Evidently, “Family Ties,” Baby Keem’s collab with Kendrick Lamar, makes you want to check someone into the boards.
That track is on the NHL’s “PowerPlay(List)” on Amazon Music, as curated by Golden Knights’ center and resident musicologist Jack Eichel. The VGK vet and Olympic gold medalist was charged with creating the NHL’s official pregame playlist for the Stanley Cup Final.
The list spans 37 songs and is a little more than three hours long. It is road-trip worthy.
Joining Keem, who is from Las Vegas, in Eichel’s lineup: “Blind” by Korn, “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette, “Rebellion” by Arcade Fire, “Schism” by Tool, “Roll Right” by Rage Against the Machine,” “Karma Police” by Radiohead and “Sinnerman” by Nina Simone. A highlight is “To Zion,” Lauryn Hill feat. Carlos Santana.
And you need some Fleetwood Mac in this attack; “Dreams” is on Eichel’s list, too.
Eichel listed Stone Temple Pilots, Metallica and Pearl Jam as early influences. He and his father, Bob, bonded over classic rock.
“I look at the way I look at the artists that I really enjoy, the influence that they have, and the music they produce, I just think they’re telling a story,” Eichel says in a post on Amazon Music’s IG page. “You can take a lot from that, and I think us, as listeners, do.”
The playlist comes from the NHL, as it announced Jelly Roll’s “Rise Up” as the official theme song of the Stanley Cup Playoffs a couple of weeks ago. The song debuted during the Western Conference Final between the Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche, and continued through the Stanley Cup Final.
“Rise Up” has been deemed too typically commercial by some hardcore NHL fans, but appreciated by Jelly Roll devotees. I like and support the tune, and not just because Mr. Roll has a home in Las Vegas.
I agree with his take, “This song was written for the guys grinding every night for the Cup. This isn’t just the theme song of the NHL Playoffs. This is their song. It crawls over your skin, that dirty, swampy, nasty, distorted rock and roll.”
The swampy selection is available only on Amazon Music. Jelly Roll’s video, featuring assorted NHL Playoff action, is on YouTube. Check it out, and try to stay out of the penalty box.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykatson X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
