My Weekly Mixtape

<p>This week, I’m sitting down with the legendary <strong>Warren Haynes</strong> to revisit <strong><em>Tales of Ordinary Madness</em></strong> — his <strong>debut solo album</strong>, now <strong>newly remixed and remastered</strong> more than<strong> thirty years after its original release</strong>. It’s a record that’s lived a long life with a lot of us, and hearing it again with fresh ears raises a bigger question: <strong>what happens when you return to deeply personal songs after decades of living, playing, and moving forward?</strong></p><p>We talk about how the album found a home on <strong>Megaforce Records </strong>— yes, <em>that</em> Megaforce — and what it was like for Warren to re-engage with these songs from a distance he simply didn’t have in the early ’90s. From <strong>co-producing</strong> the original sessions with <strong>Chuck Leavell </strong>to hearing <strong>Grammy-winning engineer Jim Scott </strong>remix the album and fully unlock its <strong>timeless status</strong>, this conversation becomes<strong> less about revision</strong> and <strong>more about rediscovery</strong> — about <strong>what time gives you</strong>, and <strong>what it doesn’t</strong>.</p><p>There are stories between the songs, too. We dig into the long-lost <strong>“Tear Me Down,”</strong> finally restored to its rightful place in the <strong>album’s new sequence</strong>, and trace how <strong>“I’ll Be The One” </strong>quietly evolved from <em>Tales of Ordinary Madness</em> into <strong>Gov’t Mule’s</strong> <strong><em>Mo Voodoo</em></strong> rendition. Warren walks through <strong>what changed</strong>, <strong>what stayed the same</strong>, and <strong>why those distinctions still matter</strong> — <strong>musically</strong> and <strong>emotionally</strong>.</p><p>Along the way, we widen the lens. We revisit his <strong>legendary early-morning acoustic performance</strong> at <strong>Bonnaroo in 2004</strong>, talk about<strong> the mechanics of collaborations</strong> — what <strong>makes it work</strong>, what <strong>makes it last </strong>— and touch on his musical chemistry with artists like <strong>Little Milton</strong>, <strong>Kenny Wayne Shepherd</strong>, <strong>Grace Potter</strong> and <strong>Joe Bonamassa</strong> (just to scratch the surface). We also unpack the story behind that unforgettable slide guitar on <strong>Blues Traveler’s “The Mountains Win Again,” </strong>and how that moment <strong>unexpectedly helped shape the sound and direction</strong> of <strong>Gov’t Mule’s debut</strong>.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>This week,<strong> Outlier’s Joey Arena</strong> joins me to break down <strong>“(Rock) Superstar,” </strong>the band’s collaboration with <strong>Sen Dog </strong>and <strong>Hyro The Hero</strong>, <strong>reimagining</strong> one of the <strong>defining crossover tracks</strong> of the <strong>early 2000s</strong>. Long before<strong> “genre-fluid”</strong> became a buzzword, the original version proved that <strong>hip-hop</strong>, <strong>rock</strong>, and<strong> metal</strong> didn’t just <strong>coexist </strong>— they could <strong>thrive together</strong>. This new take taps into that same spirit, <strong>updating the sound</strong> <strong>without losing the attitude </strong>that made it hit so hard the first time around. </p><p>Anchored by Sen Dog’s <strong>unmistakable presence</strong> and Hyro The Hero’s<strong> raw, modern edge,</strong> this version isn’t simply for nostalgia’s sake — it’s a <strong>reminder</strong> of why<strong> taking risks mattered then</strong>, and <strong>still matters now</strong>.</p><p>Beyond the cover, Joey also opens up about where Outlier is headed next, digging into original tracks <strong>“Warrior (feat. Chris Motionless),” “Crown (feat. VRSTY)” </strong>and <strong>“Creature of the Night.”</strong> Each song <strong>pulls from a different corner of the band’s identity</strong> — <strong>defiance</strong>, <strong>confidence</strong>, and <strong>controlled chaos</strong> — while pointing toward the bigger picture of <strong>Outlier’s upcoming studio album</strong>. We talk about <strong>how these songs fit together</strong>, what they <strong>reveal about the band’s evolution</strong>, and why this <strong>next chapter is a statement</strong>.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>This week, we’re digging into one of the most important <strong>collision points</strong> in modern music history — the moment <strong>when rock and hip-hop first slammed into each other</strong> and <strong>changed the landscape forever</strong>. Using <strong><em>When Rock Met Hip-Hop</em></strong> as a <strong>guiding lens</strong>, I’m joined by legendary music journalist <strong>Stephen Blush</strong> to explore the <strong>artists</strong>, <strong>scenes</strong>, and<strong> cultural flashpoints</strong> that brought <strong>distorted guitars </strong>and <strong>breakbeats </strong>together<strong> long before genre lines disappeared</strong>.</p><p>These collaborations were <strong>risky</strong>, <strong>raw</strong>, and often <strong>controversial</strong>. From <strong>early experiments </strong>that <strong>raised eyebrows</strong> to<strong> landmark moments</strong> that <strong>rewrote the rules</strong>, we unpack how rock and hip-hop <strong>didn’t just influence each other</strong> — they <strong>challenged ideas around race</strong>, <strong>authenticity</strong>, <strong>rebellion</strong>, and what popular music was even <strong>allowed to be</strong>.</p><p>Along the way, we dig into <strong>the stories behind these crossover moments</strong>, the <strong>samples</strong> that became<strong> entwined</strong> in the <strong>sound’s musical DNA</strong>, the <strong>artists willing to take the risks</strong>, and <strong>why their impact still echoes today</strong>.</p><p>If you’ve ever wondered how we got from <strong>Run-DMC and Aerosmith</strong> to today’s <strong>genre-fluid musical landscape</strong> — or if you just love a <strong>deep dive into music history</strong> — this episode<strong> connects the dots</strong>. Because some of the biggest shifts in music don’t come from <strong>trends</strong> or <strong>algorithms</strong> — they happen when <strong>two scenes collide</strong> and <strong>refuse to move out of each other’s way</strong>.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p><strong>Power ballads</strong> didn’t disappear when the lighters went away — they just continued to <strong>evolve</strong>.</p><p>This week, I’m joined by <strong>Terrie Carr</strong> of <strong><em>Carr Stereo</em></strong> to explore <strong>10 power ballads </strong>released <strong>after 2000</strong> — songs that <strong>still build slow</strong>, <strong>hit hard</strong>, and <strong>aim straight for the chest</strong>, even if the glow in the crowd looks <strong>a little different</strong> now.</p><p>From <strong>massive choruses</strong> to <strong>emotional gut-punches</strong>, these are the songs that prove the<strong> power ballad never lost its place</strong> — it just<strong> traded Bic lighters </strong>for <strong>phone screens </strong>and <strong>kept going</strong>. <strong>No era restrictions</strong>, <strong>no genre snobbery</strong> — just<strong> big feelings</strong>, <strong>bigger hooks</strong>, and the kind of songs that <strong>demand you turn them up </strong>a little louder than you probably should.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>This week, we’re turning the headlights on &amp; exploring <strong>10 songs</strong> that provide the <strong>perfect soundtrack </strong>for a <strong>late night drive by yourself</strong>. Because let’s be honest: road trips<strong> in the sunlight</strong> and road trips <strong>under the glow of streetlights</strong> are <strong>two completely different experiences</strong>. One’s about <strong>destinations</strong>. The other’s about <strong>the space between them</strong>. Especially when it’s<strong> just you and the music</strong>. </p><p>There’s something about driving at night that <strong>makes everything feel a little more cinematic </strong>— <strong>fewer cars</strong>,<strong> quieter thoughts</strong>, and<strong> songs that seem to hit harder when the rest of the world is asleep</strong>. These are tracks built for <strong>empty highways</strong>, <strong>dashboard lights</strong>, and moments where you <strong>don’t necessarily need to get anywhere fast</strong>… <strong>you just need to keep moving</strong>.</p><p>This playlist <strong>leans into mood</strong> over <strong>momentum</strong> — songs that <strong>breathe</strong>, <strong>linger</strong>, and <strong>let your mind wander</strong> somewhere <strong>beyond the windshield</strong>.</p><p>To add <strong>another layer to the episode</strong>, I pull a <strong>complete 180</strong> and create<strong> a daytime alternative mix</strong>, featuring <strong>different songs from the same 10 artists</strong> — a <strong>sun-soaked </strong>playlist designed for a <strong>completely different musical atmosphere</strong>!</p><p>Thanks to <strong>Patreon Mixtaper</strong> <strong>Sean Goff</strong> for sending in this week’s playlist concept.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>