Brian and Scott kick things off with cocktails, album homework, and a little friendly chaos before settling into a bigger conversation about the start of fall. They also cover two big live music weekends, and a shared love of seasonal bourbon. In this episode: Brian and Scott compare notes on the new Death Cab for Cutie album, talk through standout live shows from Guster and the Avett Brothers, and debate why fall is either the best season or merely acceptable. They also get into pumpkin drinks, bourbon season, and the kind of concert memories that make you wish you had bought the ticket.

Key topics

• Scott’s improvised cocktail experiment with Eagle Rare, maple syrup, and Dalmarva syrup
• Brian’s barrel strength Old Forester and why both hosts are clearing out bottles near the end of their lives
• Death Cab for Cutie’s I’ll Be You a Tower discussion, including:
  • Brian’s favorites: Envy the Birds, Stone Over Water, and Riptide
  • Scott’s picks: I Built You a Tower, Pep Talk, and Riptide
  • The shared verdict that it was solid, but not a top tier album for either host
• The contrast between Death Cab’s older material and its newer, more “dad rock” direction
• Scott’s surprise enthusiasm for Guster as an opener, especially their crowd work at Wolf Trap
• The Avett Brothers playing two nights, two sets, and nearly 50 songs with only a few repeats
• Why some concerts feel like can’t-miss events, especially when paired against football or other plans
• A full fall debate covering:
  • clothing
  • football
  • early sunsets
  • pumpkins and pumpkin drinks
  • apple picking
  • fall festivals, hayrides, and pumpkin patches
• Bourbon Heritage Month and why September feels like the right time to celebrate America’s native spirit
• Brian and Scott’s shared appreciation for stouts, especially gingerbread and bourbon barrel variants