Music Tuesdays - Holy Roller by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

It took me a little while to realize this is the same Thao [Nguyen] formerly of Thao & Mirah, whose songs I enjoyed.  Love the band name "the Get Down Stay Down".  I heard them perform this song on KCRW and I think I enjoy the energy of their live performance of the song a bit more than the record version, but this video just makes me smile.

Thao also has a really nice "Tiny Desk Concert at NPR Music" on YouTube that I enjoyed.

Beer Wednesday - "Enjoy by 05.17.13" IPA by Stone

This beer is a little unusual.  Stone's "Enjoy by" series is meant to be a fresh IPA that you drink before a certain optimal date.  Beer advocate has a list of the different releases so far.  I had the release named Stone Enjoy by 05.17.13 IPA.

I'm going to copy the description on the back of the bottle provided by Stone, because it's the easiest way to summarize what they're going for:

"You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs - we've taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We've not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you're getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn't randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we've sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA."

 Anyway, I'm not a huge IPA guy in general (I tend to prefer darker beers) and I thought this beer was pretty good.  I certainly do not prefer it to, say, Stone's Ruination IPA.  However, it is a pretty interesting concept and I've read several positive reviews from other beer sites (from Das Ale Haus and Tasty Mug, for example)  For big IPA fans like Aaron it might be worth trying just for the fresh IPA experience.

Earlier batches such as the 09.21.12 release and the 04.20.13 release have also received rave reviews.  So there's that.

The beer is 9.4% abv and cost me $6.99 for a 22oz bottle.

US Open 2013 preview: Merion

 The US Open starts tomorrow.  It's being played at Merion Golf Club, where Ben Hogan hit a 1-iron on the last hole on his way to winning the the 1950 US open.  Most pros these days would be hitting a 6-iron from that spot.  Well, Jim Furyk might hit a 5 iron and Bubba Watson might hit a 7, but you get the idea.  Instead of flags, Merion has these weird wicker baskets on the top of the sticks marking the hole location.  No one knows why they have wicker baskets, just that they are now tradition.  Don't worry about the wicker baskets though, they won't come into play.  The thing about Merion that will come into play is just how short the course is.  And there's been a ton of rain and more on the way.  So you're looking at a short, soft course.  The kind of course that pros could hit wedges really close and rack up the birdies.  I do not want to see this.  I don't want a -16 under.  My only hope is that they keep the fairways extremely narrow and the rough long.  If there is some really long wet rough, that could provide enough of a deterrent that players never use a driver.  They could hit long irons into fairways, which leaves longer shots into the greens.  I am a little prepared to be disappointed, but maybe a Tiger victory could change that.

Music Tuesdays - The Walker by Fitz & The Tantrums

I'm using the Jimmy Kimmel Live performance of this song because I think it's more fun when you can see the energy of the performance (the album version on YouTube currently has no video).

The Fitz & The Tantrums album has an astonishing number of fun songs.  I feel like it has the largest number of radio-friendly songs since like a Lady Gaga album or something.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far.

Music _____day: Satellite by Rise Against

Rise Against - Satellite from Isi Goe on Vimeo.

I'm done studying (until next year) and I really want to thank this song in particular for getting me through it.

Music Tuesdays - Riptide by Vance Joy

I am really enjoying this as a nice start of summer song.  I wasn't familiar with this artist before hearing the song, but I'm interested in finding some more Vance Joy songs now.