Over the past two years certain songs have given me mental flavors of drinking beers on a porch with friends around the end of summer. Lightly wistful though comforting tunes that shrug “It is what it is” and provide a soundtrack for aging in acceptance alongside like-minded others.

I see this “Porch Rock” as a subset of not-overly-sentimental jangle-pop/college rock/early indie rock. Key sonic associations are early R.E.M. and their imitators, The Clean, Mark Mulcahy, and Jacobites.

It’s geographically agnostic; the less twang-heavy sides of the Athens, GA scene, non-twee or post-punk entries of the British camp, and the Dunedin sound/Flying Nun Records all nail it. Temporally, most songs come from late-80s to mid-90s. Instrumentally, it's what you'd expect from rock of the era, though harmonica can be present in a non-bluesy or folk-rock way, so too can a light organ or even accordion at times. Guitar distortion, if even present, is typically kept light. Production mustn't be overly done, and while pop-potential is there, the sound remains clearly indie and left of the dial. 

Whether your porch is a balcony, a courtyard, a side/backyard by the grill, a rooftop, a neighborhood park, or a nearby canal, may you enjoy these tunes for sipping suds and cheersing to the last of the summer sunshine.   

Porch jam responsibly,
Former Minister of Loneliness

Beers On The Porch Mix

Serving up supple sonic-omakases and soothing selections for sensitive souls.

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12/7/25 - Fotografiska, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
11/22/25 - Ostflügel/Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
10/31/25 - Trixie Bar, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
7/12/25 - Dotori, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
7/9/25 - Monu, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
3/4/25 - Fotografiska, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
2/23/25 - New Grass Festival, Brandenburg
10/20/24 - Dotori, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
10/17/24 - Coro, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
08/11/24 - Flawd, Manchester
02/14/24 - Repeat, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
12/31/23 - CiCala, Sicily
11/25/23 - D59B, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact set)
10/25/23 - Repeat, Berlin
09/02/23 - Michelberger Hotel, Berlin (Skin II Skin Contact Set)
08/19/23 - Palabra Bar, Berlin
04/29/23 - Christa Kupfer, Berlin (Short Kings Set)
04/14/23 - Bar Bautrockner, Berlin
04/06/23 - Natural Selection, Berlin
04/01/23 - Palabra Bar, Berlin
04/14/22 - Horse Bar, Berlin
03/12/22 - Galerie ZeitZone, Berlin
03/08/22 - Bar Box, Berlin
02/26/22 - Four Quarters, London

New tracks tagged #Porch Rock