This year the Ten Club must have received a big bag of Vancouver “Rocket Ship” because they forgot to send out the Annual Holiday 7″ until May.  I got mine last week.  The A side is an original called “Santa Cruz”.  Definitely has a laid back front porch sitting and pickin’ kinda vibe with a Bruce Springsteen type harmonica and vocal delivery.(despite name checking Neil Young in the song)  The B side is a cover of John Doe’s “Golden State“.  John Doe is a member of the Band X and in my opinion, an American treasure.  Check out his solo stuff or X when you have time.  Eddie does a great job paying tribute.  Hit the player below and experience the warmth of vinyl.  It even has a skip near the end.  A real vinyl skip, not one of those vulgar digital blips:

pj-santa-cruz

Lead singer JOSH TODD

called in to talk about their upcoming tour with KISS

Click here to listen to the interview!

Buckcherry\’s lead singer Josh Todd

Buckcherry official website! 

Click here to vote for KISS to come to your city!

So…we spent weeks during Justice Clarence Thomas’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings debating whether this man, who had supposedly discussed a porno flick at work, and allegedly made an off-color comment about pubic hair and Coca-Cola, was qualified to serve on the highest court in the land.  Remember that?  The poor guy was demonized for a couple comments which, by the way, did not exist in audiotape or written exidenciary form.  It was Anita Hill’s word against his.  But, if you ask some people to this day, they will tell you the guy was probably a perv.

And here we are now, with clear irrefutable evidence that Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee,  Sonia Sotamayor, at the very least, made a racist statement.  In a 2001 speech she gave at the University of California’s Berkeley School of Law, Ms. Sotamayor said “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life”.  How can that statement be viewed as anything other than a racist statement?  And if you agree, then you must also believe that it is certainly something Congress should spend the same amount of time on during Ms. Sotamayor’s confirmation hearing as they did on the “pubic hair” statement during the hearing for Justice Thomas.

Here’s something more bothersome:  Ms. Sotamayor is a member of the National Council of La Raza, an organization that has advocated for illegal immigrant issues like driver’s licenses, amnesty and no immigration law enforcement by local police.  Our President is nominating someone to the highest court in the land who does not believe State and local police should enforce the law?  Are you enganaring me, bro?

Can you imagine if the nominee was a white male who has previously stated he was more qualified than a hispanic because of his life experience?  He would be run back to his plantation quicker than you can say “Speedy Gonzales”. And please, don’t tell me that statements by Latina’s, or Blacks, can’t be considered racist because they don’t have the “power” behind them.  Many of the most powerful people in our nation-the president being one- are minorities.

Is a Supreme Court Justice who feels that she is more qualified than another human being simply because of her race really the kind of person we want deciding the most important issues in our country?  By the way, the National Council of La Raza is connected to successionist groups who believe the Southwest should succeed from the Union and form their own Latin nation.  Remember when the left tried to tie Sarah Paylin to Alaska successionists and the outrage that followed?  Certainly more dangerous than a man who likes to converse about “Deep Throat” every once in a while.

Let me know where you stand on the nomination of Judge Sotamayor…unless you’re a white male, because your opinon doesn’t count.

It was 500 degrees downstairs at the Middle East in Cambridge.  Jam packed with sweaty, drunk, Rock fans checking out the Blast Furnace that is Chickenfoot.  Ice cold PBR Tallboys were being hoisted high while the hot MILFS that may or may not have been on the Van Halen tour bus in 1992 shook their 2009 asses to the mighty groove being laid down by Chad Smith and Michael “Fuckin” Anthony.  They were like a oil derrick, pumping the rhythm into the crowd, who were forced to gyrate some part of their bodies.  Sammy Hagar kept it light as is his forte.  He’s like the Jimmy Buffet of hard Rock.  Encouraging the crowd to keep the buzz and the joints rolling.  His best line of the night was, “My hotel room is bigger than this place.”  Spoken like a true rock star.  As he wailed the blues about not getting enough hummers and running out of beer, Joe Satriani channeled his inner Hendrix.  It was nice to see Joe just rip into the foundation set down by Chad and Michael.  The other three made the usually stoic and technical Satriani surf the wave.  Cutting and spinning out crazed solos and beautiful melodies when needed.  That’s the key to this band.  Playing what is needed.  Laying back and swinging in when the opportunity calls.  They weren’t afraid to extend the jams and improvise.  Fearless grooving, not noodling.  Always remembering the most important bar band rules: Keep the crowd dancing, drinking, sweating.  They played the entire debut album from start to finish.  The crowd ate it up, psyched to see these seasoned veterans up close under a low sealing dripping with sweat. At times Satriani’s guitar sounded like a Jumbo Jet landing at the bar.  Other times it shimmered like sheets of rain(or sweat).  The whole time they were all smiling.  Laughing with the knowledge that they have the best jobs in the world and have nothing to prove or lose.  I almost lost it when Michael Anthony whipped out the Jack Daniels Bass. Pouring out snake like bass lines, working the same haircut he’s had since “Women And Children First”. We all left central Square deaf and soaked. Smelling of beer.  Worked over.  My liver hurts. 

Harpoon let’s us into there Boston brewery and we learn about yeast, People flavored beer, and even do a little skipping…

What better way to come back from a holiday weekend, than to hang out with some Rock ‘N’ Roll LEGENDS! Chickenfoot will take over the WAAF airwaves today, LIVE from their sold out show at The Middle East. Make sure you’re listening today, starting at 3pm for all of the craziness that is CHICKENFOOT!

Judging by this video, I’m going to have my hands full this afternoon! 

Check out their:

Official Website

FACEBOOK

MySpace

Keep listening to WAAF for more details on the upcoming summer tour.

Video & Podcast of interview to be posted later this week.

In all fairness, I practically guzzled this one down.  I had just finished washing the car with the critter and had taken care of my manly yard duties on a sunny, hot Saturday.  I was parched and ready for serious refreshment.  The folk’s at Long Trail were able to quench my thirst. 

Long Trail’s Belgian White is a “Belgian- Style Unfiltered Wheat”.  It’s available through Spring and Summer.  Modeled after a 14th century monastery blah blah blah blah…whatever, I’m thirsty dude.  It poured with a foamy head and a bright yellow color that went perfectly with the aroma of lemon and a slight yeast.  The first sip was cold and sweet, with little bitterness or hopiness.  It had a bready quality most likely from being unfiltered.  It was crisp and refreshing with a finish that reminded me of the kind of Lemon Squares you buy at an old school bakery run by old French Canadians.  This is a great thirst quencher and I’m sure would be great accompaniment to a light fish or a pallet cleanser between entree and desert.  For now it hit the spot on the back porch with some Reggae and grilled cheese.

Before I take off for the weekend, I wanted to make sure that I said…

Thank you!

Thank you,  to all of those people that have put on a uniform in service to this country!

For keeping us safe!

For allowing the rest of us to go on and live our lives!

And for the personal sacrifices that you and your familes have made for the rest of us!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend.  Some critics of this annual drinkfest have said the majority of Americans do not appreciate why it even exists.  In our rush to our 3-day weekend, meat burning family get-away, we forget to remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country.  I personally, am reminded everyday when I read the news.  While it’s hard to believe which bias news organization or spin firm is giving us the truth about the wars this country is involved in, please just take at least a few minutes to remember and raise a glass.  With that said, I’d like to lighten the mood with a video from a country that was once our deadly enemy, and after a bloody war, we helped rebuild to become one of our most loyal allies.

There are many different Lagers in the beer world.  The one we are probably most familiar with is the light lager.  It’s the most produced and consumed type of lager in the world.  What I like to call a guzzling beer.  Some of my happiest memories involve gluttonous amounts of various lagers(Bud, High Life, PBR) and being in the woods or vomiting in someone’s basement.  Good times.  The humble light lager is the helmet head frat boy of the beer world.  Made to be enjoyed with gusto, sometimes while chanting or throwing barbs at the New York Yankees.  Looked down upon by the various ales and bochs with loathing.  At one point in history lager was condemned by the Vatican.  So you know it’s good if the Pope hates it.  Despite being a craft beer fan, I am not a snob.  I’ll drink any beer you put in front of me.(except Golden Anniversary, cripes!) There are days when I want to keep it simple.  My epic thirst needs to be quenched by a refreshing light concoction with little challenge.  A frosty lager is my friend in those times. 

My favorite so far is from the ever dependable Samuel Smith Brewery of Yorkshire, England.  Their Pure Brewed Lager has a bright golden dolor and sudsy head with a slightly hoppy fragrance to let you know it’s a quality brew.  There is a tiny hint of sweetness and is quite enjoyable when very cold.

The Samuel Smith Organic Lager is a bit maltier and the hops are more pronounced.  It’s made with organic malts from the UK and Austria with organic New Zealand Hops.  Even with this impressive line up it still maintains a solid light lager taste. Not to challenging and very smooth.  Again, much better when served cold.  Perfect for the long weekend cook out or the basement binge.

The Otter Creek Vermont Lager is also excellent for heavy sessions after sweaty yard work or with a Jalapeno Cheese Burger.  More malty then hop, it goes down pretty easy. It’s also a little dryer than the lagers mentioned above.