Rich Machin of Soulsavers talks us through his mixtape selections. The band (along with Mark Lanegan, with whom they recorded 2007's It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land) play ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas on December 5/6/7 at Butlin's, Minehead.

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1. Jane's Addiction 'Three Days'

   Jane's Addiction, the early 90s version line-up of the band. There was just something so special about seeing the band live at that point, they were awesome. Since then I've seen them a few times and it's been a bit theatrical, all silly costumes and men in make-up. But back then, they were untouchable. (YouTube)

2. Bad Brains 'Banned In DC'

   I'm not old enough to have seen them in their prime, I saw a few different line-ups, and eventually saw them play when the band got back with Henry Rollins around '99 and toured as Soul Brains, but it was nothing like what I'd heard of the earlier Bad Brains. Thats what I'd wanna see. (YouTube)

3. Explosions In The Sky 'First Breath After A Coma'

   One of the best bands I've ever seen play. Live, they're so dynamic - for an instrumental band to be able to captivate an crowd the way that they do is really special. (YouTube)

4. Stax/Volt Revue 'Try A Little Tenderness'

   Back in '67, Stax label put a package out on the road featuring Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd and many others. All backed by the house band, Booker T & The MG's. To have been there would have been amazing.

   
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5. Karen Dalton 'Blues Jumped The Rabbit'

   Probably the best female singer of all time. I've got so many live recordings of hers, I'd have loved to have been able to see her play. (YouTube)

6. Will Oldham 'I See A Darkness'

   Every time you see him play he turns his arrangements on their head, but they're always brillant. Such a prolific artist, but one who keeps his standards really high too. (YouTube)

7. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds 'Abattoir Blues'

   Circa the 'Abattoir Blues' tour - that was the best Bad Seeds line-up for me. (YouTube)

8. John Lee Hooker 'It Serves Me Right To Suffer'

   One of my all-time favorite artists, never saw him play. Wished I had, sure it would have been better than any record he ever made. (YouTube)

9. Lift To Experience 'Falling From Cloud Nine'

   Breaks my heart that this band never got the success they deserved. They made one great record, but even that could never have prepared you for seeing them live. The best fucking rock 'n' roll band in the last 20 years. Fact.

   
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10. Townes Van Zandt 'Heartworn Highway'

    I love this clip, it captures Townes doing what he did best. (YouTube)

11. Black Mountain 'Stormy High'

    Always amazing live. One of the few new bands that just always get it right. (YouTube)

12. Tom Waits 'Make It Rain'

    Saw him a few times on the Glitter And Doom tour, always amazing, always innovating. His Dublin gig was probably the best gig I've ever seen. (YouTube)

13. Otis Rush 'I Can't Quit You Baby'

    Another great bluesman, his Cobra sessions are one of the greatest blues recordings ever. I'd love to see him play those in a bar at 2am. (YouTube)

14. Captain Beefheart 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus'

    I have to add this just because I have no idea what it'd be like, but I know I'd wanna see it. It took me a long time to get my head around Beefheart, I just didn't get it. Then someone gave me Safe As Milk and it all made sense. Now I think he's a genius - fine line I guess.

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Previous Mixtapes:

• Emmy The Great
• Wild Beasts
• DiSsers' US election special
• Tilly And The Wall
• Okkervil River
• Laura Marling
• Kaiser Chiefs
• M83
• El Guincho
• Grammatics
• Trans AM
• Duncan Lloyd
• The Walkmen
• Cut Copy
  
• Late Of The Pier
• Gabriella Cilmi
• White Denim
• Gareth Los Campesinos!
• Barry Adamson
• Muscles and Bumblebeez (Modular special edition!)
• Lovvers
• Sebastien Tellier
• The Maccabees
• Foals
• MSTRKRFT