“Is Chicago, Is not Chicago”, Soul Coughing

 This way: Is Chicago, Is not Chicago

Soul Coughing is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/guitarist Mike Doughty (also known as M. Doughty), keyboardist/sampler Mark Degli Antoni, bassist Sebastian Steinberg, and drummer Yuval Gabay. They developed a devout fanbase and garnered largely positive response from critics. Steve Huey of AllMusic described the band as "One of the most unique cult bands of the '90s. Driven by frontman M. Doughty's stream-of-consciousness poetry, Soul Coughing's sound was a willfully idiosyncratic mix of improvisational jazz grooves, oddball samples, hip-hop, electronics, and noisy experimentalism". Doughty described the band's sound as "deep slacker jazz". The group broke up in 2000.

In June 2024, the group announced it would reunite for a United States tour in September and October of the same year. It made its first television appearance in decades on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. All four Soul Coughing members were regulars at The Knitting Factory, a New York City nightclub and performance venue that was part of the 1980s and 1990s experimental downtown scene. Doughty was a doorman known for his improvised comedic quasi-raps, while the others appeared at the Knitting Factory in various bands. Doughty, Degli Antoni, and Steinberg all performed in versions of John Zorn's composition Cobra, appearing on John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory (recorded 1992, released 1995). The four-piece performed for the first time as "M. Doughty's Soul Coughing" on June 15, 1992 at the Knitting Factory.

Within a year of its formation, the band was signed to Slash Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records. The group released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996) and El Oso (1998), with the latter showing a marked drum and bass influence. Irresistible Bliss and El Oso both reached the Billboard 200 albums chart. The band enjoyed minor hit singles with "Soundtrack to Mary" and "Super Bon Bon". 

 

[Spotify] Is Chicago, Is not Chicago 

[Charming Live] Is Chicago, Is not Chicago 

“Country Girl”, Greet Death

 This way: Country Girl

Greet Death is an American rock band from Flint, Michigan. Greet Death has released three full-length albums.

Greet Death released their first full-length album in 2017 titled Dixieland. The album was released through Flesh and Bone Records. The band was featured as one of Alternative Press's "10 up-and-coming artists from Detroit you need to know". In 2019, Greet Death released their second full-length album titled New Hell, also through Deathwish Inc. They released a new EP, New Low, on June 24, 2022. Their third full-length album, Die In Love, was released on June 27, 2025.  

 

[Spotify] Country Girl 

The Christmas songs 2025

The Christmas songs

I've been obsessed with Rock n Roll Christmas songs for over 40 years. I was a fiend for Holiday mix tapes back in those days. I still try to keep abreast of the latest and greatest. 
Below is a list of my alltime favorite top ten X-Mas songs. The River and Fairytale are really a tie at the top. Both are pure Christmas slieghers. And all below are included in my 2025 Christmas Playlist below.

“The River” Joni

“Fairytale of New York”    The Pogues

“Wishlist”    Pearl Jam

“Christmas in Prison” John Prine

“2000 Miles”    Pretenders

“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” Ramones

“Blue Christmas”    Drunken Boat

“A Surfers Christmas List” The Safaris

“Christmas Card from a Hooker In Minneapolis” Tom Waits

“Father Christmas” The Kinks

Over Seven Hours of pure X-Mas Joy:

[Spotify] Christmas 2025 

“The House that doesn't Exist”, Melody's Echo Chamber

This way: The House that doesn't Exist

Melody's Echo Chamber is the main project of French musician Melody Prochet. When Melody Prochet's previous project My Bee's Garden supported Tame Impala on their European tour in 2010, Prochet collaborated with Kevin Parker to produce her new solo material as Melody's Echo Chamber. The material was recorded in Parker's makeshift studio in Perth, Australia and Prochet's grandmother's seaside home in the south of France. The self-titled debut album was released under Fat Possum Records in 2012.

In 2013, the debut album peaked at 61 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart. Q Magazine rated the album 8/10, calling it an "intoxicating listen that's well worth experiencing for yourself." Drowned in Sound's Dom Gourlay awarded the album 9/10 and stated: "Whatever happens next, she can rest assured safe in the knowledge that together with her beau they've conjured up one of 2012's—or any other year in recent memory—finest debuts."

Melody's Echo Chamber released "Shirim" in October 2014, which was set to be featured in her next album. In December, it was announced that Melody's Echo Chamber would play at the 2015 Levitation Festival in Austin, Texas, but her appearance was later cancelled due to visa issues. 

 

[Spotify] The House that doesn't Exist 

“Heading for the Texas Border”, Flaming Groovies, RIP Danny Mihm, Drummer

This way: Heading for the Texas Border

Flamin' Groovies is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965, originally co-led by Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan. After the Groovies released three albums, on Epic (Supersnazz) and Kama Sutra (Flamingo and Teenage Head), Loney left the band in 1971. He was replaced as co-leader by Chris Wilson, and the band's emphasis shifted more toward British Invasion power pop. In addition to the band's role in the advancement of power pop, the Flamin' Groovies have also been called one of the forerunners of punk rock. 

The band signed to United Artists Records in 1972, releasing just three more singles until 1976. The Groovies then signed to Sire Records and released three albums between 1976 and 1979, Shake Some Action, Flamin' Groovies Now (both produced by Dave Edmunds at Rockfield Studios in Wales) and Jumpin' in the Night. The 1976 album's title track "Shake Some Action" (also released as a single) became a power pop anthem and is revered by many, including Greil Marcus in his book, The History of Rock and Roll in Ten Songs. Wilson left the band in 1981, and the band continued in various forms, including the release of three more albums, before breaking up in 1991. After a couple of limited reunions with different lineups, the 1970s nucleus of Jordan, Wilson, and Alexander reformed the group in 2013, and the band's first post-reunion album, Fantastic Plastic, was released in 2017. Alexander left the reformed band in 2017, and in 2019 Wilson went on hiatus. Loney died later that same year.

 

[Spotify] Heading for the Texas Border 

“Brendan #1”, Fugazi

This way (Charming Live): Brendan #1

Fugazi is an American post-hardcore band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1986. The band consists of guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, bassist Joe Lally, and drummer Brendan Canty. They were noted for their style-transcending music, DIY ethical stance, manner of business practice, and contempt for the music industry. 

Fugazi performed numerous worldwide tours and produced six studio albums, a film, and a comprehensive live series, gaining the band critical acclaim and success around the world. Highly influential on punk and alternative music, the band has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2003.

Repeater is the debut studio album by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi. It was released on April 19, 1990, as Repeater on LP, and in May 1990 on CD bundled with the 3 Songs EP as Repeater + 3 Songs. It was recorded at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia, and produced and engineered by Don Zientara and Ted Niceley. The album cover was based on a photo by Jim Saah.

 

[Spotify] Brendan #1 

“House Show”, Strange Ranger

This way: House Show

Strange Ranger was an American indie rock band formed in Bozeman, Montana in 2009. Originally named Sioux Falls, they changed the moniker in 2016. The group announced their disbandment on October 30, 2023, via an Instagram post.  

The group began as the high school project of guitarist and vocalist Isaac Eiger and bassist Fred Nixon in their hometown of Bozeman, Montana. Eiger and Nixon bonded over their love of bands like Modest Mouse and Pixies, which influenced their sound. In 2010, Eiger and Nixon relocated to Portland and started putting out music on Bandcamp in the early 2010s under the name Sioux Falls.

 

On May 7, 2012, Sioux Falls released their first EP on Bandcamp, Odds 'n' Ends. In 2013, the group released their second EP, Big Krackel. In 2014, the band recruited drummer Benjamin Scott. On May 14, 2014, Sioux Falls released their third EP, Lights Off For Danger. On February 10, 2015, Sioux Falls released Fadeaway, a split EP with indie band Snow Roller via Broken World Media.

On February 19, 2016, Sioux Falls released their debut full-length album, Rot Forever, via Broken World Media. Later in 2016, the band saw the exit of drummer Benjamin Scott, and changed their name to Strange Ranger.[7] On October 6, 2017, Strange Ranger released their first album under their new name, Daymoon.[8] In 2017, the group added vocalist Fiona Woodman and drummer Nathan Tucker to their lineup.[9] In 2019, Strange Ranger released their third full-length album as a band (second as Strange Ranger), titled Remembering the Rockets.

 

[Spotify] House Show 

“Silver Atomic”, Disheveled Cuss

This way: Silver Atomic

Nick Reinhart, guitarist, and singer of cult favorites Tera Melos has created a new project under the moniker Disheveled Cuss. The songs live somewhere in-between early Weezer and Teenage Fanclub with a heavy 90's indie rock influence. The self-titled debut album Disheveled Cuss is an accomplished new turn and an exciting indicator of things to come from Nick Reinhart.

 

[Spotify] Silver Atomic 

“I Know”, The Last

This way: NO!

The Last is a Los Angeles–based band formed in 1976 by Joe Nolte with high school bandmates Vitus Mataré and Dave Harbison. By 1978 the band included three brothers: Joe (guitar, vocals), Mike (vocals), and David Nolte (bass guitar). They released several albums on SST Records, Bomp! Records and End Sounds. 

The band was initially inspired by the nascent CBGB's scene as well as the first Modern Lovers album. Its sound was a mix of garage rock, surf rock, folk rock and psychedelic rock.[2][1] The first settled line-up included Vitus Mataré (keyboards, flute), the Nolte brothers, and Jack Reynolds (drums).[2] After three self-financed singles, the band was signed by Bomp! Records, who issued the debut album L.A. Explosion! in 1979 (described by Trouser Press as "a near-perfect debut"). It was also issued in Germany (Line Records), Japan Trio/Trash Records), and the UK by London Records.

They recorded a second album, Look Again (1980), which was not released until 2020. The original members began to disappear until its demise in November 1985, with David Nolte joining Wednesday Week and later Lucky, and Mataré forming Trotsky Icepick. The band was considered a major influence on the psychedelia-influenced LA bands of the mid-1980s, including the Bangles and the Three O'Clock.

Joe reformed the band in 1988 with Mike Nolte along with new members Luke Lohnes (guitar, vocals), Larry P. Manke (bass guitar), and Dave Nazworthy (of Chemical People) (drums). This line-up signed to SST Records, releasing three albums between 1988 and 1996. The early 1980s lineup of the band reunited for occasional reunion shows in Southern California between 2005 and 2013. That year, the Last released a new album for the label End Sounds featuring the Descendents/All rhythm section of Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson.

 

[Spotify] I Know 

“Make Believe Stories”, Speed 78

This way: Make Believe Stories

Speed 78 is the blues and folk moniker of Dutch musician and songwrtiter, Don van Dongen. The band's style can be desribed as a slightly psychedelic brand of folk with rich arrangements and a lo-fi sound indie rock sound. The first Speed 78 album, Skiffle (1998), came out thru Excelsior Recordings. 

 

[Spotify] Make Believe Stories 

“Hurricane”, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282

This way: Hurricane

Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 (often shorted to 'Thinking Fellers' or 'TFUL282') were an American indie rock band, which was formed in 1986 in San Francisco, California though half of its members are from Iowa. Their albums combine lo-fi noise rock and ambient sounds (referred to as "Feller filler") with tightly constructed rock and pop songs. There is a small but fiercely devoted cult following for the band.

For the majority of the band's career, Thinking Fellers consisted of multi-instrumentalists Brian Hageman, Mark Davies, Anne Eickelberg, Hugh Swarts, and Jay Paget.

The band achieved their greatest critical and commercial success in the mid-1990s, when they signed with the indie rock label Matador Records. It was during this time that Thinking Fellers produced their most prominent albums, Lovelyville, and Strangers from the Universe. They toured the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and the UK in 1994 and made an appearance on the John Peel radio show on the BBC. In 1996 they toured briefly as an opening act for the alternative rock band Live but were not received well by the Live fanbase. Thinking Fellers has been largely dormant since 1996, having toured sporadically and released only one full album, Bob Dinners and Larry Noodles Present Tubby Turdner's Celebrity Avalanche, since. 

Elf Power's 1999 album A Dream In Sound featured a cover of Thinking Fellers Union Local 282's song "Noble Experiment."

In 2001, author Jonathan Franzen referenced the band in his novel The Corrections. The character Brian, a snobbish fan of "west coast underground bands," listens to the albums of Thinking Fellers while writing the music software that will make him a young millionaire.

 

[Spotify] Hurricane 

“Your Glow”, The Mountain Goats

This way: Your Glow

Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan is the twenty-third studio album by American indie folk band the Mountain Goats. The album was released on November 7, 2025, on the band’s independent label Cadmean Dawn. It was recorded at Dreamland Recording Studios in New York and produced by band member Matt Douglas. It is the band's first full-band album in over 23 years not to feature longtime bass guitarist Peter Hughes, who departed from the band in 2024. 

The title originated from a phrase John Darnielle noted in a dream, which became the conceptual basis for the album. The record is dedicated to long-time bassist Peter Hughes, who left the group in 2024. Darnielle described the dedication as a tribute to Hughes’ decades of contribution to the band.

The album is described in its promotional materials as a “full-on musical,” telling the story of a shipwrecked crew of sixteen men, only three of whom survive a catastrophic storm. One survivor goes missing, leaving the narrator and Captain Peter Balkan struggling with visions and physical decline.

 

[Spotify] Your Glow 

“Highway Man”, The New Eves

This way: Highway Man

The New Eves are a British folk punk band from Brighton, England. The band are currently signed to Transgressive Records. The group consists of vocalist/guitarist/violinist Violet Farrer, vocalist/cellist/violinist/ Nina Winder-Lind, vocalist and bassist Kate Mager and drummer/flutist/vocalist Ella Oona Russell.

 

The band formed in 2021, in Brighton, England. In 2023, the group released their debut single titled "Original Sin". The group released their second single "Mother" the same year. In 2025, the group announced and released their debut album titled The New Eve Is Rising. Upon the album's announcement, the group released the songs "Rivers Run Red" and "The New Eve". The album was written entirely in Brighton. The album received positive reviews and was named an "Album of the Week" by The Observer.

 

[Spotify] Highway Man 

“Pop Doormat”, The Dancing Cigarettes

This way: Pop Doormat

The Dancing Cigarettes were a popular punk and art band based in Bloomington, Indiana, active from 1979 through 1983. They were part of a cadre of Bloomington-based bands that made an impact on the underground music scene. Other bands included The Gizmos, Zero Boys, Dow Jones and the Industrials, and MX-80 Sound. These bands established Indiana as an innovative breeding ground for punk, post-punk and new wave music in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Early on, the group changed line-ups frequently, but it typically consisted of Michael Gitlin (guitar, vocals), Emily Bonus (bass, vocals), Tim Noe (keyboards, sax, guitar), Jaclyn Oddi (keyboards, percussion), John Terrill (drums, guitar), and G. Don Trubey (sax, guitar, drums). More avant-pop than post-punk, their music was as eclectic as their members' musical talents would lead one to believe, ranging from squonky Beefheart rock to bouncy Devo-esque new wave, as evidenced by the brilliant "Pop Doormat," which opens with a deceptively anthemic synth line, then uses an ebullient bass and keyboard melody to underscore a disconsolate lyrical theme that wraps with the repeated question "What am I waiting for?"

The band played regularly at numerous venues in Bloomington, including the Bluebird, Bullwinkle's, and Second Story. The Cigs also toured extensively, appearing at clubs throughout the US, including CBGB in New York, the 9:30 Club in D.C., Mr. Goodbar in Buffalo, the Music Box in Kansas City, Tewligans in Louisville, and Space Place in Chicago. Notable gigs included sharing the stage with DNA, Tiny Desk Unit, Babylon Dance Band, Men & Volts, The Fleshtones, and author William Burroughs, plus an inspired performance at the 1982 World SubGenius Convention in Chicago.

The group recorded frequently but released very little material (one 7-inch EP and a few appearances on "various artists" compilations) during its lifespan. Two CDs and an LP of their material have been released in the years since the band broke up.

 

[Spotify] Pop Doormat 

“Balancing Act”, Volcano Suns

This way: Balancing Act

Volcano Suns was an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed by Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott in 1984.

The band was founded in Spring 1984 by former Mission of Burma and Molls drummer Peter Prescott, the only founding member of the Suns to remain until their break-up in 1991. Prescott had auditioned for the position of drummer with Disneyland, but took two of that band's members to form Volcano Suns; The other original members were Gary Waleik and Steve Michener who would leave after 16 months, before the release of the first Suns album, to eventually form Big Dipper. Prescott then added Jeff Weigand on bass guitar and Jon Williams on guitar. This second line-up created the band's debut album The Bright Orange Years (1985), as well as its follow-up, All-Night Lotus Party (1986), both released on the now-defunct Homestead Records. In 1987, Bob Weston and Chuck Hahn replaced Weigand and Williams respectively for Bumper Crop, the band's final release on Homestead. Other contributors included Roger Miller on piano and Gary Waleik on sitar.

In 1988, the band moved to Greg Ginn's SST Records for their 4th release, Farced. The line-up however was the same as on Bumper Crop, including Miller on piano and Waleik on sitar. 1989 brought their most experimental release, Thing of Beauty, also on SST, on which David Kleiler (formerly from the band Sorry) replaced Chuck Hahn on guitar.This would be the Volcano Suns' final line up. The band moved to Chicago-based indie label Quarterstick Records for their final release, Career in Rock in 1991. The album was engineered by Steve Albini, who would later work with Bob Weston in their band Shellac.

 

[Spotify] Balancing Act 

“Another Love Affair”, Ice Nine

This way: Another Love Affair

From Clockwork Records, Vinyl, 7", UK

Released: 1983

Bass – Keith Wilce

Drums – Kevin Burton

Guitar – Nigel Route

Keyboards – Nigel Route

Percussion – Kevin Burton

Vocals – Jane Route

 

[Spotify] NO!

“Faith”, Sex Clark Five

This way: Faith

Sex Clark Five (abbreviated SC5) is an underground indie rock band formed in the early 1980s in Huntsville, Alabama. Calling their inventive, sawed-off power pop songs "strum and drum" (a pun on Sturm und Drang), SC5 released several albums that featured the jangly Rickenbacker guitar sound characteristic of Southern college rock bands of the time, including R.E.M. Guitarists James Butler and Rick Storey and drummer Trick McKaha were all friends from Huntsville High School. After stints in Kinks cover and pseudo punk bands, the three recruited bassist Joy Johnson. 

Primary singer/songwriter Butler built quirky, catchy melodic hooks around lyrics that often included offbeat European historical references, and wrapped them around rapidly strummed guitars and rave up surf guitar riffs. Politically charged tunes such as "Liberate Tibet" and "Sarajevo" were called prophetic by some critics. In spite of their political content, SC5's songs were often filled with the kind of wry, outlandish humor exemplified by the band's name (a play on The Dave Clark Five). SC5 would count both Goethe and the Marx Brothers as musical influences. The band was also notorious for erratic live shows. Drummer Trick McKaha would sometimes wear a bag over his head.

 

[Spotify] Faith 

“Everybody’s happy nowadays”, Buzzcocks

This way: Everybody’s happy nowadays

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed by singer-songwriter and guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto in Bolton in 1976. Their songs include punk rock, power pop, and pop punk. They achieved commercial success with singles that fuse pop with rapid-fire punk energy; these singles were later collected on Singles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album music journalist and critic Ned Raggett described as a "punk masterpiece". 

Devoto left the band in 1977 and formed Magazine, after which Pete Shelley became the principal singer-songwriter. The classic lineup of Shelley, Steve Diggle (guitar), Steve Garvey (bass) and John Maher (drums) recorded Buzzcocks' first three albums, after which the band broke up in 1981 following a dispute with their record label. The band reunited in 1989 and released six more albums before Shelley's death in 2018. Members during that time included Tony Barber (bass) and Phil Barker (drums). The band has remained active, being anchored by long-time guitarist Diggle, who has since also assumed lead vocal duties. As of 2019, the band consists of Diggle, Danny Farrant (drums), Chris Remington (bass) and touring member Mani Perazzoli (guitar, backing vocals). This line-up released the band's tenth album, Sonics in the Soul in 2022.

Howard Trafford, a student at Bolton Institute of Technology who had been involved in electronic music, placed a notice in the college looking for musicians to play the Velvet Underground's song "Sister Ray".[12][13] Fellow student Peter McNeish, who had played in a rock band called Jets of Air, responded to the notice. By late 1975, Trafford and McNeish had recruited a drummer and formed an early version of what would become Buzzcocks. The band formed in February 1976; McNeish assumed the stage name Pete Shelley and Trafford named himself Howard Devoto.

Devoto and Shelley chose the name "Buzzcocks" after reading the headline "It's the Buzz, Cock!" in a review of the television series Rock Follies in Time Out magazine. The "buzz" is the excitement of playing on stage and "cock" is northern English slang meaning "friend". They thought the name captured the excitement of the nascent punk scene and had humorous sexual connotations following Pete Shelley's time working in a Bolton adult shop.   

 

[Spotify] Everybody’s happy nowadays 

Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987

This way [Bandcamp]: Strum & Thrum

Here are links to a cool-ass compilation for of some great music of the 80's that could have fallen thru the cracks if not saved here. I have knoweldge of some of these bands but over all I'd say this is a stellar endeavor worth an extended listen . . . 1 hour and 32 minutes well spent.

 

[Spotify] Strum & Thrum  

“Resident Evil”, Friendship

This way: Resident Evil

Friendship is an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consists of Dan Wriggins, Michael Cormier-O'Leary, Peter Gill, and Jon Samuels.

Friendship began in 2015 with the release of their first full-length album, You're Going to Have to Trust Me, on Burst & Bloom. On August 8, 2017, the band premiered a song titled "If You See My Beloved" from their upcoming second full-length album. They premiered another song on Stereogum in October titled "Skip To The Good Part". Their second full-length album, and first on Orindal Records, titled Shock Out Of Season, was released later in 2017. On September 11, 2019, Friendship once again premiered a new song through Stereogum titled "Clairvoyant". One month later, Friendship premiered another song on Stereogum titled "You Might Already Know". The album, Dreamin', was released on November 8, 2019. On July 29th, 2022, the band released their fourth full-length album, Love the Stranger, on Merge Records. Its fifth studio album, Caveman Wakes Up, was released in 2025. 

 

[Spotify] Resident Evil 

“Teenage Wasteland”, Wussy

This way: Teenage Wasteland

Wussy is an American four-piece indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001. The band consists of Chuck Cleaver (vocals/guitar), Lisa Walker (vocals/guitar), Joe Klug (drums) and Mark Messerly (bass). Former members include Dawn Burman (drums) and John Erhardt (pedal steel). Cleaver and Walker write most of the songs and either alternate lead vocals or sing them in harmony. Live performances feature the two vocalists having a "combative rapport". The band has released seven albums, one live album, two EPs, one mini LP and a number of singles. 

Wussy formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2001 while Chuck Cleaver had just released the last album with his previous group, Ass Ponys. He met Lisa Walker and asked her to perform with him at a local awards show in Cincinnati in 2001. Following the performance the duo decided to form a band together. Walker, originally from Muncie, Indiana, attended Cedarville University and has worked in marketing. They were joined by Messerly on bass and Dawn Burman on drums in 2002. Burman had not yet mastered the instrument but joined as she "loved their sound and wanted to be part of it". 

The album Strawberry was released in November 2011 and was described as "driven by an unpretentious, rust-flecked honesty and a warped worldview". Former Ass Ponys member John Erhardt joined the band before recording started. The band embarked on a three-week headlining tour in support of the album. In 2012 they released the Europe-only seventeen track compilation Buckeye on Damnably Records, their first international release.

In 2014 they released the album Attica!, the title inspired by the film Dog Day Afternoon, while the single and The Who tribute "Teenage Wasteland", received some airplay. The album was released in the UK through Damnably Records. 

 

[Spotify] Teenage Wasteland 

“Instructions for getting by”, Cottonwood Firing Squad

This way: Instructions for getting by

Cottonwood Firing Squad aka Bill Rodriguez, is primarily known to the indie scene as the producer of the hit song “Postmodern Fade”, which encapsulates the character of his entire discography: music for and about struggles, depression, and the introspective.  

  

[Spotify] Instructions for getting by 

“Heartless”, John Doe

This way: Heartless

John Doe, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, poet, guitarist and bass player. Doe co-founded LA punk band X, of which he is still an active member. His musical performances and compositions span rock, punk, country and folk music genres. As an actor, he has dozens of television appearances and several movies to his credit, including the role of Jeff Parker in the television series Roswell. 

In addition to X, Doe performs with the country-folk-punk band the Knitters and has released records as a solo artist. In the early 1980s, he performed on two albums by the Flesh Eaters.

Doe moved to Los Angeles, California, and in 1976 met guitar player Billy Zoom through an ad in the local free weekly paper, The Recycler.

As a musician with X, Doe has two feature-length concert films, several music videos, and an extended performance-and-interview sequence in The Decline of Western Civilization, Penelope Spheeris's seminal documentary about the early-1980s L.A. punk scene.[5]

Along with co-writer Exene Cervenka, Doe composed most of the songs recorded by X. Wild Gift, an album from that band's heyday, was named "Record of the Year" by Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. With Dave Alvin, he co-wrote two of the songs on The Blasters' 1984 album Hard Line, "Just Another Sunday" and "Little Honey". He also wrote "Cyrano de Berger's Back" for The Flesh Eaters LP A Minute to Pray, a Second To Die.[6]

 

[Spotify] Heartless 

“Alright Guy”, Todd Snider, RIP

This way: Alright Guy

Live until you die.

Todd Daniel Snider (October 11, 1966 – November 14, 2025) was an American singer-songwriter whose music incorporated elements of folk, rock, blues, alt country, and funk.

Snider was born on October 11, 1966 in Portland, Oregon and grew up in nearby Beaverton, where he lived until he graduated from Beaverton High School in 1985. After high school, he moved to Santa Rosa, California to attend Santa Rosa Junior College. He attended for a semester and while there, learned to play the harmonica.

Snider met Kent Finlay at his very first writer's night, which was at Finlay's San Marcos club, Cheatham Street Warehouse. Finlay, who was a songwriter in his own right, became an important mentor and introduced Snider to the songs of Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, John Prine, and Shel Silverstein among others. Snider was soon packing small rooms in San Marcos and during the next few years, he began to draw enthusiastic crowds in Austin, as well.

Snider also discovered Memphis songwriter Keith Sykes while living in San Marcos when a friend at the local record store turned him on to a pair of albums Sykes made in the early ’70s. In 1989, Snider's father moved to Memphis and happened to meet Sykes’ sister-in-law. Through that connection, Snider sent Sykes a demo tape of some of his songs. Sykes thought one of the songs had potential, so Snider moved to Memphis to try to work with Sykes. Not long after he arrived in Memphis, Snider landed a weekly residency at a local club The Daily Planet. He not only was soon packing the room, the audience knew the words to the songs and would sing along. Through Sykes, Snider met Prine in 1991 while assisting on pre-production work Prine was doing with Sykes in Memphis for his album The Missing Years. It was the beginning of a friendship Snider and Prine had until Prine's death in 2020. In 1992, Sykes helped Snider land a development deal with Capitol Records. He recorded a number of sides in Nashville for the label, but they declined to pick up his option for a full album. Around the time of the Capitol deal, Snider began performing with a small band backing him which he dubbed the Bootleggers. The band's lineup fluctuated some over the first year or so, but by the end of 1994, the lineup was set with Will Kimbrough on guitar, Joe Mariencheck on bass, and Joe McLeary on drums. Snider also had changed the band's name to the Nervous Wrecks.

Sykes was a one-time member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and Buffett had recorded a few of his songs, so when the Capitol deal fell through, he reached out on Snider's behalf to Buffett's label, Margaritaville Records, which was distributed by MCA. Not long after label exec Bob Mercer saw Snider perform at an industry showcase in Memphis in April 1993, Snider flew to California to open a show for Buffett. After seeing his set, Buffett offered Snider a deal with Margaritaville.

 

[Spotify] Alright Guy 

“IV”, Shoppers

This way: IV

Meredith Graves was a guitarist and vocalist for Syracuse noise rock trio, Shoppers. The A.V. Club described their 2011 release Silver Year as "a short, intense breakup album about the terrible things we’re capable of when our feelings are hurt;" Punk News called it "top notch noise-rock."   

 

[Spotify] IV 

“This is Your Life”, Glaxo Babies

This way: This is Your Life

Glaxo Babies are a Bristol-based post-punk band, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the band's life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break up again in 1990. The band reformed once again in 2015 for the Un-Peeled 2015 event with Steve Street on bass and Tony Wrafter's son Oscar on vocals.

The band was formed by Tom Nichols (bassist), Dan Catsis (guitarist) and drummer Geoff Alsopp (previously Nichols and Alsopp had been in another Bristol based band called The Vultures). The initial band line-up was completed by Rob Chapman (singer) joining in November 1977, and their first gig was held just 3 weeks later in The Dockland Settlement, St Pauls, Bristol. The band signed to local label Heartbeat Records (marketed by Cherry Red), with their first release being the This Is Your Life EP in February 1979. This led to them recording their first session for BBC radio's John Peel the following April, and the track "It's Irrational", from this session, opened the seminal 1979 Bristol Compilation album "Avon Calling". For this release the band had been forced by pharmaceutical company Glaxo to change their name, and this resulted in the use of "Gl*xo Babies", with an asterisk replacing the "a", although subsequent recordings have used a mixture of the two forms.  

 

[Spotify] This is Your Life 

“Your Rival”, Vera Violent

This way: Your Rival

The band Vera Violent was originally formed in 1985 by brothers Brien and David O'Sullivan and their friend Alan Fitzpatrick in Waterford, Ireland. The band played locally in Waterford for a few years. Playing petered out as family and work took priority. They got back together for two gigs in Waterford the mid-2000's.

Since 1989, David, the main songwriter, continued to write and record new material on his Tascam 4-track, and later on ProTools and Cubase.

In 2014, David found himself living in Sligo, 4 hours from his home in Waterford. It was here that he formed a new Vera Violent line-up for playing live and recording. His now wife, Paula, plays bass and their good friend, Jason Geraghty plays drums. 

[Spotify] Your Rival 

“Falling Around”, Adam Green

This way: Falling Around

Adam Green (born May 28, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter, artist and filmmaker.

Green is well known for his involvement in the anti-folk music movement and as one half of the band the Moldy Peaches, alongside fellow singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson. Green has found success as a solo artist, enjoying increasing popularity in the United States as well as a number of European countries, particularly Germany.

Green attended Emerson College for one semester in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2002, the Moldy Peaches went on hiatus, and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers. 

 

[Spotify] Falling Around 

“Please No Mary”, Mydolls

This way: Please No Mary

Mydolls is an American rock band from Houston, Texas, formed in 1978. The group consists of Linda Younger (guitar and vocals), Dianna Ray (bass and vocals), Trish Herrera (guitar and vocals), and George Reyes (drums and vocals). 

Mydolls formed in 1978 in Houston, Texas. Dianna Ray and Trish Herrera began writing songs together. Dianna and Trish were then joined by Linda (Bond) Younger. After several attempts working with various auditioning drummers, Trish's cousin, George (Jorge) Reyes, joined the band, and the post-punk sound took shape as the band remained inspired by punk ranging from the 1960s and 1970s, including Iggy Pop, Magazine, Television, Red Crayola, the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, New York Dolls, and other disruptive bands. Trish and Linda tended to play their guitars in a very unconventional way. Linda would sometimes play the top three strings, while Trish played the bottom three, making the sound textured. Meanwhile, Jorge Reyes percussive style de-emphasized a hi-hat based rock'n'roll meter in favor of a syncopated, Latin-flavored approach that concentrated on rhythmic tom tom usage rather than basic back-beats. The vocals, were mainly shared by Trish and Linda, with Dianna adding chanting and George singing back-up vocals on a few songs while playing drums. Since the band pre-dated punk as a strict genre, the band wasn't aware of making "mistakes", since no musical box constricted them. Only later, they felt, did punk begin to form uniforms and formulas.

 

[Spotify] Please No Mary 

“The Wait”, Pretenders

This way: The Wait

The Pretenders are a British rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Martin Chambers (drums, backing vocals, percussion). Following the deaths of Honeyman-Scott in 1982 and Farndon in 1983, the band experienced numerous personnel changes; American-born Hynde has been the band's only continuous member.    

 

[Spotify] The Wait

“Bad News”, Cari Cari

This way: Bad News

Cari Cari is an Austrian indie rock duo consisting of drummer and singer Stephanie Widmer and guitarist/singer Alexander Köck. They have stated that they formed the band to get their music in a Quentin Tarantino film. As of 2025, they have released three studio albums, one EP, and two live recordings.

In 2014, the duo released the EP Amerippindunkler and followed it with a tour through Australia, including shows in Darwin, Cairns, and Melbourne. Their songs "No War" and "White Line Fever" were featured in the American TV series Shameless and The Magicians.   

[Spotify] Bad News 

“It's Not My Fault”, MX-80 Sound

This way: It's Not My Fault

MX-80 Sound, is an eclectic American art-rock band founded in 1974 in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, by guitarist Bruce Anderson. Considered “one of the most out of step but prescient bands of its time", MX-80's signature sound consisted of breakneck metallic guitar combined with atonal chord structure, cross-rhythmic percussion and dispassionate vocals. Notoriously difficult to categorize—the band has been labeled noise rock, post-punk,[3] acid punk, and heavy-metal—MX-80's sonic melange set the stage for bands such as Swans, Sonic Youth, Codeine, and Shellac. 

Originally named MX-80 Sound formed in 1974 by Bruce Anderson (guitar) and Dale Sophiea (bass). Sophiea and Anderson, former members of Bloomington's Screaming Gypsy Bandits, shared an interest in modern classical composers as well as in avant rockers like Captain Beefheart and the Hampton Grease Band. They soon added two drummers, Jeff Armour, and Kevin Teare in 1975, and the quartet contributed the instrumental composition, Spoonfight, to Bloomington I (Bar-B-Q records 1976). Rich Stim (vocals, guitar, and sax) and Dave Mahoney (drums), both formerly of Chinaboise, joined MX-80 in 1976 and Teare left the band to pursue a full-time art career. Anderson and Stim emerged as the band's primary songwriters, with occasional lyric writing by Andrea Ross (aka Angel Corpus Christi).

Unable to obtain gigs in most local music venues, MX-80 performed a regular series of Sunday concerts at the Monroe County public library, tracks of which were later compiled on CD. The band's first studio release was the EP, Big Hits: Hard Pop From The Hoosiers (Bar-B-Q Records 1976), recorded at Gilfoy Studios, produced by Mark Bingham and engineered by Mark Hood. A review of Big Hits in the British music magazine Sounds by Caroline Coon, spurred Island Records A&R man Howard Thompson to license the band's second recording, their debut LP.  

[Spotify] It's Not My Fault 

“Crassy Mel”, Sextile

This way: Crassy Mel

Sextile is an American electronic music project from Los Angeles, California. The project consists of founding members Brady Keehn (vocals, guitar, electronics) and Melissa Scaduto (drums, electronics, guitar). The project takes its name from the aspect of the same name in astrology.

Sextile was formed in 2015 by Keehn and Scaduto, after the duo relocated from Brooklyn, New York to Los Angeles. They were soon joined by bassist Kenny Elkin and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Wuebben. Signing to Felte Records after supporting Ritual Howls at local gigs, the band released its debut album, A Thousand Hands in the same year. The follow-up, Albeit Living, was released in 2017; by the time of its release, Elkin was replaced by bassist Cameron Michel.

In 2018, with the band reduced to its two founding members for their EP, 3, later in the year. Sextile entered a hiatus in 2019, with Keehn and Scaduto pursuing other projects, Panther Modern and S. Product, respectively. The band's former guitarist, Eddie Wuebben, died on 5 October 2019, at the age of 29. 

  

[Spotify] Crassy Mel 

“Rigamarole”, Whitimer Thomas

This way: Rigamarole

Whitmer Alexander Thomas is an American comedian, actor, and musician. He is best known for his voice role on FXX animated comedy Stone Quackers (2014–2015), and his work with LA-based comedy troupe Power Violence.

Thomas's hour-long comedy special, The Golden One, premiered on HBO on February 22, 2020. An accompanying album, Songs from the Golden One, was released via Hardly Art Records. Thomas's sophomore record, The Older I Get The Funnier I Was, was released on October 21, 2022. Whitmer Thomas was raised in Gulf Shores, Alabama. His mother, Jenny Henderson, founded the musical duo Syn Twister with her twin sister Jude Hammock. The previous occupation of Thomas's father, Whit Thomas, is unclear; as of 2020, he is employed as a paralegal. Thomas has one older brother, Johnny.  

 [Spotify] Rigamarole 

“Coward”, Soft Kill

This way: Coward

Here is a tune from a great new LP by one of my current faves Soft Kill. Tobias Francis has been making music under the moniker Soft Kill since 2010 after the dissolution of Blessure Grave. Currently he resides in Chicago, IL.

Truth: 

"link in bio and apologies for the fidelity. I mixed this on the ear buds they hand out on planes. Old habits die hard."

 

[Spotify] Coward