Pitchfork

Welcome to the latest edition of Pitchfork's Guest List. Each week, we ask one of our favorite artists to fill us in on what they've been up to lately: which tracks they can't stop spinning, what books they can't put down, and what new bands they've caught on tour. This week it's M. Ward, who tells us about a refreshing Chinese tea that's becoming all the rage, reminisces about playing video games with former tourmates My Morning Jacket, and talks about his favorite Chicago venue and radio show.

>> Favorite Songs of the Past Year

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Phenonmena"

Ry Cooder: "Chinito Chinito"
Ry Cooder used to play with Captain Beefheart.

Port O'Brien: "I Woke Up Today"

>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment

Wanda Jackson: "Don'a Wan'a"

Howlin' Wolf: "Little Baby"

Ennio Morricone: A Fistful of Dollars soundtrack

The Everly Brothers: "Let It Be Me"

Anita O'Day: "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine"

>> Favorite New Band

Port O'Brien
They are from San Francisco. I got to see them at the Make-Out Room about two weeks ago, and the energy was there, and the songs were there... two really simple things that you don't get very often.

>> Favorite Song Ever

The song that I've probably always loved the most is "Amazing Grace".

>> Best Recent Concert

San Francisco Symphony
I saw the San Francisco Symphony do a Mozart and Stravinsky performance. It was Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Stravinsky's Orpheus. That is the best concert I've seen in many, many months. It was a moving experience, to say the least.

>> Last Great Film I Saw

I like anything by Pedro Almodóvar. I'm sort of a sucker for his films. I like films that make you feel that you are in a dream, and he does that very well.

>> Last Great Book I Read

I've read some not so great books lately but the best one has been The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway. I recommend that one to anyone that likes good stories.

>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment

Tascam 4-Track
I've had it since I was sixteen. I bought it my junior year of high school. I still use it all the time. It's how every song starts out for me; it just became part of my normal writing process. That got me into production at a really early age.

>> Favorite Record Store

Streetlight Records, San Jose, California
The last thing I got there was a Howlin' Wolf CD.

>> Best Purchase of the Past Year

My tour manager turned me on to this drink called Kombucha. It's an energy drink that is basically Chinese tea that has active enzymes in it. It's basically fermented tea. I'm seeing it everywhere now. It's an acquired taste, but they tell me it rejuvenates, restores, revitalizes and replenishes.

>> Best Thing I Did This Year

I gave myself a holiday in Australia. That was amazing. I was working there about two weeks and then had a week where I was able to relax in Sydney.

>> Favorite Music Venue

Park West, Chicago
At the moment I would have to say Park West in Chicago. Getting to share a stage with Freakwater was just pure joy for me.

>> Favorite TV Show at the Moment

I don't really watch television. I only see it in hotel rooms, so right now I guess it would be The Weather Channel.

>> Favorite Video Game at the Moment

The last time I recorded with My Morning Jacket they got me into old ice hockey games for Nintendo. Those are my favorite.

>> Favorite Radio Show

Eclectic Company, WXRT
The first one that comes to mind is Eclectic Company on WXRT in Chicago. Great format, great radio station.

>> My Ringtone

Right now it is really boring beats. I don't know how to make it any fancier.