My Weekly Mixtape

Latest Episodes:

Don’t Forget The Encore: The Ultimate ’80s & ’90s Power Ballads Playlist, Vol. 2 Oct 01, 2023

Show notes

Think back to a time when the concert encore and a power ballad went hand-in-hand. This week, Sean Faust returns as guest curator as we craft the show’s first-ever Vol. 2 episode, picking up right where our original ’80s & ’90s Power Ballads playlist (Episode 16) left off.

This follow-up dives deeper into the era of soaring choruses, emotional guitar solos, and arena-sized feelings — the kind of songs that closed shows, slowed dances, and somehow made heartbreak feel heroic. These are the tracks you waited all night for, hoping the band would come back out and deliver one last gut-punch anthem.

Spoiler alert: if you haven’t heard Vol. 1 yet, you might want to start there before heading down this road. But if you have? You already know the deal — lighters up.

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The Ultimate View Askewniverse Playlist: 20 Mall-Rat Songs From Kevin Smith Movies Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

This week, my guest curator is Chris Graue — the creative force behind the 8-bit ska-punk band Lo(u)ser — and together we’re building the ultimate playlist of songs from Kevin Smith movies. From Clerks to Chasing Amy to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, this episode is all about the soundtracks that helped define the View Askewniverse.

Along the way, we’re also talking music videos, since Chris has directed a long list of them for artists like NOFX, Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, The Bombpops, Suburban Legends, and former My Weekly Mixtape guests Scott Klopfenstein and Frank Turner.

If you’re a Kevin Smith fan, this one’s for you — consider it a love letter to the movies, the music, and the moments that make the View Askewniverse unforgettable!

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Inside Jono Manson & John Popper’s Songbook: The Stories Behind the Songs (feat. Jono Manson) Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m joined by singer-songwriter Jono Manson to dig into Bootlegger Days!! — his brand-new duo album with John Popper of Blues Traveler — and the 30+ year musical relationship that finally brought this project to life.

Jono and I trace the story back to the early ’90s New York City roots-rock scene, where Blues Traveler cut their teeth opening for Jono’s band Joey Miserable & The Worms. From there, we connect the dots through High Plains Drifter — featuring Chan Kinchla and the late Bobby Sheehan — and how that lineup evolved into the Jono Manson Band.

Along the way, we talk about what it meant to hear their music featured in major films like Kingpin and The Postman, revisit the 2011 collaboration John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours, and touch on Jono’s 2023 solo album Stars Enough To Guide Me. The conversation culminates in a deep dive into the songs and stories behind Bootlegger Days!! — a record shaped by decades of friendship, shared history, and time spent on the road.

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Inside moe.’s Songbook: The Stories Behind the Songs (feat. Jim Loughlin of moe.) Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

This week, I am joined by Jim Loughlin, multi-instrumentalist & percussionist for moe., in a (ahem) "jam-packed" episode, diving into songs from throughout the band’s 30+ year history.

We explore how their songs evolve in live shows, their unique approach to recording “studio” albums in a live setting, and how multiple lead singers shape the songwriting process. Plus, we break down how setlists are formed, highlight live staples that never saw studio release, and get the latest on moe.down, snoe.down, and the band’s plans for new music.

Whether you’re a full-fledged moe.ron or discovering the jam scene for the first time, this episode gives you the stories behind the songs that have defined this jamband’s 3 decades and counting.

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Forget the Sophomore Slump: 20 Essential Follow-Up Albums of the ’90s Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

This week, Jason Whissell of It’s Not That Bad and There Can Only Be One joins me to tackle one of the trickiest challenges in music: the sophomore album.

Every artist here released both their debut and follow-up in the ’90s, making the challenge even tougher. And yet, these second albums didn’t just survive the pressure — they proved the first record wasn’t a fluke.

From alternative rock and beyond, these follow-ups sharpened sounds, expanded identities, and in some cases, outshined the debut entirely. If you love ’90s music, deep dives into discographies, and debating which albums really delivered, this episode is for you.

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Wait, What?! 20 Popular Songs You Didn’t Know Were Cover Songs Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m joined by Jay Sweet to build a playlist of 20 popular songs you didn’t know were cover songs. From massive radio hits to tracks that feel inseparable from the artists who made them famous, we dig into recordings that actually started somewhere else entirely.

Some of these reveals genuinely caught us off guard, and the result is a playlist that’s equal parts familiar, surprising, and conversation-starting — perfect for anyone who loves uncovering the hidden history behind the songs they know by heart.

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🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠

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2000s Garage Rock Revival: 20 Essential Songs Behind the Resurgence Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m joined by DT Carel, host of SpaceCastle, to curate a playlist spotlighting the 2000s Garage Rock Revival — a movement that brought grit, swagger, and distortion back to the forefront of rock music.

Emerging in the early 2000s, the garage rock revival blurred the lines between punk, indie rock, and alternative, favoring raw energy over polish and attitude over perfection. Bands pulled from classic ’60s garage influences while updating the sound with modern urgency, resulting in songs that felt immediate, loud, and impossible to ignore.

This playlist digs into the defining tracks and key influences of the era — from fuzz-drenched riffs and stomping drum beats to hook-heavy choruses that crossed over into mainstream alternative radio without losing their edge.

If you’re a fan of 2000s alternative rock, indie garage bands, or the raw resurgence that followed the polished sounds of the late ’90s, this episode delivers a loud, lean, and unapologetic snapshot of the garage rock revival at its peak.

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🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠

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Synths, Style & Sound: 20 Essential ’70s & ’80s New Wave Classics Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

New Wave was a genre built on transition — where punk’s raw energy collided with pop hooks, synths, fashion, and experimentation. This week’s guest curator, Patreon Mixtaper Ben Cheknis, host of the Two Vague Podcast, joins me to curate a playlist celebrating the essential New Wave classics of the late ’70s and ’80s.

This episode traces New Wave’s evolution from its jittery, stripped-down beginnings to its more polished, radio-friendly peak, spotlighting the artists and songs that helped push alternative music into the mainstream.

Expect a smart balance of iconic hits, cult favorites, and deeper cuts that often get overlooked. Whether you discovered these songs through college radio, early MTV, or years later through playlists and reissues, this collection captures the sound, style, and forward-thinking spirit that made New Wave one of the most influential movements of its era.

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Just Go Ahead Now: Revisiting 20 Spin Doctors Songs with Drummer Aaron Comess Aug 06, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m joined by Aaron Comess — drummer for Spin Doctors — to help me build the ultimate Spin Doctors playlist, pulling from the band’s biggest hits, longtime fan favorites, and a few deeper cuts along the way.

We also dig into the details behind the band’s first new studio album since 2013’s If The River Was Whiskey. Along the way, Aaron reflects on the band’s 30-plus-year friendship and musical relationship with the members of Blues Traveler, his work with artists like Joan Osborne and Rachael Yamagata, and the unexpected (and unforgettable) collaboration with hip-hop legend Biz Markie.

It’s a conversation that’s equal parts nostalgia, history, and forward momentum — just go ahead now and press play.

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🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠

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Inside Everclear's Songbook: The Stories Behind the Songs (feat. Art Alexakis of Everclear) Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

This week, I’m joined by Art Alexakis — singer, songwriter, and guitarist for Everclear — to take a deep dive into the stories behind the band’s biggest hits, fan favorites, and overlooked gems.

We talk about everything from the 30th anniversary of their debut album World of Noise (recorded for just $400!) to the leap to a major label with Sparkle & Fade, the massive success of So Much For The Afterglow, and the double album Songs From an American Movie.

Along the way, Art shares his love for artists like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, and details their Live At The Whiskey A Go Go release.

This episode is a front-row seat to the stories, struggles, and songs that made Everclear a defining voice in alternative rock.

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🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠

💬 Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):⁠ https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠

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