Necktie Optional

A very special episode of Necktie Optional to celebrate and reflect on 250 years of American independence, and reflecting upon the good, bad, and ugly - and embracing protest music as a desire for positive change.Setlist:The Menzingers | America (You're Freaking Me Out)Greta Van Fleet | A Change Is Gonna ComeConner Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band | Roosevelt RoomDescendents | 'MericanJohn Prine | Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven AnymoreBright Eyes | When The President Talks to GodCarsie Blanton & The Burning Hell | Private EquityMon Rovia | Heavy FootJesse Welles | Masks OffDavid Dondero | Pre-invasion JittersForest Sun | America, I Love YouMicah Schnabel | Nuclear WarKennyHoopla | NEW AMERICA//Ozomatli | Pa LanteEdwin Starr | WarBrendan Hines | GuillotineCarsie Blanton & The Burning Hell | Hoist the GuillotineBad Religion | Let Them Eat WarRage Against The Machine | TestifyDead Pioneers | TiredPearl Jam | Fortunate SonBruce Springsteen | Born in the U.S.A.

Episode 11 brings fresh cuts from Michigander, Kelley Stoltz, and Carver Commodore alongside The Beths, The Long Winters, Dismemberment Plan, and FIGHTMASTER. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional. It's also pledge drive week — if you like what you hear, visit www.kpcr.org/join and help keep radio weird!

Episode 10 casts a wider net than most — Iceage, Inundaremos, and Wippy Bonstack bring some international and angular flavor to a set that also makes room for The Killers, Tegan and Sara, and The Beths. More math, more edges, more passport stamps than your average Thursday. Known quantities holding the door open for ones worth knowing. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.Setlist:Stars | FixedBraids | EvolutionBoyish | LegsFIGHTMASTER | Bad ManCarver Commodore | Never Know What To SayCold War Kids | Louder Than EverInundaremos | 3300Ra Ra Riot | Ghosts Under RocksWippy Bonstack | Dancing with the MonksMei Semones | Rat with WingsMinus the Bear | KnightsThe Velvet Teen | EclipsesKenny Hoopla & Albert Hammond, Jr. | NEW AMERICA//Moving Units | Between Us & Themdiet lemon | foolTrestles | BabylonKing Tuff | Invisible Inksueter7 | Confluenciassusquatch | Spin The WordsP.E.E. | IHOPFeed Me Jack | Knight ForkMaggie Gently | Horrible OracleWeird Nightmare | Might See You ThereIceage | The WeakEditors | The RushTwen | One Stop Shop (For A Fading Revolution)Teagan and Sara | HellThe Von Bondies | C'mon C'monThe Beths | Expert In A Dying FieldThe Killers | Dying Breed

Episode 9 lets Rilo Kiley, The Beths, and The Linda Lindas hold the door open for Kashus Culpepper, Hikes, Eastern Souvenirs, and a few others worth remembering. Good curatorial instincts tend to work that way. All killer, no filler. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.Setlist:Man/Woman/Chainsaw | NosediveFrancis of Delirium | DamnedGreat Grandpa | BloomRilo Kiley | The Execution of All ThingsThe Beths | When You Know You KnowMinus the Bear | Hold Me DownThe Verve Pipe | Barely (if at all)Jesse Welles | The Ballad of Big BallsKashus Culpepper | JenniLuc Swift, Kacie Jewel Hill | Still Life 2x2Dermot Henry | My Favourite Book Is One I've Read A BunchVansire | RinksideMae Powell | Contact HighDogpark | Don't LieIan Sweet | Criminal KissingHikes | VulnerableThe Velvet Teen | ForlornMei Semones | TegamiEmma Harner & Henry Jamison | The LakeThe Linda Lindas | Burning OutValley | Vending MachineMichigander | SuperglueEastern Souvenirs | SpinningPost Sex Nachos | Been SomebodyMorcheeba, Django Django | Hold It Down - Django Django Bump & Run RemixGryffin f. Julia Church | Spin Me SlowlyTemples | Jet Stream Heart

Episode 8 is stacked with new music: EGOISM, Pamela., Pete Yorn, JW Francis, Arcy Drive, Beaming, Feeble Little Horse, Wes Parker, Kevin Morby, Babehoven, Mikaela Davis, Wild Pink, The Mountain Goats, Michigander, Westside Cowboy, and Francis of Delirium all bringing fresh material. Handpicked as always. Neckties remain optional.Today's set:EGOISM | Time for the NeedyPamela. | Better Than BeforeTwen | Tapdance In LimboThe Velvet Teen | SonreoPete Yorn | All The BeautyJW Francis | Radio TowerArcy Drive | one'n a millionbeaming | say goodbyeyeemz | TSAfeeble little horse | RewindSufjan Stevens | Should Have Known BetterMei Semones | Wakare No KotobaWes Parker | Bad DoggieKevin Morby | JavelinBabehoven | Blue Around YouMikaela Davis | Nothin's On The RadioThe Royston Club | The Patch Where Nothing GrowsMinus the Bear | Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!Brigitte Calls Me Baby | Slumber PartyThe Gnomes | Magic ManWild Pink | Round Of Applause At The End Of The WorldThe Mountain Goats | Charlie Sheen Reaches Out to the FedsMichigander | Over Before You Know ItWestside Cowboy | Kick Stones (The Boys)Dari Bay | We're Gonna Be OkayHater | LandslideLoquat | Swingset ChainFrancis of Delirium | Higher

Episode 7 spotlights new releases from Wildermiss, Joyce Manor, Cody Jr, and Francis of Delirium, with a healthy local contingent — Often Easy, Trestles, Luke Sweeney, Indigo Elephant, Sweet Lew, Slow Coast, and The Velvet Teen — rounding out a set that also finds room for Frightened Rabbit, Snail Mail, and Friko. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.This week's setlist:Matt Pond PA | SpecksModest Mouse | Japanese TreesOften Easy | The Devil in YouWildermiss | Kiss The WeedsStars | Ageless BeautySnail Mail | Feeling Like I DoTrestles | BonesJoyce Manor | I Used To Go To This BarLuke Sweeney | Sum'r Nights (Radio Edit)Michigander | I'll Be Okoso oso | all of my loveIndigo Elephant | Rat RaceSWEET LEW | sicilySlow Coast | Not AloneCody Jr | End of the ArtsTapes 'n Tapes | Freak OutFrancis of Delirium | Out TonightGhost Work | Erase the MorningWe Were Promised Jetpacks | Roll Up Your SleevesFrightened Rabbit | Swim Until You Can't See LandMei Semones | AnimaruSoftcult | Pill To SwallowThe Beths | Future Me Hates MeFriko | Still AroundThe Velvet Teen | GyzmkidMinus the Bear | Summer AngelU.S. Royalty | Monte Carlo

Episode 6 introduces new tracks from Liana Warren, Sakai, and Hovvdy alongside with some deep dives into the proverbial dusty record bins — Andrew Bird, Beach House, Sufjan Stevens, Gogol Bordello, and Black Country New Road among the highlights. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.The Linda Lindas | All In My HeadNada Surf | In Front of Me NowTreasvre | Cherry RedThe Vaccines | Love To Walk AwayAndrew Bird | Make a PictureGogol Bordello | Pala TuteEverything Everything | Cough CoughStars | Death to DeathIron & Wine | Woman KingLiana Warren | Chance EncounterKacie Jewel Hill | JetstreamSakai | OutBlack Country, New Road | Happy BirthdayHovvdy | Try Try TryBeach House | Norwayterraplana | charlieMei Semones & John Roseboro | Tooth FairyKings of Convenience | Boat BehindDismemberment Plan | A Life of PossibilitiesMae Powell | Where Will Love GoBlitzen Trapper | Black River KillerLittle Green Cars | Harper LeeSufjan Stevens | Decatur, or, Round of Applause for your Step-Mother!The Velvet Teen | Naked GirlMichigander | Peace of MindSilver Shores | Shadow ArtistMinus the Bear | Fine + 2 PTS

Episode 5 features fresh cuts from Spacey Jane, The Gnomes, and Blackhorse Hotel alongside a characteristically eclectic pull — Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Dismemberment Plan, and Ra Ra Riot among them. Mei Semones makes another appearance, which at this point feels less like a coincidence and more like a residency. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.Set List:Minus the Bear | Throwin' ShapesFazerdaze | Lucky GirlThe Velvet Teen | RadiapathyFright Years | StarsDismemberment Plan | Sentimental ManSpacey Jane | I Never See HerMichigander | Giving UpModest Mouse | History Sticks to Your FeetFuture Future | Television GlowFrancis of Delirium | Little Black DressThe Beths | TakeEnemies | itsallwavesMew | Introducing Palace PlayersAriel Pink | Round and RoundThe Flaming Lips | Silver Trembling HandsMei Semones | I can do what I wantPool Kids | Thats Physics, BabyRa Ra Riot | Dying is FineCrying | Wool in the WashBlackhorse Hotel | TreasureTelescreens | Otherside of TownCold War Kids | Passing the HatFriko | Choo ChooPetey USA | I'll WaitTed Leo & The Pharmacists | Me and MiaThe Gnomes | Thinking of MeDark Knights of Camelot | Wanna Be

Episode 4 brings fresh cuts from Michigander and aron! & Mei Semones into the mix alongside a well-stocked roster — Beirut, Spoon, Frightened Rabbit, Kings of Convenience, and The Velvet Teen among them. It closes on the Polyphonic Spree covering Lithium, which is exactly as big as it sounds. Handpicked, as always. Neckties remain optional.Set List:Michigander | Freaking OutLo Moon | WaterSlow Runner | Check out My MyspaceFuturebirds | Fly OnDolce Wang | On the InsideFrancis of Delirium | It's a Beautiful LifeJW Francis | Watery Roadaron! & Mei Semones | MacrameSpoon | You Got Yr. Cherry BombEels | Beginner's LuckThe Beths | Straight Line Was A LieMan/Woman/Chainsaw | Only GirlGinger Root | Lorettaof Montreal | The Party's Crashing UsGrand Archives | Miniature BirdsBeirut | Postcards from ItalyDermot Henry | Little RibKings of Convenience | HomesickFeist | The RedwingPunch Brothers | I Blew It OffFrightened Rabbit | Get OutSilk Road | Space StationEditors | All SparksWe Were Promised Jetpacks | Ships with Holes Will SinkIndigo Elephant & Mare | Don't Wanna See ItMinus the Bear | ListingThe Velvet Teen | Counting BackwardsThe Polyphonic Spree | Lithium

This episode of Necktie Optional begins with a sprint and ends in a conversation. We kick things off in a state of high-tensile urgency, anchored by the frantic, jagged edges of The Walkmen and White Lies—the kind of music that feels like a midnight drive with a broken speedometer.As the dust settles, the set shifts from raw energy into a study of musical architecture. We navigate the intricate, math-inflected patterns of Minus the Bear and The Velvet Teen before finding ourselves in the lush, baroque landscapes of Andrew Bird and Stars. It’s a sequence designed for those who appreciate a melody that knows exactly where it’s going, even if it takes the scenic route to get there.The back half of the hour leans into the "Optional" part of our title, loosening the collar with the breezy, city-pop sensibilities of Ginger Root and the minimalist grooves of The Whitest Boy Alive. We round things out with a series of high-IQ collaborations—Kings of Convenience meeting Feist, and Jay Som pairing with Jim Adkins—proving that the best music happens when smart people get out of their own way.No pretense, no genre-policing—just a collection of songs that are as sharp as a tailored suit, but far more comfortable.

Episode 2 moves through a wide emotional and sonic landscape, opening with the indie rock energy of Rumspringa and Editors before the energy pulls back and the set opens up into more melodic, guitar-driven territory. Drawing from roughly two decades of alternative and indie music, the episode balances familiar names with lesser-known gems.The set weaves between indie rock and folk sensibilities, touching on artists like Foals, Band of Horses, Nick Drake, Iron and Wine, and Kings of Convenience, with a notable appearance from Jesse Welles alongside Joan Baez. The back half grows more intimate before closing on a cinematic note with Lo Moon, Sleeping At Last, and The Velvet Teen.Throughout, the show favors thoughtful sequencing over genre rigidity, making it a natural home for listeners who gravitate toward music with depth, melody, and atmosphere over flash.