It's a New Kind of Radio - Stations That Play Only Music You Like & Also; Panda Bear

We had weather here in Fayetteville this past weekend that one would honestly never expect in Arkansas in July. The mornings were almost cool, the days, even high with sun, 70's and low 80's. And, the most important part of what made this weather delightful: Almost NO humidity. To go along with this weather, this little gift from above, my Mom came for a visit. She came up Friday morning, so that meant I got to take a whole half-day to myself. In fact, practically the whole weekend was shaping up the same way.

Later than I'd expected, by the time she got here, I was starving, but I didn't eat, because I was waiting to go to Smiling Jack's, a local sandwich shop that has delicious food that's mostly organic and locally grown. They float huge orange slices in a clear glass cooler of ice water. Glasses are stacked next to it and you serve yourself. On your plate with your ordered sandwich? A slice of fresh pineapple and a pickled okra. They have free Wi-Fi, eclectic locals and most importantly, great music.

After ordering, I sat down at a table that was once an old door. On one side of this table are chairs. I sat on the other side, in the old church pew-looking bench next to an outlet and a plant with a spider in it. I pulled all my gadgets out and waited for my computer to boot up and my food to be delivered. While doing that, I hear an old favorite band from the 90's - Neutral Milk Hotel. The next band, Arcade Fire. Oh, this is going to be some good time, I think to myself.

The waiter, who also fixed my sandwich, brings my plate and I recognize him from the American Princes show last month. Most of the lunch crowd is gone by now. That waiter goes into a closet right beside me and the music cranks. I have to admit, I was trying to listen to a pod-cast while I ate, to maximize my time. I kept having to pull out my earphones because THE MUSIC was so stinkin' good. When the Pixie's "Where is My Mind" came on, I'd had it. How could they play so many of my favorites? How did they know? It was getting creepy now for me and for them because I was singing out loud.

Knowing the clock was ticking and I would have to get back for the second part of that Friday night, I forced myself to finish the pod-cast, which was also good, just in a different way. Maybe five minutes from the end of the pod-cast, "Wave of Mutilation" comes on. It's unmistakable to me, the first 30 seconds of this song. It's almost like I time-warped back to 1995 as I listen to it. This song, too, is by the Pixies and on an old tape of mine from high school I'd just found a couple weeks back. The slow version was the one playing. It's incredible. It's from Christian Slater's 1990's movie Pump Up the Volume.

I can't stand it any longer. I go to the front and ask the waitress, "Is this Pandora?" She said, "Yeah, it is. I saw you singing along. Pretty great, huh?" Busted! Caught me jammin'. Anyway, I said, "Yeah, it's incredible. Some of my favorite bands ever. What station is this?" "Panda Bear," she said. "Want me to turn it up?"

After that, I had to get outside. It was just too pretty not to. They have a patio that's awesome, but it was full and I didn't want to unintentionally eavesdrop. I wanted my mind to stay where it was. I dropped off my backpack in my car and walked to the Rose Garden that sits beside the Walton Arts Center. I find another bench. Sun shining down, earphones in, I listen to the Indie Elevator music I told y'all about last week and I write the first few of eleven pages I would write that weekend.

So, this is the place where I tell y'all about some music on some Mondays. And, today, I'm telling you about Panda Bear on Pandora. Check it out. Enjoy. Let me know what you think. Out for now.