Lunchrooms

What if the music industry was broken down into a high school lunchroom?  Where would everyone sit?  What would the cliques be?  We at Tastemakers sat down and mapped out our guide to the Music Lunchroom!

The Hard Groove Table- John Scofield, Charlie Hunter, Medeski Martin and Wood, Soulive, and Lettuce.

With the exception of Lettuce, the Berklee born funk super group, they’ve all been on Blue Note Records at one point or another, and they can all be caught gigging around small venues in New York.  John Scofield, one of the “big three” of contemporary jazz guitarists, has taken the progressive and highly improvisational trio Medeski, Martin, and Wood, under his wing for numerous tours and festivals to support their two collaborations: A Go Go and Out Louder. Sco’s go-to drummer, Adam Deitch, supplies the mind blowing beats for Lettuce, which shares guitarist Eric Krasno and keyboardist Neal Evans with Soulive, coming in April to the Paradise.

The ‘€œWhy Do They Always Insist on Putting Two Tables Together?’€ Table ‘€“  fun., The Format, Anathallo, Steel Train

When The Format went on hiatus Nate Ruess called up his buddies Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train to form a new three-piece, aptly named fun. The result is quite the extended family among the four bands. Catch fun. playing shows with the likes of Jack’s Mannequin and Paramore while Steel Train are currently on tour supporting Tegan and Sara. Anathallo are still seven members strong and have taken little time off in the past 10 years so expect them around again soon.

The “Been There Done That” Table- Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift

As part of the Wunderkind phenomenon that has swept popular culture lately, these artists have more in common than just their target audience:  their exes. Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas dated for two years and were “in love” according to Cyrus before breaking up in late 2007. Older brother, Joe Jonas, had a highly publicized relationship with Taylor Swift in late 2008. According to Swift, the end of the relationship resulted in her song “Forever & Always” from Fearless. As for Selena Gomez, she’s been seen on dates with Nick Jonas since earlier this year. To put the icing on the failed-relationship cake, Swift and Cyrus teamed up to perform Swift’s single “Fifteen” about heartbreak and young love.

The Genre-Bending Hip-Hoppers- Dangermouse, MF DOOM, Cee-Lo

Dangermouse is a DJ and producer who first gained attention in 2004 through his release of ‘The Grey Album’, a combination of the accapellas from Jay-z’s ‘The Black Album’ and The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’. He collaborated with rapper MF DOOM, forming the act DANGERDOOM, which had moderate success with the album ‘The Mouse and the Mask’. Dangermouse also collaborated with r&b/soul artist Cee-Lo to form Gnarls Barkley, releasing two albums, ‘St. Elsewhere’ in 2007 (which won a Grammy Award), and ‘The Odd Couple’ in 2008.

The Big Happy Family- Brand New, Kevin Devine, Manchester Orchestra

This circle all started with Kevin Devine singing Brand New’s “Tautou,’€ which eventually led to Jesse Lacey delivering vocals on Devine’s “Cotton Crush.’€ Recently, Kevin Devine and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra released a split EP covering each other.  Kevin is signed to Manchester Orchestra’s record label, Favorite Gentlemen, and had “Put Your Ghost To Rest” re-released on Brand New’s imprint after being dropped by Capitol.

The Indie Darlings-She & Him, Tilly & The Wall, Conor Oberst

M. Ward of She & Him, notorious for his folky guitar, has worked with acoustic emo legend Conor Oberst in their supergroup, Monsters of Folk.  Omaha native Oberst signed misfits Tilly & The Wall to his label, Team Love.  Tilly & The Wall are featured on She & Him’s new album Volume II.

The Power Pair- Lady GaGa and Beyonce

Arguably two of the biggest female names in pop joined forces this year, to record Video Phone, featured on Beyonce’s latest CD I am…Sasha Fierce, and Telephone, which was featured on Lady GaGa’s CD The Fame Monster. The duo also recorded music videos for both songs, and willingly adapted to each other’s personal styles (complete with matching outfits). And unlike most queen-bee couples, Beyonce and GaGa actually like each other.

The Dubstep Dudes- Major Lazer, M.I.A., Rusko, Sleigh Bells

Major Lazer is currently on tour with Sleigh Bells and Mad Decent label-mates Rusko. M.I.A. worked with producers Diplo and Switch of Major Lazer, Rusko, and Sleigh Bells on her third album, due in June. She also appears on “Sound of Siren,” a track from Major Lazer’s upcoming “Lazers Never Die” EP. And Sleigh Bells’ debut album, slated to drop May 11, will be released on N.E.E.T., the label M.I.A. started in 2008.

The Scensters ‘€“ The Sound of Animals Fighting, RX Bandits, Circa Survive, Chiodos

Rich Balling, former singer and producer for RX Bandits, created experimental noise-rock supergroup The Sound of Animals Fighting with Circa Survive lead singer Anthony Green. The Sound of Animals Fighting has many other participants including former Chiodos lead singer Craig Owens. After a small feud, Green and Owens made up and played numerous acoustic duet shows together. The Sound of Animals Fighting, Circa Survive, and Chiodos have all released albums through Equal Vision Records.

The Most Likely to Succeed- Lil Wayne, TI, DMX, Gucci Mane

Four of rap’s most prolific heavyweights, past and present, these debaucherous debutants have managed to dominate the industry despite spending more time behind bars than writing them. Though I’m sure Gucci wishes he never went through State vs. Radric Davis, and TI regrets leaving such a conspicuous Paper Trail, us fans are sure glad they did. Whether toiling away in the studio late at night, or smoking crack cocaine and impersonating a police officer while carjacking innocent women, everything these stars to do seems to pique everyone’s interest.