Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 117

It’s now just hitting midnight on the East Coast, and I am signing on. I’ll start things off with a video by Wire right around the time of their first comeback in the mid-1980s:

And if you want the club mix, here it is:

They reformed again around the turn of the century and have been recording consistently since. I’ll post some more recent stuff as well. They may not have sold many records over the years, but they influenced many more famous acts, such as R.E.M. A mid-1990s hit by Elastica essentially plagiarized one of Wire’s signature songs from their classic first album (released in 1977).

So stay tuned. More music is coming your way. Hopefully the bartender is serving up some cool drinks.

Author: Don Durito

Left of center and lover of photography, music, pop culture, and life. Favorite quote - "There are no innocents. There are, however, different degrees of responsibility" (Lisbeth Salander, from Stieg Larsson's original Millennium Trilogy).

19 thoughts on “Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 117”

  6. “Hopefully the bartender is serving up some cool drinks.” Of course I am. Since tomorrow is Mint Julep day, I’ll begin with “How to make the perfect Mint Julep” from Tipsy Bartender.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vKvVEWBjg

    Once again it is time for the great Kentucky Derby. There is no drink more synonymous with this horse race than…THE PEFECT MINT JULEP! At this race one can buy Mint Juleps for as much as $1,000 a glass! The proceeds go to charity so we won’t knock anyone for buying one, but in you aren’t attending the most exciting two minutes in sports, you can make one yourself at home, and we promise it’ll be just as delicious! It is the perfect mix of mint, bourbon, and sugar. If you find straight whiskey a little too harsh, the ingredients in a Mint Julep soften the taste to pure smoothness. This famous, traditional drink is definitely a cocktail that everyone should try!
    …
    PERFECT MINT JULEP
    10 mint leaves
    1 cup bourbon
    1/4 cup simple syrup
    1 tbsp powdered sugar

    The bartender is taking requests.

      1. You and me both.

        For today’s drink, I’m looking ahead to tomorrow, which is both National Bubbly Day and National Olive Day. I will serve the bubbly (sparkling wine) recipe today and the drink with olives tomorrow. Here is Sparkling Summer Sangria from Tipsy Bartender.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNjX2XPYOK8

        Here’s the recipe:

        SPARKLING SUMMER SANGRIA
        1 oz. (30ml) Vodka
        1 oz. (30ml) Triple Sec
        3 oz. (90ml) Orange Juice
        750ml Sparkling White Wine
        Orange Slices
        Lemon Slices

        PREPARATION
        1. Add fruits to base of pitcher.
        2. Pour vodka, triple sec and orange juice on top of fruits. Top with sparkling white wine.
        3. Stir to mix and pour. Enjoy responsibly!

        1. Today, I’m serving the Hot ‘n’ Dirty for National Olive Day.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK2bw2hxAqA

          Here’s the recipe:

          HOT & DIRTY (@jasonfyu)
          1 ½ oz. (45ml) Vodka
          1 ½ oz. (45ml) Gin
          Splash of dry vermouth in glass (optional)
          Cayenne Pepper
          Olive
          Garbanzo/Olive foam:
          1 part Garbanzo bean water
          1 part Olive Brine

          PREPARATION:
          1. Prepare foam by combining garbanzo bean water and olive brine. Whisk until it creates a foam. Set aside.
          2. Combine vodka, gin and olive brine in a shaker with ice and shake well.
          3. Chill serving glass with ice and a splash of dry vermouth.
          4. Empty glass and strain mixture in.
          5. Top with foam and garnish with cayenne pepper and an olive. Enjoy responsibly!

    1. There are no adequate words. He died way too young. My wife had a Blues Traveler album or two. She figured I’d like them. She was right. Every once in a while a friend who died during my first year of grad school comes to mind. I don’t know what triggered it, but I had this pretty vivid recollection of our last conversation – on Bob Dylan songs of all things. That was a good 25 years ago. Guessing that being at or near an anniversary point had something to do with that. Good person who was taken away too soon.

  9. I am about to head to an airport in a few hours. I will leave this cafe/lounge open for now, even if it is far from midweek. Have fun, chat, and I will check in when I have a little bit of down time.

  11. Hi. I will leave this cafe up for a little longer. If time permits I will come up with something to schedule for Weds. Out of town for one of my side gigs.

  12. New cafe/lounge is set to come online at the stroke of midnight. Enjoy this one while it lasts. See you all when I get another break this week!

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