Now that the Packers have been eliminated from Super Bowl contention, it’s time to consider how one can best enjoy what’s left of the NFL playoffs. I propose watching all non-Packers playoff games with your music of choice. Let me explain: football can be quite appealing, visually. TV announcers can be quite repulsive, auditorily. To sum up: watch the game on mute, with your music of choice bumping. This creates a whole new narrative to the game. Do you really need Kevin Burkhardt to tell you that Lamar Jackson is fast? Al Michaels is a legend but you already know Dan Campbell will go for it on 4th down. And how about this: NO COMMERCIALS! Ok, you’ll see Jake but won’t have to hear the dumb shit he says!

For Example

Last Saturday, I watched the Ravens and Steelers slug it out in the 2025 AFC Wildcard with the sound off and the otherworldly tones of Ashra’s “Ocean Of Tenderness” filling the audio void. I let the whole album play on repeat throughout the second half and found the game taking unexpected contours: Not only is this a great way to experience the twisted barbary of an NFL broadcast, it also led to the only time my daughter voluntarily watched football with me. She asked why I chose to listen to music whilst watching the game and I told her I liked to imagine that the stadium itself was full of the sound I was playing, which calmed the crowd and gave the players something interesting to consider as they concussed each other. To illustrate my point, I then told her another boring story from my restless youth…

Another Boring Story from my Restless Youth

“During the first January of the 21st Century, I hosted a Super Bowl XXXIV party at the East Side house I shared with my two buddies (plus, my daughter’s future mother and auntie lived upstairs). Calling it a “party” was unnecessary; every moment on Frederick Avenue was a party: our door was open to anyone inspired enough to enter through the fog of smoke and Hit To Death In The Future Head-era Flaming Lips feedback. Yeah, so I told a few people I’d be watching the Super Bowl and they were welcome to show up and watch me watch it.

The 1999 Rams were the Greatest Show on Turf, winning the NFC with a league-leading 526 Points behind Packer QB cast-off Kurt Warner. The AFC delivered destiny in the form of the Tennessee Titans, née Houston Oilers, who Music City Miracle’d their way to the Super Bowl. I was convinced the Titans couldn’t lose, on account of destiny and the copious cannabis I smoked (which was the style at the time). People arrived, Guinness and other party favors were served, I turned the game on mute, pressed play on Bob Dylan Live 1966, Disc 2, and cranked up the harmonica and distortion. Why? Because “I know that you know that I know that you’ll show…something…” and well, it was my party.

Most of us pulled for the upstart Titans, who competed valiantly versus the favored Rams. Steve McNair escaped, galloped and extended time on the final drive of Super Bowl XXXIV, his weary legs pumping to Robbie Robertson’s sidewinding guitar in “Baby Let Me Follow You Down” and the Titans would’ve done anything in this God-almighty world to cross the goal line before the clock struck zero. But destiny died a yard short in January, 2000. The Rams won and our party stretched through one too many mornings and a thousand miles…behind…”


Back to 2025

My daughter and I watched the rest of the Raven/Steeler game together, suggesting to each other that Derrick Henry stiff-armed and rejoiced to the crescendo of “Deep Distance” by Ashra off their 1977 release New Age Of Earth. The Baltimore crowd extended their joyous arms into the frozen night, swaying ecstatically to “Nightdust” as the Ravens steamrolled for first down after first down, destroying the Steelers season once and for all. But it didn’t feel like destruction, it felt like a massage to the brain. Oh, Mike Tomlin, you look like a cool but out-of-work 1970s undercover cop and I know it’s your last day before retirement, but take this song, Coach Tomlin, let it warm you this long offseason…


Empathy to the Gridiron

Yes, my music choice brought empathy to this violent contest. It was evening, I was warm and weary, wanting to maintain a hypnotic groove of winter glow, which is why I chose Ashra’s 1977 LP New Age Earth to accompany the 4K gladiators on my TV. Now, I would never impose that ideal upon you, or any NFL viewer. In 2000, I chose Dylan Live 1966 because I wanted gunshot drum fills, clothesline harmonica, and all sorts of unsportsmanlike conduct from The Band. Pairing music with a big game takes the edge off the anxiety of sport and adds an imaginary element that alters with escalating synth, sudden explosion of timpani, brooding bass line, or odd lyrical choice. Sure, it can drift into Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test territory of stoner synch, but years after shedding THC completely, I do still dig sincerely the mix of humans in competitive struggle with the sounds of a well-chosen musical accompaniment. Try it and let me know how it goes…choose music to fit the mood YOU want, like Love says: You Set the Scene.

Pairing Suggestions for NFL Divisional Playoffs

Saturday, January 18

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Turn the TV audio all the way down and consider these albums for enduring the Chief’s 37-19 drubbing of the hapless Houston Texans.

Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles
• Why? Weird, groovy tunes for a game that could go sideways. You won’t get bored to “Baby You’re A Rich Man” and you can drift away to “Flying”
• Key Track: “I Am The Walrus” (for Andy Reid)

Moondog by Moondog
• If you prefer predominately instrumental weirdness, here’s your Huckleberry
• Key Track: “Stamping Ground” for dramatic maneuvers in the trenches

Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Turn the TV audio all the way down and consider these albums for gnashing your teeth as Coach Campbell gambles and loses on 4th down one too many times in a surprising Washington win.

Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple
• Why? Ride the angst and snake of Apple’s piano as Detroit lets down its faithful for the 8 millionth time.
• Key Track: “Better Version Of Me” (for Bobby Lane and all the Lion losers)

Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub
• Why? Grimey, punky, poppy tunes to keep you hydrated as the Lion laughs continue while something called a Commander wins.
• Key Track: “The Concept” for a reminder that football is painful, and if you actually want the Lions to win, this song will help you chase the chill of defeat.

Sunday, January 19

Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Turn the TV audio all the way down and consider these albums to avoid the reality of an ugly game in which both teams somehow manage to lose (especially if it’s Vikings v Eagles).

Pre-Millennium Tension by Tricky
• Why? This game will feature at least two enemy teams, so let the gnarly voice and paranoid grooves govern this potential hate-fest.
• Key Track: “Vent” is a great opener to collide with all the collisions and claustrophobia of a tight American football game…and it may inspire you to pair up with your desired partner and go for 6.

A Monastic Trio by Alice Coltrane
• Why? This music will astral plane you. Rise above this pathetic place we call earth and sore with Swamini Turiyasangitananda.
• Key Track: The whole album. Football is dumb.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Turn the TV audio all the way down and consider these albums for what might very well be the actual Super Bowl (Ravens win as time expires).

Touch Me, I’m Earth’s Greatest Rocker! by Rev. Norb
• Why? This game is going to be incredible no matter what you hear, so you might as well support some amazing local weirdo rocking his ass off!
• Key Track: “Hey Man, Let’s, Like, Rock!” I don’t think I need to explain why this is a key track. Turn it up!

E Pluribus Unum by Sandy Bull
• Why? Again, this might be the best game ever, so learn some new sounds that Hunter S. Thompson dug the most.
• Key Track: “No Deposit-No Returns Blues” is a wobbly, woozy Sunday evening vibe that grooves for 17 minutes with no timeouts remaining.

Also listen to Instrumental Saturdays with Mary on WMSE…perfect for football or any event!

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About The Author

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Tad lives in Milwaukee with his family, the finest he has found. He helps WMSE by creating an audio archive and the Brewers by being a daydream believer and a homecoming queen.