Flight of the Conchords 2009 Spring US Tour

Flight of the Conchords will be in Detroit 04/24/09 and Chicago 04/8/09.


Check out here http://www.whatthefolk.net/giginfo.htm
for complete list and pre-sale information.

Background to Danger by Eric Ambler

I think I like the original title Uncommon Danger a little bit better. This was released in 1937 and the title was changed for the U.S. release. This is Eric Ambler's 2nd novel. I haven't read anything else but from what I understand most of his book have similar themes, involving ordinary people getting caught up in the world of politics and espionage. This one features a journalist who put inadvertently himself in danger due his own financial distress.

crème brûlée Imperial Milk Stout

From New York's Southern Tier

	crème brûlée Imperial Milk Stout a stout of great contention
	We are not the harbingers of truth as some may suggest but it may indeed be argued that our brewing philosophy is tantamount to a dessert with a bellicose past. How, you may ask, would a brewery determine a likeness to hard-coated custard? Our response is simple; it’s all in the power of history, and of course, the extra finesse needed to top off a contentious treat with definition. By comprehending the labyrinthine movement of time, one would not think it strange to trace the errant path of an ordinary object such as a cream dessert only to discover that it has been the cause of cultural disputes since the middle ages. The British founders of burnt cream and from Spain, crema catalana, both stand by their creative originality and we respect that, but it was the French Crème Brûlée, amid the strife of contention, that survived to represent our deliciously creamy brew. 10.0% abv • 25º plato • 195º L • 22 oz / 1/6 keg 2-row pale malt / dark caramel malt / vanilla bean / lactose sugar / kettle hops: columbus / aroma hops: horizon

Flyer for: A Valentine's Day Celebration Of Love Songs with Brian Vander Ark

Clint Eastwood: Grand Torino

Cinema Carousel - Star 108 Sunday Night Movie

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

This week's feature is

Gran Torino

February 1 at 6:50 & 9:30 pm

Flight of the Conchords- Episode #14 - The New Cup

The latest episode of Flight of the Conchords premiered this week on HBO featuring two new Conchords songs. In case you missed it, don't have HBO, and/or both, you can check out one of the new songs "Sugalumps" right here:

http://www.hbo.com/conchords/episode/index.html

Roger Zelazny: The Dead Man's Brother

Another instant classic from Hard Case Crime for 2009. This is a true "lost novel" written in the early 70's by Sci-fi/Fantasy author Roger Zelazny. Needless to say, being on the hard-case label, there is little Sci-Fi or Fantasy to be found within these pages. True there is a little hint that the lead character may be the genetic equivalent of the character Bruce Willis potrayed in the movie Unbreakable, but I think that is about as close to sci-fi as this gets. Other than that, the great characters that keep you guessing, diplomacy, and interaction that is key to all great Zelazny novels is found here as well. I believe this novel succeeds as both a novel that longtime Zelazny fans, as well as a novel that fans that read the hard-boiled fiction of Hard Case will both apreciate. I know I count myself in both cateogories and found plenty to like here. This is also one of my favorite covers amongst the many greats to be found in this line and I will say that if nothing else, it captures the intensity of the books final moments, and like many other aspect of this book, (including the title,) will keep you guessing until the end.

For another opinion, check out this review courtesy of Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine:

The Dead Man's Brother -- Roger Zelazny

What's On Tap at the Station?

In addition to the 37th anniversary special that the Station is running right now, they are also advertising that they currently have Bell's Winter White on tap!

Brian Vander Ark's "The Freshmen" on American Idol this week?

For more info check out this article on MLIVE.COM

'American Idol' meets 'The Freshmen'? Verve Pipe song might be performed, says Brian Vander Ark

Orange Blossom Pilsner

I found this beer at B&B Liquor on 28th st. Each bottle include 2.3 tsp of fermented orange blossom honey.

5.5 % alcohol

Also available and let me know if you can find it: OBP² with 11% alcohol!


For more info:
http://www.uniquebeers.com/obp/

Absinthe now legally produced in the U.S.

more info at: http://www.stgeorgespirits.com/

Absinthe Verte in Stock in Distillery Store

St. George Spirits Absinthe Verte ($75/750mL bottle)is made with fine brandy, star anise, mint, wormwood, lemon balm, hyssop, meadowsweet, basil, fennel, tarragon and stinging nettles. This infamous liquor reveals seductive flavors of anise complimented with sweet grassy tones, light citrus, white pepper, and light menthol notes.

In stock and available in the distillery store.

DIRTY SWEET by JOHN McFETRIDGE

You have to love a book that takes it title from the lyrics of a T. Rex song. Toronto resident John McFetridge paints an interesting picture of the town- after seeing a few of Michael Moore's films, I thought Canada was some kind of crime less utopia. This book paints a picture of Toronto not much different than New York or Los Angeles, complete with criminals, prostitution, drugs, guns, and of course, murder. This is the first book in the "Toronto series" and you can definetly tell that this book feels similar to me to some of the early 87th Precinct novels by Ed Mcbain that I've also been reading lately, where the groundwork is perhaps being laid for a series of recoccuring characters. Except of course, the one's who die....

What's on Tap at O'Charley's in G.R.

Not a great selection here... but they did have the following "seasonals:"

Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Anheuser-Busch Shocktop

Bill Laswell: Invisible Design II

Just announced on www.tzadik.com with a March release date, a sequel to Bill Laswell's 1999 Tzadik release, Invisible Design.

Composer Series Bill Laswell: Invisible Design II [#8062]

In addition to being one of the most unique producers in contemporary music, (Iggy Pop, Herbie Hancock, George Clinton, the Rolling Stones, Laurie Anderson), Bill Laswell is also one of the world’s most original and creative bassists. Here he brings his prodigious technique, massive sound and renegade conception to the fore in this intense and virtuosic outing for solo bass. Armed with four-string and eight-string bass and a barrage of effects and distortion boxes, his skill as a player has never been more evident. A dynamic follow-up to his 1999 release Invisible Design, this is an intimate view into the mind of one of the greatest musicians of our time.

BVA live at Doerman Theater: Jan 23rd

Brian Vander Ark's recent performance at the Doerman Theater in Toledo has been posted and is available for streaming and download here:

http://www.archive.org/details/bva2009-01-23.live2cd.flac16

New Beers from Founders

Got this news from this weeks podcast at:

www.mlive.com/kalamabrew

Founders has a new double-IPA, called Double Trouble, which I am very looking forward to as their triple, Devil Dancer is one of my all-time fave brews. Double Trouble is at least 9.4% alcohol, according to their estimates.
They will also be introducing a bourbon-barrel aged version of this brew, called the Hand of Doom, at the Winter Fest next month, of which they've said POTENT is an understatement, and that the 1 oz sampler is all you will need....

They will also be featuring the Imperial Stouts and Porters in bottles once again after several years of absence, thanks to their recent expansion.

What's on Tap ? Red robin

I went to Red Robin tonight to celebrate my daughter's getting straight A's on her report card- and they had Bell's Two-Hearted on tap as well as Leinenkeugals Sunset Wheat.

New Lynchland Episode!

Title: Lynchland Episode 22 Duration: 1028 Description: Experience the strange and mystical world of the paranormal. Ghosts, dimensional portals, and bananas all haunt this weird episode of Lynchland. Download: LynchlandEpisode22.m4v

BELL'S HOPSLAM 2009

I found this at Wayne's Deli. I looked up my batch ID on bellsbeer.com and here is what I found:

The Batch ID that you entered '8908', is a Bell's Hopslam Ale. Your Bell's Hopslam Ale was packaged on January 5, 2009

A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?

Original Gravity:

1.087

Alc. by Vol.:

10.0%

Avail. Pkgs.:

4/6/12 oz. bottles (case), 15.5 gal. keg

Dates Available:

Limited Release

January 7th through February

State Availability:

Information coming soon.

Lester Dent's Sail

I love books.google.com- if you haven't check it out yet, it's a huge library of published and unpublished work available at your fingertips!
And it's supposed to be getting even better....

I had previously mentioned an upcoming unpublished novel by Lester Dent coming out on Hard Case Crime. Many other blogs also have been talking about this and a couple have mentioned a few short stories out there featuring the character "Oscar Sail"- well, while looking around the internet I happened to find the complete text of the first Oscar Sail short "Sail" from the anthology Murder on Deck! available in it's complete form on google. So anyway, if you are curious to check it out for yourself, you shouldn't have any trouble looking it up and reading it for yourself! Enjoy.

Also on tap: Breckenridge Avalanche Amber

I missed out on the Rogue Hazelnut Porter on tap at the Sardine Room, they have now replaced it with this fresh on tap in it's place. They do still have Great Lakes Christmas in case you missed it. For only having two beers on tap, at least they are keeping it fresh and interesting, with some beer choices not available commonly in this area!

What's On Tap? Hop Hound Amber Wheat

Don't let the packaging and the label fool you into thinking this is a brand new microbrew from your local brewery: if you look closely, you'll see that this is part of Anheuser-Bush's Michelob line of premium beers. That being said, like other Michelob varieties, this isn't all that bad. Interestingly enough, it's being billed as a spring seasonal, introduced in 2008, but I'm just now seeing it for the first time in this area. I'm assuming they are justing getting a headstart for 2009- I'm sure noone would mind Spring coming a little early this year. I found this on tap at Northside Pub, along with Bell's Christmas ale. It also appears to be available in 6-packs just about anywhere beer is sold.

James Crumley: The Last Good Kiss

"When I finally caught up with Abraham Trahearne, he was drinking beer with an alcoholic bulldog named Fireball Roberts in a ramshackle joint just outside of Sonoma, California, drinking the heart right out of a fine spring afternoon."

Widely regarded as the finest first line in all of crime fiction, even more amazingly, the rest of the book easily lives up to the promise. This is my first read from this author, although I believe this was his third novel, published in 1978. I'll have to check out some of the others as well!

1000 novels everyone must read

UK's The Guardian is running a feature right now entitled:

1000 novels everyone must read

Just what I needed- more books to add to my already impossible list of books to read!
Well, anyway, after browsing the crime list, I've found that I'm not doing too bad, I've already read a large numbers of these books, and many of them I was already planning on reading anyway.
I have a possibly bad habit of starting with the first book an author wrote and working my way through all of their books if I like them. I think I need to learn to be more selective and try to hit the high points. Two authors I've dedicated myself to reading everything by are Philip K Dick and Stephen King. PKD I've come dangerously close, whereas as Stephen King, I can't keep up with and he doesn't seem to slow down. It doesn't help that many of books are bigger than the Bible. I am fairing better with newer authors, as I've managed to read everything Charlie Huston has written so far, and am coming close with Jason Starr. I've also added Ken Bruen to my lists- and have a ways to go there as well.

New Brian Vander Ark demo CDs and interview

Brian talks about writing songs for a new Verve Pipe album here:

Singer talks about solo work, reuniting Verve Pipe

And below, links to purchase the just released demo CDs for each of his three solo albums!

Brian Vander Ark - Resurrection HOME DEMOS

Resurrection HOME DEMOS

Release Date: 2009

Label:Indie

Synopsis

An inisght into the songwriting by hearing early versions of the songs that became Brian's first solo album.


http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?bvamusic_DEMO03_continue-page

Track Listing

1	1229 Sheffield
2	A Million Things
3	And Then You Went Away
4	Resurrection
5	Written and Erased
6	Mileage
7	When I'm Gone
8	Someone Like You
9	Second Hand
10	Hollywood Ending
11	10 Minute Warning
12	Don't Ask Me

Brian Vander Ark - Angel Put Your Face On HOME DEMOS

Angel Put Your Face On HOME DEMOS

Release Date: 2009

Label:Indie

Synopsis

An inisght into the songwriting by hearing early versions of the songs that became Brian's second solo album.


http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?bvamusic_DEMO02_continue-page

Track Listing

1	I Don't Wanna Be
2	Too Good For This World
3	Belong
4	Nothing But Time
5	Survival
6	Another Good Man
7	History
8	A Trip to Omaha
9	Based Upon the Way
10	The Heart that Keeps You

Brian Vander Ark - Eponymous HOME DEMOS

Eponymous HOME DEMOS

Release Date: 2009

Label:Indie

Synopsis

An inisght into the songwriting by hearing early versions of the songs that became Brian's third (self-titled) solo album.


http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?bvamusic_DEMO01_continue-page

Track Listing

1	Instrumental 1
2	Then They Fell
3	Little Man
4	Death Valley (The Road)
5	Lily White Way
6	You'll be the Death of Me
7	Optimism's Glow
8	Evangeline
9	Fit to be Tied
10	Love So Deep
11	Monday Morning Girl
12	It Was Never the Same

U2 album cover & tracklisting

Found on stereogum.com:

NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
01. "No Line On The Horizon"
02. "Magnificent"
03. "Moment of Surrender"
04. "Unknown Caller"
05. "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"
06. "Get On Your Boots"
07. "Stand Up Comedy"
08. "Fez - Being Born"
09. "White As Snow"
10. "Breathe"
11. "Cedars Of Lebanon"

New Flight of the Conchords album

Sub Pop Records has announced a new Flight of the Conchords album to be released on April 22nd in conjunction with the new season getting ready to air on HBO. The first single, "Angels" will also be available on Itunes a day after the season premier Jan 19th.

More information here:

Flight of the Conchords Have a New Record for you to buy!

HOPSLAM 2009

Be on the lookout for Hopslam, Bell's seasonal 10% alcohol IPA which should be available this week.

More information here:

Bell's Brewery Inc.'s HopSlam to be available this week; Oberon release date announced

Bell's beer continues to expand

Bell's beer just announced another expansion to the tune $5+ million. Read the full article here:

$5.2 million expansion moves ahead at Bell's Brewery in Comstock Township

Weekly 6-pack: Wolverine Beer

Description from http://www.wolverinebeer.com/

It's All About the Beer.

Here's your dilemma: You've busted your hump
all day and you want a cold beer. You'd love to
buy a local beer and support your state, but the
only beers brewed in Michigan are microbrews
that fill you up after one pint. Until now your
only other choice was to send your paycheck out
-of-state by drinking some corporate macrobrew
from St. Louis or Milwaukee (or, God forbid,
Canada).

Well, your pain is over. Now there's a real beer
that everyone in Michigan can be proud to drink.
A crisp, clean, ice cold lager that refreshes the
minute you taste it, but has the character to stand
up to a half pound burger. Wolverine Beer is real
Michigan beer. Drink Wolverine and let people
know what you stand for.

Ed Mcbain: The Mugger

Written in 1956, this is the second book in the 87th Precinct series. At just around 150 pages, this book packs quite a punch. Highly recommended!

Brownbag Monday

Black Tulip - Trippel Ale

description from http://newhollandbrew.com:

Mysterious, alluring and seductive, yet tantalizingly elusive; these are the storied characteristics of the Black Tulip.

Golden in color, Black Tulip Trippel is a delightful beer with a slightly sweet body. Its ester-laden character reveals an enigmatic dance between Belgian ale yeast and Michigan beet sugar, conjuring hints of bananas and rock candy. Its inviting flavor is complemented by a pleasing dry finish.

19.6° Plato, Alc. 9% by Vol.
Available in:
Pub Draught • 22 oz • Growler • Half Barrel • Sixth Barrel

Charles Bukowski: Post Office

This is a autobiographical account of Charles Bukowski's misadventures as a Post Office employee. I thought I would check out some of his books after reading Charlie Huston rave about them on his blog. The book spans his first stint as a carrier, his later years spent as a postal clerk, and then finally his resignation which led to the writing of this book.

Hardboiled Brooklyn

I must be excited about the upcoming Ken Bruen/Reed Farrel Coleman collaboration Tower. The last anthology I read was Dublin Noir edited by Ken Bruen on Akashic featuring a story by Reed Farrel Coleman - and now I just finished Hardboiled Brooklyn edited by Reed Farrel Coleman and featuring a story by Ken Bruen! This one is published by Bleak House and I was lucky enough to get this and another couple as a part of their FREE BOOK Christmas promotion. What I wasn't expecting was that this book and another one had autographs from several of the authors- and very unexpected bonus! My only complaint about this one, is that although it features many authors I was already familiar with, such as Peter Blauner and Jason Starr, there were no bios for the many authors I wasn't familiar with. I wish there would have been either a bio page or some author information with each story. It makes a little bit harder to track down the one's I liked....

Richard S Prather: The Peddler

This book is incredible - I had high expectations going in and it absolutely did not disappoint. This book literally had me hooked from page one to the very last word on the very last page. For one thing, Christa Faust, whose Hard Case novel Money Shot, blew me away last year, has sited Richard S Prather as the whole reason she signed on to Hard Case to begin with. I think if you liked Scorcese's Goodfellas you would love this book - which reminds me I've been meaning to track down the books that inspired that film and Casino. Interestingly enough, Richard S Prather was an avocado farmer at one point in his life, and an organic one at that- which although has nothing to do with this book, is yet another amazing reason why I've got to check out more about this guy.... I'm going to go back and check out his series books now, starring private eye Shell Scott... it's one of those books that got Christa Faust into Prather to begin with- and that's reason enough for me! What an amazing book to start the new year with.....

Artwork and tracklisting for Lonely Island's INCREDIBAD

More details here:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/148360

Incredibad CD:

01 Who Said We're Wack?
02 Santana DVX [ft. E-40]
03 Jizz in My Pants
04 I'm on a Boat [ft. T-Pain]
05 Sax Man [ft. Jack Black]
06 Lazy Sunday [ft. Chris Parnell]
07 Normal Guy (Interlude)
08 Boombox [ft. Julian Casablancas]
09 Shrooms (Interlude)
10 Like a Boss
11 We Like Sportz
12 Dreamgirl [ft. Norah Jones]
13 Ras Trent
14 Dick in a Box [ft. Justin Timberlake]
15 The Old Saloon (Mix Tape Edit) (Interlude)
16 Punch You in the Jeans
17 Space Olympics
18 Natalie's Rap [ft. Natalie Portman and Chris Parnell]
19 Incredibad

DVD:

01 Jizz in My Pants
02 Just 2 Guyz
03 Lazy Sunday [ft. Chris Parnell]
04 Ras Trent
05 Dick in a Box [ft. Justin Timberlake]
06 We Like Sportz
07 Space Olympics
08 Bing Bong Brothers

New Hard Case Crime Title announced

Coming out later this year on Hard Case Crime, a never published before novel by Lester Dent, creator of "Doc Savage." The October release date gives me time to familiarize myself a little bit more with this author in time for it's release.

What's on tap?

The Glenside Pub currently has Goose Island Mild Winter from Chicago on tap. Highly recommended!

1/09/09: Update: In case you didn't already know, Sardine Room now offer beer on tap. Currently featured is Rogue Hazelnut Brown, and Great Lakes Christmas.

Russell Atwood: East of A

I thought I would check this one out in anticipation of a sequel later this year on Hard Case Crime. The intriguing thing is this one was written in 1999, the sequel is coming out in 2009, ten years later. I am curious about the history behind this one, if the sequel was written years ago but not published, or if this is a new novel the author just waited ten years to publish?

Richard Powell: Don't Catch Me

Richard Powell's first, from 1942, and also the first in a series of five novels starring wife / husband team Arab and Andy Blake. This one involves a Nazi plot involving counterfeit antique furniture. Lots of guns, knives, and action. A later novel by this author, Say it with Bullets, was reissued by Hard Case Crime a couple years back.

www.lotusflow3r.com: An entirely new galaxy awaits...

I played a friend of mine the new Prince track "Colonized Mind" from the upcoming album "Lotus Flower" and he got the impression it might have a science fiction theme. Well, the new website supports that notion, check it out here: www.lotusflow3r.com

There is not much up on there yet, but you can listen to tracks from each of the 3 upcoming albums, and the following is all being advertised for "January 2009" so I expect that this site will become more active very soon!

"Listen to new tracks by Prince and special guests."

"Watch videos and exclusive content."

"Buy music, concert tickets, and more."

Let's cross our fingers that Prince headlines Rothbury in 2009!

George V Higgins: The Friends of Eddie Coyle

This is George V Higgins' first novel written in 1972. This is a very quick read about some cops and robbers and another guy who gets caught up in the middle of it all by the name of Eddie Coyle.

Hunt at the Well of Eternity by Gabriel Hunt

Found a release date of May 5th for this online today. This is the new series being put out by Hard Case Crime co-founder Charles Ardai. He is planning a new book in the series every three months, with a different author writing each one under the pseudonym of Gabriel Hunt. Not for certain who the guest author is on the first novel, although there seem to be indications it could be James Reasoner, who has already mentioned on his blog that he was contributing a book to the series, and has also been mentioned in interviews with Charles Ardai. Also mentioned: Christa Faust, David J. Schow, and the second novel is supposed to be being written by none other than Charles Ardai himself.

Groove Solution

Cindy Shedd (formerly of Delicious and Whitey Deluca) has a new band Groove Solution, which includes drummer Willy Watson Jr, (Derico’s cousin?) and they are playing Lakeshore Tavern Saturday Jan 3.

Anchor Christmas Ale

From www.anchorbrewing.com:

The brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer are proud to announce the release of our thirty-fourth annual Christmas Ale.

Every year since 1975 the brewers at Anchor have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale, which is available from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.

Each year our Christmas Ale gets a unique label and a unique recipe for the Ale itself. Although our recipes must remain a secret, many enthusiasts save a few bottles from year to year—stored in a cool dark place—to taste later and compare with other vintages. Properly refrigerated, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years, with different nuances slowly emerging as the flavor mellows slightly.

Put this in your brownbag: Santa's Private Reserve

From www.rogue.com:

2006 San Francisco POP Show (12oz bottle)—1st

2005 U.S. Beer Tasting Championships—PNW Champ

More Awards...

“The problem with some people is that when they aren’t drunk, they’re sober. ”

- William Butler Yeats

HISTORY

Rogue’s annual holiday offering, Santa’s Private Reserve, is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops--including Chinook, and Centennial, and a mystery hop called Rudolph by head brewer John “more hops” Maier!

Donald Westlake

Just got the news that Donald Westlake had passed away as I was finishing Duane Swierczynski's The Wheelman- There happened to have been a Westlake reference earlier in the novel that had gotten me thinking about him before I heard the news. Westlake's Parker series (written under pseudonym Richard Stark) have been some of my favorite reads of the last couple years. Westlake was also a big influence on Stephen King and his own Bachman novels.

Read Duane’s blog on Westlake here:

http://secretdead.blogspot.com/2009/01/donald-westlake-aka-richard-stark-1933.html

Duane Swierczynski: The Wheelman

I believe this is Duane Swierczynski's 2nd novel, published in 2002, and once again this does not disappoint. I didn't know what to expect after Secret Dead Men, but this is another fast paced action-packed ride with plenty of twists and turns from start to finish.

The Fox Brew Ha-Ha

Comedy and Beer? I don't see anything wrong with that!

Friday, January 16, 3pm-11pm
Saturday, January 17, 1pm-11pm
Deltaplex Conference Center, Grand Rapids Michigan

more details here:

http://www.101thefoxrocks.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=115009&article=4563000

New Year's Beer (and Mead!)

My friends and I toasted in the new year with some Cyser (Apple and Honey Wine) from the Bardic Wells meadery in Montague and one of those expensive bottles of Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock. Both the mead and beer were wonderful.