“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