graphic by Kat Buchanan
I really like seeing the connection between music and life. I like it even more that these musicians are truly some of my favorites and they just so happen to be local, as well.
1. “Knees” by Hers
Two of my favorite designers are in this band: bassist, Ellen Wilde (art director at SecretPenguin) and drummer, Cody Peterson (past art director at SecretPenguin).
The drums in this song were recorded in our old studio. I like the big echoey sounds the drums have.
2. “Let The Record Go” by The Mynabirds
When we were working on our daughter’s room before she was born, I had only The Mynabirds album on my phone. So we listened to it for weeks while painting and building. It reminds me of that exciting time preparing for our daughter’s arrival.
3. “Misery Train” by Conduits
Guitarist Nate Mickish is one of my best friends. His wife and my wife have been best friends since middle school. I’ve always enjoyed the music he’s played.
The drummer, Roger Lewis, and Michael Heim had a dog named James that we adopted and fell in love with.
4. “Morning Glory” by Conchance
When Brenton (Conchance) was 11, I started taking him and his friends out skateboarding — to contests, events and skateparks around the Midwest. I remember the first time I saw his show and I felt like a proud parent (as weird as that may sound).
5. “Typing: 1974-2048” by The Faint
Steve Berra (pro skateboarder and founder of The Berrics) used this song in one of my favorite skateboard video parts. I watched this part so much.
Beyond the good skateboarding/music, I liked it because…
A) Steve Berra had gone to the same high school as me. At the peak of dealing with bullies in school, I opened up the new Transworld Skateboard Magazine in 1993, and he wrote an article about our high school describing what he went through and to not let it beat you up. I still have that article.
B) In 1995, I entered my first skateboard contest in the “expert” division, and I got 12th place out of 12 people. Todd (Baechle) Fink won and came over and gave me his prizes and said, “It’s just a stupid popularity contest anyway. You deserved better.”
This was way better than winning to me because I looked up to him as a skateboarder at the time and would always watch his part in the H Street Skateboards video.
THE FIRST MIXTAPE
What Cheer's John Henry Müller
Nebraska Mixtapes is a series that highlights Nebraska music through the Nebraska creatives who love it. If you're a member of the creative class and would like to make a mixtape, reach Kat Buchanan at katb@hearnebraska.org.