Classic Rock Crate Digger: An Open Letter To My Local Disc Jockey

1. Susan Tedeschi - “Talking About”
I was just talking about this gnarly babe, whom I worship, if you haven't noticed. Ha, ha. BTW, whenever you play any Rod it's almost always one of them overcooked chestnuts off Every Picture Tells a Story. Give it a rest! Why not dust off Jeff Beck's Truth album. It's way heavier.

2. Lucero - “I Don’t Wanna Be The One”
These dudes mix roots rock with punk music. Most so-called rock critics consider them alt-country, but that's a lame phrase for country rock. This tune here reminds me of late '70s pub rock, back when Tom Petty, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello and Warren Zevon spiced up classic rock with angst and sass.

3. The Hold Steady - “Sequestered in Memphis”
Just about everybody I know compares these guys to the Boss. But I also hear a little Mott the Hoople in there. I like the Hold Steady a lot, though I do wish they sounded more like Thin Lizzy. Y'know, that whole twin guitar thing.

4. Moviola - “Rudy”
Dig that piano and milky-smooth voice. They're like Jackson Browne or something. This singer-songwriter ballad is very Laurel Canyon. Funny thing, though: Moviola hail from Columbus, Ohio. So go figure, man!

5. Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter - “In the Summertime”
Sure, the first half of this cool song is '60s folk-rock. But after a while, the Sweet Hereafter shift into Cream/Spirit mode, with dueling axes that work themselves into a sonic frenzy. 420, no doubt.

6. Buffalo Killers - “Leave the Sun Behind”
Easy one: Zeppelin circa IV and Houses of the Holy cut with high-grade West Coast country-rock (if you know what I mean ... sniff, sniff). Cranking this hairy anthem while cruising a high school parking lot sounds like fun. Oh wait. That would get me arrested.

7. The Coydogs - “Lost Horse Mine (Pt. 2)”
1980: fresh off Damn the Torpedoes, Tom Petty runs into Crazy Horse at some L.A. bar for cool rockers. Neil is off recording another all-acoustic album (Hawks & Doves), so they’re free to work with this young gun sitting across from them.

8. The Black Keys - “All You Ever Wanted”
Lets get something straight. These modern-day legends from Ohio are classic rock incarnate. There’s no comparing them to anybody but themselves. And that’s just how it is.

9. Donavon Frankenreiter - “Someone’s Something”
This beach bum’s rodent-sized ’stache reeks of Saturday afternoons soaked in rum 'n' Cokes. This tune, however, coasts along as if it’s an outtake from Rumours. Maybe Donavon should dress up in "witchy woman" black lace when performing this one live. Now that would be kind of kinky. Heh. Heh.

10. Heartless Bastards - “Hold Your Head High”
See the Black Keys at No. 8. More Buckeye freaks. I mean, really. Is any state more classic rock than Ohio?

11. Dan Auerbach - “Real Desire”
This Ohio thing is getting out of hand. With every gutsy lick and soulful wail, the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach tries to turn back the calendar to ’71. What a year.

12. Howlin Rain - “Nomads”
The lead singer, Ethan Miller, usually mugs like sweaty Santana in that funny Woodstock flick. But “Nomads” has more of a pre-Joker Steve Miller vibe, a spacey mix of acid rock and folk. Killer organ sound, too.

13. North Mississippi Allstars - “Keep the Devil Down”
Mother Earth could explode into a cloud of cosmic dust at midnight, and Hendrix would still have a rabid fan base. We can't say the same for disco, now can we?!?

14. The Felice Brothers - “Katie Dear”
Dazed and Confused is mandatory viewing. There is this cool scene when Mitch, Pink and Wooderson enter the Emporium to the sound of Dylan’s “Hurricane.” Richard Linklater could’ve burped up a clich� like “Show Me the Way” or “Jet Airliner,” but the director knew Dylan’s reemergence in the mid-’70s was so classic rock. And I think the Felice Brothers would agree.

15. JJ Grey & Mofro - “She Don’t Know”
Ever heard Joe South? He's an oldies act, but Deep Purple scored a hit with his song "Hush." JJ Grey is kind of, sort of like him. S-o-u-l-f-u-l.

16. TK Webb & the Visions - “God Bless the Little Angels”
Every Friday night at 11 you pay homage to freeform radio and spin a 10-minute epic or two. It's only eight minutes long, but “God Bless the Little Angles” would fit right in. Go for it.

17. The Derek Trucks Band - “Down in the Flood”
Derek is the nephew of Allmans drummer Butch Trucks and the husband of Susan Tedeschi (see No. 1). Need I say more?

18. Mark Lanegan (w/Soulsavers) - “Revival”
Imagine if the Lizard King didn't flatline in that tub and eventually turned gospel on us. Wow.

19. Marc Broussard - “Hard Knocks”
Broussard dresses all Urban Outfitters, like he's pals with that wimp John Mayer. But don’t be fooled by the threads. This brassy soul-rocker has spent a lot of time spinning Blood, Sweat and Tears’ Super Hits package, and maybe even the original Chicago Transit Authority album.

20. The Moondoggies - “Long Time Coming”
I’ve read countless comparisons to the Band, but Seattle’s Moondoggies are way more Lowell George and Little Feat -- albeit when they were imitating the Band.

21. Wilco - “You Are My Face”
Wilco -- whom you have played, like, twice in the last two years -- has morphed into soft-rock gods. Dig how Tweedy gets all choked up like some blue-eyed jive daddy in frayed cutoffs and flip-flops. Great stuff when you're tossing the Frisbee.

22. Dr. Dog - “The Ark”
I talked about these guys in my introduction, but allow me to toss out a few more references: Breakfast in America, “Whatever Gets You Through the Night,” and Abandoned Luncheonette.

23. Arbouretum - “Another Hiding Place”
These moody bastards are the offspring of Neil Young and Richard Thompson. Spin this on hangover Sundays.

24. Ray LaMontagne - “Let It Be Me”
LaMontagne drives The View crowd nuts with his husky croon and “baby, I’m all about you” attitude, all of which he borrowed from the king of Caucasian husk, Stephen Stills.

25. Drive-By Truckers - “3 Dimes Down”
The only band alive that matches the Black Keys in terms of modern classic rock prowess. God bless ’em for it.

Well, that's about it for now. Thanks for reading, and hopefully the "home of rock 'n' roll" can get a fresh coat of paint. ;)

Your fan through thick and thin,

Justin

PS - You're always drooling all over Joe Perry, but admit it, he stole his entire schtick from Peter Green!!!