169 Bar

After my first performance in New York City, at Penny's Open Mic, I was ready to have my actual first gig, a jazz set at the 169 Bar. It's been a while since I've sat down with a group of musicians with whom I have never played, said alright here's the key and tempo, and then away we go. It was nerve-wracking. Especially because these were some fantastic musicians. Band leader and pianist Isamu McGregor plays some mean keys, while keeping the tight drummer and ridiculous chic bass player grooving in the right direction. All three were very chill, welcoming people.

My set with them was only three songs long. But that's all I needed to get my feet wet in NYC's jazz open mic world. We did the standard Honeysuckle Rose, a Kurt Elling chart called In the Winelight, and finished up with Michael Bublé's version of How Sweet it Is. A fitting ending cause it was pretty sweet to look out into the audience and see some good friends of mine, new and old alike, supporting me. Thanks guys and gals.

When You Say Wisconsin....

Sometimes I just can't help but to miss that state between Minnesota and Lake Michigan. Such as this past Sunday. I had a fabulous Halloween Saturday night, but Sunday just about topped it with my first visit to Kettle of Fish, a cosy little bar with all the comforts of home.

When entering the bar, my friends and I quickly came to the realization that we probably weren't going to get a place to sit. However, upon venturing to the back of the bar we discovered the game watching den that was reminiscent of every basement in Wisconsin: couches lining the room, a fireplace, Packer gear hanging from wall to wall, a television that faced each corner of the room, and most everyone in the bar was enjoying a tasty Leinenkugel's Amber, the premier Wisconsin beer on tap.

For a good idea of what that Sunday entailed, smell the cheese.

As much fun as it is to enjoy the Packer game and return to my roots, there are other times I look back at Wisco and for as proud as I am to say I'm from there, I can still only say, wow...

A Tourist with Well Connected Friends

6/6/2009
Today started out as a touristy day of D.C. with Sara as my guide. First we saw the Navy Memorial/Fountains. Then we walked to a park where a young boy apparently just couldn't hold it anymore. 

From there we checked out the Natural History Museum where we saw some prehistoric skeleton's of extinct sea creatures, land mammals, and birds, but more importantly DINOSAURS. Oh and the Hope Diamond which is surprisingly not as impressive as one would think. 

After that museum, we met up with my other buddy Chris and checked out the Air and Space Museum. Here we saw a model of the Wright brother's plane, a bunch of rockets, and the coolest parts, the Apollo command modules. I also discovered that one of the Wright brothers was a wicked mandolin player. Who knew?

Chris just so happens to be a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, so he took Sara and I on a little tour of the offices. We even got to venture out onto the roof to get a fantastic view of Independence Avenue and the Capitol. 

Then we were hungry. It was a toss up between Ethiopian and Spanish tapas. Since we passed by the tapas place first, it won out. Fantastic little dishes. One consisting of the most flavorful, tender chicken, another dish of warmed mini-potatoes with a spicy/tangy dipping sauce. The wild rice and mushrooms had each of us fighting for the last bite. Even the asparagus, covered in a buttery base and topped with asiago cheese, made for quite a treat. Washing it all down, a perfectly blended sangria. 

A good day in D.C. But we still had a night ahead of us. Sara and I parted ways with Chris to get ready for the night. I met up with Chris later in Columbia Heights, just a 15 minute Metro ride up from Crystal City where I was staying with Sara. We started things out in a dive bar with a few bottle's of PBR. But eventually we wanted to meet up with another friend, Alex. We made our way to South 18th street, a bar district packed sidewalk to sidewalk with a young drinking crowd. We drank at Town Tavern for a bit and met up with Alex, then went next door to a sweet jazz lounge, more my cup of tea. Unfortunately, the band was just wrapping up. But no matter, cause we were getting free drinks. It helps to know people who know bartenders in D.C. 

After that, we were done, but hungry. I was told I had to experience a jumbo slice of pizza. At the time, I remember a euphoria of pizza bursting in my face. However, the next morning when I looked at this picture, the only thing I could say was, "I ate that?"

Dillo Day, Off to a Good Start

9-30-2009

At the end of every school year the students at Northwestern University in Evanston Chicago unfurl themselves from their armadillo armored balls and let loose. Hence the endearing term Dillo Day, 24 hours of drunken debauchery topped off by a free concert.

For the day, I was a Northwestern student. Got into Chicago around 5pm and wasted no time. After a few rounds of beirut, my friend Lee, his roommate, and I made our way to the lakeshore for the concert featuring Estelle. Brilliant show. She is a beautiful, sincere performer, constantly breaking the fourth wall to really get the audience into it. She even paused the show for a ridiculously wasted chick in the crowd who needed some medical attention. But besides that, great show.

From Estelle we headed to Lee's fraternity house on campus. Basically, it's a 20-some room dorm-like mansion, in which every room has it's own mini-bar. The drinking continued there.

Then came in the most interesting part of the night, Boystown, Chicago's flamboyantly gay district. From Hydrate to Cocktail and finally passing out at Mini-bar, the night got only more ridiculous, and much more gay.

As Cold as Ice

12-9-2008

As mentioned two posts ago, time is running out. So tonight I had to take in a London site I can’t find anywhere else: The Absolute Ice Bar. After visiting it though, I came to find out that these bars exist in large cities all over the world. But I wanted to see the London one.

Basically, the ice bar is just what it sounds like, a bar made entirely of ice. The floor, pillars, walls, sculptures, tables, seats, chandelier, the bar itself, and yes, the glasses were all made of the purest ice imported from Sweden. Apparently, it lasts 6 months before they have to import more ice. In order to keep people comfortable and buying Absolute Vodka mixes for their entire 45 minute time slot, they supply each visitor with a parka / overcoat, making everyone at the bar look like Eskimos.

£12.50 entrée fee and that includes your first drink. Was the price worth it? Well, when am I ever going to be able to drink in a bar made entirely of ice again? Kimberly and I had an icy blast. I snuck my ice glass out and licked it the whole walk home up Regent’s street. The glass even lasted me as long as the ISH bar, where I ordered a shot of Sambukah in it before it completely melted. 

Pub Crawl

12-5-2008

Against my better judgment, I went with Kim, Mike, Shannon, and Luke on a pub-crawl this evening. In the past, I’ve been rather disappointed with the amount of fun and free alcohol that one get’s out of a pub-crawl for the monetary value one has to put in. This one wasn’t too bad though, two pubs and three clubs.

Started at Belusey’s, a pop culture on the walls, music videos on 10 screens kind of a pub. Then moved on to the Roadhouse club, where motorcycles and 76 gasoline signs were the selected memorabilia of this surprising classy place. They also had a Starship Troopers pinball machine that I just had to play. I did my part for the federation, keeping in mind that the only good bug is a dead bug.

From there we went to familiar territory right down the street from the Coliseum where we get drinks before and after ENO performances. From there we heard probably the best house DJ in London at Verve. The dance floor was packed as this guy mixed everything, even the theme from Magnum P.I. with Feddie Le Grand's “Put Your Hands up for Detroit.”

The night ended at Zoo Bar, familiar by name, but I had yet to visit it. Upstairs was a hop’n club playing more pop hits. The basement, on the other hand, housed the real ravers. The contrast was interesting. But before too long, I’d had enough so Shannon and I took our leave and walked home from Soho.

Life wins

11-19-2008

By the end of the night, I had earrings and a plastic princess necklace on, a jar of pickled onions, a huge boxes of jellybeans, chocolate milk duds, Cadbury cream eggs, and a hard bodies calendar. I was smiling ear to ear and was sticky with champagne. Couldn’t have asked for a better night in London. Again, l’m trying the Tarentino thing.

About a month and a half ago, I spent a week at work going through the stations achieves. I was to compile a 30-minute audio sample of the stations best from the past year. This audio sample, along with a on-air schedule, 5-page write up, and an hour of on-air material from a randomly selected hour of their choosing, was sent to the National Radio Academy for a competition. It was a long monotonous week. But a week ago something came of it.

The National Radio Academy called my boss Gabriella and asked her if someone representing Life FM was going to be at their panel discussion and awards ceremony tonight. She assured them there would be, although until that phone call, there wasn’t going to be.

So tonight, Gabriella and I, after looking for the place for about 45 minutes, sat in on the panel discussion the Radio Academy arranged on radio station imaging. It was extremely informative. I love hearing people talk about radio sound and the psychology behind it, because it’s totally what I’m into. So it’s great to hear people who are as nerdily into it as I am. However, these people weren’t nerds. They were hip, professional audio producers who came from all sorts of backgrounds and worked in all different angles of radio. Before the discussion tonight, they were all given an assignment in another panel members job, and the results were extremely interesting.

After the panel discussion came the announcement of the winner of the Radio Academy’s Nations and Regions Award. I have to admit, as they were describing the eligibility requirements of the award, my heart started pumping a little faster. Finally, it came:

“And the winner of the 2008 Nations and Regions Award is, Life FM.”

Gabriella, in a not-so-quiet whisper said, “Oh my God!” and draws the attention of the entire room. The presenter continues, “I believe we have a representative from LifeFM here tonight.”

The award presenter described the station and why we were chosen:

The judges described Life FM as a community radio station which seems entirely at ease with itself because, first and foremost, it knows and understands its target audience.

Like all entrants to these awards, Life FM was required to submit an hour of continuous output (specified at random by the Academy), along with a highlights compilation and supporting written submission.

The judges felt that the output they heard demonstrated that it is possible to achieve high level of local awareness without sounding parochial - citing, as the best example of this, a feature called ‘Battle of the Brands’, which pitted local businesses against each other for a chance to win some free advertising: the judges felt that this was an excellent mechanic for building listener loyalty, and very well executed.

The judges were also impressed by the standard of the on air presentation, the station sound, and by the written submission that accompanied the Life FM entry. Significant time had clearly been spent compiling this entry - and it was time well spent. Congratulations!

Gabriella went up to say a few words. She thanked me for gathering the audio and gave props to everyone at the station. We were both ecstatic. Afterward, virtually the entire room of audio producers went to a little pub two doors down and I was able to catch up with some of the panel, as congratulations were being thrown our way from all around the bar. Gabriella even had a few of her friends come out and join us. After socializing and exchanging contact info for a while (in hopes of a possible job lead), that pubs started to feel a little tiny, since it was. So Gabriella, her friends and I headed to a pretty crazy basement club, which turned out to be a haven for homosexual men.

Meh, I was in a good mood and had enough alcohol in me to not care about getting hit on, so I hit the dance floor. Before too long though, came the competition portion of the evening.

After listening to a big black drag queen sing, she (he?) took onto the little stage two girls and two guys, one of which was me. We passed a wrapped gift down the line in a musical chairs kind of fashion. When the music stopped, whoever was holding it got to unwrap the first layer of paper and keep whatever they unveiled. I just to happen to be the last one. However, I didn’t get off so easy. In order to earn my prize I had to eat a pickled onion out of the person’s mouth who had the present before me. Luckily, this was an attractive woman, so I had no qualms.

Needless to say, I won. That pickled onion taste is still in my mouth, but I won. On top of the prizes mentioned at the beginning of this post, I also got a bottle of champagne which I shook up and opened in a festive manner all over the dance floor which I then shared with my fellow contestants.

I stumbled home down an empty Regent’s street. It was sweet because they were doing some construction / cleaning I was able to walk right down the middle and take pictures of the stars above.

And I saw a designer clothing store for pregnant women, where you can spend a couple hundred pounds on an outfit that you’ll where for 7 months tops!

Upon arriving home, I awoke my roommates and told them of my night, and it was a night indeed. I had to get some sleep for the next day I had a 9 hour journey to Edinburgh, Scotland.

A Second Reading According to the Gospel of Fosters

11-9-2008


I took it easy last night anticipation for today. After all, today is Sunday, and that means going to Church. The group of Wisconsinites heard of the escapade Luke, Kallie, and I had a few Sunday's ago and now wanted a taste. Chad, Kim and I walked our way to Camden, which is just a few blocks walk from MTH and stopped to enjoy three beers with the highest alcohol content we could find.




As usual the pews (a.k.a. dance floor) were full. The congregation (drunk people in their 20s) sang (yelled) hymns (pop songs) of praise (party hits).


The body (a stripper) and blood (beer) was shared with all to unite us as one. The priest (comedian) used lessons (jokes) to show us the way to the truth (the toilet).




Some were even more moved by the service than others. These gentlemen were so entranced, they turned smurf.











Some of the Wisconsin ladies were so moved they converted to nuns of the church as they joined almost every lady in the room on stage for one last drunken dance.






Wow, this is the most sacrilegious thing, I've ever written....do take it lightly.

Following Church, we had our Sunday Brunch at a little hookah bar in Camden. Then around 7:00pm, I rested (passed out).

"The Day America Became Cool Again"

11-4-2008


My dad left this morning, but truthfully I had more to be excited about the day rather than sulk in the fact that my visitor had left. IT'S ELECTION DAY.

Being in the United Kingdom during this historic election has completely changed my views on America and my feelings about being American. Ever since starting the continental tour in September, Europeans have been asking me what my political views are. I knew that the entire world kept it's eye on America, but I had no idea it would be like this.


It seemed many Londoners cared more about the election than some US citizens I know. My boss told me multiple times how unfair she thinks it is that people in the UK, and all over the world, have no say in an election that affect them so much. I completely agree with her.


With the "credit crunch" as it is called here and the world in an economic crisis, a war, and environmental systems at the breaking point, our election does matter to everyone. America is the superpower. I've heard that time and again in the states, and I always thought it was an egotistical statement that held some weight but couldn't be 100%. I've learned here is is absolutely true. The direction America takes will dictate the direction of the rest of the world.

That day at work I wore a suit with one of those little "I Voted" stickers on my tie as I had sent in my absentee ballot the week before.

I have never been more proud to wear a sticker in my life.

My co-workers applauded me saying they hoped more voted like me. I hoped the same. It was a long day awaiting the night that would dictate the future of so much.

I got home around 6pm and was so energetic for the night ahead. But I knew it wouldn't last, so I would have to nap. But I had all this energy, what to do? Run.


I ran 4 laps around Regent Park's inner circle all on pure adrenaline. This is going to sound ridiculously cheesey, but I felt like I was running with hope for a better tomorrow... I told you, cheesy. But seriously, every time I hear Obama speak (mostly on Youtube), I feel that many things which upset me about America can change, like tomorrow is going to be alright. I was having a great run just thinking about the future, about the hope that could come. I kept passing by two groups of cyclists, since we were heading opposite directions around the inner circle of Regents. Around the 3rd or 4th pass we started cheering each other on, giving a little "keep it up" shout. I could have ran all night, but I had more important things to do that night.

Like celebrate the future direction of America by partying on election night!

ISH Dean Kevin Coyne opened the bar from 11-3am for an election party. American flags were the decor of choice and for one night in London, it seemed everyone was from the states.... and it seemed all of them were democrats. Every time Obama took another state the bar would erupt in shouts of joy. Many were biting their nails earlier that day. My fear was that the young generation Obama had campaigned towards for the past two years would drop the ball, not make it to the polls. All I could do what hope for the best. Can I use the word hope more in this post?

As it turns out Obama supporters, young and old, showed up to the poles. I'm proud to say I sent in my vote via proxy, and while I wasn't able to be at the voting booth that day, I supported Obama in a different way:

Every time Obama took a state, we took Vodka Red Bulls. Which is probably why I didn't make it to his official victory around 4:30am GMT. But I was coherent for when he dominated Ohio and as far as I'm concerned that's when Barack Obama won the presidential election.

An ISH bartender gunning for Obama.

The title of this blog was a headline that one of the London evening newspapers ran the morning of November 5th. It's funny but it seemed the UK hated America a little less the next day.

The Church

10-26-2008

Today I went to church like the good catholic school boy I was raised to be. This church was a little different than good ol' St. Agnes or St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton in Green Bay.

This church had mass amounts of beer instead of wine, a stripper instead of a gospel reading, the homily was given by a raunchy comedian, the hymnals were sing-a-long party hits, and instead of a Eucharistic celebration we celebrated binge drinking in the form of competitions.

Everything sinful under one roof.

A mostly college-aged crowd, all taking advantage of what would otherwise be a mundane Sunday afternoon. Kallie, Luke, and I had such a good time that we'll definitely be sinning again at Church in the near future.

WARNING: video contains inappropriate language content.

We took a pretty drunken bus ride to Kings Cross / St. Pancras where Kallie simply had to visit Platform 9 & 3/4. While we were there, we had to see if it would actually lead to Hogwarts. The results were less than impressive:

A Tuesday

10-7-2008

Of the six people that I went out with last night, I was the only one who could really physically afford to be out all night, as I didn't have to be to work till much later in the morning. Plus, I danced off all my alcohol so this morning I felt great. Others, not so much. One of my friends wrote the following on my facebook wall:

"By the way, last night was a fantastically retarded idea. I can't decide if I love you or hate you for it."

Indeed, strolled into work around 11:30 and had a cup of tea, did some audio editing, and took lunch two hours later. Today I also sat in on an executive staff meeting. It's amazing how an ocean apart, there are still the same issues that arise in every station or every office. Same Same, but Different.

Grabbed a spring roll from a stand in the Baker Street station after the tube ride home and made my way to room 179. Where I've been online since. Good day.

P.S. Look at the date I wrote this... then above that at the day I posted it. Yup, completely caught up. I'll probably get behind again tomorrow, enjoy it while it lasts.

Audio Editing and Karaoke Crooning

9-25-2008

I couldn’t wait to get to work the next day. I left a project incomplete and I needed to get back at it. Pugwash, one of the celeb presenters at Life, asked me yesterday to help him with a campaign regarding the MOBO awards. From what I’ve been told, the MOBOs are the Grammy’s of black music, which is what Life specializes in: hip hop, reggae, soul, R&B, basically anything with a beat. At least, that's how I describe it. Anywho, the station needed liners to play before a nominee. There were ten categories and five nominees per category, excluding Best International Performer, which had eight nominees.  So yea, I did a lot on my second day, and I was happier than an Oompa Loompa in Wonka’s factory to do it.

I had lunch at Ali Babah’s. I’m putting that in this post so I remember to go to it again. Spicy and fantastic.

Today rocked, for sure. To celebrate, I had to do ISH bar karaoke. Most all of the Wisconsin students made it down to the bar: the interns to celebrate their first few days on the job and the students to drown their sorrows of the beginning of another semester. Supposedly, the Wisconsin students have a reputation of being a force to reckon with at ISH karoke night. So I wasn’t about to let them down. The details are a bit fuzzy. But the gist of the story is I sang Total Eclipse of the Heart  to ISH dean Kevin Coyne. He came up on stage, and I sang my heart out to him. 

The "Beer Challenge"

9-5-2008

Because Germany is the only place that does beer better than Wisconsin, we all decided that a pub crawl of some sort was in order. A few students did the Euro Youth Hostel pub crawl and from what I hear, it was a crazy good time. I along with the rest

of the students went on a “Beer Challenge” tour that was once again led by the Sandeman’s New Europe tour company. This time we were with Ian. After stopping by a convenience store to grab a traveler (a beer to take with you as your walk/go on the subway), he took us around to some of the happiest places on earth, starting with the Haufbrauhaus.

 

This massive beer hall features a live polka band every day/night and liter steins that women wearing traditional drindls, carry out by the dozen. I don’t know how these tiny girls do it. Chances are if I took one of them on in an arm wrestling match, I’d be crying my way home.  They scury in between hundreds of picnic tables trying to dodge gauking tourist while they carry what is probably the equivalent of a small child in each hand. At the Haufbrauhaus, we learned a traditional drinking song that the band plays every half an hour or so. When they do, the entire hall bellows in unison:

                             "Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der gemutlichkeit"

                             "Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der gemutlichkeit"

Following the Haubrauhaus we ventured to Munich’s beer garden, a well-lit, fenced in park with picnic tables inside and 6,000 people drinking beer.  The atmosphere here as well as in the Haufbrauhaus is incredibly warm and welcoming. People of every age, race, gender, truly enjoying each other’s company, and of course, the beer.

Our night of learning the true art of beer drinking came to an end at the Euro Youth Hostel.  For some, the night was over, for others, i.e. me and a couple friends, the night was still young and Munich was still to be explored.

We ventured to a club called Seasons. The €8 cover charge should have been the first sign that this place was going to be ridiculous. Inside it was your classic “I-paid-way-to-much-for-this-drink-because-I-can-afford-to” kind of place. Psychedelic lights, bimbo dancers on the speakers, and plush leather couches lining the walls. The DJ was decent and we danced until our legs we about to give out. On our way back to the Hostel we stopped a Euro McDonalds (had to just once) to cure our drunken munchies.

At the hostel bar were a few other students who also didn’t think the night was over. We grabbed more beer with them and before too long they too wanted Euro McDonalds. So off we went for a second time and honestly I wasn’t complaining.