All summer long, Lush Life has looked to Brooklyn Based for the latest happenings, the most fascinating people, and new projects sprouting up all over Brooklyn. So, we hit their event at Barrette in Prospect Heights last night to drink some tasty Lillet cocktails and meet this summer's official social directors to see what they have cooking for the rest of the year. Chrysanthe from BB promises that the fall will be jam packed with events, so sign up now, if you haven't already.
Click the picture above to check out some candid shots from the party.
Of course, no Lush Life review is complete without a cocktail recipe. So, behold the Lillet-Mondade:
3/4 oz.Lillet Blanc 1 1/2 oz. Hendrick's Gin 1/4 oz. Lemon Juice 1/4 oz. Agave Nectar Soda 3 Basil Leaves
Muddle 2 torn basil leaves with agave nectar. Combine all other ingredients except soda. Shake over ice. Strain into a glass full of ice. Top with soda. Garnish with a basil leaf.
At Lush Life, the perks are endless. One of the greatest things about writing for this blog is the opportunity to experience once in a lifetime events for free. So today, I get a call from Lindsey, asking me if I would like to go see Elvis Costello at The Apollo. Of course I said yes, considering that Mr. Costello is one of my all-time favorite artists. Sure, he hasn't put out a consistently great album since the Reagan administration, but hell, he might play "Radio, Radio," and that's good enough for me. Secondly, she tells me that he is appearing with Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley (a guilty pleasure, I admit), and She & Him. She tells me to meet Leo (our other main Lush Lifer) at the theater at 7pm. What follows is a timeline of my experience at the show. It may not be all that literary, but it's a look inside the mind of a pretty big Costello fan as his dreams and worship of an idol is slowly crushed. Enjoy!
7:05pm: I find Leo outside of The Apollo. He tells me that we will be unable to sneak a camera into the venue, and that I should get on line at will-call and pick up my ticket. I eagerly do so.
7:24pm: We are seated in the lower mezzanine overlooking the orchestra. There are cameras everywhere, apparently this is being filmed for some kind of television show. We are next to the boom operator and Leo has taken out his iPhone and decided to do the best he can with taking pictures. The theater is still three quarters empty even though the confirmation email we received told us that the doors would be closed at exactly 7:30pm. 7:57pm: The theater is still about half empty. A production assistant tells us that we have to move downstairs to fill in the empty seats in the orchestra. Looks like there aren't as many people here as they would've liked. We sit in the back of the orchestra by the center camera. Leo tells me about his dating life.
8:01pm: Absolute pandemonium. The crew is running around, trying to fill in empty seats as well as set up cameras and equipment. Who knows when this will start? 8:03pm: I am absolutely prepared for bad white people dancing with their hands in the air like those late night commercials for Christian rock CDs. There is a giant screen showing a variety of pictures of Elvis Costello with the words "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." next to the photos. I explain to Leo the direct correlation between the down-turn in Costello's career with his purchase of that black fedora that he seems to wear all the time. I wonder if that hat posesses magical powers of suck. Maybe it was bought at the same store that the dad from Gremlins got Gizmo.
8:05pm: A producer comes onstage to explain that "Spectacle" is a new television talk show hosted by Elvis Costello that will premiere on the Sundance Channel in December. A talk show starring Elvis? Now that's a great idea! After all, he is one of the most literate rockstars of the past 30 years. He'll make a great host. This is gonna be awesome!
8:09pm: Elvis takes the stage. Oh no, he's wearing that fucking hat. This might suck.
8:10pm: The band starts a song. It must be the theme song. It's not very good. Elvis does a monologue about how music is more like water than a rhinocerous. It doesn't make much sense. The crowd seems confused. He may be drunk.
8:12pm: Elvis introduces She & Him and they perform a new song. Zooey Deschanel is one of my favorite actresses. Every man in the theater is staring wide-eyed and open mouthed at her as she sways in a tiny blue dress singing a country song. Her eyes aren't as blue as they are in the movies, but I still love her. 8:17pm: Stools are brought out onstage and Elvis interviews Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. I can see Zooey's underwear. Elvis makes jokes that no one laughs at. He also talks about himself a lot, occasionally stopping to ask a question that She & Him don't answer. This is awkward. I wonder if Elvis will give us all cars like Oprah did for her audience. Leo doesn't think so.
8:29pm: M. Ward reminds me of Teller from Penn & Teller. He nods his head a lot, but doesn't actually say anything. Oh, now he's talking. About Phil Spector. He's kind of pretentious. I liked him better when he didn't speak. Elvis is wearing an ugly scarf and a black Napolean-type jacket, even though it's very hot in here. His outfit is ridiculous. 8:38pm: Jenny Lewis comes out during the interview. I notice that Elvis is leaning against his stool, but not actually sitting down. I wonder if he has hemmorrhoids. Surely he can afford one of those donut pillows, right? Also, M. Ward is sitting between Jenny Lewis and Zooey Deschanel as they both talk about how great it is to work with him. He looks uncomfortable and isn't speaking again. I imagine that this is a "Jerry Springer" taping instead, and any minute Zooey and Jenny will attack each other over who M. Ward loves more. Anything would be more interesting than this. Costello is the worst interviewer I've ever seen, and Zooey is kind of a moron. 8:50pm: Jenny Lewis plays "Pretty Bird" off of her upcoming album, Acid Tongue. It's kind of good in a slick corporate kind of way. Much better than the song Elvis Costello opened the show with.
9:00pm: Break in shooting. People are escaping like mad. The crew are trying to convince them to stay, but to no avail. Run hipsters, run! Escape the trainwreck!
9:09pm: Elvis interviews Jakob Dylan. He is wearing a cowboy hat. The stage just got a lot less attractive. Now there are two stupid hats on one stage. Dylan just used the word "compadre". What an asshole.
9:15pm: Music dork-out in full effect between Dylan and Costello. Elvis just said that "A Boy Named Sue" was written by Johnny Cash (it was Shel Silverstein), and Jakob Dylan said that "Lost in the Supermarket" by The Clash was sung by Joe Strummer (it was actually sung by Mick Jones). If you are going to talk about music, at least know your facts. Elvis is reminiscing about Joe Strummer. He might cry. 9:23pm: Now Costello is talking about old soul singers with Dylan. He has just sung the praises of Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke. Does anyone else remember when he called Ray Charles "a blind fucking nigger"? I guess not...
9:25pm: Costello is like your drunken uncle who's lived quite a life, and should have fascinating stories, but instead just rambles on with no point. His stories go nowhere and Jakob Dylan is boring. At least with Jenny and Zooey I had something to stare at, not just two assholes in ridiculous hats.
9:30pm: Dylan just started playing an acoustic version of his Wallflowers hit "One Headlight". It sounds like his dad circa Nashville Skyline but horrible. I wish that one headlight would illuminate the crowd, showing how unsatisfied they are.
9:45pm: Dylan and Costello play another song after lots of tuning. This is like watching an old man blues jam at the afformentioned uncle's house. I think the song is called "Masterpiece". Whatever.
9:52pm: Another break in shooting. The great crowd exodus part two continues.
9:59pm: Elvis is interviewing Jakob Dylan again. I think Leo is sleeping. Elvis just keeps asking rambling, leading questions and then cuts off the subject to answer it himself.
10:05pm: Leo is awake again and digging his nails into the flesh in his wrist. He stopped blinking a few minutes ago. I'm scared. My ass is also sweaty and stuck to the seat.
10:15pm: All-Star jam with Costello, Deschanel, Lewis, and her boyfriend, musician Jonathan Rice. I think the song is called "Carpetbagger".
10:20pm: Another song, I think the title is "Why Don't You Go Away". It's a rocker, and actually kind of good. I wonder about what sex between Jonathan Rice and Jenny Lewis must be like. I bet it's a mess of hair and vintage clothing.
10:28pm: Another song with Jakob Dylan. No, wait...Elvis needs to tell shitloads of stories that go nowhere. And then it's back to the ASS-KISSING AND VERBAL HANDJOBS! WOO HOO!
10:32pm: Dylan and Costello play "Straight to Hell" by The Clash.
10:39pm: All the artists featured join the band onstage for a version of Nick Lowe's "What's So Funny ('Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding)". It's actually really good. I come to a couple of realizations during the song:
Tennessee Thomas (The Attractions drummer Pete Thomas' daughter) is a pretty darn good drummer for a ten year old. Too bad she's dressed like a pilgrim.
Jonathan Rice looks like a shitty Gram Parsons mixed with that guy that invites Billy Crudup to the party in Almost Famous.
Zooey Deschanel can't dance and has no rhythm.
Jenny Lewis is dancing like she needs a pole to swing on.
Jakob Dylan is one "molestache" and 50 years away from looking exactly like his dad.
M. Ward looks like he is on medication that makes him unaware of his surroundings.
The rest of the band is old as dirt, and...
I'm pretty sure Elvis Costello's guitar isn't even plugged in.
Ever wondered what the bar band in Hell's saloon would sound like? Well, look no further than Jason and the Punknecks, a rowdy hillbilly quartet from the deep-south redneck backwoods of Los Angeles, Californee. These rough n' tumble sons of bitches play a fine country tune with a mean twang that could make even the most sissified city-boy cry for Dixie.
Handling the lead vocals, hubcap percussion, occasional mandolin, and even more occasional guitar is Jason, a tattooed and bearded auto-mechanic looking guy with more grit in his voice than a thousand hardcore singers. Singing along with, as well as switching guitar and hubcap with Jason is the Heidi-Klum-via-trailer-park looking Polly, who wails like a banshee while periodically giving soul-shivering stares and glares into the audience. Together, the two of them sound like a Satanic Johnny and June Carter Cash. Handling lead and slide guitar is Woody, who is always on point and sometimes looks astonished at what he is doing, and he's not the only one. His reverb effects add a splash of psychedelia to the otherwise-straightforward country. Lefty, the backbone of the drumless band, provides a grounding melody and rhythm to the cacophony that the other three produce.
With such introductions as, "This song's about killin'" and, "This song's about drinkin'," it's easy to imagine what to expect from a Jason and the Punknecks show, but seeing them at the Parkside Lounge last Wednesday or at Trash Bar last Monday defied all expectations. With all the presumptions of a simpleton's redneck show, they surprisingly have a lot of heart and soul, ingredients necessary to turn any ordinary country band into extraordinary. This isn't to say they didn't have fun. "Never Trust a Pirate" offered a murderous sea-chantey while their covers of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and "Every Rose Has its Thorn" became almost unrecognizable if not for the familiar lyrical refrains. Jason and the Punknecks are currently on tour, and have to be seen to be believed.
Already nostalgic for the summer that was? Knock back a few margaritas, and head over to the Village East Cinema for a screening of August Evening, which is sure to warm up your chilly September nights with its sweltering Texas imagery and devastatingly hot actors.
I know the novelty of the rooftop film is starting to wear off, and I'm looking forward to quality films in the warmth of a bona fide theater.
Maybe we're a little elitist here at Lush Life, but we haven't spent the night playing Beer Pong or Quarters in a very long time (it's been two whole weeks!). Typically, though, if you ever find us at a kegger, we''ll be the ones sitting in the corner looking surly, cradling the bottle of vintage liquor we snatched from the locked liquor cabinet. But, for those of you with more, um "college" tendencies, there's The Imbible by Alex Bash.
"This book contains all the drinking game classics, from Quarters to Kings, to today's newest, coolest, and most debauched drinking games, including Beer Roulette and The Lord of the Rings drinking game (every time a character draws a sword more slowly and cinematic than is pragmatic to do in the heat of the battle, drink). Containing original illustrations and more boob jokes than is necessary, this will truly be the bible of drinking games."
So, if you are the kind of person who is always looking to impress your friends (or your 17 year old girlfriend) with new drinking games, here's your chance. Just don't forget the Jagermeister...
A Dash of Bitters mixed up some gin and heirloom tomatoes in their slightly delayed Mixology Monday post.
Bull E. Vard over at KC Beer Blog put down the pint glass and infused some bourbon...with bacon?
The Liquid Muse offers up a very NYC cocktail from Marshall Altier from Insieme Restaurant.
The Tipsy Texans whip up a few variations on their state's signature cocktail: The Margarita. Here, here, and here. They've even included a two videos.
How To Make a Margarita:
Also: How NOT To Make a Margarita (I'm not sure if I'm more repulsed by her sweet muddling technique or the sour mix.)
And, for our take on the margarita, our resident cocktail assassin, Allan Delgado, makes his version of this classic cocktail.
In his continuing quest to mix every drink in the Savoy Cocktail Book, Under-Hill Lounge stirs a batch of Darb Cocktails.
Rowley's Whiskey Forge revamps one of Jamie Boudreau's Marmalade cocktails in what sounds like the most delicious cocktail on the list.
Drinks America and Geffen A&M Records just announced that Dr. Dre's new line of unflavored sparkling vodka and Aftermath Cognac will hit the shelves around the same time his newest album, Detox, releases. Currently, the projects are slated to be available to you, the hip hop and booze loving public, sometime in late November or early December.
At Lush Life, every day feels like National Rum Day, but this Saturday, it was official. So, to celebrate, I made a serrano infused Hemingway Daiquiri that went a little something like this:
3 oz. Serrano Pepper Infused Brugal Light Rum Juice of one lime 1 oz. Grapefruit Juice 1 oz. Maraska Maraschino Liqueur
Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a collins glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and serrano pepper slice.
The cocktail was bright and spicy with just a touch of sweetness from the Maraska. It also accompanied my National Rum Day reading quite well. To fully replicate my glorious afternoon, check out some of the great rum-based blog entries I found sipping away on my modified Hemingway Daiquiri.
In the US, Jim Beam is typically associated with good old boys starting fights with inanimate objects right before they puke all over their brah's Abercrombie t-shirt, but in Australia, Beam has taken another approach: hot, scantily clad women. And, it's getting them in trouble. Check out their most recent ad.
