This episode explores the power of music to inspire and motivate, particularly during challenging times. It discusses how certain songs can become anthems for social justice movements, reflecting the emotions and experiences of those fighting for change. The episode highlights specific songs, including Bon Iver's "Ate Up All the Cake", and their connection to political and social issues. It emphasizes the importance of using your voice, finding your community, and persevering in the face of adversity.

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This episode of The Anxious Rambler podcast focuses on the host’s recent concert experiences seeing The War on Drugs for two nights in Ohio and Kentucky and a solo trip to see My Morning Jacket in Savannah, Georgia.

• The hosts begin by talking about their road trip to Columbus, Ohio, the first stop on their concert adventure. They discuss the enjoyment of driving into a city at night and listening to music and their excitement about the upcoming shows. The host shares that, other than a previous two-night stint with The War on Drugs in Louisville and Indianapolis, this is her first experience attending back-to-back shows by the same band. They also talk about their positive impressions of Columbus and Cleveland.
• The first concert took place at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The host recounts the beauty of the venue, located in a national park, and its history as the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra. They go on to describe The War on Drugs’ setlist, noting standout songs and moments. The setlist included “Oceans of Darkness,” “Pain,” “Ocean in Between the Waves,” “I Don’t Want to Wait,” “Harmonious Dreams,” “Strangest Thing,” “Come to the City,” and “In Reverse.”.
• The host shares a story about reconnecting with a former coworker, Lane, during the show. She describes how she thought she recognized the woman sitting in front of her but couldn't believe it was actually her. They hadn’t seen each other in 16 years. Lane later turned around and told the host she had been talking about her on the way to the show, specifically mentioning how much the host loves The War on Drugs and wishing she had more friends with similar taste in music.
• Next, the hosts talk about the second concert, which was at the Bourbon and Beyond festival in Louisville, Kentucky. The host compliments the festival’s side-by-side stage set-up and voices her distaste for VIP sections at shows. The setlist for this performance was similar to the previous night's but with the addition of "Red Eyes," which was played instead of "Strangest Thing," and the covers "Play It All Night Long" and "Under the Pressure." It started to rain during the last two songs of the set, a phenomenon that the host believes is a regular occurrence at outdoor War on Drugs shows. Due to her enthusiastic dancing and energy, the host is dubbed the "fan MVP" by other concert attendees and even manages to score a copy of the setlist.
• The final part of the episode focuses on the host's recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, where she saw My Morning Jacket with her best friend from home, Shaie. The host describes becoming emotional upon hearing that baseball legend Pete Rose had died just before My Morning Jacket took the stage. Rose, a Cincinnati Reds player and an important figure in the host’s family, had even recorded a Cameo video message for the host's father four years prior. The host shares that she and her friend were then escorted to the front of the stage by an usher just as the lights went down.
• The host goes on to highlight standout moments from the 20-song setlist, which included “Gideon,” a Chris Kristofferson cover, a Nina Simone cover, and an encore consisting of “Golden,” “Off the Record,” and “Dance Floors”. The episode concludes with the host reflecting on the transcendent power of live music and its ability to bring people together and create lasting memories.

In this episode the hosts take a deep dive into the music of their favorite band, The War on Drugs, and discuss their newly released live album, Live Drugs Again.

https://www.thewarondrugs.net/music/live-drugs-again

https://www.thewarondrugs.net/tour

The hosts explain how Live Drugs Again is a unique collection of live tracks recorded at various venues even different versions of a single song stitched together over several years, rather than from a single concert. This inspired Aaron to create a personal challenge to Cassie: curate her own setlist using live performances found across platforms like YouTube and the Internet Archive.

Emphasizing the emotional depth of The War on Drugs' music, one host talk about their experience listening to the album, recounting how they were moved to tears just minutes into the track "Harmonia's Dream." The hosts also share their love for candid, behind-the-scenes band photos and live shots, which often accompany the band's releases, adding a nostalgic and personal touch to the experience.

Towards the end, they discuss the difficulty of choosing specific live version of songs for a setlist, given the band's extensive catalog of performances.

The hosts' love for the music is palpable throughout the episode, from the vivid descriptions of unboxing the album to the heartfelt reactions to each track.

Listen along!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDagWLWoz13Xf4OXbJNmslRctsJilBIuZ&si=2bh347K9PaIa8IAI

In this podcast episode, the hosts and their guest, Ana Ruge-Rodela , reflect on their experience attending an Incubus concert during the band's Morning View tour. The conversation is a blend of nostalgia, excitement, and reminiscence of their long friendship, which began in college, sparked by their mutual love for Incubus. They discuss the pre-concert anticipation, sharing a fun story of hearing Incubus’ song "Drive" at a restaurant, which felt like a sign of the magical weekend to come.

The hosts then dive into the actual concert experience, with both surprised by the presence of a younger crowd, which gave them a sense of validation about Incubus’ lasting appeal. The guest, Ana, reminisces about how she and Cassie bonded over the band in college and how this reunion concert brought back those memories. Despite some initial doubts about how Incubus' stage presence might have aged, the group was delighted to find that the band's performance still felt as captivating and energetic as it had in the past, with frontman Brandon Boyd maintaining his iconic, fluid movements and charismatic stage persona.

The group expresses how the concert exceeded their expectations, with Cassie noting how the lights and atmosphere felt psychedelic and engaging. Anna’s enthusiasm, especially seeing Boyd's performance, brought added joy and excitement for everyone, enhancing the overall experience. The episode closes with reflections on how the concert felt like a personal reunion as much as it was a celebration of Incubus' music.

Join in the concert fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBzKiBt_E5s&list=PL9q_LUeR_nQL9P-hUyc4rUiQ9eBCfnxhs

Incubus on Tour
https://www.incubushq.com/