Tag: running

MIXTAPE: Running With Old Sea Brigade

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Running has been a way for me to balance the highs and lows of the music industry. It gives me time to process my thoughts and decisions, and it’s also the perfect time for me to discover new music. In a chaotic world, running helps clear my mind and give me better energy throughout my day. I like to change up what I listen to, but below are a few of my go-to favorites. – Old Sea Brigade

“Starburster” – Fontaines D.C.

This was one of those songs that instantly grabbed me the moment I heard it. When I’m out running, I like to find songs where the beat is consistent. I think the scarcity of the instrumentation lets the drums and vocals just put you in a trance. It’s a perfect pace setter to start out your run.

“Midnight Rider” – Allman Brothers Band

Though I live in Sweden now most of the year, this song always brings back memories of growing up in Georgia. My mom’s from a small town in south Georgia called Brunswick and to get there from Atlanta (where I grew up), we’d always stop for a while in Macon, GA, home to the Allman Brothers. Every time I hear this song I oddly feel nostalgic for those blistering hot July drives through south Georgia to visit my grandparents. It’s a nice memory of home when I’m on a run through the streets of Gothenburg.

“New Noise” – Refused

Switching gears here… but I grew up playing in heavy bands and Refused were a pivotal band to me within hardcore music. I think this is the perfect mid-run song to help kick in those endorphins.

“You Think I Ain’t Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire” – Queens of the Stone Age

A lot of times when I’m running, I like to daydream I’m the drummer in a heavy band. There’s definitely been a number of occasions where I’m air-drumming to this one on a run. Hopefully, no one has that on video.

“Seventeen” – Sharon Van Etten

The lyrics to this song hit me with every line. Such a beautiful song with an equally magnificent production. The driving drums make it perfect for a run.

“Centurion” – King Buffalo

This song hits so hard, plus I love a good stoner rock jam. Fun one to run to.

“Run To Your Mama” – Goat

I love the Black Sabbath feel here and the consistent guitar rhythm. Sets a nice pace for running

“Under The Pressure (Live)” – The War on Drugs

I like to time this to be one of the last songs of my run. When the guitar solo hits at the end, it’s absolutely amazing. What an incredible live band.

“Punk Rock Loser” – Viagra Boys

I love this band. I was a little late to the party, but this was one of the first songs I heard from them.

“Broken Man” – St. Vincent

I’m obsessed with St. Vincent’s production on this one. I love how drastic the new instruments are introduced here.

Photo Credit: Rebecka Wendesten

BGS 5+5: Mali Obomsawin

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Mali Obomsawin
Hometown: Farmington, Maine
Latest album: Sweet Tooth
Personal nicknames: Boms

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

Every time I play my country-punk song “White People” it seems to change the energy in the room a bit. A lot of uncomfortable laughter, a lot of lulu’ing from Native audiences, and a lot of anxious shuffling from a certain generation of white folk. One of my favorite memories of being on stage was playing this for the first time with my band Taco Butt (c*nt-punk duo with Isa Burke). The reactions were priceless, and I wasn’t quite sure how the lyrics would hit. It was like the first time trying out a new comedy routine… or like jumping off a big rock into the water. Your heart stops a little before you land.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?

I spend a lot of time running in the woods or on trails by the rivers. This is where I can dissociate in a healthy way and you also come out of it with runner’s high. It’s how I was able to get through years of non-stop touring (I got pretty close to losing my mind but I think running kept me from the ledge) and I have actually thought of songs while running before! But mostly it’s just my meditation that regulates my ability to be present in all other parts of my life.

What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far?

Don’t rationalize anything that feels wrong. And don’t let the label own your masters.

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc. — inform your music?

Definitely literature. I’m always reading, pulling lyrics from books and poetry. This new album is somewhat of an exception because it’s either in Abenaki or it’s instrumental, but usually I read novels with a pen in my hand and underline poignant phrases or words with a good mouthfeel, haha. I use those for my songwriting. I also have some form of synesthesia and I think I used that a lot on this record. Knowing the images associated with some of the stories on Sweet Tooth, I tried to give the compositions “colors” and shapes that matched. For instance “Pedegwajois” is set in the middle of so-called Lake Champlain in a thunderstorm. So I tried to give the melody some blue, green, and yellow. When I hear the composition played out, I can see that scene.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

I would like to eat pickles with Mildred Bailey.

Photo Credit: Abby and Jared Lank

MIXTAPE: Kendell Marvel’s Inspiration on the Run

Posted on by Editor

“Listening to music when I run keeps my mind from wandering. It keeps me motivated and helps me keep a pace so I can sweat out whatever evil I got into the night before.” – Kendell Marvel

“Running on Empty” – Jackson Browne
Those days when I don’t really feel like going for a run, all I have to do is put on this tune to get moving. That classic ‘70s feel and the lyric to this song are pure motivation. Hell, look what it did for Forrest Gump.

“Against The Wind” – Bob Seger
There isn’t any other song that feels more open-road than this song. Bob Seger may be the greatest songwriter of our time. This song paints a perfect picture of the wind in your face. It just feels like freedom.

“It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne
Not only does this song have the stomp, but the guitar riffs, the B3 and the hand claps! Combined, they all make this the perfect tune to kick it up a notch. The first time I heard this ditty I was sitting around the fire in Lake Creek, Alaska, with John and TJ and they played it acoustic. It blew me away.

“Life in the Fast Lane” – Eagles
From the opening riff of “Life in the Fast Lane” it is pure adrenaline. Southern California ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll had it all. From the great melodies to the even greater lyrics, these guys were head and shoulders above any other bands of that era. Except Petty, of course.

“Wrong Side Of Memphis” – Trisha Yearwood
“Wrong Side Of Memphis,” was written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison and sung by the great Trisha Yearwood in the early ‘90s. It has that swampy, gritty feel that fires me up. It’s the perfect mid-tempo for an early morning run.

“Boots On” – Randy Houser
This tune by my buddy Randy Houser is the perfect in your face, barn burner country song to work up a sweat to. His vocals are stellar on everything, but this one is exceptionally good. Not many people can sing like that cat.

“Hippies and Cowboys” – Cody Jinks
This one’s my cooldown tune. After a good 4- or 5-mile run, Jinks’ laid-back retro sound brings the heart rate back down. Badass vocal by a badass dude.

“Fast as You” – Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam is the king of cool and this song from the get-go gets me going. Pete Anderson’s guitar work and production on this song [make it] everything an uptempo song should be.

“Cocaine Country Dancing” – Paul Cauthen
Good Lord, this song! It’s new to my playlist, but all I gotta do is push play and imagine wild man Paul Cauthen runnin’ up behind me. Immediately I knock a minute off my next mile.

“La Grange” – ZZ Top
“La Grange” is dripping with angst. It either make me wanna fight or run. Since I’m a little older now I better stick to runnin’ with this Little Ol’ Band from Texas blaring in my AirPods.

“I Ain’t Living Long Like This” – Waylon Jennings
The title of this Waylon tune, written by Rodney Crowell, pretty well sums up my reason for running every day. A musician’s lifestyle ain’t always the healthiest lifestyle. So I figure if I wanna hang around this world for a while I better stay in half-assed shape, so this title alone is motivation. Plus, this song just feels so good.

“Mowin’ Down the Roses” – Jamey Johnson
I think Jamey Johnson is a modern-day Willie Nelson. This song has so much grit and cockiness it’s hard not to run with a little swagger when it’s on.

“Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Tom Petty
Well, I saved this one for last because who do you play after Petty? Nobody! “Runnin Down a Dream” is the perfect rock ‘n’ roll song as far as I’m concerned. It’s reckless, it’s rockin’, it’s brilliant, and it makes me feel young. How else do you wanna feel when you’re on a run?

Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

The BGS Life Weekly Roundup: Haunted Honky Tonks, Southern Shopping, Smoking Supplies and More

Posted on by Editor

We're not just into music here at the BGS. We want to paint an entire picture for you, knitting together the lifestyles, talents, and culture of this Americana quilt we love so dearly. That's why we've taken the time to scour the web and collect the best food, style, travel, and lifestyle pieces that are affecting hearts and minds in a positive way. Here are some of our favorite stories of the week below. Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments!

Culture

Photo c/o Bitter Southerner

• A haunted honky tonk? The Bitter Southerner explores the ghostly origins of one Kentucky beer joint. 

Food

Photo c/o Oxford American

• The Oxford American looks closely at the South's culinary renaissance. 

Style

Photo c/o T Magazine

• The South's best shops, according to Garden & Gun. 

• SMOKING IS BAD FOR YOU. But if you're gonna kill yourself and/or break the law, do it in style. 

Travel

Photo c/o National Geographic

• National Geographic chronicles the endless charm of the general store. 

• A badass grandma ran the entire perimeter of the United States.