You recall it all forever

A new track from Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner, plus summer beer & gear

Welcome to a well and truly jam-packed Saturday edition of The Style Guide In Brief, your favorite music-menswear-spirits newsletter. On Tuesday, I talked about a standout new single from Scottish synth pop trio CHVRCHES, and today, we’re talking about the soothing, reflective track “Latter Days,” by Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon’s indie folk side project Big Red Machine. It’s a suitably laidback and introspective track, and it’s also a bit of a breath of fresh air leading into the weekend. In fact, Big Red Machine has been the soundtrack of much of these past couple days, and it’s all fitting, given my recent travels On Tuesday, I embarked on an upstate trip to Hutton Brickyards with Laphroaig (thanks to my whiskey writing with Maxim, of course — check out my full portfolio here). Oh, and the photo above was captured by the terrific AJ Gottschalk, our fishing guide and photographer extraordinaire.

There was lots of fly fishing and Scotch tasting — in a nod to the fly fishing fest that takes place at Laphroaig every year — not to mention some incredible culinary pairings. Head to my Instagram for a few snaps of the trip, on that note. Beyond the opportunity to try out Scotch and snap some neat photos, it was incredibly refreshing and rewarding to get out of the city for a few days. Whenever I get the chance to do that, I turn towards a calming soundtrack that’s going to lock in these special moments and trips. Thankfully, this song did that for me on this particular trip.

Do you have certain songs you find yourself playing when you want both a sense of relaxation and that all-important sense of perspective? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to follow me on Spotify as I add to my Work-From-Home playlist, a tranquil escape of sorts from the hustle and bustle of the city. In the meantime, here’s the rest of today’s weekend-centric briefing. Plug in and tune out as we roll into Saturday.

What To Listen To This Weekend: “Latter Days” By Big Red Machine Feat. Anais Mitchell

Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Anais Mitchell isn’t quite the most famous collaborator on the upcoming Big Red Machine album (that would be Taylor Swift), but she does an amazing job at some levity and heart to a track that’s already packed with it. Such is the magic of indie folk and rock heroes Aaron Dessner (of The National, and the man behind the past two Taylor Swift albums) and Justin Vernon (of course, of Bon Iver fame). The two have landed on something that infuses the heart and soul of both of their respective approaches to songwriting, and when you throw in collaborators like Mitchell and yes, T-Swift, the parts work in a beautiful harmony. This track is packed with plenty of soul-stirring lines (“You recall it all forever comes to mind”). And if it’s any indication of things to come from this album (out August 27th), we’re in for a treat. For now, enjoy what could become your new weekend soundtrack. It’s also pretty fitting that Big Red Machine fuses the eclectic personal stylings of Dessner and Vernon — we’re talking about two pretty cool guys, if we’re being honest. With that style inspiration in mind, here’s what to shop this weekend.

What To Wear This Weekend: Wellen Organic Cord Shirt

When I think of a certain type of folk or indie rock, I tend to think of rugged menswear that accompanies that style of music. You’ve likely got an idea in mind already (certain artists have always been associated with certain looks, after all), and that’s where the Wellen Organic Cord Shirt comes into play. It fits perfectly in line with the rustic Wisconsin style of our man Justin Vernon, and it’s also pretty relatable to Mr. Aaron Dessner of The National, who’s frequently wearing some sort of riff on the above shirt. If you want to channel your own indie folk rocker, wear this organic cotton cord shirt from Huckberry to grab a cold beer this summer. Speaking of cold beer…

What To Sip This Weekend: Laphroaig 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

While I’d normally devote this space to the latest and greatest in craft beer, I’ve got to give the nod to my very generous hosts at Laphroaig. We sipped on some of the finest Scotch on the planet, including the flagship Laphroaig 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. It’s complex and opens up the more you sip on it, and it’s by far one of the most enjoyable Scotch whiskies I’ve ever had. It’s a nice pairing to sip alongside a new, introspective track later during happy hour, but that might just be me! I’m also looking forward to trying out even more of the famed distillery’s new expressions (stay tuned for more on Maxim.com soon!), but for now, you can’t go wrong with an incredible and deeply nuanced flagship Scotch from one of the world’s best distilleries. And it gets better: You don’t have to go all the way to Scotland to get it. Drizly will deliver it right to your door. Slainte!

The Final Pick: Wellen Easy Chino Shorts

So, you’ve got easy sipping, you’ve got easy listening and now, you’ve got … some easy-wearing shorts? Yes indeed, it all comes together with the well-made, sustainably crafted Wellen Easy Chino Shorts. Team these with the Wellen Organic Cord Shirt for style that expertly channels folk rock and an easygoing summer weekend, then ensure your bar cart is stocked with Laphroaig 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky for a surprisingly enjoyable seasonal sipper. The drawstring waistband makes these perfect for weekend errands, upstate trips or back porch imbibing, and the fact that they’re sold by Huckberry (lovers of good spirits and great music) is icing on the cake, so to speak.

I’m biased, but the recipe for a successful, laidback weekend is well within your reach if you follow just a few of these tips. I’m already a fan of the cool-as-can-be styling potential of the Wellen Easy Chino Shorts, especially if you decide to buy both those casual shorts and the excellent, folk rock-esque Wellen Organic Cord Shirt. Picking out a weekend soundtrack hopefully is also easier than normal, seeing as Big Red Machine now has a string of just-released singles with which to ease you into Saturday. And when happy hour rolls around, take a chance on Laphroaig Scotch for a pleasant, refined summer spirit. If anything of these picks strike your fancy, let me know in the comments — and be sure to tell all your friends! Slainte!