Listening To Your Beer

Pairings.

Putting two things together to make them both better.

What works for beer also works for music.  So why not join the two in a music playlist honoring the versatile everyman beverage?

Inspired by a couple recent articles (Draft Magazine's 2012 Summer Beer Mixtape  and "The Classical Kegorator: Pairing Beer With Music" from NPR's Deceptive Cadence blog) I've put together my own playlist of songs that highlight the multitude of genres that have paid complement to that delicious mixture of water, barley, hops and yeast.

From gettin' beer, to asking for a beer, and wanting more beer, to wanting to get drunk, being drunk, and being too drunk to do lots of things - there's something for everyone.

Check out a couple highlights below and the full Spotify playlist here.

Buck Jumpin' and Havin' Fun

TV stinks.

More and more I find myself spending as much time flipping through the channels as actually watching something interesting.  There is however, one favorite, that is worth making an appointment for - HBO's Treme.

The show takes place in post-Katrina New Orleans, as an ensemble cast of residents attempt to recover, rebuild, and get by after the storm, each with varying degrees of success.  To say that music plays a part in the show is an understatement.  Musicians real and fictional weave throughout the story lines as art and life mix in reflexive imitation.  

I'm really interested to see where last years plots go this season, the show's third: from Annie's impending breakout stardom, to Davis' next foray into the music industry (after getting essentially kicked out of his own band), to Delmond embracing and reconnecting with his roots, Sonny finding his way, and Antoine making success on his own terms - not to mention LaDonna, Janette and the rest of the characters.

The recently released trailer gives a short preview of things to come in Season 3, which debuts on Sunday, September 23rd at 10 pm.

To catch up on the past couple seasons, check out NPR's coverage, who provide an episode by episode commentary that gives great insight into all the shows references and connections.  

Also, the Season 2 soundtrack is out on Spotify, with originals from the show like "Road Home" by DJ Davis and the Brassy Knoll and "Hu Ta Nay" by the father son supergroup featuring characters Delmond (Rob Brown) and Albert Lambreaux (Clarke Peters).  

Photos: Wilco, Highland Bowl, Rochester, NY

Photos: 2012 Newport Folk Festival