The end is here
If you’ve logged onto what you might call Music Twitter at any point since late Saturday night, you’ve assuredly seen the image above. Indie rock icon (yes, she’s already an icon!) Phoebe Bridgers had a thunderous and exciting debut on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, smashing her guitar, sparks flying and all, during “I Know The End” (and we talk more about the song below!). We’ve talked about Phoebe in the past in this newsletter, and there’s never a bad time to revisit a great 2020 album (that’d be the acclaimed “Punisher”) plus some style gear and a craft beer pairing for sipping as you shop and listen later.
The famed and already-iconic guitar smash ruffled some feathers, to say the very least, of a crowd that, in my mind, doesn’t get the spirit of rock n’roll or even, say, the desire to smash a (cheap!) guitar onstage after the terrifying year that was 2020. Who hasn’t had a thought like that, right? I thought it was an inspired bit of mythmaking (the guitar is a Danelectro, by the way) and carries on that lineage of, well, guitar greats smashing their instruments onstage. It reminded me, a little bit of the now-notorious 1986 SNL appearance by Minneapolis indie icons The Replacements, a favorite of this newsletter and of my personal listening preferences — imagine if the critics had been on Twitter for that one, right? Either way, I loved the moment, it’s a great song and hey, who doesn’t want to start their Tuesday off with a little fire and a little inspiration (and the shopping picks to match, of course). As always, this is The Style Guide In Brief, we’re here to help and we’re ready to go today.
What To Listen To This Week: “I Know The End” By Phoebe Bridgers
As I mentioned above, in my mind, Phoebe is already an icon, a master songwriter and lyricist with a razor-sharp wit, a terrific 2017 debut album and a hilarious and yet honest Twitter account, too. She puts pen to paper and comes up with quietly introspective and meaningful songs that call to mind singer-songwriters like one of her heroes, Elliott Smith. That results in tracks like “I Know The End,” which has a legendary outro in its own right (and a pretty wild music video). It’s the kind of song that demands multiple listens, and it comes with the kind of storytelling that calls to mind being on tour (“Close my eyes, fantasize/Three clicks, and I'm home”) and the loneliness that can come with writing and recording music at home during a pandemic — or the kind of pressure that comes with having to carry the mantle of modern-day indie rock, right? Phoebe does it all with grace and pluck, and it’s already made for two excellent studio albums and fun, inspired TV performances. Turn this one up, enjoy an iconic moment and naturally, keep scrolling to read about some Phoebe-inspired menswear.
What To Shop This Week: Taylor Stitch Moto Boots in Black Waterproof Nubuck
I talked in last Saturday’s newsletter about a denim jacket to buy from Taylor Stitch, so in the spirit of versatile and rugged winter menswear, let’s return once more to Taylor Stitch. Now, if I could, I would wholeheartedly recommend you pick up one of Phoebe Bridgers’ iconic skeleton suits, but since those aren’t quite readily made for everyday wear (unless, of course, you feel differently!), we’re going to talk instead about a pair of durable, classic leather boots — as I always say, I look forward to lacing these up when the time comes around to get back on the road and see an indie rock luminary like Phoebe play a live show. I certainly hope to break ‘em in before then!
Shop Taylor Stitch
What To Sip This Week: Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA via Drizly
Let me paint a picture for you. As you kick back at the end of a long Tuesday, you reach for a beer, but your fridge is running woefully low on the good stuff. That’s where alcohol delivery service Drizly comes into play, a crucial pandemic move that can help you get an iconic, cult favorite beer like Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA — it can be hard to track down outside of the Northeast, but again, that’s where Drizly enters the equation. Just a few clicks to pick it up, and then just a few more to start playing a standout record by Phoebe Bridgers (another cult favorite, if you will). I’ve had the chance to enjoy Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA in Brooklyn prior to guitar smash-worthy sets by bands like Cold War Kids or Phoebe Bridgers, and again, I can’t wait to get back at it. In the meantime, this beer is bright, refreshing and seriously drinkable, even out of a can. Turn it up to 11, folks.
The Final Pick: Freenote Cloth Classic Denim Jacket via UNCRATE
Rock n’roll is about as terrific a source of style inspiration as it gets, right? No doubt about it (as I’ve written regarding The Killers’ Brandon Flowers, among other style and rock luminaries). So that’s where we get the inspiration from for today’s final pick, a fittingly tough and easily wearable, classic denim jacket that’ll provide you with plenty of wear, day in and day out. It also helps that, like last Saturday’s style pick, it’s a rugged denim jacket you can buy at UNCRATE. You’ll also have this denim jacket for years and years, and it’ll only get better the more you wear it. How’s that for a do-it-all coat, ehh?
Alright, well, are we riled up following the guitar-smashing brilliance that is Phoebe Bridgers? I sure am — it’s hard not to love someone as authentic and talented as Phoebe, so if you’re not familiar, her music is a great way to set your week on a thoughtful path (although it’s not “party music,” as it were!). Perfect the pairings for your week ahead with a classic denim jacket as shown above, ensure you’re extremely well-stocked in your beer fridge with an enjoyable sipper — pun intended — like the Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA, and then make sure your boots match accordingly and in an inspired fashion (classic leather boots from Taylor Stitch ought to do the trick). Plug in, lace up and let’s rock through this week.