Monday Mixtape, Vol. 172 - A Declaration of Celebration and Relief

This is a special Monday Mixtape, and I hope you can rejoice with me in the news that we have a new leader, president-elect.

So it’s only appropriate that we start the mixtape with Queen’s anthem, the same song that blared through all of DC when the Washington Capitals hoisted their first Stanley Cup as they paraded around the city in ecstasy. As much of a Caps fan as I am, our recent election results is probably a bigger deal.

While these mixtapes usually feature new music, exceptions must be made. Queen is one of them. Bill Withers another, Hall & Oates for sure, Radiohead a must.

Foo Fighters is another. They were the musical guest on SNL this past weekend, and appropriately they closed the show with “Times Like These,” an acknowledgement of times like these when we can learn to live again, to give and give again, and it’s times like these you learn to love again. Somehow I hope there’s a middle ground that can be found. But it’s times like these where’s there’s at least hope.

And what a performance by the Foos.

Many of the other tracks are a feeling, a message, a declaration of celebration and relief.

Hallelujah.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 16

It is the week of San Francisco's music festival, Outside Lands, so I though it'd be appropriate to throw some of the songs I am MOST excited to see live. As the link above proves, there's a lot of acts coming through this weekend ranging all sorts of genres as this playlist would suggest. I also made an Outside Lands Playlist if you need a warmup playlist to get accompanied to all the great bands!

I imagine you could guess which act I am most excited to see: Tame Impala. This will be a very cool show because they haven't performed many times since their new album was released a few weeks ago. "The Less I Know the Better" is another great track from an album I'm loved and wrote about at length.

It will be interesting to see Kendrick Lamar. I saw him at Austin City Limits two years ago and was left underwhelmed. But two years is a long time for a young performer to hone his craft. If his performance from the BET Awards is any indication, he may put on a great show. "Fuck Your Ethnicity" is my favorite Kendrick track. Would LOVE to hear this.

For a couple years I have tried to see St. Paul and the Broken Bones because of their sound and reputation as a great live band. Even though they have an early slot on Sunday (1:40), I can't miss them! "I'm Torn Up" showcases their great tempos and the striking and powerful voice of Paul Janeway.

I've listened to Mumford & Sons new album a number of times now. I still can't really get behind it. All of the songs sounds pretty similar and are watered-down versions of Coldplay at their best (around A Rush of Blood to the Head). I mean "Believe" is the same song as "Fix You," though you could argue "Fix You" is just a rip off of U2... That being said, I still hold hope that they can put on a great festival show. They make drinking songs that people want to scream out at the top of their lungs, and I'm hoping they give the crowd what they want. 

D'Angelo is a genius recluse who hadn't made an album in something like 15 years, so it's damn important to see a guy like this when you have a change. 

My vote for best dance party is split between Hot Chip and Classixx. I'm hoping Classixx gets the crowd amped, and if "All You're Waiting For" is any indication, I'll be jumping around for the majority of the set. They have a fun, frenetic sound. 

ELTON JOHN. I have no idea what to expect. But someone who can slay the piano will win the hearts of many. Couple that with the fact that it's Elton John, I think it's safe to say that it will be a memorable way to close out the weekend!