Emotional State of Matt #15: MUSICAL

An epic road trip like this one deserves an epic playlist, so I've been building one as I go.

I never had a talent for creating music myself. A 6-month stint with the trumpet in fourth grade convinced me that music doesn't come naturally to me, but it has always played an important role in my life. Certain songs take me back to specific places or times. They're a sense memory portal into my past, a soundtrack to my life.

I remember my first live concert when I was 8, going to see The Police and Flock of Seagulls in Rochester with my dad. I remember being confused why he was sharing a "cigarette" with a bunch of people he'd just met.

As an awkward and lonely junior high schooler, I remember calling into the radio station to request songs, then recording them on cassette with my boom box when they came on. When making the transition to CD, the first albums I bought were from Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, and Vanilla Ice.

As an angsty 15 year-old, I remember going to all-ages punk shows and discovering the cathartic release of a mosh pit. Then the Mighty Mighty Bosstones were my crossover into the wild fun of ska.

When studying abroad in Australia, I remember going to my first raves and EDM shows with my new friends from Europe. Darude "Sandstorm" was everywhere.

I remember spending hours and hours curating the playlist for my wedding.

There are already dozens of songs that will bring me back to the places I've visited and the experiences I've had on my 50 States trip. My playlist is a combination of songs about the states I visit, songs from concerts I've been to, songs I've used in content I created for Instagram, songs that fit the trip thematically, and a handful of others I felt like adding.

Here is the Spotify link if you'd like to subscribe and listen. It's an eclectic mix, but I like it.

This is what's on the list so far. I replicated the playlist on YouTube in case you don't have Spotify or you want to subscribe there too.

What else should I add? Put your suggestions in the comments section below or message me on IG.

Yes, and...

Matt

LOCATIONS:

Fifty Nifty United States - Cooltime

WASHINGTON:

• Olympia, WA - Rancid

• Seattle - Perry Como

• Damn Fine Coffee - Mtbrd

OREGON:

• Coming Home (Oregon) - Mat Kearney

• Ain't It Fresh (The Oregon Song) - Alcyon Massive

• Eugene Oregon - Dolly Parton

IDAHO:

• Private Idaho - B-52's

• Idaho - Ben Grant

NEVADA:

• Viva Las Vegas - Elvis

• Nevada - Vicetone, Cozi Zuehlsdorff

UTAH:

• Utah - The Osmonds

• Utah - French Cassettes

• Utah - Arbour Season, The Riverside

COLORADO:

• Colorado - Milky Chance

• Colorado - Florida Georgia Line

KANSAS:

• Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

• Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas

• Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell

• Kansas - Ashe

OKLAHOMA:

• Ain't No Love In Oklahoma - Luke Combs

• Oklahoma - Wild Child

ARKANSAS:

• Arkansas - Chris Stapleton

• Arkansas - John Oates

LOUISIANA:

• Hurricane - The Band of Heathens

• House of the Rising Sun - The Animals

• Drop Me Off in New Orleans - Kermit Ruffins

KENTUCKY:

• Old Kentucky Home - Louis Armstrong

• Kentucky Woman - Neil Diamond

TENNESSEE:

• The Prettiest Waitress in Memphis - Cory Branan

• Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton

• Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn

INDIANA:

• Indiana - Skrizzly Adams

• (Back Home Again In) Indiana - Johnny Mercer

WEST VIRGINIA:

• Country Roads - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

• West Virginia Coal - Amanda Cook

OHIO:

• Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

• I'm in Sandusky - The Wildwoods

MICHIGAN:

• Pretty Girl from Michigan - The Avett Brothers

• Lake Superior - Sea Pinks

• Michigan and Again - The Accidentals

• Michigan - Arms Akimbo

MAINE:

• Maine - Noah Kahan

• Acadia - Marianas Trench

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

• New Hampshire - Ava Lyons

• New Hampshire - Wild Light

MASSACHUSETTS:

• Martha's Vineyard Moon - Dave Seely

• The State of Massachusetts - Dropkick Murphys

• Massachusetts - Ylvis

• Massachusetts - Bee Gees

IOWA:

• Iowa (Traveling, Pt. 3) - Dar Williams

• Iowa - Josh Tarp and the Still

PENNSYLVANIA:

• Pittsburgh Anthem - coolRaf

• Pittsburgh Makes Me Drunk - Ceann

MARYLAND:

• Annapolis Anthem - Airbud, Gda

• Maryland - Elephanz, Eugenie

NORTH CAROLINA:

• Carolina in My Mind - James Taylor

• North Carolina - The Poets of Rhythm

FLORIDA:

• Floridays - Jimmy Buffett

• Florida!!! - Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine

SOUTH CAROLINA:

• South Carolina - The Poets of Rhythm

• Heads Carolina, Tails California - Jo Dee Messina

ALASKA:

• North to Alaska - Johnny Horton

• Northern Lights - Death Cab for Cutie

• Alaska - Maggie Rogers

UPCOMING STATES:

• Stick Season - Noah Kahan (VERMONT)

• Ithaca - Beatenberg (NEW YORK)

LIVE SHOWS:

• Soulfight - The Revivalists

• This Life - Vampire Weekend

• Crooked Tree - Molly Tuttle

• The Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti

• She Had Me at Heads Carolina - Cole Swindell

• Freaks - Timmy Trumpet. Savage

• Hurricane Season - Trombone Shorty

• New York City - They Might be Giants

• Winnebago - Gryffin, Quinn XCII, Daniel Wilson

• Short Dressed Gal - Preservation Hall Jazz Band

• Barracuda - Heart

• Good Thing Going On - Mat Kearney, Abbey Cone

INSTAGRAM CONTENT:

• Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

• Movin' Right Along - Kermit, Fozzie from "The Muppet Movie"

• Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - Billy Joel

• Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte

• One Toke Over the Line - Brewer & Shipley

• Bugatti - Ace Hood, Future, Rick Ross

THEMATIC FIT:

• Take the Journey - Molly Tuttle

• Road Less Traveled - Lauren Alaina

• Future Rave is Now - D'Angello & Francis

• Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads

• Scared to Start - Michael Marcagi

• Never Going Home - KUNGS

• Living on the Road - VARGENTA, Azaro, MITCH DB

• Hopeless Wanderer - Mumford & Sons

OTHER:

• Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus

• Total Eclipse of the Heart - The Dan Band

• It's a Great Day to Be Alive - Travis Tritt

• Where You Are - John Summit, HAYLA

• Be My Escape - Reliant K

• A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey

• Throw Some Ass - SOFI TUKKER

• Whatever - Kygo, Ava Max

• Forever Young - David Guetta, Alphaville, Ava Max

• I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

• A Boy Named Sue - Johnny Cash