Booth notebook

Session notes from the booth.

The lineup logic, the song notes, and the things I want you to hear, saved one session at a time.

Stored notes
120
Artists
18
Genres
18
Special turns
0
4 saved turns
Lineup logic first. Song notes right behind it.
Dusky slow burn / sunlit pushLive booth noteJun 3, 20264:13 PM

I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003) is the thesis, and In the City is the answer waiting on deck.

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. In the City is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003)
The White Stripes
Elephant · 2023 · Pop, Rock, Alternatif et Indé
Lineup note
I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003) into In the City

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
Elephant · 2023

Hearing it against Elephant matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003) by The White Stripes off Elephant (2023) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The White Stripes, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) instead of crowding the next move.

The White StripesThe WhoRed Hot Chili PeppersPop, Rock, Alternatif et IndéRockFolk-Rockdusky slow burn / sunlit pushmiddaysunlit pushPop, Rock, Alternatif et Indé
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003)
The White Stripes
Why it fits

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Elephant matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003) by The White Stripes off Elephant (2023) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The White Stripes, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
In the City
The Who
Why it fits

In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) cools the temperature after I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (Live at The Aragon Ballroom, July 2, 2003) by The White Stripes off Elephant (2023) and lets the turn breathe. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Right on Time by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Californication (1999) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against A Quick One Box matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The Who, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Right on Time by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Californication (1999) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
Right on Time
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Why it fits

Right on Time by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Californication (1999) stays related to In the City by The Who off A Quick One Box (1966) through rock, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars.

Track context

Hearing it against Californication matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Right on Time by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Californication (1999) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Red Hot Chili Peppers, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead.

Open saved booth copy

We're building on that country road feeling, but turning the corner into something a little more dusky and deep. This next one's got that warm low end you asked for, and it's got Miles Davis in the house—no, not that kind of house, the one with the vibes. You know, the way he can make a saxophone sound like it's thinking about the next note before it even plays it. Let's see where this goes.

Dusky slow burn / neon patienceLive booth noteJun 3, 20263:33 AM

Let*s Dance is the thesis, and Half Light Ii (No Celebration) is the answer waiting on deck.

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. Half Light Ii (No Celebration) is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
Let*s Dance
David Bowie
Let’s Dance · 1983 · Art Rock
Lineup note
Let*s Dance into Half Light Ii (No Celebration)

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
Let’s Dance · 1983

Hearing it against Let’s Dance matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Let*s Dance by David Bowie off Let’s Dance (1983) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With David Bowie, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) instead of crowding the next move.

David BowieArcade FireRed Hot Chili PeppersArt RockIndie RockAlternative-Rockdusky slow burn / neon patienceafter-hoursneon patienceArt Rock
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
Let*s Dance
David Bowie
Why it fits

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Let’s Dance matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Let*s Dance by David Bowie off Let’s Dance (1983) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With David Bowie, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
Half Light Ii (No Celebration)
Arcade Fire
Why it fits

Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) stays related to Let*s Dance by David Bowie off Let’s Dance (1983) through indie rock, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Bastards Of Light by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Unlimited Love (2022) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against The Suburbs matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Arcade Fire, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Bastards Of Light by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Unlimited Love (2022) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
Bastards Of Light
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Why it fits

Bastards Of Light by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Unlimited Love (2022) cools the temperature after Half Light Ii (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire off The Suburbs (2010) and lets the turn breathe. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars.

Track context

Hearing it against Unlimited Love matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Bastards Of Light by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Unlimited Love (2022) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Red Hot Chili Peppers, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead.

Open saved booth copy

Miles Davis in the 2020s — the past re-sprung, not just remembered. This is where the groove turns inward, where the silence between notes starts to hum.

Dusky slow burn / soft smokeLive booth noteJun 2, 202611:46 PM

You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971 is the thesis, and Suck My Kiss (Live) is the answer waiting on deck.

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. Suck My Kiss (Live) is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971
The Allman Brothers Band
At Fillmore East · 2016 · Blues Rock
Lineup note
You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971 into Suck My Kiss (Live)

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
At Fillmore East · 2016

Hearing it against At Fillmore East matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971 by The Allman Brothers Band off At Fillmore East (2016) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The Allman Brothers Band, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) instead of crowding the next move.

The Allman Brothers BandRed Hot Chili PeppersTina TurnerBlues RockRockSouldusky slow burn / soft smokesunsetsoft smokeBlues Rock
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971
The Allman Brothers Band
Why it fits

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against At Fillmore East matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971 by The Allman Brothers Band off At Fillmore East (2016) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With The Allman Brothers Band, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
Suck My Kiss (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Why it fits

Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) lifts the pressure after You Don't Love Me (Live At The Fillmore East, 1971 by The Allman Brothers Band off At Fillmore East (2016) without snapping the thread. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves Look Me In The Heart by Tina Turner off The Platinum Collection [Disc 2] (2009) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Soul To Squeeze (CD2) matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Red Hot Chili Peppers, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to Look Me In The Heart by Tina Turner off The Platinum Collection [Disc 2] (2009) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
Look Me In The Heart
Tina Turner
Why it fits

Look Me In The Heart by Tina Turner off The Platinum Collection [Disc 2] (2009) lifts the pressure after Suck My Kiss (Live) by Red Hot Chili Peppers off Soul To Squeeze (CD2) (1993) without snapping the thread. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts.

Track context

Hearing it against The Platinum Collection [Disc 2] matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Look Me In The Heart by Tina Turner off The Platinum Collection [Disc 2] (2009) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Tina Turner, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward.

Open saved booth copy

We're keeping the dusk warm, but let's let the jazz breathe a bit more. Miles Davis, 'Well You Needn't' - it's got that late-night weight we need, and it's got the room to let the next turn breathe. We're not just stacking mood, we're building a little story here.

Dusky slow burn / sun on concrete glowLive booth noteJun 2, 20261:58 PM

The Great Curve (2005 Remaster) is the thesis, and I Love You is the answer waiting on deck.

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. I Love You is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
The Great Curve (2005 Remaster)
Talking Heads
Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) · 1980 · Rock
Lineup note
The Great Curve (2005 Remaster) into I Love You

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) · 1980

Hearing it against Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. The Great Curve (2005 Remaster) by Talking Heads off Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) (1980) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Talking Heads, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) instead of crowding the next move.

Talking HeadsJohn ColtraneSoundgardenRockJazzPop, Rockdusky slow burn / sun-on-concrete glowdaybreaksun-on-concrete glowRock
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
The Great Curve (2005 Remaster)
Talking Heads
Why it fits

Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars. It leaves I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. The Great Curve (2005 Remaster) by Talking Heads off Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) (1980) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Talking Heads, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead. Notice how it hands the weight to I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
I Love You
John Coltrane
Why it fits

I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) stays related to The Great Curve (2005 Remaster) by Talking Heads off Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) (1980) through jazz, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the set needs lift, conversation between parts, and something that can move without turning blunt. It leaves Searching With My Good Eye Closed (Live At The Paramount Theatre, Seattle / 1992) by Soundgarden off Badmotorfinger (1991) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Lush Life matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) works when the set needs collective motion and color instead of blunt force. John Coltrane makes the most sense here as an ensemble proposition: the interest is in how the parts talk to each other, not just one lead line. This one earns its space through moving parts: sections shifting roles, rhythm pushing from underneath, and an arrangement that keeps relocating the center.

Listen for

Listen for how the lead line, horns or keys, and the rhythm section keep trading weight instead of sitting in fixed roles. Notice how it hands the weight to Searching With My Good Eye Closed (Live At The Paramount Theatre, Seattle / 1992) by Soundgarden off Badmotorfinger (1991) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
Searching With My Good Eye Closed (Live At The Paramount Theatre, Seattle / 1992)
Soundgarden
Why it fits

Searching With My Good Eye Closed (Live At The Paramount Theatre, Seattle / 1992) by Soundgarden off Badmotorfinger (1991) stays related to I Love You by John Coltrane off Lush Life (1961) through pop, rock, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the turn needs shape, attack, and a record that can define the next move in just a few bars.

Track context

Hearing it against Badmotorfinger matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Searching With My Good Eye Closed (Live At The Paramount Theatre, Seattle / 1992) by Soundgarden off Badmotorfinger (1991) carries the feel of a band in a room rather than a mood-board tag, and that physicality matters in a sequence. With Soundgarden, the attraction is often attack and arrangement economy: what the band can say quickly and physically. The record earns its place through how the arrangement opens and tightens rather than through sheer mass.

Listen for

Listen for where the arrangement opens wider than the first impression suggests, especially when the rhythm section changes the floor under the lead.

Open saved booth copy

We're digging into that dusky lane the request line asked for, and I'm pushing the energy up a bit with a 2020s Miles Davis take on 'In Your Own Sweet Way.' It's got that same kind of conversation between parts that Talking Heads were doing, but with a little more space to breathe. The rhythm section shifts under the surface—like it's learning to walk with a new kind of confidence. That's what we're after here.