Friday again, and this time you get a mix tape. I wish I could share the time that went into this one, it epitomizes the glory of The Mix Tape. Fold out cover lifted from newspapers and magazines, all taped together collage style; the songs painstakingly handwritten (alternating ink colors between artists and tracks), even including the year of release; and most importantly: the music chosen carefully for maximum flow and listening enjoyment. In 2003 we played a show at a squat in Bilbao, in Spain's Basque region. The lone resident to greet us was a cheery skinhead who spoke almost no english but did everything possible to make us feel welcome. He repeated over and over that he was "left skin," and would raise his left fist (in solidarity with all "good" skinheads I suppose). He didn't stay for our show (he went to work, like every good skinhead should), but when I woke up the next morning, there was this mix tape at my door, he had made it that night after work. We listened to this almost daily for the rest of the tour and I still bust it out from time to time, just a solid good time, with lots of songs by and about....well, skinheads. Good friday...
