Hello, people.

Boy, have I been slacking in the blogging world.  Sorry – lot’s of things were going on.  Alas, I’m back and ready for action… so to speak?

First thing is first… this blog is changing.  For the best.  I’m going to be redesigning the site over the next few months (hopefully month, singular) and will refocus the entire content to music only.  That’s right people, this has officially turned into a music-focused blog only.  My blogging team is on hidaus so if you are interesting in contributing please let me know.

The various genres of music will remain constant, I’ll post cool things I find both old and new.  I figure, not everyone can be up-to-date on all the newest tracks dropping from the hottest artists… well, maybe some people.  But not me.  I listen to lots of music – - lots and lots – - and when I hear something I like that I haven’t heard before, I write it down/download/blog/blip.fm about it.  Therefore, you will find things both super super brand new and super super old skool.  And you know what, that’s okay.  ’Cause there is PLENTY of music that I haven’t heard yet, and I’m sure the same for you – so, I hope you enjoy this musical journey.

Feel free to contribute, I really would like contributions of what you are listening to right now.  We can all discover some sweet stuff together, eh?

Stay tuned for a QNT Must Hear list coming out shortly… with vids!

Michael

When I put our name in, I requested outside. The very intelligent and people friendly host immediately informed me that no alcohol could be served outside. Since I was curing a hangover and was frothing for a spicy bloody mary, this simply would not do. The wait was the same for both so I switched to inside. Plus, my ladies were no doubt on a champagne campaign and I could not disappoint. It was a Sunday morning and I expected about a half hour wait for a hip Los Angeles eatery. However it was only about twenty minutes, a quick twenty on a busy street with good company, and we had a great center table. A happening atmosphere with friendly staff and the clientèle as a whole were not overly loquacious.

Our sever was named RJ and he was one of those people that are instantly likable. He made us feel welcome in our hungover state, as he was there with us. But, also like us, he was putting on his happy face for the world. It is all about attitude. No one is hanging me over anything today. He specifically told us that he would take good care of us today and that he was “hear to feed [us]“. Now that is comforting. I order a spicy bloody mary with olive juice but no olives. This request was obliged in the most fantastic of manners: exactly what I ordered and expected. Sometimes, that enough is to make your day.

Out of a plethora of exciting and unique menu items, intermingled with the classic breakfast fare as well, I chose the Braised Pork with Citrus Hollandaise, Piquillo Peppers, and Poached Eggs. Served with Pepper Jelly and Chorizo Roasted Potatoes. Interestingly enough though, they had a special menu for that day, consisting of several smaller portioned dishes at reasonable prices. Included here was a breakfast croissant of egg and cheese variety, which I dubbed my breakfast appetizer. It seemed to be a bit over cooker but it was not burnt and had an authentic, homemade taste to it. The main entree was exquisite. I hate the word exquisite, but it is the only word that accurate portrays what my mouth was experiencing. Perfectly cooked, tender pork with rich flavor complexities added by the peppers, sauce, and jelly. The taste was one I will never forget, although the service seemed to die a touch after our food arrived. It seems as if the place is used to tables lingering around to talk after getting and finishing their food. It was most acceptable with me, as we were there to talk anyway, but some might not like that.

My portion for appetizer, drink, and entree was $35 including tip. Not to bad at all for what I received, plus they have so many menu options and all different prices. My choices could have been cheaper or more expensive. Overall, the service was very good, the food was excellent, the location was happening, and I left VERY satisfied.

Kudos to you BLD Restaurant. Do not change.

Fellow bloggers Michael, Josh, John, and I are going to the always interesting House of Blues venue to catch Adam Young’s exuberant Owl City. Needless to say I am very excited, as I imagine my cohorts are as well. Tonight’s journey will be epic no doubt, and do expect a follow up post on the actual concert itself; a collaborative effort from all of us and possibly even a guest spot! But this post is dedicated purely to the pre-show excitement we are all feeling.

Two things excited me upon waking up this morning: the set list I looked up online for the show tonight and that another friend of mine was going to the show as well, unbeknown to me until today.  What fantastic pieces of news to brighten an icy October morning. I think I will read some Coleridge next.

The set list for the show is intriguing to me because I only know half of the songs. This is new to me, as most concerts I attend are by artists that I have had a certain familiarity with for several years. Adam Young was introduced to me only a couple months ago. I am fortunate to have friends with good taste. I do enjoy the songs that I am familiar with though and I am eager to hear them live for the first time. This is actually the first time I have heard an all synthesized style music concert, even though there will be a live band. So I will again be in new territory. But I eagerly await this uncharted territory, I am in the most absolute, perfect mindset for it right now. My task is to endure it throughout the day. So I am off to adventure! But here is the set list. Download them and enjoy them with me!

Owl City Concert Set List

Cave In

Hot Air Balloon

Umbrella Beach

The Tip of the Iceburg

Air Traffic

Dental Care

The Technicolor Phase

Vanilla Twilight

The Bird and the Worm

Strawberry Avalanche

The Saltwater Room

Meteor Shower

On The Wing

Hello Seattle

Fireflies (encore)

Enjoy folks… to those who are going, I will see you there. I will be the awesome one.

But it does happen
Every time you smile that something happens
In an instant and it is completely unexplainable
But it is good.
And you can feel it,
Every time you see one of these rainbows
And you hear their colors for the first time,
In that very long time,
You have to get out and do something.

There is no pot of gold to say
But treasure always lurks where one want to find it.
Only certain types can know true treasure
And enjoy it.
But you know of all this already,
You must.
You are the teacher of these knew emotions
And you speak to the world in your colors.

Sometimes you can be completely irrational,
Yet you are reserved and traditional
In a way that moves.
You are a great sight whether in or out of focus,
You are the light that says yes
To twilight’s request to dance.

We always wish to walk along side of you,
To remind again how that one instant can be the best
Thing in your life.
If only for a brief moment or two.
You can’t be predicted,
You can’t be caught.
But for that instant we are taught how to hear
Those colors like we have never known them to be.

The world is your dance floor
So step lightly into your nights.

The terrorist attacks on this country were an eye opening experience for America. As twisted as it may seem, on a global level, it was a good thing for America to experience. Yes, it is still a tragic occurrence, but what so many do not understand is the fact that these tragic occurrences happen every day on a global level. The entire continent of Africa and the majority of the Middle East experience these tragedies on a regular daily basis but America decides to make a huge deal about our one brush with disaster.

I agree with the fact that we should make a big deal about the attack on America because it has only happened once before and I do not want it to happen again. But when people say that we should all remember 9/11, I have to scoff at the idea. Because we should remember what happened before 9/11 to really make an impact on our country.

Two pre-9/11 examples of media pieces that got more exposure than necessary come to mind.

The first example, while it seems like a big ordeal, was blown way out of proportion in order to involve the whole nation and to sway politics. Bill Clinton was criticized on mass for his secret sexual meanderings with that young, blubbery intern (whats her name?) But was that really important or necessary, or was it just a way for the Clinton critics to have a field day and possible impeachment? In retrospect, I am sure that most Americans would prefer to have the eight years of peace and enriched economy that Clinton provided in exchange for our current war. Even if he did fool around outside of his marriage.

The second media craze that comes to mind is that adorable little Cuban boy a few years back. Elian Gonzales, the poor kid who dog paddled all the way from Cuba, became a huge media craze when he came to America. Now here is a story worth reporting and spending a great deal of time on. The kid came to America to escape unruly persecution by a dictator. Was this so phenomenal of an idea that had never happened before? Wait a second, that is the principle this whole country was founded on. I don’t think it was as big of an ordeal as it was publicized, but the media chose to portray it as the greatest thing since bi-partisan consistency in politics.

What we, as a society, chose to place time, money, and focus on was really quite ridiculous when you look back at the pre-9/11 America. Local news aside, the media revolves around creating a false significance to insignificant events and it is time that this has stopped. When a disastrous thing like 9/11 occurs, it makes all the trivial events of life seemﾅ well, trivial. And we know they are trivial to begin with, yet people are going to pick their battles anyway.

So the new phrase that I propose is “Remember How We Were Before 9/11″. While I understand that this is not practical for the whoring world of advertisement, it is a more accurate phrase of what we as a country should be doing. Our focus should be placed on the relevant events of our time and ease up on the name calling and figure pointing. We don’t take our children seriously when they whine and cry about trivial details. In fact, we get frustrated, aggravated, and annoyed. But their lost toy has become our national emergency that gains so much exposure it deteriorates its motive. So stop your complaining or you are going to be in time-out.

Hello, people.

Every once in a while there is music I listen to that just bursts out with “please, please share me with the world!” and although that was going to be my goal on a weekly basis, it has recently been difficult to sit down and write for the masses.

Alas, I have some time on my hands and have listened to A LOT of new music.  I’ve been dumping them into my “8-23″ playlist (which you can listen to on my Lala profile).

Let’s dig in, shall we?

**QNT Presents  ///- 5NOW Songs -/// 9/13/09 **

Animal Collective

1. Band: Animal Collective:

Woah, I heard a song by them on SIRIUS’ XMU blog radio with the host HipsterRunoff.  Here’s a bit about the band:

Animal Collective is a musical collective originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin, or Deacon as spelled on Strawberry Jam (Josh Dibb, not ‘Conrad Deaken’ as is often claimed), and Geologist (Brian Weitz). Records released under the name Animal Collective may include contributions from any or all of these members; the lineup is not uniform. The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. Although the band is often classified as freak folk or noise pop, it is hard to define the Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with diverse styles and ideas from album to album. The group also runs the record label Paw Tracks on which they have released their own material as well as that of other artists. Source: Wikipedia Under GNU FDL license

So, the song you need to hear now is…

Brother Sport – 9.5 – | Amazon

This song is so trance-like, I freakin’ love it.  I love the call and response feel that sticks with the song through its entirety.  It’s gaining popularity quick according to the charts.  Be sure to check it out!

2. Band: Passion Pit:

I’ve actually dedicated a few posts to Passion Pit (here and here).  These guys are great, check out their bio…

Passion Pit formed in late 2007. Originally, Michael Angelakos had started “Passion Pit” as a project in order to write a few songs for his girlfriend as a Valentine’s Day present. Angelakos lived in Buffalo, NY, where his music was first heard. His brother Matt, and Matt’s Band (known as “The Reach”) were some of the first people to hear his EP. Passion Pit spread rapidly throughout Nichols School, where he, his brother, and Matt’s bandmates attended. To this day, Nichols School remains a major hub for Passion Pit’s fanbase in Buffalo. The group is widely followed throughout the city, with their music appearing in local eateries, such as Elmwood Taco & Subs, in addition to the actual band’s home city of Boston. In 2008, after playing only a handful of shows, they were voted Best New Act in the ”The Boston Phoenix”’s Best Music Poll. Source: Wikipedia Under GNU FDL license

Sleepyhead – Passion Pit

Sleepyhead – 9 – – Amazon

This is such a good one.  It has the classic Passion Pit sound with high vocals and a strong downbeat feel but it has some awesome synth effects that blow my mind.  Check it out!

3. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros:

These guys will have you mesmerized by their folk sound and down to earth lyrics.  The songs these peeps sing will help you flow through your day, riding low on that stiff old office chair.

Ima Robot. is a Indie/Punk/Dance band based in Los Angeles that formed in the late 1990s, after Alex Ebert’s band The Lucky 13’s broke up. But they really only came to fruition in the early 2000s after signing with Virgin Records. The band’s vocalist, Alex Ebert, originally wanted to be a rapper before becoming a singer. The band’s other original members were Timmy “the Terror” Anderson, Oligee, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, and the prolific studio drummer Joey Waronker. Meldal-Johnsen and Waronker were sought-after musicians who had played with Beck before joining Ima Robot. Their first full-length album released on September 6, 2003 was self-titled Ima Robot, and featured the singles “Dynomite” and “Song #1″ (released in the UK only.) The band has toured with artists such as Hot Hot Heat, The Von Bondies, Hoobastank, The Sounds, She Wants Revenge and others. In 2004 Waronker and Oligee left the band, and Meldal-Johnsen followed in 2005, with former Oleander drummer Scott Devours taking over drumming duties, and Filip Nikolic taking over on bass. In June of 2008 Lars Vognstrup joined the group, having previously played with Nikolic in Junior Senior. On September 12, 2006 Ima Robot released their second album Monument to the Masses which featured the singles “Creeps Me Out” and “Lovers in Captivity”.. Source: Wikipedia Under GNU FDL license

Home – 8.5 – – Amazon

Amazing, right?  Thought so.

4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart:

Okay, aside from the ridiculously long name, these guys have had some success already.  They have an extensive album collection and you should browse through it – it’s dope.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart are an indie pop band from New York, NY.^[1] Their first album was a self-released EP which came out in 2007 through the Painbow label.^[2] Their debut self-titled full length album was released on February 3, 2009 via Slumberland Records.^[3] The band name comes from an unpublished children’s story that Charles Augustus Steen III,^[4] a friend of singer Kip Berman, wrote of the same title.^[5] In Spring, 2009, the band released a second single, “Young Adult Friction” from their debut album and plan a non-album release called Higher Than the Stars in Fall 2009 with an ‘a’ side which is called ‘103′.[6] – Source: Wikipedia Under GNU FDL license

Young Adult Friction – 9 – Amazon

Me likey.

5. Neon Indian:

These guys are super trance like.  I totally am fixated on every single note when I listen to them.  The music sucks you in like a tornado.  Listen now…

Neon indian – 6669 by quarternotetriplets
Song: 6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know) - Website for Song

You can only find it on their myspace… get it while it’s hot!

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Let me know what you think, okay?

Michael

‘Hedonistic Me’ begins with their simple drum beat and then you get a taste of Luke LaLonde’s emphatic singing style. Reminiscent of bands like The Psychedelic Furs and Talking Heads, Born Ruffians deliever in this song about what a boy is planning to do for his love, in a life of simplicity and reproduction. With lyrics like

“And I will make sweet dandelion wine
And there’ll be no search for time.
Spend all our lives just having lives
And there’ll be no time for any lies.
There’s just mares-eat-oats and no more lows and all the children I have fathered.
There’ll be ma and pa and grandmama and all the children I have fathered.”

Hedonistic Me by Born Ruffians

this song extracts the qualities of simpler times and has a surprising emphasis on family values as well. Fun background effects come in to the song to add depth, along with a playful bass beat that adds another layer. This is what the young Canadians have shown me they do, provide layers of types of music in arrangements that envelop people.

The song is playful and the content is amusing, but overall the song has such a relaxing beat to it. Check these guys out sometime if you can. They haven’t played the southern California region since October of 2008, but hopefully they will be back soon. In the meantime, hit up iTunes: and download this song for an early Christmas present to yourself.

I think you’re worth it.

“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.”  -  Henry David Thoreau

Ingredients

4 Peaches

1 Cup Honey

2 bunches of lavender leaves

1/2 oz. Gran Mariner or Orange Liquor

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

Slivered Almonds

Raspberries for Garnish

1 Cup Vanilla Yogurt

Olive Oil

Cinnamon Stick

Directions

1. Preheat grill to high heat

2. Place honey, cinnamon stick, lavender, lemon juice, and liquor in small sauce pan. Cook for approx 20 minutes over low heat, stirring every few minutes

3. Cut peaches in half. Take the round part of the peach half and cut off a small chunk to make a flat platform.  Coat both flat sides with olive oil. Grill on each side over high heat for approx 2 minutes, enough to caramelize the fruit and make some good grill marks.

4. Turn the heat of the lavender honey sauce to medium high. Take the peaches off the grill and put them in the lavender honey sauce for two minutes. Take them out and place them on a plate to cool off and rid of excess liquid sauce.

5. Take vanilla yogurt and mix with 1/4 cup of hot lavender honey mixture. Do this by tempering so the cold yogurt will not curdle.

6. To plate, place one peach half with the large flat side down on the plate. The rounded edge should be facing up. Take another peach half with the small flat side down and place on top of other peach. Fill the inside peach half cup with toasted slivered almonds and a couple of raspberries. Drizzle yogurt over mixture over the peaches and garnish with a few drops of the honey sauce, some lavender leaves, and a few raspberries.

I chose a broad range of wineries, hoping to get a good variety of flavors and wine varietals. Looking for a tasty, crisp viognier I took us to Sanford Winery to start out. Not the greatest winery that I have been to, but it was a decent start to the day. They had a noteworthy chardonnay that was full of bite and gave off an incredible summertime aroma. Additionally, they closed with a fine pinot noir that developed a distinct taste of pepper and berry. The tasting gave a mouthful that had a lot going on but was subtle enough to make me want to pair it with a Cajun rubbed filet on a bed of arugula.

Next we hit La Fond Winery, which proved to be the most fantastic offering we experienced that day. Every tasting, three whites and three reds, showcased their extraordinary skills in winemaking but, more importantly, their service was off the charts. In the good way, not the bad way, as Dr. Scott would say. The people were friendly and held a vast knowledge about the vines, the soil, the history of the area, and their winemaker’s vision. The grounds were gorgeous and the tasting room was comfortable and not too crowded with the ever popular trendy shenanigans most wineries are offering in the post-Sideways wine world.

After a few more tasting rooms and a good lunch at Panino in Los Olivos, we decided to head back to the hotel. But on the way we decided to have a nice, frosty brew to cool us off from the triple digit heat we had experienced all day. A friend who was familiar with the area recommended we go to Alisal Cellars, which was perfect due to its close proximity to our hotel. Look them up on your googlebook for an address. We went there with our party of six and proceeded to have a beer tasting. When you want a full beer, you walk to the fridge, get it, and bring it to the bartender to open it. Family style with the honor policy, my interest is peaked. They have no hard alcohol, so don’t bring a prom date here. However, they do serve champagne, wine, beer, and sake – and you can do tastings of several of these.

First off, the place is underground and you go down a cool stone stairwell towards loud music. It looks and feels like a dive bar once you are inside and the bathroom is kind of hidden and a bit… industrial. Once you are done crying about it, you can experience the first of many options available to you by getting your own beer out of the cooler. But I would explore the option of a beer tasting or a sake tasting by Justin, specifically. The man is WELL versed in all realms of this type of informal education, folks, and is one of the true hidden secrets in this world. People like this are not advertised and it is the duty of the community to broadcast their worth to the rest of us. Thus, I take pen to paper in request that you go visit them. Aside from offering sake, beer, and wine, they have a fine selection of bar food to fill your stomach after a day of wine-ing.

There will most likely be people in there during the day, as they do offer tasting selections from all over the world and the local community as well. If you dont know, Solvang shuts down pretty quickly after sunset and Alisal Cellars is one of the few places you can have a good party experience at night. Friday and Saturday nights are pretty damn enjoyable, with loud music, good people, and the occasional libation or two.

However long you are staying in Solvang, come check this place out. The rest of the staff gave great service and a friendly atmosphere as well, but Justin definitely left a lasting impression on me. It is very rare that a bartender impresses me these days, as I am an old fashioned country boy at heart. But this guy destroyed the mold, sponged up an incredible amount of knowledge, and adopted a profession that teaches people the intricate details of processes that have been around for hundreds of years. He takes the pride and respect out of tradition and places it into whatever bottle he is pouring you at the moment. It was a true honor to meet this guy and experience his version of the world’s offering of beer and sake. A business owner could only hope to have someone on his staff like this man.

Check out Alisal Cellars. Look it up on your googlebook or whatever and get there. Plan a weekend in Solvang already! Start by checking into your hotel saturday morning, then head to La Fond Winery for a tasting. Head over to Downtown Los Olivos for a filling lunch, then back over to Sanford winery for a 2pm wine tour. End with a couple more wineries, try Gainey or Artiste on the way to Santa Ynez. Head back to your hotel for a quick dip in the pool to refresh and then grab dinner at one of many great places in downtown Solvang. Do yourself a favor and walk downtown to pick a random place on the street. Ask to speak to the chef if they arent busy, tell them you want a unique experience to take home. Then head to Alisal Cellars to get your post-dinner crunk on. Grab some beers, make some friends, and dance a little in the presence of good company. Then wake up on sunday morning for a fresh pastry breakfast and a couple of olive oil tastings before heading home. Next, head north towards Ballard to find a lavender farm where you can buy fresh lavender for a honey peach lavender desert you should make soon. Stop at one of the many farm stands along the way to buy fresh berries, pears, and nuts to take home. Take the 101 South to Santa Barbara when heading home, exiting Milpas Street. Turn left and go down about a mile to find a little Mexican restaurant on the corner. It is a white building, probably with a line outside of the door. Get two tacos, some green sauce, and head home, wherever that may be.

“Good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used.”  -  William Shakespeare