13 Jun Matador Playlist 6/12/25

Another Thursday, another wild night at Ye Olde Matador Bar & Lounge, Gentle Reader(s). The joint was jammed pretty much all night long, starting off with a wedding party of Millenial sorts who commandeered the rear portion of the establishment for the first couple of hours. The blushing bride requested ‘Mamma Mia’ by ABBA, but regardless of what kind of what kind of crowd we pulled last night I was resolved to pay homage to two great geniuses of 20th century popular music who passed away this week—Sly Stone and Brian Wilson, both aged 82. I got turned onto Sly early on as his music was ubiquitous when I was growing up in New Orleans. When I saw the Woodstock movie sometime in the early ’70s Sly & the Family Stone’s set was one of the standout performances that made a big impression on me. The Beach Boys were a different matter. The whole hot rods/surfing/drive-ins universe that they evoked was completely alien to the gritty, swampy urban milieu of my hometown: I didn’t have a car, there was no beach, I didn’t have a girlfriend, and it was all just so white. I couldn’t relate.

It took a while, but eventually I came to appreciate the incredibly lush and intricate harmonic and melodic constructions that emerged from Brian Wilson’s lonely universe. I was intrigued to discover that the auteur of these shimmering odes to sunshine and surf was a chunky, insecure recluse who composed from a piano set in a sandbox constructed in his living room (at least as legend had it). I eventually found my way to California and was able to get a firsthand feel for some of what all the West Coast hoopla was about. Better late than never, I spose.

For all their differences, Sly and Brian’s lives followed remarkably similar trajectories. They were born within nine months of one another, Brian a native Angelino and Sly in Denton, Texas, though his family relocated to the Bay Area while he was still an infant. Both Sly and Brian were musical prodigies and began their professional music careers while still in their teens, recruiting their siblings to the cause. Both achieved early success and by the late ’60s enjoyed global popularity. Both men descended into a twilight of drugs and mental illness that derailed their personal lives and their careers. Brian eventually emerged relatively intact from his years of turmoil, but Sly not so much. Regardless, they both leave indelible musical legacies that define diverse poles of the rich musical ferment of the 1960s. They were American originals, true visionaries, and the heartfelt authenticity of their accomplishments stand in stark contrast to the thin gruel of much contemporary pop music. Thank you, Brian. Thank you, Sly.

Here is the detailing of last night’s set and the YouTube link to all these amazing sounds is clickable right here. Till next time, Gentle Reader(s).

Charles Bukowski – Grammar of Life
California Nights – Best Coast
Kids of the Black Hole – Adolescents
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
Dance to the Music – Sly & the Family Stone
Be Sweet – the Afghan Whigs
All Day and All of the Night – the Kinks
Is She Weird – Pixies
The Sweet Part of the City – the Hold Steady
Last Caress – the Misfits
Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
Surfer Girl – The Beach Boys
Stand! – Sly & the Family Stone
Halo of Ashes – Screaming Trees
Reality in Motion – Tame Impala
From Her to Eternity – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Whips & Furs – the Vibrators
I’m Always in Love – Wilco
Little Deuce Coupe – The Beach Boys
Everyday People – Sly & the Family Stone
Mars Attacks – the Misfits
Zombified – Southern Culture on the Skids
Making Plans for Nigel – XTC
Alphabet Street – Prince
L.A. Blues – the Stooges
Two-Headed Dog – Roky Erickson
Put The Kids to Bed – Ron Gallo
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
If You Want Me To Stay – Sly & the Family Stone
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming – Judas Priest
The National Anthem – Radiohead
Top of the World – Shonen Knife
California Über Alles – Dead Kennedys (request)
Give It Up or Turnit A Loose – James Brown
Time Bomb – Old 97s
Jesus Christ Pose – Soundgarden
London Calling – the Clash
Red Web – Orange Goblin
Mamma Mia – ABBA (request)
Do You Wanna Dance – the Ramones
Rough Detective – the Dead Weather
Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Streets of Bakersfield – Dwight Yoakam
In This House That I Call Home – X
Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please (request)
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
California Girls – The Beach Boys
Sing A Simple Song – Sly & the Family Stone
Let’s Dance – David Bowie
Sweet Surrender – Sarah McLachlan
Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones
We the People – A Tribe Called Quest
Lil’ Red – Bikini Kill
No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age
Jump Around – House of Pain
The Veil of Isis – the Sword
Lost Highway – the Replacements
Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love-In) – the Chocolate Watchband
Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys
Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & the Family Stone
$20 – boygenius
Baby, Let’s Play House – Elvis Presley
You Want the Candy – the Raveonettes
Why Theory? – Gang of Four
Bubbles In My Beer – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
Back in Black – AC/DC
Staring at the Rude Boys – the Ruts
Down in Louisiana – the Detroit Cobras
Boe Money – Galactic (feat. the Rebirth Brass Band)
Clear Spot – Mark Lanegan Band
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Family Affair – Sly & the Family Stone
Holidays in the Sun – the Sex Pistols
Ugly Boy – Die Antwoord
Over the Hills and Far Away – Led Zeppelin
Top O’ the Morning to Ya – House of Pain
Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Cherub Rock – Smashing Pumpkins
George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues – Drive-By Truckers
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Everybody is a Star – Sly & the Family Stone
American Idiot – Green Day (request)
Shoplifters of the World Unite – the Smiths
Heroes – David Bowie
Boys Don’t Cry – the Cure
(I’m) Stranded – the Saints
Let Me Take You Higher – Sly & the Family Stone
Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys
Lucinda Williams – World Without Tears
Louis Prima – Buona Sera
Roy Rogers & Dale Evans – Happy Trails
Bryan Ferry – Taxi