Welcome to the debut of the Local Spins Playlist, kicked off by Dan Rickabus, whose wildly eclectic song picks include Radiohead, Seth Bernard, The Beatles and artists you’ve probably never heard before.
Presenting: The Local Spins Guest Playlist
For many musicians, they’re the songs they can’t get out of their heads, the tunes that inspire them as songwriters and performers.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Dan Rickabus
As part of Local Spins’ celebration of its second anniversary in covering West Michigan’s music scene, welcome to the Local Spins Guest Playlist, a new feature of the website in which some of the region’s favorite musicians will offer up their Top 10 lists of “here and now” songs that drain the batteries on their iPhones, the tunes they feel compelled to share with the rest of us.
First up: Drummer Dan Rickabus of The Crane Wives, who admittedly put the playlist bug in Local Spins’ ear and whose roster includes a couple of Michigan gems. Take a gander, then come to Rockford Brewing Co. tonight — Friday — for a special, free two-year celebration of Local Spins with two delectable rock bands (Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, The Legal Immigrants), giveaways, raffles, specials and more. The fun starts at 8 p.m.; get more details online here.
And feel free to submit your playlist of favorite songs in the comments below.
THE LOCAL SPINS PLAYLIST: DAN RICKABUS (May 9, 2014)
1. “Everything in Its Right Place,” Radiohead (from “Amnesiac,” 2001) – This song, in tandem with the winter weather finally breaking and the sun finally being here, has always ignited my imagination and sent me bounding into creative inspiration. It’s always felt so sky-blue to me.
2. “Love is Heavier,” Seth Bernard (from “Reconciliation & the Mystical Beyonda,” 2014) – My (and your) dear friend Seth has a new album coming out in May. I’ve been jamming it on repeat, partially to prep for backing him up at a show in Lansing, but mostly because it’s a phenomenal record. The weight of this tune landed hard in my heart and isn’t going anywhere.
3. “Golden,” My Morning Jacket (from “It Still Moves,” 2003) – A truly incredible song to warm the spirit. This one’s an all-time favorite of my wife-to-be Alex Smith and I, especially to sing along to on road trips. I sometimes wish it were possible to actually cuddle with Jim James’ voice.
4. “Hurricane,” Possessed by Paul James (from “There Will Be Nights When I’m Lonely,” 2013) – Speaking of road trips, this wild and encouraging tune has been played countless times in the Crane Wives van. When I listen to it at home, I can swim in the overwhelming joy of traveling and making music with my dear friends and bandmates. I’m a pretty lucky dude.
5. “God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise,” Ray LaMontagne (from the album of the same name, 2010) – Gorgeous, lush and BIG, this is a song for missing a loved one while you’ve got your feet firmly planted in the grass next to a mid-journey Northern bonfire.
6. “Virginia May,” Gregory Alan Isakov (from “This Empty Northern Hemisphere,” 2009) – This one’s for waking up in the morning, digging in and getting after it, living with heart. It also makes me think of my dear friends Alexander Atkin and Ben Darcie, who introduced me to this breathtaking album.
7. “Alabama,” Neil Young (from “Harvest,” 1972) – I’ve been having a total blast covering this tune with my dear friends in Max Lockwood and the Michigan Basement. Raw, powerful, poignant, rock and roll.
8. “A Clearing in the Wild,” Red Tail Ring (from “The Heart’s Swift Foot,” 2013) – This song has very deep meaning for Alex and I. It has been the soundtrack to many of our precious wilderness moments.
9. “Makhi Madni,” Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (from “The Last Prophet,” 2012) – My dear friend Joey Schultz moved away to Guatemala recently. This 17+ minute Pakistani love song is one of his favorites, and it brings me back to an epic quest that Joey, Max Lockwood and I embarked on last summer.
10. “A Day in the Life,” The Beatles (from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” 1967) – What is there to say about this song? One of the all-time greatest recordings. Great closer.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
