Friday, December 28, 2018

The BESTY's 2018


Tis the season to be BESTY, the longest running snapshot of live entertain that's worth noting is back by lack of popular demand. I really dig thinking back on good times, lucky I guess. Participating in public settings and shared experiences can exhilarate. I've said many times that I want music to make me think, make me dance or inspire me. Witnessing art can often make you feel part of it; creative power has endurance. 

I'm surprised by artists that I'm familiar with who continue to impress, other times I realize I've moved on. Whereas artists or performances that are new-to-me have that unique, first opportunity to impress. I'm not sure which form of expectation is the tougher to fill. What I do know is, it's awesome to be wowed by anybody. So that's where I've come to reside in terms of opinion; I want to be impressed, wowed, inspired, allowed to feel free and dance uninhibited. To all the fun and culturally relevant events, thank you. The BESTY's are...

STS9 | 12.31.17 | The Warfield

Kimock & Mathis * | 02.03.18 | Sweetwater | A Love Supreme & Meditations

Built to Spill * | 02.20.18 | The Fillmore | Keep It Like A Secret | Noise Pop

Jeff Tweedy * | St. Paul & The Broken Bones | 04.21.18|  High Water | Charleston, SC

Valerie June * | Tank & The Bangas * | 04.22.18 | High Water | Charleston, SC

LCD Soundsystem * | TV on the Radio | 04.29.18 | The Greek

Kimock & Leslie Mendelson | 06.17.18 | The Reel | Sonoma

Rocket vs. Warriors | Game 4 Western Conference Finals  | 05.22.18 | Oracle 

Best Restaurant Meals of the Year: The Rarebit in Charleston | Little Jacks in Charleston | Red Fish in Port Orford (x2) | Diavola in Geyserville (x2)

Happy Holidays | eightychoices.

******

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Happy Christmas

Current Mood |

John Lennon, Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir ~
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

Happy Holidays,
eightychoices

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Brew Detective: Comet IPA | Buoy


Buoy is keeping us all afloat with their tasty beer. A new single-hopped IPA hit shelves locally and I scored one. It pours a beautiful caramel-gold and has great clarity. I'm really digging the brewing companies that strive for proper carbonation, it's spot on in the Comet Single Hop IPA. I also appreciate a good malt balance when the hop profile may need a little taming. 

Comet hops are said to yield dank, citrus and tropical fruit notes, others will point to grapefruit. I personally got a whole lot of the dank mixed with a formidable bitterness, which is why the malt component is so clutch. I always look for Buoy beers at my local grocer and you should too. Enjoy craft beer responsibly this holiday season. Cheers!

Comet IPA | 6.7% | 65 IBU

eightychoices.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

"Some Birds"

Best New Music

Jeff Tweedy | Warm | "Some Birds"

I break bricks
With my heart
But only a fool
Would call it art.
     - Jeff Tweedy


eightychoices.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Brew Detective: Thirst Trap | Breakside


Breakside Brewery has been a revelation to my taste buds, I like 'em a lot. And recently, my partner-in-crime and I enjoyed some of their libations. Our tasting notes for the Thirst Trap IPA are below.

Agent M: strong at the start, smooth and fruity at the finish, frothy, creamy head, murky and complex. (Damn, that sounds good right?)
My notes: stone fruit, apricot, plus bitterness, amazing carbonation, super downy foam that just sits, it resides in the glass, almost see-through 6.4%(So there ya have it.)

Be safe this holiday season.

eightychoices.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Everybody Knows

Best New Music

The Jayhawks | Back Roads & Abandoned Motels | "Everybody Knows"

Tell me now, if you came sneaking up behind
Would you know me and see behind the smile?
I can change like colors on a wall
Hoping no one else will find what lies beneath it all
I think I hide it all so well
     -Gary Louris

eightychoices.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Brew Detective: Gigantic Brewing Co. | Hop Bot


New to me, so here you go. Gigantic has some nice branding and I dig their single bottle offerings. The Hop Bot is a fresh-hopped, Citra IPA. Tasting notes: resembled flowers, dandelion greens, a strong presence of white grape juice, and maybe even escarole. Quite the cornucopia of produce. It pours with a nice head, glowing orange-gold underneath. Hops for the Bot were farmed locally by Sodbuster. Enjoy local beer responsibly.

Hop Bot | 6%

eightychoices.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Having Been is No Way to Be

Best New Music

Jeff Tweedy | Warm | Having Been is No Way to Be

I'm reaching out to you
I'm writing all the time
I don't see deep but I see far and wide
I see dead trees
But the roots have leaves
Just because I can't describe it doesn't mean I shouldn't try
To untwist the knife
To unwind the mind
Having been is no way to be alive

And I'm alive
When I watch you sleep
I wonder how much freedom we need
And I'm here when you wake up to me
And I'm still here when you wake up to me
   - Jeff Tweedy


eightychoices.

Monday, December 3, 2018

Brew Detective: Vertical Lift | Ascendant Beer Co.


Ascendant's Vertical Lift hazy IPA presents fruit forward characteristics derived from hops; those same fruity notes are not overwhelming, which is nice. It's pure haze in the pint glass, you cannot see through it. The carbonation is a big plus, presenting a foamy top, not always the case with Hazy's. I'll be looking for more of Ascendant's libations. Shout out to Bridgetown Beerhouse. Enjoy responsibly.

Vertical Lift | 7% | 77 IBU

eightychoices.