording drum tracks in Northridge in late November I took a break for sushi at King’s Burgers. The name obviously fooled me a bit, but seeing the sushi selection my plans suddenly changed. It was one of those moments when you just needed a quick bite to eat and ended up staying for an hour. The spicy tuna tempura roll is no fucking joke… Seriously
I also live a few miles away from Mark Trombino’s new doughnut shop Donut Friend. The dude is truly doing great things to a classic item and even the coffee is killer. It’s now a MUST visit spot here in LA and everyone is talking about it. Trombino might be completely responsible for the stretchy pants movement of 2014 and that sucks.
MARK TROMBINO
Mark Trombino is a producer (Blink 182) and drummer (Drive Like Jehu) who recently opened a custom donut shop in Los Angeles.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Well, I’d have to say opening up Donut Friend was the highlight of my year without a doubt. It has been so overwhelming and crazy, but I’m loving it. And hating it. But mostly loving it.
What was the music highlight of your year?
That’s easy: taking my niece to see Fun. at the Greek. It was her first concert, with her favorite band, and I was stoked to be able to share that with her. And also relieved she isn’t a Belieber.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
A few months ago I got to meet Bruce Moreland from one of my all time favorite bands, Wall of Voodoo, and give him a Walnut Voodoo donut. That was pretty cool!
JONATHAN WEINER
Jonathan Weiner is a rock photographer. He recently shot Wayne Coyne and Moby walking through downtown LA in full mariachi regalia for Rolling Stone.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Pinning down the food highlight of my year is a pretty hard thing to do, I really love finding new places as often as possible. I think the most mind melding moment was being introduced to the burrito shop Freebirds. I do not often frequent fast food or chain restaurants for that matter, so I feel like this is a weird selection for me. However, it totally changed my world when I found it. I am vegan, so for the most part a burrito means black beans and veggies, MAYBE rice and guacamole if I’m lucky (unless I’m going to a fully vegan restaurant). Most places I can’t eat at completely since mexican food typically uses lard in everything. In comes Freebirds, set up the same as Chipotle where you build your own burrito, except one major difference: EVERYTHING aside from the obvious is vegan! I can have refried and pinto beans, spanish rice, and so many flavorful add ons. It’s really quite simple, give me tons of tasty options instead of just quinoa and kale on a menu and I’m impressed!
Honorable mention is Pizzanista in the Arts District of LA. The only reason this isn’t my main choice is because I have a feeling that I discovered it in 2012. However, I LOVE it and wanted to mention it anyway. Where else can you get $2 tuesday NY sized slices, vegan garlic knots, and a skate or die shirt?! I bring a new person there almost every other week.
What was the music highlight of your year?
There has been so many awesome musical adventures I’ve been able to take part in this year. So many bands from my childhood that I never saw or haven’t seen in 15 years have been playing lately. Knapsack, Quicksand and Sparks were all really cool for me. The two highlights above all the rest I’d have to say were Flag and Johnny Marr, each in their own right.
I was lucky enough to be invited to photograph Flag’s first real show together, a secret invite-only show at the Moose Lodge in Redondo Beach. There was about 150 people there, no stage, and its the same venue in which Black Flag played their very first show, before I was born! That show was amazing. Everything I remember going to punk shows to be growing up in DC. No cell phones, just pure fun. Every person in the crowd sang every song.
Next, I got to see Johnny Marr play at the Masonic Lodge in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Seeing Johnny Marr play Smiths songs for the first time in over two decades is incredible enough, but then add that into a tiny venue in the middle of a cemetery…enough said! I’m pretty sure every person who plays guitar in that room decided they might as well give up after hearing him play those songs.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
I’d say my favorite music/food coming together moment of the year was when Mark Trombino’s Donut Friend opened in Highland Park. I had been waiting months for this place to open. For years now the only vegan yeast donut option was to go to Ronald’s in Vegas (which is always amazing). Now there is a place 10 minutes from my home. If that wasn’t enough reason to get me excited, it comes with donut “compilations” with names such as Rites of Sprinkles, Coconut of Conformity, The Jelly Sound, Dag Nutty, Fudgegazi, ect. How could that not be awesome?!