Famous Dave’s is a chain that has locations through the United States. We were lucky enough to be invited to their North Olmsted, Ohio location. We were immediately greeted and taken to our seats. The server was able to get in our drink and appetizer order. A few minutes later, we experienced the Barbecue Nachos ($6.99), which at the small size was more than enough to sate three or four…
Minneapolis has one of the most consistently brilliant, yet somehow overlooked music scenes out there. From Prince and Morris Day to The Replacements and Soul Asylum, this Midwest musical hub too often gets glossed over when people start ticking off the list of great U.S. scenes. Rank Strangers are just further proof that the City of Lakes can still pull its weight musically.
The voting is closed, but the night has yet to begin for the Alternative Press Music Awards. Drastically growing to the degree that the show is filling the Q (Quicken Loans Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115) this time around, this award show makes for the most action-packed weeknight since the Cavs season ended. The 2nd annual Alternative Press Music Awards are being held tomorrow (Wednesday, July 22nd) at…
The Petrus Aged Pale pours with a crystal-clear coloration and a decent amount of frothy, white head. The initial nose of Petrus Aged Pale is equal amounts tart and sweet with spicy and wheaty elements poking through at points. There is an intensity to the tartness that will immediately hit imbibers the second they sip the Aged Pale which dissipates as immediately as it began. Lemon and grain provide the…
It would be easy to dismiss Bitten as yet another cable series piggybacking off of the True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf formula. Much like those other shows, it is populated by impossibly pretty small town folk who just happen, in the case of Bitten, to be Werewolves.
The sci-fi (ish) thriller Ex Machina is seemingly simple in its construct: a brilliant techie CEO builds a human-looking robot with advanced artificial intelligence and gets one of his employees to interact with it over a week; but the plot twists are remarkably clever and turns this movie into a wildly creative, tense thriller that plays out in the very last moments. The acting is mostly limited to Oscar Isaac…
The Sweetwater Hillbillies have released their first single off of their latest album, On the Road. “Backwater Slap Jar Soul Sauce” is a bouncy blues-tinged track that operates at the juncture of blues, bluegrass, country, and southern rock. The effort allows each element of the band to shine, with particular high notes reached by the vocals, guitars, and fiddle. The track crackles with an honest, down-home approach and a production that guarantees…
Canton, Ohio is seeing a resurgence downtown, with a number of stores (The Auricle, Arrowhead, Canton Brewing Company) looking to revitalize a long-dormant metropolis. The Deli Ohio has a chill atmosphere with solid colors, decently open space and an open kitchen so that one can see their food being made. The chipper attitude of the cashier put the cherry on the ordering process, while the sandwiches were delivered to our…
Rahr’s Visionary 2015 is eminently drinkable and is able to balance a considerable alcohol presence with a good wallop of smoke and just enough sweet to push things into a higher plateau. Done in a rauchbier style, Rahr’s yearly Visionary beer is able to avoid the twin issues of overwhelming smoke and a strong alcoholic bite to create something that is only get better with age. Visionary 2015 pours with…
Today, we are speaking to Ski’s Heels to the Roof. Can you introduce us to each of the members of the band?
Trumer Pils, a classic pilsner pours with a light yellow coloration and a small amount of off-white head. The effervescence of the beer is considerable, while there is a moderate amount of grain / grass present in the notes. The beer is able to have the crispness of other pilsners along with having a sweeter element that will ensure that individuals come back for more. The small amount of hops…
There are few chips to actually have a bounty of flavors without being greasy, fatty, or otherwise off-putting. Southern California company Rusty’s Chips has found the sweet spot of flavor and crunch and in doing so, has created the best chips we’ve ever eaten. The unique flavor of Rusty’s Chips comes in the cooking process; instead of washing the excess starch off of the potato slices before boiling, Rusty leaves…
Chart-topping duo Icona Pop premiered a brand new track today titled “First Time”.
How does the music created by Thirsty on this album compare to that of the band’s previous engagements? How has your style changed and evolved since your earliest recordings?
Love Me Hardcore, SellinA Lc’s latest single, is a track that captures tremendous emotion with delicate instrumentation to create an effort that sticks with listeners long after the track has ceased. The instrumental and vocal elements combine to establish an effort that is greater than the sum of its constituent parts. The dynamic between the guitars and SellinA Lc’s softly-sang vocals is close, cozy, and will immerse listeners fully into…
Portland, Oregon’s Cedar Teeth begin their Hoot with Locks, a track that showcases a blues-laden take on indie rock. The blend of harmonica, guitar, walking bass, and punchy drums will immediately draw listeners in as the vocals call comparisons to Neil Young. Boots is a close and cozy track, with introspective arrangements bolstering the effecting vocals. The production of Hoot allows these two disparate elements the ability to join together…
“Holographic Violence,” the latest record from Seattle’s Grave Babies rides the waves between traditional cold, monochromatic goth music and later forms of the genre which incorporate sonicly brighter and -dare I say- catchier sound elements.
Southern Prohibition Brewery’s 2015 IPA is a fruity, hoppy bomb that possesses the perfect alcohol bite. The beer pours with a brownish-orange color and a thick off-white/yellowish head, with a nose that ties together hops, malts, and citrus fruits in a nice bouquet. Lacing will stick to the sides of a glass long after a pounder has been completed, providing information about how large of pulls one has taken from…
Isostasy is a performer and producer located in the eastern Pennsylvania (USA) area that looks to increase the boundaries of the EDM / IDM genres into including something more varied and intimate than what is currently garnering attention.
Don’t Quit Yer Day Job is an intricate track that links together guitar, bass, and drums to create a dense effort that tells more through the instrumental interactions than many bands can do with vocals and a full backing band. The path that Elmo takes fans on during this introductory track will ensure that one stays on the edges of their seat until the album finishes, especially as he takes…