Maybe it’s the onslaught of fall weather we’ve been having in Brooklyn, maybe it’s just that time of year, but we’re once again leading off with a “left of the dial” favorite from Minneapolis rock heroes The Replacements. Consider it a perfect fall soundtrack for your weekend, to go along with the best menswear from Filson and more for the season — all covered in today’s newsletter, as per tradition. As I say, consider this like your essential fall weekend guide, and of course, if you haven’t yet subscribed to The Style Guide In Brief, be sure to do so now. In other matters, my full blog publishes seven days a week over here, and it’s packed with everything you could hope to know for the season ahead on the menswear front. It’s Saturday, your weekend is but precious time, and I need some more coffee, so here we go with today’s post — and the soulful stylings of The Replacements — starting in 3, 2, 1 …
What To Listen To This Weekend: “Left Of The Dial” By The Replacements
As I mentioned in my Tuesday newsletter, I’ve been on something of a “Replacements kick” lately, with the iconic and vastly underrated Minneapolis indie rock band soundtracking many a writing session and fall walk through Brooklyn. Lately, I’ve taken to the subtly sweet “Left Of The Dial,” an indie rock homage off of 1985’s “Tim,” which arguably showcases the band at its best, from the catchy hook & roaring guitar to the tight percussion. Frontman Paul Westerberg sings in his raspy howl of finding a band in “some local page,” and calls out “sweet Georgia breezes,” immediately painting a picture with just a few lines. How lovely, right? Westerberg was, as legend goes, singing about a former Georgia girlfriend with whom he lost touch … as it were, he apparently heard her band on the radio as The ‘Mats toured … and he heard that song “left of the dial” on college radio. Let the legend grow!
He’s a generational frontman that summed up so much of what life was like in middle America back in those days, and I find his yearning, searching lyrics to be some of my favorite of all-time. It’s also a fitting song for these days, when I find some of my top tracks and favorite artists to be more “left of the dial” — the days of discovering a band at a small club are going away for a long while, sadly, but I yearn for the day when I can — maybe, just maybe — find another version of The Replacements on one fated night. Then again, there’ll never be another band like them, will there?
What To Shop This Weekend: Danner Bull Run Lux Boots via UNCRATE
As I pondered these stylish Danner boots, I imagined how I’d wear them out to, well, a concert and a brewery visit in days gone by. Perhaps you’ve got the same mental image? Either way, the rugged Danner Bull Run Lux Boots are a new surefire fall style staple, easily wearable with your favorite blue jeans or tan chinos in equal measure, and made to last and last for seasons to come. They’re particularly suited right now for fall adventures in the field and on the trail, but they’ll do just fine if you need work boots to wear around the house (or heck, just a cool pair of moc toe boots to wear as you pick up brewery to-go beers). Either way, these Danner boots are assuredly on my fall style wish list, and it’s even better that you can get ‘em at UNCRATE.
Shop Danner Boots
What To Sip This Weekend: Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
It’s with the season in mind that I’m calling out this perfect Irish whiskey for fall. Founded by UFC fighter Conor McGregor, certainly a noted whiskey fan, Proper No. Twelve Whiskey strikes the right tone for the season (it’s an homage to the neighborhood where he grew up, too). This is a whiskey flavorful enough to enjoy in, say, Irish coffee and yet nuanced enough to sip on the rocks or neat. In fact, I had the chance to join the Proper No. Twelve team earlier this year for a standout “SMASH burger” making demonstration, and we sipped this fine Irish whiskey all the while. Seeing as you can get it delivered to you via Drizly, I’d say this is the coolest Irish whiskey you can get your hands on at the moment, and it’s a nice pairing with, say, some classic indie rock music by The Replacements Cheers to that.
The Final Pick: Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket
See, I told you we’d get to some rugged menswear from Filson, and well, here we are. For my fall and winter walks around Brooklyn, I look for tough outerwear that can stand up to the elements, and the Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket is exactly the right kind of jacket for these days ahead of us. It’s the stuff of legend, made with a custom fabric blend and featuring all the bells and whistles you’d expect in your new favorite fall jacket, from the rain-repellent finish to the plethora of pockets to store your everyday carry essentials. Is it one of the best jackets for fall? I’d say so, yes. Do you need it ASAP in your wardrobe? Again, yes!
Folks, how are we feeling? Are we tuned up and plugged in for a fall weekend with the music of The Replacements? Are we layered up with the Filson Tin Cloth Cruiser Jacket? And do we have some Proper No. Twelve Whiskey on deck for happy hour later?If so, well, I’d say your fall is off to a mighty fine start. If you end up trying any of these gear picks, be sure to let me know in the comments below, and as ever, thank you for reading and for your support. Here’s to staying “left of the dial,” alright? I know Paul Westerberg would approve.