Woot! Wine.Woot! Shirt.Woot!

Ahhhhh, bicycles.

Thumbs Up: WOOT! I am a fan of this trio of sites… The primary site offers one deal a day, the ’shirt’ site one t-shirt a day, and the wine site – one wine each week. I’ve purchased lots of stuff through all 3 of these spots and have yet to be disappointed. Do it! WOOT!

 

Please Help The Locust – they’ve been robbed!

Thumbs Down: Thieving idiots who rip off hard-working, touring musicians. In the last week, both The Locust and Austin’s Best Fwends have been jacked. Please consider helping them each out with a financial donation. Thanks.

Dirk Wears White Socks!

Rick of Earl Greyhound

Thumbs Up: Adam & The Ants. Geez. Looking over all these amazing youtube videos is flushing me with coming-of-age memories. This band had a pretty huge influence upon my overall vision of music and live performance, even though I never once saw these fellas in the flesh. Instead, I remember seeing his raw videos on early MTV (and Nickelodeon?) – full of innuendo and bad lip-syncing. Nonetheless, I’ve been listening through his catalog lately, and I’m amazed how much the majority of his tunes have stood up over time, fads, trends and the like. Kings Of The Wild Frontier is truly a ‘must have’ for any serious music fan. Go listen to Adam Ant. PLEASE. His Native American/James Brown/Duane Eddy/African-Burundi Rhythm/Pirate/Beatles’ skiffle/Hiccuping Falsetto/Proto new-wave blend of tunes will hit you hard! Check out the video below for proof that these guys could pull it off live, with more sex appeal than Prince performing in a spew of purple rain.

La Cerveza!

Imperial, La Cerveza de Costa Rica

Thumbs Up: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in Costa Rica. Nice spot. Recommended for a relaxing vacation away from the Blackberry and laptop.

 

White Denim!

The fantastic mr. drummer of White Denim, Josh

Thumbs Up: The above pictured dude and his buzzing Austin act White Denim. I’ve seen them twice now, and highly recommend experiencing these guys freneticly giddy live show. It’s a bit like walking into a party 3/4 of the way through, when everyone is a bit loopy from the atmosphere and losing inhibitions quicker than an avocado going rotten.

Blog note: Due to technical circumstances, this incredibly important blog may not be updated for the next week to ten days. Do not worry – we will be back.

 

Drugs and Rock and Roll!

The Blakes, serious rock from Seattle

Thumbs Up: Barack Obama… that’s right, WITHCHEESEPLEASE is giving a big ass recommendation for Barack in ‘08 (through 2016 – thank you very much). Let’s face it America, we need someone like Barack in the White House.

Thumbs Up: The Blakes know how to rock. Check them out.

Wine

Dorian of Lomita

Thumbs Up: Pietra Santa Zinfandel
Bonus Thumbs Up: the You Tube “Shred” videos…just ridiculously funny. Check out Jake E. Lee dazzling an arena full of Oz fans below.

 

Native American Spirit!

Moody of Mohawk

Thumbs UP: White Denim, with a guitar, at the Mohawk, this Tuesday…for free. White Denim kicks serious ass, y’all.

Extra Thumbs Up: I know I’ve mentioned Pig Destroyer’s Phantom Limb more than once already, but, this record continues to sink in like a desirable tattoo. Audio wise, Phantom Limb slices and dices, stabs and jabs – chokes and kills. Sure…these criteria alone make for great listening, but this record’s life affirming lyrics (no joke) is what really puts this album over the top. Phantom Limb is the sound of independence. It is the sound of breaking away from psychological bondage, physical abuse and freedom from religious ideologies meant to keep the human spirit in check. Props to Pig Destroyer for making one hell of a record. A sampling of their lyrical wit can be found below.

Pig Destroyer “Heathen Temple”

Beliefs must evolve or face extinction

shed dogma like snake skin

no need for confession or astral projection

I survive on the primal instinct within

Even a loving God is still a master

Spare me your fear all these childish superstitions

I’ve spent decades trying to purge your swill from my system

God is in the mirror not hiding in the skies

This heathen temple will stand tall until the day that I die.

Extra Bonus Thumbs Up: I know I’ve posted this before, but it is worth repeating. Pig Destroyer’s incredible video for “Loathsome.” Check it!

Godspeed, young Austinites!

Will Sheff of Okkervil River

Thumbs Up: It took me awhile, but I’ve come around to Okkervil River and their brand of well conceived music. I got to see these guys at last weekend’s Fun Fun Fun Fest, and they were super-fantastic. Their recent album, The Stage Names, is ridiculously wonderful. Intoxicating and vibrant – this poetic collection of songs puts these Austinites on the short list of bands ready to bust big in ‘08.

Wine Shreddin’!

Matt Whyte of EARL GREYHOUND

Thumbs Up: Four Vines 2005 “Old Vine Cuvee” Zinfandel, California. Smooth, velvety Zin. Great wine for the price.

Thumbs Up: the viral “Shred” videos… I may be the last one to pick up on this, but, I’m risking that to share this with anyone who may still be in the dark. Some video editor/comedic genius has screwed with many a guitar hero (Clapton, Eddie, Steve Vai), dubbing new audio beneath existing video. Genius. Check out this hilarious clip of Santana below. The next best clips are Angus and Jake E. Lee.

Special thanks to my friend Zach for the tip.