A Soundtrack for Your Kickback
Before you begin this sonic reading experience, a quick preface. What you’re about to read was inspired by two things:
First, a game we sometimes play on the Sound for Thought podcast called Soundtrack to Your Life. Here’s how it works: I (the podcast host) read to my guests an assortment of written scenes, similar to ones you might find in a cliche movie script. My guests then imagine themselves in those scenes and select their perfect songs to compliment those moments, thereby creating a “soundtrack” to their imagined life. Fun!
Second, the book Like Brothers by Mark and Jay Duplass. Great read, I highly recommended it. There are a few chapters in it that are broken up into parts titled, “You (An Exercise in Empathy)”. In these chapters, the Duplass brothers use second person point of view to essentially put the reader, “in someone else’s shoes for a bit so you can see the world through their strange, unexpected lens…” It’s a lovely exercise that can help you learn things about yourself and others.
So I figured, why not apply these concepts to music listening? This could be a neat way to explore a new album. And it just so happens that earlier this year, John Pagliassotti of Delta Dagger released his third album, Kickback Soundtrack, an album I’ve desperately wanted to dissect. Yay, the perfect guinea pig for my experiment!
So, dear reader, I invite you to become an active participant in this experiment.
Read through the following story, put yourself in the shoes of this fictional character, and do this while listening to Delta Dagger’s album along the way. Simply hit play on each embedded song link found above each scene before you begin reading.
Might as well give it a try right? What’s the worst that could happen?
1. INT. STUDIO APARTMENT. LATE AFTERNOON
It’s Friday. Early June. You just finished the day-shift at Sandbar downtown where you’re a server. Now you’re getting ready, showering off, putting on some fresh threads, and thinking about the weekend ahead. You somehow managed to get Friday night AND Saturday off for the first time in months. This doesn’t bode well for your liver.
Your thoughts keep drifting back to Dora - the cute new hostess at work. You’re hoping to see her at Kyle’s kickback tonight. And after MUCH internal deliberation, you decide to shoot her a text.
YOU
Heyo! Think you’ll make it to Kyle’s tonight? Should be a chill🥶
DORA
not sure… i hope so! depends what time I get off tonight 🥴
YOU
Fosho I feel ya. let me know!🤞
Did that come off a little desperate? Every interaction you’ve had so far gives you hope that she might actually like you. Or maybe she’s just being nice… and your dumb male brain is reading things wrong. God knows it’s happened before. You shake off the thought, swipe over to Spotify, and connect to your Bluetooth speakers.
Kyle introduced you to this cool indie band called Delta Dagger. They’re supposed to play a lil’ set tonight at his house, so you pull up their latest album Kickback Soundtrack to get a vibe. The opener comes on, “Song About Love”.
You craft yourself a pregame whisky sour and start dancing around by yourself in a very cramped living room. Your place isn’t much to behold, but it’s enough. This tune has you feeling optimistic about Dora again. The slow and steady groove is undeniable, and the nostalgic guitar licks have you reminiscing about all the good times you’ve had with girlfriends past. Maybe love isn’t bullshit? Plus all the lyrical references to other famous love songs have you chuckling to yourself.
You check the band’s bio on Spotify. Looks like it’s mostly just one guy, how edgy. His picture looks familiar… is this that one dude you saw rip a 12-minute solo in a garage a few years back at that one house show?
Suddenly, the song shifts, and this guy, John Pagliassotti, transfigurates into the king of pop himself singing “mama say mama sa mama coosa,” backed by a delightful cowbell-led breakdown. You’re pleasantly surprised, and start to feel pretty hyped for Kyle’s kickback.
2. INT. 1995 FORD BRONCO WHITE. EARLY EVENING
You’re driving your old white 95’ Ford Bronco (yes, exactly like the one OJ had) to Kyle’s place, the smell of yesterday’s takeout still pungent in the interior. You remind yourself that scarfing down Panda Express three times a week is not a sustainable diet. But if there’s anything in this life you’re truly addicted to, it’s orange chicken.
The next song from Delta Dagger’s album is now blaring through your recently upgraded sound system. A worthwhile investment, even on your meager salary. The title track plays, “Kickback Soundtrack”.
Trippy, jazzzzy, darker feelings wash over you. It’s somehow relaxing but also makes you a bit introspective. The combination of swirling, twangy telecaster riffs over the mechanically steady drum machine beat, make for a sweet late-night treat feeling.
3. INT. 1995 FORD BRONCO WHITE. DUSK
You park your truck down the street from Kyle’s place. It’s not too far from your apartment, you’ll Uber home later and pickup the Bronco tomorrow. You sit there for a minute thinking about the fight you had with your manager earlier in the week. It can be difficult leaving work at work sometimes. And Nick’s been such an asshole lately, you’re shocked he gave you the weekend off.
You’re worried he might show up at Kyle’s tonight, Nick’s got a habit of inviting himself places. Everyone at Sandbar tries their best to avoid discussing plans at work but it’s impossible to keep this dude in the dark.
Now you’re feeling slightly anxious about socializing with people BUT you accept this feeling does beat sitting at home alone another night with your cat, Gaucho the fat tabby. The true king of your castle. You miss him a little. Maybe being home alone’s not that bad…
You scroll on your phone a bit, to distract yourself with some artificially induced dopamine. Just to take the edge off. The next song from Kickback Soundtrack comes on, “Bedtime Revenge Scrolling.”
You see Dora posted a Snap story of herself taking shots at work with the bartenders. Having a grand ole time. A jolt of jealousy hits you for a second and you worry she might not make it tonight.
The music sure does sound like the inside of your brain right now. A bit chaotic and brooding. But with an underlying momentum, there’s more to come, something brewing under the surface. You take a swig of Jim Beam from your flask and step out into the warm night air.
4. INT. KYLE’S LIVING ROOM. NIGHT
You walk into the party. Kyle’s pouring shots in the kitchen, there are some tall, European-looking dudes sitting on the couch arguing. You can see and hear the band jammin’ in the backyard by the pool through the open sliding glass doors. A small crowd is starting to gather around them.
You Shazam the song they’re playing. “Brackish”. They picked up exactly where you left off listening to the album, coincidence? Fate? The groove is undeniable and you feel a jolt of energy running through your body.
YOU
Rock n’ roll.
You hate yourself for saying it out loud. Luckily nobody heard you. Actually nobody really even noticed you walk in.
You check your phone to see if Dora’s texted back but… no dice.
Internal pity laugh. You head out back to see if you can hop on the die table. A game’s already running so you call next and start looking for a partner. Kyle runs over to you, already shitfaced, and demands you take a shot with him. You oblige, what the hell? Your worries start to slowly give way to the comforting effects of tequila. Shiver.
5. EXT. KYLE’S BACKYARD. NIGHT
Out of the corner of your eye, you see your old pal Dave walk out the sliding door! A huge smile erupts on both of your faces as you lock eyes. No fucking way.
It’s been years since you’ve seen each other, not since the road trip you took right after graduation. You hit almost every national park in the southwest. An absolute mission.
It was probably the happiest and most terrified you’ve ever felt during a two-week span in your life. Just you, Dave, and your third amigo Oscar, armed with nothing but your wits and a few bucks, traversing the desert in a maroon-colored 05’ Chevy Astro that reeked of pizza, BO, and weed.
Even though you and Dave were like brothers for so long, you kinda lost touch after the road trip. Not without reason though. Your buddy Oscar died just a few short months after you all parted ways. Car accident. The irony is never lost on you.
The three of you were so excited about what life would bring next. He wanted to keep the road trip going a few more weeks, but you and Dave took jobs that started in the fall and had to bow out. Oscar kept on driving and got killed doing it. Shit luck. It was a random freak accident, and you and Dave could have easily been there with him had things gone differently.
Dave took it pretty hard and cut himself off for a while. It sucked for you too but Dave was even closer to Oscar, they used to surf together daily. Sigh. You’re just so glad to see a smile on Dave’s face, he must be doing better!
A little teary-eyed, you can’t believe Delta Dagger is doing you like this. Their song, “Tide Pools”, has you swimming in emotions. Some of the other folks in the crowd nearby are holding up their lighters, swaying to and fro.
Dave gives you a huge bear hug. Kyle sprints over with more tequila shots and you’ve never loved Kyle more. Cheers, boys. You pour one out for Oscar.
You and Dave run the table with ease for three straight games of die, polishing off a handful of Kirkland Lights along the way. Just like old times.
Your phone buzzes.
DORA
Omw!!
6. EXT. KYLE’S BACKYARD, BY THE POOL. NIGHT
MOSHPIT TIME. You and Dave drop everything and run over to join the crowd going fucking bezerk in front of the band. Their song, “Overtime Man”, is infectious. Just what the doctor ordered. The mental exhaustion you’ve been holding onto from work, from stressing about Dora, from feeling lost and alone, all just melts off you.
You lose yourself spinning around in the swarm of sweaty bodies. You fall and hit the ground but someone immediately picks you back up and brushes you off. Everything’s turning into a bit of a blur but you can still see your friends right there with you, laughing and dancing. Moshing is a form of dance right?
You can’t wait to see Dora.
7. EXT. KYLE’S BACKYARD, BY THE POOL. LATE NIGHT
The crowd settles down as the band shifts into a lower gear. They start to play, “Lobster Pot”, a slow blues tune with some funky basslines. You’re digging it, trying to catch your breath… but this one guy is still going wild in the crowd, causing mayhem, running around elbowing everyone. Of course, it’s Nick, your boss, being an asshole as usual. You’re bummed to see his stupid face… but not surprised.
People are shoving him away, telling him to back off but he’s delirious and clearly blacked out.
John Pagliassotti of Delta Dagger is ripping through some beautiful crescendoing guitar solos, looking like an absolute king on the makeshift stage. And there’s Nick running around looking like the court jester. More and more people are gathering around, and pretty soon the whole party’s together in one space, vibin’ to the music.
8. EXT. KYLE’S BACKYARD, BY THE POOL. MIDNIGHT
The night is almost over. And what a night it’s been. Delta Dagger flips the sonic switch for their final song, “Boardwalk”. Sweet-sounding synthesizers take the lead as John puts his guitar down. Everyone is dancing… like really dancing for real. Chills.
You scan the crowd for Dora, she must be here by now but it’s gotten so crowded, you can’t see shit.
The song starts to wind down and John thanks the crowd for an epic night. Kyle jumps in front of the mic and shouts.
KYLE
EVERYONE IN THE POOL!
He doesn’t need to say it twice. Without hesitation, hoards of party-goers start jumping into the pool fully clothed. It’s a scene from a summer dream. The band drops the rest of their instruments in place and rushes to join the crowd in the artificially blue water.
Dave turns to you with a grin.
DAVE
Let’s freaking go.
As you both start running towards the pool, you see her.
Dora is swimming around with a smile on her face at the other end. Absolutely glowing. She sees you from afar and beckons you into the water with a wave. Splash.
The water feels like heaven. You start paddling your way towards Dora when you hear another loud shout from the microphone. You turn to see Nick holding a massive guitar amp over his head with the strength only a belligerent drunk could muster. The electrical cables dangling around his body.
NICK
ROCK N’ ROLL!!!!
He leans, directing his momentum towards the pool. Someone screams, “Wait no! Stop!”’
But it’s too late.
Nick launches the fully plugged-in, powered-on amp in the pool. Jolt.
Fade to black.
