The Formative Years – Suicide

There are few albums that capture the merging borders of the roots of alternative disco, punk, new wave and what was to become post-punk like Suicide’s debut effort.

Creating an idiosyncratic melange comprised in equal parts of distortion, cacophonous beats  and demented howling, Suicide sounded sincerely exciting and dangerous. 

The paranoid driven debut album Suicide (1977) and the follow-up Alan Vega Martin Rev (1980) are both slabs of vinyl full of attitude that epitomize the minimalist primal force and tense sonic equivalent of the animalist threatening chaos the duo unleashed in a live environment.

Each and every song seems to be informed by a sinister, menacing dark undercurrent, including the cheesy, poppy ditties. Suicide was a band that felt truly liberated, informed by a hostility that was fuelled by the fact that they had nothing to lose.

While Suicide never attempted to blend in with anything or anybody, they became immensely influential, left their vile imprint on what was to become electronic music and unintentionally not only created a template for synthesizer and vocalist duos but influenced everyone from Joy Division via Radiohead to Nebraska-era Bruce Springsteen.

Suicide’s live recordings document the confrontational antics of the duo to the extent that at times it proves to be difficult to decipher the music from the pandemonium it soundtracked.

Proto punk at its best.

Thus Let Us Drink Beer

Tumut River and Common Ground Brewing

Located in the Murray-Darling basin, Tumut River is not only a perennial stream in the region of the Snowy Mountains but lends its name to what evolved to become a destination brewery.

Tumut River Brewing first caught my attention when I learned about them paying liquid homage to one of my favourite Australian independent rock bands, i.e. You Am I. 

While collaborations with bands are not exactly rare in the realm of craft brewing, it piqued my interest as I fell instantaneously in love in 2013 when Young Henry’s celebrated the bands twentieth year of existence with one of the most delicious limited edition pale ales I have had the pleasure of experiencing on terra australis.

Tumut River’s You Am IPA was brewed to honour the band’s incarnation at the Winter Bites Festival and clocking in at an ABV of 6.5%, it proves to be an immensely drinkable little number.

On the top of the mouth, freshly cut cantaloupe meets a melange of a combination of pineapple, peach, apple, banana, pear, grapefruit, and apricot, which rests on a hoppy backbone with nuances of coconut and a delicately calibrated malty bitterness, before it culminates in a lip-smacking, crisp finish. 

Not bad, not bad at all.

Bad Mofo is Tumut River’s thinly veiled reference to Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction and a take on the tried and tested  West Coast IPA style: 

As the name suggests, the big hop guns are blazing with Mosaic and El Dorado hops taking centre stage, flanked by locally grown Rye corn and Munich malt, thereby adding an idiosyncratic depth to the underlying malty flavours. 

I love the subtle sweet grape, pear and watermelon nuances, which are backed by a solid bitterness of 80 IBU, adding interesting facets that never run danger of being overrun by the strong malt backbone. 

Now, while Bad Mofo is playing in the ABV  midfield, the red IPA known as Deliverance 22 brings out the heavy artillery: 

On one hand there are moderate caramel malt flavours and syrupy sweetness merge with toffee-like qualities culminating in roasted grain highlights, which lends a characteristic dryness to the finish, on the other end of the spectrum Azacca, Mandarina Bavaria and Eclipse hops add a berry sweet, resinous dimension, resulting in a n overall complex flavour profile that is further enhanced by a warming ABV of 10%. 

A robust bitterness of 100 IBU seals the deal for one of the best Imperial Red IPAs I have tasted in a while and as if things could not get any better, Tumut River also provides the antidote for the next morning with its own premium blend of from the highest frown estate coffee made from 100% Arabica beans. 

What’s in a name?

Based in Milton Common, Common Ground Brewing’s is a telling one as its credo captures the notion of community, diversity, reaching out with respect and a focus firmly set on what unites us, which is also reflected in the brewery’s ambitious collaborations with likeminded brewers.

My first exposure to Common Ground was via its Brewing Commondeer West IPA expression.

While most West Coast IPAs are traditionally known for for their bold hop aromas, high bitterness, piney notes and citrus flavours, what intrigued me with the Commondeer was that the emphasis was centred around the malty informed nuances. While the melange of Centennial, Azacca and Simcoe hops brings forth resinous, tropical notes, there is a decidingly caramel-esque side to it that artfully counterbalances the delicious dank highlights. Clocking in at 6% ABV, a solid session- and smashable go-to IPA.

Things get interesting with Common Ground Brewing’s collaboration with Newcastle-based Method Brewing, aptly named “Chimuwaku”, which is the Japanese equivalent to teamwork. 

Adorned by customized artwork courtesy of Japanese tattoo artist Horizaru, this fluffy headed Yuza New England India Pale Ale is quite something as it brings out the best that the intersection of fruits and beers can produce: A sharp hybrid of lime, citrus, lemon and grapefruit flavours is rounded out by a distinctly tarty and slightly bitter sourness that dances against a backdrop of hoppy fruity flavours, ranging from tropical fruit to stone fruit nuances.  A wonderful companion to a dram of Talisker Storm.

I cannot wait for Common Ground Brewing to try its hand at channelling its alchemy in the creation of Double and Triple IPAs.

The Formative Years - Traveling Wilburys 

When it comes to the output of what was commonly referred to under the moniker “super group” in the last millennium, there was hardly one of those mostly prefabricated outfits where the musical output matched the credit of the individual constituents. Au contraire, in most cases the total of the whole offered diminished returns and was much less than the sum of the individual contributions.

Then again there are instances where exceptions prove the rule, which is where the Traveling Wilburys reign supreme as what started as a coincidental and serendipitous  project at the end of the 1980s with George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, all of which operated under pseudonyms, was lightning caught in a bottle as far as condensing and simmering three decades of rock down to its concise essence. 

Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. Is comprised of ten near perfect tunes and rich lyrics. With alternating lead vocals, all protagonists effortlessly complement each other and the group makes a deliberate effort to be perceived as a collective. 

After the untimely departure of Roy Orbison in December 1988 and the debut album having become an accolade decorated best seller, the surviving group members reconvened to record a follow-up, which proves to be an enjoyable listen yet does not come remotely near that magic that was created before.
 
Based on the wonderfully calibrated collaboration, the Traveling Wilburys’ debut remains an unrivalled classic in the pantheon of the rock olymp and is highly recommended not merely to aficionados of Orbison’s, Petty’s and Harrison’s respective oeuvres but especially those  who tend to get annoyed with Dylan’s trademark whiny organ as with the Wilburys’, he showed a delightful side by channelling his inner Bruce Springsteen.

A true gem.

Water of Life

Buffalo Trace Bourbon & Beer Magical Mystery Tour

The appreciation whisk(e)y and other spirits for that matter, is an entirely subjective exercise, although there are a few objective truths when it comes to realm of Bourbon, e.g. that it must be made from a mash bill comprised of a lion’s share of corn, aged in new charred oak containers, distilled in the new world and meet certain proof requirements.

Having tumbled down the rabbit hole of liquor made from fermented grain, spending exorbitantly to chase elusive expressions, these days I appreciate a reliable, accessible and affordable workhorse Bourbon, which is where Buffalo Trace Distillery’s predominantly corn based, eponymous gateway core expression comes in. 

Needless to say, I was intrigued when I learned about a curated Buffalo Trace Beer, Bourbon & BBQ-filled Brewery Magical Mystery Tour, comprised of a four-stop stint at some of the more prominent inner-west breweries of Sydney in a bid to find the identify the ideal brewed companion to match a boilermaker with Buffalo Trace’s expressions being the sole constant.

After carving my way to the first stop, i.e. the warehouse brewery in the industrial heart of White Bay and acquainting myself with the hosts of the evening, we were off to the races. 

White Bay’s cold fermented Balmain Velvet Schwarzbier proved to be an interesting entry point to easy into the proceedings: A traditional German Schwarzbier in nature with the added twist of being based on a melange of a wide selection of robust German grown base and specialty malts along with the tiniest addition of Kiwi grown Roasted Wheat for a distinct Southern hemisphere touch. Living up to its name it terms of a velvety mouthfeel, on the top of the mouth richly sweet but bitter, a little malty, and slightly earthy nuances dance against a backdrop of molasses, which aid in emphasizing the richness of caramel and cocoa. 

Despite the heady Schwarzbier characteristics, this naturally carbonated little number proved to be on the crushable end of the spectrum with its welcome crispness. Not a bad pairing to complement Buffalo Trace’s spiced toffee profile and one that set the tone for the classy evening that was to ensue.

What followed was a Buffalo Trace Distillery masterclass, MC’ed by whisky-phile par excellence and never not charming spearhead of the Fine Drinks Movement,Geraint ‘Gee’ David who not only knows how to spin a contextualised, engaging yarn but had us follow him on the chronological timeline of America’s native spirit, from the distillation of whiskey by early pioneers to the current thriving bourbon environment, confessing his love of the spirit along the way by presenting educational Bourbon fun facts along with anecdotes about his encounters with the main protagonists behind Buffalo Trace Distillery.

I was mildly excited about Wayward Brewing Co being the next stop of our tour as we have featured their excellent, micro-brewed emissions many times over the years and it was fantastic to check out their digs in the third dimension. 

The special brew conjured specifically for the occasion of the Buffalo Trace Magical Mystery Tour, i.e., the aptly named “Chasing Buffalo”, had its focus firmly set on not merely matching but enhancing the DNA of Buffalo Trace in terms on enhancing its toffee, vanilla, and molasses characteristics. 

I used the stop to stock up on Wayward Brewery’s Pavlovian response evoking juicy Triple IPA Mum Rock, which based on the triumvirate of Mosaic, Eclipse and Citra hops is a tour de force in marrying zesty citrus with stone fruit flavours. 
While the evening was dotted at each stop with generous cured meat and cheese platters, the Wayward Brewing stop constituted a local highlight with a sumptuous and generous bourbon BBQ dinner. 

Off to Marrickville we were to stop at the small-batch brewery Stockade. Set against a backdrop of stacked barrels, some of which were previously used to age Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Stockade’s light Pepperberry Porter made an appearance with its delicate botanical highlights.

On the Bourbon front, things got dialed up a notch or three with E.H. Taylor Single Barrel making an appearance: A fulminant melange of spicy notes based on a bed of oak, leaving an aftertaste of plums, fruits, and hints of figs after hitting the palate with its buttery texture. 

The fact that its long finish is veiled in smokiness only adds to its allure. Dangerously more-ish and the fact that Stockade offered a taste of their exotic, boozy Desert-wine like flat-as-a-tack Ancient Money potion with its distinct grape, raisin and port flavours certainly added in things getting loose.

The Buffalo Trace Bourbon Magical Mystery Bus tour culminated not far away in the same hood at the iconic Mixtape Brewing & Bar, where head brewer Jason Newton presented what has been specifically created for the occasion, i.e., the Buffalo Bourbon Amber Ale which with its hop driven aromas of currant and pear. 

A thoughtfully crafted brew that not only rounded on the palate with a toasted malt character, light fruitiness and a balanced bitter finish but also rounded out an immensely enjoyable and well-calibrated evening, which was sealed with another dram to pay homage to Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor and a bottle of Buffalo Trace Bourbon to be taken home and enjoyed within the confines of one’s abode.

Summa summarum, a masterfully executed ode to Southern hospitality, everything Bourbon and craft brews, tickling all senses in equal measures.

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image courtesy of Wasamedia

Audio = Ground Zero: JBL PartyBox series

When it comes to powerful, sleekly designed, booming Bluetooth speakers, over the last couple of years JBL has singlehandedly raised the bar to new heights with its dedicated portable, durable battery-powered speaker systems, recently peaking with the launch of the PartyBox 310. 

Equipped with the capability for programmable nuanced, refined and fun RGB light show, which takes it far beyond novelty territory and instead makes it an additional engaging feature, the Partybox 310 allows one to finetune and customize all your desired outputs, no matter if it is meant to channel your vocal delivery or instruments with its dual-mic and guitar inputs. 

The bass, echo and treble controls are easy-to-use and geared towards intuitively dialling it in, with EQ settings tailored specifically toward catering to music performance needs, with the added benefit of the Karaoke setting allowing to toggle the input on- and off. 

Needless to say, the booming and crisp performance comes with a veritable weight, however, enhanced with built-in wheels and a retractable haul handle, it can conveniently be moved around no matter if the destination is an impromptu outdoor karaoke session or if  roving live performance for small gigs are your jam. The fact that it is backed by a fantastic battery performance, allowing up to eighteen hours of continuous playback time, does not hurt either.

Ready to play right out of the box without any complicated connections, the compatibility with the JBL PartyBox app not only accommodates for remote controlling the audio output but also allows for linking multiple speakers together if needed.

While JBL is known for providing the goods when it comes to a rich bass performance with solid mids even at higher volumes, this little number is a veritable beast providing a tremendous amount of value as it not merely carpet bombs whatever environment it is placed in with immersive beats but can be flexibly used as a PA, mic, guitar amplifier and battery.

Now, for those who do not have the capacity to deal with the size, power and weight of JBL’s bold PartyBox 310, the lighter, smaller portable format JBL Party Box-On-The-Go is, well, as the telling name suggest, the way “to go” with its adjustable shoulder strap.

While in terms of size, JBL has operated in similar territory before, the Party Box On-The-Go adds an array of new features that considerably enhance the listening experience. 

Made of durable, sturdy high-end plastics and equipped with a well-built microphone for karaoke as well as an input option to plug in an instrument, it is good to see old school, tactile, physical buttons making an appearance which is rare in a world of touch interfaces. As a result, playback controls are easy to use.

Up to eight devices can be easily connected to the speaker via AUX port, Bluetooth, or even a USB drive

As the telling name suggests, PartyBox On-The-Go is designed for, well, parties and in that aspect does exactly what it is meant to do with the LED light ring adding a visually appealing quality to the allure of the 100W of Pro Sounds it provides, which despite being bass-heavy never runs danger of overpowering other frequencies.

A battery life of six-hours of playtime is not exactly optimal for an all-nighter and probably constitutes the only niggle, so it is recommendable to leave it connected to a power source.

Summa summarum, the JBL Party Box On-The-Go is a versatile and competitively priced, portable speaker that ticks all the right boxes, no matter if you use it for partying or a small gig.