28 Jan Matador Playlist 1/22/26

A brief hiatus, Gentle Reader(s), for Goth Night (every third Thursday) and a winter storm and Your Humble Narrator is back in the saddle at Ye Olde Matador Bar & Lounge for another inimitable evening of signature DJ Inky toonage. The second winter storm of the season—this one of intimidating strength and size—is bearing down on our little mountain town and Katia and I are hoping that the fevered anticipation of being snowed in for the weekend is inspiring folks to come out and lift a warming beverage before the fluffy stuff flies.

As it happens, Santa Fe is the capital of our fair state, and this year’s legislative session just kicked off a couple of days ago. The Matador has long been a favored haunt of the legislative crowd (staffers, lobbyists and journalists for certain, if not quite so much the actual legislators themselves) and from the look of things we’re getting a good influx of that constituency tonight. New Mexico’s legislature is essentially an amateur event—this state being singular in that it is the only one in the union that doesn’t pay its elected representatives. The only remuneration they receive for their service is a per diem and (perhaps) an additional housing allowance for those who live out of the area. New Mexico is big—very big, actually—and while its population is heavily concentrated in the north-central Albuturkey/Santa Fe corridor the state’s second biggest city is Las Cruces—way down south by the border. Cruces is home to New Mexico State University and is reportedly growing like a weed—or perhaps growing because of weed, what with the El Paso traffic coming across the line to purchase legal recreational smokeables and edibles.

Stoned or not, it’s a solid four-plus hour drive from Cruces to Santa Fe, which is a bit on the long side for a daily commute—hence the housing consideration. A lot of the hotels around the Santa Fe Plaza offer special legislative rates and accommodations at these higher end establishments are eagerly sought after by the legislative contingent—something I know all about from first hand experience. My first job in Santa Fe back in 1990 was as a front desk clerk, later front desk manager, at the Inn at Loretto. Seems like several lifetimes ago.

One request of note that appears in this particular playlist came from a non-legislative bar patron. It was for a song by the 29-year-old country mega-star Zach Bryan—that’s the boy you’re looking at up top. The requested song is from Bryan’s brand new album With Heaven On Top (released on January 9 of this year) and the song is Santa Fe. In the toon Bryan mentions that he ‘drank a million beers at the Matador.’ Well, good on ya Zach—as long as you got home safe. Come on back any old time and the next one’s on me.

And, BTW, the Big Storm we were all fixing to hunker down for turned out to be a Big Bust. Oh well. Better luck next time, I suppose. In the meanwhile, you can click right HERE for the YouTubey incarnation of this week’s playlist. Katia and I will be back in the saddle on the 29th and we’ll see ya there.

Grammar of Life – Charles Bukowski
See No Evil – Television
Time of the Season – the Zombies
Heart On A String – the 22-20s
Control Mexica – 2Mex
Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me – Ron Gallo
Another Nail In My Heart – Squeeze
Homicide – 999
In The Dark – Billy Squier
She Watch Channel Zero?! – Public Enemy
Minor Threat – Minor Threat
Youth Knows No Pain – Lykke Li
I’m In Love (Mason’s Glowsticks Mix) – Moby
If You Want Me to Stay – Sly & the Family Stone
Kerosene – Big Black
Sure Shot – Beastie Boys
8-Ball Deluxe – 7 Year Bitch
My Old School – Steely Dan
Rise Above – Black Flag
Academy Fight Song – Mission of Burma
Better Living Through Chemistry – Queens of the Stone Age
Communication Breakdown – Led Zeppelin
Go n’ Go – 18th Dye
Simmer Down – Bob Marley & the Wailers
Get With It – Charlie Feathers
Blue Jean – David Bowie
Papa Don’t Take No Mess, Pt. 1 – James Brown
Sugar – Bikini Kill
You’re Gonna Miss Me – 13th Floor Elevators
Do It Again – Galactic w/ Cheeky Blakk
Waitin for the Bus – ZZ Top
Jesus Just Left Chicago – ZZ Top
Everything is Everything – Lauryn Hill
That Is Why – Jellyfish
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
Second Life – Gang of Four
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes – Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Space Captain – Joe Cocker
Disorder – Joy Division
I Can’t Quit You, Babe – Led Zeppelin
I Fought the Law – the Clash
Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Ghetto Walkin’ – Miles Davis, Robert Glasper & Bilal
Nameless, Faceless – Courtney Barnett
Everyday Is Like Sunday – Morrissey
Bowling Green – Neko Case & Her Boyfriends
Roll With It – Oasis
Catholic Block – Sonic Youth
The Witch – the Sonics
No Question – Prong
Eagle Never Hurts the Fly – the Music Machine
Mars Attacks – the Misfits
Shake A Leg – AC/DC
Nervous Breakdown – Black Flag
Concrete Jungle – Bob Marley & the Wailers
Helicopter (Whitey Remix) – Bloc Party
Rock n’ America – Catholic Girls
Tubthumphing – Chumbawumba
New Kind of Kick – the Cramps
James Bond – Iggy Pop
Bankrobber – the Clash
Jitterbug Love – T. Rex
Santa Fe – Zach Bryan (request)
Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart) – Ricky Nelson
Big Exit – PJ Harvey
Under Pressure – David Bowie & Queen
Santa Fe – Drive-By Truckers
Burn The Witch – Queens of the Stone Age
Starry Eyes – Roky Erickson
Big Man With A Gun – Nine Inch Nails
No Horse – the Dead Weather
Come As You Are – Nirvana
Beast of Burden – the Rolling Stones
Bodies Made Of – Parquet Courts
Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) – the Hollies (request)
Wish I Never Loved You – the Buzzcocks
Self Control – Laura Branigan (request)
My Hero – Foo Fighters
Sweet Surrender – Sarah McLachlan
Trigger – the Pink Slips
Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
The Bends – Radiohead
Enter Sandman – Metallica (request)
Close to Me (Closer Mix) – the Cure
World Without Tears – Lucinda Williams
Buona Sera – Louis Prima
Happy Trails – Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Taxi – Bryan Ferry