Tangier 57

It hardly seems possible…

// August 18th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // inspiration

but humanity once suffered a dire existence devoid of informal pre-dinner pleasantries or social exchanges. Imagine arriving to your gracious hosts’ abode and proceeding directly to the dining hall…sober! Do you reach? Imagine a world without the little black cocktail dress. Imagine a world without (this may be a good time to find a sofa or bed on which to faint) cocktail parties! I think few of us truly can understand the weight of this situation.

Fortunately for all of us living in the twenty-first century British novelist and man-about-town Alec Waugh (Island in the Sun, 1957) spied a gapping spirit-free hole in the socialite’s daily planner. This groovy gent is credited with inventing the cocktail party while living in London in the 1920’s. He went on to spread the saucy good word around the globe while hanging his hat overseas in various exotic locales including, coincidently, Tangier, Morocco, a lifestyle afforded to him by his wealthy American wife Virginia Sorenson.

In addition to his many novels on such heavy topics as race relations and sexual identity, Alec is known for penning In Praise of Wine & Certain Noble Spirits (1959), an amusing and discursive guide to the major wine types, and Wines and Spirits, a 1968 book in the Time-Life series Foods of the World.

“I am prepared to believe that a dry martini slightly impairs the palate, but think what it does for the soul.”

- Alec Waugh, In Praise of Wine &Certain Noble Spirits (1959)

Another of life’s many important lessons

// August 17th, 2006 // 2 Comments » // advice

A Good Mullet

// August 15th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // inspiration

One of life’s many important lessons

// August 15th, 2006 // No Comments » // advice

Don’t be a Herbert

// August 14th, 2006 // No Comments » // advice

..or a stiff man. Remember, in the words of the Kwisatz Haderach, fear is the mind killer…do you reach? Our mild melodic meanderings and subtle sonic “subter-Fugues” are meant to bewitch and beguile and then drop you off back at your place later on…all warm and tingly…do you reach yet?

Adam: Hey, how about a session, you and us? It would sound! That’s what I came for. I wanted to ask… you know, great white captain upstairs, but he don’t reach us. But, er, would he shake on a session? I mean, we wanna cooperate, like you ask, so I’m asking.
Spock: If I understand you correctly, I believe the answer might be “yes”.

The Gibson

// August 12th, 2006 // No Comments » // mixology

An onion-garnished martini is properly known as a Gibson as it was created by early twentieth century illustrator Charles Dana Gibson.  Our hats off to this swingin’ fella who’s “Life” magazine illustrations gave rise to the “Gibson Girl” (examples below) who was, in the artist’s words, ”The American Girls to all the world.” 

While he may not have always “held it back” this is one gent who was definately “for the ladies!”

1 part dry vermouth

5 parts vodka

Fill shaker three-quarters full with ice, add vermouth and vodka, shake to chill, and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with a (or three) cocktail onion(s).

The Vodka Martini

// August 12th, 2006 // No Comments » // mixology

Another common concoction, the vodka martini is a tasty variation on the classic who’s popularity owes much thanks to every ladies’ man’s hero Bond… James Bond. 

In Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, Bond’s martini is to be made with six parts gin (Gordon’s being the choice bottle), two parts vodka (Russian or Polish, please), and one part aperitif, shaken until ice-cold, and garnished with a twist of lemon.  This drink was affectionately dubbed the Vesper after Bond’s lady friend in the book.  By the second Bond novel, Live and Let Die, Bond was drinking vodka martinis, a trend that continued when 007 moved to the screen in 1962.

1 part dry vermouth

5 parts vodka

Fill shaker three-quarters full with ice, add vermouth and vodka, shake to chill, and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with an olive or a twist of lemon.

The Classic Martini

// August 12th, 2006 // No Comments » // mixology

While the mixing of the perfect martini is a far-from-settled topic of debate (more on this to come) here is a good starting place. 

1 part dry vermouth

5 parts gin

Fill shaker three-quarters full with ice, add vermouth and gin, shake to chill, and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with an olive or a twist of lemon. 

There’s a reason we sit behind everyone else in the band.

// August 10th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

How many drummers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Just one, so long as the roadie gets the ladder, sets it up and puts the bulb in the socket for him.

What is the difference between a chiropodist and a drummer?
A chiropodist bucks up your feet!

What did the drummer get on his IQ test?
Slobber.

How many drummers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Five: One to screw the bulb in, and four to talk about how much better Neil Peart would have done it.

How can you tell a drummer’s at the door?
The knocking speeds up and he doesn’t know when to come in!

How can you tell when the drum riser is level?
Drool comes out of both sides of the drummer’s mouth.

What do you call a drummer that breaks up with his girlfriend?
Homeless.

How many drummers does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They have a machine to do that now.

What’s the last thing a drummer says in a band?
“Hey guys, why don’t we try one of my songs?”