Love, Peace, and Your Favorite Setlist: Looking Into The Next Decade

Where does one even begin when documenting not only the last year, but an entire decade. 100 years ago we celebrated women's suffrage and  rallied against prohibition. The roaring 20's were a turbulent time of post War and ongoing gilded age. We go into 2020 framed with the perfect filtered selfie, a perfect Spotify playlist, with memories of a decade with loss, hope, and many uncertainties of what the next decade will present us with ... oh wait, this is a music blog. 

The last decade gave us streaming platforms and access to music to satisfy anyone's musical mood. And with music streaming came concert streaming and it is getting tougher to actually want to leave your home to go to a show. But, other than your cell phone in my face for hours on end, nothing beats a live show. 

It's a weird time folks, that's really what I am getting at. In ten years, we're in this awkward tipping point of social media and internet. You can have access to news, music, and art 24/7 from around the world. And yet, with this access, it's used to silo us into worlds that create more of a chasm than uniting us into what Coca Cola would like to see...and we're all able to break free of these silos, you just have to peek over that electronic fence in the interwebs. 

I am happy to report Rock and Roll is alive. So is jam music, hip hop, freestyle, blues, jazz, Americana, etc, etc. It's all still there and better than ever because artists are free to kickstart and fund themselves into freedom from contracts and big labels. BUT this comes the responsibility of US the fans to support their tours and live music and the merch table. Get our there and educate yourselves and learn about musicians, support local, and get to as many shows as you can (just please leave your phone out of my face).


The music we each individually love may not be on the radio stations we so long for, and it does require some work, but you will find the music and musicians you love - and then some. While many of us regale tales of waiting on line for a midnight release and listening to albums track by track, our world has become binge obsessed and that includes the music world. Finding new music, bands, and artists does require some homework and there are so many resources. Magazines like Paste and Relix,satellite radio, and yes, live shows and festivals are a great place to see new bands that you may not hear on the radio. Another tip, the NYC Subway system is a great place to see great music. Did you know the Felice Brothers started there?

So as the decade comes to a close, here are some of my favorites albums in no particular order below. I am excited to hear new bands, witness music platforms continue to evolve. I am anxious for the many ways that music will continue to bring us together in the next decade. I wish you all love and peace and your favorite set lists.

Nicole Atkins – Goodnight Rhonda Lee 
Beyonce - Lemonade

Umphrey’s McGee – Similar Skin

Patty Griffin – Patty Griffin

War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream

David Bowie – Blackstar

Kendrick Lamar – Damn

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

Adele – 25

Gogol Bordello – Pura Vida Conspiracy

Depeche Mode – Delta Machine

The New Basement Tapes – Lost on the River

The Struts – Everybody Wants

Marcus King Band – The Marcus King Band

Hozier - Hozier

Tedeschi Trucks Band – Revelator

Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Beautiful, How Blue

Hannah Williams and the Affirmations – Late Nights & Heartbreak

Hamilton – Musical Soundtrack

Ryan Adams – 1989

U2 – Songs of Innocence

Gary Clark Jr – The Land

Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression

Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool

Claypool Lennon Delirium – South of Reality

REM – Collapse Into Now

Cranberries – In the End

Matt Reynolds – Been Long Gone

Red Hot Chili Peppers –The Getaway
Dave Matthews Band - Come Tomorrow

And as we go through the years, those we lose who are our creative heroes because seem to happen more often and hurt deeper because of their influence on our lives.  May we carry on their spirit in the soundtracks of our lives.

You my love are allowed to forget
About the Christmas
You just spent stressed out
In your parents' house
You my love are allowed to shed the weight
Of all the years before like bad disco clothes
Save them for a night of dancing
Stoned with you lover
You my love are allowed to let yourself
Drown every night
In bottomless wild and naked
Symbolic dreams
You my love in sleep can unlock
Your youth and your most terrifying magic
And dreaming is for the
Courageous
You my love are allowed to grab my guitar
And sing me idiot love songs if
You lost your ability to speak
Keep it down to two minutes
You my love are allowed to rot
And to die
And to live again more alive
And incandescent than before
You my love are allowed to beat the shit out of your television
Choke it's thoughts and corrupt its mind
Kill, kill, kill, kill, the motherfucker before the song of Zombiefied
Pain and panic and malaise
And its narrow right winged vision
And its cheap commercial gang rate
Becomes the white noise of the world
(Turn about is fair play)
You my love are allowed to forgive
And love your television
You my love are allowed to speak in kisses
To those around you and those up in heaven
You my love are allowed to show your babies how to dance full bodied
Starry eyed, audacious, supernatural and glorified
You my love are allowed to suck
In every single endeavor
You my love are allowed to be soaked
Like a lovers blanket
In the New York summertime with the wonder
Of your own special gift
You my love are allowed to receive praise
You my love are allowed to have time
You my love are allowed to understand
You my love are allowed to love
Woman disobey
Little man believe
You my love are a rebellion

~Jeff Buckley - New Year's Eve Prayer