I know if destiny's kind

I've got the rest on my mind

If there’s one thing I’ve repeated frequently in my head since last Friday — and over these past several months — it’s that lead lyric in today’s headline. As I mentioned in my Saturday newsletter, you know the band to which I’m referring. Hopefully, you know today’s featured song as well, a still-underrated gem of a track off a criminally underrated album (and a scorching live song all the same). I’ll end the suspense now — the song is the iconic “For Reasons Unknown” by The Killers, sung by frontman Brandon Flowers (as seen at the top of the page!) with passion and conviction. It’s a great motto for these times of uncertainty, one that rings even more true coming off the end of last week, when my first-ever feature on Esquire.com was published: An interview with none other than The Man himself, Brandon Flowers. Who else, right??

I’ve been riding the wave since then, buoyed by kind words and support from friends, family, teachers and colleagues — I still can’t believe it came together. So once more, today’s edition of The Style Guide In Brief (Music! Menswear! Scotch whisky! More music!) is going to pay homage to, of course, Mr. Brandon Flowers and The Killers. As always, my regular blog, The Style Guide, dispenses with menswear, sans music, if that’s more your speed, as do my bylines at GearMoose, Maxim and more. For now, let’s talk about The Killers, as I’ve done with both standout new tracks from the band and reliable classics, and let’s talk about menswear that’ll get you in the rock n’roll mindset. What else is there, right??

What To Listen To This Week: “For Reasons Unknown” By The Killers

15 years on from the release of The Killers’ second album, this song is still a an favorite, a remarkable live track and an incredibly meaningful source of inspiration. And if you haven’t seen the above video, featuring this song as played at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2009, it’s a beautiful thing. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched that video over the years — in fact, I watched it last night and felt that same awe and powerful emotion. That’s the sign of a classic, and it’s even more remarkable when you consider that, if you feel so inclined, you can listen to it on repeat a few times through and catch on to a new favorite line each time.

I normally tune to indie radio in my apartment during the day as I write, but there’s something about the comfort and nostalgia of an all-time track, the memories it brings with it and again, that all-too-critical inspiration it can also provide. If you couldn’t tell already, I’ve been listening to nothing but The Killers since last Friday, and perhaps before that! Join me, let’s travel back in time and embrace the uncertainty (or the unknown) future.

What To Wear This Week: Levi’s 511 Slim-Fit Black Jeans

Here’s a straightforward homage to The Man himself, the always-stylish Mr. Brandon Flowers. He’s been spotted onstage in gold sequin suits and simple black dress shirts, but when I spoke with him for Esquire, he called out classic Levi’s jeans as being his go-to these days. So heck, why not get a timeless and iconic pair of Levi’s denim for yourself? Levi’s jeans — especially the slim-fitting Levi’s 511 Jeans — are such that you don’t have to be a rock star to wear ‘em, and that’s part of their timeless, rugged and seriously cool appeal. Plus, you can get two pairs of Levi’s jeans for $90 with the code TWOBLUES, but you best hurry. And last but not least: If you want to get dressed to work from home in something other than sweatpants, a great pair of slim black jeans is the way to go.

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What To Sip This Week: Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth Port Cask Whisky via Drizly

I’m not sure what the weather has been like in your neck of the woods, but the Northeast has been dealing with a historic snowstorm that’s made it impossible to venture out. Hence, I’ve turned towards sipping on the unique Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth Port Cask Whisky, a Scotch finished in Portuguese port ruby casks. As someone who hasn’t always been a Scotch fan, I’ve found it highly pleasant and nuanced, with fruit notes and unexpected sweetness, and without that overpowering finish you might get with a more traditional Scotch. As such, I’ve been enjoying it as I listen to The Killers in the evenings on my couch after, well, working from home on my couch. It’s a small comfort — and if you want to know more before you dive in and order it via delivery service Drizly, you can check out my feature on Dewar’s at Maxim. Cheers!

The Final Pick: Red Wing Iron Ranger Boots in Amber from Bespoke Post

If you read my newsletter frequently or check out my blog, then Red Wing Heritage boots are quite the norm, are they not? And these are today’s final pick for good reason: Once again, Mr. Brandon Flowers mentioned his love of Red Wing boots ever-so-briefly in my Esquire conversation with him. My motto is, if these boots are good enough for Brandon Flowers, they’re good enough for me — and for you, as well. Red Wing Iron Ranger Boots are as classic, rugged and iconic as it gets, so it’s great to hear they’ve got a fan in such a stylish frontman.

Set yourself on the right path this week with but a few easy steps (or seemingly easy, that is). Lace up your Red Wing Iron Ranger Boots (once you pick them up from NYC retailer Bespoke Post). Revisit a classic Killers song to start, or end, or power through, your day. And cap it off with a nice pour of Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth Port Cask Whisky to warm your heart and soul this winter. Naturally, those items are all on my to-do list today and the rest of this week. Thanks for reading, tell all your friends and subscribe to stay in the loop! Cheers, folks.