Are you ready to rock?! To run?! To celebrate one of the best traditions here in Jackson Hole?! Old Bill’s giving season is happening now and we hope that you will find it in your hearts (and in your wallets) to donate to this essential community resource at KHOL this year.
We’re excited to once again be providing the music at Old Bill’s Fun Run on Saturday, September 7 at Jackson Elementary School Field. I’ll be spinning tunes close to the start/finish line so please come by and say hi!
I had a lot of fun putting this running-focused playlist together to help you prepare for the big day. There’s local music, brand new material from exciting indie artists and tried and true classics from big names all in there for YOU. I hope that it energizes, motivates and inspires you all!
Below is the entire playlist including my thoughts on a few favorites.
Follow us on Spotify to keep up with our recent obsessions.
Christian Wallowing Bull – Sweet Grass On My Dash
Runner’s note: A propulsive and energetic opening to get the blood flowing.
Hailing from Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation, Northern Arapaho singer-songwriter Christian Wallowing Bull’s deep, almost haunting voice, rises over a rhythmic guitar and kick drum combining to form a sound that is undeniably contemporary with strong echoes of the past. His latest album, “My First Buffalo Hunt,” features a collection of songs sharing stories of Indigenous peoples filled with grit, kindness and cultural resonance.
I wanted Wallowing Bull’s powerful “Sweetgrass On My Dash” from the album to kick off the playlist in order to set a tone and establish a sense of place while infusing the listener with that necessary goosebump-inducing energy at the start of any run. I remember first listening to the song walking through the Elk Refuge and being deeply impacted by the deliberately frantic guitar strumming, fast-paced percussion and primal groans as I looked out over the Teton range. When interviewing Wallowing Bull back in March, he said “It really is kind of painting a portrait of what it would look like cruising through the reservation in like an old ’82 truck. For me, it’s just a shout out to my people. And the way that it turned out, I think the the story really speaks for itself.”
Runner’s note: A burst of energy to kick yourself into a higher gear
The second I heard English duo Sleaford Mods I knew they were for me. Two of my dearest loves, punk and hip hop coming together in a beautiful mess. The wicked humor and sharp-witted delivery of Jason Williamson’s lyrics are supported perfectly by the deceivingly simple, lo-fi beats of Andrew Fearn.
The song “B.H.S.” caught my ear while running around Jackson during the pandemic (true story). I was immediately energized by it’s sped-up, shuffling metronome-like beat coupled with Williamson’s darkly ironic rallying cry for those that are being constantly monitored via surveillance cameras and constantly trackable via personal smartphones.
The song takes it’s title from the department store chain formerly prevalent in many English suburbs named British Home Stores (B.H.S.) whose abrupt closure in 2016 led to the loss of thousands of jobs and subsequent pension funds, leaving countless former employees with no retirement income. Songs like this that reel you in with their catchy and simplistic characteristics but convey a deeper and darker message always seem to resonate with you a little bit longer than others.
Runner’s note: Motivation to maintain momentum
Brijean is the project of percussionist/singer-songwriter Brijean Murphy — the percussive heartbeat for live bands like Mitski, Poolside, and Toro y Moi — and multi-instrumentalist/producer Doug Stuart. Both sophisticated and fun, Brijean’s music is colorful, dynamic and always exuberant. “Workin’ On It” from their latest album, “Macro,” started out as a daytime living room jam but came together late at night as Murphy grappled with bouts of insomnia.
Using Stuart’s concoction of layered basslines over a loop of bongos, congas and a drum machine, she improvised sleep-deprived lyrics, riffing on self-improvement and coping with modern times. The result is a light and breezy psychedelic pop track that will have you running to the dance floor (or the next mile marker).
Runner’s note: Emotional triumphant peak of the run
Electronic DJ/producer Elkka grew up in South Wales with next to no queer community and struggled with her own identity. After moving to London in her 20s, she started DJing, writing and producing which eventually led to the launch of her own record label and running her own queer club nights.
With her debut album, “Prism Of Pleasure,” Elkka aims to capture the essence of a bold, queer woman celebrating freedom and sensuality. The album’s 10 tracks pulse and move with infectious grooves that give a thrilling glimpse into Elkka’s reality. The hard-hitting and heartfelt “Right Here” was written in the space of 40 minutes on the day of her father’s funeral. Its raw energy and epic emotion grabs you immediately and never lets go. It’s a powerful message of needing and wanting someone to be there for you, even if they won’t always be there for you.
Chicano Batman & Money Mark – Crosseyed & Painless
Runner’s note: Cooling it down while celebrating chaos
If you can believe it (I’m still struggling with it), the landmark Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense” turned 40 years old this year. To celebrate, the film was remastered in 4K by the production company A24 and rereleased in theaters across the globe with the band’s original members reuniting for numerous public appearances at various theaters and late night talk shows.
Since the original film’s release back in 1984 came with a highly successful soundtrack, the powers that be at A24 felt an additional musical release was appropriate to pay homage to arguably the greatest American band of all time. “Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense” is a 16-track compilation by modern artists covering the classic concert’s setlist. Miley Cyrus, Paramore, Lorde, and the National headline an all-star lineup of musicians taking a crack at some of Talking Heads’ most indelible songs. While some of the artists involved don’t quite understand the assignment of capturing the essence of what made the songs great in the first place, Chicano Batman and Money Mark’s rendition of “Crosseyed & Painless” passes the test with flying colors.
The track begins with an intriguing psychedelic spin on the original’s arrangement coupled with vocalist Bardo Martinez’s wild paranoia that perfectly channels David Byrne. The band then drops it heavy with the help of Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark with a bubbling concoction of beats, tones and riffs catapulting the song into a fantastically swampy and syrupy goop that will have you bouncing around the room for days to come.
Follow us on Spotify to keep up with all of our playlists.
