Illustration by author, drawn without even having to look.

I have made a playlist of Night Ranger’s first five albums and am rocking out in a way that will surely get me evicted from my apartment. The volume is high, and lyrics thought long-since-forgotten are howling from my mouth. There is quite a bit of air-guitar-soloing, especially during parts with eight finger-tapping, which might make any neighbor peaking thought my window think that I’m trying to conjure a spell, or possibly iron a shirt.

During my youth, this was the band for me. The one FIRST BAND that every person finds, latches onto and exhibits an unhealthy longing to be in the presence of, either at live concerts or simply cranking vinyl in a paneled, basement bedroom with a zebra-striped floor.

Every student at my school had the band they clung to – the art kids with The Smiths, the hardcore kids with Black Flag, the cheerleaders with Duran Duran and the jocks with whatever was popular that minute (I like to imagine they listened to Kenny Loggins, which is possible, and so unbelievably gay).

The current incarnation live. vcalzone

Jenny Kaye turned me onto Night Ranger via a cassette dub of their 1987 debut, Dawn Patrol. I went on to spend thousands of dollars over the years, supporting the band. Nowadays, when I hear industry types whining about kids sharing ‘unprotected’ digital music, I always go back to Jenny Kaye in my mind. If she hadn’t given me their first album for free, with track titles written in different magic marker colors and I’s topped with circles, my money would surely have gone to John Waite or Van Halen.

“Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” was Night Ranger’s first hit. It ruled my life. Whammy bar crazyness and eight finger tapping solo, all of the good stuff. A music video featured the band on a train out of control, ultimately swept away by wind powered with fans probably bought at a department store (not the most convincing storm ever filmed). I purchased it on 7”, album and cassette, having it at the ready no matter where I was. You have no idea.

I knew every band member. Drummer Kelly Keagy sometimes sang lead vocals and positioned his kit on stage left, wearing strange spandex one-piece jumpsuits cut specifically to show off both his chest and balls. Singer Jack Blades was the ringleader, clowny and impossible not to like. He’d often completely forget to play his bass, his hands gesturing wildly, then flying back to the instrument’s neck a second or two behind the current measure. Bearded keyboardist Alan “Fitz” Fitzgerald remained a mystery though his tenure with the band, becoming the man behind the curtain for Van Halen after Night Ranger. Ever wonder who is playing “Jump” while Eddie is holding his guitar? It’s Fitz.

Midnight Madness.

Night Ranger featured two guitarists, both with distinctly different styles and chops that gave me instant wood. I bought the exact guitar models that they played and spent hours in front of my television, learning their solos from Hot Licks VHS Instructional tapes. Gillis’ signature moves involved his whammy bar (with a particular ability to make the guitar sound like a woman having an orgasm), while Watson’s was technical proficiency and the ability to finger-tap in ways that dwarfed poseur metal-ers. Gillis wore tight silver pants for about 10 tours, while Watson served as the band’s chief advertiser, mostly wearing things with the classic Ranger logo (I can’t help but remember one outfit that looked like a marching band uniform, with the logo, and thinking that’s probably even too much for a marching band clarinet player to pull off.).

Midnight Madness, the group’s second release, was one of the biggest albums of the decade. Despite containing two other popular radio tracks (“You Can Still Rock In America”, “When You Close Your Eyes”), it was “Sister Christian” that made them rich and famous. If I close my eyes and think of this song, I can smell three seasons of the year and picture the faces of friends that I haven’t thought about in decades. The song stuck around and remains forever in the minds of those who made out in cars during 1984.

Now a manager of musicians, I realize that some of my early training came from simply following Night Ranger’s career from my Connecticut bedroom. I would take copies of Billboard out from the public library, just to read the band’s chart progress. I would have imaginary arguments with A&R types about single choices and would question the band’s choice of openers (I recall that Starship particularly bugged me). There were no message boards or ways to alert the band to the poor decisions that I didn’t support – it was just me circling my bedroom, talking to myself, crazy at 16.

I’d learn about merchandising, daydreaming about how many silver Night Ranger necklaces they’d sold, and where they were manufactured, and in what quantities. I was especially concerned with how stoned they might have been to agree to some of the videos they’d made, particularly “Four In The Morning”, which found them marooned in the desert with a bunch of space alien girls, eventually teleporting to a soundstage where they would perform with some of the most astonishing neon outfits ever worn in rock music (not their fault, it was 1985). Video below.

I soldiered on with the band through their follow-up albums, Big Life (tour sponsored by a shampoo) and Man in Motion. Although both did well, Night Ranger never could escape the claws of MCA Records, who knew not whether to market Night Ranger as balladeers or rockers.

This was best demonstrated when Motion was released. An ad was taken out in Billboard announcing “Night Ranger’s a Foursome and Guitars Are Back!”. The first single released was called “I Did It For Love”, a keyboard-driven ballad so terrible that I am positive every member of the band regrets having recored it – it surely had to be written under duress from the label. I screamed at my car stereo immediately following my first listen. “Don’t let them do that to you! You totally rock! Stop being wusses!”

Fitzgerald eventually left, as did Blades (who would find new success with Damn Yankees) and Watson. My interest faded as Keagy and Gillis toured a paltry offering under the moniker (more bedroom yelling), taking the brand down a notch in the process. I went to college, discovered indie rock and tucked my 80’s records into the way-back of the closet. I quietly purchased new compact disc versions of the albums as they became available, listening to them on solo car drives, when I could feel free to scream about rocking and America and rocking and America. Nobody knew.

Nobody knew, that is, until about 10 years ago, when I saw the reformed lineup play with Journey. They played as hard as they did in 1983, a band far better than the one-hit-wonder tag that has sometimes befallen them. I stood in the rain at a fairground, by myself, and acted like a total fool while they wailed. I drove home feeling deliriously happy and emailed all of my friends a giddy summary of what I’d seen. They all promptly bought compact discs of the same albums and took long drives away from their spouses and children. And rocked in America.

Last year, I ran into Jack Blades at an airport. I wasn’t sure it was him, until I saw him holding a Starbucks coffee cup marked with his name (everyone is someone at Starbucks). I’ve been around celebrity enough now that I’m usually not shaken by it, but in this case i was reduced to my teenage self – a man in his 30’s trying to spill out 25 years of internal dork-dom in one encounter.

I fumbled conversation and he took over the way all seasoned artists can, offered to shake my hand, patted me on the shoulder as we discussed just how strange Denver Airport is (fucking strange). Then, he went his way and I went mine.

And I just thought, wow, isn’t that the coolest damn thing that ever happened to me in my whole life.

Community Connection

Curious what your favorite favorite rockers look like now? Looking for the ultimate metal playlist for your iPod? Or how about some surviving your first metal festival? Or maybe even an inspiring story of a musician trying to make it. We gotcha.

Rolling out the dough at Ben’s. Photo by contusion

Tavern on Jane Street

This is a neighborhood pub, off the radar for most reviewers, a boisterous bar with about 25 tables and some supremely great wine choices. The restaurant feels like something that Paul Revere might have eaten at – lots of brick, wood and low ceilings. So charming, in fact, that you should break the rule and bring a Trojan on the first date, because you’re getting laid if you have half a game and start the night here.

I recommend the burger, which crushes those across the street at Corner Bistro and is as hot as any other beef in the burger porn world.

Tavern on Jane, 31 8th Ave, (212) 675-2526

Toasties

New York Deli sandwiches are dreamt of worldwide but the truth is that most of them suck – crackled bread, questionable meat, bottom shelf mayonnaise. Toasties (embarrassing to say out loud – “Meet me at Toasties.”) pounds the nail straight into the stud.

The Half King. Photo by roboppy

Three locations serve unreal sandwiches. The Alice is a work of art; a combination of turkey breast, brie cheese, granny smith apples, Romaine lettuce, and honey mustard. The Smoke Jack does me in every time – turkey with melted jack cheese, bacon, sundried-tomato pate and honey Dijon.

Toppings can be mixed, matched and manifested. Their breakfast sandwiches will leave you full all day. This is a sandwich as good as any New Yorker dreams of.

Toasties, multiple locations, NYC

Thainy

Every New Yorker has their favorite Thai place and this is mine. Reasonably priced for New York, the food is simple and perfect. The décor is a bit much but that’s never distracted me from having a fantastic bowl of Tom Kha, or indulging in their peanut curry.

Suitable for an early dinner with friends, or a blind date from the internet.

Thainy, 94 3rd Avenue, (212) 696-2888

Patsy’s

I’d rather not muck about with waiting in line with tourists for some bulge-eyed pizza – this is as good as any other famous brick oven pizzeria. Patsy’s has a few locations in the city but doesn’t feel like a chain. Even a Jersey Girl could dig it.

The pizza is as good as it gets, with fresh cheese and slightly charred crust. Their family sized salads are great to share and do like I do; get a side of their sweet, homemade marinara to dip your bread in. Classy? No. Great? Yes.

Patsy’s Pizzeria, multiple locations

The Half King

Appetizers at La Mela. Photo by tubbynj

Owned by writer Sebastian Junger, The Half King dishes out “pub food done right.” It’s an excellent place to have a proper Sunday Brunch, especially if you’re from the UK and crave some bangers or beans. The fish & chips is my favorite, heaped onto a plate with a side of some tart and tasty cole slaw.

There’s a small back garden with about ten tables, the kind of tiny space that New Yorkers covet. Great for birthday dinners and dates from the internet.

The Half King, 505 W 23rd St, (212) 462-4300

Sushi Sen Nin

Awkwardly located around the corner from The Empire State Building, Sen Nin is a bit of a ghost town at night, yet entirely packed at lunchtime. Don’t let the half-filled room fool you – this is some of the best sushi in the city. And it isn’t cheap.

The rolls are heaping, often covered with multi-colored roe – as much spectacle as fresh, incredible fish. I’m addicted to the tuna tatake salad (with crunchy pieces of garlic) and the simple Sunny California roll (brown rice, crab, avocado and mango). I’ve twice gone for a sushi boat and both times left feeling like a prince or a king or a queen. I’d go here before Nobu or Blue Ribbon, because I am a true sushi ninja.

Sushi Sen Nin, 30 East 33rd Street, (212) 889-220

Tortilla Flats

Most of the time, this is a fratty Mexican place that feels like a bar, with booths and strong drinks. I would never show up on a weeknight when it’s stuffed with people downing pitchers of margaritas, crushing on members of the opposite sex or getting plowed during Tuesday Night Bingo.

For me, it’s all about Sunday at noon, when the place is mostly empty. I’ll take down a Frisbee-sized quesadilla grande, gorge on chips & salsa and probably make the move towards a second or third margarita, not leaving until I am stumbly and bloated. Elvis and Ramones might blast on the system, but so might Three Dog Night or Foreigner.

Many, many times I’ve sat here for hours, reading the New York Times and having a “quiet moment” in this normally raucous establishment. If it matters to you, several times I’ve also been in the company of neighborhood celebrities doing the exact same thing.

Tortilla Flats, 767 Washington St, (212) 243-1053

Ben’s Pizza

Patsy’s. Photo by laughingsquid

This is the pizza I dream about, the stuff that makes me forget all about the worst pizzas in the world. The sauce has a sweet, salty taste and the cheese is piled on high. Ask for a pie with garlic and you’ll be unkissable for months.

To me this is event pizza, something ordered for special occasions, like The Superbowl or a Survivor finale. The pie travels well – order ahead a full pizza, pick it up in a cab and make it home in time for whatever television gets you off.

The men who work here are all business, with zero tolerance for people in line that hem and haw over decisions. Fast moves will gain you points.

Famous Ben’s Pizza, 177 Spring Street, (212) 966-449

Freeman’s

Be prepared for sticker shock: unless you’re a Friend of Bill, you’re not getting out of here for less than $50. Worse, crowds can swarm this place and I tend to arrive on the early side, around 6:30, which isn’t even close to hip.

Why? Unreal food. Start with Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels (in garlic aïoli and toast hefeweizen broth), nab a side of Sautéed Rapini with garlic & chili flakes and go crazy on the Goffle Road Farm Oven-Roasted Chicken, with grilled romaine (yes) and house-made ranch dressing.

Freeman’s Restaurant, 191 Chrystie Street, (212) 420-0012

La Mela

Little Italy enthusiasts might poo-poo this place in favor of something more high-brow – I’d give them a few fingers under the chin right back. Once a tiny space, La Mela has crept into three neighboring storefronts and remains a huge favorite for me.

There is a menu, but it should be ignored. Just say the word (“family style”) and a handful of courses will come your way until you pray for mercy. Big hunks of fresh mozzarella caprese, oodles of al dente pasta and a dessert plate that makes me squirm in my chair as I write this.

The staff is a hoot and, some nights, the place takes on the festive feel of a family restaurant in Italy – hands-over-elbows, big bottles of cheap wine, cramped quarters, families just a table away from young lovers.

Ask me about the time that I took Slipknot here.

La Mela Restaurant, 167 Mulberry Street, (212) 431-9493

Taquería Mi Ciudad. Photo by casasroger

Taquería Mi Ciudad. That’s what the sign said.

It wasn’t in a guidebook and it wasn’t on a map, but I saw it while walking towards the Opera metro and decided to give it a shot. I’d eaten some tourist-ready, drab Mexican in Madrid before, yet this near-dive joint looked promising. In the way that only near-dive joints can.

Inside? Transformational, life-changing tacos.

OK, so maybe that’s a bit much, but that’s how the food hit me. Why? Because somehow the concept of a cheap, simple taco has become bastardized as the recipe goes around the world. These were the real thing, not a Spanish approximation of what a Taco Bell-eatin’ American would like.

There were only three filling choices as far as I was concerned; a thick, smoky Pollo Mole, a spicy/sweet Rojo with pumpkin seed and one hell of a Cochinita Pibil (a citrus-soaked pork). I’ve since had those three tacos five times, making excuses to use Madrid as a hub on trips through Spain. I have gone to surprising lengths to have their taste sensations put my buds in a sleeper hold.

Simple, amazing tacos. Photo by Sergi Depazos

The tacos are prepared before your eyes, right at the eight seat bar, inside a room that couldn't fit more than 20 people at capacity. The fillings are pulled from refrigerated Tupperware and combined with hotplate-warmed tortillas.

There's no pomp and circumstance or frilly garnish. Just damned tasty, slapped-together food made from real Mexican recipes.

The guys who work here are happy and charming, almost bashful that I could love their food enough to come back for it twice. They definitely don't get many English speakers. I've never seen the place without at least ten people inside, mostly local Spanish foodies who know what great Mexican food tastes like.

At €1.50 a taco, it's among Madrid’s best bargains. The €5 margaritas are freshly prepared and not from a mix – they rival the food in authenticity.

Taquería Mi Ciudad
34 608 621 096
Calle de las Fuentes 11
Madrid, Spain

Community Connection

Tom Gates travels and eats. He’s managed to find authentic italian food in Bangkok and is rather opinionated about pizza . He has a history of binge eating, as documented in pieces about Berlin and Buenos Aires.

]]> http://matadornights.com/the-best-taco-in-madrid/feed/ 6 http://matadornights.com/lemongrass-galangal-thai-chili-6-cocktail-recipes-with-flavors-of-southeast-asia/ http://matadornights.com/lemongrass-galangal-thai-chili-6-cocktail-recipes-with-flavors-of-southeast-asia/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:31:12 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=9400

Lemongrass Lychee Martini. Photo by cpurrin1

Thai Martini

This catch-all South East Asian cocktail is part of a growing list of alternative martinis.

10 ounces of Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka
4 ounces of chilled lemon grass tea
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small chunk of fresh ginger, peeled
4 sprigs of fresh lemon grass
4 thinly sliced, small pieces of fresh ginger

Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice. Shake for one minute, then let stand for a full minute. Rub the piece of ginger around the inside of the bowls of four frozen martini glasses. Strain the martini into the glasses. Garnish each glass with a spring of lemon grass and one thin slice of ginger .

This one’s going to take you back to some of your favorite places in Thailand.

Courtesy of www.kalamazoogourmet.com

Lemongrass Lychee Martini

This recipe calls for canned lychee juice. You might get creative and try soaking some fresh ones with sugar and water, instead.

Lemon Grass Simple Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
4 stalks lemongrass, cut into thirds

Thai Chili Martini. Photo by urbanmixer

For each Lemon Grass Lychee Martini:
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce Lemon Grass Simple Syrup
1 ounce lychee juice (from canned lychees)
1 lemon wedge
1 lemon twist

For Simple Syrup, mix sugar, water and lemon grass pieces in small saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes or until sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate 2 hours. Strain. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (This makes enough simple syrup for 8 martinis.)

For each Martini, fill cocktail shaker half full with cracked ice. Add vodka, simple syrup and lychee juice; shake until well mixed and chilled. Strain into martini glass. Squeeze juice from lemon wedge into martini. Rub lemon twist around rim of glass, then drop into martini.

Courtesy of www.foodreference.com

Chili Martini Cocktail Recipe

A sweet cocktail that supplies a strong kick.

Lemongrass Mojito. Photo by foodnut

1 chili, Thai ( or more to your heat preference)
1.5 oz vodka
2 oz peach or nectarine juice
1/2 oz simple syrup

Clean the chilies and remove the seeds. Muddle the chilies with simply syrup and Vodka. Drain liquid in shaker and then add fruit juice. Shake well with ice. Serve in martini glass. Garnish with chili on rim. For a sweeter treat, sugar the rim .

Courtesy of www.whiteonricecouple.com

Lemongrass Mojito

The Southeast meets Cuba:

4 sprigs mint
15mL sugar syrup
45mL white rum
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 stick lemongrass
1 muddler
1 cocktail shaker
150mL soda water

Halve the lemongrass stick widthways, finely chop bottom half and muddle with mint and sugar syrup in cocktail shaker. Add rum and ice, shake vigorously, pour all into suitable glass, top with soda water. Using the back of the knife, crush cut end of remaining half of lemongrass and garnish drink with it, crushed end inside the glass.

Courtesy of www.cocktailmaking.co.uk

Infused Chili Vodka

There’s no need to spend umpteen dollars on expensive flavored vodka. It’s easy to make your own.

2 fat red chillies, plus extra for bottling
1 liter vodka

Put some zing in your vodka! Photo by matana

Slice the chillies and mix with the vodka in a large bottle or jug. Leave for 4-5 hrs. Strain out the chillies and pour back into a bottle to store until needed. If gifting, decant into smaller glass bottles, pop a whole chilli in each and label.

Courtesy of www.bbcgoodfood.com

Ginger not Mary Ann Cocktail

A really cute name for a great recipe.

1.5 oz Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka
.5 oz Canton Ginger Liquor
.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Galangal Lemongrass Syrup (recipe follows)
Ginger Ale

Combine vodka, ginger liquor, lemon juice and galangal lemongrass syrup. Pour over ice into a tall glass and add ginger ale to taste.

For Galangal syrup, add one cup sugar to one cup water in a small saucepan. Add shredded 1 chopped galangal root and 1 stalk lemongrass to the mixture. Slow cook for 5-10 minutes until sugar has dissolved completely and let sit over night or until completely cool. Strain well. Refrigerate.

Courtesy of www.biteclubeats.com

Community Connection

Matador has amassed quite a few articles about Southeast Asia, with quite a few great pieces specifically about Thailand. We cover it all, from Thai customs to how to binge eat in Bangkok.

]]> http://matadornights.com/lemongrass-galangal-thai-chili-6-cocktail-recipes-with-flavors-of-southeast-asia/feed/ 2 http://matadornights.com/poll-have-you-ever-hooked-up-in-a-hostel/ http://matadornights.com/poll-have-you-ever-hooked-up-in-a-hostel/#comments Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:56:41 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=9202

Which one’s the real bounty? Photo by erutan

What percentage of Matador’s readership has been party to bunkthumping?

Something happens at youth hostels that can make reality flip. I have seen the most pure, saintly ladies go Animal Planet over the course of a three glasses of cheap Chianti. I have heard men tell tale of holding onto their virginity until they are married, only hours later to be seen furiously flustered at a condom vending machine with a dire, spastic look in their eyes.

This is not say that the reality flip happens to everyone, nor that it happens all of the time. Which made me curious.

What percentage of people are pulling off into dark hostel corners or pretending to “just crash in my new friend’s bunk tonight”?

For the purposes of this poll, ‘hooking up’ is defined as: 1) Any sexual activity that goes beyond kissing (you know). 2) Takes place on the grounds of a hostel, tree houses included (I suggest for no particular reason at all). 3) Occurs with somebody that could not, at that time, be considered your partner.

We welcome any stories in the replies, and also understand that you’ll be creating a fictitious name for any comments. It’s a great day to create a pen name.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Community Connection

Have you read our picks for the craziest party hostels in the world or its sequel? Did you know that you could also move the party to the coolest campers around?

]]> http://matadornights.com/poll-have-you-ever-hooked-up-in-a-hostel/feed/ 16 http://matadornights.com/five-places-to-go-when-you-have-the-urge-to-eat-balls/ http://matadornights.com/five-places-to-go-when-you-have-the-urge-to-eat-balls/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:08:32 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=9207

Photo by jaredlyon

Matador takes a sneak peak at the world’s bullocks.

Cooking animelles (you know) is taken so seriously that there’s a yearly World Testicle Cooking Championship held each year in Serbia. There’s even a cookbook available for scrotum enthusiasts.

Photo by benjaminlhaas

Here are five places where you're guaranteed to get what you came for.

The American West (Bull)

Known as Rocky Mountain Oysters (or Prairie Oysters), these balls hail from the nether-regions of bulls or buffaloes. They are “peeled” (yelp), coated in flour and fried. In a final act of indignity, some chefs prefer to cook them only after they’ve been pounded flat.

Photo by viognier

Eagle, Idaho's ballsy fire department puts on the "World's Largest Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed" as a fund raiser. There's also a testicle festival in Elderon, Wisconsin. More than 300 people gathered for the last all-you-can-eat goat, lamb and bull testicle meal.

Taiwan (Rooster)

As Nellie Haung reported on Matador last year, rooster testicles are “bigger than you’d imagine, with thin veins and a tight plump texture.” They’re easily found in Tapei’s Snake Alley.

Philippines (Bull)

Fan’s of Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods might be enlightened about bull’s rectum and testicle soup, which is served piping hot in the Philippines. This adapted version of oxtail soup is found in Philippines and pretty much combines everything back there into one pot.

Lancashire, England (Lamb)

Photo by horatio3k

Guess what Lamb Fries aren't? Correct: They're not potato based. These ditties are lamb testicles coated with cracked meal, then fried, as most balls usually are. Who said that food sucked in the UK?

While they are also served in Oklahoma and Indonesia, Lancashire has allegedly developed a particular taste for these particular balls.

China (Everything)

You’ll have no problem finding testicles in China. You’re likely to find almost any variety, including dog, ox, deer and goat. Many restaurants (or carts) allow you to peruse your options before they’re cooked on skewers.

Community Connection

Into worldly food? Be sure to check out Ripped Knickers and Other Chilean Food. We’ve also shed a little light on how Canadians treat a hangover with extreme grease and were happy to binge eat in Bangkok.

]]> http://matadornights.com/five-places-to-go-when-you-have-the-urge-to-eat-balls/feed/ 10 http://matadornights.com/three-old-tymer-drink-recipes-that-still-rock/ http://matadornights.com/three-old-tymer-drink-recipes-that-still-rock/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:33:09 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=9069 Matador gives you three recipes, each around 100 years old (and all musts for even the novice mixologist.)

The Manhattan. Photo by emurray

The Manhattan

The first known recipe of this drink is from 1891. While probably concocted in Manhattan, there is some debate as to whether it was created at Manhattan Club, as reported.

4 1/2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey
1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 Maraschino cherries

Fill a pitcher with ice and add the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Stir vigorously until the outside of the pitcher is thoroughly beaded with sweat and is extremely cold to the touch.

Place a maraschino cherry in each cocktail glass. Strain the drink over the cherries and serve immediately.

Courtesy of epicurious.com

A Sidecar variation with Hennessy. Photo by maisonbisson

The Sidecar

Invented in the early 1900’s, this drink’s origination is attributed to the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Some say it was often ordered by a man who arrived at the bar in a motorcycle sidecar.

1 1/2 oz cognac
1 oz Cointreau® orange liqueur
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

Take a lemon wedge, notch a slice into the middle and use it to moisten the rim of a chilled cocktail glass. Frost the moistened outer rim of the glass with superfine sugar. Shake ingredients together with cracked ice and strain into prepared cocktail glass.

Garnish with lemon twist, and serve.

Courtesy of drinksmixer.com

Sloe Gin Fizz. Photo by dinah

Sloe Gin Fizz

A wildly popular drink from 1910 to around 1930, strange variants of this drink can include egg white (Silver Fizz), egg yolk (Golden Fizz) or a whole egg (Royal Fizz).

1 1/2 oz. sloe gin

3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. sugar

Club soda

Combine lemon juice and sugar in a cocktail shaker and mix to dissolve sugar; add sloe gin. Fill shaker with ice and shake well for 10 seconds.

Strain into glass and top with 2-3 ounces chilled club soda, to taste.



Adapted from the Esquire Drink Book by Imbibe Magazine.

Community Connection

Looking for more recipes? Check out our picks for drinks you can light on fire and alternative maritnis. We’ll also advise you on how to make the perfect Bloody Mary and Caipirinha.

]]> http://matadornights.com/three-old-tymer-drink-recipes-that-still-rock/feed/ 0 http://matadornights.com/musicmonday-10-songs-about-streets-avenues-intersections/ http://matadornights.com/musicmonday-10-songs-about-streets-avenues-intersections/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 01:40:09 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=8878

We gonna rock down to. Photo by thetruthabout

Eddie Grant “Electric Avenue”

If you know the song, it’s now jammed in your brain for about 24 hours. The track was written about a market street in Brixton (London). Released in 1982, the single reached #2 in both the USA and The UK.

Bob Dylan “Positively Fourth Street”

This song was not release on an album, rather as a single to bridge the gap between Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde. There is some debate but it seems most likely that the 4th Street in question is an area of Greenwich Village where Dylan once lived.

Famed music critic Dave Marsh checked the tune as “an icy hipster bitch session”.

What plagues Rhett Miller. Photo by video4net

Ramones “53rd and 3rd”

Back in the day, this would have been the place to go if you were looking for a male prostitute. The song’s geographic location pinpoints the nexus of the homosexual hooker trade in the 1970’s.

Written by Dee Dee Ramone, there has long been speculation that this track might be based on money that he earned himself on this corner. A must for Ramones fans.

Iron Maiden “22 Acacia Avenue”

“Acacia Avenue” is another way of saying “Main Street” in England – there are at least sixty Acacia Avenues in Great Britain. Maiden uses it here as a setting for the second song in their Charlotte the Harlot series. This track precedes “The Number of the Beast” on the album of the same title, one of heavy metal’s must-haves.

Counting Crows “Sullivan Street”

Male hookers here. Photo by google.

From Counting Crows’ debut, this track recounts a mopey trek home. It’s a great album track from a classic album, despite having one of the most pained high-school-student lyrics out there (“I’m almost drowning in her sea.”)

Old 97’s “Broadway”

This song is seemingly written while singer Rhett Miller was put up in a spiffy Times Square hotel room which “costs as much as my own apartment”. Taken from the album Too Far To Care, which is considered by many as an alt-rock classic.

Simon & Garfunkel “The 59th Street Bridge Song”

OK, technically it’s about a bridge but cut me some slack. “Bleeker Street” would have been too easy. Also known to many as “Feeling Groovy”, the song reminds people to “slow down, you move too fast.”

Steve Young “Seven Bridges Road”

You’ll might know this song as covered by The Eagles from their 1980 live album but it was originally recorded by Steve Young. “Seven Bridges Road” is the disputed name of the road that leads to Hank Williams’ grave. It’s been covered by both poofy-haired glam metal-ers (Firehouse) and poofy-haired country singers (Dolly Parton).

Not listed because it’s not real. Photo by loneprimate

Rolling Stones “2120 South Michigan Avenue”

This instrumental jam refers to the address of Chess Records, where the song was recorded for the band’s second EP (later to be released on their second album 12×5 in 1964).

Straylight Run “Sunrise Highway”

Officially “Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)”, this song is one cover version away from being a smash. The singer asks you to go east on Long Island’s Sunrise Highway, then go left at Carman Avenue. Then go right at the first stoplight and, allegedly, the love of your life will be standing there waiting for you.

It would be neat to hear a hit that could have been written with Mapquest directions.

What’s your favorite location based song? Tell us in the replies.

]]> http://matadornights.com/musicmonday-10-songs-about-streets-avenues-intersections/feed/ 4 http://matadornights.com/10-arguably-odd-things-things-that-people-put-on-pizza/ http://matadornights.com/10-arguably-odd-things-things-that-people-put-on-pizza/#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 02:02:55 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=8590

Pizza de Cuy? Photo = mashup by Kate Sedgwick using photos by palindrome6996 and The Pizza Review.

Pizza is probably one of the most subjective foods in the world. What’s gross to you might be perfectly normal to the next person. Even if that means cooking guinea pigs.

Emu

The Australian Heritage Hotel in Sydney offers many odd pizza choices. What could be crazier than Salt Water Crocodile or Pepper Kangaroo? In my book: BBQ Emu. For those not familiar, an emu is a large, f-ugly, flightless bird that looks like it’s carrying a tiki hut on its back. I’m betting that it doesn’t taste like chicken.

French Fries. Gnarly. Photo by author.

Labane

Sometimes used as a pizza-enhancer in Israel, Labane is a sour, strained yoghurt-cheese. Pictures of labane make me think that this somehow might be a winner – if a cheese as tart as goat cheese can work on more exotic pies, why couldn’t this one? A close relative, paneer, is often used in India.

Squid Ink

You can always count on Japan for turning food concepts on their head. This pizza finds tomato sauce replaced by the goo that comes out of a squid’s funnel. Given its notoriety for staining, I can only imagine that any mouth would look like that of a zombie after eating this pie.

Mayonnaise

Order a Mayo Jaga pizza in Japan and you’ll get mayonnaise, potato and bacon. I’m completely confused why the British didn’t create this pizza first, as it combines three of the most beloved recipe ingredients in the whole Kingdom.

Cuy (Guinea Pig)

The emu that men do. Photo by fboosman

Not only is it a great first pet, it’s also perfect when smooshed with cheese. Pizzas de Cuy have been sighted in the Andes, where eating this animal appears to be a delicacy. The meat is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, which makes it a much more appealing option than KFC’s Double Down.

Plenty of Fish

Many kinds of fish have been tossed on pizza, including the disgusting bacala concept. What beats that? A “mockba” pizza in Russia will allegedly land you toppings that include sardines, tuna, mackerel and salmon. Call it an aquarium on a pie.

French Fries

This egregious toppings is a parlour trick for tourists. I’ve seen it many tourist traps around the globe and can report that it tastes soppy and oily. Steer clear! This is among the worst in the world.

Corn

What’s on your strange pizza? Photo by bdlandis

A hot debate on the pizza circuit, most people have a decisive opinion about as to whether corn should be involved in pizza making. Having never tried a pie with corn, I’d probably vote “yes”, as long as it was on the sweet and softer side and not something bright yellow and from a can.

Grapes

Most likely based on the Tuscan classic grape focaccia, this fruit has infiltrated high end pizzerias and looks to be a new trend.

Gherkin

I draw the line at pickles but many others don’t, especially in New Zealand. Not only are gherkins on the menu at the Hell Pizza chain, but so is cranberry sauce. Ridiculous.

]]> http://matadornights.com/10-arguably-odd-things-things-that-people-put-on-pizza/feed/ 15 http://matadornights.com/hear-n-aid-remembering-dios-star-studded-metal-benefit-track/ http://matadornights.com/hear-n-aid-remembering-dios-star-studded-metal-benefit-track/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 00:45:22 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=8773

Photo from the back of the We’re Stars album

Dateline 1985. Rallied by Ronnie James Dio, some of heavy metal’s biggest names gathered to create the rock answer to “We Are The World”.

I’d been buying every magazine I could find, poring over the details of metal’s who’s-who charity song, which followed on the heels of “We Are The World.” Six months passed before it would air (the record labels reportedly argued about clearances) but when it did, on January 1, 1986, I had BOTH of my family’s VHS recorders recording The Making Of Stars and the world-premiere video.

I watched it no less than 62 times in 24 hours.

Written by Dio and then-bandmates Jimmy Bain and Viv Campbell, “We’re Stars” contained some decidedly Dio lines (“We can be strong. We are fire and stone. We all want to touch a rainbow.”). Whereas other charity songs focused on, you know, the problem at hand, this song’s hook centered around the participants. The chorus goes:

We’re Stars.
We’re Stars.
We’re Stars.
We’re Stars.

Nevertheless, it raised a million bucks and featured an all-star cast of the metal scene, including members of Judas Priest, Quiet Riot, Dokken, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Queensrÿche, Blue Öyster Cult, and Spinal Tap.

Nobody knew what they’d look like over 20 years later.

The unedited version contains perhaps the sickest guitar solo in metal history, with licks by Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch, Brad Gillis, Neal Schon, Vivian Campbell and Craig Goldy (among others).

Behold.

Community Connection

More Dio? Check out Ten Metal Musts for Your iPod.

Totally bummed about Ronnie James Dio’s death? We’d love to hear how he touched your life, too.

]]> http://matadornights.com/hear-n-aid-remembering-dios-star-studded-metal-benefit-track/feed/ 1 http://matadornights.com/los-angeles-songkran-festival-minus-the-water-antics/ http://matadornights.com/los-angeles-songkran-festival-minus-the-water-antics/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:00:59 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=8105 Los Angeles’ version of Songkran Festival took place on April 10th. Matador snapped some photos at the festival, a much more tame version of its Thai counterpart.

1. Thai Town on Hollywood Boulevard marks the spot.

2.A proud display of Thai music with beaming elders in the audience.

3.Dessert to die for. Shaved ice with fruit flavoring and sweet, condensed milk.

4.Clearly men with swords can cut the coffee line.

5. Vendors made papaya salad for the masses, not holding back on the spice factor.

6. People walked the street in costume, even at the bus stop.

7.Traditional song and traditional outfits. Behind? The traditional liquor store.

8.Much like in Thailand, health codes seemed to have gone out the window for at least a day. Skewer upon skewer of meat was sold.

9.Kids had a great time, with many arts and crafts tables just for them.

10.Longtime craftswomen proudly displayed their talents in booths.

11.Advertisers took every advantage, from billboards to sample-giving.

Photos by author, except 2 by Tim Schiavelli.

Community Connection

Missed LA’s Songkran? There’s always next year. If you’re looking for cheap things to do in the City of Angels, MatadorTravel Community member SSaraiya has just the blog for you with 7 Things to do in Los Angeles for Under $5.

If you’re looking for worthy volunteer opportunities, hop over to MatadorChange and read Urban Volunteering: Los Angeles.

Bawk Bawk. Photos by author.

A friend had posted a picture on his Facebook and I became intrigued. What could this bizarre concoction be? Had a fast food chain broken new ground? Had they invented…a new MEAT?

It turned out to be a photo of KFC’s Double Down, a ’sandwich’ which slaps two white meat chicken filets together with a filling of bacon, monterey jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce (a white goo that tastes hollandaise-y but looks like whatever came out of the head of Ash from the movie Alien). One google later and I found out that it was the center of a country-wide debate.

And probably front page news at Chickens For The Ethical Treatment of Chicken’s newsletter, too.

Never one to shy away from a large meal, I zipped right over to KFC and ordered one. Stunt food or not, I was going to try it.

Ready for your close up?

Unwrapped, it’s an embarrassing thing to marvel at, as strange as being caught eyeing a new prosthetic leg or choosing between two marital aids. The bacon lipped out of the sandwich, as if it had already been positioned for a photo shoot. The goo oozed perfectly and the cheese looked like it’d been tarted up for a TV commercial, half-melted but not runny. I was thankful for the wrapper that held the whole thing together, lest something grime up my fingers real bad-like.

If KFC’s goal was to create a Frankenstein sandwich, something foreign and bizarre, then they succeeded. This was not anything like a burger, or even some of the crazy churascos I’d seen.

One bite in and I knew that I wasn’t going the distance. An overpowering salty taste hit the system first, followed by a bit of spicy sauce that felt like it was poured straight from a gallon jug that’d been purchased at the dollar store. The two fillets were indeed juicy, but the double-juicy factor made it feel just plain strange without some kind of bread. Imagine eating a warm popsicle. It made no sense.

The guts.

The whole affair was a bit too boingy. I wondered if it might not be a late night kind of item, one that you love at the minute but regret a dizzy mile later. It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t good and certainly didn’t feel good for me. It made me wonder if British food wasn’t that terrible, after all.

I was left hoping that this new trend of creating something outrageous just for the sake of it would not have legs, that this was something a hungry world wouldn’t substantiate. That people with thinking minds could ignore and blast past. Then I ate the strip of bacon that was left laying there.

We are a weak people, really.

The W Hollywood’s pool. Photos by author.

The W Hollywood

This is the pool that everyone’s trying to get into. I’ve read several Yelps by people who have waited in endless lines but when I arrived (4pm on a Saturday) I simply got in the elevator and went to Drai’s, the area of the W complex that houses both the pool and a restaurant.

The area was packed, mostly with people clumped in groups of lawn chairs. Big, Bedouin-looking tents ran the balcony and were filled with smaller numbers, who paid $500 to secure the spot (the guarantee acts as your bar bill).

I purchased two glasses of something called a Peach Crush and was set back $35, even with a cheapskate tip. It should be noted that amazon.com sells actual peach trees for just double that price.

The DJ booth sat on a balcony above the bar, pumping out tranquil beats and lulling everyone into the sunset. The views were, as promised, incredible, but not much different than those from the top of the parking garage at Bed, Bath & Beyond around the corner.

Bottom Line: If you’re in LA and looking to experience The Los Angeles Thing, this would be the place to point yourself.

The Standard before the crowds arrive.

The Standard

The pool at the Standard can be a rowdier, more zany affair, which seems to depend on just how many Brits are staying there at the time. The DJ crowd still shows up in evenings and as summer kicks in, it livens up on weekend afternoons. The whole deal sits on a balcony overlooking the city.

I chose a happy hour drink by the pool with a friend, a glass of dangerous house wine in a plastic wine tumbler. It’s not the place for a classy cocktail – the mojitos even taste like something from a pre-made mix. If you can embrace the Ibiza Light vibe then you’ll do well here.

Two guys played Contact Ping Pong while about fifty people mingled, the girl next to me leaving to take a powernap before she went out tonight to “get all kinds of messed up.”

Bottom Line: The Ikea of the LA pool scene. Not the most gorgeous but good enough to get the job done.

The Mondrian’s lovely chillout.

The Mondrian

While not a particularly large pool, The Mondrian has done an excellent job of making the surroundings feel regal, from oversized potted plants to an ottoman large enough to seat 40. It sits a stone’s throw from the hotel’s Asia de Cuba Restaurant, which also delivers some tasty food.

I entered the pool bar, which felt Jamaica-gone-Miami, a bungalow with an impressive cocktail list and a price tag to match. Still new to LA, I chuckled to see that the Cleanse Cocktail – made of water, cayenne pepper and syrup – went for sixteen bucks. The fresh fruit martinis looked very appealing, but that’s probably just because I’m a sucker for a flavored martini.

Bottom Line: A ritzy, lazy afternoon if you’re not afraid of the sticker price and an excellent place to wallow.

Lounging at The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel

The poolside restaurant here smells of classic Hollywood and is most often a great spot for celeb watching. Think green and white umbrellas, fluffy towels and plenty of people snoozing or swimming.

I chose to sit at the poolside restaurant and made quick work of a club sandwich and an Arnold Palmer. As good as it was, I coveted the next table’s McCarthy salad, a concoction made with lettuce, chicken, egg, beets, bacon, tomato and cheddar.

The staff works diligently to treat everyone like a king and while the prices are high for upscale diner food, they’re aren’t ridiculous. Assuming you have still have a credit line.

Bottom Line : A classic spot to kill an afternoon if you want to feel like a black & white movie star.

The bill from Drai’s at W Hotel. Ross?

The Sunset Marquis

While not much to look at, this courtyard pool is in the middle of one of LA’s go-to celebrity stays, which assures a few at-least-B-listers will be hanging at some point during the weekend. The Sunset Marquis also contains a recording studio, which turns up musicians looking to do some down-low recording.

This is not really a destination pool but this actually helps, as it doesn’t attract an overwhelming crowd. The hotel restaurant just around the corner makes some incredible food and serves as a great pit stop between laps, especially on a brunchy Sunday.

I grabbed a quick beer and lamented the fact that just hours before Chase Crawford had been sunbathing. You know, because we’d have had a lot in common and could have chatted.

Or I could have ogled him like some kind of pool-crashing pervert.

Bottom Line : Come from brunch at the restaurant and stay for a drink at the pool.

Image: Kate Sedgwick, at the Direction of Tom Gates

The Backpacker’s Bond is Bourne?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The CW has tapped Friday Night Lights‘ Scott Porter for a television pilot that will leave all backpackers dreaming in their bunks. Recovering from a bit of a bumbler with Speed Racer, Porter (who played Jason Street on FNL) could be the right man in the right place at the right time.

Porter goes Planet? Photo mashup: Kate Sedgwick with
images courtesy of Anthony Citrano and flo and me

Nomads is described as “an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride following a group of nearly broke young backpackers traveling the world who agree to earn money by working secret missions for the CIA.” We’re dying to know if they’ll hit the party hostel circuit, or if there will be any bunk nookie along the way.

Will they have to pay for a key deposit? Will they lose it?

Famed director Ridley Scott has been brought on as an executive producer, hopefully learning a few lessons from his other recent and allegedly-cancelled Numbr3rs, which was written also written by Nomads‘ executive producer Ken Sanzel.

Do you think the show has a shot? You, the Matador reader, probably know more than anyone about hostels and adventure. Could a show like this become the hosteler’s Alias?

Prayers answered. Women. Photo: foilman

The Guardian reported this week that YHA is considering the implementation of mixed dorms, in London at the very least. The piece suggests that this move comes as a response to the the rapid growth of the hostel movement, many with properties that not only allow for mixed rooms, but also fancier digs.

No one is mentioning numbers but it’s obvious to this oft-packer that YHA must have a difficult time competing in towns leaking other hostel options. Party backpacker digs certainly aren’t the answer for everyone, but YHA’s are often affairs so stodgy that not even sex-crazed rats would breed in them, let alone backpackers lulled into submission by sparse rooms, concrete walls and a rigid lockdown schedule (which, to be fair, many seem to also be doing away with).

Ladies, your future bunkmate. Psyched? Photo: rileyroxx

It’s not about taking off the garter belt – it’s more about at least unbuttoning the collar.

Not one put off by being in a room with a woman, I do understand why some people prefer to be with their own sex, especially women who might be traveling alone. Because The Guardian’s piece is less of an announcement and more of a hmmmmm, one has to guess that they’ll at least leave some of the rooms to single sex guests.

More than one person has spoken to enjoying mixed rooms because it leads to a diverse experience, in terms of who you meet. And let’s face it – both guys and girls can be kinda gross.

Let’s hope that one thing is for sure; that like with other hostels, the unspoken code should apply. If you’re gonna get some, find dark corners or take a long shower.

With more and more party hostels popping up each year, it will be interesting to see if YHA loosens up or even realizes that marketing a more puritanical angle might actually benefit them.

I’m kind of Switzerland in the whole debate. Me, I’d be happier if they outlawed bad movies in the common room.

The beginning of the end. Photo: conin_n

This drink is best if shared among a handful of people. If you’re a fan of this cocktail then investing in a tiki bowl would be worthwhile, especially if you can find one that resembles a volcano and allows for a high-proof alcohol fire on the top.

Armed with nothing but a straw each, you’ll be able to down this puppy in under half an hour, but beware – drinking too much will make your knees wobbly at best and find you making out with your best friend’s spouse at worst.

Here’s the recipe that started it all, from Trader Vic’s 1946 Book of Food and Drink:

36 ounces Puerto Rican rum (Rum Merito or Brugal suggested)
2 ounces gin
2 ounces brandy
16 ounces lemon juice
8 ounces orange juice
8 ounces orgeat (almond) syrup
2 sprigs of mint
1/2 bottle white wine.

Mix thoroughly, pour over cracked ice, let stand two hours and add more ice. Garnish with gardenias.

This one’s flaming. Photo: chipandandy

For those less interested in purist concoctions, All Recipes provides a more contemporary take:

3 cups crushed ice
2 fluid ounces gin
1 fluid ounce dark rum
2 fluid ounces 151 proof rum
2 fluid ounces light rum
2 fluid ounces vodka
2 fluid ounces grenadine syrup
8 fluid ounces fresh orange juice
10 fluid ounces pineapple juice
3 fluid ounces fresh lemon juice (optional)
4 pineapple chunks
8 maraschino cherries

Place the crushed ice in a large pitcher and pour in the gin, dark rum, 151 proof rum, light rum, vodka, grenadine, orange juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice. Stir well to mix, then pour into a large, decorative cocktail glass and garnish with pineapple, cherries, and straws.

Community Connection

Interested in making more drinks? Check out our suggestions for how to make the perfect bloody mary or caipirinha. More adventurous types can investigate how to make your own flavored vodka.

Idiot Goes Diving At the Trevi Fountain – Watch more Funny Videos

Be sure to check out a boot full of Italy articles on Matador!

Photo: richardwitt74

Uncle Tupelo “No Depression”

Most often seen as the pioneers of the movement, Uncle Tupelo’s run from 1987-1994 went largely unnoticed by the mainstream but stormed a trail for many bands, including the ones that would form out of this one’s ashes (that’d be Wilco and Son Volt).

The title track from their 1990 album No Depression also became the title for a magazine which covered the scene from the years 1995-2008.

No Depression

Whiskeytown “Houses on the Hill”

Lucinda Williams. Photo by jcbehm

Fronted by Ryan Adams, Whiskeytown made a name for themselves by playing gloriously loose and raucous shows. Always a bit of a soap opera, the band’s inner turmoil turned to electricity during gigs. “Houses on the Hill” features background vocals and violin by member Caitlin Cary, who greatly contributed to the band’s sound.

Houses On The Hill

Wilco “Passenger Side”

Hopefully by now you’re familiar with Wilco and their story. If not, grab a copy of the DVD I Am Trying To Break Your Heart and learn just how rough life can become for a rock band. “Passenger Side” is decidedly townie, a tale about mooching rides and calling shotgun.

“You’re gonna make me spill my beer, if you don’t learn how to steer.”

Passenger Side

Old 97’s “Melt Show”

Old 97’s blew down the doors when they entered the scene, bringing a more rockabilly and punk aesthetic to their shows, which often found singer Rhett Miller shaking and quaking more than Elvis. Now pushing 40, Miller still writes excellent songs and The 97’s still make music together. “Melt Show” is probably the best studio recording to ever capture their live energy.

Melt Show (LP Version)

Blue Mountain “Wink”

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. Photo by charlie cravero

Blue Mountain’s Dog Days is one of the best records you’ve probably never heard. Founded by a husband and wife duo (she also John Stirratt from Wilco’s twin sister), the band was never able to crack the big time. This album, chocked full of Mississippi heartbreak, endures as a lost classic.

Wink (Album Version)

Son Volt “Drown”

The “other post-Tupelo band”, Son Volt continues to tour and make great music. “Drown” shows the band’s distorted side but don’t be fooled. The soft stuff is just as powerful. Mark Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard as a fan – he recently made an album and toured with SV’s main man, Jay Farrar.

Drown (LP Version)

The Jayhawks “Blue”

There was a moment where Alt Country nearly tipped into mainstream and The Jayhawks’ “Blue” was one of the songs that nearly took it around the corner.

Imagine that this song was once played on radio stations that now blare Linkin Park and System of a Down. It’s also possibly one of the sweetest songs of all time.

Blue

Lucinda Williams “Drunken Angel”

With a drawl all her own, Lucinda’s Car Wheels On A Gravel Road has sold nearly a million copies and earned her a Grammy. The whole album’s a corker.

Drunken Angel

Scud Mountain Boys “Grudge”

A band that formed sitting around a table, Scud Mountain Boys hit the nail on the head with their 1996 album Massachusetts. A song about a breakup and the stalking that follows, “Grudge” features the honest hook, “I would give anything to make it with you just one more time.”

Have you heard The Avett Brothers? Photo by elawgrrl

Grudge

The Avett Brothers “I And Love And You”

The Avett Brothers are one of many bands to take Alt Country’s torch and run with it. They’ll surely be one of 2010’s biggest breakouts, already pulling in big crowds and making them The Band To Watch at this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival.

I And Love And You (single)

Community Connection

For more “musts”, be sure to check out both our Motown and metal lists. Also not to be missed: Our picks for 50 music sites that matter.

Photo: maniacak

Green Apple Martini

Cinnamon and sugar for rimming glass
5 tablespoons vodka
5 tablespoons sour-apple schnapps
5 tablespoons lemonade
5 tablespoons lemon-lime soda (such as 7-Up or Sprite)

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, schnapps, lemonade and lemon-lime soda. Cover and shake vigorously. Dip rim edge of martini glasses in a shallow dish with 1/4-inch water, then in a shallow dish with 1/4-inch of equal parts sugar and cinnamon mixture. Strain shaken mixture into prepared glasses and serve.

(Note: Martini lovers, be sure to check out our suggestions for ten alternative martinis!)

Courtesy of Food Network

Green Tea Mint Julep

Photo by Taea Thale. ackook

1 1/2 oz of Charbay Green Tea vodka
1 oz of simple syrup
sprite
3 lemon wedges
8 mint leaves

Muddle 3 lemon wedges with mint leaves. Pour green tea vodka, simple syrup and shake. Strain into highball glass over ice. Top with sprite. Garnish with mint leaves.

Courtesy of Cocktail Times

Green Flash Cocktail

1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
3 oz orange juice
3 0z sprite
ice

Mix ingredients together, serve over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Courtesy of White On Rice Couple

Photo bylorika

Midori Melon Bomb

½ part Midori
¾ part golden rum
½ part fresh orange juice

Pour into a tall glass over ice.

Courtesy of The Nibble

Midori Margarita

6 ounces Tequila
3 ounces Midori
5 ounces Sour Mix
ice

Pour the ingredients except the ice into your blender and blend for about 10 seconds. Then, throw in a handful of ice and blend for another 30 seconds.

Courtesy of Blender King

Green Lizard Shot

1 oz. Chartreuse, green
1/2 oz. Rum, overproof/151 proof

Mix ingredients and pour into a shot glass.

Photo by Taea Thale. samsmith

Courtesy of Drink Nation

Green Daiquiri Punch

2 (12 ounce) cans frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
2 cups Gatorade sports drink, Lemon-Lime flaor, chilled
1 cup light rum
2 (12 ounce) cans lemon-lime soda pop, chilled

Mix limeade concentrate, sports drink and rum in large pitcher. Refrigerate until serving time. Just before serving, pour punch into punch bowl. Add soda pop.

Courtesy of Recipezaar

Community Connection

Drink Crazy? Check out how to make your own flavored vodka or investigate Spain’s most spirited drink, Queimada.

Photo by stewtopia

The Levis/Fader Fort

A consistently cool party, the Levis/Fader fort is the hipster hangout of choice. This year’s lineup includes We Were Promised Jetpacks, Freelance Whales, The Morning Benders, Dum Dum Girls and Japandroids. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (?) close the event on Saturday night.

Live streams will be available for those attending SXSW virtually.

March 17-20, 1-8pm 1101 E. 5th Street, Twitter @levisfaderfort

She & Him. Photo by Taea Thale.

The Pure Volume House

This might be the best late night hang, partly due to the free Taco Bell available to sop up the nine beers you’ve had in the hours before. Performances after 2am include Holy Fuck, The XX and Andrew WK.

Don’t let this dissuade you from the daytime shows, which include Meiko, Miniature Tigers, NeverShoutNever, The Henry Clay People and Rocky Votalato. Saturday’s Special Guests still remain a secret.

March 12 – 20, 2pm-4am, 504 Trinity St, @purevolume

The Spin Party

This will be your best chance to catch up with the trainwreck that is Courtney Love, that is if you can get it. As big as Stubbs outdoor stage is, this party always fills up fast. Other acts include Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Miike Snow, Rogue Wave & Foxy Shazam.

March 19th, 12:30-6pm, Stubb’s, 801 Red River Street, @spinmagazine

Dickies Sounds

This party boasts a surprisingly sick lineup. Industry eyes will be focused on Melbourne’s The Temper Trap, who arrive in America hot on the heels of a huge record Down Under. Sets by She & Him, Broken Bells, Rogue Wave, Dios, Greg Laswell and Dr. Dog make this a hard party to beat.

March 18-20, 3pm-1am, Lustre Pearle, 97 Rainey Street, @Dickies874

Billions

One of indie rock’s most esteemed booking agencies flexes their muscle at this event, with shows by artists on their roster including The Black Angels, Avi Buffalo, Oh No Ono, The Dutchess and the Duke, and Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. BBQ and beer have also been promised. “Free drinks until they run out”.

March 18, 12-6pm, The Mohawk, 912 River Road,

The Filter Showdown at Cedar Street

This is probably the bill to beat. From 1-6pm each day, Filter presents one hell of a line-up, including Minus The Bear, Band of Skulls, Local Natives, Frightened Rabbit, Athlete, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Miike Snow. Free BBQ from 11am-1pm each day!

March 18-20, 11am-6pm, Cedar Street Courtyard, 208 W. 4th Street, @Filtermagazine

WXPN Presents No Coffee, No Pants

Curated by one of America’s best public radio stations, No Coffee, No Pants is the best comedown of SXSW. A groovy and more mellow line-up will be welcome come Saturday, when most everyone is bloated to the gills and experiencing tenitis. Two stages feature sets by acts like Lissie, Rogue Wave, Avi Buffalo, Dawes and Philadelphia’s stellar Jukebox The Ghost.

Japandroids. Photo by Leigh Righton.

March 20, 11:40-6pm, Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River St, @wxpnfm

IFC Crossroads House

The hell with the show, this party has free wi-fi, daily giveaways (including Gibson guitars), cell phone and laptop charging stations and a photo booth! The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn serves as host, with key performances by Drive By Truckers, Broken Social Scene and The Walkmen.

March 17-20, 11am-7pm, 612 Brazos at the corner of East 7th, @ifcdotcom

Rachel Ray Feedback Festival

Rachel Ray’s third year at SXSW just might be her best. Jakob Dylan & the Three Legs (w/ Neko Case) is the bill’s biggest surprise. Also included are She & Him, Bob Schneider, Mishka, Freelance Whales and The Cringe (featuring Ray’s hubby, John Cusimano).

Unsurprisingly, food shares the stage, with a menu that includes Tex-Mex Sliders, Pulled Pork Tortitas, Quesadilla Suiza Stacks, Queso Fundido Taquitos and Albondigas Subs. Free and open to the public!

March 20, 10:30am-4pm, Stubb’s, 801 Red River Road, @RachaelRayShow

Community Connection

Be sure to check out Matador’s piece on the 50 music sites that matter! You might also eyeball your favorite 80’s rockers (20 years later). And while you’re at it, give a gander to our pieces about Motown and metal musts.

How did the idea come about to start this night in Berlin?

A very small group of English and American friends (led by me, Robby Block and Desmond Tumulty) used to meet on Wednesday nights at Marietta, a neighborhood café in Prenzlauer Berg that draws a gay crowd one night a week. It’s full of cute neighborhood guys, but it’s also impenetrable and intimidating. During a year of hanging out there, we hardly met anyone — and I’d say we have pretty well-developed social skills.

We then changed bars and Desmond started casually calling it our weekly “Queer Beer.” We still weren’t meeting people and we continued kvetching about how difficult it is to make connections in German society. We constantly joke that the Germans are “socially autistic.” It is bad to make sweeping generalizations about other cultures, but there is a certain amount of truth in them.

At some point in 2008, I said we should stop bitching and take charge of the situation by starting our own weekly event. The joke was that we could use it to meet Germans on our own terms. On Jan. 18, 2009, QBT was born at Perle Bar in Prenzlauer Berg.

I found the party on Couchsurfing. How do you promote it and what’s the general audience?

We promote the party mostly on Facebook, but also on expat Web sites like ToyTown Germany, which is an excellent resource for people living here, and Gayromeo, the local gay dating site. Robby, Desmond and I also advertise in Berlin’s monthly gay magazine Siegessäule, which is important for drawing tourists. One Swedish guy found the ad last spring and has been back to Berlin three times since and is now moving here.

In terms of the general audience: Anyone who is queer or loves to hang out with them is welcome. Queer is such a great word because it is all-encompassing and also has “punk” associations. It allows you to avoid the LGBT bullshit, which sounds like a chicken’s innards. You can say “queer” and not worry about offending anyone.

The three of us who started QBT are all long-term residents of Germany. I’ve been here almost nine years and Robby and Desmond have been here similarly long. So from that starting point, it was really important to us that this not be a bitch fest for whining about Germany — that’s just too cheap and easy. And we also want it to be clear that Germans are not only welcome, but also highly desired. We don’t want to create any kind of “parallel society” with this event — we just want to be able to speak English one night a week and experience a bit of home.

When we began, we kind of figured it would be 90 percent Americans and Brits. Instead of becoming an Anglo-American ghetto, though, it has become a truly international event. We get lots of gays from other EU countries, especially in the east, Russia, Turkey, some from Asia as well as the Americans, Canadians, Australians and Brits. An increasing number of German guys and gals are also coming, which shakes things up in a great way. We’re also starting to get Erasmus students from other European countries.

We have bartenders who come and we have English teachers, translators, professors, tv personalities, media types and diplomats. The only rule is that we detest snobbery in any form. You can be critical if you come and you don’t have to be salt of the earth, but you do have to be open-minded, friendly and have a modicum of social skills.

Your night feels more like a popular party or a hangout, rather than a crazy all-nighter. Was that by design?

Back in the heyday of gay Berlin in the 1920s, Christopher Isherwood used to hang out at a working class bar called the “Cozy Corner.” I would like to think that we offer a cozy corner, a place where people can turn up once a week and hang out and speak English with other people from different cultures.

We also deliberately avoided the German term “Stammtisch” for weekly gatherings because, for the most part, QBT is completely anti-intellectual. We didn’t want to have yet another venue where you can lament the war in Afghanistan or climate change. It’s a place where you can meet people, drink enough beers to behave absurdly and also drop your pants if you’re lucky enough.

What’s up with that drag party that people were going to after yours?

Chantal. So many stories, I wouldn’t know where to begin. But having Chantal’s House of Shame gives us a place to send the kids when we’re done partying on Thursday nights.

Do you have any tips for what are the current “hot” places in Berlin right now on the gay scene?

The most famous club in Berlin and perhaps that world right now is Berghain in Friedrichshain. But if beats per minute or aggressive door policies are not your thing, then it will be hell for you without drugs. Skip it.

I think it’s safe to say that, after Chantal’s House of Shame, the QBT crowd gives its strongest endorsement to Schwuz in Kreuzberg. Schwuz is sort of like a gay community center/nightclub, but also very cool. Like QBT, it draws a very diverse crowd — at least in terms of age. It’s very friendly and always fun, with its themed parties.

There are French nights frequently and Madonna- and Kylie-Mania parties. Irrenhaus (Insane Asylum) at Geburtstagsklub is also a favorite – it’s also hosted by a drag queen, Nina Queer.

How big is the gay expat scene in Berlin? Is it growing?

Berlin is one of the world’s gay capitals. The word “expat” always conjures up images of Americans and Brits. The image should be a lot bigger, though.There are so many Eastern Europeans and Russians in Berlin, SOME OF WHOM are escaping cultures that are incredibly repressive towards gays. If you add Eastern Europe to your view of what it is to be “expat,” then the population in Berlin is huge.

What would you say to the person who might be intimidated to go to the party by themselves?

We try to look out for new arrivals, but it is getting admittedly harder because the crowd is growing. All you need to do is ask the barkeepers about QBT. We have two sweet and very sexy bartenders — Roberto and Andreas — who are pretty vigilant about informing the QBT organizers (the “queen bees”) about newcomers who are here for the party.

I haven’t heard of many parties like this. Do others exist?

It is important for us to admit that we are not the first. Munich has a monthly gay expat event that has existed for a while, and there are probably a lot of other places with similar parties. We had a guy visit from Lyon, France last summer who wants to start his own. This idea is in the public domain and we encourage others to jump on the QBT bandwagon.

The party is held every Thursday at Perle Bar, Sredzkistrasse 64 in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany. Join the Facebook page or check out more information at Toytown.

Community Connection

Gay and worldly? Give an eyeball to ten of the world’s farthest flung gay bars. Fans of Berlin, be sure to check out a photo tour of Berlin 20 years after the wall’s fall and a great rundown of places to chow down in a hurry.

The Terimayo. Photo by rosietulips

The Terimayo (Vancouver)

Japa Dog became a fast favorite with this year’s Olympic crowd, with lines routinely stretching around the block. Many have tried to infuse Japanese ingredients with dogs before but none have done it as successfully as this stand in downtown Vancouver.

Most people gravitate towards the Terimayo, a beef hot dog toped with seaweed, teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and fried onion. Other Japa toppings include grated radish, green onion, okonomi sauce, fried cabbage and dried bonito flakes.

The Pylsur. Photo by roboppy

The Pylsur (Iceland)

This hot dog is dressed with pylsusinnep, an Icelandic version of mustard that’s brown and sweet and looks like an infant’s diarrhea. Most often you’ll also be able to sauce things up with remoulade, a condiment made of mayonnaise mixed with capers, mustard, herbs, anchovies, and gherkins. The meat itself has a unique taste, owing to a mixture of pork, lamb and beef.

Crif’s famous Spicy Redeck. Photo by mesohungry

The Spicy Redneck (New York) *

Crif Dogs in New York specializes in audacious hot dogs. The Spicy Redneck is firmly established as a worldwide classic. Bowels quiver at the mere mention of the bacon-wrapped dog, topped with chili, cole slaw and japapenos.

Choripan. Photo by jessicajuriga

Choripan (Argentina)

There’s not much better than chorizo and crusty bread, topped with some of the best condiments in the world, like chimichurri. The beef or pork sausage is sliced down the middle, then surrounded by a hulking roll. Huge arguments have broken out about where to find the best in Argentina, with some of the suggested winners coming from roadside grills and vendors outside of football stadiums, rather than anything even close to posh.

Boerewors. Photo by dvdmerwe

Boerewors (South Africa)

A combination of minced beef and either pork or lamb, this swirly sausage is often served on a roll, making it a beautiful, hand-sized mess of a dog. Its somewhat unique taste comes from an interesting combination of spices like nutmeg, cloves and coriander seed.

The Completo. Photo by mrcortes

The Completo (Chile)

I’d guess that the average Chilean has a thousand of these in their lifetime. “Completo” means what you think it does – complete with everything. The base condiment is an absurd amount of mayonnaise, topped usually with chopped avocado and tomato. From there, there’s a possibility of relish, mustard, ketchup and green chili pepper.

Remember that the red bottle of ketchup next to it isn’t ketchup – it’s hot sauce. Also remember that this is a relatively healthy meal in a country that serves healthy dishes like greasy chips covered in fried strips of steak, onion and scrambled egg.

Browned gruyere on top – only in France. Photo by andshewas

The Cheese Baguette Hot Dog (France)

People get all drool-y when talking about French wieners, which are most often served on half of a baguette, then topped and grilled with gruyere cheese. Most often there will be an inclusion of Ketcepes, which is sort of a mushroom-based ketchup.

Tunnbrodsrulle. Try spelling that without cut/pasting. Photo by chjmt

The Tunnbrodsrulle (Sweden)

Lola Akinmade (our editor at Goods and part-time Swedish resident) describes this as a “soft, thin bread (tunnobrod) rolled up funnel-style and filled with hotdog or sausage, mashed potatoes, onions, mustard, lettuce, and other dubious condiments.” That sounded good to me, or at least until I found that it also sometimes includes Raksallad, a minced shrimp/mayonnaise/paprika/dijon combination.

Currwurst. Photo by wordridden

Currywurst (Germany)

Currywurst remains one of the most popular choices in a country full of sausage options. Sliced wurst is served with a slightly spicy, curry-infused ketchup, then eaten with tiny wooden forks. The bun is served on the side, which seems like a sacrilegious concept but works, mostly to goop up the remaining sauce. Pommes with heaps of mayo commonly accompany this wienie adventure.

Norway’s best. Photos by melaniewrong

The Norwegian (Norway)

Norway’s hot dogs are served on a potato lefse, then wrapped. Less show-offy about their condiments, the Norwegians play it simple with ketchup, mustard and relish. Sometimes dogs are also topped with brunost, a sweet, brown goat cheese.

Cachorro Quente. Photo by agentlebossanova

The Cachorro Quente (Brazil)

Brazilians generally pack more onto a hot dog than seems physically possible, with notable ingredients like shoestring potatoes/sticks. Other toppings (most often depending on where you are) can include quail eggs, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, cheese and marinara sauce.

The result is a hot dog that looks like it’s been pooped on by a pterosaur, which sounds about right when placed next to Brazil’s other oozing food like the churrasco.

New Zealand dog. Photo by Dave Crosby

The Battered Hot Dog (New Zealand)

“American hot dogs” are available but most Kiwis are used to wieners coming battered in a wheat-based coating. Served with ketchup or tomato sauce, they greatly resemble corn dogs without a stick.

* The author has only chosen one American hot dog, for fear of a team of foodies flying over his apartment and dropping a nuke on the roof, screaming that their favorite was forgotten. He felt that picking only one was an important gesture but including more would leave him under severe attack. He realizes that there are many great variations of wieners in The United States and encourages you to tell us about them in the replies, which you will surely do with great gusto .

Ajvar. Photo by mymiscpics

Ajvar

Ajvar is a mushy relish that is very popular in The Balkans. It is principally comprised of red bell peppers, eggplant (aubergine), garlic and chili pepper. The main ingredients are both baked and stewed, which makes creating Ajvar quite a laborious and time-consuming process.

Currywurst. Photo by author.

Currywurst Sauce

This is the most important ingredient in one of the most popular and delicious fast foods in Germany – currywurst. While you can buy it bottled at most stores in Germany, it’s pretty simple to make this famous wurst topping, which consists of ketchup dosed with curry powder and paprika.

Salsa Lizano. Photo by believekevin

Salsa Lizano

A staple of all Costa Rican kitchens, Lizano is a slightly sweet condiment that packs a spicy punch, given the inclusion of turmeric, pepper and mustard. It would also appear to be quite addictive – threads of foodie message boards are filled with desperate cooks looking for a place to find a bottle in their country.

Chutney. Photo by bassclarinetist

Chutney

Types of chutney are as varied as are the regions in India that they originate from. Among the more popular are mango, tamarind and peanunt/red chili. Other concoctions can include ingredients like beetroot, shrimp, curry leaf and eggplant.

Pebre. Photo by ryangreenberg

Pebre

Still a bit of a traveler’s secret, eyes go glassy when this Chilean condiment is discussed. The recipe says it all – coriander, chopped onion, olive oil, garlic and ground or pureed spicy aji peppers. It’s most usually piled on top of barbequed meat and often served with bread.

Fish sauce (yes, you read the brand correctly). Photo by thatgirl

Fish Sauce

The gaggiest of all condiments, fish sauce is a staple in many Southeast Asian dishes, such as Cambodia’s delicious Amok. Disgusting a smell as it may be, it somehow becomes a magic ingredient when used in the right combinations.

When I have a bad day at work, I just imagine what it would be like to work in a place that makes this stuff, which is largely comprised of fermented anchovies or sardines.

Tzatziki. Photo by cathepsut

Tzatziki

Most often used on gyros, Tzatziki is a condiment (arguably a dip) that combines puréed cucumber and strained yoghurt with garlic, salt, olive oil & pepper. The whole thing looks a bit like what oozes out of a zombie’s brain after it has been cracked with an axe.

Shiracha. Photo by bump

Sriracha Sauce

Nobody seems to know what the original purpose of Sriracha sauce was but it’s now turned into as catch-all as catsup. Often used as a condiment with seafood, it’s also been used as a topping for everything from sushi to pizza. Chili peppers give it the whallop that it’s known for. Also known as Rooster Sauce, which comes from the logo on the bottle.

Photo by stephenliveshere

Vegemite

The inclusion of this condiment is simply to placate the Australians (and hangers on) who worship this paste made from yeast extract. Brits will also go on about their similarly-created marmite. With over 20 million bottles made just by Kraft each year, there’s no escaping its popularity. Some even say that it’s a great hangover cure.

Chimichurri. Photo by scaredykat

Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a popular sauce from Argentina and Uruguay, often used as a marinade for meat. Most people make the Homer Simpson Drooling Sound when it’s mentioned. Key ingredients include chopped parsley, minced garlic, oil, vinegar and red pepper flakes.

Photo by davecobb

HP Sauce/Brown Sauce

While some Americans have a taste for steak sauce, most across the pond are consumed by it. What’s the magical combination that makes it so popular? How about malt vinegar blended with fruit and spices (HP) or meat stock mixed with flour (Brown Sauce)…

Harissa. Photo by geekstinkbreath

Harissa

Harissa is a hot chilli sauce made from crushed piri piri chillies, tomatoes and Paprika. This North African creation is even sometimes served alone as an appetizer, especially in Tunisia, where it is present at every meal.

Gochujang. Photo by robobbpy

Kochujang (Gochujang)

This is a must for the Korean kitchen. Gochujang looks a bit like high-end ketchup but tastes quite different because of its ingredients – chili peppers, glutinous rice powder, fermented soybeans and red peppers. It’s almost holy when combined with Bibimbap (a dish made of rice, vegetables and sliced meat). Not suggested as a condiment when eating live animals, though.

Photo by theedinburghblog

Hoisin Sauce

More of a dipping sauce than a condiment, this sweet, soy-based liquid does not contain fish despite the fact that it literally translates to English as “seafood”. It’s often served with spring rolls or pork.

Photo by julep67

Cholula Hot Sauce

Cholula is a brand from Mexico that makes one addictive Hot Sauce. Packaged with a trademark wooden cap, this condiment is made with pequin peppers, red peppers and various spices.

Photo by verity borthwick

Mayonnaise

I was going to exclude this but then thought of the outcry that would come from Europeans, who take mayo to new levels of obsession. Also, any opportunity to show a picture of one of travel’s guilty pleasures (french fries, chips, frites, whatever-the-F) is a good one.

This is probably as good a place as any to also list Salsa Golf, a South American goop that is a simple combination of mayo and ketchup, usually slopped on potatoes.

Tahini. Photo by singlecupofcoffe

Tahini

Tahini is a Middle Eastern topping often used in pitas. The key ingredient is sesame seed paste, which gives it a taste unlike any other. With nothing particularly spicy about it, it often even outs even the hottest stuffed pocket.

Sprinkles of Schichimi. Photo by hamachipop

Shichimi

This seven flavor chili pepper powder is a staple in Japan and is often added to soups and noodle dishes, although sushi chefs have recently taken to it as well. Its unique taste comes from the addition of other elements, often including mandarin peel, poppy seed, sesame and nori.

Photo by abielskas

Heinz Ketchup

It is not until you’ve had another country’s watery, tomato-tasting sludge that you begin to appreciate the fructose-infused ketchup that Heinz makes. Spend a month in Russia or Laos and you’ll be surprised just how much you miss it.

Community Connection

Bored with what you’re eating? Why not say goodbye to sushi and hello to ceviche? For more on worldly foods, be sure to check out our ultimate resource for food travel.

All photos by The Overstay. The sign is “made of junk left by people (clothes, flip flops) and pieces of the building (old pipes, wood).”

Can you explain a bit about the spirit in which you opened your place? How in the world did you end up opening a squat-style hostel in Bangkok?

You know I always been a reggae fan. Right now the music playing is “money people is the root of all evil” but i do believe in small enterprise. I want to make a fair place for the people coming by and that can sustain itself.

The Overstay is close to a squat because it san old abandoned whore house. We are renovating it but 25 years does leave scars in a place. I think more than looking like a squat it’s a different place because we try to make a community of people. It’s a meeting zone. We know the name of the people staying, we organize dinner together once in a while (money for the food in on donation basis), or make some cultural events. Not long ago we acted out on one of the guest’s play.

Do you have any theories about why there’s such a lack of hostels in Southeast Asia and why guest houses remain so dominant?

I think guest houses are a more convenient system for owners and customers, with no expectations from each side. The owner cashes in the money and doesn’t need to be emotionally attached to the people that come by, and the guest on the other hand spends as little time possible in their guest house and dooesn’t feel like socializing there that much.

I have to tell you, I was pretty shocked at the pictures I’d seen of your place. What’s the current state of the building and were those pictures a fair depiction of what the place looked like in summer 2009?

The pictures you saw were not a fair description of the place then and a person with bad intentions could make the place look bad today, but photos have a strong impact. I’ll let you judge.

The place is doing all right. We are fully booked at the moment. People come back to us between the beach and Chiang Mai type of thing.

You’re selling a “six bed mixed dorm” on hostelworld for $.062 a night. This, according to the description, says that it’s a “dormitory ranging in size from 2 beds upwards. The offer mixed accomodation, hand made bunkbed with fan, shared bathroom, clean sheet.” Is that exactly what a person will get when they arrive if booking this rate?

A minor difference is that we have not 2 dorms of 6 but one of 10 people (it changed with the time), there are 5 wooden bunk beds that we did ourselves. We have clean bed sheets and fans shared between a couple of people.

How much of your business comes from sites like hostels.com, hostelworld.com and hostelbookers? Is it worth going through the process of seeing reviews and all of that? What’s the benefit of being booked through them?

It depends of the season. Right now at the season peak maybe 60 percent of our new people come from Hostelworld, other come from our website or have been recommended. The frustrating thing with reviews is that unsatisfied people will be very negative whereas people who like the place won’t think of leaving their feeling because they are sure will do just fine without it. Just like voting for an election.

We also let people stay for free during lower seasons. We met great people through Couchsurfing and we are supporting this project as we can.

It would be flattering to be added to a major guidebook considering that the place is only one year old, but at the moment we would rather avoid Lonely Planet’s guide book. We are on many websites, even in a Bangkok tourist map but seeing a hoard of short stay tourist is something that will go against our ideology : What could we exchange ?

When everything is going right, you have the right mix of people and The Overstay is having a great night – what’s it like?

Some of best nights we have, we’re just 10 people sitting around the bar, listening to music, apparently nothing special but we can stay 5 hours in the same place just talking to each other about everything. On the other hand it’s nice to motivate the whole place into organizing a party, making fliers, decorations, guest playing music, having some dj friends coming over. We stay open 24/7 so we have many surprise parties. At 2 o’ clock, 20 people can come out of nowhere and fill up the bar.

If someone read our article or a few of the more negative reviews online what would you say to them if they were thinking about staying with you?

We have clean bedsheets, mattresses, the toilets are ok and we have showers on every level. On the other hand the place is for anybody but not everybody. This is not a place for up tight travelers with suitcases and 2 weeks holidays. Long term travelers feel at home here.

Community Connection

Matador has a slew of articles about Thailand and just as many about hostel life, including our recent20 MORE of the Craziest Party Hostels Around the World and Nine Films That Should Be Retired From All Youth Hostels.

Photo by ylefipop

Host: Jack Black
John Mellancamp “Down By The River”
Ozomatli “Mr. Soul”
Jackson Browne “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”
Sheryl Crow & Stephen Stills “Long May You Run”
Lady Antebellum “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
Norah Jones “Tell Me Why”
Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin & Lucinda Williams “Comes A Time”
Wilco “Broken Arrow”
Josh Groban “Harvest Moon”
Everest “Revolution Blues”
Dierks Bentley & Booker T “Cinnamon Girl”
Ben Harper “Ohio”
Keith Urban & John Fogerty “Rockin’ In The Free World”
Elvis Costello “The Losing End”
Jason Mraz and Shawn Colvin “Lotta Love”
Dave Matthews “The Needle & The Damage Done”
Red Hot Chili Peppers “A Man Needs A Maid”
James Taylor “Heart of Gold”
Jimmy Fallon “Pants on the Ground” (spoof)
Elton John, Leon Russell, T-Bone Burnett, Neko Case & Sheryl Crow “Helpless”
Crosby, Stills & Nash “Human Highway”

Community Connection

Looking for some good tunes? Be sure to peruse our list of 50 Music Sites That Matter. We’d also like to recommend 10 Motown Musts For Your iPod, as well as a list of Ten Songs By Musicians Who Died Too Soon.

Posto Pizza/Bakano

For the first time, my adventure started at night (it is Buenos Aires, after all). Pizza seemed fitting given that I’d pissed quite a few Argentines off with my previous take on how many people in the world screw up a food that is God’s gift. I ordered take-out from two recommended joints and scrammed home to examine what was inside of the two boxes.

Posto Pizza’s Hongos Blanco pie (three kinds of mushrooms) was frigging delicious. It had a bit of a tart taste given the involvement of Portobello shrooms but it worked. I ate three slices before moving on, only abandoning it out of my duty to chomp its mozza-brother sitting nearby.

The second pizza, a Napolitana con Rucala, came from Bakano’s location in Barrio Norte. Their (very attractive) staff seemed wildly confused that I ordered it while holding a box from another restaurant. More of a thin crust boutique-y affair, it was delicious. I housed it in minutes. Just the right amount of crust, cheese and greenery. Pretty too look at, pretty to eat.

Impression: Standing corrected. There is some good pizza in Buenos Aires. Mood: Dreaming about tomorrow.

Posto Pizza, Billinghurst 1608, Palermo.
Bakano, Aguero 1669, Recoletta.

Comedor Nikkai

I met up with Nights co-editor Kate Sedgwick at Nikkai, a Japanese restaurant housed in the same building as the Asociacion Japonesa. Note: don’t push the door until you almost break it. It’s a slider, not a puller.

Kate made poor decisions and ordered something curry-like. I knew that there would only be one thing I’d be ordering – the chirasi (a damn good bargain at 57 pesos, given the amount of fish).

When it came I knew that I’d made the right decision. Loads of fresh fish done up all pretty (one even looked like a rose), heaped over sushi rice, chopped mushrooms and plenty of other japanese vegetables. My only lament was as it always in Buenos Aires; an extreme lack of tuna. It’s just not done here. This did not detract at all from the fact that I was left lapping sushi rice from a little green bowl, like some starved, homeless dog.

Comedor Nikkai, Ave. Independencia 732, San Telmo.

Impression: Still my favorite Japanese in Buenos Aires and one of my favorites in the world, if for no other reason that it feels like some back alley restaurant that Gremlins would live in. Mood: Fishy burps.

El Gauchito

I left Kate looking at her bus time table book, as she does most hours of the day. I hiked it a few blocks down to grab a couple of empanadas from an old favorite, El Gauchito. It’s really just a counter inside of a door, with hundreds of different empanadas staring you in the face.

I ordered one pollo and another one that looked hammy. The two ladies behind the counter pretended to leave the room as I scarfed them at the tiny counter but I know they both watched and judged secretly. I ordered two more to go, hoping that they’d keep for a day in the fridge. I don’t get to San Telmo often but when I do, this is ritual.

El Guachito, Ave. Independencia 414, San Telmo.

Impression: Good, cheap empanadas. Mood: Lethargic and wondering how much more of this I can do.

El Cisno Blanco

I tripped to Barrio Chino (Chinatown) after reading Hal Amen’s quiet rave in Matador’s piece about our favorite Buenos Aires spots. The area is about six square blocks and much more manageable than those C-towns of New York and San Francisco. It was still just as lively, with hoards of locals and tourist clammoring down the streets filled with restaurants, supply stores and trinket shops.

I ignored my never-ending urge for Thai food and found a table outside of El Cisno Blanco, a cute restaurant about a block out of the main fray. It was late afternoon and I was the only customer, doted on by a lovely woman who helped me through the menu. I figured that this was also a great opportunity to order a big, honking cerveza.

Six small wontons went down great with the beer – all homemade. The piled-high Pollo Saltado c/Anana (Pineapple Chicken) came next and was the best Chinese food I’d eaten all year. Every element was fresh and the dish felt labored over, much more so than a normal rush-job meal you’d get a similar place back home. The whole thing ran about 50 pesos.

El Cisno Blanco, Arribeños 2328), Barrio Chino (Belgrano).

Impression: A dreamy curb-side meal with great atmosphere and staff. Mood: Buzzed and happy.

Del Carmen Panaderia Confiteria

I had been doing a slutty dance with this mini-cheesecake all week. Its six creamy inches had been cooing to me from the window of the bakery below my apartment, vying for my attention with an equally tarty ricotta pie. Let’s just say I paid for it, took it upstairs and gave it what it asked for.

Del Carmen Panaderie, Guemes 2991, Barrio Norte.

Impression: Loads of homemade cakes and pies to choose from. Great little bakery. Mood: Distended. Taking a break and waiting for the main event in a few hours.

Casa SaltShaker

It’s not worthy of SaltShaker to be thrown at the end of a day like this but I’ve wanted to take a seat at this oft-mentioned closed-door restaurant for a year. Like many, I’d used Dan’s blog as the basis for most of my eating decisions while in Buenos Aires and he’s never steered me wrong. I wanted to see what he’d cook up.

Dan and host Henry greet each of the guests (10 maximum) with smiles and usher in conversation, bringing together strangers in a way that feels neither heavy-handed nor understated. Within minutes we were given a strawberry infused vodka cocktail that went down quick and easy. Fruity yet not sweet, a perfect summer starter.

Each meal here is based on a historical (“or hysterical”) cue. Today’s menu was inspired by the re-unification of The Ukraine, something that nobody present seemed to know much about. It did allow for a jumping-off point when working out the the recipes on the menu, all of which had some basis in the food of that region.

We sat down at the dining room table (kind of like being at your stylish and well-read rich aunt’s house) and spent two hours eating and drinking. Wine pairings rolled along with each dish presented, all of it explained by Dan, who spent equal time socializing and cooking.

The food that followed was wowzers. Vegetarian caviar (on homemade rye toast) was followed by a chilled, surgery-red beet soup. Pasta dumplings filled with boingy cheese came next, spiced up with a fiery soy and chili sauce (pictured). Duck Kiev finished the theme out, complete with a homemade sour cream dip. Dessert was orgasm city, pretty much designed for what gets me off: A tart made with raspberry and almond. Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Not a minute of the evening felt highfalutin, even if it was designed as such an occasion. Henry and I both cracked up when I picked the wrong spoon for my soup – this is not a place of judgement.

Casa SaltShaker is more than a restaurant. It’s an elevating culinary and social event, one that made me feel bouncy and smiley as I walked out the door. I don’t think I’ll ever see or taste anything quite like the place again.

Casa SaltShaker, Location disclosed upon booking, Barrio Norte.

Impression: A happy place. Mood: Bliss with a distended gut.

Community Connection

Matador has Buenos Aires Covered. Be sure to check BsAs articles on everything from urban volunteering to surviving as a vegetarian to one of the world’s best Monday night parties.

Microwave Box Of Wine – Watch more Funny Videos

Community Connection

Looking for more fun video? Check out four kids covering pop songs on Youtube and witness the incredible art of how to start a massive dance party.

At the moment, Monday nights are sweltering. A line stretching around the block at Buenos Aires’ Konex venue is filled with people who will do just about anything to chill out, from guzzing tall bottles of water to popping one of the tallboys that the industrious locals have begun selling. By the time the crowd enters the venue an hour later, it’s a sweaty mess of people wondering just what they might be in for.

Konex is a large courtyard surrounded by wonderful, disjointed walls, one of which is covered by a mural of people at the sea. It feels like some kind of bombed out WW2 building, a space that might feel more at home in one of Berlin’s hipper zones, perhaps Friedrichshain. It would take a satanic ritual involving a slain goat to ruin the warm, happy vibe the the place gives off.

Each Monday, crowds gather around one central area in the complex to check out Buenos Aires’ most noted percussion group. The performance takes place on an orange ladder contraption, which looks like something used to pick hard-to-reach fruit.

The first half of the show is La Bomba de Tiempo’s time to shine, first organizing a beat and then working it through its paces for about 45 minutes. The dozen or so drummers do a great job of not trollopping off into The Land Of Hippies and pull together a sound that is exciting, refreshing and seducing.

By 9pm the show is in full force. Lines for beer (one liter only) are packed. The sweet reek of weed and rolling paper permeates the perimeter. A woman with dreads dances wildly with a cigarette, dangerously close to her companions – she looks like a medusa with a nicotine habit.

Everywhere people are ‘air drumming’ and trying to find the beat, some with more success than others. Amidst the music, there is an unbelieveable amount of gossip about who in the crowd is hot, and who might take one of those sexy people home. Backpackers girls are legging up with knowing local men, an event signaling that some fireworks just might happen after the gig.

The whole thing lifts off with the arrival of the night’s guest, which changes each week. Sometimes it’s a cellist, sometimes a DJ. Usually a new conductor with switch in and it definitely feels like the energy explodes at this point. By now, most of Konex’s occupents are feeling no pain.

Hardcore dancing kicks in, as do whatever drugs have been taken. For the next hour it’s a swirl of music and euphoria, feeling nothing like the dudes who play their congas on the beach near your house.

Over the course of three hours it will feel more like you’ve been to an excellent party than a drum circle. This is not to say that the music isn’t important – it is. It’s more a testament to why people keep coming back to Konex every Monday. This might be the most fun drum circle on Earth.

Community Connection

Into percussion? Be sure to check out Be-Dom, Portugal’s Percussion-Mad Sextuplet. If you didn’t see last #MusicMonday’s 50 Music Sites That Matter then do yourself a favor and check it out – it’s the perfect one-stop for music junkies.

Photo by adrivdm

There are multiple variations on the Caipirinha but we’re going straight down the middle for the classic recipe. The most important thing to remember in Caipirinhaland is to search for the best ingredients – there are only three, so don’t panic.

Make sure to use fresh limes. Stay away from ones that are wrinkled and overly mushy. Also be sure to use superfine sugar because it muddles better.

Photo: harryharris

The most important ingredient is the Cachaça, a potent alcohol made from sugarcane (whereas rum is usually made from molasses). Anyone who’s had a few of these drinks will tell you the same thing – beware of overindulging, as Cachaça ranges from 75 proof and up.

To make one drink, cut the limes into 8 wedges and muddle them in a mixing glass. If you don’t have muddling tools, one end of a rolling pin will do in a pinch. Add two teaspoons of superfine sugar and pummel the whole thing some more, until the fruit is broken and the sugar has seeped into the juice.

Add ice, preferably smaller cubes, then add two ounces of Cachaça into the glass and give it a strong shake. Pour the whole thing into an old-fashioned glass.

Garnishing tip: Take one more piece of lime, give it a slice down the middle and coat it with a little bit of sugar, then chuck it on the side of the glass.

Yum Yum

Matador has much more food and drink if you’re hankering for a hunger. Cocktail lovers should also check out our recent alternative martini recipes.

If you’re not one of the ten million people who’ve watched video of a kid playing Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” then you’re missing out. It’s viral media magic.

Below is the clip in question, as well as three other kids who seem to be embarking on early singing careers. Be sure to watch the third lad’s mom scare the bejesus out of him.

Community Connection

Looking for more fun video? Be sure to check out our rundown of literal videos, as well as the unbelievable stunt clips from French prankster Remi Gaillard.

Photo from Bonnaroo: the camera is a toy.

Noise Pop – San Francisco, CA

Noise Pop’s curators have impeccable taste, making it one of the unassuming and cool music festivals in America. The festival eschews the typical Big Honking Stage In A Field mentality and books bands into many of SF’s venues, spreading the love around the city. Indie rock fans will fare well here, with 2009 performers including Antony and the Johnsons, Deerhunter, St. Vincent and Bob Mould. Feb/March

SXSW – Austin, TX

It’s the music festival where you’ll have six beers by 5pm and be blind drunk by midnight. You’ll make plans to see twelve ten bands in one night but you’ll be lucky to get into two venues, even if you have the almighty wristband. That’s fine, if you know where the secret Vice party is later on. March.

Coachella 2009. Photo: rieh

Coachella – Palm Springs, CA

The mother of all US festivals runs April 16-18 in 2010, with rumors flying about performances by Faith No More, Beastie Boys and Soundgarden. Confirmations so far include Devo, Phoenix and Muse. April

Sasquatch – The Gorge, Washington

A ridiculously hip lineup at America’s most dumbfounding venue. Pavement, who have confirmed as part of their reunion tour, will surely take center stage as the sun sets over The Gorge. May

Rocklahoma – Pryor, Oklahoma

The festival that should be sponsored by Aquanet, Rocklahoma features metal, metal and metal. Year one was more about the hair metal scene but last year saw growth in the heavier sector, with the addition of non-pussy bands like Overkill, Metal Church and Anthrax (OK, Anthrax are kinda pussies). Those craving 80’s anthems will find their way here, with past performers including Night Ranger, Ratt, Twisted Sister and Great White. May

Photo and Feature Photo from Rothbury 2009: jvh33

Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN

Dude, I’m so baked. Wait, where’s my tent?

Tickets for the 2010 show are already on sale but the lineup is still under wraps. This is one festival that does it all, covering indie rock, world music, hip hop, jazz, americana, bluegrass, country music, folk, gospel, reggae and electronica. June

All Points West – New York, NY

Now just three years young, All Points is the East Coast’s answer to Coachella. Last year’s lineup included Jay Z, Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Tool and Coldplay. Beastie Boys seem to be a sure bet for next year’s lineup, having bowed out of 2008. July.

Nerdapalooza – Orlando, FL

More fun than you can shake a stick at, this new festival takes place at The Holiday Inn just down the road from Wet N’ Wild. That might not sound like a hoot until you read about some of the bands who play this dorkfest, which includes some of the biggest names in….Nerdcore. Last year’s show was the first time that the four major players in this scene (MC Frontalot, MC Lars, mc chris, YTCracker ) all performed at the same event.

Bring your retainer, it’s OK.

Photo of Arthur Adams from Waterfront Blues: tdstone

Waterfront Blues Portland, OR

120,000 people attend the second largest blues festival in the USA. The festival benefits the Oregon Food Bank, a non-profit organization which provides food to low-income persons in Oregon and SW Washington states. 150 performances cover four stages over three days. July.

Rothbury Festival – Rothbury, MI

Another one for the burners, Rothbury bills itself as a “Sustainable Camping Festival Revolution Celebrating Music, Art and Action.” Jam band and folk lovers rejoice – past artists have included String Cheese Incident, The Dead, G. Love, Bob Dylan, Disco Biscuits, Widespread Panic and Dave Matthews Band. July.

Pitchfork Music Festival – Chicago, IL

Perhaps only the music festival that could get away with headliners like Built To Spill and Spoon, this festival is driven by America’s indie rock barometer, Pitchfork Media. July.

Photo from SXSW 2009: MoEaFaTi

KCRW’s World Festival – Los Angeles, CA

Presented by LA Philharmonic, this super-hip festival is where indie darlings often pair with symphony orchestras. Last year’s artists included Adele, Ray LaMontagne, Grace Jones, India Calling and Of Montreal. June/July/August

Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL

Lollapalooza is revived and alive after becoming a yearly installation in beautiful Grant Park. Tickets are already sold out for the early-bird special, even though the only band confirmed so far is Phoenix. Highlights last year included Depeche Mode, The Killers, Jane’s Addiction, Ben Harper and Animal Collective. August

Outside Lands – San Francisco, CA

Photo from All Points West: chrisq38

Launched only in 2008, this festival is off to a cracking start. Golden Gate park is the backdrop for an excellent mix of artists, from big names (Pearl Jam, Wilco, Tom Petty) to many of peoples’ “favorite band that nobody else loves like I do” (Calexico, John Vanderslice, Portugal The Man). August

Bumbershoot – Seattle, WA

Bumbershoot is a one of America’s most beloved rock music festivals, going strong since 1971. The event, which takes place at Seattle Center, has survived just about every musical trend from disco to grunge. September

Voodoo Experience – New Orleans, LA

We named it the last great music festival of 2009, with an eclectic range of 2009 performances including Flaming Lips, Justice, Eminem, Ween and Meat Puppets. We eagerly anticipate the 2010 lineup. October

Community Connection

Be sure to catch our guide for how to prepare for a summer music festival. If you’re planning on wearing black and blue then you might also check out our 12 tips for surviving your first European heavy metal festival.

Who’s on The Goon? Let’s find out. Photos by author, unless noted otherwise.

Base

Location: Magnetic Island, Australia

It’s not uncommon to see patrons of this hostel walking the shore with big, silver bags of goon ripped right from their boxes, spouts pouring freely into mouths of anyone who will have them. The A-frame dorms are filled to the brim during the summer and there are plenty of corners for late night nookie, including a much-abused tent used to store linens.

The main bar is a striking party space; huge and communal. Most nights the action gets going as the sun goes down but it’s not uncommon for the whole thing to kick off in the afternoon, next to the hostel’s excellent pool.

India House

Location: New Orleans, LA

The pool at Base, Magnetic Island.

New Orleans is the home of some of America’s greatest parties, from Voodoo Experience to Mardi Gras. India House serves as the backpacker base of choice. A September 19th review on Tripadvisor explains, “The second I walked into India House I was greeted by a drunken staff member that offered me a swig of whiskey, and it only went uphill from there.”

Aqua Lounge Bar & Hostel

Location: Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Bocas Del Toro is quickly becoming a huge party destination, often with travelers on the last stop of their South American loop. Mondo Taitu remains the mainland’s party spot of choice but more adventurous travelers will be rewarded if they seek out this island hostel, just a stone’s throw from shore.

You have to love a budget accommodation that lists itself as a bar first and a crash pad second. Aqua Lounge sits precariously on the water’s edge, with a pool made for backflips and beer drinking. It’s the perfect spot to take over if you’re traveling in a pack or meeting up with another squad of friends.

Beachcomber Island Resort

Location: Mamanuca Islands, Fiji

Party at Pudu in Bariloche. Photo tandra2008

This resort sports a mammoth dorm with 86 beds, making it one hell of a devil’s playground. The day drill involves wallowing and drinking – at night, carousing and drinking.

The only property on this small island, there are all kinds of places to make mischief. Most partiers stay on the close-by private beach, where there’s a stocked bar and always a friend with a bottle fresh from duty-free. The bunks tend to thump a bit after 2am.

The Tiger Paw Hostel

Location: Medellin, Colombia

The Tiger Paw was recommended by many as Columbia’s great party hostel. Stock and standard are events that make for the beginnings of a wild night; beer pong and poker nights to name a couple. Its location close to Zona Rosa makes pre-gaming all that much easier.

Blue Moon

Location: Lafayette, LA

We kept hearing reports about this guest house (with dorm beds), which contains a fully stocked back porch saloon with a stage for live music. According to the site, “It’s become a meeting place where world travelers, community organizations, families, artists and politicians rub elbows, dance, drink a few and thank their lucky stars they have the good fortune to spend an evening together in Lafayette, LA.”

Samba Villa Hostel

Location: Lapa, Rio De Janero, Brazil

The Blue Moon in Lafayette.

A hostel with an Irish Pub downstairs can only spell danger. Place that danger in Brazil and you have one hell of a party. Word on the street is that Samba Villa is cracking on the weekends, with Lapa’s legendary street parties spilling over into Samba at all hours.

One hostelbookers.com
review sums it up: ‘Right in the heart of the Friday night action, which is very useful for toilet stops and replenishing cash reserves. Don’t expect any sleep.”

Snooze & Booze

Location: Split, Croatia

DTravelsRound turned us onto this Aussie-run hotel in Split, saying that it is “known for its social setting, regularly leading packers on tours of the town, hitting up pubs throughout the old town, allowing travelers to get a guided tour of the nightlife.” So basically, guided drunkenness.

Yes! Lisbon Hostel

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

To be fair, nothing can top the party that happens during weekends in the nearby Bairro Alto. Yes! takes a stab at it though, especially on weeknights when many prefer to keep the party at home. 2 for 3 beer goes down fast, as does any €2 bottle of wine that you can find at a local grocery store.

During my blurry night here I met a curvy mom (a buzzed cougar?), a slurry Brazilian with come-hither eyes (and a girlfriend back home) and two terrifying Russian men, both quite toxic and looking for something to punch. The common room has loads of beanbag chairs should you pass out. There’s also a king sized bed underneath the TV, for those who can’t muster the strength to take it upstairs.

The €1 beer at Villa Saint Exupery.

Villa Saint Exupery

Location: Nice, France

We’ve written about this one before but it bears repeating that this might be one of the prettiest party hostels in the world. Gorgeous or not, this place goes off. €1 beer awaits anyone who can operate a vending machine and after 8pm the main area is awash with revelers on the drink.

Pudu Hostel

Location: Bariloche, Argentina

Pudu is haphazardly placed on some sort of cliff – the upstairs rooms have gorgeous views overlooking Patagonia but most guests head to the kitchen each night, where everyone kicks in a few bucks for food and drink. Quiet hammock-side conversation often turns to a full-out party by midnight in the garden.

Pudu is run by an Irish couple who have a history of radical travel and an Argentine who loves all things rasta. I wouldn’t say that anything goes here, but I would say anything within reason.

Casa Caracol

Location: Cadiz, Spain

It doesn’t seem like anyone sleeps here, or at least not while the moon is out. This is one of those places that’s either described as the best party of someone’s life or the worst nightmare of another’s. One stop might even be enough to do you in. As one person said on hostels.com, “I really enjoyed my stay; but I don’t think I’ll come back.”

Hanoi Backpacker’s Hostel

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

The only hostel that I could find in Vietnam, Hanoi Backpacker’s throws a party at the drop of a hat. Started by Australians, this hostel has a legendary Sunday bash that includes traditional barbie and a free keg. Happy Hour starts at 5pm every day on the roof.

Friendly Fun Franks Backpackers Hostel
Riga, Latvia

Location: Riga, Latvia

Franks enjoys a worldwide reputation on the backpacker scene. British, Australian and Latvian owned, this backpacker not only offers pub tours, they also offer bobsled riding and AK-47 shooting. There’s a 24 hour bar on premises, if you’d like to load up before pumping bullets.

Make peace with dorm chaos.

Stone Of A Beach

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Just two blocks from Copacabana beach, Stone Of A Beach gets consistent raves from partiers, with constant mention of its rooftop bar and late nights. The caipirinhas are said to be especially deadly. Typical of hostels in this category, reviews are either raves or vehement slags.

Eastern Comfort

Location: Berlin, Germany

The Eastern Comfort is a hostel boat parked on the Spree River in Berlin, just next to the heavily-partied districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. The boat itself has a fascinating history, having been transported on a barge from another part of the country by an owner with a dream.

The on-board bar gets packed on Wednesdays for language-swap night, which later turns into tongue-swap night.

Base

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Whooo doggy, this one’s a party. You’d think that a place this central in a town this quaint would lend itself to a nice, Kite-Runner-reading crowd. Instead it’s rammed with a severe party people, all of who make the trip to the accompanying Saints and Sinners nightclub.

Traveler’s Hostel

Location: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Peeking through the Tripadvisor reviews makes me feel bad for those who came here to rest up. Upon arrival one person notes “everyone was still asleep because of a tequila party the night before” and another confirms, “This place is loud all night and I mean all night until 6 in the morning.”

The Eastern Comfort in Berlin, Germany.

Global Village Backpackers

Location: Toronto, Canada

Although not reportedly the cleanest hostel in North America, Global Village is known for a legendary New Year’s Eve party. The hostel is located in the former Spadina Hotel, which once hosted The Rolling Stones, Jack Nicholson and a bunch of Canadian bands we don’t know. 180 beds and hundreds of conflicting reviews make this a sure bet for an interesting night.

Koala Beach Resort

Location: Airlie Beach, Australia

I was there a few years ago but reviews substantiate the place as I remember it: a rat trap with a severe amount of punters pounding pints. If you want to stay in the middle of the craziest night of your life, then this is the place. Rabble-rousers rave about the mad nights at Koala Beach, while others bemoan the property’s condition. You’d probably hear the same reviews of most frat parties.

Bug Backpacker user reviews say “the staff were idiots and everything was dirty” and “as for the bathroom, I wouldn’t let my dog even go in there!”. This still doesn’t stop the party on Airlie Beach, which never seems to end.

We stumbled up on this YouTube while perusing the excellent metal blog Metalloides. Ever-fascinated with all things Mario and Death Metal, this video falls right in our sweet spot.

The tune is covered by Vancouver’s Nylithia.

All photos courtesy of the author’s sister.

Here at Nights we’re perpetually obsessed with oddball concoctions and suspicious beverages. Until now, the only thing that had really given my taste buds a run for their money was Scotland’s ultra-popular (and strangely marketed) soda Irn-Bru.

It was with this sense of discovery that I decided to buy a can of Budweiser’s West Coast sensation, a concoction made from beer and Clamato juice. I’d been seeing it in stores since I returned to America this month and was completely puzzled by its seeming success.

Let’s get this right out of the way: The Chelada is by far the most sensationally disgusting drink I have ever had. The aftertaste hung with me for about an hour and its red, runny texture has me fighting back a gag as I type this. My sister tried a sip and backed me up by making a face as if she’d just eaten a pound of goat cheese and pig intestines.

Clamato, for those not from Canada (they’re obsessed), is a mixer made of tomato and clam juice. I’ll say that again. Clamato is a mixer made of tomato and clam juice.

Budweiser has, in this case, mixed Clamato with their patented brew to create this evil can of whoopass. Just really think about it – beer mixed with mollusks. The Chelada’s can even offers a warning, “Contains: Shellfish/Clams”.

I opened the brew and immediately became suspicious of the catsup and beer smell that eminated as the tab popped. It hardly smelled what Budweiser describes, “refreshing” with “spices and a hint of lime”. I smelled Prego tomato sauce, oregano and beer.

The actual downing of the beverage was a comic affair in which I successfully gulped two sips, then relented. I just couldn’t get any more down. Perhaps someone, somewhere loves this drink. I just couldn’t stomach it.

While I can’t endorse this particular beverage, I’d highly recommend that you try it yourself, if for no other reason than to acknowledge that a concept like this could be put into the marketplace. If you’re hungry, Budweiser also recommends that it “pairs well with ceviche, chicken, enchilladas and tamales.”

Anything’s better than seeing Borat’s junk again. Photo: alexnormand

The Lord Of The Rings

The LOTR films played non-stop in hostels in the early half of the decade and have surprising legs, especially in countries where new DVD’s are hard to come by. I’d like every copy destroyed by 2010.

I’ve grown weary of Gollum’s breathless catch phrases, Elijah Wood’s perpetually-zoned stare and I can barely stomach Sean Astin’s acting, which is just above the level of anyone playing the lead in their high school production of Pippin.

Ian McKellan may still be a GILF (Grandfather…) but even that’s not enough to make me hang out for the endless amount of time it takes to throw the damned ring into the damn mountain.

Photo by: cc chapman

Sex And the City

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a heterosexual male traveler more than the sight of a group of women watching this film in the TV Room. While it works as some sort of celluloid antidepressant for most females, it also seems to shut down the male reproductive system faster than you can say “Mr. Big.”

I’ve even talked to one night worker at a hostel who pulls the title from the TV room upon the beginning of his shift and hides it under the breadbox. “It riles them up in wrong way.”

Snatch

Inevitably, some guy will rush to the DVD player with this one screaming that it’s “brilliant”. He will most likely hail from the United Kingdom and will be wearing track pants with stains that aren’t from mayonnaise.

It’s an OK enough movie but too many people have convinced themselves that it’s a classic, especially those who are impressed by Brad Pitt’s accent (again, “brilliant”). Once or twice is enough, especially when you’ve learned Guy Richie’s monotonous screen tricks (one last time, “brilliant”).

Photo by: endless_mike

Borat

By my polling, this is The Most Played Movie Of All Time at hostels. The doubled-over laughter has dwindled to chortles, especially as a Bruno now takes center stage as the contender for the prize.

Younger brothers are starting to roll their eyes as their older siblings still a-quote from this-a very nice movie.

Hostel

The title’s irony seems to be enough to get this flick played at any hostel with a TV and a DVD player. A squirmer on the first viewing, this one gets old fast.

There’s a certain perviness I’ve seen as guys watch the girls react to the gory scenes. This isn’t the ‘ol “let’s make them scared enough to jump into my arms” look. It’s more of a “let’s see how she reacts to ball-gagging and finger-slicing” thing that I’d think makes many women wish they’d opted out of ten bed dorm room.

The Motorcycle Diaries

This inclusion came at the insistence of one of our editors, who wished it to be named “despite Gael Garcia Bernal’s steamy manhood and the exquisite South American Scenery.” Its removal from the small screen will be difficult, as this the one solid art-house film still stocked on every shelf in on the Latin American backpacker circuit.

And Gael Garcia Bernal’s steamy manhood.

Love, Actually

Photo by: mallol

Oh, I know. How could I? Mostly because of Hugh Grant, whose bumbling never holds me past a second viewing (I daydream of giving him electroshock therapy in hopes of reducing the come-hither stuttering).

Best review on Rotten Tomatoes: “(Director) Curtis seems to think that nothing could be more erotic than the subordinate who fetches tea or dusts the crockery.” Agreed.

Eurotrip

The DVD most likely to be scratched just enough to skip every ten minutes, Eurotrip just won’t die. It serves mostly as a time-killer, playing mostly to blank faces and closed eyes.

I’d like to point one thing out to those who can’t get enough of this romp around Europe – the whole thing was filmed in Prague.

The Beach

Dicaprio, before he went electric.

This is perhaps the most obvious choice on the list, a movie that seems unsatisfying to anyone who watches it, yet plays again and again. Going on its second generation of backpackers, The Beach probably maintains its status for what it could have been, rather than what you see before you.

Matador’s Hostel Favorites

How To Eat For Free At Hostels
When Your Dorm Room Ends Up Being A Squat
The Best Hostel In France Is Going Off Tonight
A Look Indie The Jumbo Hostel
The 20 Craziest Party Hostels Around The World

Photo: photo by limowreck666

Auto-Tune

It can take fifty shows for a band to perfect harmonies and learn how to perform under difficult conditions. Auto-Tune is an audio processor that fixes pitch problems for singers who are incapable of singing, as well as those who just haven’t gotten their chops together. Sadly, nothing ever seems to help Stephen Jenkins of Third Eye Blind.

The Ticket Price

Moan as you might, the artist is not making nearly as much as you think, unless they’re charging Eagles prices. They are given a guaranteed lump sum but any income beyond this amount is subject to turnout (ticket sales), as well as whatever overhead is incurred for the night.

This can include the venue’s crew, the support artist’s guarantee, union fees, security and even the cost of printing backstage passes. Do you know those ads for venues in newspapers with 16 boxes promoting each show? Each band is charged back for their own little box.

Photo: mccoyspace

Catering Rider

This is a list that is sent ahead to the promoter and includes the band’s backstage wishes. Famous indulgences are too long to list but are easily perused here. Don’t let opulence requests fool you – the most popular items are often socks and underwear, of which a band can never have enough on tour.

Because these lists are sent out in advance of the dates, it is guaranteed that the artist will be sick of the catering rider by the middle of the tour, condemning the sight of 30 orange Vitamin Waters and 9 Toblerone bars.

College Shows

Do you know why your favorite band is playing community colleges in North Dakota? Because they’re bagging a pile of money. Universities have budgets for such things and artists are all-too-happy to take the check, often making triple their normal guarantee. One string of college dates can help cover the crew’s overhead for an entire year.

The Band Doesn’t Know Where They Are

No matter what the night means to you, you’re just where the bus pulled up that morning. Look closely on stage and you might catch a piece of tape with “Austin” taped to a piano, microphone or monitor. Hope for their sake that it was changed from last night.

In Ear Monitors

Bands used to hear their live mix through stage monitors (“wedges”), which pointed back at them and caused for ridiculous hearing loss. Nowadays most artists reach a point where they can afford an in-ear monitor system. A live mix is transmitted directly to the band’s ears, via a wireless system and custom-molded hearing pieces.

Most often you’ll notice a person on the side of the stage working a board – it’s their job to mix the sound just for the band. Telltale signs of technical problems include a desperate ear-picking, hilarious pantomimes and horrific pitch.

Merchandise Is Money

T-shirt sales might make an artist more money than their performance fee, depending on the venue. Buying one definitely puts money into the band’s pocket, but only after a percentage is taken by the venue (anywhere from 10 to 30 percent) and the materials are paid for.

A basic t-shirt usually costs the band around $3, unless they’re offering American Apparel, which will run at least double. The more colors on a design, the more the band paid to have it created – you’ll notice the price differences.

Photo: aubreyarenas

The Lighting Director

This is a sure-fire way to see if the band is broke or cheap. If the lights look like they’re done by a Radio Shack employee with a seizure disorder, that means that the band is using the “house” lighting tech, who probably hasn’t even heard the band’s album.

If the show looks smart and sharp, that’s because they have paid dearly to bring their own LD. This person usually spends a few days before tour, locked in a blazing-hot room full of lights, programming to a list of songs that the artist has given them in advance.

Sleep With The TM, Not the GT

Other than the promoter, the Tour Manager has supreme power. If you’re looking to flirt your way into a backstage pass, don’t waste time with a Guitar Tech, who will simply have to ask the TM for one (sorry GT’s, your secret is out). It is not recommended that you sleep with any of these people, especially because they all have girlfriends and boyfriends back home. But you’ll never know that, will you?

Photo: jeremycliff

Tour Buses Are Really Expensive

One tour bus can easily cost $75,000 for an eight-week tour, and that’s not even for a fancy one. The band also pays for things like gas, the driver’s hotels, overtime for long drives, cleaning and satellite TV. Fines can be thrown on top for things like pooping in the toilet (a huge no-no on tour). Add extra money for a “slider”, which allows for more living space in the main berth by popping the wall out another 3-4 feet, when parked.

Bottom’s up. Photo: feastoffools

Creamy Caramel Martini

caramel ice cream topping, for rim of glass
1/4 cup iced vanilla vodka
2 tablespoons dekuyper butterscotch schnapps
1 dash cream soda

Chill martini glass. Drizzle caramel topping down the inside rim of glass and rechill. Fill a shaker full of ice, add vodka and Buttershots and shake till your hands become very very cold. Pour into martini glass and add a splash of cream soda.

Courtesy of Recipezaar.com

Chocolate Chili

1 pc red finger chili, sliced lengthwise in half, deseeded
6 jigger vodka, any quality white vodka will do
2 jigger cinnamon infused syrup
1/2 jigger white creme de cacao
2 jigger chocolate syrup, a good commercially available product
melted couverture for decoration or if you prefer a clean decoration or you may use the chocolate syrup for a “melting” decoration on the glass.
chocolate stick for decoration
4 pc small chilies for decoration
10-12 pc ice cubes

The Candy Cane. Photo by: littlemonkey

Prepare a simple syrup with the addition of cinnamon bark to it. Melt the couverture for the decoration, place it in a small bottle or piping bag and swirl it around the chilled martini glass. Set aside. Muddle the chili with a little of the cinnamon infused syrup. Add the ice cubes to the bar shaker and add all other ingredients with the exception of the chocolate stick to it. Cover the shaker with the muddle glass tightly and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and well chilled. Remove the muddle glass, and strain the martini into the prepared glasses into the glass. Decorate with the chocolate stick and an additional chili and serve immediately.

Courtesy of grouprecipes.com

Crazy Cow

1 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. Coconut Rum
1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream

Shake all ingredients for 10 seconds, strain and serve in a chilled Cocktail Glass.

Recipe courtesy of mixdrinkipedia.com

Thai Martini

10 ounces of Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka
4 ounces of chilled lemon grass tea
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small chunk of fresh ginger, peeled
4 sprigs of fresh lemon grass
4 thinly sliced, small pieces of fresh ginger

Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice. Shake for one minute, then let stand for a full minute. Rub the piece of ginger around the inside of the bowls of four frozen martini glasses. Strain the martini into the glasses. Garnish each glass with a spring of lemon grass and one thin slice of ginger

Courtesy of kalamazoogourmet

Delicious sewage water. Photo by: fizik

Concord Grape Martini

2 ounces gin
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened Concord grape juice
2 dashes orange bitters
3 whole grapes for garnish, preferably Concord (optional)

Pour gin, grape juice, and bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with skewered grapes.

Courtesy of chow.com

Peanut Butter Martini

1 Blender full of good quality vanilla ice cream
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 ounce Napoleon Brandy
1 1/2 ounce Vodka
1 1/2 ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 1/2 ounce Godiva Liqueur
3 ounces Jack Daniels Whiskey
1 dash ground cinnamon
cocoa powder
chocolate syrup

Blend well all ingredients except cocoa powder and chocolate syrup. Remove large martini glasses from freezer. Coat insides with cocoa powder. Pour blended mixture into glass. Make a spiral with Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Draw a toothpick through chocolate to make a nice design. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Serve immediately.

Courtesy of cdkitchen.com

Almond Joy Martini

1 oz. chocolate vodka
1 oz. Frangelica
1 oz. coconut rum

Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until well blended, then strain into a chilled martini glass.

Courtesy of fineliving.com

Blood Orange Martini

4 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce triple sec or flavored orange liqueur
2 ounces blood orange juice
2 blood orange slices

Blood Orange. Photo by: angeloangelo

In a martini shaker combine all ingredients except the orange slices with a generous amount of ice. Shake vigorously for a few seconds. Strain the libation from the ice into a martini glass. Garnish with the orange slices.

Courtesy of Food Network

Gingerbread Martini

3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
2 sticks of cinnamon
3 whole cloves

Simmer water, sugar, ginger, cloves and cinnamon stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Pour hot syrup through a fine sieve and chill. Let stand 20 minutes until using, so all sediment has settled to the bottom.

Courtesy of Fine Living

Candy Cane Martini

1 1/2 Oz. Vodka
1 Tsp. Peppermint Schnapps

Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Option: Garnish with a small candy cane or create a candy cane “rimmer” with crushed candy canes.

Courtesy of thatsthespirit.com

Community Connection

Drink Crazy? Check out how to make your own flavored vodka or investigate Spain’s most spirited drink, Queimada.

The Baccalau Beast. Photo by Hedonist Cat

A few weeks ago I uncorked a bottle of cheap wine and opened iPhoto. Staring down some gnarly looking pizza photos I’d taken, I decided to rank the five worst I’d encountered this year. The piece was picked up in a few places including The New York Times’ Travel Blog. As I told a friend, I could write a 1,500 word masterpiece that will make nine people weep but if I throw up five goopy pizza pics and suggest that one is masturbating, well, the clicks keep coming.

The article was also translated into Spanish, causing me to become the epicenter of some kind of
food fight that’s been brewing in Buenos Aires. I generalized where I shouldn’t have and have promised that come January, when back in Argentina, I will point my mouth towards whatever pizza is suggested as good. I’ll be happy to eat my words – always have been.

One comment about the piece caught my eye. Pele Omori (of the foodie blog Hedonist Cat) recalled a pizza that she had had in Portugal, which I have since named The Baccalau Beast. One email later, I had a picture of this man-made abomination. I had to admit, it looked worse than anything I’d seen this year.

Taken at Papa Pizza in Evora, Portugal, The Baccalau Beast looks horrifying. For the uninitiated, baccalau is salted cod, a staple in the Portuguese diet. I’ve had two run-ins with this version of the fish and neither of them ended well. It is oily and yellow and almost seems uncooked even when it’s cooked. The texture must be close to that of human flesh. So, when I saw it on pizza I went fetal and started rocking in a corner.

We’ve had some great food pieces on Nights in the past few months, including Rev Dave Ciancio’s drool-able spread on big, beefy burgers. I’d like to throw this out there: If you have pictures and a hunger for food, we’d love to hear about it.

Best, worst, biggest, longest…we’re interested. Pop me an email with any and all ideas for food stories and I’d be more than happy to check it out. As long as it doesn’t involve baccalau and pizza. That’s just gross.

tom@matadornetwork.com

Photo: momguesswhat

Swinging Richards – Atlanta, Georgia, USA

One of the most hilariously named institutions in the world, Swinging Richards is reportedly one of the best male entertainment clubs in the USA. They even offer a bit of pre-gaming online by posting photos and stats of each dancer.

Care to learn a little bit about the guy who’ll be doing the wango tango? Matthew: “I am also an artist!” Parker: “Working ‘hard’ to finish school for an MBA with Finance and Economics. “ And Knight: “Knight doesn’t say much….he doesn’t have to.”

This is primarily a dude-stitution but women are also allowed, although rules state “No skirts above the mid-thigh!! You will be asked to leave or purchase a pair of shorts.”

Photo by: illyjilly

Remington’s – Toronto, Canada

Remington’s has been an institution in Toronto for over fifteen years. Yelp reports varied reviews. One poor soul warns, “If you get a private dance be careful to keep track of the number of songs that play. You are charged $20 PER SONG, not per dance.” One question – does the Grease megamix count as one song or three?

Aspiring Go Go Boys: The club’s website also has an explanation of how to apply, claiming that dancers can earn over $1,000 a week, paid daily in cash. The author may have just found a way to supplement his Matador salary.

Bar Taboo – Montreal, Canada

Bar Taboo is the kind of place where men take off their wedding ring and spend their daughter’s college money on guys working themselves through university or a drug problem. For the love of all that is matrimony, do not let your significant other attend a business conference in Montreal because there is no business conference in Montreal. There is Bar Taboo.

Hulk SMASH fellow stripper. Photo by: thewhitestdogalive

Tawan – Bangkok, Thailand

Tawan is one of the longest running gay clubs in Bangkok, catering specifically to those who like massive roid-monsters. It’s the kind of place that The Hulk or The Thing would strip at.

And just like that, the image is there for the rest of your life.

Escape – Prague, Czech Republic

About.com reports that this is the kind of place where “many – if not most – creatures in this saucy basement nightclub are looking to initiate business relations with you.” Visions of creepy old sex tourists are accentuated by photos on the club’s site, which show dancers in Zorro masks and angel wings.

Dick’s Cabaret – Phoenix, Arizona, USA

A strip club near the airport in Phoenix. No good can come of this. This is the joint where American Idol contestant David Hernandez once worked, reportedly appearing fully nude and performing lap dances. Start googling, perverts.

Photo by: momguesswhat

Silverado Gay – Portland, Oregon, USA

This place looks ridiculously raunchy. Silverado offers one question: “What are men made of? Snips and snails and puppy-dog tails and we got them all 7 nights a week.” This is probably not the career choice the dancers’ mothers were anticipating for their sons.

Arrow Nashville – Nashville, TN

Nashvegas recently opened its very open all-male gentleman’s club (it also allows female patrons). Citysearch gives it five stars, with one reviewer calling it “a great place to forget about the damn economy and have a fun time.”

You can follow Arrow on Twitter on their to learn about special events, like Manhunt Amateur Package Night.

Community Connection

Looking to get hitched? Peruse our Best American Spots For a Same-Sex Wedding. If you’re looking for some good morning-after dirt, check out 8 of the World’s Greatest Sex Scandals.

With their first DVD only out this week, Be-Dom is making a fast name for themselves in Portugal. The six members of this Porto based group mix performance art with music composed entirely on instruments made of found materials. Here’s a peek at three of their frenetic, feel-good performances.

Community Connection

Want to hear about more interesting musicians? Meet Aaron Appleton (currently on a worldwide quest to mix anthropology with world music) and Jamie Catto, one half of the ultimate world music project 1 Giant Leap.

EMI and Apple Corps Ltd have announced the upcoming release of The Beatles digital USB. The device is another strong uppercut to the other Apple, who have yet to land the band’s titles on iTunes. “[Jobs] says that a download is worth 99 cents, and we disagree,” said George Harrison’s son Dhani in an interview with Blender last Spring.

Music retailer Bluebeat has been selling $.25 Beatles track downloads but, as reported in the LA Times this week, EMI has filed copyright infringement charges against that company. It appears that they forgot to ask permission to put the tracks up.

The $279 USB is shaped in the form of an apple (shocker) and contains 14 stereo titles, as well as all of the re-mastered CDs’ visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes.

Only 30,000 copies of the USB will be released. It drops December 8th and is available for pre-order at The Beatles’ store.

Community Connection

Have you been following us each #Musicmonday? If not, check out our recent free download picks from We Make It Good and Atlas Sound.

Photo: brymo

(221): I am far too drunk to be making a tuna melt. There’s blood EVERYWHERE.

(314): So I went on a date with this girl…and whos our waitress? My girlfriend got a second job she didn’t tell me about to afford my bday present.

(308): I just walked in on my mom and dad……It wasn’t my dad

(423): two more shots til everyone in this club gets to see my cesarean scars.

(902): and then I told her I was too drunk. She started to cry, and told me this always happens to her and that she thinks shes ugly. I pretended I was asleep and then she farted.

(706): yeah so i didn’t even realize i was on meth until the next morning

(404): I bought a goldfish, named it after my ex-girlfriend, and let it die. It’s really the little things in life.

(703): I was sitting behind this girl in class and she logged out of her facebook, hacked into her boyfriends, and then proceeded to check his inbox. This is why I’m single.

(902): Sharpest. Poop. Ever.

(512): after a few more beers I realized that both my wife and I like Latin men.

(504): You’d think after all these years of evolution that it would be longer than a golf pencil.

(989): did you mean anything you said last night? i just wnna know
(1-989): no

(978): imagine if the morning after your status automatically updated with the name of the person you hooked up with

(410): operation have a gay friend backfired

(813): just once id like to meet someone on craigslist who isnt fat

(770): I just found out why they dont make table-dance tables out of glass.

(225): This unplanned pregnancy thing is really taking all the fun out of football season.

(440): he only lasted 2 minutes. he said it was because i was so pretty. i’m not sure what to feel right now.

Community Connection

Check these two articles out if you’re planning a late one in Prague or Iceland. One for the ladies: The Gutsy Girl’s Guide To Drinking Alone.

Photo by:Matěj Baťha

If you’re a traveler who isn’t In The Know about this talk radio show then do yourself a favor and give it a look-see. What better way to kill four hours on a chicken bus than with subjects like UFO’s, chemtrails, remote viewing, ghosts, conspiracy theories, the occult, psychic predictions and the like?

Having logged over 500 hours of listening time on my worldwide trip in 2009, I thought it might be time for somebody to comment on the good and the bad of one of radio’s most popular syndicated talk shows.

Crop circle or UFO landing? Photo by: Daz Smith

The Good

George Knapp

The king of Sunday Night is absolutely killing it. He doesn’t let anyone off the hook but he also shows kindness and reserve under his cranky façade. His UFO coverage is tops but it’s really his wildcard shows (like the recent ones about a overfishing and wild horses) that show his soul. Can you think of anyone you’d rather take down a Vegas buffet with?

Catherine Austin Fitts

If Catherine told me to invest in oceanfront property on Jupiter I probably would. She’s such a mainstream kind of commentator that she almost seems out of place on Coast. Her assessment of the world financial crisis seems dead-on and her methods for explaining complex issues are unbeatable. This is the best find CTC has had in years.

Linda Moulton Howe

Sure, Howe sounds like she’s going to cry every time she says a sentence, but her 60 Minutes style approach gives Coast some diversity. Her recent coverage of the Rendelsham UFO case has been downright noteworthy. An aside – did you know that she was crowned Miss Idaho in 1963?

Photo by: Demon Baby

George Noory’s Focus On Health

He’s often resisted the urge to over-sensationalize the N1H1 craze, he’s pushed for alternative cures to health issues and he’s been hyper-aware that maimed vets are coming back from Iraq. Other than that obsessive thing with tumeric, we love it all.

Ian Punnet’s Snort

I gather that Ian bugs some folks but I love him. He’s my kind of dweeb. Anybody who buys comic books and admits to being stoned on the air (pain pills for hair plug surgery) is all right by me. And that snort! He laughs like a real person laughs. He doesn’t say “that’s funny”. He just inhales and brings it, mucus and all.

Art Bell

Not many people in radio pause any more. Have you noticed that? A pause is death (watch a reality show and you’ll notice that they actually remove the breaths between words nowadays). Art Bell pauses.

The Bad

Lose The Earthquake Guy

Jim Berkland – just get rid of him. There can’t be a person out there who doesn’t cringe when he comes on the air. The level of narcissism this man delivers is simply too much for a show that’s supposed to be helping the world. If you’re going to cover earthquakes, cover them. Don’t sell us how ‘on’ your predictions are or justify how off they were with sleight of hand. Who plugs a biography about himself? Total weenie.

Richard C Hoagland

How do I say this without taking away from the fact that Richard C Hoagland is a smart man? Oh yeah, he’s an arrogant ass. At least one guest has been on this year who could be a better “science advisor”. I am now at the point where I simply leave the podcast if he is present, even if it’s a subject that would highly intrigue me. You can practically see him straightening his tie in the mirror and telling his reflection that he’s better than everybody else.

Chemtrails? Photo by: AndreaUrsiniCasalena

Blatant Promotion

Media training alert! You can smell savvy publicists telling authors to inject their book title every five minutes. It really wears a listener down. You can almost hear the guest get a doggie biscuit every time they’ve scored another mention. You can also almost hear us thinking it might be time to take a dump and go to bed, rather than listen to the rest of their glorified commercial.

George Noory’s Periodic Napoleon Complex

As genuine and nice a man as he is, somebody’s living a little high on the hog. “Make a note to get that done,” or “I’ll have to get Producer Tom to do that…”. Is there somebody waiting with a roll of toilet paper after he craps in the Premiere building? We know that you’ve done a great job and carry the show, Georgie. Stop acting like it and you’ll be as endearing as you were a year ago.

Community Connection

Sky high for the freaky stuff? Then be sure to check out our photo essay of
The Most Alien Landscapes On Earth, as well as our recent suggestions for How To Travel To Outer Space.

]]> http://matadornights.com/coast-to-coast-am-talk-radio%e2%80%99s-late-night-champ-gets-a-report-card/feed/ 4 http://matadornights.com/amazon-com-is-quietly-becoming-the-best-place-to-buy-cheap-digital-music/ http://matadornights.com/amazon-com-is-quietly-becoming-the-best-place-to-buy-cheap-digital-music/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:05:24 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=4164

The Gaslight Anthem’s album is a fivespot on Amazon.com.

The #1 selling album on Amazon’s digital store right now is the soundtrack to a little-seen film (Away We Go ), by a too-seldom heard artist (Alexi Murdoch). So why’s it selling? At $6.99*, it’s a cheap investment for an album that currently holds a 4 ½ star rating.

The same album goes for $9.99 on iTunes.

Amazon seems to be working hard to get the price down on titles. This is encouraging for those of us who still like to purchase music but find a price point one penny shy of ten bucks to be ridiculous.

Albums currently selling well for five bills include Beastie Boys’ classic Paul’s Boutique , Owl City’s embarrassing Ocean Eyes and the indie-dad-approved Yo Gabba Gabba’s Music Is Awesome .

The disparity between pricing with iTunes is puzzling. Jay Z’s The Blueprint 3 is currently $5.00 on Amazon and $9.99 at iTunes. Same price difference for Tim McGraw, Flight Of The Conchords and Grizzly Bear.

On top of their low-price model, Amazon has been rolling out plenty of free albums over the past few months. Most of the titles are garbage, but it’s a dizzying selection of garbage nonetheless, with 144 titles at last count.

If you’re going to low-dough album, I’d suggest The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound . Currently one of the best live acts in the world, they’re about to enter the studio to record what music-folks are whispering could be the album of 2010. At five bucks, this one’s a steal.

*This title was $1.99 when we first posted the article but jumped shortly thereafter.

Photo: anniewong

1. The 12 Coolest Art Instillations In The History Of Burning Man

“Nicknamed the Belgian Waffle, much to the irritation of the Belgian team that constructed it, Uchronia was nearly 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 50 feet tall, dominating the Black Rock City skyline.”

2. The 20 Craziest Party Hostels Around The World

“Music gets blasting and four deck games of Kings have been known to break out as people forget there’s a city outside the hostel. If you’re in the 36 bed dorm, bring earplugs as this place does not follow any of the hostel sex rules.”

3. A Guide To Smoking Pot Around The World

“Highly illegal. Possession by Guatemalans in not normally prosecuted for personal use, but tourists are commonly arrested and jailed for several days before being released.”

4. The First Timer’s Guide To Participating At Burning Man

“As a participant, you bring something to offer others — be it an art installation, an open conversation, or a hundred Bloody Marys. The most crucial and basic contribution is to respect and honor all that is around you.”

5. Seven Coffee Shops In Amsterdam That Are Good To Go

“Good drinks and good weed are served here at standard prices. The tables have patterns carved into them. They turn a blind eye to smoking inside-if they don’t see it, it’s not there. A lazy cat sits in the window all day to greet you as you come in.”

6. Inside Japan’s Freaky Themed Bath Houses and Bars

“Themed clubs or Image Clubs are establishments offering a variety of sexual services in a specifically themed setting. For example, chikan densha, or pervert trains are places where the john enters a look-alike subway car, gropes a number of girls for about ten minutes or so and then chooses one with whom to proceed to a private room.”

7. Where To Find The Hottest Girls In The World (Outside Of The USA)

“Anyone who believes that Parisians are the world’s most serious people about their appearance has never been to Croatia. In ads, store fronts, everywhere, there is a sense that fashion is not to be taken lightly–and with a population this hot, it’s hardly surprising.”

8. The Top Ten Parties In The World.

“It’s supposed to be a 7 mile foot race but instead it’s a 7 mile costume party and keg race that goes through downtown San Francisco. It began in 1906 to keep people’s sprits up after the earthquake and locals are still keeping that alive, in force!”

9. The 10 Best Rooftop Bars In The World

“This is an awesome bar in an all-around cool hotel. The Condesa DF is decked out in extraordinary design, from the table cloths to the couches. This super-chic hotel only has 40 rooms so make sure to get a reservation, and make sure to hit its rooftop paradise for some cocktails as the sun goes down over Mexico City.”

10. Mullets – A Worldwide Phenomenon

“It was explained to me once when I laughed at the blue faced, mulleted warriors in Braveheart that the haircut had a practical application. It allowed the wearer to shirk the harmful effects of the sun to the back of his neck while being able wield a weapon with unobstructed vision. Being a diehard utilitarian, I had to take a moment to give the mullet its due before resuming my obnoxious diatribe disparaging the hairdo.”

Community Connection

Check out a few of Matador’s other classic hit-grabbers:
The Fifty Most Inspiring Travel Quotes Of All Time
Hostel Sex: A Practical Guide For Backpackers
What Can 150k Buy In Real Estate Around The World?

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Photo: urbanmixer

Paul Stanley of KISS. Photo: beddiewedder

Ronnie James Dio. Photo: Marek Krajcer

Warrant’s Janie Lane. Photo: beddiwedder

Stephen Pearcy of RATT. Photo: Äppelmos

Tesla’s Brian Wheat and Frank Hannon. Photo: vazzz

W Axl Rose of Guns N Roses. Photo: Cuene Chiste

Night Ranger’s Jack Blades. Photo: zengrrl

Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat. Photo: bantam10

Mike Reno of Loverboy. Photo: michiee

Don Dokken. Photo: beddiwedder

Quiet Riot’s Kevin DuBrow. Photo: BradP

The Scorpions. Photo by Photo Agency

David Coverdale of Whitesnake. Photo: emalaith

Phil Collen of Def Leppard. Photo: kaleid

Lita Ford. Photo: shadowgate

Alice Cooper. Photo: denaflows

Kip Winger. Photo: Rick

Sammy Hagar and, inexplicably, David Hasselhoff. Photo: suzanneandsimon

Van Halen’s David Lee Roth. Photo: anirudhkoul

Launched this year, the 727 Fusealage home in Costa Verde II is a real shocker. Salvaged from a San Jose airplane graveyard, this 1965 Boeing 727 airframe has been converted into a two-bedroom vacation property.

The accommodation was inspired by a Forbes Magazine article about a company offering hurricane-proof living via surplus Boeing 727 airframes. Perched on a 50 foot pedestal, the plane looks like it’s just about to go wheels up.

The inside has been completely gutted and now contains two air-conditioned bedrooms, a kitchenette, a spiral staircase and hand-carved teak furniture from Indonesia. The whole shabang is located on the edge of a national forest, which can be seen from a terrace built around the plane’s entrance.

Check their on site for more details and more neato pics.

Community Connection

Ever jumped naked on a trampoline in your hotel room? That’s some of the craziness people have witnessed outside The Standard Hotel in New York City. Which is nothing compared to what is going on inside Japan’s Freaky Themed Bath Houses and Bars.

Coming around the corner, Berlin’s Bier Bike is a shocker. Heads turn and lips pucker with envy as passengers clank glasses and down foamy pints of suds. Cars nervously skirt by the slowly moving vehicle, tourists point in awe and all the while the bike’s passengers do all that is necessary – pedal and drink.

A bizarre contraption, the Bier Bike has been on the streets of Berlin since this May. It operates on a simple system. Eleven peddlers sitting on barstools move their feet in unison to propel the bike forward. The company’s sober driver sits up front and steers, making sure that the bike stays on course.

No injuries have been recorded as of yet, according to the bike’s driver/manager Ulli. The most common customers tend to be those with celebration in mind, often bachelor parties or sports teams.

I asked Ulli about the most any on group has had to drink. The record currently stands at 50 liters. The question then had to be asked – were they British? “Yes, of course.”

The Bier Bike – which comes stocked with brewskies and a sound system – is available to rent for two hours or more. It (technically) holds up to fifteen passengers and runs around 100 Euros for a two-hour tour and more for longer excursions. Beer is an additional cost, running €3.50 per liter.

The bike runs two routes around, one through Mitte and another towards the north side of Kreuzberg. For more information visit the Bier Bike website.

www.bierbike-berlin.de

Community Connection

Matador is bike happy. If you do nothing else, be sure to check out some of the freakiest bikes on the road in Hal Amen’s photo essay. Also check out Attica! Attica!’s plan to tour the USA by bicycle and raise money for World Bicycle Relief in the process.

Rhode Island’s Scarce was shot out of a cannon in 1994 and became a band that every record label had to sign, only a few months after forming. They recorded a stellar debut and took to the road, following their seemingly pre-destined path to superstardom. The series of events that followed confounds anyone who’s ever been a fan.

You’ve talked to quite a few Scarce fans. Can you describe how people feel about the band and the music they’ve made? I would imagine it’s quite passionate.

Very. Somebody even said that seeing them again after all of these years was like a religious experience. I interviewed an assortment of people, including other musicians like Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses) and Joe Lally (Fugazi), all of whom said amazing things.

How did you end up choosing this as a documentary subject?

I went to see them when they played a one-off show in London late last year. Joyce gave me a copy of her book and we got talking about making a feature film out of it, which was too expensive of an idea. I’m an independent filmmaker. So I suggested that we make a documentary.

I saw the band on their way up, at the CBGB’s show that landed them a deal. Do you get the impression that, at the time, they were as surprised as anyone by all of the sudden attention?

Yes. They’d only been a band for a couple of months and they recorded The Red Sessions in a week. There was this huge, fast rise to fame.

If you listen to Deadsexy now, it might seem impossible that this is a record which could have a commercial life. But if you put it in the perspective of the time it makes sense; bands like Mudhoney were in Rolling Stone, Smashing Pumpkins had taken distortion mainstream…there was a definite feeling that even if it wasn’t Deadsexy that did it, Scarce would definitely hit it on the next album. Would you agree?

Photo: lfletcher

I would have thought so. Their music was a lot more thoughtful and intelligent than what some bands were chucking out. They always had something that was just a bit different. Even how they dressed – everyone else was in ripped jeans and here they were all dressed up. The album doesn’t sound at all dated now.

Then everything went wrong. For the uninitiated, can you encapsulate what happened to the band around 1995, right as they were about to click?

They got picked up by A&M, after being chased by 24 record labels. Everyone wanted to sign them. Then there was a big holdup of a year because Chick was previously signed to Sire and Sire Records sued him. They couldn’t play, they couldn’t tour – they were just left holding on for a year.

They finally settled for something like $90,000 and then their drummer left. They had to re-record the album with a new drummer. They went through about four or five drummers before Joe and the day after he started Chick had a brain hemmorage.

Chick and Joyce. Photo: lfletcher

He was in hospital for two or three months. They went back on the road even though Chick wasn’t in a good place – his balance was funny and he couldn’t hear properly. They were under pressure from the label. He and Joyce ended up fighting and the band just fell apart.

I’m wondering how you approached all of this in the documentary. It’s a really sad, tragic story. Was it difficult to find some kind of inspirational arc? I mean, essentially, it’s like watching a ship sink.

I was very conscious about this and I wanted to approach it objectively. The beginning is about their rise to fame, then into all of the shit that happened to them. But I have made sure that the end is pretty positive, because they’re back and people seem to be so pleased.

What do they make of all of this?

They can’t believe the reaction they’re getting. I don’t think they planned to make a comeback. They just got back together because they like playing together. They’ve been quite astonished by the reaction they’ve gotten.

Did you talk to the band about their lives post-Scarce?

Yes. Joyce and Joe played together for a little while but that didn’t work out. Chick never stopped playing. He was playing bars in Providence and toured Europe. Joyce got married, had a family and wrote the book. When I interviewed Joe, he said that he’d had a feeling that one day they’d get back together. It took ten years.

I see that there are some shows in the UK. Can you explain how you’re rolling out the movie a bit?

We’re doing four dates in the UK. Each show is a support band who are Scarce fans, then the documentary and then Scarce will do a set. We’ll then go over to The States and do a show in New York and Providence. We’re hoping to do a much bigger US tour next year.

You’ve done a documentary on a band that’s made only one album. I’m not sure that’s ever been done before.

They may only have one album but they probably have one of the greatest stories of any band. It wasn’t just one awful thing that happened to them. It was a whole series of tragedies. But they’ve still come back fighting.

Community Connection

Be sure to check out Nathan Larson of A-Camp’s Five You’ve Never , in which he manages to discuss both Burt Lancaster and falafel. Also, feel free to stroll through Berlin’s Ramones Museum and check out some of the best literal videos ever made.

The massive and astounding marionettes came to Berlin in a program called “The Berlin Reunion”, a series of eight walks set to commemorate German Reunification.

Hauled by cranes and scores of puppeteers, the giants moved about town over four days from October 1-4, following a tale set in motion by Royal de Luxe. The story told over the course of these walks was of two giants being separated by a city torn in two by monsters, eventually reuniting despite epic odds.

1. Once upon a time, a long time ago, Berlin was a swamp inhabited by giants. They planted roots in the water which slowly grew up into trees, whose trunks they later used to build shelters.

2. In one of these huts lived a Little Giantess together with her uncle, Big Giant. He had given her a wonderful boat in which she could travel across the continent. But one day land and sea monsters tore the city in two: And one of the two pieces was walled up.

3. When this happened the Big Giant and the Little Giantess were separated.

4. He was so angry that he threw himself into the river and from there he wandered through the depths of the oceans looking for the sleeping geyser on the seat floor.

5. Many years passed but eventually he found it.

6. He dragged it underneath the city walls and woke it rudely. The earth shook, the walls crumbled and washed away…

7. …a strong wind made the Little Giantess’ boat start moving and pulled roots of the trees up into the air.

8.When this was all over, the Big Giant climbs out of the river and starts searching.

9. The Little Giantess wakes up beside her boat…

10. …and discovers a sack of letters which were never delivered.

11. She decides she is going to deliver the post and on her way round the city…

12. …she is reunited with her big uncle, the Big Giant.

Photo 1 by Tom Gates. Photos 6 & 7 by Didier. All other photos by SpreePIX. Story by Jean Luc Courcoult, Royal de Luxe.

Community Connection

Matador is full of photo essays. You might start with Twelve Lesser Known Ruins Of The World and then move onto The Most Alien Landscapes On Earth. For a giggle, lend a few minute to 20 Of The Freakiest Bikes On The Road.

Justice’s amazing setup comes to Voodoo. Photo by momaraman

There aren’t many places better to spend Halloween weekend than New Orleans, especially with this year’s lineup at Voodoo Experience.

NIN at Voodoo 2008. Photo: nineinchnails

Now in its eleventh year, the three-day festival has hosted some of the biggest names in music.

The 2009 lineup features quite a diverse pack. Eminem will make his only live appearance in this year, tacked onto a bill that also includes attractions like KISS, Lenny Kravitz, The Flaming Lips, Janes Addiction and Widespread Panic .

It’s the variation of acts that makes Voodoo so cool – you’d be hard-pressed to find a lineup as diverse as this one.

Rock is well represented, with performances by Meat Puppets, Brand New, Silversun Pickups, Wolfmother and Down. Dance fans will find a surprise in the form of a rare appearance by Fischerspooner, not to mention the inclusion of super-duper-hipsters Justice. Alt Country fans will run square into sets by Drive-by Truckers and Shooter Jennings, while a more cerebral set will be happy to catch Alejandro Escovedo and Robert Randolph.

Halloween with The Demon. Photo: mback23

Perhaps most lucky is the eclectic music fan, who can also see artist like Ween, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Gogol Bordello, Squirrel Nut Zippers and The Pogues. All of this is swirled together with New Orleans flavor, from local marching bands to classic Creole sounds.

Voodoo Experience, October 30th – November 1st, New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Hawaiian Bastard.

Pronto Pizza – La Serena, Chile

This creator of this restaurant should be thrown in jail. You’re looking at a picture of what should be called The Hawaiian Bastard.

It arrived half-cooked. I had to dig through a thicket of shredded ham, pineapple and –yes – cherries before finding a bite that seemed reasonable.

Imagine if candy was made out of ham. No, don’t imagine it as delicious. Imagine it as foul! That’s what this pizza tasted like. With additional pieces of uncooked, shredded, part-skim mozzarella.

Oh, and let’s discuss the concept of cherries on pizza: No. End of discussion.

Even the pizza sweats in Argentina.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

For the most part, don’t even bother with pizza in Buenos Aires. It’s about the most disgusting thing ever cooked in a country full of things that are perfectly cooked. Get thee to a meatery and skip this nonsense.

Don’t believe me? Witness big goops of cheese that taste like year-old butter. Add Oregano to cover the sweating fromage, which overpowers any hope for a cohesive taste. Toss on green olives the size of human testicles, just to make the whole thing seem even less palatable than…testicles.

The cheese is the problem here – somehow the Argentines know what to do with the meaty part of the cow but they have no idea what to do with the milky part. It sweats as if masturbating, defending a pie of oozy things that can’t be wiped up with a paper towel (it adheres to the slop and only makes it worse).

If you must eat a pizza in Buenos Aires, I highly recommend that you eat out. Anything delivered will arrive on one side of the box, looking more like a swollen eye than a pizza pie.

Yes, the Italians can make a bad pizza.

San Marco S.R.L., Piazza San Marco, Florence, Italy

It’s one of those In Theory pizzas, kind of like the crazy-combo pies that chains launch and pull before the coupon hits your mailbox. Yes, this is a French Fry Pizza.

What it amounts to is a pile of potatoes cooked in greasy cheese and pizza dough. It doesn’t work – not in the least. I watched another tourist give it a go and she couldn’t figure it out either. She squiggled a little ketcup onto her piece, took a bite, then threw it in the garbage. I assume that she pointed her hunger towards McDonalds shortly thereafter.

Please, put this miserable, suffering beast of a pizza down.

Evil has a name. It’s whatever this pizza is called.

Suba Galaxy Hotel, Mumbai, India

A foul, atrocious pizza awaits anyone staying at The Suba Galaxy.

I broke budget in order to stay in a soundproofed room that blocked out Mumbai’s consistent howl. My stomach growled for something familiar and eventually I gave into the most primal of urges: Room Servive. The tray arrived, the lid came off and I could have cried. This was not my beautiful house. This was not my beautiful wife.

I implore you. DO NOT EVER put onions inside of a pizza, especially ripe and uncooked offenders. I’d also like to suggest that feta doesn’t work in this context and that mystery greens are not generally acceptable in any form.

This pizza was devious, deceptive and evil.

Turn left at the tree. Head west until you hit Italy.

Italian Pizza, Lonely Beach, Koh Chang, Thailand

You’re thinking that it doesn’t look too bad, this one. This is only because you’ve seen the above pizza pictures. It’s relative, sir/mam. Look at it again. It’s awful!

The first thing that most Thai pizza-makers do is start with a pre-made base, kind of like you’d find in aisle six of Stop & Shop. Many times, they’ll take just about any kind of jarred tomato sauce (I’ve seen Ragu) and add it to cheese that tastes a bit of dirty socks and coriander. The pizza pictured is a fine example.

Yes – It serves us Falang tourists right for ordering pizza in Thailand. Yes – we should know better and just order the Pad Thai like every other backpacker. But no, we can’t resist the promise of a real pizza.

It’s the ladyboy of the food world – we know it’s not real but by-gosh, we’re going in anyway.

We want to hear your pizza nightmares! Feel free to comment below and PLEASE link to a picture, if you have one.

Photo: ainudil

“Matador Joselito Ortega will be plugging a club-scene energy beverage called Gay Up and have those words embroidered into his cape in large, red cursive letters.” (AP)

There are moments when being gay is just fine and dandy, and then there are moments when being gay just plain sucks. It was on about the fourth time that the story was forwarded to me that I knew that this was going to be a real El Suck-O day.

Photo courtesy of Gay Up

Look, I’ll leave the whining about product placement to That Guy. He can bemoan the state of the advertising world, about how every square inch of God’s Green Earth is for sale and how great the old days were, when advertising was just subliminally evil.

I guess if anyone should be pissed then it should be the bull, which should at least be able to make a equal buck displaying its own cheeseburger ad before being slayed or slewn or whatever the hell the past participle of ‘slay’ is.

What yanks my crank is that Ortega – who is, by the way, straight – is playing the Gay Card because his career is in the crapper. According to most reports, Ol’ Joselito is not exactly The Bullfighter Of The Year. He’s been gored many times since his tights-wearing career began in 2006, which is hardly a solid start for a newbie Matador. That’s like a school bus driver killing a few hundred kids before he gets the hang of a big steering wheel.

To be surprised that a pink cape and a gay ad would spark his career is unfathomable, yet Ortega seems to stand by his story that he’s simply trying to break down barriers for both the gay and capitalist communities. He told CNN, “I’m glad to be the first person (in bullfighting) whom the gay community will take as an icon.” Girlfriend thinks he’s Madonna and he’s really just Brooke Hogan.

Says Ortega, “I am a bullfighter. That is not going to change. I am going to go out into the ring as I have done until now, to risk my life, and the seven goring wounds on my body prove that.”

As if there wasn’t enough reason to root for the bull already.

Jenny’s Cafe, Hongdae, Seoul

Intimate, funky, homemade. Nothing fancy, just done well. My wife and I used to treat ourselves to this place once a week (well, twice if we felt we really deserved it).

Creamy squash soup, salad, sauteed mushroom sandwich on fresh bread, glass of wine. That’s it. Their other location, tucked away more elusively in a different Hongdae neighborhood, scores points for its gnocchi, but you can’t beat the original. And this in a city where you can get the most delicious Korean food on any corner.

It’s that good.
-Hal Amen, Matador Trips Co-Editor

Gordo Taqueria, San Francisco, CA

I love Gordo because the same people make the burritos every day and they know what they’re doing. It’s the only meal in SF that can fill me up for less than $7 and they’re just so damn good! I eat at least 3-4 of them/week and I can’t think of any other food or restaurant that I could eat so frequently without getting sick of it.

I’ve been eating at Gordo for over 15 years and I’m sure I’ll be eating there for the next 15. www.gordotaqueria.com
-Ross Borden, Founder

Guijie Dajie, Beijing

Photo: preetamrai

On “Ghost Street” in Beijing you can eat meat skewers of all kinds (from your obscure internal organs to straight up beef and chicken), gong bao chicken like you’ve never had it anywhere else, small plates of cucumber salad, thinly fried potatoes, sauteed veggies with garlic, veggie skewers in sichuan pepper paste, sizzling sichuan fish brought to you live in a bag for your approval…and did I mention the 5 yuan tall Tsingdaos?
- Sarah Menkedick, Matador Abroad Co-Editor

Marvin, Washington, DC

Southern comfort classics meet Belgian charm and refinement in this restaurant that’s a tribute to Marvin Gaye’s time spent in self-imposed exile in Ostend, Belgium.

Photo: abbyladybug

A bevy of different moules frites, foie gras and onions, and the best fried chicken and waffles are among the impeccable menu at Marvin, which is located in the historic Shaw Neighborhood on U Street, the heart of jazz and soul in the District.

Add to that an amazing rooftop beer garden and the speakeasy Gibson located around the back, and Marvin will easily be one of the most interesting, unique, and delicious places you’ll ever visit. www.marvindc.com
-Jason Wire,Matador Contributor At-Large

The Ivy, Los Angeles

Photo of The Ivy in all its preppy glory: ChrisYunker

Oh, I know. It’s ridiculous. I’m supposed to be the guy who picks the tin shack in Laos, not the place with a $19 hamburger and valet parking. Somehow, though, I’m charmed by this little faux-house and the celebs that come here to have their paparazzi smeared.

I think that it’s the kind of place I dreamed of as a kid in Wallingford, CT, a place that I surely shouldn’t be allowed into, coming from a town full of townies.www.theivyla.com
-Tom Gates, Matador Nights Co-Editor

Neisha Thai Cuisine, Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Photo of Pad Thai: closari

Heavily frequented by native Thai customers, a clear indication of its authenticity, its Pad Thai dish is sinfully decadent. Basil and sweet chili aromas wafting out of this joint hypnotizes you before you even step in, and the right amount of oils and spices in every single dish seals the deal.

Be sure to grab a frequent customer card to get some sweet discounts.www.neisha.net
-Lola Akinmade, Matador Goods Editor

La Bodega, San Martin de los Andes, Argentina

In Argentina, a bodega refers to an old-school meal-hall, the kind of place with a set menu of just four or five dishes each day, usually simple and cheap and hearty. The Bodega in San Martin de los Andes is run out of a really cool house–three or four different rooms upstairs and down, most with long tables for family-style dining. Here they serve house red wine out of ceramic penguins.

Photo of Bife de Chorizo: Stella Dauer

Whatever you get will be all-time and the chef and his wife will come check in with to make sure you’ve eaten enough, asking if you want a ‘chapa,’ which is like seconds, thirds, etc. I’ve had some super fat Bife de Chorizo here, Lomo, and also lentil stew. There’s always a vegetarian option, and like nearly everywhere in Patagonia the produce is locally grown–with La Bodega sourcing many of its ingredients from the garden onsite, straight up farm-to-table style.

After dinner there’s fresh-picked mint-tea. The sweetest thing about this place though is you can make reservations for dinnner at one of the private upstairs rooms with sofas, bean-bags, and coffee tables plus TV / DVD / VCR and movie selections from the video store. While you’re watching the film the muchachas will just slip in every once in a while to grab your plates, see if you want coffee, dessert, more mint-tea, or just more penguins.
-David Miller, Matador Senior Editor

Mart 130, Melbourne

This small, old cafe used to be a station master’s building on the tram platform. You can sit inside, outside the front which looks onto a serene Albert Park, or outside the back on the actual old platform and watch tram passengers get on and off on the trams’ regular runs.

The portions are healthy and the quality is fantastic. I recommend the pancake stack with mascarpone, berry compote, and authentic Canadian maple syrup (with a side of bacon, if you will) accompanied by a steaming latte.
-Carlo Alcos, Matador Trips Co-Editor

Blind Faith Cafe, Evanston, IL

Photo: swanksalot

As a vegetarian, I end up eating a lot of pasta when I go out to restaurants with friends. Blind Faith Cafe is wonderful because it caters specifically to vegetarians and vegans – the menu’s completely meat-free. While their offering changes pretty frequently, they’re wizards with seitan, and anything that features it is probably worth trying.www.blindfaithcafe.com
- Adam Roy, Matador Sports – Contributing Editor

Montego Bay, Sandton, South Africa

On Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, South Africa lies this amazing seafood restaurant, Montego Bay. You can sit outside on the square and enjoy some of the best seafood from the land-locked city. While all of the seafood is exquisite, the langoustine was divine and something I had never quite experienced before.

Reasonably priced, great atmosphere, and excellent food makes this one of my favorite restaurant in the world. Montego Bay is certainly going to be on the list of places to dine when I go back for the FIFA World Cup in 2010.http://www.montegobay.co.za
-Lindi Horton, Matador Sports Intern

The Vietnam Kitchen, Louisville, Kentucky

Photo of Vietnamese Spring Roll: stu_spivack

The Vietnam Kitchen in Louisville is frequented by many homesick Vietnamese from the neighborhood and it’s also the haunt of hipsters who trek to the South End of Louisville to gorge themselves on catfish in a clay pot or the perfect, plump spring rolls served with a sweet sauce garnished with peanuts you might want to eat by the spoonful.

Reasonably priced, the atmosphere may leave something to be desired as you’ll be dining under a florescent glow. If you’re there for the food, you won’t be disappointed. I knew a group of guys that got the number of their favorite dishes tattooed on. Hardcore. (Reviews and address here.)
-Kate Sedgwick, Matador Nights Co-Editor

Parker Pie, West Glober, VT

My favorite restaurant is Parker Pie in West Glover, Vermont, a pizza pub in back of an old-time Vermont general store. Parker Pie is miles away from the nearest paved road, but it’s always packed with Northeast Kingdom locals eating pizza or drinking beer around a campfire in the backyard. www.parkerpie.com/
-Tim Patterson, Matador Man At Large

Giovanni’s – London, England

I cannot help it – I love Italian food, and I love this spot. It’s just in Covent Garden, and it’s a wonderful tiny cafe with all the vibrancy of Italy. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that my favourite Italian restaurant is in England, but I have never been disappointed by the wine, food or service here. I also really enjoy Burgoo, located out here in Vancouver BC on Main Street – their French onion soup is worth the wait. (Reviews and address of Giovanni’s here.)
-Alexandra Barrow, Human Resources Director

Astrid y Gastón, Santiago, Chile

I hate it that my favorite restaurant in Chile is both pricey and Peruvian, but if that’s what it takes, so it goes. Astrid and Gastón plays with sweet and sour, textures and delicious ingredients. The quinoa-encrusted giant prawns are delicious, and the for dessert the fried rice pudding served with cinnamon ice cream might just make you cry.www.astridygaston.cl
-Eileen Smith, Community Outreach

Thai Tom, Seattle, WA

Photo of Thai Tom’s durable menu: closari

Line out the door, totally legit, hole in the wall Thai joint. Anyone who has been to Thailand will attest, those that haven’t, Thai Tom gives you a taste. It is hot, crammed, and the cooks work their magic right in front of you. Complete with dingy, Bangkok style bathroom! Fried tofu with peanut sauce is not to be missed.
-Joshua Johnson

Restaurant Salzamt, Vienna, Austria

If you look up gemütlich in the dictionary, this is what you should find. Vienna has some of the best cuisine of any capital city I’ve been to in recent memory, and Salzamt offers a wonderful blend of both the old world and modern Viennese kitchen.

The interior is a cavernous, vaulted space but the best seats are outside, in an old cobblestone courtyard next to one of Vienna’s oldest churches. The atmosphere is almost electric as violins in the distance fill the area. Although every course is fantastic, this is no time to skip dessert as the pastry chef really makes miracles come true. (Frommer’s Review)
-Andy Hayes

Good Earth, Fairfax, CA

Photo: Nikchick

Ok, this may be a cop-out, but considering I’m the queen of needing gluten-free, dairy-free and preferably organic foods, I gotta say my favorite restaurant is actually the Good Earth grocery store in Fairfax, CA. I can almost always eat every single thing on their hot foods bar, including the scrumptious black bean, sweet potato and brown rice croquettes and cooked greens that are to die for.

Plus, they’ve got a bomb-ass curry chicken salad with raisins in the fridge, right up next to some coconut-yes I said coconut-tapioca pudding. When I’m living there, the staff sees me at least twice a day, and the store gets at least half of my yearly income. Good stuff.www.goodearthnaturalfoods.net/l
-Christine Garvin, Co-Editor, BNT

Mama Schnitzel’s, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

This place was a happening little open-air joint that served up simple chicken sandwiches that were shockingly delicious. It was the kind of place were you constantly heard people talking about it and would think “Nah, there’s no way it’s that good,” but then a single bite would transform you into a true believer.

The atmosphere was always chaotic and full of backpackers either coming to or from the beach. The owners also supplied paper and markers free of charge so the notes written in dozens of languages plastered the walls. Some humorous, some lewd, some insightful, it definitely gave it a fun vibe. (Mama Schnitzel’s on facebook)
-Frank Johnson

Horseman’s Haven Café, Santa Fe, NM

Photo of Green Chile Stew: stu_spivack

Favorite Restaurant is of course more of a moment in time than it is a place you can go back to (or recommend to a friend).

Back in the early divergence of Cuban currencies, there was a ropa vieja at a homey paladar overlooking the Malecón, now lost in the notebooks. Locos con mayo at the market in Puerto Montt. Lamb tajine in Ouarzazate. Four courses of goat cheese at the chèvrerie above the sweltering Loire.

But today, for lunch, the way I feel, if I could have a seat anywhere in the world, it’d be in one of the naugahyde booths at Horseman’s Haven, way down on Cerrillos, before a bowl of Level 1 green chile and a pile of warm flour tortillas. And a cold Budweiser. (Reviews and address here.)
-David Page, Contributing Editor

Flo Hayler decided to start a Ramones museum after receiving an ultimatum from his girlfriend – either his empire of memorabilia went or she did. Four years and 10,000 visitors later, The Ramones Museum Berlin is still going strong.

The collection of over 300 pieces runs the gamut. There are photo shrines, t-shirts, gig posters and even a pair of Johnny Ramone’s jeans. Each item is placed with care and precision – a couple of hours in this room and even a non-fan could soak up the fascinating history of one of the most simple (yet complex) bands in rock history.

Inside the museum.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated fan than Hayler, who describes himself as the “happiest guy on Earth”. Walking through the main gallery, he grins at each item, probably imagining how it came into his care. He admits that some nights he just sits in the main space and stares at the room, imagining how to improve the arrangement of its contents. A bigger fanboy there’s never been.

This is undoubtedly the reason that the museum works so well. It’s less a collection and more a shrine, a labor of love that is easily appreciated by anyone who has ever gone to the dark side of collecting, a world where a lost eBay war might end in tears and tantrums.

Ramones Museum Owner/Obsessed Fan Flo Hayler.

The space also contains Café Mania, which has ended up becoming a hangout for local scenesters. Tourists who stick around for a cup of coffee often find that they leave with more information about Berlin than any guidebook could offer. This is a place to find out every hip event in Berlin for the next month, publicized or not.

The museum also doubles as a performance space, with upcoming shows including Anti-Flag and Jay Reatard. CJ Ramone recently played a set in the space – hundreds of people waited in line for a chance to make it inside and meet a Ramone. Longtime Ramone friend and designer Arturo Vega –the man responsible for The Ramones logo – will make an appearance at the museum’s birthday on October 16th.

Ramones Museum Berlin. Krausnickstr. 23, Berlin, Germany.
www.ramonesmuseum.com

Zad

The reason there is no picture of a falafel here is because I whoofed it in thirteen seconds. Located in the Turkish section of Kreuzberg, Zad makes some of the best food in town. Every item in the display is made fresh each morning and only served after it’s been blessed. Blessed food is still scarfed food.

€2.50 Falafel. Reichenberger Str 84, Kreuzberg

Impression: Food with soul. Mood: Ready to Go.

Kreuzburger

Kreuzburger is where the locals go to beef up. I wasted no time in ordering cheeseburger, which was exactly the size of my fist. Toasted bun, slightly spicy burger sauce, loads of pickles, white cheddar, lettuce and tomato. As close to perfection as you can get in Europe (c’mon, we all know there’s no meat in your meat).

€3.00 Cheeseburger. Oranienstraße 190, Kreuzberg

Impression: Burgers aren’t rocket science. Mood: Digesting.

Curry 36

No foodie tour of Berlin would be complete without a round of currywurst at Curry 36, the most famous wurst stop in town. For the uninitiated, the dish in question looks like an oversized hotdog that’s been dressed in curry ketchup, with a warm bun on the side.

Lines often go around the block but I was lucky, hitting some magical hour where only a few of us whoofed the best wurst. Everyone from bankers to cabbies stood around me, wolfing down some of the best mystery meat ever put to paper plate. I wasn’t the only one who licked mine clean.

€1.70 Currywurst. Mehringdamm 36, Kreuzberg

Impression: Worth the hype. Mood: Gurgly.

Pagode

Berlin is gaga for Thai and so am I. Pagode does it better than any restaurant I’ve been to outside of Thailand, probably because they fly ingredients in twice-weekly from Southeast Asia. Four irritated women whiz through dozens of orders in minutes, barking pickups through a PA system that projects towards the curbside picnic tables.

I’ve went for the Tom Yam Gai, a particularly risky post-currywurst choice. I felt my insides begging for mercy as I ladled big spoonfuls of the spicy soup into my gullet. If you ever find yourself in Berlin, point yourself to this place. It’s incredible.

€3.20 Soup Bergmannstrase 88, Kreuzberg

Impression: It doesn’t get any finer. Mood: Potty?

Solo Pizza

Berlin is filled with these little storefront pizza joints, all displaying massive pizzas that are difficult to walk past without a second or third glance. They’re all pretty much the same and are all frigging delicious.

Knowing that I had to pace myself, I skipped the spicier options (Spicy Potato, Salami) and opted for a Rucola slice – a margherita topped with shaved parmesan, tomatos and rocket leaves. One piece is enough to fill most anyone.

€2.20 Slice. Danziger Str. 7, Prenzlaeur Berg

Impression: On the money. Mood: Burpy

Kadewe

Kadewe’s sixth floor is the most delicious place on earth. This massive food hall is set up so that each counter also serves as a restaurant, where a chef can make most anything that’s in the display case. There’s food from all over the world, including an “American Section” that stocks something for every craving, from Bisquick to Thousand Island to Pop Tarts.

I opted for something German, hitting a booth that sold ten different kinds of Wurst. Dude handed me a plate with a massive sausage, homemade saurkraut and a big dollop of mustard. I wasn’t particularly hungry but I ate it all.

€5.70 Meal, Kadawe “Department Store Of The West”. Tauenzienstrasse 21, Shoneberg

Impression: Pricey but unique. Mood: Broke and ready to barf.

“Shop”

As bloated as I was, I took one for the team and grabbed a pastry-y thing on the way home. Most U-Bahn stations are good for fast food, some of them containing dozens of shops and stores. I was only able to choke down a few bites of this tasty treat.

€1.00 Streuselschnecke, U-Bhf. Kottbusser Tor

Impression: Sweet. Mood: Gone too far.

Hot Dog Man

Unwise. But how often are you going to run into a man with a full hot dog setup resting on his hips? These guys (and girls) make the rounds outside of U-Bahn stations and sport a full grill contraption, ready to serve dogs that are so big they won’t fit in a roll. Two bites later, I called it a day.

€1.20 Most U-Bahn stops, especially Alexanderplatz.

Impression: Processed meat is scary. Mood: Done. Totally done.

All Photos: Tom Gates

More Food On Matador

Not full? Be sure to check Tom’s binge in Bangkok. Feel free to also indulge your inner foodie by eyeballing Anatomy of a Smörgåsbord and Matador Nights’ ongoing obsession with carbonated beverages.

The floor at The Overstay. All photos by Greg Goodman

“Please Do Overstay!” exclaims the website for one of the cheapest guest houses we’ve seen in a while. A tour around their site makes this seem like the smartest spot in BKK, a real find for people who are “into exchanging ideas, languages, music, art and love.” The space includes a bar, a music studio, free language classes and nightly dinners. The catch?

“People sleep anywhere they can.”

It turns out that the dormitory, according to The Overstay site, “has the feel of a hippie refugee camp with mosquito nets and big backpack brought by people from all around the world.” Photos from past guests would suggest that it’s more of a pigsty than anything else.

Turning up at The Overstay could be a shock for anyone booking on hostelworld, who make no mention of the dorm conditions.

Mariaborland6641: “Ended up on the floor of a dirty and windowless cell on an unwashed sheet…lay awake sweating profusely. Also no running water anywhere.” (7/7/09, Hostelworld)

“The cleanest at The Overstay.”

Ariana From Canada: “We did not stay at The Overstay because when we arrived there were only drunk men in the ‘lobby’ if that’s what you would even call it and no reception area to check in… I would not recommend any females to stay there and i really do not think it should even be on hostels.com as the check in counter was a bar and they didn’t even have our reservation when we got there.” (9/13/09, hostels.com)

These two wouldn’t be the first to turn up at a guesthouse that has glossed over some of its flaws. But it also doesn’t sound like a fair shake for these guests, who might have looked at The Overstay’s website and expected to enter “Bangkok’s number one chillout spot”, which they further describe as a “six tiered cake of fun and living.”

The question raised is not a new one. Just how much credence should you give booking sites? What does it mean that The Overstay is listed on Lonely Planet’s site, via a re-run of the Hostelworld review?

The same page suggests that booking with LP gives “expert advice from Lonely Planet authors.” Would Lonely Planet list The Overstay if they sent someone to see it? Or is re-running another site’s review simply enough for them, since they’ll pick up a commission on bookings? Either way, somebody’s daughter is spending the night in a squat.

A room. A room?

To be fair, many people seem to dig the bohemian squat space, presumably because they’re sure of what they are getting into. For the right person, The Overstay may be heaven.

Juanluckey writes on The Overstay’s site, “I encourage this place to promote positivity, love, and if you have some creative art talent, that is even better.” TheLostNY describes it as a “diamond in the rough.”

So, we ask. When does spin become mistruth? Do booking sites have the responsibility to do any investigating, beyond what information the hostel provides them? Or does a person expecting clean sheets for $0.62 per night have it coming to them?

The Overstay. Charan Sanit Wong, Number 80-82 next to the Soi 40 in Pinklao, Bangkok. Phone : 028834836

Matador Is Hostel Happy

For a Bangkok hostel of different ilk, check out our review of the badly-named (but nevertheless-blissful) Lub*d. Our ever-popular guide to hostel sex is also out there, waiting for you to take it into a quiet corner. For some completely different crash-space, lend an eyeball to some of the coolest campers around.

I moved to Edinburgh for the month of August and couldn’t escape this distinctly orange soda, which Scots seem to down in pints or liters. It’s so pervasive that a past commercial even showed a midwife trying to talk a baby out of its mother’s womb by offering one to the unborn child.

No good has ever come of anything this orange.

What does it taste like? A bit like carbonated bubble gum, so sickeningly sweet that I found it difficult to drink more than three gulps. The drink’s bite is so alarming that it is no surprise to find that Irn-Bru is rumored to have thirty-two flavoring agents in its recipe.

The recipe itself is closely guarded. According to Wikipedia, “The ingredients in Irn-Bru are a secret and known only to Robin Barr, the Chairman, and one unnamed person (who are not allowed to travel on the same plane together). A copy of the recipe is kept in a bank vault in Switzerland. Robin Barr himself mixes the essences of the drink in a sealed room at their headquarters in Cumbernauld once a month.”

Creepy? Creepy.

The Irn-Bru website contains a bevy of information about the soft drink, including past advertisements. The company is quite famous for its button-pushing ads, like the one featuring a gorilla and the tag line “Give Me Irn-Bru Or I’ll Shuffle My Nuts In Front Of Your Mother.”

Perhaps the world’s weirdest drink. If you don’t agree already, just check out the advert below.

You Gonna Drink That?

Fascinated by beverages? Be sure to check out strange discovery in Argentina, as well as some of the world’s other strangest libations.

Burning Man sets up for another year. Photo: naturalturn

Over 50,000 people made their way to Burning Man last year. Are you on your way to this year’s event? If so, be sure to connect with the writing foursome from this year’s Roads Scholarship.

These writers have been blogging about their trip across America for the entire summer and will finally converge in Nevada this week. A graduation ceremony is planned for Thursday night, from 7pm to 9pm. All vagabonds and nomads are invited to come meet the class of 2009 and party with the Digital Vagabond tribe.

Instructions are very, um, Burning Man. Track the crew down in Bat Country by looking for the van that reads Digital Vagabonding.com.

Kyle, Joanna, Marina, and Allana will be sharing photos and video from their trips, following a “whimsical ceremony”.

Full details are available at Digital Vagabonding’s site.

Metallica – “Battery”

This is the mighty Metallica before they pussed out, complete with one of their best and should-be-patented intros. Injury awaits anyone who can bang their head along to one of the best riffs ever put on tape (at about 1:10). This song turns humans into animals.

Metallica – Battery MP3

Judas Priest – “Electric Eye”

A Priest song where Halford isn’t secretly talking about S&M, dudes or…dudes. During the 80’s, about a million kids with oddly shaped Ibanez guitars tried to learn this riff, then cried when they couldn’t make their fingers move fast enough and pinch a harmonic at the same time.

Judas Priest – Electric Eye MP3

Iron Maiden – “The Number Of The Beast”

I was drunk in cab in Buenos Aires when this last came on. The driver eyed me in the mirror as he goosed the volume a bit, testing me. His hands tapped the wheel in time with the opening riff. I mumbled along with the first verse, enough to make his eyes dart into the mirror again and check my phrasing. He completed a few lines lines under his breath, at which point we came to the chorus and both started screaming.

Your mom is so pissed. Photo: cadwallader

You’ve never seen anything like it. Two men in a cab barreling through La Boca, shifting between first and fifth gear (it’s Buenos Aires), windows down, wailing about sixes, beasts and Hell.

Drug dealers ran screaming. Priests genuflected. Mothers scooped up their children, fearful that the demon-car would abduct their spawn and indoctrinate them into this sick cult.

Go ahead. Listen to it. See if it doesn’t do the same to you.

Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast (Live) MP3

Pantera – “Primal Concrete Sledge”

How Pantera went from a wimpy hair-metal band to something this sinister, heavy and incredible always puzzled me. Many tracks on Cowboys From Hell haven’t held up over the years (“Cowboys From Hell”…are you scared?) but this one has. Bigtime heaviness and a double-kick combine to blow out your woofers.

Pantera – Primal Concrete Sledge MP3

Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”

This song is 38 years old. No kidding. Recorded in 1970, “Paranoid” was a last-minute track added to Black Sabbath’s second album. It was intended simply as filler, to hold together the album that also contained classics like “War Pigs” and “Iron Man”. Classic.

Black Sabbath – Paranoid MP3

Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized

Oh, how we all wanted to say these lyrics as fast as Mike Muir did. And oh, how we all got sent to the same therapist that he did.

It’s a really weird thing, when a catch phrase takes hold of a subculture that hasn’t busted yet. That’s what happened with this song. From skate parks to detention rooms, everyone was offering the same line to their friends, who smiled because they knew where it came from. Anyone who didn’t know was a poseur or a dick. It hardly seems like the rally call for a generation raging against Reagan and teachers and Ritalin, but it was.

“All I want is a Pepsi, and she wouldn’t give it to me. Just a Pepsi.”

Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized MP3

Dio – Rainbow In The Dark

Look, it’s a great song. But this is really just a fantastic opportunity to point out that Dio is a complete mental patient.

Ronnie James Dio is the original JK Rowling, seemingly able to sing only about dragons, witches, mysticism and anything…mwah-ha-ha. The man regularly dresses in medieval garb, speaks with a Shakespearean accent and performs with so many erratic hand gestures that it could easily be assumed he has Parkinson’s Disease. Just watch the video.

Which is exactly why we love him.

Dio – Rainbow In the Dark MP3

Motorhead – “Ace Of Spades”

It’s one of those songs that everybody should have. Just broke up with your girlfriend? “Ace Of Spades”. Hate your father? “Ace of Spades”. Feel like doing meth for the first time? “Ace of Spades”. It’s a catch-all for the moments in life when you simply need to throw and break things.

Motorhead – Ace of Spades MP3

Motorhead’s Lemmy turned 63 this year. Photo: bundabergtim

Megadeth – “Peace Sells”

Anyone over 30 will remember the bass riff from this song, which doubled as the theme for MTV News. The track features Dave Mustaine at his snarly-est, bitching and growling his way through every word. It harkens back to a time when Megadeth had something to prove, constantly trying to sneak out of the shadow of Mustaine’s former band.

Megadeth – Peace Sells MP3

Slayer – “Angel Of Death”

This band was just plain scary when they started releasing music. I spent the better part of my first Slayer concert pinned under a soundboard at L’Amour in Brooklyn, trying to make my way out from underneath 500 pairs of Doc Martins, all of which seemed to be intent on kicking me in the face. The only thing I could see through feet were the two flashing upside-down crosses on stage.

“Angel Of Death” chronicles the life of Josef Mangele, the infamous Nazi doctor who conducted grizzly experiments on humans during WWII. As controversial as the song was, bear in mind it was also used in Gremlins 2.

Slayer – Angel Of Death MP3

Say What Now?

Looking for more metal? Be sure to check out our article about the Black Metal scene that’s coming out of developing countries, as well as our tips for surviving your first European metal festival.

Kate and I have been co-editing nights from outside of the USA. Kate’s in Buenos Aires and I’ve been taking a pretty long traipse around Earth. Neither one of us thought that we’d be editing a travel blog and we are both amazed that we get to do it every day.

The fact that we’re in charge is probably good evidence that you could be doing anything, anywhere. Neither one of us has a slew of experience and we’re happily winging it. It’s making me wonder how many people out there are strapped into the cubicle, daydreaming about doing the same thing.

The past few weeks I’ve been traveling with an old friend, a teacher from DC. She’s been doing week-long vacations for years and I coaxed her to come to Spain for a month. That thing happened – the thing that changes lives forever. At one point she looked at me and said, “Whoa. I can do this whenever I want. I can…do this.”

She’s now back home enduring the postpartum that must always come with travel – it’s made even worse by the new realization that she no longer has a tether.

The author has been looking for an excuse to use this photo.

Fear evaporates when you realize that you can do your thing almost anywhere in the world. It’s empowerment on a whole other level, usually one that nobody in your family can understand. But look around and you’ll find like-minded people, especially here at Matador. Folks who get the glaze in your eyes when you talk about obscure trails in Malaysia, or drool a bit when the subject of Mexican street food comes up.

It’s in this state that we edit MatadorNights. We’re most excited when we meet writers who are clamoring for a chance or have a whackjob idea for an article. It doesn’t matter to us if you’re in Peoria or Russia. We want to hear your ideas about your experiences, or even things that you’d like to research and explore.

Possibly – possibly – this is what makes the whole thing at Nights work. Kate and I function incredibly well in our underwear and are happy to code articles in bed. We’ll read just about anything submitted to the section, even if the author has disregarded basic principles of the English language, yet has a voice and a story to tell. We like the odd, the eccentric and the loose-lipped.

We’re seeking writers who are in the same boat as we are, captains who aren’t even sure what the hell a knot or a league is. We’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that you’re all welcome on board.

Tom (Edinburgh, 8/2/09)

Home Of The Hits: Motown. Photo: lizwade

The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman

Photo (and Feature Photo): dwhartwig

This was Motown’s first #1 pop single. The Marvelettes would follow with ten more hits, becoming the girl group archetype of all time. The track features the legendary backing band The Funk Brothers (with Marvin Gaye on drums here).

“Please Mr. Postman” tells the tale of a girl waiting for a letter from her boyfriend. For those born after 1985, a letter is a physical piece of mail that is delivered directly to your house by a ‘postman’, a person who is the conduit for the delivery of this letter (sort of a human Tweet).

MP3: Please Mr. Postman

The Contours – Do You Love Me?

Originally written for The Temptations, The Contours were in the right place at the right time. As the story goes, Berry Gordy became frustrated that The Temps weren’t in the studio after he penned the track and handed it to this lucky act (they were hit-less at the time).

“Do You Love Me” took on a second life after it was featured in “Dirty Dancing” but don’t hold that against it. It’s an impossibly hooky hit.

MP3: Do You Love Me

The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love

That bass line. Diana Ross. The Supremes’ 7th #1 hit . It’s impossible to replicate, although Phil Collins tried in 1982 and ended up with a #1 of his own (you can still hear it on the speakers in Walmart). This single finds The Supremes at their peak, when they rivaled The Beatles in popularity.

Photo: ClevelandSGS

MP3: You Can’t Hurry Love

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave

Dress it up as a song about love but I think that it’s really a song about being horny. Martha & The Vandellas hit paydirt with this single and followed with twenty-four charting songs, including “Dancing In The Street” and “Jimmy Mack”.

MP3: Heat Wave

The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back

This song is impossible to dislike – I dare you. “I Want You Back” was the big hit from their first album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.

It’s argued that Ross didn’t discover the band at all, rather that Motown knew it had a fantastic marketing angle by putting it forward that she had. Indeed sweet and juicy, “Bubblegum Soul” became the internal term used for music that The Jackson 5 made.

MP3: I Want You Back

Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life

The song, written by Motown staff writer Ron Miller, is a great example of just how valuable Motown’s in-house writers were to the company’s success.

This up-tempo version by Wonder proved to be the biggest chart success (#2) but it has also taken on my many other lives, having since been recorded by The Temptations, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra.

MP3: For Once In My Life

Brenda Holloway – Every Little Bit Hurts

Photo: murkredi

One hell of a breakup song. Considered by many a “lost” Motown artist, Holloway had relatively modest success beyond this single.

Favoring songs that she had written herself and living on the West Coast did not help Holloway, who many say could have been a bigger star had she not been on the label.

Many people have re-recorded this song, including a surprising take by The Clash.

MP3: Every Little Bit Hurts

The Four Tops – Reach Out, I’ll Be There

Another classic written in-house by Holland-Dozier-Holland, the team who largely defined The Motown Sound in the 1960’s.

Singer Levi Stubbs’ sing/shouting on this track is almost punk rock, given the times in which it was recorded.

You can practically see the levels ping to the right as he brings it to the chorus.

MP3: Reach Out, I’ll Be There

The Velvelettes – He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’

The Velvelettes never made an album, instead releasing singles and never quite getting a big break. It must have been wildly frustrating to the members, who found themselves waiting in line as other Motown artists grabbed and recorded the big hits.

“He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’” is one of the Motown greats from an act that could have had much more success, were they just a stitch luckier.

MP3: He Was Really Sayin’ Something

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – I Second That Emotion

The Miracles were Motown’s first breakout artist, which came in part because Smokey Robinson was vice-president of the company.

This song switches up many of the romantic notions of the time; it revolves around woman who strings men along and just likes a little bit of nookie now and then.

Robinson, theoretically, is there waiting if she should change her mind and want a committed relationship.

MP3: I Second That Emotion

NOTE: Your best bet for a collection of Motown’s best is the stellar boxed set Hitsville USA, Vol. 1: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971

Community Connection:

Dig music lists? Be sure to check out Ten Songs By Musicians Who Died Too Soon. Our recent article on the best music blogs will also help keep your your iPod fresh!

What a flipping kitchen! Salmon dinner for under seven Euros? Score.

The guy in the TKA shirt lands his beer pong toss (“Take that mother…”) as the girl with curly hair is tongue-jamming her conquest, an Aussi guy who told me earlier that he was “gonna get that, mate.” A nineteen year old Canadian boy sits at the bar, downing shots of bottom-shelf rum.

He’s trying to keep up with the goopy-eyed girl from Portland who seems unable to discuss anything other than her boyfriend (“He totally lets me put eyeshadow on him.”). Somebody drops a glass. A pregnant pause. Then the whole place whoops as the party shifts into fifth gear.

The Villa Saint Exupery in Nice, France – recognized wordwide as classy dorm digs – is filled tonight with the same energy you’d feel at a Megadeth concert. This “relaxing” and “extraordinary” place is jammed with howling patrons who have a seemingly common purpose. Chaos.

It’s a real pity for the owners, who would probably be happier to have a clientele of calm, snifter-whiffing women in their thirties. There’s nothing that can disqualify soothing adjectives faster than a backpacker on the drink.

Still, there’s good reason that the hostel is sold out tonight – it does everything right. The staff is abundant, easily handling the 100+ residents in this converted monastery. They hand out maps and directions with less disdain than I’ve ever witnessed, answering the most routine questions with genuine smiles.

Forget your tampons? Rubbers? Pasta with sauce? No worries.

Two shuttle vans make nonstop runs to town and the airport. Laundry is washed and folded for five Euros. Vending machines sell anything that you could have forgotten back home, from shaving cream to condoms (mate).

Views of the Chapel which features an internet lab, an in-tune Piano and a rad fireplace.

A big, stainless steel kitchen gives plenty of room to move but few people make their own meals because the in-house chef (yes) is just so damned good. Eyes bulge at the heaping €6.50 dinner. On one occasion I was served roast veal with rosemary potatoes, ratatouille and green beans. The next night was some salmon concoction that looked straight a good episode of Top Chef. I caressed every piece of food with my fork before I ate it, just to make sure it was real and not some kind of too-long-on-the-road mirage.

The Chapel is the hostel’s star attraction. A massive room wrapped in a stained glass wall, it also features a balcony full of free, high-speed-charged computers. Strewn about are couches, a grand piano (in tune) and a wide-screen television. Outside of The Chapel are three sitting areas, one complete with a fireplace.

Instant Party and Disappearing Brownies

The bar is, as mentioned, quite alive. House beer and wine only relieve patrons of one Euro and late-night drinkers can always grab a brewskie from the vending machine. Plates of brick-sized brownies are also available at the bar, scarfed down as fast as they can be made. It’s the kind of room that is impossible to be lonely in.

The dorm rooms are a bit cramped, holding as many as thirteen beds. The designers realized that they weren’t going to win any prizes with the room space afforded to them, so they wisely opted to make the common areas so attractive that nobody would bother with beds, other than to sleep. Any complaints about the dorm rooms would seem common for most hostels – more showers, toilet paper, less inexperienced drinkers.

Chillout space? Check. A perfect place for a bottle of wine or a smoke.

The Villa Saint Exupery’s only downfall might not be its own doing. Reviews and articles about the hostel are so glowing that many people booking might not take into account that this is, after all, a playpen for backpackers.

Sadly, a dorm room is only as clean as its inhabitants.

It doesn’t matter how big the beds are – they’re still littered with empty peanut butter jars and Stephanie Meyer books.

The reviews give Saint Expupery a grand air – which it has in many ways – but no matter how you dress a hostel up, there’s still going to be the Australian dude slapping me on the back, talking about how he’ll get the girl who smells like Garniere Fructis.

A hostel is, still, just a hostel.

Community Connection:

Check out another one of our hostel raves, as well as our picks for best party hostels around the world. Our recent post about ’boutique hostels’ might also catch your eye, especially if you want to search for other hostels like Villa Saint Exupery.

Photo: Wreckeddeco

With 447 injuries reported and one death (the first since 2003), San Fermin’s bull-running event has come to a close for 2009. The event, which runs for a week every July, is still a lifetime highlight for many looking to drink excessively, wear cute red kerchiefs and haul ass with livestock.

The run itself spans 840 meters and winds through cobble-stone streets, which trip many of the bulls and make them quite cross. A 27 year old Spanish native was gored to death this year at a section called “Telefonica” just before entering the bullring.

Graham Kingaby, Insurance Director at WorldNomads.com, reports that no bull-related injuries have turned up this year within their system. As for whether or not runners are covered, he says that it all depends on the scenario. Innocent bystanders who have been hurt, if standing behind barricades, will probably be seen as simply unlucky and should not have any problems with claims.

Bull Recognizes Photo Opportunity. Photo: enekajimenez1977

As for those juiced up and unprepared for a ‘sport’ that requires impeccable balance and timing, Kingaby comments, “Most sane people would agree that being smashed out of your head on the Bull Run is probably going to result in a trip to the hospital or in the worst case a trip to the morgue. If you’re doing something ultra dangerous, like this, there’s a good chance you won’t be covered by your travel insurance provider, so check your policy.”

He adds wisely, “Don’t make any decisions after nine shots of Jack Daniels, least of all any that involve many tons of upset cattle with sharp horns.”

Community Connection:

Be sure to check out our armchair travel guide to bull running, as well as our primer on how to make the run.

Photo (and feature photo): Tseandwyer

Frenz Frenzy. Osaka, Japan.

The only gay bar in Osaka run by a foreigner, Frenz Frenzy looks better designed for a Sid & Marty Krofft show than it does for drinking. Dubbed “rainbow heaven”, the venue looks like some kind of twisted first grade glassroom. You’re definitely going to have nightmares after you finish that crantini.

Real. Almaty, Kazakstan

Yes, a gay bar in Kazakstan. Believe it or not, many people say that Christian influence in this part of the world is what’s softening up Muslim attitudes toward gay life. Trip on that for a minute. A website for the area turns up a few bars, including Real, which seems to be the dandy of the scene. Friday nights prove the worldwide ubiquity of the Drag Show.

Beyonce? We think not. Photo: Babasu

Ying Di Jiu Ba. Xian, China

You’ll have to work hard to find this spot, marked only by its telephone number (8762-6676). Once inside “Indy” you’ll find a packed house. Prize night is very popular – simply pay Y$10 to open one of ninety sealed boxes and find out what’s inside. Terrifying.

The Blue Light. Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA

The Blue Light is host to the Mr. and Miss Lakeshore contest, although it would appear from photos that the winner in each category may have a penis.

Linga Bar. Siem Reap, Cambodia

If a day of exploring Angkor Wat has made you long for some dude love then this is the place for you. Linga Bar serves all kinds of fruity cocktails. Featured in the January 2009 Travel & Leisure, we’re wondering if the author was aware that many of the patrons (who are quick to sit on your lap) seem to be interested in a little bit of side work.

The Linga Bartenders. Photo:Asiax89

Flamingos. Hobart, Tasmania

Open on Friday and Saturday nights, Flamingos has been a mainstay in the Greater Hobart Area. They’re currently in the middle of a little facelift and will re-open later this summer. Google alerts, people!

Ko Ko. Yangon, Myanmar

While not listed as a gay venue, this cafe is owned by a renowned hairstylist. That’s code where we come from. Not surprisingly, reports say that the crowd tends to be hip and stylish. It’s a bit hard to find, so go armed with the address: 9 Sayar San Rd (near Mr. Guitar).

Q Bar. Reykjavik, Iceland

The self-proclaimed “hottest gay bar in Iceland” is in Reykjavik. This is one of those multi-faceted bars with a night for everyone, from the kind of (elderly, drunk) folks who like pub quizzes, to the (tweaked, drunk) folks who like to dance to bad house music. June 2nd was Speedo Night and we’re not asking for pictures.

Q Bar in Reykjavic, before doors open. Photo: Wendycrockett

Pegs N Pints. Delhi, India

A blog about this place gives a real sense of how difficult it is to be gay in India. Pegs N Pints seems to be Delhi’s sole outpost and is only open on Tuesday nights. Things change fast for gay establishments in this country, so make sure that it’s still open if you plan to attend.

Acid. Beirut, Lebanon

Acid is renowned as the first gay bar in the Middle East. It’s as weird to type as it is to read. Not surprisingly, very little information is available online about the outlet, however a website makes sure to point out that “Excessive same sex affections and body contacts are not tolerated.”

Editor’s Note: The author has several lesbian friends, knows the drill and wishes to head off many tirades by saying that there is a planned follow-up to this article just for girls. Chill, please.

St. Christopher’s. Photo: Skrivanet

St Christopher’s Inn Hostel at London Bridge has flipped on a few webcams, hoping to shed light on what really goes on inside of a dorm room. The thing is, most of us already know what happens – not much. Here are ten things that we expect to see on the hostel’s live cam:

1. The dazed glee of a person who has the room to themselves from 8:22-8:34pm and their sigh as three girls from Bakersfield show up at 8:35, like, ready to p-a-r-t-y.

2. People realizing that they left their toothbrush at the last hostel – again.

3. BIG fights between traveling couples on such exciting topics as the amount of time spent together, differing sightseeing agendas, Irish guys, why one bag is so damned heavy and who has to carry it, PMS – who has it and who’s a jerk for stooping to mention it, lost items and lack of funds.

4. A girl named Roberta furiously highlighting her Lonely Planet but never leaving the room.

There’s always one. Photo: Hollyswayne

5. The silent, unspoken struggle for electrical outlets, wherein an absent boarder has his iPod unplugged from the wall.

6. Young people vomiting cider, too inexperienced to know that it’s way too sweet to consume nine pints in one evening.

7. The tossing and turning that comes when the room has an early riser, most likely somebody in a panic because their flight leaves from Heathrow in sixty minutes (no chance).

8. Just exactly what the cleaning staff takes out of the garbage and keeps for themselves.

9. A condom accidentally flying onto the floor as a dude digs through his shower kit for something else, then the scramble that ensues to cover it up before anyone notices.

10. The solo sulking that happens when everyone in the room bonds with the exception of one traveler, who will be half-heartedly invited for drinks and not accept. This person will sit alone and read The Memory Keeper’s Daughter for three hours, then go to sleep.

Community Connection:

Matador is oozing with material about hostels. Check out our everlasting guide for hostel sex, as well as a take on how to make your hostel less hostile.

Hoping to see something more nefarious on St. Christopher’s webcam? Let’s hear about it in the comments below!

Feature photo by Bitchcakes. Bill Callahan of Smog plays Music Hall Of Williamsburg on June 14th. Photo by Kirstiecat.

The Northside Festival will celebrate four days of art and music in Brooklyn, starting June 11th. It’s exactly the kind of festival that Brooklyn’rs have talked about for years but have been a too busy to take beyond the brainstorming process, due to all of the waiting for the damned F train.

The schedule is hot shit. It invades big joints (The Hold Steady @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg) and many smaller, cultish rooms (Henry Wolfe @ Coco 66). Much like South By Southwest or CMJ, rooms have been taken over by hipster imprints, zines and radio stations. The talent that comes as a result is on the edge of something – we won’t know of what until next year, or until some blogger gives it a cutesy name.

Northside has also taken care to include the best of Brooklyn’s blowing-up art scene. As with anything in the borough, tastes about what is ‘art’ and what is not will differ.

Photo of Schipper’s “The Slow Inevitable
Death of American Muscle” by libbyrosof

Like, for example, Jonathan Schipper’s “The Slow Inevitable Death of American Muscle”, described as a “live, head-on collision which takes place in slow motion over the course of the exhibition.”

Be sure to check out Northside’s schedule for a full list of shows and events.

The magic is not only in the video’s star, however. Take a peak at the clip and see some other excellent performers, as well as an NYU student/director who is sure to be getting offers to make bigger and better videos.

Nyle “Let The Beat Build” from Nyle on Vimeo.

Sure, there are great flight attendants.   The kind of men and women who do the job effortlessly, not panicking at the$10 bill you just handed them for a $5 bottle of wine.  Winkers who toss you a second bag of Doritos, on the house.   We all love and appreciate them, especially when they can miraculously stop a baby from crying, throwing up or any combination thereof.

Paul Westerberg sings the song in 2002 at the Warsaw Room, NYC

Then there are the son-of-a-B’s.  This song tackles them.  You can easily imagine Westerberg writing the lyrics on the back of a napkin, seeking revenge against the stewardess (it was 1985) who became the lightening rod for every woman who’d ever turned her back to him. 

Throughout the song, you get the sense that she sort of deserved it.  It was the decade when the shine wore off of air travel, yet a good ten years before budget travel that didn’t crash regularly (when it became completely appropriate to be rude to customers). 

Having flown some of Europe’s gnarliest cheapos, I too have thought evil about the people who are supposed to keep me alive, in the event of a water landing. “A sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer.  A garbage man, a janitor and you, my dear.”  

Sit back, relax, drink a nipper and toss it back to The Replacements (as I am, right now, at Singapore Airport), and to all of the son-of-a-B’s.

Feature Photo by Giorgio Montersino

Design

This is the big shocker, the amount of time that went into laying the hostel out.  Its nouveau-industrial look gives off the feeling of a white-hot advertising agency rather than a bunk bed emporium.  High ceilings, distressed wood, blasted concrete and wide stairs all work exceedingly well together.

 Rooms

Not the hugest but certainly the neatest.  Big, thick mattresses and bedding that feels like it comes from The Martha Stewart Collection.  Couple that with unbelievably efficient air conditioning and that new-hotel smell…it’s a winner.

Safety

Lub*d is smartly located away from the Koh San Road glut, a safe walk from the Chong Nonsi BTS/Skytrain.  A digital room card taps open your room, as well as the main entrance.   Each room has a big safe.

 Bathrooms

A girl staying here told me that let out a moan when she saw them for the first time.  A huge sink, with actual mirrors, sits dead in the middle of the room.  It’s surrounded by sizeable showers, each with overhead spray-age and honest-to-Jesus hot water.  

 Computer Friendly

Nine laptops sit in the lobby, with free use for all guests.  Speedy WiFi is available in all of the rooms, free of charge.   Bigger plus – all rooms have oodles of electrical outlets.

 Touches

 The little things add up, from the way that the electrical outlets match items in the room, to the fun atmosphere of the lobby (which stocks board games showing no sign of disrepair, as well as a bar).

 The Only Downside

 Lub*d isn’t cheap, compared what you can find at guesthouses.  650 Baht will swing you a dorm bed.  A better bet is splitting a “twin rail room” with a friend, which ran two of us $1,200 Baht.  I felt that paying an extra 200 Baht was worth it, just so that I could go a whole night without seeing bamboo.

 Lub*d. 4 Decho (pronounced “Day-Show”) Road, Bangkok.  +66 (0) 2 634 7999  www.lubd.com

I’d been craving pasta for two months and was not going to give my re-virginized self to just anyone.

I’m glad I saved it La Buca in Sukhumvit–ten tables, a wall of imported wine, and Mr. Oreste, a dude from Tuscany who can motherf’ing cook.

Tucked down Soi One, La Buca is a genuine find. It’s not as cheap as the dives on the main strip, but it’s just…real. Oreste listed two specials when I walked in, then pondered a minute and threw out two more, both that he had definitely made up on the fly, given the ingredients in back.

I went for a simple salad and spaghetti aglio/olio but…eh…how do I explain this?

It’s almost a greater achievement when a restaurant can cook something simple perfectly, without over-doing it or taking for granted how easy it is. My eyes did the rolling-up thing after each bit– just the right amount of everything.

La Buca has an old-school dumbwaiter that comes from the kitchen, delivering goodness with ring of a bell that must have been created 30 years ago (zrriiiiiiiiing). Oreste grabbed a chair after I was done chowing, telling me his story as I pumped him for details.

He had been a cook for 30 years in Europe, scraping together enough money to start a restaurant somewhere. He opened here seven years ago, with his best friend telling him that he’d be closed within six months. He’s since given that guy the big Ba Fongule and kept a stream of steady customers.

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2007 was a big year but he admits things have fallen off over the past 12 months. Japanese businessmen aren’t walking in with credit cards as often and people have begun sharing appetizers.

It also doesn’t help that pedestrian traffic on this Soi is rather subdued, on account of there not being any chicks throwing their boobs in your face and offering massages.

I’m going back tomorrow, unable to control myself. Other guys may be headed for hand jobs around the corner but me, I’m drooling at the prospect of the eggplant parmigiana– Mr. Oreste promised me that he’d go hunting for the ingredients in the morning, excited to deliver something off-menu and requested.

I left just as a guy from Brooklyn walked in with his 22 year old Thai girlfriend. He sat down quickly and started ordering, not even looking at the menu. “I don’t care. Just give me some fuckin’ pasta.”

(La Buca. 220/4 Sukhumvit Soi 1. 089-2166514 or casorest@truemail.co.th)

Siam Paragon:

The food court here was massive, spotless and buzzing with life. I grabbed a lemon iced tea, a bbq chicken stick and a spicy chicken noodle curry (which I immediately spilled on my lap). The stalls ran the Asian gamut, from steamed buns to bird knuckle. There’s something for everyone. Might be the best in BKK. Ignore the McDonalds.

Impression: Dreamy. Mood: Homer Simpson after a beer.

MBK Center:

Known best for its 4th floor bootleg phone orgy, this is a great place to grab a coffee and watch as tourists get taken for Very Special Price. I couldn’t resist picking up a dessert that resembled a taco with white fluff and stringy squash. Delicious, despite a crunchy consistency.

I then followed employees into a tiny alcove with a vat of bubbling meat parts. I pointed. “That please.” I’m happy to pretend what I ate was chicken with rice. Woof. Ignore the Burger King.

Impression: Dizzying activity with tasty snacks. Mood: Spiked on sugar.

Siam Discovery:

This one was a bit of an up-scaler, with few food options. I did my writer’s duty and hit Starbucks, jacked myself on caffeine and scribbled bad coffee-shop verse. Overpriced muffins still taste like over-priced muffins here. Ignore the Starbucks.

Impression: Good for furniture, bad for food. Mood: Perturbed.

Siam Center:

A mall that could just as easily be in Hartford, complete with a building-wide system that blared JT bitching about having 15 minutes to save the world. I did a very brave thing and tried a green tea and grape jelly shake at Mr Shake, wishing that I hadn’t after one sip.

I hightailed up to the Food For Fun floor, preparing for (their words) a fast, funky, flirty (?) feast. Imagine my surprise when I saw that they served stewed ox genitals with chinese herbs. I could only think of one F for that – f’d up. Instead I ordered some undeniably amazing mango sticky rice. Avoid the Sizzler.

Impression: Manageable and full of options. Mood: Close to hurling.

Centralworld:

“Get yourself ready for Kiehl’s!” announced a sign at the entrance. I stopped, unsure how exactly to get myself ready for the arrival of boutique moisturizer. This mall had the best AC and I sat on a bench for thirty minutes, just soaking up the icy air.

Sadly, the food court was jammed behind frozen foods on the top floor. I instead opted for a grilled cheese at The American Restaurant, completely falling for their slogan (“Hey dude, come in and taste for yourself.”). I also have to admit that also bought a shirt at a store called Trendytown. Ignore the Dunkin Donuts.

Impression: Biggest mall I have ever seen. Mood: Fat.

The Gaysorn:

I wasn’t even hungry but I rolled myself into this place because a) it had “gay” in the name and I’m really eleven years old b) it looked pricey. Inside I found about nine people shopping. It would appear that now is not the best time to treat yourself to a Tiffany watch.

I was able to find some green tea for $3 US, hoping that it would somehow digest everything gurgling down below. It only made my gurgle more green. Ignore everything.

Impression: How could one city substantiate so much shopping? Mood: Glad to be finished.

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All Photos: Tom Gates

Rolling Stone’s article about the death of David Foster Wallace collided in my head during last week’s CMJ Music Marathon, five nights of non-stop newish bands playing at NYC’s best and worst venues.

I kept coming home and wondering what was going on under the hood of these bands; if I had just seen the singer who would come unhinged at 25, or if that same singer’s band might never even make it onto more than forty hard drives.

Predicting the fickle nature of the music business is impossible. Predicting the demise of a person’s life isn’t that easy either. Sitting on my living room floor in my dumb blue gym shorts, surrounded by piles of CD’s and cassettes, I came up with the following list of people who made great music for too short of a time. Please add your additions to the replies.

Elliot Smith “Needle In The Hay”

It wasn’t even subtle. It was right there. The problem.

I’m taking the cure so I can be quiet whenever I want…you ought to be proud that I’m getting good marks.

Elliot Smith photo by PatCastaldo

It was terrible to hear as a fan. You’d learn the words, sing them, maybe finger your guitar on the right frets, then realize what they meant. And what was coming, no matter how much you wished it wouldn’t. If you don’t own XO, please do.

(Steven Paul Smith, 1969-2003) – Needle In The Hay

Metallica “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth”

The fifth song on their first album is a bass solo. With no wimpy “Enter Sandman” in the realm of possibility, Cliff Burton whipped his hair and played this in ways that just plain confused me.

It certainly wasn’t the metal that I had been hearing – there was no lipstick clogging the distortion. Seeing Cliff live made me realize that it was probably going to be the puzzling things in life that might be the most indelible.

(Clifford Lee Burton, 1962-1986) – (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth (LP Version)

Jeff Buckley “Halleluja (live at Sin-e)”

A cover, “Halleluja” has somehow become Jeff’s hallowed moment on tape. His version has been bastardized to the point where it’s almost become damaged, were it not for this recording.

At 9:15 and full of tuning issues, this reminds me why his take was better than anyone’s will ever be. For those of us sitting at Sine-E, his performances were a triumph for the cute little guy who washed clothes in the machine next to ours. “Let’s go drink and sleep!” he says at the end.

We were going wherever he went.

(Jeffrey Scott Buckley, 1966-1997) – Hallelujah

Photo by pinkbelt

Nirvana “Drain You (live in Seattle, WA, October 31, 1991)”

What a fucking mess. Missed words, chords almost disregarded, the bridge never quite filling out. It’s gorgeous.

This was the real Nirvana, the one that decked us. This wasn’t the song about deodorant that made fratboys scream and woot. Their stage presence was a turbulent ride between apathetic and aggressive, in a way I hadn’t seen since the Ramones.

(Kurt Donald Cobain, 1967-1994) – Drain You

Buddy Holly “Everyday”

Impossible to replicate, no matter how many have ripped him off. This was a guy who was supposed to write songs for the rest of a very long life.

It has been sad to see musicians like Roy Orbison or George Harrison pass away, but at least we were allowed to watch their genius progress. Holly had so much more in him.

(Charles Hardin Holly, 1936-1959) – Everyday/Peggy Sue

Photo by 90p

Chris Bell “I Am The Cosmos”

Chris Bell’s original band (Big Star) had something that so many musicians have chased since. His posthumous collection was the stuff of whispered legend, sitting unreleased for almost 15 years after his death.

This song, however, found its way into the public just before his tragic car crash and is the kind of song that bigtime musicians play alone, backstage, with nobody watching. And oh, Sweet Jesus. This song.

(Chris Bell, 1951-1978) – I Am the Cosmos

Matthew Jay “Please Don’t Send Me Away”

Most people don’t know Matthew – I had to dig through boxes to find this disc. For me, he represents all of the kids who take a shot at making it every year, yet watch as much less talented artists lap them.

Jay fell out of a building in 2002, leaving behind a hatful of magic that is being rediscovered by younger artists. An October 10th show in London saw members of Starsailor and Squeeze (among others) playing Matthew’s songs at Shepard’s Empire Bush. I wish I’d been there.

(Matthew Jay, 1978-2003) – Please Don’t Send Me Away

AC/DC “Let There Be Rock (Live)”

Bon Scott died about half-way through the rock/roll process, only to be brilliantly replicated by Brian Johnson in this same band. As AC/DC scrapped, scratched, and clawed their way to success, he passed away just before it all paid off with Back In Black.

This recording shows a man who had learned to turn each member of the crowd into a fan, building a base that still sells more records per year than almost any other rock band, dead or alive.

(Ronald Belford Scott, 1946-1980) – Black Ice

Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart”

Ian Curtis went to hell and back, before finally hanging himself in 1980. Anton Corbin’s biopic Control does a fantastic job of covering his brief, difficult life.

Joy Division, a band which almost defines the term “seminal,” would only release one album while Curtis was living. He would kill himself on the eve of the band’s first American tour.

(Ian Kevin Curtis, 1956-1980) – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Robert Johnson “Sweet Home Chicago”

The legend and lore of Robert Johnson sometimes overshadows his talent and influence. Did he sell his soul to the devil? Was he killed by a bottle of whiskey laced with strychnine?

He also seems to have originated the “27 Club”, a term that’s become widely used for musicians who have moved on at that exact age (Check it out. It’s fascinating). Listening to this track, it’s obvious that he has influenced some of the most influential singers and guitar players of the last century.

(Robert Leroy Johnson, 1911-1938) – Sweet Home Chicago

Photo above by bikoy. Feature photo by ianqui.

I think it’s the walking that is doing me in. Taking me beyond the normal New Yorker stress. Getting me close to going Pacino With A Gun.

It’s not just the tourists, eyes perpetually pointed skyward at the pretty buildings, aiming their bodies towards my blazing, efficient path. These folks are merely the impala of my urban animal kingdom; cheap eats for oncoming trucks, for eight-inch curbs.

It’s fun to watch Betsy from Columbus, proudly displaying her minus-ten body from a summer program at Curves, trouncing blindly into a Don’t Walk. Nobody yells “Betsy, look out! It’s a big one! The double-decker kind!”. We New Yorkers know to weave down another avenue, because soon it will be all crowds and sirens. And police reports.

This kind of foot traffic is du jour for me, easily elbowed and knocked aside. Lately though, it’s the Fucking Blackberry People who are making my blood boil. New York, a town of born walkers, is crazy with pedestrians looking at their hands, typing messages into one device or another.

Basic motor skills (look where you’re going) have been lost on a Darwinian scale, bred out in just one generation, now as important as a third nipple. Everywhere – and I mean everywhere –dipshits are headed straight for other bodies, fingers blistering urgent messages. “B rt there!” “WAS, did we jst brk up!?”

Photo by holly_northrop

On top of this, there is now The Hawker Thing. The streets are filled with pay-by-the-hour workers, trying to sell ridiculous concepts like Cranberry Yogurt and votes for McCain. It’s not like in Southeast Asia, with blissfully blatant demands (“You Come Here Eat Now!”). Instead, ad company execs are hurling their sly ideas directly towards the streets, vying for a buzz that will never come for Hefty’s new panty liner.

Most lead with a forced-smile line, one that that screams for pity. “Do you have a minute for World Peace?” Four more blocks, “Do you like stand up comedy?” Two more, “Have you tried Domino’s new oven baked sandwiches?” The messages blend together and by the time I’ve reached home, I don’t know whether to adopt a child or eat a Pop Tart.

Take this image of our streets and now factor in cabbies from Grand Theft Auto School, delivery guys rushing orders for big tips and ditzy broads. Add daytime drunks, joggers and assholes like me. It’s getting ugly.

It’s shocking for me to discuss my growing loathe for the bustle of Manhattan, a place that I used to praise like a zealot on an eight-ball. But lately – and maybe finally – it’s just become too much. Guliani swept the dirt under the rug and somehow allowed in a bit too much sunshine.

Now all that I can see are the parts where the molding doesn’t meet the door frame. I find myself actually wondering if Paul Theroux might be right, if New York has become an example of what he dislikes about cities, places that are “vertiginous, threatening, monochromatic, isolating, exhausting, germ-laden, bristling with busy shadows and ambiguous odors.”

Photo by Mannequin-

All of this business with the people walking into one another – it somehow makes the sirens seem louder, the garbage trucks come earlier and the homeless more zombie-like. It makes me want to put on my iPod and not interact. To shut my windows and make love to Tivo. The City That Never Sleeps is beginning to make me a shut-in and it’s scaring the living hell out of me.

If there was one thing I was certain of it was that New York City was my home, that I am of a breed that is impervious to all of this commotion. I think maybe that this city now belongs to a new model, a 2.0 that I don’t want to become, or simply can’t upload. New York City, quite possibly, does not compute.

Editor’s note: This was the winning blog in our Not For Tourists Guide to NYC blog contest.