Winter Beer Fest at Fifth Third Ballpark Feb 28th

Michigan Brewers Guild is hosting the annual Winter Beer Fest which will feature 35 to 40 local breweries.

Three New Prince albums in 2009?

MPLSOUND,
Elixir,
& Lotus Flower?

Read the article here:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/visiting-with-p.html

Dave Zeltserman: In His Shadow

This is Dave Zeltserman's self-published first novel, released in 2002, and is one of those books that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. Early on, I was reminded a little of Andrew Vachss' Burke series, but the similarities ended very early in the book. My understanding is that the book was later re-released under the title Fast Lane including some revisions.

Gordan Gano: Hitting the Ground

This is the debut solo album (released in 2002) from the front man of the Milwaukee band, Violent Femmes. Gordon has an amazing supporting cast on this album, including the likes of PJ Harvey, Frank Black, Lou Reed, and They Might Be Giants. Many of the tracks are strong, however, the title track, which both opens and closes the record, sounds a little bit like a reworked version of the Violent Femmes track "Special."

Liam Lynch: Guitar Hero?

I don't how many of the rest of you got Wii's for Christmas, as well as Guitar Hero: World Tour, but I know my kids did. Anyway, just found this on http://www.liamlynch.net/

Date: December 19, 2008
LIAM AND GUITAR HERO!

Look for two videos of Liam Lynch in the new Guitar Hero "World Tour". If you have the game, goto to the options menu, select "Videos" and watch Liam in the two Line 6 videos. Liam gives a personal lesson in playing guitar as well as shows off the new Line 6 POD. Check it out!

Arcadia Ales: Hop Rocket

Very rarely would you hear me complain about an "extreme beer" aggressively hopped in the vicinity of 10% alcohol, as Founder's Devil Dancer is one of my all time favorites. However, there are many varieties of hops, I believe Jim Koch of Samuel Adams compares hops to beer as grapes to wine. In this particular case, I'm not sure the choice of hops suits me.... I found this 4-pack at Ladd's in Muskegon in case you want to try it for yourself!

Books of the week

Lawrence Block: One Night Stands and Lost Weekends

This is a collection of early Block stories. While I prefer his early novels, this book provided and interesting and entertaining insight into the author’s work. Quite a mixed bag really, often I could tell where the stories were going with just the title and just a little bit of the text.

Dublin Noir:

Subtitled “The Celtic Tiger vs. The Ugly American” and edited by Ken Bruen, this is my first read in the Akashic Noir Anthology series. Each collection focuses on a different location. I was very impressed with the stories here, I’m anxious to read more books in this series. I am curious if they are all this good, or if maybe Ken Bruen is to blame for all the excellence to be found here!

Gerald Kersch: The Angel & The Cuckoo:

This is the only book I could find by this author, but I will have to try to find more!

Max Philips: Snake Bite Sonnett:

Not recommended for fans only familiar with him through Hard Case Crime! This is Max Philip’s first novel, and is a book about relationships, not a crime novel!

What's On Tap? (Lexington & Indianapolis)

WHAT’S ON TAP?

Mellow Mushroom in Lexington, in addition to having excellent food, had over twenty beers on tap. I tried the following:

Schafly (St Louis) Winter ESB
Anderson Valley (California) Oatmeal Stout
“Dark Horse” Black & Tan: Guinness mixed with Kentucky Ale



On the way back from Kentucky at Centre Circle Mall in down town Indianapolis:
Counted at least three breweries here: Ram, Rock Bottom, and Aklatraz
Stopped at Ram, and addition to their usual offerings they had the following seasonals:
Kolsch, Java Stout, “Nutcracker” Hazelnut Porter, and “Steam Stack!”

Beers of the Week: Kentucky Edition

From http://www.kentuckyale.com

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale™
With a little creative curiosity, we used spent bourbon casks, fresh from decanting, and filled them with our very own Kentucky Ale. From barrels that once held the finest bourbons of Kentucky, we present Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, a smooth, golden elixir unlike any other. Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrel. We attribute this to what the bourbon maker calls the “angel’s share”. Elegantly smooth and modestly carbonated, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is a fine sipping ale with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted Kentucky bourbon.

From http://www.horsepissbeer.com/

Kentucky’s Finest Horse Piss Beer

Horse Piss Beer is dedicated to helping others. A percentage of the sales of the beer and merchandise will be donated to help disabled jockeys and adoption programs for our equine friends.

Horse Piss Beer is also dedicated to bringing you a smooth tasting, micro-brewed beer for your drinking pleasure.

Ian Fleming: Live and Let Die

Finished this one today- what can I say? This is the 2nd James Bond novel. There is:

Voodoo
Sharks
Barracuda
Pirate Treasure
and of course,
Octopuses

in Harlem and in Jamaica

What more could you want?

Megan Abbott: The Song is You

This is Megan Abbott's 2nd novel. I've found her novels take a little "getting into" but I usually find rewarding and worth the extra effort. I'm also a big fan of David Lynch movies and I'm always trying to find books that have that same vibe, and I find that in Megan Abbott's books. There is that edginess and disparity that I think you have to have experienced personally to appreciate, so I guess these books are kind of an "acquired taste" and may not be for everybody!

Verve Pipe Live CD on the way?

The Big news last night was the return of A J Dunning to guitar!
Here is MLIVE's review of last night's Verve Pipe show.

http://blog.mlive.com/soundcheck/2008/12/verve_pipes_grand_rapids_reuni.html#more

What the article DOESN'T mention is that Brian indicated early in the show that they were recording - so I guess we might see a Verve Pipe live CD in the near future?

The only disappointment for me; and I'm really not one for XMAS songs, but the last several years the set ended with a XMAS song and this year it did not.

I will be doing a more in-depth review for my weekly email.
Email me at JZID@SPAM.LA if you are interested!

UPDATE: The show has been recorded, but I don't think the intention was for a live CD release.
In fact, you can download the whole show at this link!

http://www.archive.org/details/thevervepipe2008-12-20

I Want My Dish!

Hey Bernard!

Isn't that my dish?

The one that I loaned you,

The one that you said that was stolen:
When your brother Jimmy was murdered?
(Last Thursday)

Jimmy's Jazz Group;
But now you lead the band,
They were going to cancel the gig,
but you said you could sure use the money,
your brother dead,
and plus after the robbery and all.

So I guess I'll go see my cousin in-law Robbie
Since he's catering this event;
which is now a benefit for Jimmy,
and Robbie's new business is off to a grand opening,
which he was able to start up
With some supposed "inheritance"
I just want my dish!

(I wonder if he booked the band?)

Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Velvet Claws

I finished this one today- I thought I'd start with the first!
I'd also like to check out Erle Stanley Gardner's other series- which includes the book Top of the Heap re-released recently via the Hard Case Crime label. I'll probably try to start with the first book in that series as well, if I can track it down- that is.

Release Date for new U2 album announced

The new U2 album "No Line on the Horizon" is set to be released in the United States on March 3rd. Produced by regulars Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, the album will not include the several tracks that had also been recorded with Rick Rubin.

Four New Prince tracks debut on Rock Radio Station

I was slightly dissapointed with last year's PLANET EARTH- but from these four tracks this sounds to me like the GUITAR album we've been waiting for PRINCE to make since PURPLE RAIN!

Checkout the article on Rolling Stone here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/12/18/prince-premieres-four-new-songs-on-las-indie-103-new-album-on-the-way/

Tracks: Crimson & Clover, Colonized Mind, 4Ever, & Wall of Berlin

UPDATE: Another new Prince track can be found here: http://www.mplsound.com/

(There'll Never B) Another Like Me

Queensrÿche coming to Grand Rapids

Queensrÿche is coming to the Intersection to promote their upcoming album AMERICAN SOLDIER. (Due in March)

Here are the details:

The Intersection

05-05-2009 20:00 at
133 Grandville Ave, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
Cost: $25

18+ welcome. $25 tickets. Doors 7pm. Show 8pm

Alleyways opens with 21 beers on tap!

Article here:

Restaurant developer invests $300K in Muskegon eatery’s renovation

I will have to check it out tonight and update here will a full report!

UPDATE: Just got back from Alleyways, I had the Leinie's 1888 Bock, and Bell's Winter White. Other beers on tap include, but are not limited too Goose Island 312, Founder's Pale, New Holland Sun Dog, Longhammer IPA, and Samuel Adams Seasonal.

Victor Gischler - Gun Monkeys

This is Victor Gishler's debut novel. Don't make the same mistake I did and leave your self time to finish this one when you get to the final chapters. Similar to other books I've been reading recently, this one has a lot of fast-paced action and delivers on the promising title with guns, guns, and more guns!

Flight of the Conchords premier

Flight of the Conchords second season premiered today on www.funnyordie.com
featuring the television debut of the classic FOTC song "Angels" - check it out!

Bell's Beer to collaborate with Belgian Brewery

Bell's to partner with Belgian brewer's De Proef for their 2009 collaboration series. Check out the full press release here:

http://beeradvocate.com/news/1693174

PITCHFORK interviews The Lonely Island

A new interview with The Lonely Island with a lot of details on the new record INCREDIBAD has been posted here:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/148179-the-lonely-island-tell-all

Thirsty Dog: Hoppus Maximus

My Ladd's 6-pack this week: from the website:

This beer's name will not disappoint! The complex character of American hops and amber colored caramel malts make this beer very crisp and refreshing. Silver Medal winner at the 2001 Great American Beer Festival.
ABV = 5.9%, IBU's = 43, OG = 13.5 P

Lawrence Block: Killing Castro

Originally released in 1961 as Fidel Castro Assassinated by Lee Duncan, Hard Case Crime starts out the new year with a bang with this forgotten book written by Lawrence Block. I've been reading a lot of early Block and have been enjoying these books immensely. I have yet to read any of his later work, but I've heard that a lot of these earlier books have been categorized as inferior compared to the later ones, which, needless to say, leaves me with high expectations for the author's later work.

David J. Schow: The Kill Riff

After reading Gun Work (Hard Case Crime) earlier this year, I thought I'd go back and check out some of David J. Schow's earlier novels. The Kill Riff is his first full-length novel. He also has several short-story collections which I plan on checking out as well. Although I didn't like this one quite as much as Gun Work, there were plenty of guns, knives, and explosions to keep one entertained. Plus a good dose of Rock and Roll as well! I'll definetly be adding some more Schow to my reading list.

G.I. Joe Movie: Thumbs down to the trailer?

I'll admit, I have been very anxiously awaiting the new G.I. Joe movie. However, this website has posted an early review of the trailer which may be premiering during the superbowl:

http://www.nukethefridge.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=954:gi-joes-rise-of-cobra-trailer-details&catid=10:news&Itemid=39

So the very very early word is that I may be in for disappointment- which is often the case when one has unrealistic-ly high expectations for a film. That being said, I've often enjoyed even the worst of the comic-book films.

The Adventure

Climbing through the hills
to find that prize
The two teams race
Be careful on that rock!

And then the return:
who can get back first?

John Zorn: The Crucible

Released December 9th, this is the first in the series that actually features John Zorn as a musician and not just as the composer. This album also features the same trio of musicians (Mike Patton, Joey Baron, and Trevor Dunn) that have formed the core of this project.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I went to purchase tickets from ticketmaster for the upcoming Verve Pipe show and these were the fees:

Item Charge Tickets (The Verve Pipe) ADVANCE TICEKT AGE 18+ US $15.00 x 2 Total Building Facility Charge(s) US $0.50 x 2 Total Convenience Charge(s)

US $6.15 x 2

Order Processing Charge(s) US $4.35 Standard Mail

No Charge

TOTAL CHARGES US $47.65

Plus they wanted to charge me more to print out the tickets as oppose to mail them to me! (Does that make any sense?)

I was wondering what the cheapest way for me to get tickets is- I don't want to get them through ticketmaster, I hope all these "extra fees" are because of them and not because of The Intersection. I've attended the Verve Pipe Xmas shows for the last few years, and don't every recall the fees being this ridculous!

In addition, ticketmaster is giving me the option of paying an additinal $6.00 per ticket for "ticket insurance" - I don't remember going to show being this complicated at last year's show???????

If I'm going to pay all these extra fees, I'd PREFER THEY GO TO THE ARTIST INSTEAD OF TICKETMASTER!

Thanks

Dan VK

New Holland in-house sales of spirits!

New Holland has announced the in-house sales of their new line of "artisan spirits" - see the press release at the link below:

http://www.mlive.com/kalamabrew/index.ssf/2008/12/_holland_more_new.html

Old Leghumper Robust Porter

Found this at Ladd's this week:




A robust porter, dark brown in color and full bodied with a malty sweet taste. Deep roasted, yet silky smooth! Two types of roasted malts, including deep-roasted chocolate malt, are used to give this porter a rich, chocolaty taste.
I.B.U.'s=24; O.G.=15°P

Alcohol 6.7%

New Hard Case Title Announced

Appears to be a new book from an author I am not familiar with - although notes indicated that the book is "by the author of the cult classic EAST OF A, and featuring the same detective, Payton Sherwood" which appears to be a book from 1999. I'm not able to find out much about this author online. Since the book won't come out until next September, that should give me plenty of time to check out the other book first!

PUT THIS IN YOUR BROWNBAG!

Pilgrim's Dole - Wheat Wine

Pilgrim’s Dole is a barleywine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt, or what we at New Holland call a wheatwine. Pilgrim’s Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique caramelized character. It would be an excellent accent to nutty dishes, fruit crisps or creme brulee.

During the 14th century, the term “Pilgrim’s Dole” described the rations of bread and ale given to nourish wayfarers on their holy pilgrimage. At New Holland, Pilgrim’s Dole is brewed for the cultural explorer of today. It is a rewarding discovery on the road to enlightenment.

Whether in a snifter or from your rucksack, Pilgrim’s Dole will enhance any experience and is certain to incite wanderlust and to fuel adventure.

It is a barleywine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt, or what we at New Holland call wheatwine. Pilgrim’s Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique caramelized character.

25° Plato, Alc. 10% by Vol.

NEXT RELEASE: NOV, 2008
Available in:
Pub Draught • 22 oz • Growler • Half Barrel • Sixth Barrel

See Pilgrim's Dole - Wheat Wine in the Brewer's Kitchen

1888 Bock at the M.A.C.

Just thought I would give everyone a head's up that the M.A.C. is now serving Leinenkugel's 1888 Bock!

BOND UPDATE

Just got back from the $2.50 showing of Quantum of Solace, and thought I'd add my two cents. I would agree with just about everyone that this was not nearly as strong as Casino Royale, and agree that the film felt like the filler, or space in between films in a trilogy. That being said, they are really going to have to deliver the goods with the next film, or I think myself and a lot of other Bond fans are going to feel like we wasted our time--- Think Matrix, I didn't even bother with the final film and nobody has trying to convince me that I made a mistake. I will say that all of the fast camera sequences I actually enjoyed, I'd seen quite a few complaints about this just being an attempt at a Bourne movie, and I can say I still enjoyed this much more than the last Bourne, which is another series I didn't bother with the last film on. All in all, I think I will have to wait for the next film to decide if this one was worth it or not.

207.5: I Survived.....

My first Christmas party of the year- or should I say my waistline did. My wife's office had a buffet style lunch with free drinks and dessert.... I managed all of that and still was able to lose a couple pounds. Don't know how I am going to make it through the rest of December though....

Debut album from the Lonely Island

Premiering on SNL last night was the first single, "Jizz in my pants" from The Lonely Island's debut album "INCREDIBAD" to be released on 2/10/09.

Check out the video and more on The Lonely Island's web page here:

http://thelonelyisland.blogspot.com/2008/12/snl-digital-short-jizz-in-my-pants.html

Ty Tabor's new album BALANCE was released today. For those not familiar with him, he is an incredible guitar player/singer/songwriter, mostly known for his work in the band KING'S X. I've lost count how many solo albums he has out, I think this might be number 5 or 6. He also had participated in a number of side projects, including having worked with a member or two of DREAM THEATER.

You can buy the CD (or MP3's) here:

http://molkenmusic.com/store/shop/index.php?cat=cds

or give it a listen on his webpage here:

http://www.tytabor.com/index2.html


Ty will be performing along with KING'X this Tues. in Chicago and this Wed.
12/10/2008 Mt. Clemmens, MI - The Emerald Theater

BEERS OF THE WEEK (Continued....)

Found at Lighthouse Liquors, $15 for a 6-pack. (From Downingtown, PA)

ABOUT
With a huge, Pacific Northwest hop aroma & character upfront, Storm King subsides into massive, roast malt complexity. More flavor than mere words can adequately describe. Rich and substantial, it will warm your heart.

COMPOSITION

Malts: Imported 2 row
Hops: American whole flowers
Alcohol by Volume: 9.1%

NIGHT WALKER by DONALD HAMILTON: Hospital NOIR?

I'm about a 1/4 of the way through, my first novel by Donald Hamilton, made easily accessible courtesy of Hard Case Crime. This book was written in 1954 , and is reminding me of two of my favorite books, Roger Zelazny's NINE PRINCE IN AMBER (1970,) and Patricia Highsmith's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1955.) The Highsmith comparison shouldn't be surprising, but the way Zelazny's book starts out in a hospital with the main character having amnesia definetly is brought to mind, and may also be subconsiously because a Zelazny book written shortly after is coming out very soon on the Hard Case label. Having also recently read Duane Swiercynski's anthology DAMN NEAR DEAD, I can't help but thinking of a potential great follow-up HOSPITAL NOIR? Or maybe it's just cause I've got a thing for nurses....

SIN CITY 2 BACK ON?

I can't imagine a sequel without Robert Rodriguez directing, hopefully they can get him again! + For more info, check out this article on ign.com:

http://movies.ign.com/articles/935/935585p1.html?RSSwhen2008-12-04_061400&RSSid=935585

PUT THIS IN YOUR BROWNBAG!

Found this at Ligthouse Liqours: ROGUE Yellow Snow IPA! ($5.99 for 22 oz bottle.)

6 Ingredients:

Malts: Two Row Pale, Cara Foam & Melanoiden.

Hops: Amarillo.

Yeast & Water: Rogue's Pacman Yeast and Free Range Coastal Water.

Specs: 15º PLATO 70 IBU 76 AA 14º Lovibond

Quantum of Solace

Anyone want to go see this with me Sunday night? If so, let me know, and I'll go get tickets Saturday before they sell out! Make sure you let me know what time you want to go also. If I don't hear from you by tomorrow night, I'll assume you don't want to go!

I'm told from good sources that it's worth the $2.50 admission, plus I have coupons for the concessions!

Thanks

Dan VK

Cinema Carousel - Star 108 Sunday Night Movie

Admission to the Star 108 movie night feature is only 2.50 per person!

This week's Star 108 feature is

Quantum of Solace

December 7 at 7:00, 8:45 & 9:45 pm

All ticket buyers will receive a coupon good for a medium popcorn and medium drink for 4.50!
(offer is not valid with any other discounts or coupons

What's on tap?

City Cafe in downtown Muskegon had the following to offer tonight:
FOUNDER'S CENTENNIAL IPA
NEW HOLLAND CABIN FEVER
NEW HOLLAND SUNDOG

They had also just recently ran out of Bell's Christmas Ale!

(Big improvement from Bud & Heineken!)

Jason Starr's "The Bully"

I read this today -


for .49 cents how can you go wrong?


Also Jason was just the guest on http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/
check it out!

You can download "The Bully" on amazon.com here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Bully/dp/B000TDNLQ8

Mike Patton News

Per movieweb, (http://www.movieweb.com/news/NE99z9eaKH6obi)

Mike Patton is scoring the feature length film "Crank 2"

I guess I missed the first one!

There also continues to be talk of a Faith No More reunion or tour, but I have yet to see any details, and Mike Patton seems to be too busy these days to contribute much to such a reunion, but we'll see!

Blue Belle

Finished Blue Belle by Andrew Vachss today, the third in the Burke series. The first novel I read by Vachss was Two Trains Running, if I remember the title correctly. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I then read A Bomb made in Hell, and then Flood and Strega. I’m still on the fence about this series, next time I read this author I think I’ll try another non-series effort instead.

Pizza Hut getting desperate for new ideas?

I'm sorry but isn't this really just two pizzas? or am I missing something here? - Dan VK

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS Second-Season Premiere

Found this on Aint-it-cool-news: The season 2 premiere of Flight of the Conchords will be exclusively on www.funnyordie.com December 17th so put it on your calendars!

BEERS OF THE WEEK

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BEERS OF THE WEEK: (From Your Host, Dan VK!)

Found the following at Ladd's this week:

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

alcohol content 6.8% by volume	bittering hops Chinook
beginning gravity 16.0 Plato	finishing hops Cascade & Centennial
ending gravity 4.0 Plato	dry hopping Cascade & Centennial
bitterness units 62	malts Two-row Pale & English Caramel
yeast Top-fermenting Ale Yeast

The long, cold nights of winter are a little brighter with Celebration^® Ale. Wonderfully robust and rich, Celebration^® Ale is dry-hopped for a lively, intense aroma. Brewed especially for the holidays, it is perfect for a festive gathering or for a quiet evening at home.

"…best beer ever made in America."
– Stan Sessor, San Francisco Chronicle

GOLD MEDAL WINNER
United States Beer Tasting Championship (IPA: 1994)

FIRST PLACE
Chicago Beer Society — 1996 Fall Beer Tasting

SILVER MEDAL WINNER
California State Fair (IPA: 1999)
Great American Beer Festival (IPA: 2002)

Hang Ten, Weizen Dopplebock

ABV: Approx. 10%

Hang Ten is the Heavy Seas wheat beer you've been waiting for. A classic German-style weizen bock, slightly cloudy and bursting with flavor. Hang on and surf the Heavy Seas wave! Seasonally available in July while supplies last.

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock 2008

5.5% alchohol

This beer was $15 for a single 750 ML bottle at Ladd's. (I had to pass on this one but thought it was worth a mention!)

Description from Samuel Adams website:

Samuel Adams® partnered Felchlin, a renowned Swiss chocolatier, to develop a unique innovation, Samuel Adams® Chocolate Bock. We started with a complex selection of carefully roasted malts combined with hand-selected Noble hops from Bavaria, the world's oldest growing area. After using a centuries old brewing process, called Krausening, we slowly aged the beer on a bed of rare dark cocoa nibs from Felchlin®, a renowned Swiss chocolatier. Known for their quality these wild cocoa nibs, harvested from the rainforest of Northern Bolivia, impart complex aromas and flavors of chocolate, honey and vanilla in the beer. The resulting beer, Samuel Adams® Chocolate Bock, has a big, malty character that is combined with the subtle sweetness of chocolate, giving this brew a complex full-body taste with a velvety finish.

Tettnang-Tettnanger and Spalt hops were hand-selected from the world's oldest growing area and combined with a complex selection of malts including two-row Pale, Munich and Caramel to create a rich and satisfying brew. This dark beer has a big, malty character that is combined with the subtle sweetness of chocolate. Samuel Adams® Chocolate Bock was aged on a bed of cocoa nibs to create its unique layers of flavor. As the beer matured, the fruity, tart, earthy and chocolate aromas were released into the liquid to give the brew a complex, full -bodied taste with a velvety finish. A hint of vanilla was added to meld the symphony of flavors together.

210 lbs.

The scale keeps going in the wrong direction - maybe if I start posted my weight here - I'll be more motivated to get that number back down to where it should be!