It only matters where you're going

A new single from across the pond, weekend sales and cold, cold beer

The headline of my latest newsletter certainly is a positive one, is it not? It’s more than just a platitude — it’s a fine lyric from the newest single by Scottish post-punk rockers We We Were Promised Jetpacks, who shook up my week by dropping the single “Fat Chance” this past Tuesday. It’s also a nice way to welcome a festive weekend: Energetic music around a family-filled holiday never let anyone down, right? )A side note: Check out my guide to 4th of July sales over at my regular blog). Back to music, though, because the single “Fat Chance” is also a shake-up for the band, who recorded this track as a trio, but more on that in just a moment. If you’re just joining us for the first time, or if you need a reminder of what we’re all about here at The Style Guide In Brief, think of this like your weekend to-do list, for starters: Music to spin, menswear to buy and cold craft beer served on the side. Recently I’ve covered bands like New York rockers Wild Pink, plus the soulful stylings of Big Red Machine , the side project of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner of The National. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you’ve come to the right place.

It’s a fitting combination for a fun Fourth of July weekend, after all. I’m especially excited about today’s energetic and propulsive track, which is among a few releases I’ve seriously been enjoying as of late. Speaking of new music: If you follow me on Twitter or on Instagram, perhaps you’ve seen that I’m now covering new music releases for the U.K.’s The Line of Best Fit! I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the team — and that’s in addition to my other writing work for sites like Maxim.com, AskMen.com and of course, my daily style blog. Now, I’ve given you plenty of road trip reading material, so let’s get on with the rest of today’s newsletter, shall we? I think you just might find your new favorite song and your new favorite summer gear waiting for you.

What To Listen To This Weekend: “Fat Chance” By We Were Promised Jetpacks

Across the past decade, We We Were Promised Jetpacks have proven a pretty consistent band in my rotation. The group’s 2009 debut, “These Four Walls,” was on rotation even on my high school iPod, and I’ve since had the chance to see the band twice in Brooklyn (once in October 2018 at Brooklyn Steel, and again in July 2019 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg). I’ve always enjoyed their lively guitar work and energetic live show, not to mention top tracks like the much-loved and deeply emotional “Quiet Little Voices,” a certified throwback hit. Perhaps that’s why I love the group’s latest single, “Fat Chance” — it’s recognizable as a song by WWPJ (for short), yet it’s more compact, synth-filled and actually less guitar-driven than the group’s past work. It’s a sweet song about moving on from the past, eyes focused forward. It’s also a change of pace following the 2019 departure of the band’s Michael Palmer, one that’s driven the band to re-emerge with a fresh, infectious sound. I’ve had it on repeat the past few days, and it calls to mind summertime drives and cool evenings, cold beer in hand. That’s just me — what about you?

What To Shop This Weekend: USA-Made Forty Five Slub Tee

This newsletter is called The Style Guide In Brief for a reason, so let’s talk about some summer style to go along with the propulsive “Fat Chance” , shall we? And since it’s the Fourth of July weekend and all, how about shopping some of the best USA-made gear from Huckberry? I’m a huge fan of the Forty Five Slub Tees, which you very well might have read about in this newsletter before. This is the kind of breezy, go-anywhere T-shirt you can wear this summer to your favorite brewery, and you should also pack at least one as a base layer while you pack to hit the road and see We Were Promised Jetpacks this fall (as I’ll be doing!). On that note: You can head to Huckberry to get 3 T-shirts for $95 right now. The best USA-made tees at a discount? That’s a winning deal to me.

What To Sip This Weekend: Coney Island Mermaid Pils

I mentioned above that the Fourth of July weekend should prove festive and fun, right? Well, here’s the key to the festivities, at least for me personally: I’ll be hopping on the subway for a very quick trip down to Coney Island tomorrow on the Fourth of July itself, and I know exactly the beer I’ll be sipping as I chow down on a Nathan’s Famous hot dog: It’s this Coney Island Mermaid Pils, of course. The beer is something of a well-known, modern-day New York City classic, available nearly everywhere great beer is sold — and particularly enjoyable at the boardwalk brewery itself. As for your own weekend imbibing, you can get Coney Island Mermaid Pils delivered to your doorstep with Drizly right now. Cheers, folks!

The Final Pick: Flint and Tinder 1-Year Wash Jeans

Head back over to Huckberry today to shop some of the best USA-made gear for guys. I’ll start by pointing out what you might consider obvious: These durable, slim blue jeans are a perfect everyday pair of denim, and yet, they look exactly like the kind of denim I’d wear to (drumroll please)… a rock show this fall somewhere in the Northeast. The point still stands: If you want a reliable pair of classic men’s blue jeans to wear day in and day out, these should be your go-to.

I’d say we’ve checked off just about all the right boxes in today’s weekend newsletter, right? To recap: You’re going to shop the best USA-made gear for the holiday weekend, be it a pair of expertly crafted blue jeans or one of the best USA-made tees. Then, you’re going to order the Brooklyn classic Coney Island Mermaid Pils, which you can helpfully get delivered to your doorstep with Drizly. And your soundtrack is complete: New indie rock from a long-running band that’s going to stick in your head for a good long while. So, that’s all I’ve got today. Thanks for reading and enjoy the Fourth, my friends!