Beer and Records

Suicide is Painless for Coma Cinema

Every musical act's main goal should be that their new record is better than their last record. Coma Cinema's newest release, Blue Suicide shows evolutionary progress and thus they have acheived a success many bands can't. Though it's not a total departure from 2010's Stoned Alone, Blue Suicide is strikingly consistent. No real need to click on the right facing arrow, unless it's to get to a song you like even better a few tracks down.
And yes, with "suicide" in the title the lyrics can be a bit dispiriting and weighted down but that's just Coma Cinema. The majority of the tracks come off with a pop feel musically, which makes it a little easier for those fragile, perky type people to deal with the words. I would go so far as to say that Blue Suicide might make inroads with the MGMT/Wolf Parade crowd. Singer songwriter Mat Cothran of Spartanburg, SC pulled this off, from what I understand, as pretty much a one man adventure even engineering it as well. Generally, you can expect the usual guitar, bass and drum instrumentation but Cothran has a knack of sprinkling a keyboard part here or a synthesizer part there to great effect. I dug the reversed tracks on the song Eva Angelina, myself. Cothran also is adamant that most music should be free, too. So to that end the entire album is currently available at the Coma Cinema site here. After you listen to the MP3's I have a feeling you'll want the vinyl realease available from Fork and Spoon records.

L8R.

Bobbie Gentry's new album, by Treadmill Trackstar

Super dry and comfortable.

It's been a long time since Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge, so Treadmill Trackstar updated it a bit. Leaving Ohio is more or less a concept album, as much as I hate to say it and as much as you hate to hear it. But, you can completely ignore that fact and dig on the songs, individually. The basis of the story is the death of singer/songwriter Angelo Gianni's grandfather seasoned with a healthy dose of Southern Gothic flavor. Gianni and Treadmill Trackstar have quite a history, but out of all the releases and nearly 20 years of evolution, I think this collection of songs is the best, stripped down showcase yet.

You can stream the whole release and pay what you want, here.

Beers at The Bywater

Yesterday as I traveled through Western North Carolina I pulled into The Bywater to check out one of Asheville's newest watering holes. The Bywater is the place to go if you like drinking beer and doing it outside. The bar appears to be a vintage gas station sandwiched between Riverside Drive and the French Broad River.

While the inside would be a great place to hang out when it's colder outside (vintage Advent speakers!), the yard is set up to be the real living room of the bar. Of course, they have the fire ring and horse shoes, but they basically left a small field open to do just about anything you want to do.

One of my favorite features was the gigantic stump they brought in. That little black thing sitting there is my pint glass.

Speaking of the beer sitting on the gigantic stump, that happens to be Pisgah Brewing Company's Valdez. It's a seasonal coffee stout that is not for the faint of heart. While it's abv. is a moderately chunky 6.8, it is thick like a stout should be - very good mouthfeel and filling as it goes down. It comes to you with a great dark tan head that's about an inch when poured and then gradually dissipates over the next few minutes. The coffee flavor is of fine dark roasted beans (fair trade they say, from Dynamite Coffee Roasters) and out front but not over whelming. I have had several of Pisgah's beers and this would definitely be my favorite. This is a winter seasonal that I got turned onto just a tad too late.

For the second course my drinking companion recommended we try the Bell's Winter White Ale. Let me first say Bell's is one of the most consistent breweries I know of. However, this Winter White was not as delicious as it looked.

It came out with that beautiful yellow glow that good wheats normally have but all I could taste was lemon. BIG lemon. Before you write me off as an uneducated hack, I know wheats are known for their citrus flavors, but this was akin to a big glass of lemonade. No wheat taste, spices, sugar or anything. Still a big fan of the Bell's but next time I'm going back with the Amber.

L8R.

One crazy record party, guaranteed!

Check out the Facebook event page here.

The Great Guiness Toast is February 18, 2011

Make sure you find a participating pub to join in this annual attempt to set a new world record for the largest simultaneous toast. Every year since 1993 the third Friday in February, aka St. Practice Day, has been set aside to break the previous years record. Check your local area and you're sure to find at least one establishment that gets involved. A lot of locations incorporate fund raisers into their event too, so have an extra stout!

L8R.

Fuzzy Guitars and Lackluster Vocals - Perfect

I had one of those "hear it and go straight to your favorite online music retailer and download it" moments today. From 2008 but sounding more like 1974 this is Midlake with the song Roscoe. For fans of Jackie Blue or that dry California Fleetwood Mac sound. Enjoy!

L8R.

Aiken Brewing Company

One of South Carolina's best brewpubs, is possibly it's least well known. 15 miles north of Augusta,GA in the small but tasteful town of Aiken. At 140 Laurens Street you'll find Aiken Brewing Company. I'm still not sure why this little place is such a secret, unless they like it that way. Either way, I'm going to let the cat out of the proverbial bag here.
The restaurant and brewery is housed in what was formerly a mid-century retail building just a block from the center of town. As you walk up on any given afternoon, you'll undoubtedly see a group of regulars congregating on the sidewalk or sitting at the wrought iron tables. There are also a few park benches for those who just want to enjoy the climate. Aiken was once home to several "health resorts" because of it's low humidity and clean air. Even though it is subject to the heat of the South, it usually measures a couple of degrees cooler than the surrounding area.
As you enter you will see that the former showcase windows now show off the kettles and fermenting tanks. Inside, you'll find the typical pub decor with lots of stained hardwood, a nice cozy bar area and only a couple TVs.
My partner and I spent the better part of an unseasonably warm February afternoon at ABC and tried several beers of their rotating line up. This was our fifth trip to Aiken primarily for the beer, if that's any kind of testament. Here's what we had:

The ABC Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. One of their all time best. I hear these sale out fast. This batch was a little flatter than last with less of a head, but it still had all the malty sweetness with just a hint of alcohol taste on the back end. At 9.0% ABV, you should taste a little.

ABC Thoroughbred Red. This is their bread and butter beer. Basically always on tap and very well balanced with a perfect 1/2 malt, 1/2 hops flavor. This red is highly drinkable and accessible while still offering a lot to the connoisseur. 5.2% ABV.

The ABC Nut Brown. This beer poured with a nice foamy hear that lasted a good length. It did have an expected and moderately strong nut flavor but didn't didn't have the body I like in a borwn. Still, a sharp dresser. 4.2% ABV.

The ABC Nitro Stout. Very full bodied and smooth as silk. Decent toasted malt flavor and a beautiful pour. Cascaded like it should and settled to a perfectly straight line between head and beer. I think one of the things I like most about ABC is their beers are ALL absolutely gorgeous, whether they are to your taste or not. 5.2% ABV.

Aiken is also ripe with shoppes. From "real" hardware stores, antique malls, art galleries and a great bakery (which I can vouch for!), Desserves. If you really want to indulge in the ABC beers or or make it a weekend there's Hotel Aiken. For a lot less than you would think, you can stay in this 100 plus year-old hotel and walk to almost everything in downtown.

L8R.