Necktie Optional episode 20 (9/3/2026)

A heavy dose of guitar-driven indie and alt-rock tonight: Michigander, Westside Cowboy, Sterling Gavinski, Improvement Movement, Hovvdy, Twin Bloom, Fruited Planes, Other Girls, Good Flying Birds, The Big Moon, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah all worked that lane. The Velvet Teen, Minus the Bear, Pinback, The Ninth Wave, and Editors brought a moodier, more angular edge, while Waxahatchee, Ratboys, and The Buoys leaned into scrappier, more rootsy territory. Gang of Youths and Brian Fallon (of The Gaslight Anthem) both went for big, heartland-rock catharsis in different registers.A few tracks came with real stories attached. Fantastic Cat's "Donnie Takes the Bus" comes from a New York indie-folk supergroup whose name was picked on the spot by a bartender the four members asked, half-joking, what they should call themselves. Jamie T's "3310" — named for the old Nokia brick phone — is the lead single off his upcoming sixth album, a nostalgic look back at youth and everything left behind. Ron Gallo's "Peter Thiel" is a scathing, satirical protest song, part of an ongoing series of topical tracks he's been releasing skewering powerful political and tech figures.Zimmer Grandioso's "beach house" added a stranger, more idiosyncratic texture to the set, and Cake closed things out with "Mr. Mastodon Farm," a deep cut off their 1994 debut record.Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.Setlist:Fantastic Cat | Donnie Takes the BusThe Brook & The Bluff | It Can't BeEels | What's A Fella Gotta DoMichigander | Good ThingsThe Buoys | Welcome to my BrainThe Velvet Teen | PecosMinus the Bear | Spritz!!!Spritz!!!Jamie T | 3310Westside Cowboy | Worried AgeSterling Gavinski | DogfightZimmer Grandioso | beach houseImprovement Movement | I DoRon Gallo | Peter ThielHovvdy | JJGang of Youths | Things Take TimeWaxahatchee | Can't Do MuchPinback | FortressTwin Bloom | Magazine DreamsFruited Planes | So You SayOther Girls | Hey Fella, Ya FellGood Flying Birds | Fall AwayBrian Fallon | Better BeforeThe Ninth Wave | BitumenEditors | BulletsRatboys | It's Alive!The Big Moon | GravityClap Your Hands Say Yeah | Let The Cool Goddess Rust AwayCake | Mr. Mastodon Farm