The Black Keys play Penns Landing tonight. Thinking of headed down there to see the show. Enjoy this beautiful summer day, and don't forget if you want to help me finalize recipes, send me your address for the tasting club.
It's hotter then hades outside and this calls for sitting outside and enjoying music and hopefully have a few cold beers. I'll be spending the weekend at the XPN Music Festival, on and off through out the weekend. Just one of the benefits of being a member of 88.5 XPN was getting two three-day passes to the festival.
The band above, Free Energy, is from Philadelphia, see the shots in the video...and are a fun band to listen to. Bubble gum, pop rocky, upbeat and all around head bopping music. Should be fun to see them live. Good lyrics to this song too...
On Tuesday I decided that if I could get a ticket, for a normal price, I'd hop on Septa Regional Rail and head out to Glenside to see Jakob Dylan at the Keswick Theater. Now, to be transparent, I was really going because Neko Case and Kelly Hogan sing back up on his latest album. I really just wanted to be able to yell again to Neko in a small venue in hopes she'd hear my voice and come to her senses; followed by her meeting me after the show. Don't worry, I didn't yell - because I ended up in the FIRST ROW! That's right, no need to yell when you are that close. I could whisper sweet nothings into her ear. Well, not really but, I decided it wasn't worth getting kicked out, just to face rejection yet again. It turns out that calling the box office (not using StubHub) pays off sometimes, as someone released a bunch of tickets and I scored one, front row, $35, with only a $7 surcharge. I never really understand the surcharge, put that's another issue, for another blog.
Turns out, not only can I navigate getting to and from the suburbs without a car, but that Jakob Dylan - he can sing. Oh yeah, his new album is part country, part folk, and with Paul Rigby on guitar and Neko and Kelly singing, it was an amazing show.
What's this have to do with beer? Well, as I sometimes prognosticate, I like to pair beer with music; atmosphere and events. It turns out that the Keswick, well - they have a bar, and despite the normal beer options, they also had some craft beers. This was also the case when I saw Neko there last fall. So, this night will always be remembered by me as I sat in the front row, the closest to Neko I should be allowed to be, enjoying some new live music, taking on a new artist to follow, and sipping on a craft beer. Life, that's what it's all about.
Side note - how cool would it be to have someone play an office concert like this? I need to get my house concert back on track! This video is 13 minutes, be warned.
This song was ringing in my head all morning after hearing it on 88.5 WXPN this morning. Seems fitting, as the duality of what's expected versus what one wants is the constant conversation in my mind at the time.
Philly local Dr. Dog said what I am thinking most this week, "What do you do when the drowning stops...and what you thought was a hurricane...was just the rustling of the wind."
It's been a tough week at Mellody Brewing, but as my father says, this too shall pass, and like this song says, "Hang on, hang on."
Today was another good day for brainstorming on ideas when walking Barley. I have a cool idea for a beer brewered with lavender honey. If I can pull it off, we'll brew it Sunday.
Snow be dammed, tonight we're going to Iron Hill in West Chester then heading to The Note to see Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcom will be opening...here's a taste of what we're in for.
What are you listening to and drinking on this historic snow day? I'm listening to David Bazan - not drinking anything as I am working from home. Shhh....posting and working - AGAINST THE RULES!!!
Listen closely to his lyrics...awesome..."...put on whatever makes you attractive, it's not you they do it for the sake of fashion, your friends like a certain you, that's the you you've got to be..." This song is when he was front man of Pedro the Lion - now he's on his own and I'm a bigger fan.
Being obsessed with Austin City Limits and having already begun the countdown to next year's festival - every Tuesday night I watch ACL on PBS YArts and dance around the apartment with my dog Barley. I'm kidding about that last part. This week's artist was Arcade Fire - who I have heard of before, but till Tuesday I don't think I ever sat and listened to their music. Watching them perform live might have been the tipping point, I'm not sure - but man, they play with such passion and vigor - it was hard not to want to get up and dance. You may recognize the song I've chosed to share in this week's Hootennanny from the soundtrack fo Where the Wild Things Are. I higly recommend their recent album a well...amazing.
I've downloaded their recent album and have found their music to pair well with the current homebrew on tap at Mellody Brewing Company - the American Triple. I'd say their music goes well with any triple, subtle, spicy, complex and fun. If you want to try the triple, you best come over soon, we're about to run out.
It's been a few weeks internet. The story is the same, real job bringing me back to reality and sucking away all fun and beer time. I hope to emerge from this storm soon. Not much to update on the beer front here, but I will be brewing tomorrow for a work party in December. I'm trying to decide what to brew for this team - it's such a wide range of tastes and personalities.
I've also been contacted by Cricket Brewery in Fairfield, NJ. Not sure where that is going yet, but we'll see. I have to call John back, by now I'm sure he thinks I'm not interested in doing anything - but seriously man - the real job, it sucks my life away...
More to come, thanks for continuing to follow and read.
This time of year calls for lots of things, and Pumpkin Beer, in my mind - is not one of them. I'm in a minority here it seems, but I'm just not a fan of the stuff. Everyone I have had tastes like fake pumpkin pie. But, in honor of Halloween, here's some fun music to celebrate.
Also, Mellody Brewing is back on Twitter. Check us out at @mellodybrew
