What Maketh A Great Barber(hood)?

There is something to be said when SPB’s  Editor-In-Chief breaks his own iron rules and reaches out to you to discuss something non-music related. Based on a previous grooming related article and after the demise of his electric razor, Loren enquired about my take on foil versus rotary designs shavers, which not only spawned a conversation about grooming techniques but was also one of the questions I had on-board when I visited one of the finer establishments Sydney has to offer in the realm of the craft of barbering, i.e. The Barberhood.

Now, a question I am still being asked quite often is why I do not just go to the next best tolerable hairdresser salon instead of seeking out the service of a barber. 

Question is -  are you typically unsatisfied with your haircuts? 

It is entirely possible that you could go to get your hair cut at one of the generalist  cookie cutter places that have “clips” or “cuts” in their names, picture in hand, knowing what clipper sizes you want, and you could still walk out with a haircut that you do not love.

Point is that sometimes you want someone who is not merely “not bad” at a plethora of haircuts but a specialist who accomplishes select styles and that is the crux where barbers with their in-depth knowledge and their ability to include some really useful personalised hair advice come in.

Not unlike other metropolises, there is no shortage of new barbers mushrooming in Sydney and Melbourne, however, finding one that scratches the surface and puts time over substance and quantity over quality while being trustworthy and able to offer an enjoyable environment is no mean feat.

As the reputation precedes, the all-in-one grooming hotspot for Sydney gents known as The Barberhood had been on my radar for the longest time and I was intrigued to experience how they would combine traditional techniques with a sense of belonging to create the authentic ambience to relax and unwind in a vintage atmosphere, which is essentially worlds apart from the arid environment of most salons.

Since I had just returned from overseas the night before and not seen the inside of a hairdresser for months, I opted for a makeover for my whole gulliver, as Alex from Clockwork Orange would refer to it, i.e. a haircut with a classic straight razor clean up on the side and back of the neck, a haircut, culminating with the hallmark of any great barbershop, i.e. scented hot towel along with a cut throat razor shave and beard and moustache trimming and styling.

Entering The Barberhood proved an experience akin to what one would imagine to be the backdrop for an early twentieth century period piece with its deep walnut timber panelling, plush leather seating, retro subway tiles and the staff sharply dressed in suits, ties and aprons, the latter of which not only extended a royal welcome but take their time to get to know you so the style of your treatment can be tailored to meet your idiosyncratic needs.

The Barberhood was incepted seven years ago, with the female owner making a name for herself from the get go in this male dominated industry by calibrating her foci around strong core values and positioning in a bid to not just create a place, but a brotherhood where male grooming and lifestyle requirements can be taken care of. 

Asking about her values that inform the DNA of The Barberhood, founder Renée Baltov reparteed that they are firmly centred around being bold, distinct, sophisticated but not arrogant, welcoming and not alienating by not being exclusionary, i.e. too urban, offensive, cheap or clinical.  Quite a handful, but what I experienced aligned quite well with what she set out to achieve.

Renée’s vision materializes not merely through the curated products The Barberhood stocks, but also through the people they select to employ along with her service standards, which are informed by holistically thought through processes to provide a consistent level of services, putting the customer experience front and centre. The result is a brand that is built on the core values and appreciation for family traditions her mother instilled in her, who has been a hairdresser for five decades. 

What I like about Renée’s approach is that she does see a difference between men and women although acknowledging that it is much harder for women in many areas. She does not let gender thinking come into her day to day thinking unless she is challenged to think about it or comment on it, making dedicated efforts to employ equally and eliminate gender pay gaps. 

The Barberhood’s collaboration with Chivas Regal, resulting in free refreshments are being proffered adds to the appeal and rounds out the experience.

As far as Loren’s query is concerned re: foil versus rotary shavers, The Barberhood luminary illustrated the advantages and disadvantages of both, with implications mainly pertaining to skin irritation, with the verdict being that rotary is the way to go as it does not get too close to your hide: He advised that he finds foil to be working better with straight, thin hair but if you don’t shave daily, rotary are delivering the goods on longer growth.

Audio = Ground Zero

Setting the standard in 2022: LG Tone Free FP9 earbuds

It is 2022 and cords are widely perceived to be a nuisance no matter the reference when it comes to enjoying the emissions of portable audio devices, resulting in earbuds  mushrooming in all forms and shapes.

While I do not necessarily mind cord at home, for exercise and while travelling I prefer earbuds , so attributes like being pocketable, lightweight and the ability to not only actively cancel noises at different ambient  levels  but reproducing musical nuances rank high on my agenda. While the aforementioned tick the boxes of basic features, additional features that not only come in handy for daily use but ones that reinvigorate older gear are more than welcome.

Enter LG’s Tone Free FP9 earbuds.

With a charging case  that offers the capability to become a Bluetooth transmitter making non-wireless devices Bluetooth compatible, e.g. your old radio, turntable, iPod or in-flight entertainment, simply by connecting the included USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack cable into the earbud’s case and plug the 3.5mm end into the headphone jack of the device you want to use as a sound source. The result comes remarkably close to a true Bluetooth connection and proves to be reliably stable.

However, what makes the charging case truly remarkable is the fact that this compact smooth plastic little number has a sanitising UV-C light built in it so when the earbuds are charging, they are bathed with UV that aims to render them bacteria-free.

Size-wise, the LGs Tone Free FP9’s short stem size nestles perfectly in my ears with their medical grade silicone and ear tips aiding to further customize the fit, so they do not pop out even during more strenuous runs.

Via the complementary free Tone Free FP9 feature-packed companion app, the finer nuances of the LG’s robust multi-faceted soundstages and audio profiles, of which the widely open immersive setting is my preferred one, can be tweaked and saved in two settings to further elevate the audio experience via through the customization of EQ levels and other more granular details.

With a solid battery life of ten hours, a fast charge feature and a back-up of an additional twenty-four if using the case for recharging, the new LG Tone Free FP9 earbuds got me seamlessly door to door from terra australis to my German destination and with its
active noise-cancelling, which can easily switched to transparency mode, it made travelling a breeze – especially given the fact that due to the comfortable fit was able to sleep well with them still in my ears.

Mic-wise, there is a tad room for improvement when it comes to background noises, which is only a trivial criticism and a niggle that only stands out because the FP9’s perform so well in every other regard. 

I do dig their smart whisper and text-to-speech voice-alert modes, which offer the opportunity to give your conversations a bid of a stealth dimension – a feature that will hopefully be used on the regular by those prone of making calls on public transport.

Summa summarum, the stable yet comfortable easy-to-pair LG Tone Free FP9 earbuds in their totality are much more than the mere sum of their individual intuitive features might suggest and set the standard for 2022, thereby making them an easy recommendation for anyone who commutes / travels a lot and is concerned with more than mere sound quality.

If you are interested in a set, outline in twenty-five words how you’d put the FP9s functionality to best use and send to [email protected].

In the realm of eyewear, it is interesting to witness a deliberate move away from the use of crude oil and plastic towards using more eco-friendly and sustainable materials, with wood and specifically bamboo being highly renewable resources and ones that lend themselves well not merely because of their versatility when it comes to shaping an designing them, but also in terms of its qualities to enhance looks in the style departments. 

The fact that both source materials have a unique feel to it due to their texture and their distinct patterns paired with being lightweight yet sturdy and thereby comfortable to wear, only adds to the appeal.

What I learned to love about bamboo glasses is the fact that due to the nature of the material they are bound to be handmade starting with the curation of the evergreen perennial flowering plant, via the cutting to the final stage of moulding.

A local company that not only recently delved into the crafting of robust bamboo sunglasses but put emphasis on paying homage to their Australian heritage is Koalaty – who does not like a good ole pun?

Having had its focus set on partnering with conservation organisations to protect local landscapes since its inception in 2019, the team behind Koalaty has channelled their love for the outdoors in the creation of uniquely and meticulously, hand-drawn designed quality shades the production of which enacts a positive impact on the wider world around us.

Given the aforementioned, Koalaty is obviously a telling name and their attention to detail does not merely stop with the polarised sunglasses, but extends to the accompanying durable bamboo cases, travel pouches, etc. thereby making their glasses a fun and stylish accessoire that proves to be particularly suitable for adventurous outdoor activities.

Inspired by a lack of progress in the realm of sunglass design and frustrated by the dominance of lacklustre plastic frames, Vilo Wooden is a family based business that started to venture into using wood as a source material to allow them to underline and substantiate their idiosyncratic designs with the innate warmth of timbered source material.

Taking distinctness and the creation of a sense of individuality to the next level, each model is unique and intentionally crafted in a manner as a one-of-a-kind piece of art that will never be repeated. The fact that a tangible connection to nature comes as part of the package only adds to the appeal.

Vilo Wooden’s sunglasses do not lack an iota of stylishness as they use laminated wood, allowing them to design nimble yet sturdy frames that come with all the trimmings of elegant top-shelf sunglasses, including high clarity lenses made from cellulose plants, sun protection of UV400 filtering and polarised lenses.

I specifically like Vilo Wooden’s classic shade designs – think shapes reminiscent of the unconquered wayfarer frame with accentuated wood highlights, which are not only distinguished statement pieces but fit perfectly due to their spring loaded hinges to accommodate no matter size one prefers.

Same goes for Vilo Wooden’s optical frames, which accommodate both prescription and bluelight filter lenses, all of which come with a custom laser-engraved eco-friendly bamboo case for safe storage and making each purchase feel good with 10% of all proceeds being donated to A21, an organisation dedication to the elimination of slavery and human trafficking.

Mayhem

Summit Music Hall

Denver, CO

3.12.22

As with many cities, it’s been a long, long drought for any significant live shows in Denver, Colorado. The bright promise could be seen on the faces in crowd as well as the faces on Mayhem as they said their goodbyes from the stage. Artist or audience, It feels great to be together again.

Mayhem never fail to put on a great show, and Saturday night was no exception. Their set comprised of essentially three acts. The first being the newer material - from 2019’s Daemon and reaching back to 1997’s Wolf’s Lair Abyss. Act two was dedicated solely to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and the final act devoted to the band’s legendary first release, the Deathcrush e.p.

As always, the unholy theatrics of vocalist Attila Csihar make an already brutal experience all the more visceral and unforgettable. 

The Sanguine Sodomy of North America continues through April 3. Sadly, without Watain who had to forego the tour due to unforeseen visa issues.

The Formative Years – King Crimson

There was a period as a teenager where I despised anything that was even remotely associated with progressive rock, well, until I was introduced to King Crimson through Rorschach’s cover version of 21st Century Schizoid Man.

The cover version intrigued me enough to take a punt and purchase In the Court of the Crimson LP second-hand, following the thinking that what served as a source of inspiration for Charles Maggio, Thom Rusnak and gang, should be interesting or at least educational for me as well.

And educational it was, for the sheer musicianship that through Brian Wilson’s fantastic production takes psychedelia and polyphonic experimentation to new heights, to culminate in shaping their own microcosm via their orchestral arrangements. 

It took a couple of spins during which my appreciation evolved to the point where my mind was blown when I finally grasped the extent of what King Crimson channelled: The album encompassed the building blocks of classic rock, classical grandeur and mixed it with a seemingly effortless freely improvised approach, which seemed to follow nothing but the respective band members’ instincts. It was a level of sheer boundless musical sophistication, simultnenously eccentric, refined, orchestrated, diabolical and wonderfully absurd, I had so far not encountered before.

It was good to hear Kanye West sample 21st Century Schizoid Man again for his song Power in 2010 and thereby injecting it into the ears of younger generations, which resulted in me diving down into a King Crimson rabbit hole to experience their other fantastic albums as well, down to their new wave-tinged album Discipline from the early 1980s.

Given that their magnus ops album has not lost an iota of relevance in now fifty-three years since it was released speaks volumes about the quality. I have yet to hear a prog-metal band that has not in some form directly or indirectly been inspired by a band that was aeons ahead of its time.

In the Court of the Crimson King was a prototype never considered for mass production and thereby serves as a fundamental cornerstone of artful rock.