BEER BLOG: EL SEGUNDO AND SMOG CITY ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

BEER BLOG ENTRY #1:
EL SEGUNDO AND SMOG CITY
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

 

Saturday was a great day in Los Angeles beer. It marked the five-year anniversary for El Segundo Brewing Company and Smog City's three-year celebration. And you're goddamn right I went to both.

The day started at El Segundo... and no, I did not leave my wallet there. Seriously, guys, that joke is getting so old. Show some respect. RIP Phife Dawg!

 

They opened up more space for the celebration and customers took advantage of every nook and cranny.

 

It was pretty damn crowded, but I managed to grab a pint of the Anniversary IPA El Cinco del Segundo, and goddamn was it tasty! Citrusy, a little dank and hoppy to hopth degree. If you get a chance to get down there, get a pint or growler of this shit quick before it's gone. I was a little late to the party due to some heavy traffic on the 405, so I missed a couple of the special anniversary one-time brews (which blows), BUT I did manage to grab some Hyperion Coffee Porter on nitro, and that made it all worth it!

I also met a man who seemed to be a fellow music lover, but after chatting for a while, he revealed his deep, dark secret... he was also a huge fan of Insane Clown Posse. What?? Man, that's like being a hardcore craft beer lover who loves the finest hops, barley and malts, but who also loves it when a homeless man pisses in his mouth every once in a while.

Then it was on to SMOG CITY...

I'm not posing. This is not my natural beer-loving look.

 

...and enjoyed the shit out of their Bourbon Barrel Aged O.E., which is just the barliest of boozy barley wines, and was also able to sample a few others, notably the Bloody Optimist-- a one-off of the ever-popular Incurable Optimist, with blood orange on the backend; the Kumquat Saison, which is one of the smoothest damn saisons I've tasted in a while; Mexican Vacation-- which is heavy on lime, and would be a nice hot summer drink; and California Drought-- a very, very dry, roasty Irish stout. Sometimes I really wish I lived in the South Bay, thanks to all these delicious beers that are brewed down there.

Then it was time for dinner...

Eat some cornbread and key lime pie here

 

I hit up HopSaint for the first time, and I must say the food was damn good-- I went with a pork sandwich, and the girlfriend and I split some cornbread.... Mmm. And then we got the best part, their key lime pie, for dessert. Did also get a flight of their beer, but the only one worth mentioning is their pale ale Pure Intentions, which reminded me a lot of Alpine's Hoppy Birthday!  Their other beers weren't bad, it was just hard to compare when you just got back from two of the masters in El Segundo and Smog City!

For more on Dan Sinclair's writing check out Facebook.com/DannySinWrite
or follow him on Twitter @seedanwrite

Live in Los Angeles: RADICAL FACE

LIVE IN LOS ANGELES:

RADICAL FACE

Tuesday, May, 10, 2016
Teragram Ballroom
Los Angeles, California

words by Dan Sinclair
pictures by Nicholas Bates

 

TUESDAY MAY 10, 2016 was a historic night. Not only did Radical Face play Teragram Ballroom, it was also the first time in nearly two years that your humble writer joined forces with photography master Nicolas Bates to cover a live concert event! It was just like getting the old band back together…  except we weren’t writing any songs or playing any instruments or banging any groupies… okay, okay, so it wasn’t like getting the old band back together at all, but it was pretty fucking special, all right?

My Lyft dropped me off early enough to catch a couple of Bear Republic Racer Fives at a cool dark-ass bar down the street called Monty, before I met up with Nick and we both entered the Teragram Ballroom for the first time in our lives. Not a bad place to catch a show, or drink a beer for that matter with at least three bars that I saw. There may have been another one in the balcony, but I wasn't cool enough to be let up there, so how the hell would I know? For this show I chose a very buttery Angel City IPA, because even though I'm not a huge fan of the brewery, it was the only L.A. beer on tap and I do like to drink local from time to time.

On stage, there is a little forest with scattered dimly instruments partially hiding the instruments waiting to be played. Perhaps it’s because this tour is in support of Radical Face’s final chapter in his Family TREE trilogy… or maybe just an amazing coincidence? Either way, musicians grab their spots among the trees at the proper instrument.  The backing band in this case happens to be the opening act, The Little Books. I wonder if they get payed time and a half for working a second shift? Shortly after the over-worked indie rockers take stage, Radical Face himself, Ben Cooper, walks out to a cheering crowd, his actual radical face very much bearded.

 

Ben says his hellos, making sure to mention, “All these songs are depressing.”  And the first of these so-called depressing songs is “The Crooked Kind,” which Ben describes as “A song for when you’re embarrassed by your family and where you come from.” This, of course, being a theme that most people can relate to… Uh, but not ME! I love you, Mom!  But whoever’s kin to the asshole on my left that is talking nonstop and loud-as-fuck to the drunk girl he brought with him surely can relate.  I mean, seriously, who pays money to come to a show and not listen to the fucking music? Scum, that’s who.

The large majority of concert-goers tonight, however, are not scum, and the only noises coming from their throats are when they sing along softly to the emotional songs or when they cheer loudly in appreciation when each one comes to an end.  This is something the sold-out crowd does enthusiastically throughout the whole show.

Next is the writer’s personal favorite, “Ghost Towns,” and judging by the crowds joyous reaction to its introduction, he’s not alone. Ben says, “This is a song about living in a small town where everyone knows you murdered someone.” He then also warns us, “It’s not autobiographical, but you never know,” before quoting Snoop, “Murder was the case that they gave me.” It was the kind of performance that makes one feel so lucky to be able to cover live music. Thanks, Ben.  After that was “Summer Skeletons” and “Rivers in the Dust,” which is where Ben gave us the real reason he likes to tour with The Little Books. “Free back-up band.”

Then the band leaves the stage, so Ben can play something a little personal. “They get a break because I’m going to sing something depressing.” Someone in crowd shouts, “Make us sad.” Ben laughs and assures him, “It’s ‘Severus and Stone,’ and it’s about a ten-year-old boy whose twin brother dies. You’re welcome.”  As he starts to play the intro, he realizes that this particular song may be even too depressing for him. “I usually don’t play this one on tour, because it bums me out.” But he plays it all the same, and it’s sad and beautiful at the same time. Some people don’t know whether to cry or laugh or cheer. Not me, of course. I’m an emotionless robot. There’s just something in my eye. Shut up.

Next up, Ben decides he’s going to “double down on depressing” by playing “Along the Road” with The Little Books, who rejoin him on stage. It’s a mellow song, but the band really rocks out as best they can at its conclusion. After it’s over, someone shouts, “You’re awesome,” and Ben responds, “I don’t know how to respond to that.”

Shortly thereafter, Ben realizes that The Little Books’ lead vocalist Robi Rutenberg is wearing overalls, and remarks that she must be ready for the next song “We’re on Our Way.” Ben then tells us, “This song was designed as a form of punishment,” before concluding that sentence with a loud burp. Everyone, including the Radical-est of Faces, can’t help but laugh. “Things are shitty, but they might not always be.” He tries to convince us that he doesn’t remember how to play the intro to the song, and then plays the shit out of it anyway. The crowd claps along and Robi proves that she was indeed ready for the song as her backing vocals serve as the most impressive instrument on stage, if only for a few moments.

Next up is “Sisters,” which was composed to sound like a train passing by, followed by a song about brothers in “Always Gold.” Ben tells us that Rick Colado is afraid of this song because he can never get the piano opening right. But with the audience chanting his name, Rick figures it out and Radical Face and The Little Books perform another lovely rendition of a crowd favorite.

A man named Josh Lee plays some impressive cello on “Winter’s Coming,” which is a song about a family that finds out that seasons are people and NOT Game of Thrones. Well, that is, as Ben says, “Unless you want it to be.” Then the set concludes with arguably Radical Face’s most popular song “Welcome Home.” The audience is invited to sing along, but Ben insists on a practice round before the start. The talented men and women in the crowd nail it, impressing him. “My therapist says I need to stop being so negative, but fuck her!” With our help, Radical Face and The Little Books end the show majestically, and though the songs may have been dark and melancholy, I couldn’t find a non-smiling face around me.

The crowd begged for an encore and Ben returned to play “The Mute” all by him lonesome. He starts the intro and stops suddenly. “I fucked up. I did that thing where I ask myself what the next chords are.” Then he tries again and stops. “Damn it.” But third time’s a charm and “The Mute” is played to conclusion before The Little Books join the stage to play the song about kids in factories and child labor laws, “The Gilded Hand.” The song plays, the crowd sways and sings along, but before long it comes to and end and all must go home because the Teragram Ballroom is not open 24 hours. Oh, but they do have one of the best bathrooms I’ve ever pissed in at show, so feel free to drink all the beer you want without worry next time you attend a show there.

For more information on Radical Face, do me a favor and go to RadicalFace.com
He’s still on tour, too, and that information is here.
Also I did a review of his latest album here.

For more information on The Little Books,
check out TheLittleBooks.bandcamp.com or their Facebook page.

For more of Nicolas Bates' Photography, check out BatesImaging.com
For more on Dan Sinclair's writing check out Facebook.com/DannySinWrite
or follow him on Twitter @seedanwrite

 

Feature Review: THE LOBSTER

THE LOBSTER

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Written by Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthymis Filippou

 

For much of my life, I had convinced myself that I hate the genre known as a "romantic comedy," and really what the fuck's to like, right? Guy likes girl (or vice versa), things happen as they get together, and then other things happen making them fall apart, and then destiny steps in and pulls them back together so they can stay that way forever supposedly in eternal happiness. Rinse, repeat and do it again. Sure, some were better than the others, but the formula was pretty much locked in place and grew stale.

But then came the turn of the century brought the likes of two of my favorite films of all time: Punchdrunk Love and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and I convinced myself that rom-coms, just like anything else, can still be done as long as you challenge the tired material and do something new with it. Punchdrunk not only made an actual humanized character out of the typical Adam Sandler on-screen persona, it also managed to pull off a pretty darkly hilarious, action/crime-thriller, character-driven flick disguised as a rom com, while Eternal Sunshine examined what the true meaning of love is, and let it play out in a sci-fi adventure mind fuck. And now in that "doing something new with the material" tradition comes The Lobster.

Greek auteur Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster is a satirical farce of a rom-com that takes on the long-time myths of both couples and the single life, and pokes fun at the ridiculousness of it all from dating rituals to society's expectations to masturbation to being set out to the pastures if you're still single by a certain age... and it also simply fucking fantastic! It's one of the best films I've seen in the theater in some time, hitting every beat one can respect from great writing/acting/directing to beautiful cinematography to artistic vision/statement to just being flat-out fucking darkly hilarious the whole time. And I'm also learning that maybe I was too hard on Colin Farrell in his earlier non-comedic role days, because the more I see of him in these kind of roles, the more I realize this is the kind of shit he was born to do.  Rachel Weisz is brilliant as always, too.  Also, I realize I must now check out more of Yorgos Lanthimos's work.

Go see it as soon as possible. Seriously. Stop wasting your money on the same superhero movies and go see a really well done work of cinematic art instead, huh?

-by Dan Sinclair

GRADE: A+

Beer List: FIVE LA BLACK IPAS THAT RIVAL THE ALMIGHTY WOOKEY JACK

 

TOP FIVE LA COUNTY BLACK IPAS THAT RIVAL THE ALMIGHTY WOOKEY JACK

 

 

First off... relax. Fact: Firestone Walker's Wookey Jack is goddamn delicious.

I'm not attacking it, nor putting it down in any way, shape or form. The mere fact that this article mentions it as the standard to which any great Cascade is always going to be compared to, speaks volumes on the brew itself. In fact, if Firestone Walker ever wants to send me free Wookey Jack, I would be more than happy to drink as much as they can ship.

But craft breweries are starting up every day, everywhere, and Southern California is no stranger to the game. In fact, so many are popping up within an hour of my home that I think they've finally put this little podunk town of Los Angles on the map...

So you have to imagine that with all these different beers being brewed by all these different people that there has to be better beers out there than the ones you've already tried, right?

If you answered that no, go ahead and stop reading and continue life in your little sheltered box. For everyone else, here they are-- the best Black IPAs in the Los Angeles area; the ones that actually could rival (ahem) the almighty Wookey Jack...

 

5. Night Capsicum

Solarc Brewing

The boys at Solarc always march to the beat of their own... uh, thing that also beats that isn't a drum, because you know, drums would be what everyone else was marching to. And Night Capsicum is no different as it's brewed with hatch chiles for a one-of-a-kind taste that compliments the beer's roasted barley goodness. Solarc is a production-only brewery and this is not one of their staples, so it may be hard to hunt Night Capsicum. But if you can, it's totally fucking worth it.

 

4. Darkened Angel

Absolution Brewing Company

Though it doesn't have the chili peppers and the like that Night Capsicum does, Darkened Angel is a truly unique Black IPA in its own right with strong bites of maple syrup with a malty background. As Absolution tends to lean toward the more British-style IPA, this beer may not quite have the hoppy sensation that you're used to, and in a way, that's good and helps it stand strong in an overcrowded market. If you make the trip to the Torrance tasting room, get it on nitro, as the creamy finish balances the syrup hints nicely.

 

3. Hop Vader

Beachwood Brewing

"Mnmmm." That's a direct quote from the time I checked in Hop Vader on Untappd during a trip down to Long Beach a year or two back. I don't really know why there's a "n" in there. I guess that just is what you say when drink something as good as fucking Hop Vader. Beachwood just does beers right at practically every level, so it's no surprise that they also make one of the best black IPA's you can find in Southern California. Seriously, try it. See if you don't say mnmmmm. You may even add a "n" or two.

 

2. The Mortician

Lucky Luke Brewing Co.

This one beer made the whole hour-plus trip to Palmdale worth it.  I mean, sure, there were plenty of other great beers at both Lucky Luke and neighboring Transplants Brewing Company, but I had forgotten just how long it takes to get all the way out there and I was starting to get grumpy, but this little taste of God's vagina was the second in my first flight, and the one that made me stop and go, "Shit. This is destiny." The dark, piney and roasted choco hoppiness made me feel alive again. Go drink some. Now.

 

1. The Pine Tar Incident

El Segundo Brewing Company

Just like R2D2, this spruce, pine, bitter chocolate (with maybe even hints of oranges?) brew will not let the Wookey win. Brought to you by the people that bring you more IPAs in Los Angeles County than anyone else, The Pine Tar Incident is the King of the Cascade as far as I'm concerned (So sorry, Jack-- I truly am). Pine Tar Incident is the beer that I would drink all the time if it were possible to drink beer all the time. It's a good thing that Pine Tar only comes around seasonally or I would have drowned it already.

--by Dan Sinclair

 

Feature Review: GREEN ROOM

GREEN ROOM

Written/directed by Jeremy Saulnier

There was a big run on throwbacks to the grindhouse/exploitation films of the '70s in recent years, but most were just self-aware imitations  that rarely did anything new with the material. Now comes Green Room that not only pays homage to that genre, but updates it for 2016 and allows it to play out in a very realistic world.

You read about horrible shit happening in this country every day, but those victims and criminals are just words on paper. We feel bad for the victim and hate the criminals (as we usually should) but pay little to thought to how these terrible stories unfolded and why people did what they did. That's exactly what Green Room is-- the story of how it all went down. And it's the whole story-- every how, what, why and why not you ever came up with after reading some disgusting news story and even tells you to shut the fuck up before you start spouting out your usual victim-blaming cliches such as...


They deserved what they got.
If I was there, I would have done this...
Thanks, Obama.

Writer/Director Jeremy Saulnier gets this shit right. Green Room is the tense, bloody-as-fuck, angry punk rock, voyeuristic thriller everyone wanted, but was too afraid to ask for. It's not only a great use of a single location and a micro-budget, it's a perfect example of clever, original, out-of-the-box filmmaking that hopefully pressures Hollywood reconsider their stance on only putting up the big bucks for reboots, remakes and sequels. I hope to see more Green Rooms in the future and whole hell of a lot less Batman v. Superman v. Godzilla v. Ghostbusters v. Harry Potter v. Jesus v. Kung Fu Panda v. Dora the Explorer.... actually, check that. I would love that to see that movie. And my money's on Dora.

--Dan Sinclair

GRADE: A

 

 

 

LIL' MUSIC REVIEWS: The 2016 Albums That Were Released Before Beer.Movies.Music Was a Thing

LIL' MUSIC REVIEWS:

The 2016 Albums That Were Released Before Beer.Movies.Music
Was a Thing Edition

 

KANYE WEST

The Life of Pablo

Roc-A-Fella, GOOD, Def Jam; February 14, 2016

Say what you will about Kanye West, but the man sure can produce the shit out of an album. While Kanye's seventh album doesn't break any new ground, it at the very least matches the quality level of what the artist has done before. Yeezus' ego seems to be his greatest weapon, and he wields it fiercely on tracks such as Taylor Swift's least favorite song "Famous" and the semi-self-aware/semi-hilarious "I Love Kanye." Since the bar has been raised pretty high, The Life of Pablo is not quite Kanye's best, the effort put into it can be heard on every layered, re-layered and layered-again track, and you have to admire that kind of love and dedication to one's work.

Beer.Movies.Music says... *** (aka 3 out of a possible 5 asterisks)

 

"The Famous" (I couldn't find an official, so I went with this Unofficial Official video)

 

 

 

RADICAL FACE

The Family Tree: The Leaves

Nettwerk; March 25, 2016

It's been over eight years since Ben Cooper (aka Radical Face) embarked on his musical novel project known as The Family Tree, and here in The Leaves, fans will find the satisfying conclusion to the journey. Yes, Ben's songs can be sad (and/or depressing as fuck), but they also can be pretty goddamn beautiful, too, and that's how it goes once again from "Secrets (Cellar Door)" all the way to "Bad Blood." The man's a storyteller, who also happens to be blessed with a voice that would make anyone stop and listen. For added bonus, I also got to cover Radical Face do a live show, go read about that here.

Beer.Movies.Music says... ***1/2 (aka 3.5 out of a possible 5 asterisks)

 

"Secrets (Cellar Door)"

 

 

ERIC BACHMANN

Self-titled

Merge; March 25, 2106

Even though Mr. Bachmann has previously released two albums under his given name, apparently this album spells the end for Crooked Fingers... and presumably Barry Black as well. And you know what? That's just fine, because as far as Beer.Movies.Music is concerned, Eric Bachmann is the very best music Eric Bachmann has made since his days with Archers of Loaf! Using the piano as the driving force backed with timely doo-wops, Bachmann spins brilliant melancholy songs that somehow make you feel good and want to sing along from start to finish. I can't recommend this album enough to not only Archers fans, but for true music fans everywhere. I know it's early, but I can't see this album NOT being on Beer.Movies.Music's Best of 2016 by the end of the year!

 

Beer.Movies.Music says... ****1/2 (aka 4.5 out of a possible 5 asterisks)

 

"Mercy"

 

 

 

HOMEBOY SANDMAN

Kindness for Weakness

Stones Throw; May 6, 2016

 

Homeboy Sandman's sixth full length album Kindness for Weakness may just be the Queens rapper's deepest, most mature exploration of his own songwriting abilities, questioning everything in life from morality to his own securities to relationships with the opposite sex to spirituality and just about everything in-between. Yes, Homeboy's still got the sick flow spitting over the layered beats we'd expect, but what separates the Sandman from much of his mainstream contemporaries is his intelligence, vulnerability and attention to detail. So you might say his kindness is more of a strength... Shit. Okay, I promise I'll try to avoid ending with corny jokes in the future, but you should check this record out nonetheless.

Beer.Movies.Music says... **** (4 out of a possible 5 asterisks)

 

 Check out the ridiculous video for "Talking (Bleep)"

MUSICAL SHORT STORY: Silver Stays Golden

SILVER STAYS GOLDEN

a short story by Dan Sinclair

 

The “coffee shop” is no shop.  Tis but a scene.  A scene Silver wished she never saw from the fully functional '80s-arcade-game table tops to the bright pink-and-black-striped plaster walls littered with torn pages from '60s Playboy magazines to the mindless full-grown children, who sit suffocating in skinny jean. It equals up to nothing more than a tired joke.

Laughing as obnoxiously loud as she can, Silver thinks to herself:  Fucking Los Angeles.  God, how I love thee.

Placebo "Running Up that Hill" (Kate Bush cover)

 

Oh, and as for the douche sitting across the table from her, if by “horrible,” he meant “brilliant” and/or “border-line genius,” Silver would have agreed with him wholeheartedly.  But since “horrible” actually meant “horrible,” fuck this smug and/or pretentious hipster scum and his ridiculous wire-rimmed glasses because true artists are never appreciated in their time and he should fucking know that.

And just why on earth would someone spend $13 on a cappuccino?  Only those wishing to sell their colorless, vapid souls, Silver.  Them and only them.

And why the heckiest of heck are her latest prints, aka the last six months of her life, spread out covering the Dig-Dug screen between the artist and the guy with condescending smile if he’s not interested?  Well, guess what, Mr. Smirk?  Silver’s not interested in you. 

Phantogram "When I'm Small"

 

She yawns, but he doesn’t get the hint.  He continues to go on about his loft in Los Feliz, list the bands he saw before they were famous and to name-drop his semi-celebrity friends ad nauseam.

She rips a loud fart to see if it makes a difference.  His verbal diarrhea ceases from spewing for almost a full second before he asks when she’d been to Catalina last.

“Fucking burned it down, man.”

He smirks again.  “You’re a walking/talking cliché, aren’t you, doll?”

She farts so loudly this time the lady behind them groans her displeasure and leaves her Pac-Man table for a Centipede by the bathrooms.  Silver winks and gives her a thumbs-up.  Mr. Smirk just sips cappuccino.

“You are aware you smell like shit, right?”

“You smell like Wal-mart.”

Sonic Youth "Bull in the Heather"

 

He sips from his oversized mug again.  For a second, Silver wonders how it tastes.  She never drank any other coffee-related item aside from black coffee in her life.  Then she doesn’t care about anything.

Smirk. “You probably shit onstage, too, huh?”

Big smile. “I don’t do performance art.”

Smirkier smirk. “It’s all performance art.”

Bigger fucking smile. “Nope.  Actually none of it is.”

He laughs an unnaturally high-pitched laugh.  Sounds like a cell phone ringing and his iPhone vibrates right on cue.  Without a word he picks up the phone and leaves the table to chit-chat.  She just shakes her head as he goes away. 

Fucking performance art?  Your life is performance art! 

Cloud Nothings "I'm Not Part of Me"

 

You see, Silver paints.  Paints with her mind, her body and her soul.  You can perform her hairy snatch, Mr. Smirk.

The long-haired weirdo sitting alone at the Q-bert in the back looks out of place, and this somehow soothes Silver.  He types away on his laptop and she wonders if he’s a real writer or just completing an online dating profile or some shit.  Fuck.  Did he smell her fart?  Whoops.  She certainly hopes not. 

Why is she here?  And here today of all days that have ever existed?  Why would she be here any day of any days? 

Savages "T.I.W.Y.G."

 

The answer to her questions sits back down across from her, mentioning something about Justin Timberlake’s assistant being a horrible dancer, but how he’d hit that dirty shit again if he was drunk enough.

She burps.  “And you’re, like, some sort of Gene Kelly, I’m sure.”

Mr. Smirk is insulted.  “But she’s JT’s assistant.  She should know how to dance.” And before Silver can shake her head, he adds, “Who’s Gene Kelly?”

No need for head shakes.  She’s just not going to acknowledge another silly sentence that come out of that butthole at the bottom of his lame face.

But said butthole opens again.  “So, Silvia, if you really want to be in my gallery…”

Oh, fuck off.  “Silver.”

He’s shocked.  “What?”

“My name is not Silvia or Silva or Selma.  It’s fucking Silver. “

“That’s not a real name.”

“You’re not a real person.”

He laughs at her again.  “Artists don’t say anything original these days, do they?”

She laughs back, louder and more obnoxious so that everyone in the so-called shop can hear.  “No, we don’t.  None of us.”

The Bots "Blinded"

 

Thriving on the extra attention and glowing with appreciation, Mr. Smirk waves to the surrounding onlookers.  The aspiring actress at the counter with an old Batman T-shirt waves back.  He blows her a kiss.  He then grimly motions to the guy in the back.  “Fucker too busy to turn around and join the party?”

Silver doesn’t answer.  She takes her prints from the table and slides them back into her bag.  He sips more of his expensive drink.

Then he says, “So, you’re in.”

She stops for a second and looks to him.  “In what?”

“My gallery.  I got just the spot in the back of the place.  By the window.”

Silver stands tall, or as tall as 5’3” can possibly stand, and reaches across the table, slapping the oversized mug from his hands.  It shatters into a million pieces on the ground, but spills not a single drop of liquid.  It was empty.

Mr. Smirk doesn’t even look alarmed.  He starts to clap enthusiastically.

Silver extends her middle finger to him.  “The world is my gallery.”

Dead Sara "Mona Lisa"

 

He tries to laugh, but it won’t come out.  He starts coughing violently instead, so violently, in fact, it scares some of the others sitting nearby. 

Silver turns around and heads for the door.  She doesn’t care if he chokes to death. Far better people died much worse deaths and no one even knows it.

Seeing not a soul in the shop on the way out, Silver exits hell and proudly returns to her gallery.

LIL' MOVIE REVIEWS: The 2016 Before BeerMoviesMusic Existed

LIL' MOVIE REVIEWS: The 2016 Before Beer.Movies.Music Existed Edition

Though the Movies page will feature at least two, well... feature articles a month, many more movies will be seen aside from said features and will be collected in these shorter reviews we call LIL' MOVIE REVIEWS. They should all be spoiler-free and be given a letter grade.

Your humble writer here has been slacking, and has not seen many movies this year, but here they are combined in this edition I'm calling the 2016 Before Beer.Movies.Music Existed Edition...

 

THE BOY

Directed by William Brent Bell/Written by Stacey Menear

The setup for The Boy is quite impressive, creating an uneasy, creepy atmosphere and sprinkles in some fascinating questions we desperately want answers to. The characters are interesting and the opening scares are exactly what you want in a film like this. Unfortunately, once the film reaches the point where the answers come, the film changes gear and becomes less and less interesting. Good premise, looks good, fairly well-acted, but the second half of the film fails to live up to the promising start.

GRADE: C

 

THE WITCH

Written and Directed by Robert Eggers

The Witch is quite terrifying, but not so much in the way horror fans have become accustomed to in recent years, trading in the blood, guts and jump scares for atmosphere, beautiful cinematography and character development, which makes the horror psychological and much more unnerving for a patient audience. Sadly, many of today's moviegoers lack that patience and therefore it's received mixed reviews; some flat-out hating the film. This reviewer, on the other hand, can't recommend it enough.

GRADE: A

 

DEADPOOL

Directed by Tim Miller/Written by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick

Finally, the film has come for comic book movie fans who have grown tired of the same old comic book movie formula that has becomes the recent standard-- it's fucking rated R, man! And sure it's got the graphic language and violence as well as nudity that we desire from our R movies, but what makes Deadpool even better is just how smart and funny it is, poking fun at everything from itself to superheroes to the Marvel Universe to Ferris Bueller's Day Off. And most importantly, Ryan Reynolds totally redeems himself for Green Lantern. 

GRADE: A

 

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg/Written by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken & Damien Chazelle

Cloverfield was terrible. But thankfully it made enough money that eight years later, it's much superior sequel could be made. 10 Cloverfield Lane is an excellent example of doing a whole lot with very little. With a smaller budget than the original, it focuses more on the script and what we get is a very tense, masterfully crafted, slowly unraveling mystery in the middle of a low-budget survival film. Also, a brilliant performance from the legendary John Goodman doesn't hurt, either.  The only reason this thing doesn't get an A is the tie-in to the original kind of ruins how great this film would've been as a stand alone.

GRADE: B+

HAVE YOU SEEN ME? The Mysterious Disappearance of Pac City

Have You Seen Me?

THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF

Written by Dan Sinclair

Something's just not right in the world of craft beer. Something's... missing.

For those of you who never had the unique experience of what was Pacoima's own Pac City Brewery and Tap Room, let me break it down for you. You first look on a map of LA County to find out exactly where Pacoima is and say, "Oh, shit. That's far."

Seriously, is that even still California?

Then you politely ask your beautiful girlfriend, who loves you so much she actually appreciates your love of craft beer, for a ride because you know drinking and driving is neither cool, nor safe. She says okay, but you will owe her a nice dinner in trade, and you agree because it's a fair deal and the journey begins.

You are confused when you arrive and find yourself circling an empty business park several times before you see a large man with a shaved head, and more importantly, a black Pac City T-shirt come out from behind a unmarked door. The hoppy excitement sets in as you realize you've arrived. The tough-looking door dude is a real nice guy and he leads you in explaining how the asshole landlords don't allow them to have any signs outside because they think advertising for alcohol is the kind of evil that sends you right to hell (I'm paraphrasing at best here). Inside you find two other really down-to-earth friendly dudes behind the tiny bar that couldn't possibly sit more than eight people at a time, and feels more like your buddy's basement than a brewery tap room. But it's all there-- all the brewing equipment sits only a few feet away from where you will drink it. 

And then you drink. You start with a Jameson Lightly Sour Ale, brewed with actual Jameson Irish Whiskey. Though it's made with booze, it feels so smooth, and of course, lightly sour. You want more. You go with their staple brew, the Imperial Guava IPA, which goes way too easy for 10% ABV. And then you taste the mother of them all, Cake Stout. It's basically boozy chocolate cake, and the only thing you will want for your birthday for the rest of your life!

You leave not only beer-satisfied, but overjoyed with how cool it's gonna be to brag to your fellow beer lovers about your expedition to this little known speakeasy of breweries! You'll show them the way one day, if they're lucky and agree to pay for the beers. The future looks so bright...

Here's s visual aid of said future looking bright...

But then... everything changed. Pac City's Web site disappeared. Rumors started about gang activity in the area keeping customers away, and that they may start focusing more on bottling. But then their Twitter feed vanishes, followed shortly by the Facebook page. And then finally, sometime earlier this year came the kiss of death, the "this location is reported as permanently closed" on that popular site that reviews shit.

And you cry and cry and you cry some more...

And you wonder why God hates you and mocks your futile existence, and you take out your frustration by beating the ever-loving shit out of your extensive collections of porcelain dolls and plush stuffed animals... and then immediately apologize to each one of them and beg their forgiveness, kiss each on their cheek and promise Daddy will never hurt them again.

But the Pac City mystery lives on. Are they gone forever? Will they bottle their beer? Did they sell the business? Does Pacoima even really exist?

We may never know. But what I do know that their death does not spell the end of good craft beer in the San Fernando Valley with the additions of Macleod Ales and their casked real ales in Van Nuys and San Fernando Brewing Co. in, well, San Fernando; as well as the production-only spots at Canoga Park's 8one8 and Chatsworth's Hand-Brewed Beer. Oh, and don't forget about the delicious aled lagers at Brewyard Beer Company in Glendale, which technically isn't the Valley, but you know, close enough. So even though there may no longer be a Pac City, there is still hope. And by "hope," I mean "beer," which tastes even better than hope.

 

 

REVIEWED: Gold Panda's Good Luck and Do Your Best

GOLD PANDA 

Good Luck and Do Your Best

City Slang Records, May 27, 2016

 

Reviewed by Dan Sinclair

First and foremost, we here at Beer.Movies.Music would like to join forces with Gold Panda to battle relentlessly against this world full of snark and wish all of you good luck when you are out there doing your best.  As for the literal album title Good Luck and Do Your Bestthe name apparently derives from the last words uttered by a Japanese taxi driver.  He sounds like a good dude.

But it figures that Derwin (Mr. Panda's preferred moniker) would draw inspiration from a car ride in a foreign land because his third album is very much an exotic, mind-expanding, electronic journey. Starting with the soft, atmospheric "Metal Bird," which feels very much like waking to a brand new day. It's a little strange, but at the same time so soothing, you can't help but wonder what happens next. Soon it becomes clear the decision to continue was a wise one as "In My Car" pulls you out the door and whisks you down the road. Somehow you're able to stick all your arms and legs comfortably out the window and allow them to sway in the gentle breeze. Don't believe me? Check out the video...

First stop on the journey is "Chiba Nights," where it's perfectly fine to start dancing. And, actually, just keep the dancing going for "Pink & Green." It'll be a more mellow dance, but you'll want to keep moving all the same. "Song for a Dead Friend" may scare you at first with its tapes-rewinding repetitive sound, but it'll be okay. Beer.Movies.Music recommends you grab a barley wine (or something with an equally high ABV), which will get you feeling fine and ready to transition to the much easier-to-handle "I'm a Real Punk," and get ready to loose control to the funky beats of "Autumn Fall" and "Halyards."

"Time Eater" may just be the best track on the whole album with a moving, dramatic intro that eventually explodes into a cool-ass, movie-score-esque jam... 

Wait! Shit! That's a damn good idea. Derwin, will you please score my next film? You know, IF there ever is another one. Damn. Now I need a beer.

... and from there you travel to the melancholy dream called "Unthank," before arriving at your final destination, the somewhat-intense-but-fun-because-it's-accompanied-by-a-fancy-jazzy-horn-section, "Your Good Times Are Just Beginning."

And that last track's title proves to be quite apt. When any meaningful journey ends, the traveler, having gained experience and wisdom, is now changed-- hopefully for the better-- and thus begins life anew, which can only lead to good-er times. Good Luck and Do Your Best's journey is certainly on that level as it creates a very unique atmosphere, switching back and forth effortlessly from different emotional responses to strong desires to shake one's booty just about as well as anyone can hope for.

BEER.MOVIES.MUSIC SAYS... **** (4 out of 5 possible asterisks)

 

PS-- here's the video for "Pink & Green," directed by Laura Lewis: