The JamBase List | 10 Biggest Surprises Of 2014
By Team JamBase Dec 17, 2014 • 12:00 pm PST
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of ten big surprises that came our way over the past 12 months in no particular order. We avoided deaths in this particular list. Let’s dig in…
1. The Allman Brothers Band Call It A Career After 45 Years
An insane year for The Allman Brothers Band started on Jam Cruise in January, where drummer Butch Trucks revealed to Music Masters Camp students, including JamBase contributor Andrew Bruss, that Derek Trucks would soon be the leaving the group. When we asked the band’s reps for comment, Warren Haynes used the opportunity to join Derek in leaving the Allmans. Over the next few months it was unclear whether the group would continue with Derek and Warren, but eventually the founding members decided to call it a career with a run of shows at NYC’s Beacon Theatre in October. Thankfully, The Allman Brothers Band went out on a high note with a masterful three-set performance.
2. STS9 Parts Ways With Bassist David “Murph” Murphy
Another huge surprise came our way in January, when STS9 announced the departure of Murph. The bassist was such a vital part to Tribe’s sound it was hard to imagine how they’d continue without him, but STS9 wound up having a strong year with new bassist Alana Rocklin. Meanwhile, we expect big things in 2015 from Murph’s Seven Arrows project.
3. Bob Dylan & The Band Complete Basement Tapes Released
Seemingly out of nowhere, Legacy Records announced the release of the Complete Basement Tapes featuring Bob Dylan backed by The Band including dozens of tracks that weren’t thought to have existed before the August announcement. The most famously bootlegged recordings of all-time finally got an authoritative release which was so good it topped our list of the 10 best archival releases of 2014.
4. Phish Puts Original Spin On Disney Album For Halloween
For the second year in a row, Phish kept what they had planned for the second set of their Halloween show a secret until doors opened and Playbills were handed to fans. The Playbills revealed Phish would be covering a 1964 Disney album of sound effects – Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House. However, the Vermonters added their own original twist to Chilling, Thrilling which made for one of the most impressive performances in the band’s 31-year history. It was hard to find a Phish fan who wasn’t happy with what the quartet laid down in Vegas on Halloween and that says a lot considering the persnickety nature of the band’s followers.
5. Yonder Mountain String Band Parts Ways With Jeff Austin
Back in April, Yonder Mountain String Band announced the departure of co-founding member Jeff Austin. The band continued on in 2014 with the help of special guests including Allie Kral and Jake Jolliff. There’s still been no official announcement on just who will join the trio on a full-time basis. As for Austin, he’s spent time on the road with his eponymous band and will soon release his debut solo album.
6. Bob Weir Cancels Six Months Worth Of Tour Dates
Early in the morning of August 10 rumors began to circulate that Bob Weir had cancelled ALL of his upcoming tour dates and later that afternoon Bobby’s camp issued a statement doing just that. There’s still no official word on what led to the surprise decision other than “circumstances.” Weir has still not performed publicly since with the exception of the Grateful Dead guitarist singing the National Anthem with Phil Lesh and Tim Flannery before a Giants playoff game. Bobby’s cancellations left Peach, Lockn’ and Phases Of The Moon organizers without a headliner and each festival came up with a different way to replace Weir & RatDog on its lineup.
7. The Who Bust Out A Quick One… After 44 Years
The biggest bust out of 2014 came from The Who, who performed “A Quick One, While He’s Away” at their U.K. tour opener late last month. They not only played the multi-faceted composition, they nailed it.
8. Todd Nance Sits Out Widespread Panic Fall Tour
A few days before Widespread Panic headed out on Fall Tour, the band made the shocking revelation that drummer Todd Nance would miss the tour due to “personal matters.” The other DTrucks, Duane Trucks, filled in admirably for Nance and won himself many new fans over the course of the tour. There’s still no official word whether Nance will be behind the kit for Panic’s upcoming New Year’s performances.
9. My Morning Jacket Reveals They Will Release Two New Albums
2014 had been the quietest year in My Morning Jacket history, but that will soon change as Rolling Stone broke the news that MMJ will not only release a new album in 2015 but they’ll follow it up with a second new album in 2016. Album #1 is due in April.
10. Pink Floyd Releases First New Album In Twenty Years
While we were enjoying family time around the barbecue on July 4th, word came out that Pink Floyd would soon release a new album. The resulting album, The Endless River, consisted mainly ambient and instrumental music based on the 1993/4 Division Bell sessions and had that trademark Floyd sound we know and love. David Gilmour says there’s nothing left for Pink Floyd, but one thing we’ve learned in 2014 is that you never know.
