Artists reflect on their favorite holiday moments

With the holiday season once upon us again, we asked some of our favorite artists to ponder the most memorable gift that they’ve ever given or received, the gift they want most this year and a notable holiday performance that they’ve attended or played. From the literal to the metaphysical, and the old to the new, their responses elicited a range of emotions that got us thinking about our own holiday highlights.

This is our second installment, click here to read our first collection which features Mike Gordon, Mickey Hart, Al Schnier and Tom Blankenship and click here to read round two with picks from Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Ben Kaufmann, Karl Denson and Bill Payne

RYAN STASIK
Bass
Umphrey’s McGee

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
I received a fart in a jar filled with cotton balls. I gagged, then I laughed. What a clever gift! I shall regift this year for one lucky band member most likely “Old Man Cummins.”

What gift do you want most this year?
A Steelers’ Super Bowl victory, a Penguins’ Stanley Cup and a Pirates season over .500 next year.

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
Our New Year’s Eve 2000 gig at The Cubby Bear. Words cannot describe this classic performance nor can I remember a single note played!

MATT ABTS
Drummer
Gov’t Mule, Planet of the Abts

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
A kiss

What gift do you want most this year?
Some love

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
New Year’s Eve in New York City!

JON GUTWILLIG
Guitar/Vocals
The Disco Biscuits

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
Fresh baked cookies.

What gift do you want most this year?
Something handmade.

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas movie coming out this holiday season.

JJ GREY
Guitar/Vocals

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
One year, when I was a kid, I got an acoustic guitar for Christmas. I unfortunately let it get accidentally smashed the same day.

What gift do you want most this year?
To see my kids’ faces Christmas morning will be more than anything I could hope for.

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi usually do a show in Jacksonville, Fla. sometime between Christmas and New Year’s. That’s always one of my favorites!

DAVE MALONE
Guitar/Vocals
The Radiators, The Malone Sharks

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
My first ever good guitar when I was 16 – a 1956 Fender Telecaster – closely followed by a gift from my wife – a Gretsch White Falcon.

What gift do you want most this year?
An early ‘60s Gibson Byrdland guitar with florentine cutaway.

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
Any of the Christmas shows I’ve played at Tipitina’s [in New Orleans] with my kids in their band The Chilluns.

KEITH MOSELEY
Bass/Vocals
The String Cheese Incident

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
A family trip to the Caribbean.

What gift do you want most this year?
A new mountain bike.

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
Our 12/31/2004 show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Lots of excitement on NYE in NYC!

JOHNNY WINTER
Guitar/Vocals

What is your favorite holiday gift that you’ve given or received?
Last Christmas, I was given an empty methadone capsule in a box. Without knowing it, I had been off of it for a year.

What gift do you want most this year?
A Grammy. (Ha, ha, ha.)

What is your favorite holiday show as a fan or performer?
The Simpsons Christmas Special_.