Why Cassettes?
It's insane to make a mixtape on a cassette these days, I know. No one has a cassette player that I know of. I only just got one in the past few years, and it's what I use to make these tapes. I love it a lot.
I believe a mixtape is meant to be held, otherwise it's a playlist. A tape just seems much more tangible to me than a CD. It carries more weight with it. But most importantly, it's meant to be listened in full, in order, start to finish. You can skip tracks on a CD. I always include the individual tracks in the download folders if you want to pick and chose what to listen to later on, but I agonize over getting the flow just right, so it'd mean a lot if you listened to it as intended, despite what GQ tells you.
It's my dream to one day live in LA, have a car with a tape deck, and carry these mixes in my glove compartment. I'll pop them in and relive 2020 in 90 minute waves.
I've got one physical copy of February's mix, Good Time, up for grabs. Holler if you want it. <3
Good Time
Created for a really, really good time.
I discovered one song through Amoeba's "What's In My Bag?" series on YouTube, and I decided to build a mix around it. The series is a gold mine of recommendations, and I can't recommend it enough. The song that really struck me was South African band Brenda & the Big Dudes's "Weekend Special". Brenda & the Big Dudes have one of the best band names ever, and the song absolutely rips.
From that point, I filled out the rest of the mix with late disco and psychadelic funk music from around the world. Of course, there's plenty of Brazil on the mix (Jorge Ben, Banda Black Rio, Marcos Valle, etc.) because I'm an unapologetic superfan. But there's also tunes from France, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria. I wanted to make a mix geared towards not just good times, but good times around the world.
I took the title from the Kool & the Gang song, which appears on the mix somewhere in the middle. Consider it a bit of a thesis statement track.
I think this mixtape is really fun, and I hope you like it! There's a lot to love here, and I'd love to hear what stands out to you.
Join Me: Caravela @ C'mon Everybody, Thursday 3/5, 8 PM
Funny story.
I met my friend's boyfriend at a concert, and we started talking about our mutual love of outlaw country and midwest emo music. It was a great time. He mentioned that he had toured with a couple folks we talked about, so I asked what the name of his band was. It was Moving Mountains.
I loved that band in college. I wore out their albums. It was a fun small world moment. New York is crazy.
Anyways, I'll be checking out his new band he started with his brother, Caravela. It'll be a hoot and a half, and I hope you'll consider joining me.
Take a listen with "Ski" (Spotify / YouTube).
RIYL: The Sidekicks, American Football, The Appleseed Cast
Tickets available here.
Other Upcoming Shows
New York
Sat 3/14 - Fennesz @ Bushwick United Methodist Church
Sun 3/15 - Against Me! @ The Paramount
Wed 3/18 - Best Coast, Mannequin Pussy @ Brooklyn Steel
Thur 3/19 - A Tribute to Carly Simon @ Carnegie Hall
Thur 3/19 - Yasiin Bey performing "Black on Both Sides" @ Sony Hall
Fri 3/20 - Blood Orange @ Radio City Music Hall
Tue 3/24 - Wiki @ Rough Trade
Wed 3/25 - The Secret Sisters @ Murmrr Ballroom
Los Angeles
Wed 3/18 - Brittany Howard @ Arlington Theatre
Wed 3/18 - Michigan Rattlers @ The Roxy
Sat 3/21 - Philip Glass @ The Theatre at Ace
Sun 3/22 - YOB @ Echoplex
Tue 3/24 - Wye Oak @ Hollywood Forever Cemetary
Wed 3/25 - Sarah Shook and the Disarmers @ The Wayfarer
Sun 3/29 - Charley Crockett, Pokey LaFarge @ Echoplex
Wed 4/01 - Porches @ Fonda Theatre