Vermont
Rudy Vallee
All-Time Best Band: Phish
All-Time Best Solo Artist: Rudy Vallee
Best New Act: Yvel
Ah, PHISH, where does one begin? Does one note that even earnest, sweet-natured music critics would be hard-pressed to name a Phish song, despite their mega-popularity? Or does one point out that the band’s musical jester was a guy called “The Dude of Life”? How about simply noting that these ichthyologists were the undisputed leaders of the jam-band movement, and for that alone they take the Vermont state title. (They also get their own Ben & Jerry’s flavor — eat it, Bela & the Flecktones!) | Hard to beat the swinger street cred of Island Pond–born flapper-era star RUDY VALLEE, who influenced multiple members of the motherfrickin’ Rat Pack, for God’s sake. He also was the first singer to deliver his vocals through a megaphone, a move later copped by scores of lame rappers and metalheads. | Brooklyn-based but Vermont-born poet/evil balladeer YVEL sounds at times like Leonard Cohen, and at others like a male Nico. In fact, you could call him a man-teuse. However one describes him, we cannot get lush, orchestrated (and hilarious) gems like “Burn Like Fire” out of our heads — and why would we want to?
Video: Phish
Listen: Phish, "Taste"
Listen: Rudy Vallee, "As Time Goes By"
Listen: Yvel, "Painted Red"
