Taste in Music - by Luke Pyenson & Alex Bleeker (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this striking and thoughtful anthology, musicians Luke Pyenson (Real Estate) and Alex Bleeker (Frankie Cosmos) take readers on tour with a diverse lineup of inspiring indie musicians from around the world, sharing meals and travel experiences, peeking behind the curtain at this singular and singularly misunderstood way of life. Through original essays and engaging conversations with dozens of indie musicians representing several subgenres, scenes, and eras, food takes center stage in stories about being on tour and eating on tour, and how this basic human necessity can create a sense of community and interconnectedness in one of the most mobile industries in the world. Luke Pyenson and Alex Bleeker two inquisitive, well traveled indie rock musicians with backgrounds in food journalism, anthropology, and the hospitality industry-are your guides. Essays and conversations are based broadly on the subject of eating on tour, and while each spins off into their own focused and exciting behind the scenes story, all confirm what Pyenson and Bleeker suspected all along-food looms large in the lives of touring musicians, and it can be used as a gateway into understanding what going on tour is really like"--

Book Synopsis

A Pitchfork Best Book of 2024
A Saveur Best Narrative Food Book of 2024

In this unique and deeply thoughtful collection, musician Alex Bleeker (Real Estate) and food and travel journalist Luke Pyenson (formerly of Frankie Cosmos) take readers on tour with a diverse lineup of inspiring indie musicians from around the world, sharing meals and travel experiences, peeking behind the curtain at this singular and singularly misunderstood way of life.

Through original essays and engaging conversations with dozens of indie musicians representing several subgenres, scenes, and eras, food takes center stage in stories about being on tour and eating on tour and how this basic human necessity can create a sense of community and interconnectedness in one of the most mobile industries in the world. Based broadly on the subject of eating on tour, these entries each spin off into their own focused and exciting behind-the-scenes story, but all confirm what Pyenson and Bleeker suspected all along--food looms large in the lives of touring musicians, and it can be used as a gateway into understanding what going on tour is really like.

Featured contributors include:

• Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes)
• Chris Frantz (Talking Heads)
• Natalie Mering (Weyes Blood)
• Mark Ibold (Pavement)
• John Gourley (Portugal. The Man)
• Lily Chait (touring chef to boygenius and Phoebe Bridgers)
• Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso)
• Greta Kline (Frankie Cosmos)
• Devendra Banhart
• Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü)
• Brian "Geologist" Weitz (Animal Collective)
• Dawn Richard
• Sasami Ashworth (SASAMI)
• Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz)
• The Beths

In addition to wide-angle meditations about eating on tour, Pyenson and Bleeker have gathered stories that take place on five continents, in private homes and street-side stalls, in temples of fine dining and in actual temples, backstage and in the van, early morning and late at night. Stories that deal with the best parts of touring: meaningful cultural exchange, hospitality-induced euphoria, and the opportunity to build relationships around the world. And the worst: loneliness, exhaustion, estrangement from family and friends, struggles with disordered eating, and unsteady access to medical care.

So the question isn't, "How was tour?" It's, "What do you eat on tour?" Like the best songs or meals, these conversations and essays evoke something central about the human experience. They show us all the ways that music and food bring us together, break us down, lift us up, and add color to our lives.

NOTABLE AUTHORS: With over twenty years of experience in the music industry, Alex Bleeker and Luke Pyenson are your perfect guides into the world of touring. Having toured with their own bands--Real Estate and Frankie Cosmos, respectively--they're asking all the right questions, shedding light and understanding on the lives of touring musicians and the people feeding them.

FOOD ANTHOLOGY & MUSIC SCENE DEEP CUT: With interviews and essays from about forty different musicians, chefs, and promoters--ranging from Chris Frantz from Talking Heads to boygenius's private chef Lily Chait--not only is this book a treasure trove of knowledge and insider information, it also offers something for foodies and music enthusiasts alike.

ARMCHAIR TRAVEL: Go behind the curtain all around the world, from America to Russia, Japan to Italy, and dozens of places in between. Read about your favorite musicians' experiences abroad, all from the comfort of your home.

Perfect for:

• Musicians and fans of indie music
• Foodies, chefs, restaurant owners, and home cooks
• Anyone interested in the music business
• Travel enthusiasts
• Readers who enjoyed Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad, and Mixtape Potluck Cookbook by Questlove

Review Quotes

"[Alex Bleeker and Luke Pyenson have] assembled a murderer's row of contributors to help tell stories, ranging from Robin Pecknold to Dawn Richard. The stories cover the highs and lows of a life on the road, from the people who know about it best." --Uproxx Holiday Gift Guide

"A fantastic compendium of food-focused essays from some of the world's most beloved indie musicians." --Saveur.com

"A great gift for both the music nerds and the foodies in your life." --KCRW's Good Food's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

"When summarized, Taste in Music: Eating on Tour With Indie Musicians sounds pretty straightforward: a document of musicians' snacking habits on the road. Across its essays, though, some of the biggest artists in the indie world (Talking Heads' Chris Frantz, Pavement's Mark Ibold, Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold) and beloved acts on the smaller circuit (Frankie Cosmos' Greta Kline, the Beths, Sen Morimoto) use food as the entry point to tell some of the most entertaining and moving essays of the year."--Pitchfork

"The authors have assembled a vibrant cast of musicians, promoters, and chefs for this anthology about eating on tour. Their contributors write about the delights of British and Japanese rest stops, the dangers of harmless- looking backstage brownies, and the restorative power of a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner for a band on tour overseas... A quirky delight for indie rock aficionados."--Booklist

About the Author

Alex Bleeker is the bassist and co-founder of beloved indie rock band Real Estate and ascendant jam band Taper's Choice. During his decade-and-a-half career as a musician, he has released more than ten full-length albums and toured extensively on five continents. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bennington College and lives in coastal California with his partner, Leanne.

Luke Pyenson is a food and travel journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Saveur, and other publications. He was the longtime drummer of the critically acclaimed indie rock band Frankie Cosmos and founding drummer of cult DIY band Krill. He holds an MA in the Anthropology of Travel, Tourism, and Pilgrimage from SOAS, University of London, and lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Lauren.