Mixtape | February 2026
I absolutely overworked this one. There’s no grand concept, I just kept dragging songs up and down like I was trying to solve a puzzle that didn’t need solving. At some point I realized the only real rule was “does this feel good right here?” and that was seemed like the way to go.
The Black Keys open because I don’t believe in easing people in gently. “You Got to Lose” just throws you into the room and I like that energy. The Linda Lindas covering the Rivieras follow because we need fun in our lives. “California Sun” feels scrappy in a way that makes me want to drive a little too fast.
I stuck Wavves in early because 43 seconds of chaos is healthy. It clears the palette. King Tuff right after just feels correct to me. Fuzzy, hooky, slightly smirking, this is one of my favorites of the month.
Bleachers might be the one I’ve played the most. “you and forever” is big but not exhausting. It swells in a way that feels earned instead of desperate. That chorus just works on me. I don’t have a more intellectual defense than that.
Ages and Ages closes that first stretch because I wanted one more lift before pulling the rug a little. “Up High Down Low” feels like a room full of people actually singing, not just streaming.
Then we chill out. On purpose.
Ratboys into Big Harp into Band of Heathens is where I let the set breathe. It’s less about energy and more about songwriting. I like that moment in a show when the band stops trying to win you over and just plays. The Happy Fits sit right there too, keeping it from getting too serious.
The middle stretch leans rootsy and I’m not apologizing for it. Pokey LaFarge, Josiah and the Bonnevilles, Charley Crockett, Hiss Golden Messenger. It sounds like people who know what they’re doing and aren’t rushing to prove it, that's hitting for me.
Time to turn the lights back up.
Luke Winslow-King and The California Honeydrops bring the groove back in a way that feels earned. Wells Ferrari adds a little drama. Cactus Lee keeps it grounded. It’s not a fireworks show. It’s just momentum.
And then I start messing with the vibe because I can.
Son Little shifts the temperature. Thundercat and Mac Miller completely change the air in the room, which I love. That’s the moment where someone goes “wait, what just happened?” in a good way. Chinese American Bear adds color right when things could’ve gotten too tasteful.
The ending is where I surprised myself. Milk Carton Kids feels like the obvious wind down. Nic Panken keeps it close. Vulfmon stays clean but honestly this could be anywhere and it'd hit. And then Kevin Morby shows up with “Javelin” and I just couldn’t move it anywhere else. Damien Jurado makes it even quieter. And somehow The New Pornographers end the whole thing without it feeling like a victory lap.
February isn’t tidy. It wanders. It gets loud, then thoughtful, then slightly weird, then soft again. But for me that’s the fun of it. I don’t want a straight line. I want the dip. I want the turn.
Start from the top. Or don’t. I’ll probably move something again next week anyway.
