I'm very excited to present the first Shackleton beer koozie. We are going to do these in small, 50 count runs. Every run will have a different design. We are selling them for a measly $4, so come down to our show on Saturday and get one before they are all gone.
Friday, September 5, 2008
This might be the ultimate fashion accessory
I'm very excited to present the first Shackleton beer koozie. We are going to do these in small, 50 count runs. Every run will have a different design. We are selling them for a measly $4, so come down to our show on Saturday and get one before they are all gone.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Racing a train is hard!
So I got out of the office a few minutes later than I wanted and had to race to the train stop as fast as possible. It is only just over 2 miles to the train stop, but it is almost entirely up hill. So I crest the last part of the hill and look down to see the train pulling into the stop. I flew down the hill, turned into the parking lot, raced down to the tracks, jumped off my bike and ran across the track just in time to step into the doors mere seconds before train closed up and pulled away. It was pretty exhilarating, but I think I'll try to not replay it again.
How long has it been since a band blew your mind?
I think it has been long enough, don't you? Lucky for you I have the perfect medecine for your condition. This Sunday The Eric Mcfadden Trio is playing at Burt's Tiki Lounge (726 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT a private club for members) What? You haven't heard of The Eric Mcfadden Trio? Well, my friend, it is time you introduced yourself and saw them in a nice little dive bar, because they will soon be playing venues for thousands of people rather than hundreds. Honestly I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday evening during a three day weekend then have my ass rocked clean off my body. I hope that some people read this and decide to come out... Shows this great just don't come around that often.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
This, my friend, is hard to stand
god bless the bands that play SLC on weekdays.
If lil' "g" doesn't bless them, who will?
I just witnessed an amazing show. As a witness, I count myself among a minority. The worst part is, at one point, there was a reasonable crowd. Sadly, they came out to see the one local band that whined their way into playing before the touring bands and left before the bands that mattered ever played their first chord. I can't say I blame them... I myself was getting tired.
As a local band, they broke some pretty basic rules.
Sorry for any of you that are tired of my preachifying:
Rule #1:
Unless the band has a dediciated following, they rely on the local band to bring out the crowd. This often requires that the local band play at the end of the night. Even if said local band has to work, or go to school, or jerk off in the morning. It doesn't even matter if your band will sound like dull drillbits, drilling into your rotten teeth, after the tour band. The locals do what they must to create the best possible crowd for the touring band.
Rule #2:
Bands should set up and tear down quickly. This is especially true for local acts, and even more true on weeknights. It's a fact. On a Wednesday night, everyone in the bar is probably concidering the wisdom of their being at a show/bar, when they have to work in the morning. The sooner you allow the other bands to play, the better. The better for you, because your friends will be happy to see some great touring bands. The better for the touring bands, because there are poeple there to have fun, cheer and buy merchandise. The better for the bar, because people don't get bored and leave; and finally, the better for the fans, because they were able to experience a band that they had never heard, but fell in love with, before they decided that they should be in bed.... or what ever else they think they should be doing...
I hope Turdus Musicus (latin for swallow song) plays in Utah again. They are an amazing band from Norway. They certainly don't need to play here. I'm pretty sure they lost money to play tonight... I also hope that Underminer plays SLC again. The "promoter" who will go nameless, made no metion that a Mr. Karl Alvarez (of The Decendants and ALL and, let not forget, the Massacre Guys, among others) is the frontman of this band. One of the true legends for punk rock played in SLC to, maybe 5 people beyond his friends and the staff. It made me want to cry...
So
To any members of any local bands out there:
Support the touring bands you play with. Think of your selves as supporting bands, not openning bands.
Be okay that you may play to a hand full of your most devoted fans, because the rest of your fans just discovered their new favorite band, before than whimped out and went home to sleep.
Don't rely on the bar, or a promoter. The bar does what they can, but let's be honest, most promoters survive by taking money that should go to the musicians. Hell, tongith the promoter didn't show he ugly face. It probably a good thing. I would have been tempted to kick it where it resides... deep up his own ass...
Love,
Nate
If lil' "g" doesn't bless them, who will?
I just witnessed an amazing show. As a witness, I count myself among a minority. The worst part is, at one point, there was a reasonable crowd. Sadly, they came out to see the one local band that whined their way into playing before the touring bands and left before the bands that mattered ever played their first chord. I can't say I blame them... I myself was getting tired.
As a local band, they broke some pretty basic rules.
Sorry for any of you that are tired of my preachifying:
Rule #1:
Unless the band has a dediciated following, they rely on the local band to bring out the crowd. This often requires that the local band play at the end of the night. Even if said local band has to work, or go to school, or jerk off in the morning. It doesn't even matter if your band will sound like dull drillbits, drilling into your rotten teeth, after the tour band. The locals do what they must to create the best possible crowd for the touring band.
Rule #2:
Bands should set up and tear down quickly. This is especially true for local acts, and even more true on weeknights. It's a fact. On a Wednesday night, everyone in the bar is probably concidering the wisdom of their being at a show/bar, when they have to work in the morning. The sooner you allow the other bands to play, the better. The better for you, because your friends will be happy to see some great touring bands. The better for the touring bands, because there are poeple there to have fun, cheer and buy merchandise. The better for the bar, because people don't get bored and leave; and finally, the better for the fans, because they were able to experience a band that they had never heard, but fell in love with, before they decided that they should be in bed.... or what ever else they think they should be doing...
I hope Turdus Musicus (latin for swallow song) plays in Utah again. They are an amazing band from Norway. They certainly don't need to play here. I'm pretty sure they lost money to play tonight... I also hope that Underminer plays SLC again. The "promoter" who will go nameless, made no metion that a Mr. Karl Alvarez (of The Decendants and ALL and, let not forget, the Massacre Guys, among others) is the frontman of this band. One of the true legends for punk rock played in SLC to, maybe 5 people beyond his friends and the staff. It made me want to cry...
So
To any members of any local bands out there:
Support the touring bands you play with. Think of your selves as supporting bands, not openning bands.
Be okay that you may play to a hand full of your most devoted fans, because the rest of your fans just discovered their new favorite band, before than whimped out and went home to sleep.
Don't rely on the bar, or a promoter. The bar does what they can, but let's be honest, most promoters survive by taking money that should go to the musicians. Hell, tongith the promoter didn't show he ugly face. It probably a good thing. I would have been tempted to kick it where it resides... deep up his own ass...
Love,
Nate
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Raspberry Porter
Have I mention that I love to brew?
I'm very excited about this batch. I'm brewing a nice, dark porter with:
6 lbs Amber Malt Extract
1/2 lb Black Patent Malt
1/4 lb 120 Lovibond Crystal Malt
1 0z Galena hops for Bittering
1 oz East Kent Golding hops for Flavoring
1 oz East Kent Golding hops for Aroma
I am using the Wyeast British II culture. This will be fermented for 1 week, before being transferred into a secondary fermenter with 2 or 3 pounds of raspberries. The sugar in fruit is slower to ferment than malt sugars, so I plan on giving it 1 month to ferment in the secondary before taking it off the remenants of the raspberries that will settle to the bottom and placing it in a 3rd and final fermentation to allow it to clear up as much as possible for about 2 weeks. So, somewhere around mid to late October this beauty should be ready for the drinking.
Now I've been asked a lot lately. Nate, why the hell do you do all this when you can just go to the corner store, liquor store, or beer store and buy a couple twelve packs. Half of me thinks, "If you are asking the question, the you are probably not the type of person that appreciates waiting for unique and wonderful things.", The other half of me thinks. "show me a beer store that sells Yarrow Ale or Raspberry Porter and I might" There is some magical about tasting something you created after waiting months for it to finish. Of course, I've always been one to like to make things when ever it is feasible and doesn't require too much expense or active time. We are so spoiled by convenience in the modern world. So many people don't want to do anything if it isn't served to them on a platter and then when something comes along that disrupts their normal consumerism (like $4 gallon gasoline) than they freak out and act like it is the end of the world. I've got an idea, how about walking, running, riding a bike, taking public transit or carpooling somewhere? Okay, I won't stay on that rant because it could go on for quite a while and I have a lot of things that I would like to do today, like bottle the Yarrow Ale, weed the gardens, pick tomatoes, and maybe go out and support some live bands tonight.
For those of you that want to come over and experience the Yarrow Ale, we will be having a gathering at our place to celebrate Calli's birthday (yes I know her birthday was at the beginning of the month, but this month has been to busy to do anything yet, by her own choosing)
I'm very excited about this batch. I'm brewing a nice, dark porter with:
6 lbs Amber Malt Extract
1/2 lb Black Patent Malt
1/4 lb 120 Lovibond Crystal Malt
1 0z Galena hops for Bittering
1 oz East Kent Golding hops for Flavoring
1 oz East Kent Golding hops for Aroma
I am using the Wyeast British II culture. This will be fermented for 1 week, before being transferred into a secondary fermenter with 2 or 3 pounds of raspberries. The sugar in fruit is slower to ferment than malt sugars, so I plan on giving it 1 month to ferment in the secondary before taking it off the remenants of the raspberries that will settle to the bottom and placing it in a 3rd and final fermentation to allow it to clear up as much as possible for about 2 weeks. So, somewhere around mid to late October this beauty should be ready for the drinking.
Now I've been asked a lot lately. Nate, why the hell do you do all this when you can just go to the corner store, liquor store, or beer store and buy a couple twelve packs. Half of me thinks, "If you are asking the question, the you are probably not the type of person that appreciates waiting for unique and wonderful things.", The other half of me thinks. "show me a beer store that sells Yarrow Ale or Raspberry Porter and I might" There is some magical about tasting something you created after waiting months for it to finish. Of course, I've always been one to like to make things when ever it is feasible and doesn't require too much expense or active time. We are so spoiled by convenience in the modern world. So many people don't want to do anything if it isn't served to them on a platter and then when something comes along that disrupts their normal consumerism (like $4 gallon gasoline) than they freak out and act like it is the end of the world. I've got an idea, how about walking, running, riding a bike, taking public transit or carpooling somewhere? Okay, I won't stay on that rant because it could go on for quite a while and I have a lot of things that I would like to do today, like bottle the Yarrow Ale, weed the gardens, pick tomatoes, and maybe go out and support some live bands tonight.
For those of you that want to come over and experience the Yarrow Ale, we will be having a gathering at our place to celebrate Calli's birthday (yes I know her birthday was at the beginning of the month, but this month has been to busy to do anything yet, by her own choosing)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
It's a good problem to have...
It's time to start another batch of homebrew... but I'm not sure what to start. I suppose it is going to be heading in to fall by the time the beer is ready to drink, so I should think about something that fits the changing weather. Raspberries are become readily available... maybe I will do a raspberry porter. That sounds yummy. I've always wanted to add fruit to the secondary fermenter and never have. That will require are longer period of aging, but sounds fun. So many "fruit" beers are actually made with flavoring or essence, so the beer ends up tasting a bit like a scented candle. Commercial brewers do this because real fruit is very unpredictable, but as a homebrewer, unpredictable sound interesting. Alright, I've talked myself into it. Raspberry Porter here I come. The brew will commence on Saturday or Sunday.
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