Must Have Music - Levon Helm's Electric Dirt

Maybe I'm old fashioned...but I have always loved music, so I hope the fact that I wish I had been born during the time that would have allowed me to do hallucenagenic drugs at a show in the 60s or 70s doesn't make you think poorly of me. Rock and R&B, to me, has a very distinctive, eclectic sound. Listening to modern rock, I find it to be over produced and over thought out.

Enter Levon Helm. I will spare you the entire history of Levon (which you can get here), but the coolest thing about him is that he rocks the drums (and the mandolin!) and sings like you wouldn't believe.  I could ramble off numerous statistics, anecdotes, and unnecessary tid bits of information.  I won't do that, however.  I will tell you that he recently recovered from throat cancer, which left him unable to sing.  He has now put out one Grammy winning album (Dirt Farmer) and in the last couple months, Electric Dirt. 

Check it out.


If you liked this, please let me know as I can show you millions of cool things about Levon Helm and The Band....I'm cool like that (ask my wife).

Must Have Music -Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

If you don't know about the Arctic Monkeys, you really should. They just released their 3rd album, "Humbug" and every song is worth a listen. Below you will find a testament to the versatility of the Arctics. The first song, "Cornerstone" is a beautiful song with breezy guitars and a cool storyline. The second song, "Crying Lightning" is just a dark song with cool undertones.  Lead man Alex Turner has brilliant lyrics/guitar parts and the drummer Matt Helders is an animal on the skins.  All three of the Arctics albums are good straight through.  Lets hope somebody who books concerts in Des Moines will see this post and get these guys over here.  I would call them but I'm really busy doing stuff, ya know, like my plate is full here man.



"Cornerstone"



"Crying Lightning"

Drunk In (not on) Champaign

Some days don't entirely go in the direction you expect or project. On those days, it becomes extremely easy to invite Jim Beam over for a small get together. Long of the short of it is that the internet here is free so I checked out hulu.com. This is one bad ass website. Once I can afford internet on a personal basis, I will be a frequent visitor to the hulu.com web site. It's got everything from movie trailers to current up-to-date sitcom episodes.

Something that coincides with hulu.com is NBC (National Broadcasting Company), which therefore includes SNL (Saturday Night Live). In my mind, for my generation, there is a single name in the "comedic genius" category. That name is Will Ferrell. Please enjoy this.

Get Your Lunch On - Duh Moines - Flanagans

Today was our first "Get Your Lunch On" and it was a good one. We decided that Flanagans patio would be perfect on a breezy September lunch hour, and damnit we were right. Most people know Flanagans for their classic St. Pats party, but the restaurant is a great daily lunch spot too. The waitresses were "gettin er done" (as the bumper sticker on your truck reads...thats right I saw it) and the food was tasty, so was the Guinness. Believe it or not this Irish Pub has Guinness. Seriously. We would have to give Flanagans a big stamp of approval for the tasty lunch under $10 dollars and the relaxed patio atmosphere.

The Tenderloin (note the peppers)

Fish and Fries - (Tartar sauce was a ten)

Bored To Death Looks Great

Bored to Death made it's debut last Sunday on HBO and it has been getting great reviews.  The cast is a comedy goldmine, with the likes of Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson.  These three make a hilarious trio of friends, with the plot line surrounding Jason Schwartzman as a hack private detective with a knack for wine consumption.  If you don't like dry comedy then you're probably a blast to hang out with, and you wont enjoy the show.  If you do like dry comedy then TUNE IN YOU CRAZY S.O.B.!

Bored To Death  - Sundays @ 9:30 P.M. on HBO

Bonehead of the Day

Normality is not a crime.  It's not bad to be smart or even reasonable.  Nor is it criminal to be an idiot.....

Strike that last part.  I flipped on Iowa's News Leader last night (KCCI Channel 8 News) and the TOP STORY was about an absolutely moronic couple in Omaha (duh, not Des Moines) that went out to a martini bar and left their child in the car. 

**Quick Tangent - is it worse that this happened or that it is actually our top news story on our leading news channel?**

Ok...so that's pretty fricken hair brained.  I mean, I am working hard not to totally bag on these imbeciles.  Let's go over a couple facts:  First, they were at a martini bar.  No one drinks a martini unless they have the intention of obtaining, at the least, a good buzz.  Secondly, they were stupid enough to tell the people in the bar, including the bartender that they had left little Timmy in the car.  Finally, they were confused as to why the cops showed up. 

What do you mean, why?!!!!!!  Oh yeah, and I don't even want to mention their blood alcohol levels.  Let's just say it's not like they were drinking Chimay by the goblet.

Check it out if you'd like.  Then tell us if you the this guy is even more of a bonehead.

The Drink Menu: Chimay Blue

The drink menu is a regular feature that will give you some brilliant ideas for the next time you are browsing the drink menu thinking up the beverage that will get you to where you want to go.

Ohhhhhhhhh Yes, Belgian beer.  Pouring a cold glass of Belgian beer on Friday night at 5 P.M. has to be one of the most suitable ways a young buck (or even an old fart) can end a week.  One of the finest Belgian Beers in the world, if not the finest, is the Chimay Blue.  If you want to drink a thousand bottles of Bacardi Razz in 2 hours and slightly feel a buzz with your girlfriend then I guess that is your bag my friend.  Chimay is going to get you riding the show pony we like to call "enjoyment" after one bottle.

An excellent place to order up one of these puppies is The Royal Mile.

The rundown on this beautiful beverage from the Chimay website:



75 cl, 33 cl (25.4 fl.oz., 11.2 fl.oz.), 9% alc. vol.
Named Grande Réserve in 75 cl (25.4 fl.oz.) bottles, it is principally distinguished by its character of a strong beer.
This is a beer whose fragrance of fresh yeast with a light, flowery rosy touch is especially pleasant.
Its flavour, noticed when tasting it, only accentuates the pleasant sensations perceived in the aroma , while revealing a light but pleasant touch of roasted malt.
This top fermented Trappist beer , refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurised.

Player's Game

I did see the post regarding my least favorite video game in the world - FIFA 10...now, unfortunately for passionate football hoodlums like myself, we become very much one or the other.  Same as black vs. white, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Protestant vs. Catholic.  So let's take the latter - Protestant vs. Catholic - and briefly dissect it.  Protestants and Catholics are ultimately Christians.  Even beyond that, they are people.  So should they get along based on a standard moral obligation to treat others as they wish to be treated?  Absolutely.  So I will digress and simultaneously retract that first statement...because the FIFA post was not a fan genereated post, it was a marketing generated post.  Did I mention I have a terminal disease called logarrhea?  That is what I blame the first sentence on.  Moving on....

 I was originally a FIFA player until college when I was shown the light that is Pro Evolution Soccer/Winning Eleven.  This is a critically acclaimed European and Asian version of everyone's favorite sport.  I mean, Pro Evo is gooood.

As a freshman, a teammate of mine and I would play this game literally all night.  Eventually, we had a cult like following within the soccer team and had even joined the Winning Eleven Squad, a facebook.com group started within the Buxton House (the Euro frat, basically).  There were player rankings and every semester there was a Winning Eleven World Cup, which I just so happened to win defeating my mentor in the final.  We even held a Tournament of Champions (which I also won, consequently).  This was and is, basically, ridonkulous. 

However, the point I have been skirting around is that Pro Evolution is coming out with it's 2010 version shortly...please read a little about the GAME.

While FIFA has Rooney (who I love) and Xavi (the best midfielder in the world) as their featured players, Pro Evo has always had the best players in the world as their flag ship.  Lionel Messi, aka God's gift to the game, has publicly stated his adoration for the game and it's realistic gameplay.  Other players such as Arsenal's Samir Nasri have also come out saying that he could play Pro Evo all night long.  I would be happy to join him.

Creative Marketing: Fifa 10

Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam has come out with one of the most riveting tv ads of the year for the video game Fifa 2010.  Yes I just used the word "riveting".  The ad features game players from around the world, playing each other through the internet.  For one, I love this ad because it can keep even the most miniscule of attention spans, and two, the ad uses Wayne Rooney who happens to be my favorite player.  Yes, I used the word "miniscule," big deal.  Favorite players aside, the ad will be something that appeals all over the world and it does a great job of showcasing the games excellent new look and gameplay.  The ad was run for the first time during the Manchester United vs. Manchester City soccer match last saturday (you can see the highlights below, 2 posts down), which was a highly anticipated game that included the commercials star, Rooney.  Solid creative work out the legendary Wieden+Kennedy ad firm, and solid strategy to boot.   YES I SAID "TO BOOT," LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY.

via Creativity Magazine

Pearl Jam - Backspacer

Pearl Jam's new album "Backspacer" was released today. The new album features short and punchy songs with excellent guitar and classic Eddie Vedder vocals. Rolling Stone gave the new album a worthy 4 stars, and you can read that review HERE.


You can only get the album through target and a few other online sources. Head over to Pearl Jam's Website to find out more.

Here is the first single from the album, a song called "Fixer."

Derby Day Magic

Now personally, I am an Arsenal fan....first and foremost, however, I am a football (soccer) fan and all footy fans love great highlights. Additionally, one enjoys watching a rival get beaten and doesn't care who does it as long as it's done.

For those of you who are unaware, Arsenal had a quiet summer transfer season, watching players leave more often than arrive. Despite one fantastic signing - Thomas Vermalean - they also sold Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, two high quality, African imports. Naturally, they sold them to Manchester City, who has since gone on an unbeaten run including a thumping of my Gooners, which saw Adebayor stomp on one Robin Van Persie's face. So, when I saw the highlights below, all I could do was smile. Not only did the Citizens suffer their first loss of the campaign, but they did so in heartbreaking fashion.

Go f*ck yourselves, Manchester City.

Manchester United v Manchester City

Day Number One: Glory Days

So this morning, I got up early (gasp) and worked out on the elliptical machine (double gasp). I'm hoping not to jinx any sort of personal progress that was made, meaning that I will refrain from further bragging.

Funny thing about working out (not bragging, I swear) is that usually you're able to give your mind a little work out simultaneously. In this situation, being that it was Day Number One of my work out regimen, I happened across a little Bruce Springsteen on VH1 Classic (I know, who actually watches that channel?). You'll want to check out the link I've posted if you have any inclination to The Boss. Please take notice of 1) the random, overly happy black man that is playing the cow bell and 2) the pretty attractive redhead woman playing the tambourine. Why are either they in the video?




Anyway, let's wrap it all together. "Glory Days" playing on the boob tube while I exercise my body and mind on Day Number One of my quest towards the betterment of my life. Coincidence? I think not.

p.s. Bruce and the E Street Band are playing tonight at the Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. Somehow, it's not sold out yet.

Iowa Film Tax Really F'd Up This Time

Des Moines may be seeing a sudden drop off in this sort of character (above) lurking around local coffee shops if Chet Culver pulls the plug on film tax incentives.


You may have heard that that there have been some major accounting issues with the Iowa Film Tax in the past week. Shocker! I'm stunned by the news. Let's hope this doesn't effect that Ray Liotta Hallmark movie that shot here last winter. I was itching to get the guys together on a Sunday night, crack open a wine cooler and tune into Hallmark for Des Moines starring alongside the handsome and titalating Ray Liotta.

There will be a press conference at 1 p.m. today, in which the tax credit scandal will be addressed. For a full article on the subject, go HERE.

The Duh Moines Pigskin Rundown

The Des Moines Register has some analysis of what is to come for Iowa and Iowa State's football teams this weekend. You can check that out Here.

But if you don't want to read what some other guy thinks about the teams you have already seen play, here are the games this weekend.


Arizona vs. Iowa @ 2:35 P.M. 
Iowa City  
TV will be ABC (reverse ESPN2 mirror)


Iowa St. Vs. Kent St. @ 6 P.M  
Kent, Ohio 
Espn360.com will carry the game

Have a great weekend.  Don't drink and drive.  Well, I mean you can drink and you can also drive, just not at the same time, or consecutively.  You get my drift?  Good, thanks.

P.S. - There will be a safety check going on at 78th and Hickman tonight between 8 P.M. and 2:30 A.M.   So as Clutch from 94.9 KGGO says, "keep that Budweiser under the window line," and by that I mean don't drive down Hickman tonight. If you do go down Hickman, please drop your beer off at my house first.  The details of the check HERE.

The Strokes Lead Singer Goes Solo - Makes the Brain Feel Great

The lead singer of this guy's favorite band, The Strokes, released his debut solo single today. The Strokes are known for straight ahead rock that's tight and melodic. That's what she said (new catch phrase I just created today). Julian's solo debut is electronically based and carries an infectious drive all the way through. Like I said, it makes the brain feel good.

Here's hoping for either Julian or the Strokes to make a stop through Des Moines in the near future.

Julian Casablancas "11th Dimension"