Normally, this space is reserved for highlighting new music. Not this week. This week, it is the first football Friday here in Illinois, so, let’s talk tailgate music.

And I don’t mean the typical Thunderstruck, We Are the Champions, Welcome to the Jungle stuff. We all have that in our tailgate playlist. I’m more interested in the songs you have in your list that no one else does. What are your obscure tailgate selections that?

Here are five of mine. Disclaimer: I was tempted to include some hip hop staples that in a lot of other areas would not be obscure, but I live in the land of the 84.3 percent, so they are not played much ’round here. I’m talking any DMX, or Shook Ones, Pt. 2, or what should be our new national anthem, Ante Up.

J. Roddy Walston & The Business–Brave Man’s Death

J. Roddy Walston is one of those bands that every time they come up on shuffle, I find myself asking why I don’t listen to them more often. This song is the exception, because I listen to it at least twice every game day. It is a soldier’s anthem if there ever was one.

I don't wanna die in the middle of the night
I want a brave man's death
Spittin' gasoline, burnin' my teeth
Gettin' salt on the fields of my past
And a sword'll come down with a milky white flash;
I'll get my brave man's death at last

Nick Dittmeier and the Sawdusters–Rhythm of the Train

This one I fully admit is local team specific, as the Fairfield Mules home field is called the Train Yard. Anyone who has sat in the bleachers on a Friday night in Fairfield gets this one. Plus, they are a three-piece country band from southern Indiana, so extra points for being somewhat local.

DOROTHY–Wicked Ones

Another modern anthem type. I’ve been told that if this had a male lead, it would be a great run out song. I disagree. It is already a great run out song.

This night ain't for the faint of heart
'Cause the faint of heart gonna fall apartThis night ain't for the holy man with the holy plan
For the promise land
This night we got the evil hand
And the evil hand gonn' raise the dead

Kaleo–No Good

Admittedly, this one, and the one above, are not obscure, but you still don’t here a ton of them at tailgates. My list, my rules. You know this.

This one has that guitar tone that just fits the sound that comes of those 1973 PA speakers at most high schools still, You know, the generic version of the Peavy amp, hanging up there off the roof, reverberating through the metal bleachers and wafting through that freshly manicured bluegrass. Squint hard enough, you can see the hash marks in this song.

Patrick Stump–Who’s The (Bat)man

What? Kids can tailgate too, whether they are seven-year-old kids or 40-year-old kids. Plus, it’s a reminder to never skip leg day (Buns of Steel!). You can also bond with your best friend, who may or may not be seven. Waddup, Callen!

So, let me see it in the comments? What are the songs that probably only you have in a tailgate list?

Also, here is my full Mules Tailgate list on Spotify.