It’s a simple yet sublime pleasure, and just thinking about it can make you feel a little calmer, a little more content. Imagine: You bring out one of the good rocks glasses (or your favorite mug or a special occasion tea cup) and pour a couple fingers of amber liquid (or something dark and strong or just some whole milk). You drop the needle on the jazz platter (or pull up a blues album on your mp3 player or dig out that mixtape from college). Ensconcing yourself in the coziest seat in the house, you crack the spine on a classic (or find your place in that sci-fi paperback or pull up a biography on your e-book reader). And then, you go away for a while. Ah, bliss.
In this series, some of NTSIB’s friends share beloved albums, books and drinks to recommend or inspire.
Mumblr, scrappy little band of my heart (East Coast division), recently had the opportunity to be part of the Red Room Series, a new session series which is, like them, out of Philadelphia. My first reaction on seeing the videos was They’re playing in good light!!! What!!! because I may possibly have spent too much time in raggedy clubs. The sound is great, too. Here is an excerpt, selected on the grounds that this is one and only time something entitled Greyhound Station could reasonably be described as a visual and aural delight.
Sleepless Sound Red Room Series: Mumblr – Greyhound Station from James DuBourdieu on Vimeo.
They’re heading out on a month’s voyage through parts of the East Coast with some excursions into the Midwest with Soda Bomb starting on April 9, so if you liked what you just watched, stop by their Facebook and check their dates and go and see them if they’re stopping near you.
And now I turn the floor over to lead singer Nick Morrison, who joins us today to talk about a favorite book, record and drink.
A Good Read:
I used to read a lot when I was younger but going to college kind of destroyed my love of reading for fun. It takes me much longer to get through books now, haha. I did just finish Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy which was excellent. The book was an interesting mix of beauty and violence.
A Good Listen:
One of my favorite albums is the 1968 self-titled release by Os Mutantes. It’s an amazingly versatile album that hits every emotion. The band spearheaded the psychedelic rock movement in Brazil and, in my opinion, puts bands like Velvet Underground to shame. I’ve always admired the eclectic song-writing and complete mess of styles. The songs Panis et Circenses and Baby are hot tracks.
A Good Drink:
I’m a big beer guy. I can never bring myself to make or buy a cocktail or mixed drink because I spend too much money on something I drink immediately. If I do drink liquor it’s usually Gin and water. 9 times out of 10 I’m drinking beer. Yuengling is the illest. A good lager really makes it happen for me. If I’m feeling extra fancy I’ll even add a little bit of OJ to it. Have you ever heard of class? Because I think I have it.