This interview originally aired on "In the Moment" on SDPB Radio.
It's obvious: David Hersrud has fun discussing music, particularly new releases and different genres.
He remembers when there were the big four genres: Country, classical, jazz and rock.
Genres now sprawl into a variety of subgenres, including punk rock, math rock, Simpsonwave, no wave, gothic country, cute metal and yacht rock. Hersrud recently came across a subgenre that's new to him: Dad rock.
This subgenre focuses on classic rock from the 70s and 80s. It's music for dads who grill and chill.
Hersrud has a few new releases that he says fit into the dad rock genre.
Dave Mason and Joe Bonamassa: "Dear Mr. Fantasy"
These two are an unlikely combination. One is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer who's written many classic songs. The other is one of the top blues guitarists in the world.
Hersrud recommends their version of Traffic's "Dear Mr. Fantasy."
Eminem: "Houdini"
Hersrud says including a rap song may be a bit of a stretch, but dads tend to be open-minded.
"Houdini" is from Eminem's 12th album "The Death of Slim Shady." It's been largely panned by critics but it debuted at number one in 16 different countries.
His latest release is Hersrud's idea of a rap song for people who don't like rap.
Pixies: "Que Sera Sera"
This pick may seem surprising. Hersrud chose a song by one of the originators of the alternative rock music genre who recorded a song sung by Doris Day in the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much."
"Que Sera Sera" was done most notably before by Sly and the Family Stone and in a famous Simpsons episode where the citizens of Springfield sing it while waiting for a comet to wipe out the town.
Devon Allman: "White Horse"
Devon Allman's publicist describes Allman's new album "Miami Moon" as the past and the future colliding under pink Miami skies.
Hersrud isn't sure what that means, but it sounds nice.
Allman is the son of Gregg Allman. He follows the same blues and rock road that his family has tread before.
He's been making music since the early 90s.
Hermanos Gutiérrez: "Tres Hermanos"
The Ecuadorian and Swiss brothers have a new album out. It was produced once again by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.
It's gotten rave reviews and was described as music for spaghetti Westerns.
Hersrud recommends checking out their NPR Tiny Desk Concert from 2023.
For this dad rock list, Hersrud picked a song from their 2022 album "El Bueno y el Malo."
