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Gimme 5 with Matt Adams of The Blank Tapes: 5 favorite songs to listen to while touring

MATT ADAMS

The Blank Tapes is the musical project of Matt Adams, a California-based multi-instrumentalist. On Thursday night, he will bring his lo-fi, garage-pop music to Underbelly at 113 E. Bay St. in downtown.

5 FAVORITE SONGS TO LISTEN TO WHILE TOURING

1“Kaw-Liga” by Hank Williams: I love how Hank was able to write a lovesick song about a wooden Indian [statue] in an antique shop as if he was singing about himself. My favorite part about this song is how it changes time signatures in the chorus. Very psychedelic!

2 “The Enchanted Sea” by The Islanders: I heard a snippet of this song on [the public radio show] “This American Life.” Apparently, The Islanders were a studio band that just made one album and never toured. Very [Quentin] Tarantino-esque. The entire album is just as good!

3 “Siempre Estoy Pensando En Ella” by Leo Dan: I first remember hearing Dan at a taqueria in San Francisco. The next day, I bought his greatest hits CD and became obsessed with it. This is the strangest of the bunch. What are those crazy sounds?!

4 “Family Affair” by Sly and the Family Stone: I love how raw the recording sounds with Sly’s voice way up front, barely able to contain his soulful squeals. I love the sentiment of the lyrics, too. My only complaint is that this song is way too short. The chorus could last forever.

5 “Selassie is the Chapel” by Bob Marley: My girlfriend and bandmate Pearl and I heard this obscure tune in the recent documentary [“Marley”]. Everything about this song — the backup singers, the way the drums sound, etc. — is perfect (except for maybe the subject matter). Interestingly, she also stumbled upon the song “Crying in the Chapel” by The Orioles, which this song was lifted from. Watch the “Marley” movie.