Benjamin Doerr (St. Paul De Vence)
St. Paul De Vence plays Monday at 3 p.m. on the Plaza Stage.
Best
Letting the gut decide. Or the heart. Whatever, we know it’s not an organ, it’s a mystery. But it tends to be a mystery worth embracing. I’ve made a few decisions I would put in the “best” box. All of them included some kind of unknown and a leap of some proportion into that unknown.
Worst
Allowing anger to be the leading emotion. It’s an important emotion, no doubt, but when it leads, things are out of balance and shit’s bound to get ugly.
Justo (The Physics)
The Physics play Sunday at 5:15 p.m. on the Fountain Lawn Stage.
Best
To let the dogs out. Once the dogs were out, the world just made more sense, and we were able to separate the “ego” from what we now know as our “true selves.” Everyone wondered who let them out, but we felt free and liberated from the bondage of worldly judgment.
Worst
To let the dogs out. Indoor dogs live longer, healthier lives and are less prone to foreign pathogens and diseases.
Jason Dodson (the Maldives)
The Maldives play Monday at 1 p.m. on the Starbucks Stage.
Best
Tie: Going to college and starting a record collection. College was great! I got to meet cool people, have fun learning, and party without hangovers. And records are sweet! Vinyl is the real deal. Like collecting big picture books that play your favorite music.
Worst
Tie: Going to college and starting a record collection. I’m in debt because of student loans, and I’m a musician, which means I’m broke. So now when all my cool friends get to take fancy vacations, I get to stay home and listen to records.
Mark Pickerel
Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands play Monday at 6 p.m. on the Plaza Stage.
Best
Five years ago I agreed to participate in life’s most beautiful cycle, and am now the proud parent of a little girl. I’m proud of my ability to balance my own career and creative ambitions with my commitment to her happiness and health. It’s a hell of a lot to try and juggle, but I feel like it’s all working out beautifully, and I find that the more I include her in all of my adventures, the closer we become. It’s such a thrill to build so many unique memories with her that her and I will share over the years; I know that she’ll reflect on her childhood with great nostalgia. She’ll almost certainly be at Bumbershoot for my performance, dancing and singing along, much less self-conscious than the man onstage. That’s how you should live when you are young.
Worst
I should have taken my shirt off more often when I was young, too self-conscious to go naked in the sun—I should have been skinny-dipping in public places, with reckless abandon, pausing only to enjoy the looks on their faces! That’s how you should live when you are young.
Ayron Jones
Ayron Jones & The Way plays Sunday at noon on the Starbucks Stage.
Best
Putting aside my ego and admitting that I couldn’t succeed without help. Once I did that, I was able to find the people I need to help push towards the same goal.
Worst
Working jobs that took me away from my passion and slowed the growth of my career and my craft. When I quit working a regular job, yes, it was hard, but it got much easier when I started to treat my art like I treated my job. Now I’m a businessman and an artist. Once you have those two things, no one can tell you what you are worth.
Lincoln Barr (Red Jacket Mine)
Red Jacket Mine plays Monday at 1:30 p.m. on the Plaza Stage.
Best
Exposing myself to failure. Whether it’s marrying my wife or sharing my music with key allies like Christian from Fin Records or our producer Johnny Sangster, the most fruitful partnerships in my life could’ve just as easily ended in rejection. Boy, would that have been a drag! To wit: Answering Red Jacket Mine’s “frontman wanted” ad on Craigslist has to be the best decision I’ve ever made. They had the songs, the babes, and best of all, wads of cash! Life’s been gravy ever since.
Worst
Purchasing a copy of Quickbooks and convincing myself it had anything at all to do with being in a rock band.
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso plays Saturday at 1:15 p.m. on the TuneIn Stage.
Best
To put that condom on! All the women I’ve been with . . . But the best decision with my music career was to make music that I wanted to hear instead of making music that I thought other people wanted to hear.
Worst
To take that condom off! But musically? I haven’t really made a bad decision with music that I can think of. Worst decision I ever made? Jeez, I don’t know, man. Oh, I got it: bringing sand to the beach, meaning bringing chicks to the club. That’s it.
