Here is the first of our pieces in which we will ask musicians to look back on the year that has passed and project what may follow in 2013…PATTERSON HOOD – DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS

What will you remember most about 2012?

Playing with The Mystic Rumblers (Oxford MS 4/12) – Band I put together with my Dad, Brad, Jay and Jacob. Played a killer cover of “Take A Letter Maria” with two great trumpet players that Matt Patton helped us find.

Playing with The Downtown Rumblers (Sept-Oct) – The killer band I put together to go out and work my new album featuring the fabulous Campbell Sisters (also known as Hope For Agoldensummer). Great shows coast to coast, especially Helsinki on the Hudson, Hudson NY and The Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Playing with The Dimmer Twins (Marriage Equality Tour – June 2012, more to come?) Cooley and I celebrated 27 years together with two shows in Virginia that were among our favorite shows we’ve ever played.

Playing with DBT. Damned if we didn’t have some great shows in our Sweet Sixteenth Year. Makes me look forward to recording the next album.

Alabama Shakes – Watching them have such an amazing year has reaffirmed my faith in the power of Rock. Having them back me up in London and Germany was great fun.

The Americana Music Awards in Nashville. I always hate awards shit, but this show at The Ryman was an absolutely incredible evening of great music and vibes. I got to present Booker T. Jones with a lifetime achievement award, met Tom T. Hall and saw an unbelievable Richard Thompson performance. All that and so much more.

Playing with Craig Finn and Will Johnson – An unbelievable pleasure to sit between them for two weeks in Europe this past fall.

And finally, playing with The Downtown 13 – Having so many incredibly talented friends all jump in to record “After It’s Gone” to raise awareness about a proposed development in Athens GA. On no notice at all members of DBT, Widespread Panic, REM, Hope For Agoldensummer, Henry Barbe, Futurebirds, and Lera Lynn joined David Barbe and I and two weeks later it was released (with a great video by Jason Thrasher). AWESOME!

What album or albums have you listened to this most this past year?

Father John Misty – Fear Fun and Bill Fay – Life Is People

What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2012?

I’ve really flipped over an artist from Bloomington IN who goes by the moniker Elephant Micah. His album is called Louder Than Thou and its excellent.

There are tons of great newer artists of late. Can’t wait to see what comes next from Father John Misty, War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Dylan LeBlanc and of course Alabama Shakes.

Any big plans in the works for 2013?

Some writing. Some recording. More touring behind Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance. Work on my sense of humor, thicken my skin, tighten my abs, sharpen my knives, expand my range, hone my focus, finish a screenplay and tour with The Dimmer Twins.

GEORGE PORTER JR — THE FUNKY METERS, RUNNIN PARDNERS, 7 WALKERS

What will you remember most about 2012?

This year there were many Runnin Pardners shows and The Meters doing Jazz Fest this year and lastly The Tedeschi Trucks Band short run was very memorable. Also, my Best of the Beat lifetime achievement award.

What album or albums have you listened to this most this past year?

I don’t really listen to popular music too much I enjoy classical music for listening or I am listening to performance recordings to see how I did.

What was your favorite show or tour in 2012?

I guest I would have to say The Tedeschi Trucks Band.

What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2012?

While I am not to hip to many of the new bands out there I do like ….. Khris Royal and Dark Matter

Any big plans in the works for 2013?

Mostly I plan to just play music and get paid for it, as I have been lucky to do for the last 49 years. I would love to tour my band George Porter Jr and the Runnin Pardners more and do more of the bigger festivals, there are some real killing grooves out there, but can’t say yet, till it is more clear.

2013 marks the 40th year of Relix Magazine. Do you remember the first time you read Relix? Is there an article that stands out for you?

No I don’t remember the first time I read Relix. I usually don’t have much time to read but I do read articles when people send them to me.

The staff at Relix have been very nice to me over the years and have mentioned me, interviewed me and reviewed my music several times over the years. I would have to say the article that stands out the most for me would have to be The Meters article and being featured on the cover. That was pretty cool.

GRIFFIN GOLDSMITH — DAWES

Photo by Dean Budnick

What will you remember most about 2012?

Meeting Jimmy Page.

What album or albums have you listened to this most this past year?

Adventures in Paradise by Minnie Ripperton.

What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2012?

Father John Misty.

Any big plans in the works for 2013?

We’re releasing a record and will be touring in support of it.

2013 marks the 40th year of Relix Magazine. Do you remember the first time you read Relix? Is there an article that stands out for you?

I don’t remember the first time I read Relix. I really liked the article on Mumford and Sons in a recent issue.JEFF MATTSON—DARK STAR ORCHESTRA

Photo by Vernon Webb

What will you remember most about 2012?

Playing in Amsterdam and London on the 40th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s Europe ‘72 tour. Curating our own festival for the first time, the Dark Star Jubilee. Phil Lesh sitting in with us for an entire set at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Barack Obama’s reelection (thank goodness!). Hurricane Sandy.

What album or albums have you listened to this most this past year?

The Harrow & the Harvest (Gillian Welch); The Whole Love (Wilco); Psychedelic Pill (Neil Young and Crazy Horse); the Europe ’72 Box Set (Grateful Dead); Election Special (Ry Cooder); Privateering (Mark Knopfler); Tempest (Bob Dylan); Bad as Me (Tom Waits); Dream Attic (Richard Thompson).

What was your favorite show or tour in 2012?

I didn’t get to see a whole lot of shows this year as I was on the road myself so much, but one of my favorites was Wilco at Terminal 5 in NYC. They pulled songs from all their albums for that tour and they just get tighter (and looser!) every year. I also saw the Carolina Chocolate Drops for the first time and it was funky and fun!

What emerging band should readers watch out for in 2012?

Although not exactly a new band, the word is My Bloody Valentine is finally coming out with a new album soon, so I am keeping my eye out for their return.

Any big plans in the works for 2013?

I will be finishing up a new album with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band that we have been recording down in Muscle Shoals, AL. We’re really excited about how we achieved our goal of “San Francisco Jam Sound Meets Muscle Shoals R&B Vibe” reflecting the two musical landmarks in Donna Jean’s career. Among others, the album features the legendary Muscle Shoals Horns. I am also very stoked that DSO is hosting its first tropical festival in the beginning of March in Negril, Jamaica, DSO’s Jam in the Sand. Likewise, we will also be hosting our 2nd Dark Star Jubilee Memorial Day Weekend at Legend Valley in Thornville, OH.

2013 marks the 40th year of Relix Magazine. Do you remember the first time you read Relix? Is there an article that stands out for you?

I have been subscribing to Relix since the mid 70s. I remember how excited I was when my band, The Volunteers (which became The Zen Tricksters) was written about in Relix. To give you an idea of how long ago that was, the cover story of that issue was about Pink Floyd’s new album, The Wall ! I have enjoyed reading that magazine all through the years and look forward to receiving every issue.