07 Jan Matador Playlist 1/1/26 + Adios Raul & Joe

A New Year. A new beginning. A moment for reflection, a moment for change, a moment for—dare I say it?—optimism? Optimism—imagine that! A commodity in dangerously short supply in cynical times such as these in which we live. Be that as it may, DJ Inky returned to the Matador to kick off 2026 and—Praise Be On Most High—beloved Katia has returned as well! If that ain’t a good thang then I don’t know what is.

In this inaugural 2026 playlist a belated farewell is paid to Taos resident Joe Ely and to Raul Malo of that great lil’ band out of Miami, the Mavericks. I got turned onto Joe Ely back in the early ‘80s largely because of his association with the Clash. I can’t remember the particulars other than I was intrigued that Joe Strummer and the boys felt that an acoustic guitar strumming singer/songwriter from down Amarillo way was someone cool to hang and perform with. Ely’s Live Shots elpee had just come out and it quickly went into steady rotation on my antiquated Pioneer turntable/tuner combo. I got to see Joe in person a couple of times and he was a solid performer. Several of Joe’s tunes have resided permanently on my Matador playlists from the git go.

Raul Malo—what can I say? The Mavericks found their way into my consciousness back in the late ‘90s when they covered Gram Parsons’ Hot Burrito #1 on the Return of the Grievous Angel tribute album. I loved their unorthodox arrangement of Gram’s ballad, but that voice! That voice is what really put the hook in me and it belonged to Raul Malo. Until just a couple of years ago I assumed that he performed and recorded under a nomme de guerre: Raul Malo sounded like a character in a Hunter Thompson novel. But nope—that was indeed his actual birth name. I had the pleasure of seeing the Mavericks on a couple of occasions at Jazz Fest and they delivered absolutely everything one could have hoped for. One of the highlights of their 2019 set at the Fais Do-Do stage was a cover of the Freddy Fender classic Before The Next Teardrop Falls. I’m tellin’ ya Gentle Reader(s), the angels ‘pon high must have swooned when Raul sang that song—I know I did, and it’s a memory I shall cherish.

So, thank you Joe and thank you Raul for everything you gave us. And although I can’t truthfully count myself as a fan you may well detect a nod to Ace Frehley as well.

As is always the case, you can access the YouTube-ish iteration of this playlist by clicking your clicky thing right HERE. All best for 2026, one and all.

Grammar of Life – Charles Bukowski
H Eyes – the Ruts
Born To Be Blue – the Mavericks
Joe Strummer’s Grave – Wild Billy Childish
Make The World Go Away – Eddy Arnold
Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground – the White Stripes
Jealous Again – Black Flag
Honky Tonkin’ – Joe Ely
Astro Zombies – the Misfits
Streets of Detroit – SQÜRL
Rock & Roll – Motörhead
Bringin’ on the Heartache – Def Leppard
Something’s Gone Wrong Again – Buzzcocks
The Heart’s Filthy Lesson (Trent Reznor remix) – David Bowie
Big Takeover – Bad Brains
Your Time Is Gonna Come – Led Zeppelin
How Soon Is Now – the Smiths
Cretin Hop – the Ramones
TomTom – Black Eyes
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – AC/DC
Johnny’s Blues – Joe Ely
Animal Farm – Clutch
What A Crying Shame – the Mavericks
Poison Ivy – the Coasters
Shed No Tears – Flipper
On Your Way – Alabama Shakes
Should I Stay Or Should I Go – the Clash
Graveyard – Dead Moon
Rock & Roll All Nite – KISS
Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know – Dinosaur Jr.
Bottle of Wine – the Fireballs
Ether – Gang of Four
The Mountain – Heartless Bastards
Beetle Boots – Jon Spencer
Stayin’ Alive – BeeGees
Revolution – the Beatles
Freedom! 90 – George Michael
Rehab (Hot Chip remix) – Amy Winehouse
Love Is The Drug – Roxy Music
Hospital Roll Call – Mark Lanegan
Standing In The Way of Control – Gossip
Fingernails – Joe Ely
Lower 48 – the Gourds
The Body in Rainfall – Wild Nothing
Good Times – Chic
Save My Soul – the Wimple Winch
A Message To You Rudy – the Specials
I Want To Waste Away With You – Sports Bar
Dead Men Tell No Tales – Motörhead
The One I Love – R.E.M.
NUEVAYol – Bad Bunny (request)
Enter Sandman – Metallica (request)
Murder City Nights – Radio Birdman
All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down – the Mavericks
Baile Inolividable – Bad Bunny (request)
Jesus Christ Twist – Reverend Beat-Man
The Song Remains the Same – Led Zeppelin
Adios Mexico – Texas Tornados
Wusyaname – Tyler, the Creator
I Dig A Hole – the Rogers Sisters
Wasted Days & Wasted Nights – Freddy Fender
Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina – Momoiro Clover Z & Kiss
Sunrise – New Order
She Never Spoke Spanish to Me – Joe Ely
Stir Fry – Migos
Ace of Spades – Motörhead
Titi Me Pregunto – Bad Bunny
Wrong Em Boyo – the Clash
Breed – Nirvana
Voodoo Cadillac – Southern Culture on the Skids
At Home He’s A Tourist – Gang of Four
Back In Your Arms Again – the Mavericks
Church – T-Pain (request)
Headbanger – King Tuff
Tired of Waiting For You – the Kinks
From the Corner to the Block – Galactic
Lexicon Devil – the Germs
TVC 15 – David Bowie
Fed Up – House of Pain
Denver Haircut – the Hold Steady
Tragedias – Fea
Gin In My System – Big Freedia
Beat On The Brat – the Ramones
World Without Tears – Lucinda Williams
Buona Sera – Louis Prima
Happy Trails – Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Taxi – Bryan Ferry