Folks, thanks for joining me here for another dispatch of my twice-weekly music and menswear newsletter, which is different (but somewhat the same) as my daily style blog from which it gets its name (if you’re new here, that is). Thanks for reading!
The month of September was a whirlwind in every sense of the word, which you might know if you’ve been keeping up with this newsletter. I trekked back to Detroit just earlier this week to see indie rocker Julien Baker, I hit the road the week before that to see 2000s icons The Killers in Pennsylvania and naturally this weekend, I’m taking it easy and … hitting the road to see yet another rock show. I don’t know about you, but as concerts and live events made their triumphant return, with tour dates piling up left and right, I snapped up plenty of tickets and now, well, those dates are all actually coming to fruition. That means I’ve got to pack up my bag with indie rock-inspired style, and that’s why I’m on the road as we speak to see indie rockers Big Thief in Philadelphia. This four-piece is as fitting a way to welcome in fall as any. If you’re not familiar with Big Thief’s textured and sonically rich rock — a real throwback these days — they’ve got an aesthetic that bridges the gap between folk and indie, plus loud grunge at times.
In short, it’s the ideal sort of band to see while wearing a flannel shirt in a historic Northeast city, sipping an Octoberfest beer after a breezy fall day. If you can’t quite make it out to a show of your own this weekend, I put together a handy guide to bring the concert to you, from music to menswear and (of course), cold beer. Those are all the best things in life, right?? Thanks for reading — and to check out more of my (music and non-music) writing, head to my portfolio here. OK, let’s rock!
What To Listen To This Weekend: Big Thief (Yes, anything by Big Thief)
Led by quiet yet oddly powerful singer and guitarist Adrianne Lenker, a talented solo artist in her own right, Big Thief are assuredly a band to know these days. They’re signed to the indie label 4AD, the same label as personal favorites The National and Future Islands, always a great sign. To me, that signifies they take an approach to writing and crafting music that’s carefully nuanced and really thoughtful, and across four standout albums, to boot. That includes two albums in 2019 alone, and they’ve lately been teasing some new material, which I really can’t wait to hear live within the rather intimate confines of Philadelphia’s Union Transfer. If you haven’t yet given them a listen, I think the at-times raucous and at-times quiet “Two Hands,” the second of the band’s 2019 albums, is the right sort of rustic fall rock album. If you like what you hear, let me know on my music and menswear Twitter. Cheers!
What To Shop This Weekend: A rugged flannel shirt from Huckberry
Like I said above, I’ve packed accordingly when it comes time to hit the road to see a rock show, as one would expect (and as I’ve talked about over and over in this newsletter!). Just as I’m recommending you dive into as much of the excellent indie rock catalog of Big Thief as possible, I’m recommending you shop a plethora of the best fall flannel shirts at Huckberry. The flannel shirt was worn by grunge rockers like Nirvana, but before that, everyman rock bands like my Midwest heroes The Replacements also wore flannel shirts for practicality and warmth on the road (they were from Minnesota, after all). So, do yourself a favor this fall and get your new favorite flannel shirt in your digital shopping cart as you listen to your new favorite indie rock band. If you’ve kept up with this newsletter, you know what pairs well with flannel and rock music, right?
What To Sip This Weekend: Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale
Now, admittedly, this weekend beer pick is a bit more related to my own travels, as I’ll be visiting Yards Brewing in Philadelphia prior to my Saturday night rock show. But for your own Saturday (and Sunday) sipping, the Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale — available for delivery via Drizly — should be as safe a bet as any. A pale ale is a relatively easy-to-drink style with lots of classic hop character, always a solid move for these transitional times we live in. Plus, you can enjoy more than one as you watch a virtual concert or some college football, and that’s not a bad thing at all. Cheers to the weekend, my friends.
The Final Pick: Classic fall boots from Huckberry
Well, here it is again, the ultimate pairing — dependable fall boots from Huckberry (of which there are plenty available), teamed with a classic flannel shirt and a cold, crisp fall beer. As I always say, some combinations just go together remarkably well, and this is one such pairing. There are plenty of handsome, durable options to be worn all across the Midwest and Northeast, from beer festivals to park strolls and concerts, so select your favorite pair wisely from one of my favorite retailers.
If these picks don’t get you firmly in the fall spirit, then hey, I’m not sure what to tell ya. At the very least, I hope you’ve found a new favorite band to enjoy by way of the textured rock of Big Thief, and perhaps a new seasonal layer by way of the best fall flannel shirts at Huckberry. Have any thoughts on these picks? Have a favorite Big Thief song? Let me know in the comments below. Again, cheers to the season ahead!