Driving home today, I realized that the majority of my day’s activities involves listening to music, whether it’s on the commute to and from work, slogging through some debugging and troubleshooting of software (I’m a computer nerd for my nine to five job), editing photos, or jamming away on a blog item such as this one for BangShift.
The same goes for when I’m working on one my of cars as well: Unless it’s an oil change or other quickie maintenance work, one of the first things that I do as part of my “getting ready” ritual is to fire up the iPod or an online streaming radio station and select what I want to listen to. Of course, listening to the same bands and/or genre gets old after a while, so I tend to try and mix it up a little: I default to alternating between early 90’s rock and classic rock (Although evidently 90’s rock is now considered “classic rock”), but once in a while I’ll be in the mood to queue up a rockabilly station, something electronic, or even some classical music for variety (Listen, things can get a little weird about ten hours into an engine swap…).
But that’s enough about me, I’m interested in the music that the rest of you BangShifters listen to out in the garage: Something fast and loud? Chill and relaxing to keep you from throwing a tool or two when something goes wrong (Maybe that’s just me?)? Or perhaps the only music you want to hear is the faint sound of a ratchet clicking and your muted swearing at the Car Gods during a particularly difficult task (Again, is that just me?)?
What’s your go-to band(s) or genre of music when you’re wrenching on one of your cars or trucks?
Metal. Metal and more metal.
Classic rock for me,we have a new station (well about a year new now) that does not play 90’s “classics” I didn’t like Nervona then and nothing has changed near 20 years later,crap I’m old……
I don’t ! Period . When wrenching my ears are attuned to the sounds around me keeping tabs on anything that might be going wrong that usually manifests itself aurally way before visually .
e.g. I’m in the ‘ moment ‘ when wrenching .. focusing on the mechanicals .. not drifting off into musicland .. of any kind
Now driving ? Thats another story indeed !
The Drive out of Chicago, 96.9/97.1 on my local FM, they call it “Timeless Rock”. They have an APP to stream also.
The blues.
During the summer it is alternative rock if I am listining to broadcast radio as it is the strongest signal in my steel sided pole building. If I take the time to set up the SERIUS receiver then it could be 60’s Hits, Classic Rock or Country (when I’m working on the Truck). This time of year the only “music” I can listen to out in the shop is the drone of the kerosene fired forced air heater! (I live in Michigan)
Whatever is playing on my ipod thingy.
Rock, mostly from the 80’s
A little rockabillys good in the garage
Pantera, Metallica, Motorhead and Pink Floyd.
Anything from Maiden to zz top to covergirls to toby keith, etc.. even NWA might find it’s way on to the list.. But I always fire up a upgraded engine with “give me fuel, give me fire , ” internet radio is ok.. but when it’s time for deep tracks, it’s I pod or server based music.. or I load 5 c/d’s into the changer and rock to that.. Wireless headphones ROCK..
Either Old Country or Southern Gospel. The new country sucks.
None. I prefer my screams of pain after I smash a finger or bump into something with my shin. If it’s not at the pain level where you want to scream but nothing comes It’s usually followed by the seven words you couldn’t say on TV until recently.
Airbourne, Danzig Eagles ZZ Top Zepplin Deep Purple Hell Yeah Texas Hippie Coalition. And every once in awhile a rude suprise when the females in the house think its funny to load one direction or katy perry on my I pooed
Pandora set to my Los Straightjackets channel. Surf!
classic rock on cars and metal on airplanes…
Rock, from the late 60’s till today with a preference for metal and talk radio. Real talk radio not that Prius driving federally funded NPR crap.
Depends what I’m doing and which vehicle I’m working on… Sometimes Rockabilly or Oldies, but usually Classic Rock. Partly because my shop radio sucks and the local classic rock station gets the best reception… lol
Funny to see the ZZ Top references here. Would be fun to take a pole… how many guys got into cars because of ZZ Top videos in the 80’s? Definitely had an influence on me as a kid!
New hard rock. Last year Stone Sour and Five Finger Death Punch. This year Adrenaline Mob so far. The ultimate rock album is always under constant revision, will never be finalized.
CLUTCH!…… (the band)
Mostly KNAC.com. or Cole Coonce’s “Big Sounds of the Drags 2001” and the “Insect Surfers”.
I have 850 tunes on my I-pod of about any type of music you can think of, I just hit shuffle and let the good times roll.
Mendelssohn’s Violin concerto in E minor. Ahhhhhh Bach! (Radar O’Reilly)
Classic Rock
ZZ Top, Metallica, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
When I was a kid my dad had an 8-track player in the shop. It was tucked away under a bench with a box in front of it. Hit the box just right and Deep Purple Machine Head would fire up. Same tape ran for years. I was like 5 years old and knew every word on that album – still know them now decades later!
Music helps me relax when wrenching in the garage, Classic Rock is what I have on.
Classic rock, goes perfect with Miller Highlife
I discovered a local radio station that plays everything from the ’70’s to new-ish music. The Island 107.7. Another station goes all retro playing Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 from the ’70’s on Saturday and one from the ’80’s on Sunday.
When they fail me, I break out the MP3’s listening to everything from the ’50’s to now. Country, pop, rock, metal, whatever.
80’s on 8, 90’s on 9, Classic Rewind and occasionally Prime Country.
I always go with Hip Hop. Keeps me relaxed and focused
XM 60 – Outlaw Country ( Waylon, Willie, Haggard, Skynyrd, Cash, Marshall Tucker, Hank Jr., etc…)
Hip Hop and Rap yeah that’s where my heart is at, even back when I use to break on a mat. Old Soul, Rhythm and Blues is gold. Classic Rock, some Metal and yes even some Jazz will get me going. Just depends on the day. Like Marvin Gaye said “Give me some music”. I even like to put in my old Fastest Street Car Videos to give me that at the track sound.
Ozzy