So I went the Kings of Leon show last night with some friends and I have a few pics but my camera is a piece so I think this shows what it was all about. This video was shot in Austin Texas a few weeks ago and it is way better than a few blurry pictures that I took. So use your imagination people.
I will say that we saw a lady pass out on the balcony, get dragged out by medics, and then 7 songs later she was back in her seat cheering. I guess she managed to escape the ambulance. Veru impressive moves. She won the fan of the night award.
This Kanye West remix project came together about a year and half ago when me and Plain Pat met and we can discussing possible ideas for the next Kanye West mixtape following Cant Tell Me Nothing. He had heard my previous projects with Lil Wayne & The Clipse and knew I could line up the best producers to rework Kanye’s classics from Graduation. Over the next year or so I worked slowly to get the right producers in line and then the remixes started coming in.
I gotta tell ya, this thing is hot. It seems the best in the biz LOVE remixing Kanye cause this project is stacked with the likes of Diplo, A-Trak, Scottie B, Tom Wrecks, Kenny Dope, Cousin Cole, and Nick Catchdubs who drops a wicked Buju sample on “Champion.” imeem that son:
No, this post is not about my criminal pastimes, it is about the greatest record store in Atlanta and possibly the world. I recently got to go into the NEW location for Criminal Records and it is Awesome. It moved from right next to Junkman’s Daughter to right in the square in L5P. The address is now 1154 Euclid which is near and dear to my heart as my old store, The Home Store Futon Gallery, was once housed there. It is so good to know that an establishment like Criminal Records is expanding. I don’t even know what percentage of my music collection was nabbed at Criminal, but I can tell you it’s a lot. If you have not been to the new Criminal Records or if you’ve never been(shame on you!) get your ass down to L5P and check it out. You will not be dissappointed.
I’m having a tough time tonight getting anything of quality done for Esperanza, artistically or back-of-the-house-wise. Just one of those nights and they’re typically the ones that fall on Monday. What I find helps me the most is finding a good source of inspiration and having a cocktail or two while letting it all sink in. I’ll go to sleep early tonight and wake up at the crack of dawn to see what the marination created…
Tonight’s focus has been Saul Bass. You’re all very aware of his work, whether you know it or not. He’s responsible for some of the most iconic imagery of our time from Hitchcock movie posters to the Girl Scouts logo. Take a look and then go do a little research to learn just how influential this man was, and continues to be, in graphic design. If anything, let him teach you how not to over-think things…
Save the solo Whynatte I helped myself to, I took it very easy this past Saturday night and caught up on some flicks I’ve been meaning to check out for a while. Example 1. Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show. Pretty good. Definitely entertaining. The overwhelming highlight, for me at least, was being introduced to comic Sebastian Maniscalco who I feel stole the show. Crazy thing about this guy is that he was still a waiter when he was invited to join the tour… I stayed up half the night looking up everything he’s ever done and got laughing so hard at one point I began to cry. This guy just hits my funny bone. Check out a bit of his from Comedy Central, a good one, but not my fav… I’ll let you go find the best. This one’s in the movie, but I think this, more fleshed out version, is a little better:
What’s the word? I hope that this marvelous Monday is not too mundane for the masses because this day usually churns out as slow as molasses, so to help out with that I got rose colored glasses by showing you pics of my weekend trail passes which were deliciously topped of with many wine glasses. ENJOY!
The view from our cabin was ridiculous!
Lauren and I at the top of Blood Mountain
Lauren and I at Wolf Mountain Vineyard which was fantastico!
The view from Three Sisters Vineyard
MMMMMMMM!
High Shoals Waterfall. One of my favorite places to hike.
Another High Shoals Waterfall
High Shoals Trail
Me, wasted, at Black Stock Vineyard
Look guys, all of this is only like an hour from Atlanta, so I don’t ever want to hear any of you say that there is nothing to do around here. This was also very easy on the wallet. Between me and Lauren, we probably only spent about $360 total and that includes our cabin. Georgia Mountain Hideaways is the cabin we stayed at. check it.
The Vineyards(that are secret treasures of Georgia)
Three Sisters Vineyard, Frogtown Vineyard, Wolf Mountain Vineyard, and Blackstock Vineyard. All awesome and close and IN GEORGIA!
P.S. DON’T YOU DARE THINK ABOUT SKIPPIN OUT ON OUR PARTY ON SATURDAY!
The one and only Buck Davis suggested, over a few drinks a couple weeks ago, that I show people what we’re cooking up over here at Esperanza. He told me we should update people on works in progress, because, well, the art is dope and people dig the insider perspective. So, here is the updated and almost finished Atlanta Fire Foundation design. Check back a few posts to see the first incarnation. I’m having fun with some new techniques and really wanted to step the art up for a foundation we care a lot about. I also wanted to deliver a top knotch design because they’re probably pulling their hair out with how close we’re cutting it with this baby. Disregard the obvious text issues above the scroll, already working on it. Overall though, no worries guys, we gots the shop and we’re printing this week!! Big event this Thursday. Check it out and support these often unsung heroes.
As I finish up the Atlanta Fire Foundation design this evening, I’m listening to and REALLY enjoying the latest from Little Joy. The new collabo between Los Hermanos singer/guitarist Rodrigo Amarante and The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Check out a track featuring the impossibly adorable voice of Binki Shapiro from their S/T album out now:
Way to go guys, the can looks great! I stopped at Buddy’s yesterday and grabbed a couple, then on to Green’s for some mini-Jagers. Nothing like enjoying a Whynatte in the comfort of your own home with no messy latte cleanup.
For those of you who aren’t in the loop, or live in a cave, our buddies over at Whynatte just released their official canned beverage. Drink alone, or pair with Jager for a special treat. They’re going to be debuting the canned goods officially at our party next Saturday. Be there to get yours!
In other beverage news, I also copped the new Left Hand X Terrapin “Terra-Rye’zd: Black Rye Lager” last night and had a chance to give it a whirl.
This is some seriously heady beer. When pouring into a glass, you’ll notice the motor oil like consistency and then as you raise your glass, the overwhelmingly pungent aroma of rye and hops. Its a very complicated beer, a lot of baggage really. Spicy, toasty, roasty rye mixing with citrusy hops… its a lot to chew on and literally feels like it. (On a side note, all you designers: What font is BLACK RYE LAGER written in?? Uhh, yeah, thats “Creepsville” by Tony O’Farrell. And boom goes the dynamite.)
It was good, but a bit powerful to drink two, let along the one entirely. I followed it with a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale and it tasted like Miller Lite in comparison. I highly recommend Terra-Rye’zd on cold night as it’ll leave your belly warm. One bomber is enough to share between two people for sure though. Good brew dudes, looking foward to the next!
As I said before, a lot of people tell me that this is one of their favorite yearly Atlanta events. After spending Saturday at the Starlight taking it all in, I can easily see how they make that assessment.
When I arrived, the races had been suspended due to an accident that had sent someone to the hospital, so I had time to walk around and check out the cars. One of my favs above.
The Graveyard Tavern’s entry.
Another casket car… this one was incredible. After the race, the owners set it up in a tent and arranged chairs to make it look like a viewing. The entire team was dressed in mourning attire and the attention to detail was really impressive…. right down to the picture of the driver leaning up against the casket. The guy explained to me that it was important the photographer captured to duality of his personality, both thoughtful and fun-loving. He also explained that it turned out so well that he’d probably just use it again when he died for real. Hilarious.
The cars moved much faster than I was expecting and the inevitable wrecks were best described by someone in the crowd as “totally gnarly.” I saw one guy tip his car halfway down the hill and turn his shoulder into hamburger meat. He was drunk enough to laugh it off though. Yeesh.
My FAVORITE car of the day.
How this guy managed to drive is beyond me. He had to lay down inside in cannonball position and had a tiny lever that he could flick to turn. The thing was incredibly fast too.
The mini-hummer in action. As the races died down, southern rock outfit Ponderosa was finishing up on stage. I had a good laugh when a guy behind me asked who they were and his buddy responded, “just a bunch of long-hairs.” Everyone was totally cool and while I hadn’t brought anything to drink, just about everyone I talked to hooked me up with a beer. Thanks everyone.
After the final race, our attention was directed to a clamor happening in back of the venue. As the procession passed, I realized I was about to witness Here Come The Mummies!
The only thing I can say about this totally deceased funk band is that they might be the greatest party band on the planet…. and that I immediately contacted their management upon getting home yesterday to line them up for a future Esperanza event. Mummies are so the new zombies.
All in all it was a great event and one we’ll definitely be participating in next year. I have high hopes for Team Esperanza.
