In a series we're calling "Puck Rock," Scene/Cream contributor and hockey wonk Megan Seling will ask various members of the Nashville Predators to talk about their musical tastes (the good, the bad and the ugly). Check out her chat with Roman Josi here, and watch for more installments in the coming weeks!
Poor Pekka. It has been a rough go for the blondest man in the NHL as he’s spent the majority of the ’13-’14 season nursing a pretty brutal hip infection. He finally returned to the ice a few weeks ago (and shut out the Blackhawks — in your face, Kane!), but what do you think he did while recuperating at home? He listened to music, of course! I mean, probably. I don’t know, he never invited me over.
Here’s what I imagine his "Get Well Soon" playlist sounded like:
Mudhoney, “Touch Me I’m Sick”
Freak Nasty, “Da’ Dip” (“I put my hand upon your hip / When I dip, you dip, we… take antibiotics”)
Atom & His Package, “Goalie”
P!nk, “You Make Me Sick”
Bad Religion, “Infected”
The Ramones, “I Wanna Be Well”
Based on his answers to my musical questionnaire, though, he was more likely listening to classic and folk rock. (You mean he wasn’t traipsing around the house, shoving Twinkies into his mouth and singing “What do you do when you weigh 1,500 pounds? YOU PLAY GOALIE!”? Sad!) We also learned that while Anders Lindback was a Pred, he taught Rinne how to play guitar! Is there a more adorable visual than Rinne and Lindback playing guitar together? No, there is not. Unless you throw in a quokka. Who is wearing a bowtie. And sitting in a basket of ducklings. Who are all wearing different kinds of miniature hats. Aww!
Who are some of your favorite bands and/or musicians, and what’s so great about them?
I’ve always been a big Neil Young fan. I like really older rock 'n’ roll music. I also enjoy a lot of alternative stuff like Kings of Leon and The Lumineers.
Do you listen to music to help get amped for a game? If so, what is it?
I’m definitely a rock music kind of guy before games, but we play a lot of house music. I don’t mind the house music, but if I were in charge there would be more rock.
What’s the last concert you went to, and was it good?
The last concert I went to was Kings of Leon. It was really good. Once you see someone live, you build a different kind of relationship with the music.
Is there a team’s goal song that drives you crazy?
I don’t really care for the Blackhawks’ song, but I think that’s the purpose. It frustrates you, and you don’t want to hear that song.
Do you play an instrument or make any music of your own?
I have a guitar and a piano at the house, but I don’t play either. When Anders Lindback was still here I started to learn how to play, because he was my guitar teacher. I can’t play more than a few chords here and there.
I’m having a dance party and you’re invited — which song would the DJ have to play in order to get you out on the dance floor?
That would be hard to do, because I’m not a big dancer. Usually I get fired up when I hear some classics.
Do you have any musical guilty pleasures? Something that you totally love but can only listen to when no one else is around?
I wouldn’t really listen to Finnish music around anyone else, because they wouldn’t understand it. When I’m by myself, I listen to Finnish music a lot.
Is there a band or musician from your hometown that you really like that maybe folks here in Nashville haven’t heard of?
My fiancée plays music, and she sings. She has her own band back home. She does singer-songwriter and pop music.
