Time to dust off LAN for a little summer mix narrative. You ready? Ready for summer?
Cheers to a safe Memorial Day weekend. Let’s not forget, remember the fallen. Have a drink. Watch baseball. Eat copious amounts of seared dead animals. It’s sacrifice before us that allow us our freedoms.
Now to the mix.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend helped me put together about 12 tracks that became the foundation of the mix. George felt we should target a tribute to the summer music festival. The idea is kind of a throwback to an earlier mix years ago, another all-live album featuring my favorites on tour coming to a town near you this summer (with a heavy dose of southern summer music festivals).
However, what emerged from the evening with Mr. Dickel was more of a mix of subliminal reflection. I think my deeper mind was talking to me that night, influencing the selections. Maybe this combination – maybe – is an apology to all the lost loves, a middle finger to the ones that need the clue fairy, acknowledgment of the good times, and a dream of the one true love to come home.
Yea, sappy. It’s like a teenage summer.
Here’s the mix for the summer of 2017, the “Trip It” mix.
- Widespread Panic, “Can’t Get High.” From Nashville, 2015. One of the best song openers of any show I’ve seen in the past ten years. I still get chills.
- Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, “Burn One Down.” This song is a “free flag” song of the 21st century, I think.
- Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, “Wasting Time.” Love this, “hey yeah!” Summer is here.
- St. Paul & the Broken Bones, “Call Me.” Hailing from Birmingham, AL – this guy can sing!
- Paul Simon, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Originally had a Galatic cover in this slot but George’s 17-year-old brother told me I had to go with the original. Can’t argue with age.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Dani California.” This is a great road trip song, starting in Mississippi of course.
- Greensky Bluegrass, “Windshield.” Saw these guys at Beale Street Music Fest just weeks ago – blew me away. Check ’em out if you can.
- Kings of Leon, “Wait for Me.” Growing a great appreciation for this band, from? Yep, Nashville, Tennessee.
- Pearl Jam, “Better Man.” Kind of thinking I should have seen Pearl Jam on last summer’s tour. Won’t miss the next chance.
- Dave Matthews Band, “Cornbread.” I’m missing DMB this summer (they took the year off). I had to add my favorite from 2008’s St. Louis show in Busch Stadium (good times).
- City and Colour, “Lover Come Back.” I can feel the warm sun on my forehead as I drive a lazy Tennessee road on my way to wherever I feel like going.
- Gov’t Mule, “Have a Cigar.” Life is short. Have a cigar.
- Cage the Elephant, “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked.” Why not? There ain’t no rest for us workin’ folk. New job and all. You know what I’m talkin’ ’bout!
- Bush, “Glycerine.” Gwen Stefani graces us with her presence this year. Dude, a Tennessee kid from Knoxville, won the Voice!
- Jimmy Eat World, “23.” Great rhythm tune and now on tour.
- Yellowcard, “Always Summer.” A regular on my workout mix, Yellowcard brings this down as an acoustic version.
- Phoenix, “1901.” Another “do it like we did it that summer” song.
- Judah & the Lion, “Take It All Back 2.0.” Believe it or not, these kids are from Cookeville, TN. Talk about tripping back in time?! Great tune!
- Drive-By Truckers, “Women Without Whiskey.” Sometimes we men need to pick the whiskey over the womens.
- Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Alabama Pines.” Alabama is calling: Gulf Coast breezes, hickory smoke, fresh cut hay, the sounds of whipper wills.
- Tedeschi Trucks Band, “Don’t Drift Away.” Can’t resist a soulful song from my favorite band of the moment.
- U2, “With or Without You.” On tour, this summer, playing Bonnaroo.
You can listen to the mix in it’s entirely at Mixcloud. The mix as in iTunes is below.
Enjoy your summer!
