Features

The Side Project: 20 of the Best (Relix Revisited)

Today we present the following list from the April-May 2006 issue of Relix. After you take a look, head over to our Doctor’s Orders blog and share your favorite side project…

Painfully short-lived or infinitely disappointing. Sideprojects can be both—they can leave you impressed and wanting more or just dying for the real thing. Most of ‘em come and go in the blink of an eye, and, every now and then, a Gov’t Mule or RatDog pops up and gives us five more shows to look forward to each year. Here’s a look at 20 of our favorite side-projects.

Brute. Athens’ Vic Chesnutt can be a bit weird, and even a little pervy, but neighbors Widespread Panic don’t mind, and neither should you!

Conspirator. The Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner team with DJ Omen for a downtempo/drum-n-bass hybrid smooth enough to keep your Bisco-bounce rolling well into the morning.

Frogwings. Man, that Butch Trucks just can’t chill and ride a Harley or something when he’s off the road. So in the ‘90s, he recruited nephew Derek, Edwin McCain, Kofi and Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, John Popper, among others for some non-Brothers jam-action.

Garcia/Grisman. A beautiful swirl of gray hair, potbellies and ganja. Man, do we miss Jerry.

Golden Smog. It’s like No Depression —the band. No, wait, that’s The Flatlanders. The silver medal goes to this mélange of Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Big Star and The Geraldine Fibbers.

Gov’t Mule. AC/DC’s Bon Scott once said, “I’ve got the biggest balls of them all,” but maybe Warren actually did, ‘cause it musta taken mighty cajones to walk away from the Allmans.

Hot Tuna. What to do when you don’t feel much like chasing rabbits anymore… The Jefferson Airplane escape hatch.

Jerry Garcia Band & Legion of Mary. It’s amazing Garcia lasted as long as he did. When did this guy sleep?

Loose Fur. Tweedy leftovers tricked out by hipster helmsman Jim O’Rourke of Sonic Youth. Twee-dee! Twee-dee!

Mike Gordon/Leo Kottke. I think even Mike is shocked Leo said yes. An unlikelier duo you will not find.

Oysterhead. Okay, somebody musta been trippin’ in the “P” section of the record store… A guitar hero from Phish, the bass wizard from Primus and the psycho drummer from The Police.

RatDog. Proof that the music truly never stops. Weir here.

Stockholm Syndrome. The ants in Dave Schools’ pants lead him to Jerry Joseph for what the latter describes as “religious sex-junkie-heartbreak songs.” That Jerry Joseph, what a card!

Surrender to the Air. Trey’s fantasy band isn’t what you expect: an avant garde wet dream featuring members of the Sun Ra Orkestra Marc Ribot and, oh yeah, some guy named Fish.

Temple of the Dog. Soundgarden and Pearl Jam offer up a one-album eulogy. Where the hell was Cobain that day?

The Postal Service. For all you sensitive males, Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard gets all glitch-poppy on your ass and channels your inner Dr. Phil.

The Word. Jazz and psychedelia (Medeski) meets the church (Randolph) meets the hill country (No. Miss. Allstars)… guys, come on, where’s the follow-up?

Tom Tom Club. The couple that makes rock history together, creates a side project together, so says husband and wife/ Talking Heads rhythm section Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth.

Zilla. SCI’s Michael Travis, Aaron Holstein and Jamie Janover boil their electronic dance band down to its essentials. No songs, no setlist, no shoes, all improvisation.