Cheese with Jam / Cheese with Beer

At a recent dinner party at Christine Potter's pad, I showed up with a couple bottles of the Smoking Loon brand wine and some cheese.  We discovered that Cambozola Blue cheese from Germany when combinded with Stonewall Kitchen Black Raspberry Jam can send your tastebuds in a dizzying dance of pure enjoyment and might even make you tingle in your boy-parts/girl-parts.   If you haven't tried this experiment yet, I urge you to RUN to your nearest market and give it a go. 

And while you're at it, another symbiotic relationship emerged when Gus Mason popped over to my house for some Sunday evening bombast.  We discovered that the seasonal Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye Ale went splendidly with a couple of cubes of Prima Dona Extra aged cheese from Denmark.  Now any aged cheese would be a good match for this, but we particularly enjoyed this one.  It's a keeper. 

Got Mule?

Just askin'!! Here's a goody from 2006.  Andy Hess on bass, since then he's been replaced by a badass named Jorgen Carlsson.

The Brothers of March

It's always nice to be a New Yorker in March – 74th and Broadway becomes the center of the universe. That is, if you're an Allman Brothers Band fan.  I've probably seen them over a dozen times at the Beacon Theater.  There is no more perfect venue in New York City, in my humble opinion. 

Without losing who they are at the core, the band has evolved into a 7-piece freight train.  If you're not on your own personal A-Game for one of their shows then you're going to get run over.  They bring it.  Night after night.  And they do it for many, many, many nights. 

Now, I say they've evolved into what they are -- some would argue they always were.  I'd refer them to the stuff that was coming out in the late 70's and 80's from those guys.  But that's neither hip nor funky.  Point is -- they bleepin' rock.  And they never cease to impress me.  Derek Trucks may single handedly -- or double handedly -- steer that ship each night.  I mean, yes it's easier to coast when you have Oteil, Butch, Jaimoe and Marc as a rhythm section...but he really is the motor to that vessel.  But that isn't to say that any one of them is more important than the other.  They are a band.  And it's a well known fact that I'm an enormous fan of Warren's.  And Gregg is singing better than he has in years.  

It's an experience.  And I'm glad it's March. 

Name game...

It's been on my mind for some time.  I was thinking - every time I load up the car and head up to the studio, I always feels like I'm off to see my therapist.  A music therapist.   That's what the show feels like to me.  I take all the energies I've experienced during the week and regurgitate them into a 2 hour digital heave of of moods and grooves.  And when it's all said and done, I feel rejuvenated.  Much like I would were I in a therapist's office, I suppose. 

And this got to me thinking even more.  What if I changed the name of the show?  What if, instead of Sonic Streamz, the shows title better reflected the experience - at least from my perspective.  But what could I call it?  Music Therapy?  I mean, that's really what it is.  So I ponder.

What are your thoughts?

I'm curious.

On my radar...

How these guys have managed to illude my attention -- I have no idea.  But I'm a fan now!  Check em out....Band of Horses: