Lead me back to the place I'm from

Iconic indie rock, spring menswear and cold, cold beer

There’s a fitting thru line between today’s post (headed up by the ever-excellent rocker “Come To The City” by The War On Drugs) and my newsletter last weekend, which also focused on buoyant indie rock. But you can’t get to new bands like Moontype without a nod to those that have paved the way before, and that’s where we start things off here. It’s been 10 years since Philly indie rockers The War On Drugs released the underrated-yet-acclaimed “Slave Ambient” — from whence today’s title track hails — and it’s a fitting time to take a bit of a retrospective look back at that album. 10 years is a good window of time, after all, as I’ve mentioned in the past in this newsletter with albums like “Angles” by The Strokes (also released in 2011 — what a year!). But that’s not all we’re getting into today.

As a reminder, here’s what we’re all about here at The Style Guide In Brief. In short order: Menswear, music and something to wash it down with — craft beer, of course. You can also check out my style, watches and whiskey writing at Maxim, my daily contributions at GearMoose and of course, over on my regular style blog, The Style Guide. For now, I’ve got more writing to do (a post for the revamped lifestyle site Jacob Graye is in the works!), and I’ve got my soundtrack: The wide-open heartland rock of The War On Drugs — you’ll recognize them from this newsletter entry last summer, and ideally, from plenty of other places. Plug in and let’s go to work.

What To Listen To This Week: “Come to the City” By The War On Drugs

As far as rock bands are concerned these days, you really do get a bit of everything with The War On Drugs, led by guitar virtuoso and lead singer Adam Granduciel. The band is powered on drums these days by Charlie Hall, but it’s drummer Steven Urgo who sets the tone in this seriously soaring, almost U2-esque track off the aforementioned “Slave Ambient.” 10 years flies by when you’re a band like The War On Drugs, constantly topping themselves with indie rock classics (2014’s “Lost in the Dream” and 2017’s “A Deeper Understanding”), and this particular album is a great tone-setter to lead into those two flagship albums. And as the headline of today’s post suggests, Granduciel has traveled far and wide to get to where he’s goin’ (as he sings, “I've been ramblin'/Burning tires on my street”). For your own travels — soon enough — you’ll need to lace up some leather boots in the style of The War On Drugs, but more on that in a second. Back to this song for now. Simply put, it’s just a great track that epitomizes the band’s sound. It reminds me of hearing the band play on an April Sunday night back in 2018, in Brooklyn, with some trusty leather boots laced up and a craft beer in hand. It’s an album I’ll be gladly revisiting this week, and I’d suggest you do the same.

What To Shop This Week: Rhodes Footwear Bozeman Boots

If I’ve said it once in this newsletter, I’ve said it… well, certainly way more than once. The ideal, perfect day for me involves the always-reliable pairing of indie rock — hello to The War On Drugs — alongside pursuits that involve a similar level of care and craftsmanship … kind of like building the perfect pair of leather boots for spring. That’s what Huckberry has done with the Rhodes Footwear Bozeman Boots, which wouldn’t look out of place in San Francisco (Huckberry’s home), nor at a brewery in Grand Rapids — where I hope to visit sooner rather than later — nor at a Brooklyn Steel rock concert. After all, the best leather boots for men should be able to do it all, and one look at these rugged leather boots tells me they’re up to the challenge.

Shop Huckberry

What To Sip This Week: Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pils via Drizly

Hey, I told you some things just go together — like modern rock classics, a great pair of leather boots and an ice-cold, seasonally fresh beer from Jack’s Abby. While Jack’s Abby doesn’t hail from the same locale as The War On Drugs (that’d be Philly — Jack’s is based up in Massachusetts), they’re no less fitting a brewery to imbibe as you kick back later tonight, cold beer in hand and The War On Drugs playing through your Bluetooth speaker (a reminder to get it delivered via Drizly). I myself love the Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pils because it’s drinkable as heck, it’s found at plenty of reputable Brooklyn craft beer institutions, and it goes down mighty smooth at a stellar indie rock show. How’s that for an ideal pairing? Cheers to that, my friends.

The Final Pick: Howler Brothers Rodanthe Flannel

Let’s end things on a high note with a fitting pairing alongside the picks we’ve talked about today. Of course, a independently owned and hard-wearing brand like Howler Brothers is a natural fit as you consider spring and summer weather, ice-cold beer and one of your favorite bands, and you can incorporate this gear seamlessly into that lifestyle (it helps that the family-owned brand is sold by Huckberry). Heck, the rugged and one-of-a-kind Howler Brothers Rodanthe Flannel even looks like something I could imagine Adam Granduciel himself wearing — or more likely, it’s a stylish shirt you’re apt to find in the crowd at Brooklyn Steel (guilty as charged!). Either way, it’s a fittingly rugged flannel shirt to bring along when spring and summer nights get unexpectedly chilly. After all, you’ve got your new favorite beer, you’ve got a bonfire going and you’ve got The War On Drugs playing in your Bluetooth speaker — again, the perfect combination for a perfect day.

I think that about ties this one up quite nicely, my friends. As I always say, if I were you, I’d use this as a crucial weekly guide to set yourself up for success (or at the very least, to set yourself up for some enjoyable listening and imbibing). I’m a big fan of the rugged utility of the Rhodes Footwear Bozeman Boots, and I’m going to be getting a pair myself — I’ll lace them up to walk through Brooklyn and enjoy an outdoor pint of Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pils to close out a day of writing from home. Of course, this week in particular, I’ll be playing “Come to the City” By The War On Drugs — if you’re in agreement with those pursuits, let me know in the comments! And be sure to subscribe and tell all your friends about this newsletter. Make it a great week and make it count. Cheers!