Sure, it’s getting harder to be a patriot every day (Hi Stephen Colbert! we love you!). But that’s not stopping you from daydreaming about Fourth of July a week early. Roman candles playfully shot at tipsy friends, charred processed meat, gas money spent on impossibly cheap miniature American flags manufactured in other countries. Ah, independence. It’s a good time to think about it.

It’s in an independent spirit that we turned to Chris Kasper, award-winning songwriter based in Manayunk, for this week’s mix tape. Chris is gearing up to celebrate the release of his second indie album with a show at World Café on Tuesday, June 27.

After letting the songs brew for a few years, Chris took a rare offer to record the album on the cheap in a basement studio in Durham, NC. The result is a record with a signature dreamy acoustic style laced with words worth listening to.

You may have caught the single Bit Older on WXPN already. It’s one of those songs that bounces around in your brain after the first listen, a perfectly catchy June tune. In a there-was-some-love-sparkling-in-the-air-and-maybe-it-didn’t-work-out, but-don’t-think-twice, it’s all right kind of way.

Chris balances out his solo stuff by moonlighting with The Lowlands, a local bluegrass-folk ensemble where he gets to flash the bluegrass chops he picked up from living in West Virginia before landing here in the heart of brotherly love.

The show, according to Chris, is going to be his own little circus featuring a host of friends and cohorts helping him celebrate. Then he’s off to tour with the Highway Girls and carry the celebration into NYC and Boston.

So without further ado, ignore Lee Greenwood on the radio, and pop in Pre-game: Chris Kasper’s Favorite Songs by Independent Artists, and get ready for the fireworks.

Servo
Brian Jonestown Massacre
The opening riff will get any party started anywhere, anytime. I love the random flute in the background.

In The City
Milton
This guy is out of NYC. The song is a perfect feeling good to be alive in a city song. What better day to rock it out than the Fourth in Philly.

Astro Zombies
The Misfits
Light up the barbecue and get your old school punk on - true pioneers of independent music.

GiGi
Birdie Busch
A fabulous tune that mentions a plastic flag stuck in the lawn. I got one of those for the Fourth, except I don’t have a lawn, so I stick it in between the sidewalk cracks.

Let Me Fall
Rachael Eddy and the Morgantown Ramblers
Bluegrass from the foothills of West Virginia. Great song about just letting the drunk guy fall. Play fast, sing high.

Righteously
Lucinda Williams
Rock, rock, rock, rock on. No one rocks better than Lucinda.

California (part 1)
Mason Jennings
This song makes me want to hit repeat again and again. Mason sings about getting out of town, missing the ocean…one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

Orange Sky
Alexi Murdoch
The title speaks for itself.
Living Proof, Cat Power
Cat Power is just wonderful energy and Living Proof is a totally righteous tune. Put it on in the car, roll the windows down and head out to the party.

Motha
Devin the Dude
Hip-hop from Texas. Devin lays down the thick, smooth beats and kicks some great, funny lyrics over top. Need a beat by the grill? Put on Devin the Dude.

Hold My Beer
Jeremy Hollis
Talk about independence, Hollis sings, “Here I am and what you see is what you get.” Hey, beer is in the title. It’s also a great song for those family sing-along’s. A Philly local with a gift for the gab.