Baker's Dozen: Interview with WASI

I know I've written on this blog, or at least the previous version which was hacked the f*** up back in the spring, about my love of the movie 8 Mile. In one of the last scenes B. Rabbit (Eminem) is in the club getting ready to battle his nemesis Papa Doc. This guy has all the dirt on B. Rabbit and he isn't afraid to use it. So instead of running from his life and trying to hide who he is, B. Rabbit decides to own it. He admitted everything. This left Papa Doc speechless and handed victory over to B. Rabbit. WASI is sort of the female fronted, pop punk version of B. Rabbit. The two founders, Cosmo and Jessie, are lesbians. Jessie has spent a large portion of her life being bullied for her masculinity. When WASI first hit the LA circuit, they were outcasts who couldn't find a niche that they fit with. The band spent years hustling their songs outside of concerts with a pair of headphones. These are all things they own. They don't try to hide who they are or where they've come from. In fact, these are the things that have helped WASI get to where they are today. And where's that? A band with a recently released debut EP that is getting love from, amongst other places, Billboard. Recently I had the chance to ask Cosmo and Jessie some questions as part of our Baker’s Dozen Interview Series. We talked desserts, the LGBTQ scene in LA, Fun. and Pussy Riot. We also spoke about bullying and, of course, their new EP Bleed Pop. So, without further adieu, let's hear from Cosmo & Jessie:

TB: I must start with an apology. I introduced WASI to my blog as I was knee deep in lactation desserts. Are you guys dessert fans? What is your go to sweet treat?

Cosmo - Desserts are my favorite meal. Jessie actually used to work at a frozen yogurt shop when we lived in Buena Park... so I got hooked with basically free yogurt for a lifetime every single day. For a whole summer, I would head over to her shop and she would give me a pint of strawberry yogurt and almonds which I would eat till I passed out. Nowadays we settle for a healthier dose of Yogurtland. Sometimes we splurge on macarons. 

Jessie- If I could eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner I'd be set. And absolutely no need for an apology, It would be a dream come true to swim in a bathtub of ice cream! We can definitely relate to an obsession with desserts.

TB: WASI has an interesting history. You originally started as a duo with the intention of covering some INXS songs under the moniker the Midol Poppers. Somewhere in that process you decided it was easier to just write your own songs. Then you spent a number of years trying to sort of find your place as you didn't seem to fit into any one scene. What are some of the lessons that you learned that have stayed with you from these early struggles? I know it is a different world now, but what suggestions might you offer a musician that is going through similar frustrations?

Cosmo - A big thing we’ve learned is to be who we are on and off stage. I think it took a minute for us to figure that out because we were coming from a place where we were going against the grain from day 1 without any guidance. Everything we’ve done to this point has been trial and error, then getting back on your feet and doing it differently until it is right. You have to be authentic as there’s a respect that comes with authenticity amongst other artists and friends. It can be scary because you’re putting yourself in a position to be vulnerable to rejection - but it also creates room to grow in real relationships and friendships. A suggestion I’d have for someone going through similar frustrations is when it gets really hard, call up a friend or someone that can relate and spend time with them. From collaborating on some new songs to just grabbing a cup of coffee together. Connecting with someone who understands is key. 

Jessie - We were one of those bands that would approach you at shows at the Hollywood Bowl or at Gay Pride and offer a listen of our music. Putting ourselves out there like that was really scary but exhilarating at the same time. People have literally thrown the headphones off and said we were crap while others became friends that we still have today. For me, growing up was really tough because I was bullied a lot so I was incredibly shy and didn't know how to talk to people. Talking to thousands of people gave me the strength and skills I needed to grow tough skin and really grow out of the shell I was hiding in. A suggestion I’d offer to any musician is to do the same. Throw your art out there and be ready for the ups and downs, take it, and keep going. 

TB: You are now a four piece, making some fabulous music. The lactation dessert friendly track I mentioned earlier was your single "And the World", which was one of my top 20 favorite songs from last year. You recently released "And the World", along with four other songs, on an EP entitled Bleed Pop. How would you summarize the EP?

Cosmo - Bleed Pop is a really personal EP for me as it tells our stories of family, childhood, and a frustration towards a lack of opportunities for the marginalized to excel. My favorite thing about it is that the EP is through an optimistic lens of owning yourself and doing what you love - even if it is being the only person dancing your heart out in a room full of stiffness. We also try to cater our songs to the live show. While in the studio coming up with cool ideas, I sometimes find myself dancing out the parts in a corner haha. 

Thank you so much for posting that about the track, by the way! We were so hyped to see that! 

Jessie- First of all, I'm incredibly flattered you dig "And The World" so much! I definitely agree with what Cosmo said. Bleed Pop is a culmination of years we have grown together through all of the good and the difficult times (things get tough sometimes, but we feel like we always get through it somehow). I don’t know what it was but it was always difficult for us to find a space to really feel confident in. Now when we play shows we get the opportunity to really share a space with others who have the same "Don't Give A Fuck" attitude that we have and we get to all have a party together. At the end of the day it's about having fun. 

TB: How does the cover art for Bleed Pop fit with the five tracks that are featured on it?

Cosmo - Our friend Donny with KIHL Studios did an AMAZING job with the artwork for Bleed Pop. The art showcases the energy of the stories in our songs such as an asymmetry of power, gender inequality and the overall imbalanced structure that we are socially molded to grow up in. 

Jessie - I am a pretty physically androgynous and that is something I was afraid to own for years until WASI. We wanted to own that in the vibe of the package in the way it’s owned in our songs. We wanted it to be loud. 

TB: Billboard compared your high energy pop sound to Matt & Kim. I've had the privilege to see them live a number of times and they put on a helluva show. If you aren't sweating at the end, you are doing something wrong. What are your live shows like?

Cosmo - Matt and Kim are a huge influence to us musically and personally. We want our shows to be a space where people can just completely unleash themselves. Growing up influenced by a lot of punk music, I, personally, subconsciously release that kind of energy at our shows. 

Jessie - We really are about the live show. We try to be as crowd interactive as possible because some of the best shows we've been to have been like that. If someone FEELS something after leaving a WASI show, then mission accomplished. We once saw the band FUN. perform at a small local Orange County venue called Chain Reaction (we were selling cds outside the show of course) and FUN. completely blew us away. The way that Nate completely had the crowd of about 200-250 kids in the palm of his hand made you feel like you were part of the band for that moment. We carry that idea with us today. 

Cosmo - That was one of the top 3 best shows I’ve ever seen. We weren’t just watching FUN. We were part of whatever community they were creating for that hour. 

TB: WASI is a pretty prominent group when it comes to the LGBTQ scene in the LA area. Can you tell us a bit about how you got started in the scene and where it has taken you up to this point?

Jessie- As I mentioned earlier, we have always been at the pride festivals promoting our band and have received huge support from the LGBTQ community. There have been a number of people that have reached out and told us our music made a difference for them and it kind of made us realize that our music isn't about us. Its about the struggle that many of us have to face and that we’re all in it together. Throughout my whole life I was incredibly homophobic (and confused about it) until I realized I was gay at 17. During the really difficult years of bullying I would listen to artists like India Arie and Blink 182-  music that saved my life. We play quite a few LGBTQ fundraisers and charity events and it's a way to give back to the community we’re a part of. 

Cosmo - The LGBT scene is our home. Growing up we didn’t have a safe space and community which I feel is a huge issue for LGBTQ youth. Coming out was really hard for me and I can still feel that fear and self-consciousness come up here and there. I started truly getting involved with the scene when I hosted a rally back in 2008 for No-On-Prop 8 campaign. We threw it in Buena Park right next to Knott’s Berry Farm and made a Youtube video for it. We didn’t anticipate anything huge coming out of it, but by the end of the day we had a few hundred people coming with signs. We ended up marching around the perimeter of the theme park and that whole area. It was crazy! There’s a unique empowerment in the LGBT scene that is so hard to find anywhere else. I think that energy carries with us in our music. There’s a celebration and contagious energy in this scene that really keeps us stoked on life. I remember going to my first Gay Pride in Long Beach not knowing what to expect. And then when you’re there, it’s like  “This IS ME and I can be proud about it”. 

TB: You guys also throw your own events. One event you put on is Women Fuck Shit Up Fest an annual feminist/queer event that seeks to empower those communities to share their art and voice. What sparked the idea for this event?

Cosmo - Haha Women Fuck Shit Up Fest was the BEST!  We threw it at this rad feminist art gallery called Heart of Art Gallery. My good friend Mayra Cortez who I met volunteering at the Rock Camp 4 Girls Orange County (which was also another empowering event) and I came up with the idea together.  We wanted to celebrate a space where female fronted musicians, artists, poets, etc. can showcase their art without judgement.  You hear so much “man, why do girl fronted bands all sound the same” or “why aren’t there any GOOD gay bands, and why are they all PUNK”?  Then what happens is it creates a pattern where just “being a girl” means you’re not good/tough/smart/whatever enough because you’re not a boy. We wanted to tear that down and celebrate being a female/queer artist. 

Jessie- I think Cosmo summed that one up quite well. Overall, it was an incredible experience that none of us will ever forget. What happens from events like that are lifelong solid relationships and new connections/communities stemming from it. 

TB: Maybe its because I just watched a documentary on them last night and its fresh in my mind but WASI seems to be reaching out to the same sort of marginalized communities as Russian performance art group/punk band Pussy Riot. Why do you think this idea of providing a "voice for the voiceless" is met with so much resistance all over the globe?

Cosmo - I think people in general are afraid of change. There is so much ignorance and hate because of fear. So many don’t want to blame it on the structure, racism, sexism, whatever - they let things be ok because for that moment their needs may be met. I think the attitude comes because of a lack of connection with others from different backgrounds and beliefs. 

TB: I want to touch a little bit more on Jessie's bullying because, as someone who works with kids, this is a topic that comes up a lot. Jessie has sort of flipped the script and now makes it a point to showcase what she was bullied for. She treats it as a gift. How did this empowerment, this taking back of her body, occur? How is the WASI brand better because of what Jessie went through?

Jessie- I have a hormonal disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and it causes me to overproduce testosterone. I was bullied about my weight, being a lesbian and basically going through a male puberty. I grew up in a very conservative area and women would stare, make comments and even scream when they would see me in the women's restroom. Honestly, it took so many years for me to accept and love myself. Music has completely brought me out of my shell and has made me realize how important it is to really own who you are because you don't know who you can help down the road. It goes back to "Hey, I've been there too and it's ok we'll get through it." If I can help other people through my experience, I am incredibly happy and all the hardship is totally worth it. 

Cosmo - WASI is about being loud. We’re about owning what makes you different and unique and connecting with others on a level that keeps each other moving/dancing/feeling. 

TB: Musically speaking, what does WASI have planned for the rest of the summer?

Cosmo - I know we just released our EP, but we’re writing more music now than ever. On top of that, playing shows here and there while working on ways to make the show better everytime, releasing some videos (one of them a documentary on our show in Tijuana, Baja California), and WRITING. More writing. 

TB: WASI is based in Los Angeles. If you had to sell that area to an East Coaster, what would you say?

Cosmo - In LA you can easily find other artists to exchange ideas and gossip with, decide to try out acting at any moment in time, and do a juice cleanse.  

On a side note, I think it’s hard to find the “cool” spots of Los Angeles on your own. You really have to dive into the community and connect with the people because that collaboration is what brings this city to life.  

Jessie- Weather-wise, you can walk your dog in shorts and a tank top and be totally fine haha. Except my dog wears hiking boots when she goes on a hike, not tank tops! So basically your dog can wear boots without judgement. 

TB: I know that Cosmo is a bit of a food fan. Do you guys do any crazy stuff in the kitchen? Is there a special WASI approved recipe you'd care to share with our readers?

Cosmo - I am down to compete with anyone on being the absolute worst cook in the kitchen. Seriously.  Once I messed up a scrambled egg and another time I messed up boiling water for spaghetti. I don’t know how. 

Jessie- Yes! So true. She did mess up boiled water and it all evaporated! I actually love to cook and am trying to learn new things. One of my favorite things I've made were red, heart shaped pancakes for our friends on valentine's day. That consisted of Bisquick pancake mix, water, and red food coloring. So complex! We're definitely working on learning new stuff. 

Cosmo - But if we had to choose our own WASI recipe, it would be a mix of coffee-nut-cookies & cream-dark chocolate w/a waffle cone sort of ice cream thing with almonds and m&ms on top. We would also make it from scratch. 

TB: Anything else you'd like to say?

Jessie & Cosmo- Super grateful for the opportunity to talk with you guys, We love food! Come to LA and we'd love to show you our favorite spots to eat. Listen to Bleed Pop at www.isawwasi.com. Follows us on twitter @wasimusic.

Check out "Fire", one of the new tracks on Bleed Pop I am completely enamored with:



The video "And the World":

 

Food Flavored Video: If You Wanna Stay by The Griswolds

The Griswolds and I recently attempted to collaborate on a human cake. It failed miserably. Here's what happened:

It started during the filming of the Griswolds brand new video "If You Wanna Stay". It didn't take the band long to get into the food flavored swing of things as just fifty-five seconds in they started throwing some eggs. That sparked up an idea. Why not bake a human cake? So they gave me a call because they know I am such an expert when it comes to baking human cakes. They mixed the necessary ingredients (six eggs thrown at a shirtless man's back, one cooler of liquid splashed all over the egged man's body, a large amount of what appears to be flour dumped over his head, and two more eggs). The band then left, I believe its lead singer Christopher Whitehall, behind for me to pick up and bake.

I used the exact temperature that my human cake recipe book suggested. I baked the mixture for just the right amount of time. But instead of being moist and yummy, the cake fell flat. Why? I thought long and hard about what went wrong. I rewatched the video for "If You Wanna Stay"dozens of times. I spoke to Christopher about the mixing of ingredients. Finally it came to me. The Griswolds' broke the baker's "rule of thumb" of wet into the dry. That'll do it every time.

In slightly less cannibalistic news, The Griswolds are making their way to North America for a month long tour. They will be hitting the east, midwest, west and southwest. A number of shows (Minneapolis, Chicago, LA and Kansas City) have already sold out. You can see all their tour dates and get ahold of tickets here.



Just the audio:

Merry Listmas 2014: The Music

I’ve heard it breathed rather tritely so many times that I almost began believing it: “Punk’s dead, you know.” Maybe they are right. Maybe the punk of the 80’s is long dead and gone. Maybe even 90’s punk, despite the fact that a few bands continue to tour and record and pretend that nothing has changed since they first hit the scene, needs to recognize that a funeral is in order. But if 2014 proved one thing to me it is that the punk of the new millennium, if I choose to embrace it, is just getting started. Sure I had some filthy stuff tear through my inbox that I couldn’t delete fast enough but my favorite album this year was a punk one. My favorite song came from a punk band. In fact, three of my top five were from band’s that I would consider to be punk like. So I’m embracing this punk. As long as its catchy, makes me howl with delight and defiantly spits dinner back in my face, I will continue to enjoy this little run like its 1994. Or 1984.

Aside from the punk stuff, the music that I enjoyed most during 2014 included chords of female vocals, German dragons, French explorers, Italian art, facing gunfire in the early morning and cigarette breaks taken at inopportune times by escalators. As in previous years, all of these songs may not necessarily be from 2014, but that is when I came across them.

Tender Branson’s Top 20 Songs This Year:

20. Jack Garratt – “Worry”

What I said: A neat little electro-pop gem that is both heady and hairy. It comes from Garratt’s upcoming debut four track EP Remnants (July 14th street date).

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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19. WASI – “And the World”

First there was We Are/ She Is. Then that morphed and shape shifted (anything but swagged) into WASI. This LA based female duo makes catchy riot pop (think Matt & Kim getting high with the Ting Tings). They have a new Double Sided Single scheduled to be released on February 12th. Take my word, both sides are excellent.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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18. My Woshin Machine – “Dragon”

Its weird, German techno-electro that comes from Outer Space by way of a dead end street in Central Berlin. Some video game needs to adopt this song as its theme ASAP.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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17. Buchanan – “The Few”

I know a thing or two about Buchanan. First, growing up in Pennsylvania our claim to President fame was the one and only James Buchanan. Second, I almost ended my lackluster high school basketball career with a game winning shot against Buchanan. Unfortunately one of my teammates jumped over my back and tipped the ball in. F***ing ball hog. But we aren’t here to talk about those Buchanans. We are much more interested in the here and now. That would be the UK via Australia indie rock band who has taken Buchanan as its name. These guys have made their name the hard way. After relocating to England, frontman Josh Simons began showcasing the band’s material at open mic nights. Now, with a new LP on the way (Human Spring) their ready to take their music to the internationals. That includes those living in the small town of Mercersburg (where Buchanan is located).

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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 16. Nadia Nair – “Beautiful Poetry

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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15. SirenXX – “I Think I Like You”

This female duo crafts tunes that blend pop with bits of hip hop and then finish it off with some evocative lyrics that share their unique perspective.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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14. Verite – “Weekend”

VÉRITÉ’s is “Weekend” has been circulating the blogosphere for a while. It was lost in my email for about as long. Oh well, sometimes it is better late getting somewhere than not at all. Just ask Ashley and all the biker bar bros. Had she not gotten lost, that experience never would’ve happened.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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13. Boxed Wine – “Quiver”

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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12. Seinabo Sey – “Pistols at Dawn”

Swedish pop/soul artist Seinabo Sey’s “Pistols at Dawn” is one of those songs that just causes a person to pause and listen. I’m talking the world stops type of deal. This is in large part to the stunning vocal display that Seinabo puts on. Her voice is an instrument itself which ranges from the powerful howl that backs the chorus to the full fledged echo haunt of the chorus itself to the slow simmering sexy of the verses. Add in a bit of a beat, some clicks and fires of a pistol and you’ve got a track that should easily follow its predecessors to number one on the Hype Machine Chart.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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11. Creo – “Afterglow”

Your new track “Afterglow” pairs nicely with the hot dogs because the dogs are basted in a thick, dark, teriyaki sauce and then covered with a spicy grilled pineapple salsa. I find that this mimics “Afterglow” perfectly. The guitars in the song play through thick and muddy while the rhythm section is completely dynamic and spirited (like the salsa).

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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10. Wonderful Humans – “Edge of the Night”

A trio of Wonderful Humans who hail from New York City. They make pretty catchy, electro fabulous tunes. Wonderful Humans is an offshoot, as the three members are also part of three other “successful bands” of different genres. That’s about all I can tell you about them as, in this world of selfie obsessed look at me-ism, these three prefer to remain nameless. Check out “Edge of the Night”:

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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9. Redbeard – “Fox Tale”

Take a minute to look at Red Beard’s picture. The dark clothing and black and white photo lead me to think heavy metal/ screeching rock/crappy nu-metal band. Words like “amazing”, “techno”, “party”, “I want to dance my f***ing soul away” are the farthest thing from my mind. But when you actually listen to Red Beard, they will surprise you in the best way possible. Hell, they will blow your mind. And there is more on the way as the band has just announced plans for their second album. The band will be heading to the studio in March to start laying that down. In the meantime, let’s entertain us with what has come before. Experience “Fox Tales”:

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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8. Black Honey – “Sleep Forever”

Numerous university articles, none of which I plan on finding and citing, show that the darker the honey the higher the concentration of antioxidants. It truly is the sweet taste of darkness. What does that mean about “Sleep Forever”, the new single from English band Black Honey? It means that after just a few listens your body will begin to delay cell damage. I should know. I recently went on a “Sleep Forever” bender. I followed that up with spending many, many, many hours lying in the sun and drinking Black Honey drinks (I’ve got an addictive personality). Not a single cell was damaged thanks to Black Honey. You too can save your cells. Make it happen!

Listen: Soundcloud

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7. Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance”

I can’t take credit for this. This song was all J-Fur. But once I heard it, I immediately recognized the magic in it. Its about love. Its about not ruining the moment. Its about letting your body do the talking. Most importantly, it is about putting yourself out there with the chance that you will be made a fool of. The band captured this feeling perfectly in their version of the video that featured crazy fans doing their best dance moves.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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6. Y Luv – “Jacques Cousteau”

What do you pair Beet Bourguignon with? My motto is when cooking French, listen French. While Y Luv reside pretty far from France (California) their new single does celebrate the life of (or at least the namedrop of) a famous French underwater explorer named Jacques Cousteau. This song has quickly vaulted to the top of my best of 2014 list. There is just something about the vocals of Freddy Janney that stick with me.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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5. The Dirty Nil – “Guided by Vices”

A week ago The Dirty Nil sent their new 7 inch into the world via Fat Wreck Chords. The album features the previously paired “Cinnamon” (listen to that one with a pile of Fried Apple Pancake Rings) and its B-Side “Guided by Vices.” B-Side? Shit…if this is a B-Side then the Dirty Nil hasn’t gotten the message that a B-Side is supposed to be a throw away, inferior track. “Guided by Vices” stares “Cinnamon” down with some haughty looking eyes before stepping out of the way and saying “Ladies first sweet cheeks.” That’s the only way that “Guided by Vices” takes a back seat. These two are like Side A and Side A again. Anyways, you get my point. “Guided by Vices” is the Dirty Nil at its sloppy, feedback infested finest. The track is all raw and in your face and stuff, at least during the verses. The chorus slows things down a bit so the band can send out wavering vibes about alone time. I mean when is it just gonna be you and I all alone?

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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4. Little Daylight – “Mona Lisa”

The track sounds like it came straight from the 80’s because of the synth arrangement. The synths are then paired with a stellar baseline to create the perfect pedestal to place Nikki Taylor’s vocals on. She pretty much shirks the pedestal during the verses but the music keeps building and winding her tighter and when that chorus finally hits she takes her place on said pedestal. “Mona Lisa” is fun, its catchy and it is probably destined for Alt-Nation appeal when the symptoms of “Overdose” wear off. Sometimes when I ponder life and art I’m left with a few questions I can’t answer. The last time I checked out the Mona Lisa, the question that just kept milking my mind was can Little Daylight make a song that isn’t awesome? Me thinks not.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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3. Baby Baby – “Short Little Summer Love Song”

Baby Baby’s “Short Little Summer Love Song” asks the question everyone ponders at one moment or another. “Will you love me now forever?” The answer is pretty simple…will you always taste this good? If so, I will. I will love you until my last breathe escapes my lips (circa 2192).

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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2. Milky Chance – “Flashed Junk Mind”

Its Bob Dylan at times, Frank Black at others. Mix in a little of the kid whispering in the back of the detention hall and the man wearing a drab overcoat who leaves the bar speaking in slurred verses and you’ve got most of the lyrics nailed down. Do they make sense? Sometimes. And sometimes it feels like Clemens palled around with my former college roommate and practiced writing couplets with a dictionary of words by his side.

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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1. The Menzingers – “In Remission”

I sang this song as loud as I possibly could all summer long. The whole of Tampa, had they not had their windows closed and air conditioners cranked up, would’ve heard me tell it like it is. Some of the gems include:
“I’ll chew up my dinner and spit it in your face.”
“Oh 1918, you’ve yet to see the worst of humans acting.”
“I hate how I get nervous every time I try to speak, in front of a big crowd, a pretty girl, or the police.
“If everyone needs a crutch, then I need a wheelchair, I need a reason to reason with you.”

Listen: Spotify | Soundcloud

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Band of the 2014: The Menzingers. First up, these guys released a pretty good album with a few top notch tracks that I couldn’t stop listening to (until summer faded to fall and fall to winter). Long after the initial luster wore off I could still be found, huddled in the corner of the bathroom, discovering some new hidden gem that I hadn’t heard before. Throw in the fact that they made a pretty raucous local appearance and came ’round for a second visit within the span of twelve months (with a third come up in April), sold out shows across the globe, brought tapes back into style and successfully taught Jason Voorhees to be a little more like Lloyd Dobler and I’d have to say these guys take it without much competition.

Hear it all (except Black Honey) in one swoop:

Food To Record To: In the Studio with D.O.N.S

One of the central pieces to the Branson family Thanksgiving dinner this year was a vegan green bean casserole topped with almond encrusted shallots. Oh doggie! Its been four days since Thanksgiving came and went and I still can’t stop thinking about that dish. What I wouldn’t give to have another plateful in front of me right now. My index finger? Possibly. My left ear? Definitely. My dancing shoes? Uh…no. The “creamy” part of the casserole was made by soaking cashews, my current favorite nut, in water. Another big fan of cashews? German DJ/Producer/label owner D.O.N.S. He will espouse their virtues as well as two other foods in our latest installment of “foods to record to.”

First, the accolades. D.O.N.S. has established himself as one of the most innovative, unique, and exciting figures in the dance music industry. He’s released hits such as the legendary “Pump Up the Jam” (the 2nd most successful worldwide dance track in 2005), “Big Fun” (voted as one of the best 25 cover versions of all times by DJ Mag), “The Nighttrain”, “Searching For Love”, and “Alive”. His songs have topped mainstream and dance charts all around the globe propelling him to the rank of A lister. His hard work has led to top 10 sales chart positions in the UK, Spain, Ireland, Scandinavia and France. His technique and energy have set prestigious clubs and festivals on fire. Whether bootlegging or mashing, live or on radio, D.O.N.S performances are one of a kind and not to be missed. What fuels this passion? Calories. Where do these calories come from? These are his favorite foods to record to:

1. Sushi
 Easy to eat, healthy, there’s many different varieties, not too filling and you can eat it with one hand while the other one flies over the keyboard. On top of all that, it’s one of my favourite foods anyway.

2. Fresh fruit – preferably berries.
Refreshing. When you’re getting tired during your regular producing night shifts, fruit gives you extra energy through the fruit sugar and of course they’re rich in vitamins and extremely healthy.

3. Cashew nuts
The perfect snack. They’re packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for a robust health and they fight starvation fast if you’re about to miss a deadline and have no time to eat.

His latest fruit, nut and sushi fueled hit, chart topper is "Big Fun" (featuring Terri B):

Where We Eat (and Drink): Naga Tea

Thanksgiving is a time of gluttonous delight for most Americans. We overeat to the point of discomfort and then spend the days following wallowing in the aftereffects of our poor decisions. This year, I preplanned better than in the past. I went on a diet. A tea diet. It worked like this. Eat no breakfast, drink a tea filled with boba for a lunch time meal, eat no dinner. I didn’t start the week of Thanksgiving with this diet in mind but once Naga Tea entered the picture, it just made sense.

Naga Tea is the brainchild of two recent University of South Florida (USF) graduates. Peter earned his master's degree in entrepreneurship. Carl is a medical science student prepping for the MCAT and medical school. Both of them are of Taiwanese descent and grew up in the boba scene that began in that country.

In Taiwan, tea lounges are like convenience stores. There is one on every corner. Peter and Carl wanted to bring that aspect of their culture to the States in a more authentic way than what is currently offered. That’s where the idea for Naga Tea began. To make this idea reality, the two
spent time abroad researching the latest tea innovations, taking classes in tea preparation and coming up with recipes for their products. Since tea is a big thing in the USF area of Tampa, the two
needed something to set their brand apart. They did this in a couple of ways. First they imported all
their tea straight from Taiwan. You want the best? Get it from the best. Second, they played around with boba recipes until they found one that tasted fresh and worked to enhance the tea. Nothing worse than a good tea being ruined by bad boba. Third, they found ways to make their recipes fun and unique. Who wouldn’t want to try ice cream tea? Or mint chocolate chip tea?

Naga Tea is located on 56th Street in the same strip mall as Sawatdee Thai. It offers four types of tea.
The first two types, fresh and herbal, are very similar. You can order either of these teas hot or iced or even turned into a latte. The different fresh and herbal teas are located in the containers that you see lined up on the counter when you first enter Naga. You can open any container and smell the fragrances of the tea inside. Flavors include dragon green, naga black, oolong black, tie guan-yin, pink lavender, mint chamomile, rose garden or black forest. JFur, who accompanied me on each of my trips, started her initial visit with the rose garden. It had a nice rosy flavor but she found the tea itself to be a bit bitter. The third type of tea available at Naga are milk teas. These include a choco milk tea and the aforementioned ice cream black tea. To read a review of the milk teas, check out Carlos Eats blog as he is much more familiar with them than I am. The fourth type of tea Naga offers, and the one I’m most familiar with, is the fruit tea.

The fruit teas are the reason I visited Naga Tea three days in a row and why I kicked off my tea
only diet. Currently Naga offers eight flavors of seasonal fruit tea. These include grapefruit, kiwi,
green apple, passion fruit, lemon, mango, orange, kiwi and pineapple. Carl and Peter came up with
these specific flavors by visiting the farmer’s market, buying a variety of fruits, and experimenting with blends. Some fruits they tried were disasters. Some are still works in progress. Some, like strawberry and watermelon, will be available when the season is right. For now, these eight are the ones that are in season and taste (and look) the best.

On a recommendation by Carlos (of Carlos Eats who invited me in to taste what Naga Tea had to
offer) I started my Naga experience with a lemon green tea with boba. The fruit teas are made by
mixing green tea with fresh fruit, a bit of fruit juice and a small amount of syrup (for coloring
purposes). The lemon tea tasted like smooth lemonade when it first went down with a hint of
tea in the aftertaste. It was good, not great (to this day, it is still my least favorite fruit tea). I have never had boba before so I have nothing to compare Naga’s version with, but J-Fur tasted it and raved, “This is the best Boba I’ve ever had.” I believe her too because she has ordered boba every time we’ve visited Naga. She doesn’t get boba at any other tea lounge.

                   Seasonal Guava Tea

J-Fur expressed an interest in the kiwi tea, so we ordered one of those for our second go round (since
Carlos and Naga had invited me in for a tasting, our first five teas were on the house). One sip of kiwi
and I forgot all about the lemon tea. It tasted like a kiwi popsicle with a nice balance of sweet and tart. Mix in the fact that there were small seeds and chunks of real fruit and very little tea aftertaste
and you’ve got the perfect drink. At this point JFur uttered the words that made my diet real…”Mix
in some boba and this would be like a meal.” She nailed that one.

Speaking of sweet and tart, that grapefruit tea does it like none other. J-Fur ordered this on our third
visit, with boba, and she loved the fact that it dabbled equally in the worlds of sweet and tart. I’m
not a grapefruit fan at all but when I tried it, I recognized the beauty of what sat in her hands.

                 Grapefruit with Boba





















Update: May 2015, they now have finger food like Zucchini Fries

The final two teas I’ve tried are the pineapple and green apple (update, I've also tried the pomegranate, strawberry and peach). I hoped that the green apple would have a tart/sweet mixture like the grapefruit, but it didn’t, or at least it wasn’t as pronounced as the grapefruit. The green apple was more sweet than anything. Good, just not what I was expecting from it. My problem with pineapple juice that can be purchased at the store is that it has such a strong, almost unnatural flavor to it. The Naga Tea pineapple fruit tea does not have that same problem. The addition of the tea waters down the pineapple flavor enough so that it feels like a perfect balance of fruit and tea.

     Strawberry Tea with Boba

So, if you are keeping track at home, that means I really loved the kiwi, grapefruit, strawberry, peach
and pineapple. The green apple is very good, but a step down from the other ones. The lemon is...not my cup of tea.

Naga Tea has big plans in the future. They hope to expand. They hope to add food . They plan on rotating in seasonal flavors and holiday specials as well. All exciting things that I can’t wait to see. For now, they are sticking to what they’ve been doing. What is that? For me, its making the best fruit teas, hell, the best fruit drinks I’ve ever had. Oh, and helping me maneuver the gluttony of Thanksgiving in a much more manageable way.



My experience at Naga Tea works perfectly with the sound, and images, from Emergency Tiara’s new video “Around“. The song (and video) explores the circular nature of love. It is one that eventually loses all sense of beginning and end. It doesn’t matter what started us or what will finish us, when you are in the moment the only thing that matters is the constant whirring of existence. Naga and I have been in a relationship like that ever since we met.

Where We Eat: The Corner Store

I have to admit that what initially drew me to The Corner Store, located in historic downtown Plant City, was their bold and memorable motto and their brand new brunch menu (only four weeks old) which has consistently included vegan biscuits and gravy.

The motto, EAT WELL OR DIE, represents a number of The Corner Store’s most important philosophies. First and foremost, it signifies the emphasis that The Corner Store places on healthy eating. The shop embraces a slow food philosophy that supports local agriculture and offers fresh alternatives for eating and living. This means that their menu is full of gluten free, vegan, fresh, sustainable, organic and eco-friendly food items. Another philosophy of the shop is their belief in environmentally friendly actions. The Corner Store uses recycled materials, practices composting, cleans with natural cleaners, and hosts guest speakers and events that are designed to promote a healthy earth. EAT WELL OR DIE, if you aren’t responsible in the way you eat, the chemicals you clean with and how you dispose of your waste, we all die. A third philosophy of the store is their belief in fair wages and safe working conditions. If you pay your employees appropriately, they have the opportunity to eat well. You pay them poorly, they eat poorly which can lead to a whole slew of health-related problems later in life.

J-Fur, Z-Bot and I visited The Corner Store last Saturday because that’s the day they serve brunch. Aside from being a small cafe/restaurant The Corner Store also serves as a coffee/tea shop, bakery, specialty grocery store, deli and caterer. We skipped all of that, as well as the paper menu at the register, when we entered. We just went straight to the ordering window in back. No offense, but we came for the brunch. This week’s brunch included biscuits and gravy, both vegan and regular, and mixed berry waffles. J-Fur ordered a waffle and I purchased the vegan biscuits and
gravy. From the kid's menu, we ordered Z-Bot a grilled cheese sandwich.

The first to arrive was the grilled cheese. Immediately I noticed the pride that the staff takes in their work as the sandwich was beautifully presented. The grill marks were perfectly arranged, the bread flattened in a way that only an expert bread flattener could manage and the cheese filled right up to the edge of the bread spilling just slightly over. The sandwich was served alongside fresh oranges and grapes.

Next to arrive were my biscuits and gravy with chunks of seitan sausage. I’ve had some really awesome experiences with seitan and some not so pleasant ones. On this day, I had neither. The seitan sausage didn’t make me oogle with delight nor did it make me cringe. That, to me, is the true sign of a nicely blended dish. If it doesn’t stand out, that is a good thing. The gravy and sausage was layered on thick atop a few biscuits. How was it? Pretty good. It was better than about 85 percent of the food that is specifically labeled vegan in the area. My only complaint, it could’ve been a bit warmer. The fresh fruit that was served alongside (watermelon, cantaloupe, orange) had a lot of flavor. It definitely didn’t seem like the kind of fruit I leave the grocery store with. It had too much taste for that.

              Biscuits, Seitan Sausage and Gravy

Our final number was the waffle. The waffle itself was vegan although it was to come with a homemade whipped cream which most likely was not vegan. J-Fur isn’t into the cream thing so we
didn’t even bother to inquire about it, just asked it off. I thought the waffle tasted fine and all but it wasn’t until I added the berry mixture that it really seemed to dazzle. A nice blend of sweet and tart, the berry mixture tickled quite a few of my various tastebuds. J-Fur detected a hint of lemon and she
isn’t that much of a fan of lemon and berries (although she detected lemon tonight in a loaf of sourdough bread so I’m beginning to wonder…).

All in all, I was quite pleased with what I ate at The Corner Store. I’m not sure that I would visit at
any time other than brunch considering a lot of their sandwiches have meat or just don’t inspire
me. But I will definitely be back for the brunch. I’m hoping that over time it continues to be a popular endeavor and maybe expands to a few other vegan items so I can leave feeling even more stuffed than I did this week. The nice thing, for those of us who live far away, The Corner Store has been posting their brunch menu on their Facebook page a few days in advance so you can make necessary
arrangements. This week’s vegan option is a breakfast enchilada with vegan cheese sauce. If it wasn’t for Tampa Veg Fest, I’d probably be making a return trip to give those little Mexican bad boys a whirl.



If “River” by Bay Uno was a restaurant, it would definitely be something like The Corner Store. The track’s laid-back, swooning sound and folky lyricism make it seem perfect for nature hikes in the woods or strapping oneself to a humpback whale in order to protect it from the fishing industry. In short, it seems perfectly at home with matters of the Earth. “River” comes from Bay
Uno’s first album which is due out in 2015.

Food To Record To: In Studio with Charlie Hedges

I held a morning drive show in Chicago for a few months. It was terrible. I woke up at early o’clock and pedaled my bicycle through deserted city streets only to arrive at the studio and be seated across from a co-host who didn’t know anything about anything. Every topic our producer or I threw out was met with a blank stare and an “I’m too tired to think.” Needless to say, we never made it past single digit listeners. That is a far cry from the type of influence that Charlie Hedges exudes on the world. Here’s just a few of her accolades:

*She is one of the most in-demand and high profile female DJs in the UK influencing 5.6 million listeners (per week) as co-presenter on the Kiss FM breakfast show.

*On the club circuit, she’s played to thousands of discerning clubbers across the world at parties such as Sundance Festival, alongside Carl Cox at Space, Amsterdam’s Gashoulder and Ministry of Sound.

*Away from the decks, she’s crafted and honed a signature house sound in her many hours in the production studio

Charlie is currently at work in the studio producing a number of tracks that are set for release in 2015. What does a star of Charlie’s caliber fuel up on during her studio time? What has she dubbed the best Food To Record To? Here are her three staples:

1. Fajitas
For me, quick and easy meals are best as I’m normally either in the studio making a new house track or getting ready to travel to my next DJ gig. Normally I go for chicken fajitas with peppers, onion, chilli powder, salsa and sour cream, simple but tasty.

2. Salmon stir fry
Again, another quick and simple meal. The salmon goes in the oven for 20 minutes. About 5 minutes before it’s finished cooking, you get your noodles, veg, basically anything edible that you can put in a stir-fry, throw it all in the pan, cook then add the salmon into the mix for a another minute.

3. Mezze
Granted it’s more like a starter than a main dish but depending on what you include in your mezze, it gets you pretty full and you can eat it pretty fast. Get some Tzatziki which is a classic Greek cuisine of Greek yogurt and chilli, jalapeño and feta. Simply add peppers to feta cheese, make some hummus (chickpeas pureed with lemon juice, fresh garlic and salt) and then plate some pita bread, cucumber sticks, carrots or tortilla chips. That’s it, you’re done.

Food To Record To: In the studio with Buchanan

When I was just a wee lad preparing to run off to the local recording studio and drop some Chocolate Covered Gerbils’ tracks, my mama always made sure I didn’t leave without a gourmet bagged lunch in my hand. As she handed it to me she would tussle my hair, kiss my cheek and say “Recording on an empty stomach is bound to make your Barry White sound like White Snake” (she later replaced White Snake with White Zombie to keep up with the changing decades). Even now, year’s after I quit the band, I still have that bit of advice scrawled across my bass guitar case.

The last thing Buchanan wants, as they are currently in the process of recording their new LP, is to make their Barry White sound like whatever current inferior white monikered band is making the rounds. I mean they’ve prepared hardcore for this LP. Some of the steps they’ve taken: relocated from Australia to Europe, introduced themselves to their new scene with a number of debut performances, brought in the helping hands of London producer Simon Duffy (Leftfield, Mr Hudson, Dirty Vegas) and added an electronic element to their songs. But forget to eat in studio and none of this matters. All these changes just crash, burn and float away in the wind.

So what does Buchanan find to be the best Food To Record To? Here are their three staples as relayed by frontman Josh Simons:

1. Homemade Pizza

They’re easy to put together and almost always instantly satisfying – exactly what everyone needs when their minds are still on compressor settings and similar nonsense like that!

2. Eggs, mushroom, onion and avocado fry up

If you’ve been working through the night, which we often do, sometimes a proper greasy fry up is exactly what the body craves (but perhaps not necessarily what it needs) to carry you through that next (long) day.

3. A healthy selection of herbal teas and coffee

It’s not exactly a meal, I know, but without a doubt, the 100% most essential meal in any
studio environment is the coffee break!

Where can one experience the aforementioned electronic shift that Buchanan has undertaken? The new single “Coming Down” is the perfect place to start. It is the first taste of the band's upcoming LP. It is also their first single ever released in Europe. Take a listen:




Taz got all remixy with it:

Where We Eat: The Old Spanish Sugarmill Grill and Griddle House

“From the death of the old the new proceeds, and the life of truth from the death of creeds.”
-John Greenleaf Whittier

In 1961, a once illustrious sugar mill standing adjacent to Deleon Springs was at the brink of

demolition. The “old building” had been vacant for some time and many people were ready to see it go. But, as John Greenleaf Whittier suggested above, out of the old comes the new. Peter Schwarze, a fifth generation grist miller, recognized that. He envisioned the mill being restored and serving as a place to grind his flour. He also saw it as the perfect location for a restaurant and bakery that uses his
flour.

Peter was granted permission to lease the mill and he began restoring it. He outfitted the building with a gristmill of his own design. It wasn’t long before Peter’s vision was realized. It is a vision that has lasted for fifty-five years. One that has become known as the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House.

The Old Spanish Sugarmill Grill and Griddle House is probably the most unique place I’ve ever eaten. Each of the restaurant’s tables is fitted with its own personal griddle. Here you, the patron of the restaurant, are able to cook your own pancakes and eggs. The restaurant brings you all the ingredients you need, be it batter, eggs or pancake toppings (which include blueberries, bananas, peanut butter, pecans, chocolate chips, apples or applesauce). You then pour them on the griddle and flip them yourself. It is like being a chef in your own kitchen without all the prep work (or cleanup). The restaurant also serves breakfast meats (including vegetarian sausage), sandwiches and salads that are prepared behind the counter in the restaurant’s kitchen and they offer take out. But what is the fun in all that?

The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House website suggests that you should arrive early because it is both small and popular. We rolled up to the restaurant at 9:15, just a quarter hour after it opened, and there was already a thirty to forty minute wait. We entertained ourselves for a bit on the nearby playground and in the spring. Time flew and before we knew it our names were being announced over the loudspeaker.

We were seated next to a big window that looked out on the spring. It was such a beautiful setting. The waitress came by and quickly gathered the orders of everyone in the group: one pitcher of homemade batter (regular), one pitcher of the stone ground mixture (which includes five different flours), one vegan/gluten free pitcher, two fresh squeezed orange juices, blueberries and two eggs.

The Griddle and the toppings (molasses, honey and maple syrup)

The batters arrived and we were instructed on how to best make our pancakes. Pour in the middle of the griddle (the edges aren’t sealed so the hot batter could wind up on your foot) and when the edges begin to bubble flip them. Of course the most important instruction was skipped. TURN ON THE GRIDDLE FIRST. Because we failed to do that our initial batch of pancakes was quite a mess. But the next four pancakes (that’s about how many you get per pitcher) all cooked in about two minutes
and were a nice golden brown color.

                     Pouring on the batter

                      The final product

It is hard to argue with what you get here. I mean you are the cook. I was very impressed with the vegan/gluten free batter as it tasted a lot better than some of the recipes I’ve tried at home. It was clear that someone had worked for a while to get the recipe right. It wasn’t something that was just
thrown together to appease the vegans/celiacs. Even though I didn’t order any, I loved that this place, way out in the middle of nowhere, offered metropolitan fare such as vegetarian sausage. You just don’t find that at many breakfast places. The orange juice was fresh squeezed (and pulpy) and tasted that way. My only complaint, a minor one, was the blueberries were frozen. I would’ve preferred fresh. Unless of course fresh blueberries don’t cook as well on the hot griddle. In that case, I’m ok with frozen.

Vegan/gluten free pancakes, five of them, for 5.95 (plus the fee for entering the park) that didn’t taste like cardboard and had you stuffed until well into the evening? Fresh squeezed orange juice that lived up to the billing? A chance to cook over your own, private, hot ass griddle? What’s not to like? If you are ever in the remote vicinity of Deleon Springs, Florida (and by remote I mean within 100 miles), I suggest you visit the Old Spanish Sugarmill Grill and Griddle House and see what one man’s vision of the new can do for the old.



Also a place where old becomes new? A yard sale. Yard Sale happens to be the name of the new Neon Hitch single. It is a track that is about leaving the past and letting go of all the emotional and physical things you don’t need anymore. Neon Hitch said that for the past few years she has been drowning in emotional baggage. This is her let go liberation anthem. Neon was recently emancipated from long-time record label, Warner Brothers, and plans to release her upcoming new music via her own fan-powered label, WeRNeon. The #WeRNeon movement is raring and ready to go. You can learn more about the movement and join the fun at www.neonyardsale.com.

Four for the Fourth: The Tiki Terrier

I’ve often wondered why the ladies haven’t come back with their own version of “Girls Gone Wild” to show that this conversation doesn’t have to be one sided. While perusing through the EBAY porn section last weekend, I thought I had finally found their response. Seems Holly Schmidt and Allan Penn, who I assumed were top notch wiener movie directors, had filmed a production called “Wieners Gone Wild.” I quickly bid 237 dollars for the video and eagerly awaited its arrival (gag gift dude). When it came (no pun intended) on Thursday, I ripped it open. To my UTTER disappointment it wasn’t a video at all. It was a book. On top of that, the wieners they were talking about weren’t the ones I was visualizing. They were hot dogs.

Wieners Gone Wild: Out of the Ballpark Recipes is a cookbook full of exotic hot dog recipes. It was in this moment that I remembered what my Uncle Earl used to say “When life gives you the wrong kind of wieners, make a party out of it.” I intend to do just that. My hot dog of choice, for this 4th of July, is the duo’s Tiki Terrier. It's a hot dog basted in homemade teriyaki sauce and then topped with grilled pineapple salsa. The only changes I made were to replace the beef dog with a vegan version and omit the cilantro and ginger from the salsa. Yummy.

The four tracks I’ll be celebrating this fourth of July with are:

You wanna side of fries with that Tiki Terrier? I sure do. Whatcha got? Sweet Potato? Curly? Disco? Yep, that’s it. The Disco Fries latest piece of work, a single called “The Light”, on Zouk/Armada Music. “The Light” is progressive and melodic. It burns bright and floats high reminding one of the fireworks that will be blazing in tonight’s sky. This is in large part to the beats provided by Niko the Kid. When paired with blazing poppy lyrics, you’ve got a single not unlike a lot of what you find all over your radio. “The Light” will be available to purchase on July 14th via Beatport.



“The Girls Are Here,” is the latest single from New York-based Beautiful Small Machines. The track begins with a bit of a hoot (or holler) reminiscent of Frank Black in “Where is My Mind.” It quickly transitions into a summery harmonizing affair, a la, The Beach Boys. After just a few moments of Beach Boyism, Beautiful Small Machines take the track where it needs to go. A raucous girls night out party affair. Bree Sharp, who penned the track, says that the single “exemplifies feeling invincible before a night out on the town.” All that dressing up is sort of like getting dressed to go into battle. She hopes that the song can make someone feel like “they can take the city by storm and lay it all to waste.” You’ve been challenged girls. Don’t let me down.


For my third song, I’m sticking in NYC but leaving the girl’s night out in the dust for some rooftop
Cold Beer & Broads. Cold Beer & Broads is a collective of musicians who have rubbed elbows with legends and had a hand in some pretty impressive critically acclaimed projects. They are gearing up for a September EP release called Six Pack. The first single to be released is the punky attack everyone at once “First Amendment Blues (The F.U. Song)”. Despite the profane chorus and
its no hold barred approach the single has actually received some airplay at dozens of college radio stations. Guzzle it down:



Sydney-based alternative rock 4-piece CREO just released their brand new single “Afterglow”. It
features a rhythm section that completely dance worthy, layers and layers of oozing guitars, a unique vocal delivery (think snotty yet harmonious) and a chorus soaked in lyrics that are guaranteed to stick with you for weeks (future me says: and months, and years).

Food Flavored Album Review: Hello Memory by Little Daylight

When I sit back and listen to Little Daylight’s debut full length, Hello Memory (Capitol Records), I immediately start craving a Kung Pao Tofu Slider. This is not your Uncle Larry’s slapped together peanut butter and jelly on stale white bread horror show of a sandwich. The Kung Pao Tofu is the type of sandwich that makes your taste buds dance and twirl and cry out for more, long after last call. Its treatment of all things sensitive to flavor is very similar to the effects that Little Daylight’s Hello Memory bestows on your auditory system. That’s why the two, album and slider, are perfect for each other.

A good Kung Pao Tofu sandwich is built from the inside out. It starts with thinly sliced, extra firm tofu which, despite its title of extra firm, actually has quite a bit of give to it. Put it on a rocking chair, vigorously shake and see how much it dances. Hello Memory is also built from the inside out and can bring a generally firm substance to move unnaturally (I’m talking about myself). This is most apparent on the second track, the wildly popular “Overdose”. To quote myself, when “Overdose” first hit this blog early last year I said: “Stylistically speaking “Overdose” has many things in common with the band’s remixes. The pulsating beats remain. So does the bounce your head rhythm (call it Tribal Flair), the catchy breakdowns and pop affinity. What is not to love? First original song. First “Overdose” that is actually enjoyable. That calls for a celebration.” I stand behind that original assessment although what I didn’t realize at the time is the opportunity for widespread appeal that Little Daylight had just released on the world. It took a bit of time but “Overdose” is finally on the verge of (or already has?) blown up. The band played it live on the Late Show with Seth Meyers and Alt-Nation has started featuring it heavily in its rotation (from June 12-June 18 it was the number five most played song). If they had any sense, mainstream pop and rock stations would be following right behind.

A memorable kung pao tofu sandwich is topped with a slaw of julienned zucchini and carrot to provide a bit of texture disparity. The tofu’s soft interior is the polar opposite of the julienned vegetables crunch . Similarly, Little Daylight’s “Siren Call”, another single released a while back, plays moody counterpart to “Overdose’s” upbeat antics. It is synth driven, with siren like wails over a lush backdrop. Catchy and melodic, just not as sing-alongy as “Overdose”. More appropriate for a back alley movie scene than a dance party.

To pull off the taste coup that this sandwich does, properly seasoned tofu is essential. First it must rest in a bath of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and corn starch for about an hour. Then it needs to be
baked slowly so that each side of the tofu becomes caramelized. This step is best signified by Hello
Memory’s “Love Stories”. This is the track where Little Daylight leaves the dance floor, steps out into the back alley and heads for the bedroom. It is a restrained and reflective attempt at balladry. The
power in “Love Stories” is that Little Daylight shows that they are versatile enough to leave behind the layered backdrops of “Overdose” and “Siren Call” and deal in infinite space.

The zucchini and carrots are mixed with a whisked blend of soy sauce, peanut butter, vegan mayo, sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, peanuts, black pepper and cayenne. This is where the palette really begins to experience things. The saltiness of the soy sauce and peanuts, the sweetness of the sugar, the sourness of the mayo and vinegar, the pungency of the garlic and the spiciness of the cayenne can all be detected after each bite. This dressing really brings the whole slider together, while simultaneously keeping the tastes apart. Little Daylight’s latest single, “Mona Lisa”, packs the same type of varied punch. The track sounds like it came straight from the 80’s because of the synth arrangement. The synths are then paired with a stellar baseline to create the perfect pedestal to place Nikki Taylor’s vocals on. She pretty much shirks the pedestal during the verses but the music keeps building and winding her tighter and when that chorus finally hits she takes her place on said pedestal. “Mona Lisa” is fun, its catchy and it is probably destined for Alt-Nation appeal when the symptoms of “Overdose” wear off.

Even though a sandwich/slider is built from the inside out, that doesn’t mean the bun doesn’t have some sort of bearing. Placing a slider on a lackluster bun is like baking a tasty cake and covering it with dirt icing. Fear not my friends because Hello Memory flings no dirt. “My Life”, the opener, is probably my favorite of the tracks I had not previously heard. It has a funky little dance rhythm to it created by electronic swizzles. Someone has their finger on the button and they know what they are doing. Add in some messages of empowerment and the freedom to do what you want and you’ve got a song that is hard not to like. While the closer “Never Go Back” doesn’t come anywhere near its predecessors, it is still a nice parting shot. It tells everyone that the band has been there, done that, and they won’t be going back. Tough call for a band that has put out such a wonderful album. Still, this unwillingness to go back, has me excited to see where Little Daylight heads next.

Hello Memory’s tracks that have been released as singles:

Where We Eat: Capital Tacos

I was visiting Sugar and Spice Daycare last week attempting to enroll my new pet calf Lucy (oddly enough, they wouldn’t even consider her for the waiting list). When we reached the parking lot on our way out, we were nearly run over by an out of control car. It came to a screeching halt a few inches from Lucy’s front hoof. Out of the car stepped a tall gangly man wearing neon framed sunglasses, tight pants and a trying too hard to be ironic t-shirt. The passenger side held a strangely attractive short girl with tattoos all over her arms and dark glasses on her face. The guy muttered, “Where are we? I feel like we’ve been in the car for days…”

As Lucy and I approached the guy noticed us for the first time. He took a huge step back. In a typical clipped Tampa accent he said, “What kind of dog is that?” I snickered. “The kind of dog you can milk.” He responded, sounding a bit perplexed, “Oh my god, people out here drink dog milk? Where are we?” I rolled my eyes. “You two are looking for Capital Tacos aren’t you?” He nodded his head and then tried to explain to me what twitter was and how he had heard of this awesome taco place and…I couldn’t keep up with his ramblings. I think Lucy intimidated him.

The truth is, I get it (not the Lucy intimidation part but the wondering where you are). Land O’ Lakes isn’t the most progressive place. You certainly don’t expect to find restaurants with hand carved wooden furniture, mason jar pendants, craft sodas, biodegradable potato starch containers and out of this world taco/burrito/salad/nacho blends. That kind of stuff goes down in Tampa, not Land O’ Lakes.

But Capital Tacos found it the perfect place to set up shop last year. It wasn’t long before Capital Tacos took twitter by storm. I must admit, I ignored it at first. I thought it had something to do with the other Capital places in town and I had no time for that kind of thing. But a few weeks ago, one thing led to another, and there Z-Bot and I were making the long trek out to Land O’ Lakes to experience Capital Tacos.

A check in on Yelp got me a free side of chips as long as I ordered a meal. Not a problem, I could manage that. I requested the Simon Pure (grilled portobello, black beans, pico, bombera salsa and rice) for myself. When I ordered it without cheese the man at the register informed me that if I wanted it completely dairy-free the street corn would have to be removed too. Score. Someone looking out for me. I also ordered a Mean Verde to go (fried avocado, refried pintos, queso, lettuce, pico, jack and cheddar, corn strips) for J-Fur. It normally comes with a poblano ranch salsa, but she suggested I skip it because it might remind Lucy too much of her upbringing.

The first thing I noticed when I sat down was the free chips. Holy nudists! These chips were unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. They were deeply golden in color, large and plump. They were perfectly crisp without the constant need to wipe the grease from your hands onto your pants like other places that make homemade nachos. The chips came salt-free allowing you to perform your own DIY magic. For me, this meant a splash. If my friend HH was along, that would’ve meant a whole truckload. The medium salsa had a nice subtle spice and was not full of the dreaded cilantro. Capital Tacos knew how to spice it just right.

                   The Beautiful DIY-able Chips

Next came the Simon Pure. With one hand on Z-Bot it was impossible to keep the burrito together. Overloaded with portobello, salsa and rice made it a drippy mess. It was the kind of burrito you need to eat two handed and finish with a fork. Without that luxury, I had to start, middle and end it with a fork. The burrito tasted meaty as f***. I had to check a couple times to make sure they didn’t actually serve me animal flesh. Whatever they basted that portobello in was phenomenal. Coupled with the beans, rice and salsa, I watched a burrito fall through my fingers and all over the plate that was comparable to any other I’ve eaten in Tampa. I want tofu, I’ll go to Taco Bus. I want portobello, I’ll go to Capital Tacos. It's as simple as that.

                      The Simon Pure Goodness

As I sat and ate my burrito J-Fur’s was wrapped in a to go bag next to me. About five minutes after I began eating the man behind the counter came over and said, “Here is your burrito to go.” I checked in the bag and already had one. I told him “My other burrito is already in the bag.” He went back to the kitchen to check and then brought it back. “The one in your bag doesn’t have the avocado in it. The person in the kitchen forgot to add it.” That reminded me of one of the complaints I’ve heard about Capital Tacos from friends. They are prone to botching take out orders. Had I left with the burrito instead of sitting in and eating mine, J-Fur would’ve been missing the most important part. If you are ordering out, especially if you are driving up from a Tampa zip, make sure you check your order before you leave. I mean unroll the burrito and everything. Better safe than sorry. With all the ingredients there (and even with substitutions for special diets) these burritos are top notch. Without key ingredients, well, I can’t vouch for them.

         J-Fur’s Mean Verde (from our second visit)

Capital Tacos is good stuff. We’ve been back a few times. They allowed us to sample the soda (pretty good stuff with real sugar). We haven’t tried much else because we keep ordering the exact same thing. That’s when you know it's good. Mark my words, unless something crazy happens, we will be back again and again (and again and again). I'm convinced that eventually there will come a point that entering Land O’ Lakes will be accompanied with a sign that says “Land O’ Lakes, population (who cares) Home of the Famous Capital Tacos.”



Did I mention that Capital Tacos is a long drive from Tampa? To get there requires a lot of music to listen to or one song on repeat. I choose the latter. On repeat was Galantis’ new song “The Heart That I’m Hearing”. Check it: