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Tour Bus Tunes (Playlists from Bela Fleck, Keller Williams, Chamberlin, Lotus…)

Jesse Miller (Lotus)

The open road, and the spirit of freedom and adventure that accompany it, is something distinctly American in my mind. I think it has been muse to a great deal of distinctly American music. Think the big open fifths of Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” or the high-flying harmonized guitars of Allman Brother’s “Jessica.” Along those lines I tend to lean toward bands such as Wilco, Built to Spill, Spoon, New Pornographers, and T. Rex (Canadian and British, but I’ll let them in).

Chamberlin

It’s fair to say we spend an excessive amount of time on the road. The good thing is the endless road trip means endless road trip songs and albums. The key is to keep it varied and to resist the temptation to over-play any one thing. Lately our van speakers have been blasting:

The Shins “Fall of ’82”
Pink Floyd “Dogs”
My Morning Jacket “Victory Dance”
Aretha Franklin “Dr. Feelgood”
Norah Jones “Happy Pills”
Beach House “Lover of Mine”
Tom Petty “Turn This Car Around”

Matt McDonald (Perpetual Groove)

“Golden Age” – Beck
First time I listened to the album Sea Change we were driving across Northern Arizona. Ever since then this is a must for all drives.

“False Protections” – Rotary Downs
Just a great song from a great band. It’s a sing-a-long for me, who doesn’t like to sing and drive?

Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero (full album)
Start to finish this is a great album for multiple reasons. It keeps you going on the long drives being loud and full of angst. Not good for city driving though, too easy to stimulate road rage.

Surprise Me Mr. Davis – Jam Cruise 2012 late night set
Just an amazing show from SMMD. There’s nothing not to like about this band and all of the parts that make it up. The “Sissyfuss” alone from this set will make your drive.

Dawes – “Time Spent in Los Angeles”
Great driving tune, great to sing along too (like most every Dawes song)

Anything and everything from The Beatles, Wilco, and The Flaming Lips

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Stay tuned: More to come…