White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade

I cannot get enough of this record.

It is endlessly dense and diverse; parts 70's jazz fusion and progressive rock mix with bluesy Tex-Mex rock and Latin inspired rhythm.  So many groups come to mind when experiencing the aural journey that Corsicana Lemonade supplies; The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Beatles, Yes, ZZ Top, and Wilco (unsurprising as the record is co-produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy).  The double guitar attack of James Petralli and Austin Jenkins is truly formidable and the six string onslaught is propelled by the tireless efforts of bassist Steve Terebecki and drummer Josh Block.  Atop of this magic sits Petralli's soulful vocals ranging from tender whispers to all out funky growls.

Here is a quick rundown:

1) At Night In Dreams - An explosive opener boasting nasty guitar riffs, verses punctuated by big band-esque rhythmic figures, and a swinging middle section that modulates quite delightfully.
2) Corsicana Lemonade - This burning title track boasts an undeniable groove throughout, sensational transitions of complex rhythm, and a middle section that demands a highway cruise of terrific speed.
3) Limited By Stature - Conjures a Sgt. Pepper era Beatle's vibe, wonderfully psychedelic with wah-wah and sitar guitar effects abounding.  I particularly enjoy the concluding drum fill at the end, superb.
4) New Blue Feeling - Begins with a somber mood, seemingly deconstructs to nothing, and then erupts into a driving middle portion with blazing guitar solos.
5) Come Back - Perhaps it is just me but this one brings Lenny Kravitz to mind, specifically in the vocal quality.  I particularly enjoy the high pitched guitar and vocal exclamations that intersperse throughout and the intense drive of the middle section that invokes early 70's Yes.
6) Distant Relative Salute - This pleasant number has a delightful swing groove that highlights the jazzy feel of Josh Block's drumming and fantastic chorus that begs to be sang along to while disguising well its complicated odd measures.
7) Let It Feel Good (My Eagles) - Truly a feel good tune, as the title endorses.  The funk abounds in this song as it builds from the restrained beginning to the frenzied end culminating in burning guitar harmonies.
8) Pretty Green - Another funky number that switches gears to swinging propulsion in the verses.  Terebecki provides a deliciously subtle envelope effect to the bass and it seems like the ghost of Nels Cline (Wilco guitarist) creeps in at times with bird like chirping guitar swells, specifically during the interlude preceding the second verse.
9) Cheer Up / Blues Ending - Josh Block provides a shuffle groove so hard on this cut that it hurts. Petralli's vocal wails on the verses conjuring Hendrix while the guitars provide a bed of intricate patterns.  The outro portion is also a prime example of White Denim's improvising prowess.
10) A Place To Start - Don't be fooled by the shopping mall string sounds found in the intro, this is a beautiful, tender number that conjures soul legends Al Green and Bill Withers.  And the double drum tracks panned hard right/left are nothing short of brilliant.


So there is a brief glimpse of my take on Corsican Lemonade.  And I cannot say enough about the drumming on this record.  Josh Block is a current favorite of mine; exemplifying diversity, restraint, and a great feel and sound.  Of course it also takes the talented maturity of Terebecki on bass to assure that the genius of the drumming translates to record.

Anywho, hope you all are inspired to check out this wonderful album and that it continues to further inspire.

White Denim online
Corsicana Lemonade on iTunes
Corsicana Lemonade on Spotify

Happy listening,

Ty

Happy Thanksgiving and Music, Music, Music

Hey all.

Apologies for my lack of blogging recently, let's just say that November was emphatically "unblogtastic" on my part.

Anywho.

I'd like to quickly wish everyone a belated Merry Thanksgiving, I hope that it was wonderful for you all with much eating and enjoyment of family/friends. Most of 28 North is currently back east, Taylor will be joining us in a couple weeks to play some dates in the Eastern region.  We are very excited to be playing in our respective hometowns of Pittsburgh and Cleveland.  We will also be performing in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Chicago, and St. Charles, IL.  It has been a while since we've returned to some of these cities, so if you are in any of the aforementioned areas, anticipate a hefty, long overdue dose of spirited rock 'n roll.  We are PUMPED!!  Get more info/details on the shows at 28North.com.

So.

You may have noticed that I have been using 28 North Speaks as a forum to share the music that currently inspires me these days.  As I've mentioned previously, J. Roddy Walston & The Business and Deer Tick both released excellent new albums which I continue to enjoy extensively.  However, they count for just two of many wonderful fall releases.  And now I would like to recommend two more records which deserve your immediate attention.  Those being White Denim's Corsicana Lemonade and Jonathan Wilson's Fanfare.  These albums contain a massive wealth of musical creativity.  I'll have extensive reviews for both in the coming weeks but for now just trust me and indulge in these fantastic aural achievements.

Happy listening,

Ty

Show Review/Album of The Month pt. 2 - Deer Tick at The Troubadour

First off, thanks to those that joined us last Friday at SoHo for our first appearance in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA.  It was a blast to play with great talents Drew Southern, Louder Space, and The Fire Department.

So.  You may have gathered that I enjoy music.  So much, in fact, that I will even attend a rock 'n roll concert from time to time.  I did exactly that on this past eve of October 26th.

Deer Tick; perhaps a juvenile, abrasive name to give one's band, perhaps that is the point.  The group is notorious for inviting rowdy behavior at their shows with recurring instances of beer being sprayed upon the crowd near shows conclusion.  Essentially Deer Tick is a glorified bar band.  And I love them for it.  Suffice to say I got a healthy dose of vicarious misfit behavior at the sold out Troubadour show in West Hollywood.  However, the level of crude, drunken behavior was slightly less than their storied past.  After seemingly endless touring/partying and an unusually rough year, lead singer John McCauley has mentioned that he is toning down his indulgent behavior.  Pussy.

Anyway, the band simultaneously boasts great talent in all its members despite the reputation that precedes them.  Proficient in numerous genres; various country and western styles are successfully infused with grunge and punk.  Deer Tick has in fact been known to play full sets of Nirvana songs under the moniker Deervana.  Yet on their latest record there are a couple songs with the distinct feel of show tunes.  Alas, no band's catalog is complete without a few tender numbers, no complaints from me.

The band showcased its ability to hold down the structure and also stretch out some tunes into the ether.  This was specifically apparent when opener Robert Ellis joined for an extended guitar duel with McCauley while guitarist Ian O'Neil joined Dennis Ryan on the drum set.  All the while bassist Chris Ryan unfailingly propels the groove and keyboardist Robbie Crowell augments his superb piano playing with brilliant sax solos.

The latest effort Negativity provided the bulk of the set list.  The record is a collection of songs which bemoan the travails of love and partying, surprise.  It seems that McCauley has slowed down and perhaps misses some of his untoward behavior as "Trash" depicts.  A somber character reminisces his playful past in a delightful, "show tunes"-infused, bluesy rock number.  This song on record contains some lovely vibraphone and horn arrangements interspersed with leads from McCauley.  "The Rock" opened the set beginning with its vocal harmony laden, hypnotic intro and exploding into the haunting swing groove reminiscent of "The House of The Rising Son".  This track also incorporates some fanciful horn arrangements which are implanted regularly throughout the album.  Particular highlights of the new material included the Springsteen-esque single "The Dreams In The Ditch" with guitarist Ian O'Neil taking lead vocal and drummer Dennis Ryan singing his psychedelic tune "Thyme".  Also played from Negativity was "The Curtain" and "Mr. Sticks" containing perhaps the strongest melody and dynamic.

The band continued to roll through a varied set list culled from their entire catalog and peppered with some well chosen covers including The Beatles' "One After 909" and Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It".  Highlights of older material included the mostly a capella version of "Dirty Dishes" and a rowdy take on "These Old Shoes".  Deer Tick classics "Ashamed", "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)", and "Baltimore Blues No. 1" were also pulled from 2007's War Elephant.  The lone representation of 2009's Born On Flag Day was the rocker "Easy" while 2010's The Black Dirt Sessions provided "Twenty Miles" and a solo McCauley effort on piano for the very somber "Goodbye, Dear Friend".  "Main Street", "The Bump", "Let's All Go The Bar", "Clownin' Around", and "Miss K" from 2009's Divine Providence rounded out the set.

As a fan I was completely satisfied, perhaps not satiated.  Tick has never let me down in concert and every time I've seen them I leave saddened that the show is over.  They grace the stage with complete lack of pretension and delightfully confront the audience with uninhibited shenanigans paired with adept musicality.  For this, their fans are endeared to them.

Listen here:

iTunes
Spotify
Deer Tick online

More soon,

Ty

Album of The Month/Show Review - J. Roddy Walston & The Business

I had the pleasure of attending the sold out J. Roddy Walston & The Business show last weekend at The Troubadour on my birthday.  'Twas a lovely way to spend my special little day.  Of course Mr. Roddy and his accompanying "Business" put on a fantastic show.  It was a rowdy, raucous, and righteous display of old-school rock 'n roll.  For anyone that harbors reservations about the spirit of rock 'n roll today, simply look to J. Roddy & The Business to deliver.  The sound and attitude of said style is very much alive in this group.  The long hair flails, the guitar wails, and the drums pummel.  The bass thumps, the piano pounds, and flannel is worn.  The group provides an accurate measurement of today's rock 'n roll pulse, and it is very much alive.

J. Roddy is currently touring in support of their latest release Essential Tremors, which I will now appropriately feature as "Album of The Month". This record, released last month, is the group's third full length effort.  It continues with the gritty styling of their previous records, containing the usual suspects of distorted guitars and raw, boisterous drum sounds.  Accompanying that are the traditional rock culprits of bouncing bass lines and rhythmic piano playing.  Atop all of this sits J. Roddy's raspy yet sensual and, at times, riotous voice which is augmented by delicious, playful backing harmonies.

There is much to be said for this third effort, these fellas have matured well and offered up a great batch of classic sounding cuts mixed in with a few curveballs.  I personally love the hypnotic, tribal pulse of "Sweat Shock" reminiscent of Led Zeppelin a la "Immigrant Song".  "Black Light" is a groovy nod to AC/DC with a simple beat and a killer distorted bass tone.  Another favorite is "Hard Times"; furnishing the record with the necessary rolling, rollicking drive that pairs well with a joyride, windows down.  And a J. Roddy record would not be complete without a healthy dose of some good old boogie woogie shuffle which is achieved with the tunes "Marigold" and "Tear Jerk".  "Boys Can Never Tell" is a country-esque ballad showcasing Mr. Roddy's sensitive side and contains some tasteful pedal steel guitar playing.  And the closer "Midnight Cry" is a lovely anthem which yields a grand sing-a-long outro which was heartily embraced by all at the Troubadour show.

From the  thrash of "Heavy Bells", the laid back funk of "Take It As It Comes", and the tender falsetto of "Nobody Knows", J. Roddy Walston & The Business have added a rock solid album to their arsenal.  It is sure to receive many a repeat spin on my figurative record player (iPhone) and I hope it does the same on yours.  Enjoy and keep rock 'n roll alive!

jroddywalstonandthebusiness.com
J. Roddy Walston & The Business - Essential Tremors on iTunes
J. Roddy Walston & The Business - Essential Tremors on Spotify


More soon,

Ty

San Diego Adventures

"Stay classy San Diego."

Had a fantastic little getaway to San Diego this past week.  Arriving Tuesday evening Mike and I discovered the sleepy quality that downtown San Diego provides in the wee hours.  Hence, no booze at 1:30 in the morning.  Oh well, whattaya gonna do?  No big deal, no big whoop.

So, that brings us to Wednesday.  A day full of anxious anticipation of the National League Division Series game five between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.  In order to calm our nerves we proceeded to take in one of the finest attractions San Diego has to offer; the San Diego Zoo.  Superb would be an understatement to describe this zoo and we didn't even have time to experience it in its entirety.  Now, of course we were excited that the Pirates had a chance to advance to the National League Championship in their first playoff run since 1992.  Alas, their fate was not to our preference with the Cardinals ultimately defeating the Pirates, however, we are very proud of the ball club making a strong effort this year after a twenty year dry spell from the playoffs.  And you can still support our Buccos in 28 North fashion with our song Bucco Fever.


Anywho, this brought us to Thursday which found us spending a lovely afternoon with a buddy in Del Mar, taking in the beauty of the Southern Cali Pacific, and having some epic jams.  And in the evening I proceeded to get very intoxicated in celebration of my birthday.  Overall, I had a fabulous birthday outing, thanks to all who participated/contributed/encouraged my indulgent behavior.  Special thanks to Michael & Rick Lindner, Chris Wherle, Al & Josh Wein; had a blast in San Diego with you guys. 

More soon,

Ty

Album of The Month: Washed Out - Paracosm

Come along and hop on the trendy chill-wave wagon with me.  All the hip kids are getting down to the smooth introspective sounds of this laptop driven genre.  Also commonly referred to as glo-fi, this style of music typically employs heavy use of drum loops, synthesizers, samples, and vocals put through dense sound effects.  There is some debate as to whether this swank, retro-leaning, ambient, 80's synth pop influenced music rightfully deserves a specific title to group together seemingly disparate groups.  In the modern age of such a vast, voluminous inundation of musical acts this is an all too common issue with new "genres" being birthed seemingly everyday.  But anyway, Washed Out is an artist most certainly grouped in with the chill-wave genre, and I have been enjoying his latest offering Paracosm very much.  Thus, I am featuring this record for album of the month.

As mentioned above, all the elements regularly found in chill-wave music are undeniable ingredients in Washed Out's aural recipe.  This album is extremely vibe heavy, even upon the brief into track "Entrance" the waves of chill will begin to encompass you immediately.  It is a perfect album to pop on during a drive, or a jog, or a stroll around the neighborhood; really any activity that would be accompanied well with a relaxing mood.  It provides a wonderful soundtrack to any scenery, especially one in motion.  The concise record contains what seems to me the perfect amount of music that both relaxes and encourages dancing simultaneously.  I find it simply impossible not to bob my head along at the very least.  The songs all provide feels that perfectly resemble their titles like "It All Feels Right", "Weightless", and "Great Escape".  Washed Out has definitely achieved something quite impressive with this record by truly creating his own paracosm of aural design.

Hope you check it out and enjoy riding some waves through the land of chill.

Washed Out - Paracosm on iTunes
Washed Out - Paracosm on Spotify

Til next time,

Ty

Phish Hollywood Bowl

So, I told you about the AmericanaramA show Mike and I attended featuring the likes of Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and Ryan Bingham.  A couple days later we had the privilege to see Phish at the Hollywood Bowl.  For those unfamiliar with Phish, let me start by saying there is a very large, rabid, loyal, and close-knit fan base for this genre defying act now in its 30th year as a band.  Simultaneously, there is a large contingent of people who feel quite the opposite about said band.  Their improvisational styled music coupled with a dedicated traveling audience and a bit of a carefree attitude towards controlled substances makes for an environment that is perhaps not suitable to all.  In other words, there are a lot of hippies and a lot of drugs, to be blunt (pun).  You can dive deeper into the debate over Phish on Earwolf's special podcast series Analyze Phish with hosts Harris Wittels and Scott Aukerman.  For the fan, hater, and indifferent alike, this program is sure to entertain and provide legitimate insight into the world of Phish.

Anywho, the music itself is of the highest technical caliber, the scene an amalgamation of all walks of life, all seeking fun.  Only a crowd at Phish moves with such energy and excitement to such unusual music.  The Hollywood Bowl was a beautiful venue for Phish providing the wonderful natural acoustics of the legendary Bowl's dome structure and a picturesque canvas for lighting director Chris Kuroda to work his magic on.  The swirling psychedelic effects were in abundance on this beautiful evening tucked away in the Hollywood hills.  And even in my limited Phish experience (compared to those who have literally attended hundreds of shows) I would conclude that Hollywood Bowl is one of the best visual Phish affairs to witness.  

As a long time appreciator of Phish I must say that the group is performing at possibly its highest level ever in its 30 year career.  The poise and sense of adventure that is being injected to their compositions is exceptional.  And this is certainly no easy feat for a catalog as varied and dense as this Vermont quartet boasts.  At any given Phish show you will hear all types of music from laid back funk to upbeat pop and latin infused rhythmic extravaganzas to all-out shred fest progressive rock.  And each show's setlist is tailored specifically to each venue with never a repeat in consecutive shows.  They also typically inject several covers in each show which range from classic rock covers like The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" to modern favorites like TV On TheRadio's "Golden Age", both of  which we were treated to at the Hollywood Bowl performance.  And every show is an extensive trek through approximately three hours of music divided between two sets.

For those Phish-heads interested, here is the track list for the first set:

Set I: 

1. AC/DC Bag

2. The Moma Dance

3. Sparkle

4. Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan

5. Lawn Boy

6. Wolfman's Brother

7. Roses Are Free (Ween cover) ->

8. Scent of A Mule (highlight)

9. Cavern

10. Ocelot

11. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles cover)

And the more improv heavy second set was as follows:

Set II:

1. Chalk Dust Torture

2. Golden Age (TV On The Radio cover) ->

3. Birds of A Feather

4. Sand ->

5. Down With Disease ->

6. My Friend, My Friend

7. Harry Hood -> (epic, stand out highlight of the show)

8. Character Zero

Encore:

9. Loving Cup (Rolling Stones cover)

So, there you have it.  If'n you are hungry for more you can always visit Phish.net, the fan run site that catalogs everything Phish, and Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts for reviews of shows.  Not to mention you can download this particular show along with countless others at LivePhish.com.  And shamelessly (not true, tons of shame) I will also share more of my own sophomoric ramblings about Phish here: bit.ly/SjrGyh on an entirely seperate and unnecessary blog.  Hope you enjoyed, if not, my apologies.

Also, here is a video sample which you can find many of on Phish's YouTube channel:

Til next time,

Ty

AmericanaramA

This past week Mike and myself had the wonderful opportunity to see some incredible live music.  For essentially my entire life I have cherished concerts as an absolute favorite past time, hence the whole musician thing, but that is beside the matter at hand.  Anywho, the two shows we had the grand privilege to experience were the AmericanaramA tour at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine and Phish at the legendary Hollywood Bowl.

So, the AmericanaramA tour featured a stellar line up of Americana styled artists spanning several periods of great American music from the 1960’s to modern time.  The particular focus of this tour was to showcase American music of different styles and eras, and to provide a stage for the various artists to collaborate on.  Headliner Bob Dylan ultimately provided the springboard for this extravaganza as without him, the subsequent artists would arguably not exist.  The supporting cast was composed of early 90’s alt rockers Wilco, the late 90’s and modern alternative rock group My Morning Jacket, and contemporary roots rock, singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham.

Ryan Bingham ended up being a delightful surprise as I was not previously familiar with his music, other than knowing he had written songs for the movie Crazy Heart (which is fantastic btw).  Bingham’s country tinged rock was quite a proper kick off for the day’s music.  His soulful, growling voice was an apt precursor to Dylan and his band was on point with beautiful fiddle and pedal steel guitar playing.

My Morning Jacket followed with an energetic set that I would deem my favorite of the show; no one brings the ruckus like MMJ.  Jim James and company slayed the Irvine crowd with several funky jams and then proceeded to get tender with Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes on the subdued number “Wonderful”.  The next tune brought the show to epic heights as Jackson Browne joined for a rendition of his gorgeous song "Late For The Sky".  After jamming a few more tunes Ryan Bingham then joined for a blazing version of "Don't Do It" a la The Band.  

There are few bands I could choose to follow MMJ and one of those happens to be Wilco.  I have now seen Wilco several times and I can say without a doubt that they are simply the best live musical act for your money (maybe aside from Radiohead).  Though a more intimate venue would have been preferable, Wilco nevertheless gave a truly fantastic performance.  The highlights include the very unlikely collaboration with Nancy Sinatra (!) on "Bang Bang (He Shot Me Down)" and "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" and a beautiful rendition of the location-appropriate song "California Stars" with Jackson Browne and several others in collaboration.  Of course Nels Cline had his moment to shine on the guitar driven "Impossible Germany", Ryan Bingham's fiddle player Richard Bowden played a beautiful solo on "Forget The Flowers", we were treated to a tasteful version of the artsy "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart", and we got to witness Jeff Tweedy fumble the lyrics to "Heavy Metal Drummer" which he acknowledged in his typical dry manner.  The brilliant set was closed with a cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" with a loaded stage of "My Morning Jackets", as the droll Tweedy referred to them.  

Now, as for Bob Dylan.  Here is where I must apologize, for I left early.  Don't get me wrong, I love Dylan just as much as the next person.  First off, have you seen his live show in recent years?  Well, I have a couple times.  It's not that it is disappointing, it just leaves something to be desired.  He simply is not the same Dylan that brought us Highway 61 Revisited or even Blood On The Tracks.  But that is also why I respect him, he is a fiercely uncompromising artist.  One might say, "He just don't give a fuck."  And truly he does not.  In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, he is a "bad motherfucker".  He plays his tunes in whatever style or key that suits his fancy, contorting them into concoctions that barely resemble the original recordings.  And for that, I take my hat off to him.  He has got balls that guy.  Anywho, I do regret leaving for I missed the night's most heralded collaboration in the performance of "The Weight" with Tweedy, James, and Bingham.  But alas, that is my own damn fault.

You can read another review of the show here: bit.ly/14q1pmm

I fear I have gone on too long as I am all too capable of doing in regards to elaborating about music.  Thus, I will save my thoughts on Phish at The Hollywood Bowl for a follow up blog and indirectly spare those of you who may dislike said group and would prefer not to subject yourself to such ramblings.  Consider yourself warned...

Til next time,

Ty

Weekend Activities

A couple fun activities from this last weekend:

There was a car show in what is basically our backyard.  The Koch's car show returned to the Acton KOA for its third year and there were quite a few gems on display.  I admit I am not a "car guy", I could not tell you the names of these glamorous vehicles or the the technical details of their makeup, but they are certainly fun to look at nonetheless.  There were old classics, muscle cars, hot rods, souped up strange looking automobiles, and a few crazy looking motorcycles.  The show was augmented with venders selling car related wares, a food truck, and live rockabilly music apropos of the atmosphere.  Here are a few examples:

'55 or '56 Chevy I think

This past weekend we also went on a spectacular adventure in Pasadena's Eaton Canyon.  Aside from the glorious natural beauty that the rolling hills provide filled with winding trails, lush plant life, and rocky streams at the bottom of the valleys, there are also some water falls providing pools which are opportune for jumping into from high vantage points.  So that is exactly what we did.

After we hiked down about two miles into the canyon we reached the popular cliff jumping spot at Hermit Falls.  There were three different jumping points of various heights: the shortest jump was about fifteen feet, the second about twenty-five, and the highest was roughly forty in my estimation though I really do not know the exact heights.  Anywho, we proceeded to jump into the cool water to our hearts delight.  The highest jump was quite intimidating and took some pondering before we had the guts to finally do it.  It was a rush to say the least.

Tacos & Burgers in LA

Tacos and burgers.  Who doesn't love them?  Even vegetarians and vegans have their own versions of the aforementioned staples of American cuisine.  Sure tacos are technically Mexican but find me an American citizen that does not eat tacos and I will give you a million bucks.

This last weekend I had the pleasure of enjoying some of the best L.A. has to offer in this particular arena of culinary delights.  I'll start with the legendary Tito's Tacos. At this point the best taco I have had yet was from a tiny place near San Diego which I forget the name of.  I guess the closer to the source, meaning Mexico, the better the taco.  The tacos at Tito's certainly rivaled the previously mentioned taco.  It was simple, pure, and authentic.  Just a fried tortilla, special recipe beef, lettuce, and cheese.  And the truth is in my opinion, the tortilla is what sells this taco and makes it spectacular.  The shell contains the perfect combination of crispy and fried chewy goodness.  I was not able to get a close examination of the cooking and prep process as I could not see through the army of assembly line workers from my outdoor vantage point.  But whatever they do is just magic.  The tortilla encompasses the meat, lettuce, and cheese in a perfectly contoured pocket of crunchy bliss.  Tito's is located in Santa Monica and has been serving up legendary Mexican cuisine since 1959.  This place is a must visit for anyone looking for L.A.'s greatest tacos.

For the burger entry I will impart my recent experience with Astroburger.  Now, to begin with, the search for the perfect burger is an endless endeavor which will ultimately never reveal an ultimate winner.  Sure, I have been to In-N-Out burger, been to Tommy's, had Umami, The Counter, Five Guys, The Habit, and I could never turn down a good old Wendy's burger.  Father's Office I have yet to experience as well as Hawkins House of Burgers which I saw featured on one of those food shows.  But Astroburger deserves a spot in the competition.

I went to an excellent show at Amplyfi on Saturday night, saw a good friend play with thatwasthen followed by the delightful surprise of Frankie Marathon.  It was right next door to Astroburger so I couldn't turn down the chance to sample another offering of L.A.'s in the burger department.  I must admit I was not let down. As with Tito's, Astroburger provided a simple delight.  It was standard charbroiled, juicy, burger.  It happened to be just what I wanted, no frills or extra bs, just a quality burger that is great purely because it was cooked well.  If you find yourself near the Paramount lot on Melrose, do yourself a favor and try this place out.

Also, do not miss our special show tomorrow at House of Blues on Sunset in the Parish room.  We will be playing a rare trio set to showcase some new material. 

Ty

Album of The Month: John Scofield - "Uberjam Deux"

For those of you not familiar with the brilliant music of John Scofield, he is a premier, modern jazz guitar player.  Mr. Scofield is truly a unique voice and has played with the greatest musicians of modern times including Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, and Pat Metheny.  In recent years he has branched out stylistically to suit his fancy including the R&B grooves of Ray Charles' music, tender ballads, small-combo horn arrangements, and collaborating with the swampy jazz-funk trio Medeski, Martin, & Wood.  Among these efforts is another group he has cut a few records with that is inevitably grouped in with the "jam-band" scene; those being 2002's Uberjam and 2003's Up All Night.  Scofield continues in this vain with the long awaited sequel: Uberjam Deux.

The stellar musicians that comprise the band on this record include rhythm guitarist Avi Bortnick, bass player Andy Hess, drummers Adam Deitch and Louis Cato splitting duties, and the ever reliable John Medeski playing keyboards on select cuts.  Bortnick delivers his impeccable consistency as a rhythm player along with immersive knowledge of samples and synths, providing a wonderfully complimentary voice to Scofield's astronomical probings.  Hess holds it down with his tasteful low end that gives new meaning to the concept of smooth.  Deitch lends his typical hip-hop meets jazz style that sounds like an alien landed in New Orleans.  Cato gets a chance to showcase his driving groove coupled with elegant dynamics.  And Medeski's undeniable touch rounds out the sound of this record with an excitable quirkiness that only he can conjure.

On top of all this Scofield navigates the waters of fusion from the bouncy swagger of tunes like "Boogie Stupid", reggae inspired grooves in "Dub Dub", the sexy and aptly titled "Al Green Song", and electro-inspired tranc-y burners like "Torero".  It seems as though no note is off limits for the veteran guitar player and he continues on his inspirational trek through the annals of music with this recent effort.

If you enjoy some good 'ole stinky funk, irresistable grooves that are equally mellow and danceable, and truly sterling musicianship, then I urge you to have a listen to this record.

Uberjam Deux iTunes
Uberjam Deux Amazon
Uberjam Deux Spotify

Happy listening,

Ty

Movie of The Month - This Is The End

Wow this movie was great.  It delivered in a big way and in fact exceeded my expectations.  And they were high (no pun intended, but sort of, I mean who doesn't like a good pun?). 

Anywho, if you are a fan of Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg written hilarity, dark humor, cameos, or apocalyptic films in general, I can guarantee this movie will satisfy.  It is vulgar, gratuitous, deprecating, and all around hysterical.  The fact that the main ensemble play caricatures of the real actors themselves is tickling enough, but they nail their publicly perceived idiosyncratic personalities perfectly.  James Franco kills, Seth Rogen is excellent, Jonah Hill provides appropriate pretension, Jay Baruchel is great, Craig Robinson is hilarious as always, and Danny McBride is truly exceptional.  And though certainly the male-driven bromantic comedy must certainly burn out at some point, this particular film puts a pretty tasty twist on said genre.

If you have not seen this flick yet, please do asap.  It is a great theater viewing experience filled with action, severely ridiculous and quotable dialogue, copious drug use, and a large number of wonderfully placed amusing cameos.  In short, this movie kicks ass and I would gladly see it again many times in the theater.

Ty

Album of The Month: Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

 
I have been waiting for this one for some time.  Rarely do I get overly excited for an album release, I was for this one.  And boy did Josh Homme and company deliver.  As expected.

So.  Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork.  It has been just over six years since QOTSA's previous 2007 release, Era Vulgaris.  Thus, ...Like Clockwork can justifiably be filed under the category of long-awaited.  In the fore-mentioned QOTSA-less time period leader Josh Homme was certainly not sitting on his ass counting his royalty checks, no he was busy with other projects such as Eagles of Death Metal and the Grammy-award winning Them Crooked Vultures with Led Zeppelin bass-man John Paul Jones and Foo Fighters leadman Dave Grohl on drums.  And Dave Grohl has been a "pseudo-behind-the-curtains-member" of QOTSA for quite some time having recorded on several of their past records including this current featured release.

I'll start by tagging a few keywords that I believe represent well the flavor of this record: dark, sexy, raunchy, grimy, and funky.  Good lord the funky on this record is truly revelatory.  There are even some sensitive moments which generally are quite rare to find on a Queens album.  All these attributes are wrapped up in the usual QOTSA poise and composure.  The textures and timbres found on this record are simply out of this world; par for the course for these fellas.  

The concise ten-track album runs the gamut of styles all under the umbrella of modern rock.  From the mid-tempo swinging grooves of "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" to the tender remorse of "The Vampyre of Time and Memory".  The alluring middle-eastern-tinged "I Sat By The Ocean" to the tribal stomping of "My God Is The Sun".  And the bawdy foor-on-the-floor "If I Had A Tail" to balls out, flailing rock in sections of "I Appear Missing".  All this is inevitably infused with signature rhythmic displacements and hilariously audacious lyrical declarations such as, "I blow my load over the status quo, hear we go..."

So thank you Queens of The Stone Age for satiating my need for some good 'ole gritty rock & roll stimulation.

Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork on iTunes
Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork on Spotify

Also, you can witness the power of QOTSA live in this video of their recent show at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theater in its entirety:


Happy listening all,

Ty

TYENCE! - Brewing Beer Pt. 2, The Long Awaited Sequel

Okay.

Remember that post I did about the beer brewing last January?

Well, as it last stood, my brother bottled the beer and informed me that the resulting beverage was... weird.

Ultimately, I left it at that and basically moved on.  I chalked it up to a valiant effort and assumed the beer would be aborted.  Not so.  I came back to Cleveland to find excessive amounts of the hearty brew available for consumption.  Nice.

One may be inclined to conclude that since so much of this brew has remained months after being bottled is a sign that it is slightly undesirable.  I would not go so far as to say this, but I enjoy a nice thick, hefty beer like a porter, which this particular brew is.

So, first I will briefly delve into zymology, the science of fermentation.  The essential process of fermentation is converting sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol using yeast or bacteria.  It is "a form of anaerobic digestion that generates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the process of substrate-level phosphorylation."  Sure.  The following equation sums it all up:

Whatever that means.

Humans have apparently been employing the process of fermentation for producing food and beverages since the Neolithic (around 10,200 BC through 4,500/2,000 BC).  Though the first person to connect yeast with the process of fermentation was Frenchman Louis Pasteur in 1857.  He originally defined fermentation as "respiration without air".  So you could say fermentation has been around the block and then some.

And we humans have advanced the fermentation process to yield such tasty beverages as the English porter.  The recipe we used was called Mama's Porter.  But unless you are a master brewer then every brew is going to be inconsistent and unique.  Thus, we shall dub our porter with a new name.  We have yet to officially put the stamp on this one and any suggestions are welcome.  I will have more on porter and the naming of our beer in the next episode.

Til next time,

Ty

Getting Punked at The Ice House, New Star Trek Movie, Signing to Red River Records/Sony Red, and I'M AN UNCLE!!!!

So.

As you may know, we at 28 North are quite fond of live stand up comedy.  This past Sunday we made our first visit to The Ice House in Pasadena to see Marc Maron, a current favorite.  You may know Maron from his new show on IFC and his wildly popular podcast WTF with Marc Maron.  Both of these are quality programs and I encourage you all to check them out if you haven't.

Anyway, first off Maron was great.  He seemed uninhibited right off the bat; ready to rant, vent, converse, connect in strange, abrasive ways that only stand up comedy can allow.  Unfortunately, Mike, Mark, and myself bore the blunt end of the stand up comedy flailing stick.  That is correct, we were ultimately heckled by Maron.  Now, it lasted probably a mere thirty seconds, which is a tiny fraction of the substantial hour and a half set he did, and it wasn't so bad.  But nonetheless, Maron briefly shat on our dream of being in a band by turning it into a joke and essentially served us one of our most feared scenarios: getting made fun of by a man with a microphone in front of a crowd.  And it certainly could not have been karma coming back to bite us in the ass, we have been regular supporters of stand up for years and never have we heckled a comedian.  I guess the risk of potential, brief humiliation is one which must be accepted when entering the realm of stand up comedy...


We still love you Maron

Also, we saw the new Star Trek.  It was pretty decent.  I enjoyed it as a non-Trekkie and I am sure I missed countless references and allusions to previous Star Trek films and all that, but regardless this is a fun movie for anybody, Trekkie or non.

Aaaaaaaaaannnnd....

I'M AN UNCLE!!  That is right folks, I would like to extend a very special CONGRATULATIONS to my amazing sister Claire Bond and her fiancee Chris Massero for bringing two beautiful babies into this world last Monday night.  Welcome Hadley and Logan!!!!  I'm so proud and delighted for you all!!!!!




Oh yah...

We also signed to RED RIVER RECORDS/SONY RED/BOB FRANK ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!  YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

We are beyond excited for this new chapter.  HUGE thanks to our incredible manager Jerry Heller for putting in the hard work to land this deal for us.  Also, big thanks to producer Gavin MacKillop for putting in countless hours to perfect the record which has helped us earn this deal.  And of course we must thank our wonderful families who have been so patient and tolerant of our dream and sacrificed along with us to get to this level.  But most importantly we want to thank the fans who have come to shows, bought records, and supported us in any way.  Without you guys, we do not exist.  So a MASSIVE heart felt THANKS to every 28 North fan out there!!!

Now the true work starts and the payoff shall commence!!

Until next time,

Ty

Movie of The Month - Star Trek

I know.  I am really late on this one.  I mean really.  And just in time for the next installment that is being released this weekend.  But of course if you have read any of my previous Movie of The Month posts you will realize that keeping current is of no importance whatsoever.

Any who.  I just watched this flick last week.  And I loved it.  When it first came out everyone I know that saw it gave high marks to the film.  Of course I can see how this movie would have been more enjoyable on the big screen.  Believe you me, I plan on seeing the new one in the theater.

Now, I have never been a big Star Trek fan.  In fact, the extent of my Trek-based experience is limited to catching brief clips of episodes on tv.  And I remember enjoying one of the films from either the late 80's or early 90's where hump-backed whales are involved.  Nevertheless, I do enjoy science fiction and I totally enjoyed this Star Trek movie.

I was aware of Bill Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock in the original series and the phrases, "Beam me up Scotty!" and, "Warp speed Mr. Zulu!" are simply unavoidable in today's popular culture.  But besides that, I don't have any more knowledge of the original series.  So, hopefully this does not breed resentment from hardcore Star Trek fans, but I am simply trying to give some love to this quality flick.

So, if you have seen this movie, hope you enjoyed.  If not, hope you do see it and subsequently enjoy.

Also, if you are in the Los Angeles area this Thursday May 16, there is promise of an event that shall certainly exceed the awesomeness of this movie.  That will be our show at The Viper Room!!  This will be our first show with the incredible bass playing talents of one Mark Glinka.  This show promises to be nothing short of epic!!  We will be sharing the stage with wonderful talents 8MM, The Moonbeams, Elle Rae, Open Air Stereo.  Do not miss this show!!

Get tickets while they last! - Tickets/info
Facebook event

Til next time

Ty

Album of The Month: Jim James - "Regions of Light And Sound of God"

Jim James.  Love this dude.  Love him hard.

In case you are not aware of the quirky awesomeness that has been manifested in the character of Jim James (aka Yim Yames), he is the lead singer and frontman of the indie-rock outfit My Morning Jacket.  And in case you are not familiar with said band, please extract your head from your rear end and immerse it in the fantastic, exploding musical revolution taking place in the form of modern alternative rock that is truly some of the greatest music ever to exist.

Anywho, Jim James has just this year made his first venture into the realm of solo project record making.  And boy did he succeed...in making a veritably fabulous record that is.  It is funky, mellow, thought provoking, introspective, cohesive, concise, poetic, eccentric, and all around brilliant.  Nothing short of the genius I expect from this current indie-rock luminary.


On Regions of Light And Sound of God Jim James provides a healthy combination of the retro with the relevant, or is it the other way around...either way, the textures on this record are righteous in their reference to both old and recent soundscapes.  It blends well the space-y and groovy with the folky and rootsy.  And of course it showcases Jim James' trademark goofiness; his vocal imperfections and odd phrasings which contribute a beautiful counterpoint to the unfortunate computerization of today's modern pop music.

Get this record and enjoy it!

Jim James - Regions of Light And Sound of God on iTunes
Jim James - Regions of Light And Sound of God on Spotify

Happy listening!

Ty

Movie of The Month: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Truly an epic, American, classic film.  It is definitive of the Western genre, falling into the category of the Spaghetti Western as it was directed by Italian film director Sergio Leone.  Typically the quality of the Spaghetti Western were sub-par, however, Leone's films are considered some of the greatest Western films of all time.  The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly was the third installment and prequel to A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.  The film accompanies Leone's brilliant screen writing with director of photography Tonino Delli Colli's beautiful, sparse, and sweeping cinematography along with film score composer Ennio Morricone's iconic musical themes.

I confess I have not seen many Westerns and therefore my opinions are limited and sophomoric at best.  But I certainly enjoyed the film.  It epitomized restraint and displayed a penchant for allowing the dramatic elements of the story to build gradually, which I appreciated very much.  Let's just say I appreciate the slow build, big fan; allows for a stronger definitive conclusion.

This particular Western provides the acting skills of Eli Wallach (the ugly), a young Clint Eastwood (the good), and Lee Van Cleef (the bad).  I will say that they don't make movies like they used to.  This style of film does not really fly with today's standard of limited attention spans.

Anywho, perhaps you will indulge in this classic American gem of the cinema and enjoy it or not.  Perhaps you are already a fan of the film.  Either way, give it up for classic Western film.

Speaking of film, I would again like to direct your attention to Calm Dog Productions.  My cousin Lee and girlfriend Jenna have started a film production company which is doing great stuff out of New Orleans.  Check 'em out!

Calm Dog online
Calm Dog Facebook page

Til next time

Ty

MOVIE TIMES WITH 28 NORTH (NOT MOVIE OF THE MONTH) & THE MINT THIS FRIDAY!

So we caught a few flicks recently.

I’ll start with our first questionable extravaganza - G.I.Joe: Retaliation 3D.  I know, many of you have immediately reacted with an audible groan and subsequently “de-liked” us on Facebook.  However, I am not one to shy away from harsh honesty and my juvenile excursion into the realm of nostalgia.  That is correct.  Guess who was a MASSIVE G.I. Joe enthusiast as a child?  This guy.  So there is that and I was also not going to accompany Taylor and Kristle to see Evil Dead.  I do not do horror.  Not for me.

Anywho, I completely enjoyed the movie.  Was it shitty?  Absolutely.  Entertaining though?  100%.  The action was fun, the dialogue hilariously bad, and the story - horrifically predictable and inconsequential to my enjoyment.  There is a distinct entertainment that a crappy movie provides.  It allows me to embrace the awareness that I am consuming a product intended to entertain a much less mature demographic than I (or rather the immature demographic deeply ingrained in my psyche).  Also, Mike and I were the only patrons in the theater, which is my preferred setting to take in a flick.  It allows one to kick back (literally) and howl at the movie screen and be obnoxious with no regard for others, just like at home.  Super fun.  And on a side note, I recently attempted to watch some of the old cartoon on Netflix, let’s just say animation has come a looooooong way.

Next up we have Jurassic Park 3D.  For starters, this is simply one of the greatest movies of all time in my opinion.  I have probably watched it a hundred times, I know nearly the entire script by heart.   But I never did see this movie in the theater.  My folks wouldn’t let me even though I was probably eleven years old at the time it came out.  Not to mention this was at a time when a movie could stay in theaters for like two years!  I mean COME ON!!  Anywho, I subsequently had a Jurassic Park themed birthday party when it came out on VHS (that’s right) and watched the movie obsessively.  So, seeing this epic monumental film on the Imax 3D big screen was a bit of a dream come true for me.  Unfortunately there were no extra scenes added but it looked incredible and I can only imagine the amount of work it took to adapt the film to fit the big screen 3D parameters.  So in my unnecessary opinion – totally satisfied.  I encourage fans of the movie to go see it in Imax 3D.  As for those who were not born when the film came out, probably not for you.  But that’s okay, you can go see Oz The Great and Powerful or whatever.  Which I also saw and it did not merit any commentary from me...

So there you have it.  I’ll have the official “Movie of The Month” for you later this week.

Also, we are very excited to be playing at The Mint this Friday April 26^th in Los Angeles!  For those in Southern California, this is a show not to be missed.  The Mint is truly a fabulous venue and very much worth a visit.  Not only one of the best clubs in Los Angeles but one of my favorites that I have ever played.  So please join us and catch this fantastic show that will feature The Empire Assembly, Porter Lori, Caty Ivy, and Almost Classy!  ‘Twill be EPIC!!  Tickets/info here.

Til next time,

Ty

TYENCE! Adventures in Griffith Park Part 1

That's right folks!  Time for another questionable edition of TYENCE!

So.  This past week we had a grand ole time visiting the Los Angeles Zoo and Griffith Observatory located in Griffith Park.

It was my first time to both of these fine establishments and I was not disappointed. 

Though the LA Zoo may not be the San Diego Zoo or even the Cleveland Zoo for that matter, it is certainly a quality institution.  The lush rolling hills of Griffith Park provide for a scenic and rigorous stroll through the fine display of wildlife from around the world.

They had all the classics: zebras, elephants, tigers, giraffes (my personal favorite), and gorillas.  The lion exhibit was temporarily non-existent which was unfortunate as what is a zoo without a lion, and the black bear was nowhere to be seen when I passed by.  This particular zoo is also devoid of polar bears which I find rather disconcerting.  I do not mean to say this zoo sucks but they could certainly step it up a little bit.

This Mountain Goat was looking for a fight

Giraffes are the coolest

So.  Griffith Observatory. 

An iconic Los Angeles landmark.  This place is pretty neat.

Its location atop Griffith Park provides a commanding view of Los Angeles that is amazing.  The building itself is beautiful and underwent a massive renovation within the last decade.  Part of the renovation included an addition which contains a giant star map, displays with info of our solar system, a section dedicated to earthquakes with a seismometer, and the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater.  That can all be found in the basement area.  Upstairs on the first floor you find the pendulum in the main entrance, hallways with brief educational displays, and the sun room which is dedicated to, you guessed it, the sun.  There is another wing and the planetarium which I did not get to.  Alas, another trip to Griffith Observatory is warranted.

Downstairs, the new addition

Til next time,

Ty

Album of The Month

Dawes - Stories Don't End

I really cannot stop listening to this record.  It is so gratifying when you get to witness a great band become greater.  And Dawes truly has with this most recent effort.

Stories Don't End is a continuation of the groups' mature, heartfelt approach.  Sonically, Dawes departs from the gritty roots production of Jonathan Wilson and embraces the cleaner and ethereal aesthetic of producer Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Tom Waits).  And I approve of this shift with grand emphasis.  Now Dawes' previous two releases were truly wonderful, however I find Stories Don't End naturally more exciting.  Even in the softer sparse tunes there is a sense of immediacy and intensity that I prefer.

Singer, writer, guitarist Taylor Goldsmith has outdone himself lyrically on this record.  He has sneakily become one of the greatest songwriters of his generation with lyrics that resonate in unexpected chambers of the heart.  Lines like,

"Have you ever thought your little girl glamour shots
And the events of that whole day spent at the mall
Is maybe a part of you, you didn't know you were clinging to
As if that's where the secret had taken it's hold most of all"

slap me in the face with a subtlety that gives me cause to rearrange my entire concept of self.  Now even if I got these words right, I still could not explain why the sharpness of these lyrics hit me with such gravity.  And therein lies the beauty of songwriting.

The record begins abruptly with an affect that is both soothing and startling at the same time.  It continues with undeniable grooves which drummer Griffin Goldsmith drives with accumen beyond his years while he simultaneously adds vocal harmonies and occasional leads that provide a welcome and satisfying curveball.  There is nothing like siblings harmonizing but these dudes really nail it.  Bassist Wylie Gelber bestows lines that bump and thump and define perfection.  I particularly love the breakdown section which features Gelber grooving hard underneath Goldsmith's vocal in "Someone Will", he truly shines here.  Keyboardist Tay Strathairn feeds the maturity meter with his beautifully composed organ and piano parts.  Nothing allows a band to rise to incredible heights as well crafted keyboard parts can and Strathairn kills in this department.  I am also quite pleased with the choice to include Blake Mills' fantastic song "Hey Lover" on the record.  Dawes really nail this number and the song provides a perfect alternative palette with its bold and at times raunchy lyrical content.

Stories Don't End is a fabulous record.  Well done sirs.

Key tracks: "Just Beneath the Surface", "From a Window Seat", "Most People", "Hey Lover", and "From the Right Angle".

Dawes - Stories Don't End on iTunes
Dawes - Stories Don't End on Spotify

Happy listening,

Ty

Spring Shows and Feelin' The NOLA Funk

Howdy folks!

First off, got some shows this month I'd like to tell you about.

On Friday April 12th we will making our first appearance at El Cid in Los Angeles.  We are excited to play a new venue and share some fresh tunes with you all.  Also, we are pumped to be on the bill with The Elizabeth Kill, Badwater, and Falling Still.  Gonna be a great show, do not miss!  More info here.  FACEBOOK Event.

Then on Saturday April 20th (420 bro) we will be returning to O'Brien's Pub in Santa Monica.  Always a blast to play all night long at this tiny beach town venue.

And on Friday April 26th we will be returning to one of our very favorite spots to play The Mint!  This room is truly one of the best in Los Angeles showcasing immense talent in an intimate setting.  We cannot wait to share the stage with Almost Classy, Caty Ivy, Porter Lori, and The Empire Assembly!  Without a doubt this will be a fantastic show!  Not to be missed!  Tickets/info here. FACEBOOK Event.

So, last night we had the pleasure of witnessing some true funk come alive at The Roxy Theater in the form of New Orleans-based Dumpstaphunk.  Wowsers was it a groovy show.  These cats throw down like only those from New Orleans can.  Led by Ivan Neville of the legendary New Orleans-based Neville family of musicians, Dumpstaphunk showcases the wicked skills of bassists Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III, Neville family member Ian Neville on guitar, and Neville family member Nikki Glaspie holding it down on drums.  All of them stellar musicians.  A little sample:


Dumpstaphunk online
Dumpstaphunk iTunes
Dumpstaphunk on Spotify

We also had the grand pleasure of seeing Galactic perform at The El Rey theater last month.  The NOLA vibe runs strong and true and we have certainly gotten a quality dose recently.  In case you have not witnessed or heard the glory that is Galactic led by the superb drummer Stanton Moore,  please check them out:

Galactic online
Galactic iTunes
Galactic on Spotify

Ty

Movie of The Month: Seven Psychopaths

Seven Psychopaths.

Wowsers was this movie great.

Now.  If you are a fan of films that capture a particular brand of morbid beauty as I am, then this flick is right up your alley.  I personally love movies of this type a la David Fincher's Seven or Fight Club.  So if'n you enjoy the previously mentioned films, most likely you will feel the same of this one.

First, I want to start with the cast.  Christopher Walken.  Love (duh).  Woody Harrelson.  Also love.  Sam Rockwell.  Love again.  Colin Farrell.  I think I loved him in certain films; In Bruges, he was hilarious in Horrible Bosses, and I certainly did not love him in the recent Total Recall which just plain stunk.  The film was lacking a strong female presence and it seems purposefully so as the dialogue addresses the offensively misogynistic tone in appropriate deprecating fashion.  Anywho, the combo of these four dudes alone is a recipe for greatness.  But then.  Enter Tom Waits. All of a sudden this movie became an instant favorite of mine.  And the story that Tom Waits' character subsequently imparts sounds like it came directly from his record Mule Variations.  The addition of Tom Waits to the movie instantly provided the perfect tinge of intellectual quirkiness. 

This film supplied so much that satisfied my tastes.  It was darkly funny, bizarre, uber-meta, foul mouthed, depreciative of the Hollywood film making paradigm, and gratuitously violent at times.  Stir that together and you get a big pot of awesome.  And then on top of that was the soundtrack.  Throughout the movie my ears were graced by the songs of Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Deer Tick, and The Walkmen.  Perfection.

Overall, writer/director Martin McDonagh really hit the nail on the head with this flick.  My hat is off to you sir and I look forward to another film of yours.

In the meantime I would like to direct your attention to some fabulous young film makers.  My cousin Lee and lovely girlfriend Jenna have a production company in New Orleans called Calm Dog Productions and they have been doing some fabulous work. 

Check it out here: calmdogproductions.com as well as the Facebook page.

Til next time,

Ty