Spencer Cullum
Praise the lard and pass the dressing: It is time for the second annual Nashville Scene Side Player Sidebar Survey. We asked four of our favorite local instrumentalists about what they’re seeing from the side of the stage, and we got some tasty results.
Who have you played alongside this year, onstage or in the studio?
Spencer Cullum: Erin Rae, Rich Ruth, Miranda Lambert, Sean Thompson
Mike Hicks: Gary Levox (Rascal Flatts), Paulina Jayne, The Shindellas, ACM Honors House Band, NSAI Honors House Band
Jo Schornikow: Phosphorescent, Sunny War, Tré Burt, Emily Nenni, Sean Thompson, Jamie Davis, Peace Police, William Tyler and the Impossible Truth, Caitlin Rose, many more
Ellen Angelico: Adeem the Artist, Brandy Clark, Brandy Zdan, Cam, Carrie Welling, Gina Venier, Kyshona, Lola Kirke, Marlene Twitty Fargo, many more
Mike Hicks
What local record has the best Side 1, Song 1?
SC: Becca Mancari, Left Hand, “Don’t Even Worry”
MH: The Shindellas, Shindo, “Up 2 You”
JS: So many good ones. Sunny enters swingin’ with “Love’s Death Bed” [on Anarchist Gospel] and Tré comes in real hot with “Traffic Fiction” [on Traffic Fiction].
EA: “B4” by David Borné [on GENESIS].
What’s your favorite side dish in Nashville?
SC: Gobi Manchurian at Taj
MH: Smoked fish fried rice at The Optimist
JS: I never had ’nana puddin’ till I moved to Nashville a few years ago. I don’t think it’s divisive to say it’s the perfect food and nothing else comes close. But also, anything with Peach Truck peaches. I can’t, in good faith, do any kind of interview without mentioning The Peach Truck.
EA: The house-made potato chips at Tower Deli, closely followed by Gobi Manchurian at Green Chili Indian Restaurant.
Jo Schornikow with William Tyler and the Impossible Truth at The Blue Room, 11/25/2023
Which local sideplayer has had the best year?
SC: Sean Thompson
MH: Travis Toy
JS: There are so many musicians I love in this town. Meg Coleman, Jack Lawrence, Micah Hulscher, Steve Daly, Dennis Crouch, Ellen Angelico — these are people that carry some kind of magic glitter in their pockets and sprinkle it on whatever they touch.
EA: Few things make me happier than watching Megan Coleman and Larissa Maestro conquer the world.
Ellen Angelico
Which local instrumentalist has the coolest side hustle?
MH: Jerry Morton
JS: Luke Schneider’s Forestdale Incense Corporate Empire™ is a total inspiration and smells like the hotel you wish you were staying in. I’m also in complete admiration of folks who can both really play and operate a studio — Paul DiFiglia and Matty Alger both have beautiful spaces and know exactly what’s what. Rachel Beauregard wrote an absolutely beautiful book of poetry called Road Mouth which sits right at the intersection of my loves of music, touring, yoga and parenthood. I can’t shout how much I love it loud enough. Lastly, and I’m not sure if he’s doin’ it right now, but rumor has it Steve Daly can build fences and houses. I don’t know anything cooler than that.
EA: I’m so impressed with the bass education ecosystem Ryan Madora created. She built up great online content and a whole community of people learning together, all while being one of Nashville’s top session and touring bassists.
Talking with Bully’s rock ’n’ roll polymath Alicia Bognanno, counting down the year’s top local albums and more
