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July 2008
It’s not only about the food! Restaurant Week find
We don’t know about you, but we LOVE restaurant week… two weeks a year when some of the more innovative restaurants in the area create a taste-tempting menu* all for only $20.08 - you fill in the year with the price - clever right!
Another aspect of restaurant week we love is the chance to try out new libations… usually of the spirituous kind.
This week I reconnected with one of my all-time local cocktail faves - the Bourbon Bath. Coco’s menu lists the ingredients as Woodford Reserve, Gran Marnier and Sweet Vermouth - on the rocks shaken. I just say umm… Like another DDN reader, I too was lured to CoCo’s by the Snapper the wasn’t on the restaurant week menu… but the cocktail made the trip more than worth while - the pork dish was moist - full of flavor and enjoyable too.
How about you, have you found any cocktail gems you’d like to share… tell us about ’em! We’d love to check them out.
*Yes, we know… some of the restaurants trot out the same - tired restaurant week offerings from years’ past. Or, better yet, the regular menu items at a restaurant week price… why do they do this… Really - experiment a little!
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X-Fest 13 lineup announced
Local radio station WXEG-FM (103.9) has announced the date and lineup for X-Fest 2008 which will once again be happening at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Tickets to the Sunday, Sept. 14 event go on sale Saturday, Aug. 2 beginning at 8 a.m. Tickets purchased after Labor Day will run $35 while ticket sales the day of (they typically sell-out this event so waiting this long is probably not smart if you want to go) will be $40.
Avenged Sevenfold (pictured above), Puddle of Mudd, Buckcherry, 10 years, Shinedown, Candlebox, Saving Abel, Five Finger Death Punch, Red and Black Tide. Many of the bands have played this event before. Headliners Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry were last here for the event in 2006 while Puddle of Mudd appeared in 2004.
Battle for X-Fest 13 winners Felix Tucker, Chapter of Progress, Hollows End and Seconds Fall are the bands listed to play the local X Stage.
Any thoughts on the lineup or on X-Fest? Will you be there?
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In British Columbia the fresh catch of the day is booze
Giving all new meaning to the sport of fishing, a man in Abbotsford, B.C. used a makeshift fishing pole to steal bottles from a Liquor Barn store. According to a story we happened across, “The stick had a wire attached, allowing somebody in the ceiling to fish for bottles on the floor below.” Read the full story here. The criminal mind never ceases to amaze us …
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Who gets your vote for worst bar bathroom?
When it comes to bar bathrooms there’s good, bad and ugly. Our travels and experiences in town have led us to believe that many fall on the bad to ugly range of the facilities spectrum. Who gets your vote for the worst bar bathroom in town? What about best?
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Scientist: You Can’t Get Drunk On Beer
According to a post on gawker.com, ” A Yale professor of physiology has scientifically proven that’s impossible to get drunk on beer.” Of course he did say this in 1955. Here’s the post …
The fine folks at gawker used an online “Estimated Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Calculator for Beer Drinkers” the link to which I’ve embedded here in case you want to try it out for yourself.
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49 cents for a new Westerberg album? Now that’s a deal.
Deal Alert: The new album “49.00” from Paul Westerberg will set you back 49 cents if you buy it from this link on Amazon.com. Sure it’s one MP3 file packed with an entire album of songs, but it’s one download, it’s less than two quarters and it’s 100% legal! It can also be downloaded for the same price from tunecore here. Download cover art and liner notes here.
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The Hold Steady’s rock ‘n’ roll bar games
VBS.tv has posted a bar video in which three VBS staff members challenge The Hold Steady - a Brooklyn based band that just released a new album (“Stay Positive”) - to a couple of bar games to see just how the band who sang about partying antics so much on their 2006 release “Boys and Girls in America” would do. Darts, pool and several shots of Jagermeister later as well as some strong language … BE WARNED … it’s not surprising that … SPOILER ALERT … there might be winners and losers tattoos involved. Here’s the link to the video if you feel like seeing just how the Hold Steady holds up in a bar game tournament.
Here’s a picture of the band for those who don’t feel like the video. While some early reviews of the new record have been glowing I find myself having trouble getting into it. Anyone out there who’s a fan of the band who would care to comment on the record? I don’t think it’s anywhere near as good as their last, but that’s just me …
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Comedians team up with vodka maker for laughs
Zach Galifianakis and Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of the “Tim and Eric Awesome Show” were commissioned by Absolut Vodka to make a film/commercial for their Web site. They were told they could do anything they wanted as long as they mentioned the product. And they did …
The video, which I’ve posted below, is beyond bizarre and yet I couldn’t help but laugh … the line “I put all this wicker up just for you” and the (spoiler alert!) too hot hot tub, put me over the edge. The three guys are wearing bouffant wigs and clinking ice cubes and generally freaking out. It’s weird, crazy and fun and I just can’t believe a major brand like Absolut paid them money for it. These guys are seriously ca-raaaaaazy! Commercials would be a lot more entertaining if they were only this strange.
What do you think - would you buy Absolut after seeing this or stay as far away as possible? What is the strangest commercial you’ve ever seen before now?
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Samuel Adams crowned new king of American beers
With the sale of Anheuser-Busch to Belgium’s InBev out of the way, it’s time to take a look at American brewing. Pabst becomes the fourth largest beermaker in the States by volume, but the thing is they don’t actually brew it themselves. Pabst contracts with Miller to have the beer made at Miller’s breweries. In terms of companies that own and operate a brewery to brew their own beers in the United States, this means that now Boston Beer Co. which brews Samuel Adams is No. 1 followed by Pennsylvania’s Yuengling (and America’s oldest brewery) at No. 2 and Sierra Nevada at No. 3. Read more about it here if you like here. Lounge Lizards thoughts: The top American brewer will actually make good beer? Now that’s something to toast. What do you think?
And related to this: Here’s the news story about Belgium brewer InBev purchasing Anheuser Busch, the largest beer company in the United States, for $52 billion dollars.
On the subject of who makes better beer, Belgium or the United States, here are some local readers thoughts on the matter. Read through and feel free to add your thoughts to the conversation.
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Who makes better beer? Belgium or U.S.?
By now you’ve probably heard that Belgium brewer InBev will be purchasing Anheuser Busch, the largest beer company in the United States, for $52 billion dollars. If you haven’t, click here for the full story. This deal will make InBev (brewer of brands like Stella Artois and Becks) the largest brewer in the world. Do you think the Anheuser Busch beer brands will change any? Who’s beer is better - U.S. or Belgium? Will this mean a new “King of Beers?”
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Happy National Pina Colada Day!
Pineapple + coconut + rum = refreshing tropical genius …
Conjuring up images of the tropics and clear blue waters, the Pina Colada isn’t for everyday, but on July 10 it’s a must. Why? Thursday, July 10 is National Pina Colada Day. To celebrate here are a couple of recipes and photos courtesy of Mount Gay Rum. Cheers!
The Ultimate Colada
Ingredients: 1 oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum, 1 oz. Pineapple juice, 2 oz. cream of coconut, 1 oz. light cream
Directions: Blend over ice, garnish with cherry and pineapple wedge.
The Skinny Pina Colada
Ingredients: 1 oz. Pineapple juice, 1/2 oz. Kalani coconut liqueur, 1 1/2 oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum
Directions: In a mixing glass add all ingredients, add ice, shake and strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Garnish with pineapple wedge.
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SummerFest 10 - what did you think?
We blogged live yesterday from Fraze Pavilion’s SummerFest telling you what we thought of the 10 bands that played, now we want to know what you thought. Who was your favorite? Were there any surprises? Was it a nostalgic moment or an excuse to get out with friends?
If you want to see what we thought click on whichever headline you’re interested in reading about below and it will take you there. Entries are organized from end of the day to beginning …
Terri Becker cheers as Taylor Dayne performs at SummerFest on Saturday, July 5, 2008. Staff photo by Dave Munch
Night Ranger brings SummerFest to close
John Waite steps in for Lou Gramm
Survivor survives SummerFest 2008
SummerFest update - Taylor Dayne
Howard Jones takes Fraze back in time …
Summerfest update - Asia and Smyth
“What we like about ..” the Romantics
A Flock of Seagulls brings new wave
Naked Eyes kicks off SummerFest right on time
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Night Ranger brings SummerFest to close
At 10:10 p.m. - an appropriate time for the last band to take the stage for an all-day concert featuring 10 bands - Night Ranger appeared front and center at Fraze Pavilion to cap off Mix 107.7’s SummerFest 10.
Familiar faces in the line-up included Kelly Keagy on the drums and lead vocals, Jack Blades on bass and lead vocals and Brad Gillis on guitar. New additions are Christian Cullen on keys and Joel Hoekstra as the newest guitarist to the group.
“I hear there’s a rumor in the air that you all wanted to have a good time tonight,” said Blades before the band started in on “Rumours in the Air.” Later Blades updated fans on Ted Nugent news (Nugent played with Blades in Damn Yankees and according to Blades, Nugent called him recently saying that he had just played his 6,000th live show in Detroit).
If Garth from Wayne’s World fronted a band that included dramatic, obvious hooks and big “Guitar Hero” shredding it could be Night Ranger … energetic, silly and a little cheesy with the stories, jokes, introductions and talk of “nah-nah” songs, the band’s not breaking new ground but they’re obviously having fun and so were their fans.
In addition to popular songs like “Sentimental Street” and “When You Close Your Eyes,” the group played music from their new album, “Hole In the Sun.” Before coming out for an encore of “Sister Christian” and “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” Blades said, “it’s been a long day, but it’s been a great day for rock ‘n’ roll … keep it up!”
With the eveing ending just shy of 11:30 p.m., 10 bands and almost 12 hours after the first band had taken the stage, it was just as Blades had described.
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John Waite steps in for Lou Gramm
John Waite, the former frontman for The Babys and Bad English dedicated his performance at Fraze SummerFest 10 to Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm (see here for more). During his set Waite played hits that included “Missing You” and “When I See You Smile” that saw a robust Fraze crowd respond to both his charm and his sound.
For being a last minute addition to the bill, Waite and his four-piece backing band played the heck out of their material. His look and stage presence reminded me very much (fans don’t take this the wrong way because it’s meant in the best way …) of Hugh Grant’s character in the film “Music and Lyrics.” Waite wrapped things up with a energetic rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock N’ Roll” wrapping his set up at 9:30 p.m. almost exactly.
Nine bands down, one to go. If you’ve been to Fraze today, feel free to share your favorite moments here.
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Survivor survives SummerFest 2008
They have a will to survive … they sing about it and today Survivor has survived SummerFest 2008 at the Fraze Pavilion as the eighth band in a ten band ’80s nostalgic lineup.
Discovered back in the day (the ’80s in case you haven’t been paying attention) by action hero Sylvester Stallone, Survivor continues to be a favorite on the oldie, but goodie concert circuit. Ending their more than hour long set with “Eye of the Tiger,” the proverbial lid came off Fraze as the crowd was brought to it’s feet and sang in tandem. Fraze continues to keep close to a very tight schedule with Survivor exiting the stage at around 8 p.m.
Update: The crew from Mix 107.7 just came to the stage explaining why John Waite (former frontman for The Babys and Bad English) instead of Lou Gramm (former Foreigner frontman) … it goes like this: Apparently Lou had some health issues requiring surgery and Mix 107.7 crew thought, “well that’s going to be lame, we’re having our 10th anniversary with nine bands …” According to the story, 48 hours ago John Waite gets a call to come to Dayton and he did … on his birthday no less! The crowd just finished singing “Happy Birthday” to him and he started in on his set at 8:35 p.m.
Eight bands down, the ninth on stage, one to go. Stay tuned …
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SummerFest update - Taylor Dayne
Taylor Dayne strutted out in a shorty, cherry hot red dress that Carrie Bradshaw would give thumbs up to for the most fashionista moment of the day so far. She ended the set with a cover of the Barry White classic “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” or so we thought … she re-emerged with her backup singers to sing “Tell it to My Heart” which had the crowd on its feet including us.
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Howard Jones takes Fraze back in time …
“It is a great and fantastic honor to be here tonight,” said Howard Jones in a metallic suit at 4:30 in the afternoon.
My husband described him as Paul Shaffer’s alter-ego and until he took off his sunglasses after the first song that is EXACTLY what he looked like. With 10 hit singles to his credit and over eight million albums in sales, Jones was one of the acts we were most looking forward to thanks to his string of ’80s hits and easily identifiable falsetto … who was your favorite going in and coming out?
As if he were channeling Billy Joel, Jones hammered out “Everlasting Love” solo on a keyboard towards the middle of the set which ultimately ended at 5:20 p.m. with “Things Can Only Get Better.”
He left the stage thanking a “kind and brilliant audience.”
Here’s the days schedule for those still looking for it.
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Summerfest update - Asia and Smyth
Asia featuring John Payne left the stage at 2:50 p.m. after some serious monster rock and power chords ending with “Sole Survivor.” The Fraze crowd has officially filled out in, as a DJ from Mix 107.7 put it, “an intimate living room setting with about 3,500 people.”
To finally hear “Heat of the Moment” played by Asia, not the original members, but as close to the original band as it gets (thanks steve!), was a thrill. As a child of the ‘80s (don’t tell) with a unexplained love for all things from that time including cheesy rock music, I rekindled my love of Asia’s “Only Time Will Tell” and the synth-a-licious “Sole Survivor.” Led by John Payne who has, “been lead vocalist, bassist and driving force for the Supergroup ASIA for some 16 years, releasing over 15 albums with them and extensive world tours,” according to the band’s bio.
Shortly before Patty Smyth & Scandal took the stage at 3:10, Mix 107.7 threw T-shirts out and a woman in very close to the back row of the bleachers, not only won a T-shirt, but a set of front row tickets that were wadded up in a T-shirt (how cool is that?). Patty Smyth in a hot pink T-shirt was a bit chatty … “If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been I have six friggin’ kids and John McEnroe … seven friggin’ kids.”
Smyth, who left the group in ’85 to persue a solo career, was back with the band that put her on the map in the first place. Smyth ended the little over one hour set with “Warrior” followed by “Goodbye to You” - the livliest and largest the Fraze crowd has been yet today.
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“What we like about ..” the Romantics
Formed on Valentine’s Day in 1977, the name Romantics is apt and the Detroit band got plenty of love from the Fraze crowd. Best known for power pop hits “What I Like About You” and “Talking in Your Sleep” that’s just about the extent that this group had to offer up in it’s repertoire and they did just that in their short set to the crowd’s delight. The Fraze crowd is filling out and things are running just a little bit late - Asia was supposed to take the stage at 1:30 p.m., but the Romantics just finished up. The group ended with “What I Like About You” which is one of the reasons we like the Romantics ….
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A Flock of Seagulls brings new wave
New wave doesn’t begin to describe the pulsating synth beats on tunes like “I Ran (So Far Away)” and “Space Age Love Song” from A Flock of Seagulls, the second band to the Fraze SummerFest stage. Lead singer Mike Score’s distinctive cascading hairstyle (see photo from back in the day below), which has been referenced in pop culture for years in productions ranging from innocuous television shows like “Friends” to more controversial fare like “Pulp Fiction,” may have toned down to a long braid behind beind his head, but thankfully the sound hasn’t toned down any (although it did get a little flat on certain notes). Score was the only one from the original line-up there, backed by three new guys. One thought: Most of these bands really don’t have much more than two or three good songs to their name, but they’re the kind of tunes that get stuck in your head really easily and camp out there until the next band takes the stage.
Parting thought: “And I ra-a-an, I ran so far awa-a-ay….” You’ll be singing that to yourself all day. No need to thank us, thank A Flock of Seagulls and check out that hair!
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Naked Eyes kicks off SummerFest right on time
Pete Byrne, the surviving half of Naked Eyes, along with a backing band, was on hand to kick off Mix 107.7’s SummerFest 10 at Fraze Pavilion. And they started right on time. Although keyboardist Rob Fisher, the other half of the UK group who passed away in 1999 due to complications from stomach surgery, was missing, the music was just as we remembered it back in the day. Known best for their cover of Burt Bacharach’s “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me” which Bacharach penned with Hal David, the band also played lesser synth-pop hits, ending with the guitar driven ballad “Promises, Promises.” It was a nice way to start a long day of ‘80s immersion. Byrne ended things at 12:25 p.m. saying, “Thank you and good morning!” Ten bands on one stage has got to be a logistical nightmare, but Fraze so far seems to be right on top of things. One band down, nine to go … stay tuned.
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Summerfest is almost here!
Nostalgia promises to be the word of the day Saturday, July 5, when the Mix 107.7 SummerFest Ten kicks off at Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion (695 Lincoln Park Blvd). This year’s 10th annual concert will feature 10 performers. Here are the approximate show times:
Noon - Naked Eyes; 12:30 p.m. - A Flock of Seagulls; 1 p.m. - The Romantics; 1:30 p.m. - Asia featuring John Payne; 3 p.m. - Patty Smyth & Scandal; 4 p.m. - Howard Jones; 5:30 p.m. - Taylor Dayne; 6:45 p.m. - Survivor; 8:15 p.m. - John Waite; 9:45 p.m. - Night Ranger.
We’ll be filing live updates from the Fraze on the ’80s goodness that will be Summerfest.
Until then read this guide to who’s who.
And stay tuned for more tomorrow ….
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No opener? What would MacGyver do?
It’s all about survival … Who can start the fire with flint, build shelter, forage for food and most importantly - open a beer bottle without an opener. If you’re not one of the people who has these kind of basic skills and knowledge, you’ll want to find someone - a friend, neighbor or loved one - to keep in mind in case some kind of emergency comes along (always be prepared they say).
If you’re looking to gain this kind of knowledge in advance, the internet is the place to go. A recent Web site I happened across, www.howtodothings.com, prides itself on making this kind of “how to” information available on various topics.
One post is how to open a beer bottle without an opener (assuming of course that it isn’t a twist top). The site gives nine options on how to become the “MacGyver of the brew world.”
It gives a couple options that came to mind like keys or a belt buckle, but it gets more ingenious from there including paper and the bill of a cap.
Read them all here and if you have any to add, go for it and live up to the “MacGyver of the brew world” title you so rightly deserve!
And if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, just ask yourself … what would MacGyver do?
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