John Cate (John Cate & The Van Gogh Brothers; Tunecore)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2010? (In order 1-5)
I can’t think of one that made my list. I was stuck in the past this year after finishing our 9th record, “The Wonder Show”. Namely, I was listening to “Minute by Minute” by the Doobie Brothers, “Blow by Blow” by Jeff Beck, “End of the Innocence” by Don Henley, and Phil Collins’ “You’ll be in my Heart”. “Hooker n’ Heat” by John Lee Hooker was re-issued and just in time in my opinion (see below)..
What band did you discover in 2010 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
John Lee Hooker. John was an old bluesman who I remember from “back in the day”. Canned Heat worked with him. He is the real deal, and there isn’t enough of “the real deal” around these days. We need touchstones, and “Hooker n’ Heat” is one of them. Listen to “Meet me at the Bottom.”
How will you remember 2010? (In terms of music)
Watching Jeff Beck from stage left.
With more and more bands switching to digital methods of releasing music and communicating with audiences in 2010, do you think there's still a place for physical CDs and word-of-mouth shows in the future?
Absolutely. Music is best experienced live, and it’s important to have physical CD’s at shows for both the music and the artwork & liner notes, which are usually pretty thoughtful & relevant to an artist’s body of work.
What can we look forward to from you in 2011?
Our 10th album, “X”
What three records are you looking forward to most in 2011?
Our next record, Kings of Leon and anything by Cheri Knight, if someone can get her to play again.
