A letter to Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale.
by The Wizard on Feb.04, 2010, under Thoughts
Dear Sierra Nevada Bigfoot,
Why? I remember the first time I drank you. It was at Deegan's house in Portola Valley. His parents were gone and we were maybe Seniors in high school. We'd been drinking Red Tails and then he decided to bust you out. I took only a few sips before I called it quits and decided that it was no longer worth my time to force you down.
And then age happened. And I discovered what beer could be beyond the stale, miserable experiences I'd had as a youth. I learned there was more to the world that Coors Light and Hamm's Gold and Natty Ice. I learned that beer was an art, an experience to be had, not just the easiest way to get drunk without poisoning myself on hard liquor.
Oh, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, you are one of my favorite seasonal brews. I thank God every day that I can find you on the East Coast. Sure, you're no Six Point Righteous Rye, but that doesn't mean you don't have a place in my heart. You do. I love you.
As I sit here tonight, on my second bottle, I am reminded that I've been given a gift. And that gift is strong beer. When everything around me is crumbling and horrible, I always know that somewhere, somehow, someone is making beer that will lift me out of the darkness and make everything all right.
So, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale, I salute you.
Sincerely,
The Black Laser.
Further information dug up regarding Die Antwoord
by The Wizard on Feb.03, 2010, under About Music, Music, Thoughts
I've been rustling through the interwebs today and found out a little more about Die Antwoord. Apparently, the group is the brain child of Watkin Tudor Jones, aka NINJA. His career in South African hip-hop stretches back to the halcyon days of the mid-90s (remember those?) and across several different projects, such as Max Normal and the Constructus Corporation.
Now, I could go and rehash all the info I read, but instead I'll just send you to the site where I read it.
How about some samples of their previous work?
I've also learned about this concept called "zef" which is a South African word meaning something like "common." Based on the description I got from Kameraad Mhambi's blog post "What is Zef?" is that it's like a blend of ghetto and trailer park sensibilities. Read the article though, it's more informative than what I just wrote.
Where does that leave us with Die Antwoord? Exactly where we were before. They are still awesome. If these guys ever came to New York, I'd be in line an hour before doors. Seriously, I don't care if there's a whole scene in South Africa, this shit is fresh as fuck here in the States and I am into it. I need—NEED—the record. Need it so bad.
Following up on a post made yesterday concerning rap-rave music from South Africa
by The Wizard on Feb.03, 2010, under About Music, Music, Thoughts
Yesterday, before posting Die Antwoord's music videos, I sent them to my friend Gardner, absolutely sure that he would enjoy them. I was, of course, right. He loved the hell out of them right away. And, being Gardner, what does he do? He finds the band's e-mail and send them an e-mail about how awesome they are.
To: Die Antwoord
From: Gardner Loulan
Subject: You are now my gods.I just came across your stuff via my friends blog TheBlackLaser.net and I am totally obsessed now. I was a VJ for MTV Networks in the US a few years ago and have a knack for getting excited about the next level of music and you are it. It's like you're bitch slapping Lady Gaga while melting The Knife in her propelled by The Sounds and blowing up Golgol Bordello with an M.I.A. bomb---- putting them all int he past and back together again in the future where you clearly reside.
Well done,
-Gardner Loulan
Now, one usually expects this sort of missive to go unnoticed or unreplied to. But did it? Of course not!
From: Die Antwoord
To: Gardner Loulanwhat a FUCKIN nice thing to say
we fuckin love you for saying thisonce my blaar!
NINJA
out
This trifecta of e-mails was completed with a brief note from Gardner to me.
To: Me
From: Gardner LoulanMy day is now complete.
Awesome. Thank you, internet, for allowing us to have such remarkable instantaneous contact with such diverse people from all around the world. Though we often take it for granted, the ease with which we can communicate with folks from such places as far from us as South Africa is truly incredible.
And also thanks, Die Antwoord, for being cool enough to respond to Gardner.
And thanks, Gardner, for being enthusiastic enough about everything to go out of your way, if only a little bit, to track these dudes down.
If you haven't yet watched the music videos below, do. And get yourself to Die Antwoord's website and listen to their, frankly, amazing debut streaming in its entirety. Go now!
Die Antwoord's "Zef Side" and "Enter The Ninja", South African rap-rave at its finest?
by The Wizard on Feb.02, 2010, under Music, Music Videos
I sent these to my friend Gardner earlier and we couldn't decide if this was real or some elaborate performance. The consensus right now, based almost solely on the horrible tattoos of the frontman, is that it's real.
REAL.
Did you get that? Real. Holy living fuck. And you know what? Even if it isn't real, it's so fucking brilliant that it's STILL amazing.
This shit is too awesome for words. I can't even begin to list off all the things I love about this. The closest thing I can reference is Tripmeister Eder Tutenchamun's "Goa Goa MPU, Ja!" or Deichkind's body of work.
Check out their website. Die Antwoord
I need more music like this. Who can help me out?
Thanks for adding this bit of brightness to my life, Boing Boing!
This is what could have happened to my brother Charlie if he'd grown up in Japan under radically different circumstances but still played the bass guitar.
by The Wizard on Jan.29, 2010, under Thoughts
3 Comments :Charlie, Japan, Video, Weird more...

































