How to "Carry On": Nirvana/Kurt Cobain Tribute

This week's Keep Calm and Carry On was one of the more interesting to do, because it was something that had little or nothing to do with the current state of emo/pop-punk/post-hardcore. However, when a legend would have celebrated his birthday, it's kind of hard not to pay tribute. On Monday, February 20, Kurt Cobain would have turned 45. And while there's no way to tell what he would have been doing were he still around today, but there is no doubt that while he was alive, he was one of the most influential minds to ever grace rock music, and music overall.

Nirvana covers are a dime a dozen these days, so an entire show of Nirvana covers was certainly a possibility. However, to have a little fun, I wanted to use a few plays on words for a few Nirvana songs and albums, and made a playlist out of that. The main songs I used from Nirvana to make this week's playlist were "Heart-Shaped Box," "About a Girl," and of course, "Smells Like Teen Spirit." There were also a bunch of songs pulled in from the game-changing Nirvana album Nevermind, including one of the more under-appreciated Saosin songs from their self-titled full-length, "I Never Wanted To."

This week also featured a few covers of Nirvana songs, like Four Year Strong's cover of "In Bloom," from their 90s cover album Explains it All. However, one cover that I've been jamming a lot recently has been Circa Survive's cover of "Scentless Apprentice." The band featured the cover when they performed for the MySpace Transmission series, and can be heard below:

Of course, the show would not have been complete if we didn't play a song by the grunge kings themselves, and when it comes to Nirvana, there is an obvious choice to play. The one that changed it all, for so many people. The one that changed the landscape of music, possibly forever. The one they'll never stop talking about: "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Rest in Peace, Kurt Cobain, and long live Nirvana.

Keep Calm and Carry On won't be on-air for the next two weeks, but in the meantime, we'll have some great content for you over the break! Stay tuned!