The Zen Cabin

Friday Night Drinking Club: Also. Too.

Hi, kids!  [Hi, Rip!]

It’s another Friday night in Smalltown, USA  – can you feel the excitement?  I know you can.  I’m drinking a fine American beer between practice sessions on the old bass.  What’s that, Rip?  You’re playing the bass again?  Yes, a couple friends and I are working on a little rock trio – so far, we’re leaning toward the forgotten songs that were part of our growing-up years:  Husker Du, Social Distortion, Joe Jackson, The Cure, The Cult, The Vapors, Crowded House, Gary Myrick & The Figures.  Definitely not the stuff I used to play, but songs I like, so I’m enjoying it.

Here’s the Mix n Match 12 pack for tonite: (right-click to save the zip file)

Southern Anthem – Iron & Wine
Aanhk Naal – Not sure who this is, actually
Beni – Julein Jacob/Kalikom
Underground – Men At Work
Du og Meg – Of Montreal
East Timor – Ginger Baker, Bill Frisell & Charlie Haden
Hide U – Kosheen
Felicidade – Riolistic
Last of the Big Time Drinkers – Stereophonics
Eyes – North Mississippi Allstars
Busted - The Black Keys
African Heart - Angel Tears

An odd set, but what are you gonna do?

I’m going to head back to the basement and make some noise for a little bit.  Meanwhile, enjoy reading about these dead end drinks:

It goes without saying that Coors was accused by the usual shrill gang of scolds as engaging in a cynical campaign targeting teenagers. Their proof?  Teenagers were drinking it.  Their logic being: if teenagers are doing something, then adults must be telling them to do it.  Which, speaking as a former teenager myself, makes very little sense.  Zima was also demonized as a gateway drink, a devilishly gentle ramp between angelic soda and sinister beer.

But like a rudely spurned yet insanely delusional groupie, Coors wasn’t ready to give up on full-grown men just yet.  After the fall-off, Coors riposted with Zima Gold, which they swore, with a straight face, offered “a taste of bourbon.”  Guys weren’t buying it, in both senses of the term, and it vanished within a year.  Coors would doggedly try again with a pumped-up 5.9% Zima XXX (It’s exxxtremely exxxcellent!), but it also failed to gain a foothold with the boys.

Mmmm, Zima.  I used to love the stuff, frankly.  I had a girlfriend who was nuts for Zima and Jolly Ranchers – yes, she was more than a little off.

More later, probably.

Rip -