Nathaniel Rateliff

So let's talk music! By music I mean meaningful powerful lyrics sung by a real artist who writes his own material with little or no help from anyone besides himself. As you will learn if you stick around my blog a while, I Love Music! While there is a lot of music out there dancing its way atop the radio waves it is not all great. Just because you've made it on the radio does not mean you've actually made it. I pride myself for not listening to the radio, if I want to listen to garbage I'll turn on my garbage disposal! Before you label me a hipster I can guarantee that I am not I just love music with heart and meaning. I do not go out looking to be unique by reading poetry with my thick framed glasses, watching indie films while sipping a soy latte in my flannel shirt bragging about how many Indie music festivals I'll attend!

     Recently I drove to Austin Texas with my girlfriend and two of my closest friends to go watch "Nathaniel Rateliff!" Now if you haven't heard of him you should most defiantly look him up! This is the kind of singer I am talking about. His album In Memory of Loss is an album that you can listen to from start to finish then repeat. This album is beautifully written and beautifully put together. When we got to Emos's (Venue) we got to meet and talk to Nathaniel Rateliff. He is a very modest and nice individual. He told us how he had to drive himself to all his shows while listening to audio books just to stay awake. We all loved the fact that he took the time to talk to his fans, he told us about why he did what he did which was to play music night in and night out for about 50 to 100 people at a time he told us that he did it because he loved it. Obviously it wasn't for the money. We spent some more time talking like we knew the guy and for that I will always listen to his music. He was down to earth and best of all he was real.

     I know that if I saw a big named band or singer for that matter they would charge an arm and a leg for a meet and greet. I honestly think that’s bull-shit! That and the fact that they lyrics they sing are shit is why I don’t listen to trash on the radio. If you ever get the chance to look up Nathaniel Rateliff DO IT! You will not be at all disappointed.

Elephant Feet!

Otter Box (for iPhone 4)

Recently I purchased the otter box defender series for my iPhone  4 and honestly I have to say that this case is really durable! Some might say that it’s too bulky, but I am a man and I’m completely fine with bulky. It makes the phone look like a man’s phone.

I was sitting on my bed one night and when I moved the covers to get ready for bed my phone flew in the air and I thought that for sure my phone was going to be busted. But to my complete surprise the phone was intact! Nothing I mean absolutely nothing was wrong with the phone.  Knowing that my phone is protected lets me be more comfortable and free when handling my phone. I can basically be careless.

The only think that I would change if I could would be the fact that the case is not water resistant, but really that is no big deal to me. I do not think that ill be swimming with my phone in hand. This minor detail is not enough for me to change to a different case.

So if you are looking for a case not only for your iPhone or any other smart phone for that matter, I honestly recommend Otter Box for all your protective needs. 

Micros

This is not a knock on the big three beers in the US. This is for some much needed praise for the art from that is hand crafting beer one barrel at a time. I'm lucky enough to live 10 minutes from the Livery and have developed a palate for beer critiquing.

Microbrews are the exact opposite of what the macros are. The Macros are large scale brewing that sometimes forgets that we as the consumer like sustenance. The first micro I tasted was Red Canoe. It was a red lager served chilled to only 52 degrees and an unfrozen pint glass. When was the last time you have had a warm beer and enjoyed it. It was full of body and I was hooked at first drink. I sipped it the way a sommelier would drink and study a glass of 1931 Chateau Margaux. With first sip the malt flavor fills your mouth and the bitterness of the hops washes it down. All this while listening to Gordon Wantuch(LISTEN!!!) play Cool Air while a snow storm is ironically hammering down on our small part of Michigan.

Whatever part of the country you are currently in, look for a microbrewery and try a sampler. I can guarantee that the struggle will be to pick your regular. It's time to appreciate art. Why not the art of beer?

Fat Chick's In Skinny Jeans!

     HEY, fat chicks!!!! Just because you have super skinny legs doesn't mean you should wear skinny jeans! We've all seen the fat chicks around town looking like a pear with toothpicks for legs wearing skinny jeans. Walking around pulling up their tight fitting jeans every other step they take!

5 Shitty Trends People Think Are Cool

1.Beer Pong-I don't know what the big fiasco is about this game. I hear the losers drink the beer. Seriously? ....If that's the case i wanna be the Detroit Lions of beer pong.

2.Work Boots-People who wear "work boots" even though they never do any type of work outside, and then proceed to tuck their jeans into their boots.

3."Retro"trends-Apparently, some people think it's cool to wear snapbacks, nerdy glasses, and vans with high socks.

4.Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Taylor Gang, etc.

"Aye cream cheese and a bagel,

Have a glass of milk and an eggo,

                                       I'm rockin pjs and no shirt,

                                      I smoke weed eat yogurt"

NO..this is not my grocery list..These are actual lyrcis to a Mac Miller song. These guys suck, and i hate when people accuse me of just "being a hater"..These goons suck. It's not hating,it's just knowing the difference between good music and uhh terrible music.

5.Popped Collars- No wait, popped collars on an Ed Hardy shirt..Classic.

Raymond Carver!

Cool summer nights. Windows open. Lamps burning. Fruit in the bowl. And your head on my shoulder. These the happiest moments in the day. Next to the early morning hours, of course. And the time just before lunch. And the afternoon, and early evening hours. But I do love these summer nights. Even more, I think, than those other times. The work finished for the day. And no one who can reach us now. Or ever.

Top 5 Things I Hate

Top 5 Things I Hate

1. Biting into an undercooked potato
     This just sucks so much ass! Its like bitting into an apple, and who likes apples and eggs in the morning?
2. Stepping on wet ground with socks on
     This is also complete garbage! I hate having soggy socks! This  reminds me of the times when I was a kid and I would get caught in the rain for whatever reason and I have to sit in the soggy ass shoes for a couple hours.
3. People who wear sweaters on hot days (100 degrees)
     While walking around the university I attend in 100 degree weather I find these idiots who love to wear sweaters and sweat pants! Just looking at them walk around looking like Ralphie from A christmas story makes me sweat! Just looking at them makes me feel like I'm on the verge of a heat stroke!
4. Emo kids with "issues"
5. Fat guys that wear Tap Out T-Shirts! (No Explanation Needed)

Old People With Braces!

     FUCK! I hate old people with braces! They look fucking retarded! (it's not nice to say the R word!) Every time I see one I stop and wonder out loud "what the hell are you thinking?" Your teeth were fucked up for 40+ years and now you want to do something about it? Like no one would notice that a couple months ago your grill looked like it was kicked in by a cowboy with steel toe boots and now all of a sudden your smile is better than Julia Robert's. Silly rabbit! It's all these old people trying to be young for whatever stupid reason. I personally cant wait until I'm old enough to do nothing but shit in my diaper, drink coffee and fall asleep waiting for the ball game! BUT there's these other fools wanting to drink every last drop out of the fountain of youth trying to stay young and looking like complete fools while attempting to do so! Thank you crooked smiles!