Eric Hutchinson's 7 Favorite Things

August 2010

OPEN: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY - by Andre Agassi now in paperback. It's AMAZING. Literally changed my life this year.
CRISPIX CEREAL WITH FRESH PEACHES - Directions- Buy some peaches, add them to the Crispix. Enjoy life!
TOY STORY 3 - Inception had more buzz but I still think this Pixar gem is the movie to beat this summer.
DUSTIN PEDROIA - The Red Sox 2nd Baseman returns from a broken foot. He is the model of reliability and hard work.
LONDON - Spent a month living there recording my new album. Easy to get around, lots of beer and fun accents!
BETWEEN 2 FERNS - Are these the funniest videos on the internet? Quite possibly. http://tinyurl.com/64ansm
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Have you listened to them lately? Unbelievable. So ahead of their time. Bob ya head.
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May 2010

SYDNEY, AUS - I had a lot more free time, for my recent return to Sydney and it really helped! I got to walk down by The Rocks, take a ferry to Manly Beach and eat some amazing food. Oh, and I also had a GREAT show opening for Kelly Clarkson.
QANTAS AIRLINES - I wasn't doing much flying in the 1960's, what with not being born and all, but Qantas is what I imagine airlines were like back then. Top-grade service, free food and wine on every flight (no matter the length of the trip) and friendly staff.
"IT'S COMPLICATED" - I know I already listed this movie a few months back, but I happened to catch it twice on some Qantas flights. It's so good! I don't know why I'm loving this movie about a divorced 50-something mom but maybe it has something to do with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. I can't wait to watch it during a TNT Rom-Com marathon!
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" - I was raised watching this show and it's been really great this season. Betty White was an inspired choice for host and the musical guests have been interesting and diverse. Hope I get to play it one of these days!
JUICE - Fresh squeezed and not from concentrate. It seems like more and more restaurants have it these days and since I don't drink coffee the juice really does give me a mid-day pick me up. If you're ever in New York City, make sure you check out Liquiteria. It's the best juice you'll ever have!
GOGO INFLIGHT WI-FI - As much as I already spend too much time on the internet, having wifi on a plane sure is a great way to be semi-productive during a flight (or totally waste 4 hours).
"LOVE & WAR" BY DANIEL MERRIWEATHER - If you're a fan of Amy Winehouse or Adele, you'll probably like this Aussie soul singer. It's got a cool sound and the songs really ended up growing on me.
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April 2010

"THE ORIGINAL MAGIC BULLET" INFOMERCIAL - Man, do I love catching this cheesy infomercial late at night as I'm falling asleep. It's got the standard kitchen set-up we've seen before, only this time there is no amazed studio audience. Instead, there is a couple who have invited their "friends" over to watch them show off their "culinary" skills. Look for it on YouTube. Truly stupid and truly hilarious.
"30 ROCK" - Is it just me or has this funny show gotten funnier this season?
PRETZELS - What a great snack tradition! Whether they're the soft variety at a baseball game or the tiny crappy ones they give you on a flight these days, they're still better than eating a bag of potato chips.
"JAMIE OLIVER'S FOOD REVOLUTION" - A truly inspiring reality show. British Chef Oliver has come to America to educate Huntington, WV and the rest of the country about eating right and cooking healthy. A show about how one person can be the push that creates a domino effect for change in a community. Trust, me, watch it!
JACKSON, MS - Recently made my second trip to this charming town. Plenty of character, lots of southern hospitality and crawfish boils aplenty!
"LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS" by Louis Prima & Keely Smith - This album was recorded at the Sahara Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during the mid-1950's. Louis and Keely were amazing musicians and entertainers who would do this show up to FIVE time a night! If your Frank Sinatra records are a little stale lately, give this disc a spin.
BASEBALL - It's always hard to tell: Do I love Spring because Baseball begins or vice versa?
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March 2010

JACKSON, WY - The most beautiful place I've been to in a long time. I started by enjoying the awesome, charming little town square and having a great meal. Then, 20 minutes later I was out in the Teton National Park, snowshoe hiking in the middle of a barren winter wilderness. Truly breathtaking.
"NEXT TO NORMAL" - I saw this musical on Broadway and was really taken by it's heart and sincerity. If you don't like musicals, this one isn't likely to change your mind, but I loved it and it's stayed with me weeks after seeing the show.
"BROKEN BELLS" by Broken Bells - This is the debut album by Dangermouse and James Mercer from the Shins. It's indie-rock hip-hop with enough quirky melody hooks to keep you guessing throughout. A cool listen.
PICKLES - Delicious!
LEONARDO DICAPRIO - Have you seen "Shutter Island"? The man doesn't make bad movies! From "Catch Me If You Can" to "The Aviator" to "The Departed", Leo is constantly making interesting choices that keep me coming back to the theater. He's easy on the eyes, too!
"FOOD, INC" - This movie didn't win the "Best Documentary" Oscar but I still recommend it. A stunning look at how food gets from the farm (or
factory) to our plates. You won't look at your meal the same way again.
SPRING TRAINING - There's something great about seeing the baseball players (and fans, managers, agents, reporters, etc.) emerge from Winter to usher in the beginning of Spring. Can't wait for the new season to start!
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February 2010

"OPEN" by Andre Agassi - A funny, exciting and very human memoir by one of tennis' greats. It's fascinating to read about a man who had everything he ever wanted and still couldn't figure out who he was or how to be satisfied. Don't worry, it has a happy ending though.
AZIZ ANSARI - I went to see this stand-up comic recently and he's hilarious. I describe him as Chris Rock meets Mitch Hedberg and he's got a gift for ranting about the absurdities of everyday life in 2010.
Check out his new comedy special and DVD.
SHOWERS - In these cold winter months, sometimes a hot shower is all it takes to get the day off on the right foot. Or to turn a bad day around.
"AT THE COPA" by Sam Cooke - Soul-singer Sam Cooke has one of the purest, most inspiring voices I've ever heard. This is a special live set from 1964. He makes the songs feel effortless and unique and it's amazing to hear him in his element during a show. Highly recommended.
"THE ROOM" - This ultra-dramatic film from 2003 is quite possibly the worst movie ever made but also one of the best movie-watching experiences I've ever had. It has super-low production values and makes no sense but will have you laughing the entire time. Organize a home viewing with your friends, or go to one of the worldwide monthly theater screenings in your town.
NEW YORK CITY - With all my traveling, I don't get to spend nearly enough time in the city I actually call my home. What I love most about this town is no matter what I feel like doing, it's all possible on any given night. Obscure museum? Live bluegrass music? Malaysian food? Butcher class? Check, check, check and check.
THE WINTER OLYMPICS - There's something truly amazing about watching an athlete compete in a sport he has devoted his entire life to, and I've never even heard of.
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JANUARY 2010

"CONTRA" by Vampire Weekend - Officially my favorite band of the last few years. Vampire Weekend's sophomore release is a worthy and exciting follow up to their first disc and I'll continue spreading the gospel on these preppy art punks. They join an elite list for me including Kanye West, Fiona Apple and Feist where I will buy a new album unheard and know I'll love it. Thank you Vampire Weekend for keeping me excited about music!
"IT'S COMPLICATED" - It would be much cooler to say my favorite movie from the big holiday season was "Avatar" or "Up In The Air" but this "romcom" for 50 year old women appealed to me for some reason. Meryl Streep exudes life, Alec Baldwin is hilarious and Steve Martin has never been more charming. The movie's set in Santa Barbara and in the middle of a cold winter's day staring at the amazing landscape for 2 hours feels pretty great to me.
MERYL STREEP - First I loved "Julie & Julia", then I loved "It's Complicated" and suddenly I'm seeing Meryl Streep in a whole new light. An ageless class act who defines what movie stars should be like. When are Meryl and my other Hollywood crush, George Clooney going to make a movie together? They could read the phonebook to each other for 2 hours on camera and it would sweep the Golden Globes!
CHEESE - Give me a loaf of bread, some Gouda, Mozzerella and Manchego. Then repeat.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - I was born and raised in DC but don't get to spend much time there now that I live in New York. While I was home in DC for the holidays, I took advantage and went to some of the museums, walked the city and stayed out late soaking in the amazing melting pot that IS our Nation's Capital.
"EMPIRE STATE OF MIND" by Jay-Z - Every now and then you hear a song for the first time and feel like you've known it your whole life. That it must have always existed. "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones and "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley come to mind. This Jay-Z and Alicia Keys jam was the song of 2009 for me. It can already start a party anywhere you go and I have a feeling it will sound just as good in 2019.
TOASTS - I'm not talking about heating up bread here. One of my new year's resolutions was to celebrate life more and not take anything for granted. What better way to stay thankful than to raise a glass with friends and family and say something real for a minute? Then we can get back to talking about TV and US Weekly.
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DECEMBER

"A CIVIL ACTION" by Jonathan Harr - I read this fascinating courtroom drama during a stretch of really long drives on tour and it made the time fly by. Meticulously researched and documented, this book is nonfiction but reads like a novel. It's the true story of a Boston lawyer that puts everything on the line to win a case. Beautifully painted characters and terrific attention to detail.
"A TALE OF TWO CITIES" by Mr. Hudson & The Library - checked out this album after reading that Kanye West was a big fan and I loved it instantly. Mr. Hudson sounds kind of like a hip hop David Bowie. He's got fresh songs and unique, quirky production that sounds both classic and modern. The album was never officially released in America, but you can buy it on iTunes.
YOGA - I've resisted trying yoga for a long time. I think I was intimidated by the peaceful one-ness that yoga enthusiasts always seem to exhibit. So it pains me to admit that the 15 minutes after yoga are easily the best I feel all day. I'm sooooo zen-ful.
LATE NIGHT TV WATCHING - I generally don't watch TV during the day, but I love crawling into bed after a long day and grabbing the remote. I spend 5 minutes finding the perfect thing to watch, knowing I'll be asleep by minute six. Old movies, strange infomercials, music video countdowns, rare biography specials about interesting people. Why do they save all the cool TV for when everyone's asleep?
"FUNNY FARM" - The holy grail of late night TV channel surfing is this terrible 80's comedy starring Chevy Chase. I caught it on TV once and I've been trying to find it ever since. I tried renting it on DVD but it just wasn't the same. It needs to be stumbled upon, discovered by accident. I'm not even sure I like the movie all that much. I don't remember laughing at it once, but it would be great to fall asleep to.
FRENCH FRIES - I can't ever imagine getting tired of eating french fries. And I'm not sure that's a good thing.
VICTORIA, BC - This remote Canadian town felt like walking around in a dream. It seemed at times both terribly empty and yet bustling with people everywhere I looked. The band and I caught a ferry from Vancouver and watched the Canadian landscape sail by as we pulled into the dock. I spent the day walking around in the rain, stopping at a tiny organic cafe for lunch, sitting in a serene coffee shop, discovering tiny alleys with strange little shops. When I finally got to the venue that night for our show, I was relaxed and inspired. Thank you Victoria.
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NOVEMBER

"A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS" by Vince Guaraldi - With the holiday season just around the corner, it's never too early to pull out this awesome jazz soundtrack to the classic Peanuts TV special. The music has a classic, nostalgic feel to it, but still manages to sound fresher every year I listen to it. Here's a gentle suggestion to make it the soundtrack to your November and December of 2009!
CHOLULA HOT SAUCE - With all due respect to Tabasco, Cholula is my preferred brand of hot sauce. It's got a smoky, tangy quality that brings out the flavor of the food in a way that I love.
PORTLAND, ME - Had a nice weekend here recently while we were kicking off my tour with Kelly Clarkson. Portland is a fun small town with plenty to eat and drink yourself silly. And lots of interesting streets to walk it off afterwards.
"DAVE" - One of my favorite movies of all-time. Kevin Kline plays a presidential look-a-like who takes over the oval office duties. It's got a major re-watchability factor and I never get tired of the jokes.
If you're channel surfing and happen to see it, why not stay a while longer?
MASSAGES - Massages are like pizza; Even when they're bad, they're still pretty good. I could have a 5 hour massage and it would still feel like it ended too early!
"TOP CHEF" SEASON 6 - I always love this reality cooking competition and Season 6 in Vegas has been no exception. The food still looks great and I want to thank Bravo for continuing to make a reality show about people who actually have some kind of talent!
RAINY SATURDAY NIGHTS - Sometimes it's just fun to trudge out into a rainy, busy Saturday night and still have to get where you need to go. There's something special about seeing everyone's best laid plans going horribly wrong. It gives the night an air of fun and makes it feel like a special occasion.
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OCTOBER

PEPPERMINT PATTIES - In a whirlwind of gas station rest stops and post-show candy cravings, eating this dark chocolate mint is my only hope. Small, refreshing and no nougat.
SEATTLE, WA - There's something to be said for a city that gives you exactly what you want it from it. I showed up in Seattle wanting an overcast, melancholy day of light rain and I got it. Beautiful.
"ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS" - In the list of all-time best jobs, I think Anthony Bourdain's might just rank #1. He's a TV show host who gets to travel the world, being taken to the best and most interesting restaurants. He's served the freshest, most authentic food and drinks like there's no tomorrow. Where I'm from, we call that a paid vacation.
SOAP BARS - Staying in as many hotels as I do, I've come to appreciate a good bar of soap. There's a simple pleasure in unwrapping a sample-sized soap at the hotel bathroom sink and finding the fresh fragrance of lavender on my hands for the rest of the day. That, or I'm just finally losing my mind.
KALE - I'm hoping to do for kale what Popeye did for spinach. Kale is also a leafy green that's good for you, but a little chewier and with a bolder flavor. Sauté it up and it makes a great side dish at any meal. Plus, you don't have to eat it out of a can like Popeye's spinach.
MOVIE THEATERS - DVD's are all well and good, but there's no movie viewing experience like going TO the movies. I love sneaking away from tour for a few hours to blend into a dark theater and be engulfed in another world.
"INGLORIOUS BASTERDS" - One recent trip to the cinema was to see Quentin Tarantino's newest movie about Nazi-occupied France during World War II and I loved it. It's rich with quirky characters, crisp dialogue and quick action. I always know I loved a movie when days later the scenes are still hanging around in my head like a beautiful photograph or a night with an old friend. Check out this film while it's still on the big screen.
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SEPTEMBER

ICHIRO SUZUKI - This Japanese-imported baseball player on the Seattle Mariners is all I seem to talk about these days. He's on the verge of setting a Major League record for the most consecutive seasons with 200 hits.That's 9 straight seasons of getting the job DONE. At a time when steroids have muddied the home runs records, it's nice to see a guy who doesn't need the long ball to take care of business. Hit on, Ichiro!
WASHING DISHES - When I get off the road I like to go into domesticated mode and nothing's more domestic than washing dishes. I love letting someone else cook in exchange for me hitting the pots and pans afterwards. Put on some good music, give me some rubber gloves and it's a strangely therapeutic way for me to spend 30 minutes.
"THE VERY BEST OF SOLOMON BURKE" by Solomon Burke - A great example of dishwashing music. This underrated R&B legend from the 1960's belts his soul power with a raw conviction you won't hear from most singers today. If you've worn out your Otis Redding and Sam Cooke albums, this is a great next step. (And if you don't know much about those 2 guys either, buy some of their music too!)
"JULIE & JULIA" - I loved this double biopic about chef Julia Child and writer Julie Powell. Its a funny, touching and inspiring story about amazing food, the women who aspired to cook it and the men who ate it.
CHARLESTON, SC - No matter how long I stay in Charleston it always feels like I'm leaving too early. A class act city with history and southern charm to spare, I can feel the energy just by walking the downtown cobblestone streets. Had a great show there recently and hope to be back soon!
JAY LENO - With his new primetime tv show coming up, Leno has been giving some unusually candid interviews lately. Check out his Q&A with GQ Magazine or his conversation with Tavis Smiley. It's fascinating to hear a seasoned comic explain how he's managed to excel in show business while keeping his feet on the ground and his head above water.

INDIAN SUMMERS
- Where did Summer go? It feels like just yesterday I was playing a show in May and looking forward to a season of warm weather. Now, here it is after Labor Day and all I have to show for June, July and August is a few days at the beach and a quickly evaporating semi-tan. I won't mind if you hang on for just a FEW more days this year, Summer.
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