The Beer: Say hello to a cream ale from the Russell Brewing Company in Surrey, British Columbia provided to me by our friend Johann who said it was a taste of Manitoba. He kinda had me worried about him at first until I realized it is also brewed by the Fort Garry Brewing Company in Winnipeg.

She pours a dark amber red with a luscious two finger head. Sweet light malt hits the nose. It is a fairly thin beer in the mouth with sweet malt dominance and a backend of very mild hops. I really like these candy-type beers once in awhile and this serves the purpose. Contains 5% alcohol and two thumbs up baby but as always get a second opinion.

The Blues: Get ready to move is all I can say. Let's get it on:

The Playlist: Tab Benoit (Night Train), Mia Dyson (Rock Me Baby), Nora Jean Bruso (It Makes Me So Mad), Ash Grundwald (Spoonful), L.A. Blues Alliance (Death Letter), Knockout Greg & Blue Weather (Baby, Baby Blues), Erskine Oglesby (I'm Trying), Kurt Crandall (Bumpity Bump), Bryan Lee (Bumpity Bump), Kelley Hunt (Long Way Home), Albert Collins (When the Welfare Turns Its Back on You), Little Charlie and the Nightcats (Rain), Earl Seratte & the Blues Kings (Bendin' Like A Willow Tree), Rose Hudson & Friends (Hot Woman Blues), Steve Johnson (She Wanna Boogie), Delicious Blues Stew (I'm The Man), and Ronnie Baker Brooks (Hit Me on the Hip).

Lyrical highlight:

What you gonna do when the welfare turns its back on you?

See you inside!

{mp3}090508_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:16:24 34.9 MB 

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The Beer: If your like me you've probably had the odd dream about having a friend who owned a liquor store. Or maybe not... Say hello to the Axe Head Extreme Beer from the Mountain Crest Brewing Company in Calgary, Alberta and union made by the Joseph Huber Brewing Company in Wisconsin. She pours a clear copper with a one finger head that lasts about 30 seconds with no lacing and very little carbonation. Smells of medicine with creamed corn and cabbage. Tastes of desperately sweet malts in a cough syrup kind of way overlayed on top of bland grains and then the 'flavour' disappears leaving you with an aftertaste of corn and rubbing alcohol. Contains 11% alcohol and according to the label on the can it was $3.25 for 710 ml. I'd almost want to hate Beachnut for this but according to her it is a best seller (her store is by the college) and she placated me with a keg last weekend so all is good and no hard feelings. I can't find a second opinion...

The Blues: For all the wonderful broomers who took the time out to visit me this summer. The final long weekend of the Canadian god cries for lonely autumn defying harps, whimsical denials of unfulfilled dreams and plans and of course for those still in vacation mode the slow refusal to accept the inevitable. Got the blues yet? Good cause the blues ain't nothing but a Canadian who had a great summer feeling down - let's get it on:

The Playlist: The Maynard Brothers Band (It All Broke Loose), Sandra Hall (I Demand A Lotta Love), Clara Ghimel (Distant Visions), Big Joe And The Dynaflows (Layin' In The Alley), Jay Gordon (Drippin Blues), John ''Broadway'' Tucker (One Way Love Affair), Elliott And The Untouchables (Blues Came Callin'), Doug MacLeod (What You Got Ain't Necessarily What You Own), Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley (Cold and Lonely Night), Duffy Bishop Band (Damn Blues), The Mighty Reapers (UGH!), Buddaheads (Stop Talkin' That Way), Lloyd Jones (Playing with the Heart), Gino Matteo (Chasing the Dragon), Albert Cummings (Regular Man), Carlos Del Junco (Bailey's Bounce), JT Coldfire (I Won't Never Go), Bobby Radcliff (Gotta Be Some Changes Made), and Lisa Bourne (Let Me Fly).

Lyrical highlight:

I've got a scar around my heart, got a hole in my chest

This love I feel for you, Lord it won't give me rest

There ain't nothing I won't do...

Just to spend one more night with you.

See you inside!

{mp3}082908_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:12:39 33.2 MB 

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The Beer: Say Hello to the Peres Trappistes Premiere brewed at Scourmont Abbey and bottled by S.A. Bieres De Chimay in Belgium. It packs enough of a wallop to make this review more challenging to write. After uncaging and popping the champagne style cork she pours dark with lively bubbles creating a thick and creamy head. Pleasant plum to the nose. Instantly fills the mouth with a complex taste sensation. Many taste descriptors ran through my mind honey, spice ,oranges where among them. A true taste delight. Contains 7% alc./vol. and my sampling was in a 750 ml bottle which cost $6.80.  5 feathers out of 5 but as always get a second opinion.

The Blues: A potent eclectic mix of varying styles with purported properties of magical healing.  

The playlist: Shemekia Copeland (Breakin' Out), Guitar Shorty (We The People), Pat Coast (Good Night For The Blues), Mason Casey (Sofa King Bad Ass), Amos Garret (Stranger In My Own Home Town), Greg Burgess (Itsy Bitsy Spider Blues), Hitman Blues Band (On The Rebound), Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (Give Me My Coat And Shoes), Kirk Fletcher (My Home Is A Prison), Saffire (Sloppy Drunk), Janiva Magness (That's What Love Will Make You Do),James Cotton  (My Babe), Son Seals (Don't Bother Me), Tinsley Ellis (Highwayman), and the Oxygen Bros Band (Travelin' Man)

Lyrical highlight: It's a hard night for livin' but a good night for the blues.

See you inside!

{mp3}082208_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

0:59:40 27.3 MB 

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5-4-3-2-1.. I'm on vacation!

The Beer: Say hello to the award winning Red Seal Ale from the North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California. She pours a beautiful golden-amber with a big thick head that slips down into a glass covering lace. Spicy hops and herbs on the nose. An awesome sample of an American west coast brew in the lines of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (not to be confused with the slop Saskatchewan people drink). Lots of hoppy tones baby with roasted grains and caramel and a bitter citrus followup. Awesome! Contains 5.5% alcohol and ran me around $15 Canadian for a six. Two massive thumbs up but as always get a second opinion.

 

The Blues: Lots of sexy hot blues divas on the show tonight but that don't mean they don't have it going on. You couple husk and sultry with grinding guitars and you get yourself a little something special. Let's get it on:

The Playlist: Big Mike Griffin (You Wouldn't Understand), Debbie Davies (Trying To Keep It Real), Ann Peebles (I Pity The Fool), Angela Brown & The Mighty 45s (Waiting For The Blues), Michele Lundeen (Song Inside Me), Stringbean & The Stalkers (Ride Of Your Life), Coen Wolters Band (Time after Time), Shirley Johnson (I'm A Fool For You), Tony Joe White (As the Crow Flies), Shemekia Copeland (Should Have Come Home), Sonny Boy Williamson (Don't Lose Your Eye), Jerry Ricks (I Will Turn Your Money Green), Sonny Moorman & The Dogs (Fast Cars, Pretty Women, and Low Down Rhythm & Blues), Mike Morgan & The Crawl (I Ain't Worried No More), Mojo Watson (Hey Little Girl), Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Born with a Broken Heart), and Jan James (Satisfy Me).

Lyrical highlight:

They say look to the future, but sometimes you gotta look back.

To see just where you've been, and keep yourself on track.

See you inside!

{mp3}081508_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:11:29 32.7 MB 

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The Beer: Say hello to the Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale from the North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California. She pours a hazy gold with a foamy white head that just sticks. Faint on the nose with hints of spiced fruit. Tangy citrus and spice hit the tongue with complex effervescents of green apples and nuts. Very clean and crisp and as i had it extra cold it just seemed to steam love. Contains 7.6% alcohol content and ran me around $13 Canadian for a six. Two thumbs up but as always get a second opinion.

The Blues: Wrenching, searing orgasmic guitars, sultry liquid vocals, black keys twinkling and harps calling like lonesome wolves. We got it all baby, I'll show you a place that you've never seen - let's get it on:

The Playlist: Carey Bell (What My Mama Told Me), Erskine Oglesby (Tore Up), Wes Jeans (Don't Be Hip), Reno Jones (Can't Get Next To You), Willie Dixon (Sittin' And Cryin' The Blues), John Campbelljohn Band (Slow Down), Barrelhouse (Get Like You Used To Be), Bill Lupkin (Fine Little Thing), Elliott And The Untouchables (Got What You Need), Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King (Stop Messin' With My Mind), Phil Guy ^{*Buddy Guy's brother} (Help Wanted Blues), Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band (Born Under a Bad Sign), Paul Lamb & The King Snakes (Blackjack Game), The Pawnbrokers (You Better Slow Down), Stacy Mitchhart (Quiet Little Town), Michael Burk (Here in the Dark), and South Side Slim (The Jam).

Lyrical highlight:

Well I've been drinking all day and I can't home.

Had one drink with the boys and everything went wrong

See you inside!

{mp3}080808_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:14:22 34.0 MB 

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Friday Links: Subscribe | A big thank you to M.C. Records, Stony Plain Records, NorthernBlues Music, Red House Records, Alligator Records, South Side Records, Delta Groove, Black & Tan Records and Blues Leaf Records | OMMAG: a straight forward working girl to quench your thirst | Happy birthday Jan"Madcat Man" Lillsäter | Calgary Bluesfest on this weekend - I'm in | Bonus track for the whiners - MW Champagne & Reefer |

The Beer: Say hello to a Sparkling Ale from the Coopers Brewery out of Leabrook, Australia. I've had this brew before at an Outback Steakhouse and have looked for it ever since. It pours a hazy light orange with plenty of yeast aggregate but the other visual is awesome as the glass pretty much dances with the carbonation. All these little tiny bubbles just flow out of nowhere and it looks almost like some sort of lava lamp except that the bubbles cling to the sides. The head is farily mild and doesn't lace very much but it makes up for itself in other ways. The aroma is sweet fruits and honey with earthy-style hops. Light clean malts dominate the flavor with tinges of apples and peaches and the finish is dry. Contains 5.80% alcohol and ran me around $12 Canadian for a six. Two huge thumbs up but as always get a second opinion.

 

The Blues: A fun BBQ style romp cookin' chicken, flippin' burgers and drinking beer with your good friends on a wonderful Canadian long weekend - Let's get it on:

The Playlist: Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat (Black Magic Spell), Lefthand Freddy (Ride With Me), the Michael Wilson Group (Way Back Home), Mark May & The Agitators (Big City Crime), Layla Zoe (Leave You for Good), Dave Mell Blues Band (Built For Comfort), Kristy Jackson (Don't Have The Blues No More), Dan Electro and the Silvertones (Mr. Smooth), Rockin' Highliners (Evenin'), Jan James (Chain Of Fools), Bobby Joyner & The Sundowners (In My Shadow), Barbara Lynn (Lynn's Blues), Little Bill & The Bluenotes (Comin' Home Again), Seth Walker (Sun Down), Anson Funderburgh & Sam Myers (Tomorrow Will Find Me The Same Way), Buster Benton (Sit Your Fine Self Down), and the Henrik Freischlader Band (The Blues).

Lyrical highlight:

It has been, a sad sad lonesome day,

And if things don't get no better around here,

Tomorrow will find me the same same way.

See you inside!

{mp3}080108_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:14:22 34.0 MB 

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The Beer: Say hello to a red ale from the award winning Pump House Brewery in Moncton, New Brunswick. I tell you it was a beautiful pour, dark copper and incredibly clear with a wonderful cream coloured head that slowly descends into some glass hugging lace.  The aroma is of roasted malts and caramel with just a hint of mustiness.  Is it as good as it looks? Oh yeah - lots of malts with a bit of tartness to it but not too much. Pretty balanced and it seems to just fill your mouth. Contains 5.5% alcohol and ran me around $13 Canadian for a six. Two thumbs up but as always get a second opinion.

 

The Blues: Made special for our friends at Environmental Canada I bring you a bed of east and west coast big band blues slathered with modern delta and topped off with punk escape and sweet sticky swamp. Let's get it on: 

Playlist: BJ Allen and Blue Voodoo (Gypsy Woman), Monte Montgomery (1st And Repair), Jeff Strahan (Amen to the Blues), Marc Ford (Live The Life I Love), Smokey Wilson, South Side Slim, & Curtis Tillman (I Know What You've Been Thinkin), Kal David & The Real Deal (Another Blue Monday), Dennis Peters Band (I've Been Down For So Long), The Red Wagons Blues Band (Safronia B), Keri Leigh (Use What You Got), Steve Kozak's Westcoast Blues Revue (Girl Of My Dreams), Sugar Blue (Just To Be With You), Robin Rogers (Color-Blind Angel), Dede Priest (Room 239), Mike Morgan and The Crawl (Take Me Back), Vargas Blues Band (Barstool Blues), Blindside Blues Band (Lonely Road), Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs (Eleven Months and Twenty), and Too Slim & The Taildraggers (One More Gallon Of Gasoline).

Lyrical highlight:

My name is Jesus and I know you love the blues

See you inside!

{mp3}072508_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:19:21 36.3 MB 

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Early on today as I got a storm hanging around that has been messing with the power.

The Beer: Say hello to the Premium Export Lager from the Whistler Brewing Company in Whistler, B.C.. It comes in a clear bottle so I was a little iffy on even trying it but here goes.. She pours a clear bubbly gold with a mild head that leaves almost no lacing. It smells a little like sweet rotting grain with bits of malt. It tastes of sweet malt and corn sugar with a blunt aftertaste of something molasses-like that clings to the back of your throat. It ran around $12 Canadian for a six and contains 5% alcohol. I don't think I would buy it again - one thumb up but as always get a second opinion.

 

The Blues: Get ready and start your blues engines as we're breaking it up and breaking it down and pumping out the usual great joy  - Let's get it on:

Playlist: Ron Yarosz (Gettin' It Done), Mighty Mike Schermer (I'll Be Glad), Downchild Blues Band (It's Been So Long), Etta James (Crawlin' King Snake), Patty Harper & Faultline (Honey If This Ain't Love), Hot Monkey Love (Fallin'), Pistol Pete and the Professionals (Wired), James Van Buren (Three Handed Woman), Big George Brock (Cut You Loose), Little Mike & the Tornadoes (Reseys Rock), Mister Jack (Vem Baby Comigo), Monti Amundson & The Blubinos (Hat Back Blues), Chico Banks (Call My Job), Guitar Pete (Do You Hear The Rain), 2 Aces & A Jack (I love the woman), Mojo Blues Band (Enough Love), and Steve Marriner (Plaything).

Lyrical highlight:

Don't meet death without having your fun,

Work with me cause I'm getting it done.

See you inside!

{mp3}071808_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:13:41 33.7 MB 

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Friday Links: Subscribe |Vote -- I am Vital, Podcast Pup | A big thank you to M.C. Records, Stony Plain Records, NorthernBlues Music, Red House Records, Alligator Records, South Side Records and Delta Groove | OMMAG: just imagine a brewer that continuously improves their product! | Hot Monkey Love is listening | Guitar Pete with blues question of the week | It's much too hot to think, but never too hot for some steamy manflesh - Lisa. I need another drink to get that crap out of my head | 

The Beer: Say hello to Steam Whistle Pilsner the one and only beer produced by 'the good beer folks' at Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto. She pours a golden body, topped with an eye pleasing bright white head, it's a familiar sight around here. Aromas of field grass & citrus reach the nose. A balanced taste of sweet versus bitter from start to clean, crisp finish. 5% alcohol  content and runs about $22, including deposit, for 12. Highly drinkable. Five feathers out of five. You can always get a second opinion.

 

The Photo: The bottle openers were freebies included in cases of Steam Whistle. The inspiration for the bent wire & bottle opener characters came from the art of Terry Border found at bentobjects.blogspot.com.  A sampling of his artistic genius * * * . The 3FG pasted on the openers and embossed on every bottle (see if you can find it next time you pop one), represents the Steam Whistle owners.  The picture tacked on the case is of the brewmaster. The sole feminine character represents one of the Steam Whistle brewers. The young brewer was wearing a skirt made of men's neckties the last time I saw her on the brewery tour.

The Blues: It's about love - unrequited / wanting more and plainly just wanting some.  It's about lust - the hot steamy & horny kind.  It's about broken hearts and wayward relationships. It's about partying, dancing and giving thanks - Lets get it on:

The Playlist: Guitar Shorty (What Good is Life), Albert Collins (Hooked on you), Hubert Sumlin (Bring Your Love to me), Carey & Lurrie Bell ( Wrapped up in Love), Coco Montoya ( Can't Get My Ass In Gear), Amos Garret (Lost Mind), Watermelon Slim (Peaches), Big Dave McLean (She's Got the Stuff), Albert Collins (Light Are on But Nobody's Home), Roomful of Blues (How Long Will it Last), Michael Burks (Quiet Little Town), Ronnie Earl (Eddie's Gospel Groove), Tommy Castro (Nasty Habits), Joanna Connor (Nothin' but the Blues), and Roland 'Lut' Luttik (Diamonds & Pearls)

Lyrical highlight:

" Deep in the heart of this dirty old city/ my Peaches dances and she shakes her pretties/ I met her there and my life was changed/ I can't get that girl out of my brain."

{mp3}071108_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:04:29 29.5 MB 

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Friday Links: Subscribe |Vote -- I am Vital, Podcast Pup, Podcast Blaster | A big thank you to M.C. Records, Stony Plain Records, NorthernBlues Music, Red House Records, Alligator Records, South Side Records and Delta Groove | Roland is listening |Our friend Elane Bomberry from Rez Bluez is asking us Broomers to sign up and vote for her blues artists at the 2008 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards | My friend South Side Slim is looking for someone to help him with his webpage | She passes OMMAG's sniff test | Fireman Man Flesh night |

The Beer: Say hello to a Weizenbock from the Half Pints Brewing Company in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She pours a cloudy rusty colour with a mild head that seems to double for the lace. Aroma is bready with tinges of malt and banana. The taste is quite hard to pin down due to its complexity but one picks up on pears, earthy hops and slight lemon. Very drinkable... Contains 6.2% alcohol and two thumbs up but as always get a second opinion. Big thanks to OMMAG for the taste.

 

The Blues: Spent this week storming down tough luck avenue and I got the blues so bad it rises up out of the belly wrenching everything along the way. As a blues guy the rules say we ain't allowed to show it -- Let's get it on:

The Playlist: Mark Ford (Fool For Love), Bill Noteman & The Rockets (Cadillac Breakout), Albert Castiglia (Big Toe), Livin' Blues (Don't worry, baby), William Purvis & The Seventh Sons (Fishing Where The Sharks Are Swimming), Volker Strifler Band (Movin' On), Little George Sueref And The Blue Stars (Everyday About This Time), The Electrophonics (FZ's Revenge), Bryan Lee (Take it Like A Man), John Primer (Corinna), Jackson Delta (Sugar Bee), Cootie Stark , Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Neal Pattman (Prison Blues), The Kingsnakes (Honest I Do), Eric Bibb , Rory Block & Maria Muldaur (Travelin' Woman Blues), Guy Davis (Limetown), The Elevators (Mean Old World), and the Juke Joints (Let It Roll).

Lyrical highlight:

Working all day in the sun, big boss man got a big shotgun.

Gonna take my shovel and cut off my big toe.

If I can't walk, I won't have to work no more.

See you inside!

{mp3}070408_FridayNightBlues{/mp3}

1:11:54 32.9 MB                                                                                              

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