What happens to a ski playlist when the snow doesn’t come?
It turns into a snowshoe playlist.
2025 Winter we had a TON of snow. Epic. 2026 Winter was different — we did NOT have much Pow at all. The Skiing…sucked. So I skied less and snowshoed more, the dogs out front, and the music changed with the conditions. You don’t glide on powder in snowshoes. You trudge. And trudging needs a different soundtrack than cruising. So Winter 2026 playlist evolved to a bit of “marching”. With Dogs…
What music is good for snowshoeing?
Anything with a steady drum you can walk to. A march, or a ballad — something that sets the pace so your legs don’t have to think about it. All season I kept adding them. Some of these were added over time for it’s new purpose:
sombr, “back to friends.” Sinéad O’Connor, “I Am Stretched on Your Grave.” Manchester Orchestra, “I Know How To Speak.” The War On Drugs, “An Ocean In Between The Waves.” Wye Oak, “Civilian.” Put the earbuds in, find the beat, go.
Why does this winter sound different from last winter?
Last winter I went looking for something fresh, new — my daughter had a big influence – she’s a “20 – something”, consider Flipturn. This winter I went to my home. Back to my roots (I’m still growing roots!), the rock I grew up on: Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel. There is a thread of it in there.
Which of these bands have I seen live?
A lot of them. That’s how this works: if I’ve seen a band and liked them, they end up on a playlist. Foo Fighters. Metallica. Sharon Van Etten. HAIM. Hozier. Khruangbin. My Morning Jacket. Goldie Boutilier. And Weezer — I caught them this winter, or in recent past. I live in Montana – we don’t get a lot of big name bands here, I have to travel for those. But I get diversity from Montana and there is a big – off the beaten track – music scene. Most, if not all pics, are mine.
Which ones do I keep coming back to?
Airbag, “Homesick.” They’re Norwegian — five high-school classmates who gave their first EPs away free on their website — and “Homesick” is the centerpiece of their second album, All Rights Removed. One review called them “a mix of Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree.” I’d call them Pink Floyd reincarnate. Give it all seventeen minutes. It earns them.
Foo Fighters, “February Stars,” live at the Pantages. Dave Grohl is not screaming! Nice to hear his singing voice.
Daughter, “To Rage.” Love the vibe. Introduced to me by my “Daughter”
David Gilmour, “Fat Old Sun,” live. The real Floyd, to close the loop. Love it!
What’s it for?
Snowshoe days, ski days, and the house. A few groups of friends come by to ski over the winter and stay four to six days — and of course, all seasons had parties.
It’s just under six hours. Let it run.
A favorite winter playlist is 2023 Chill Winter — same concept. If you like the Khruangbin tune, grab Modern Western.
Enjoy!
