Forecastle 2015

Forecastle 2015 has once again come and gone.

First, the bad:

The lineup was initially underwhelming.

The giant Hunter S. Thompson was noticeably absent, as was his impersonator.

And the weather was unusually torturous, including a vicious storm that cut short Sam Smith's set and forced immediate evacuation.

Now, the good:

There were some really good sets, by both local on the cusp talent and under the radar performers. 

Friday:

Parker Milsap is pretty much as unconventional as it gets. An old time bluegrass style, he performed some strange songs, including one about "what if the characters in nursery rhymes were suddenly unemployed, and starting cooking meth". So ya. A really good sound, and some good songs, but a little out there for even me.

Milo Greene put on a good performance. They were one of the surprises for me early on.

Cold War Kids were excellent. Probably my favorite show of the day.

BIG K.R.I.T. and Gaslight Anthem were only OK to me, but both were entertaining.

Sam Smith - In all honesty, I was skeptical how hed translate to a music festival. But that skepticism proved unfounded. A great set until it was cut short by the severe storm that noone warned us about until 30 seconds prior to hell breaking loose.

Saturday, the Mast Stage was the place to be. 

The Revivalists were incredible. Probably my 2nd favorite set of the entire weekend. Oddly wonderful blend of alt folk, blues, and funk. Imagine if Dave Mathews Band and Counting Crows had a love child - that would be The Revivalists. 

Then some Eastern Kentucky flavor, with the on the cusp performers of Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson. Stapleton, from Johnson County has an all time great voice and sounds the same live as on his album. Simpson, from Breathitt County, is poised to really breakout this summer following the festival tours and after signing his big record deal. Both put on great sets, especially Sturgill. 

Shovels and Rope were incredibly boring, to me. Their songs all sound the same, and it seemed as if they played for 5 hours. Not a ringing endorsement.

The crowd for My Morning Jacket was just insane. The hometown headliners are loved by their city, no doubt. Ive never quite understood the hype. But their set was entertaining, from what I could see from my vantage point (pictured).

Sunday:

Noah Gundersen was incredible. His haunting cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit sent chills up my spine, even though the heat index was 106.

The Steeldrivers were fine. But they haven't been the same since Stapleton left. Understandable, but a tough truth. 

Diarrhea Planet was terrific. So was Modest Mouse.

But the real standout of the day, and the weekend, was Robert DeLong. Its hard to explain exactly what DeLong does, so Ill just link a YouTube video here. Its really incredible to watch him play the keys, sing, and play the drums; all while electronically tweeking everything into a hypnotic dance/rave sound. The crowd was sparse in the beginning, but quickly became enormous; reaching from the Ocean Stage all the way to the marlboro tent. An incredibly unique performer and experience; and someone who no doubt is on the way to stardom on the international dance scene.

80's/90's Wrestling Meets Today's Cocktails

Ever wondered: If my favorite wrestling memories from the 80s/90s were a cocktail - what kind of cocktail would they be? Well thanks to the mixologists at Rye, wonder no more!

Disclaimer: this pic is a few months old, and their cocktail menu changes often. Oh, also the picture is fairly awful. But the concept is so cool, I still thought Id post it. Even if it is a few months late.

Anselmo's Bistro and Bar (Louisville, KY)

After striking out on a few attempts to find a good Italian restaurant, in a few different cities, we decided to try Anselmo's. Anselmo's is a small, intimate authentic Italian bistro that has really good food, really good wine, excellent service; all at a really reasonable price. The ONLY negative is that space is small, and the vast majority of patrons are regulars - so much so the server instantly recognized us as new. This means seating is limited, and reservations nearly a must.

For an appetizer, we ordered the deep fried ravioli. It was excellent. We also heard really good remarks about the bruschetta. Either/both are winners.

For entrees, we order rattlesnake pasta and lasagna. The rattle snake pasta is tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce, and topped with grilled chicken and jalapenos. Really, really good; especially if you like an extra bite to your dish. The lasagna was extraordinary. Maybe the best lasagna Ive tried. This is what you should order.

For dessert, we had the cannoli. Don't leave without ordering this dessert. Its cream filled, covered in powdered sugar, and drizzled in raspberry sauce. Although I normally avoid desserts, this is not to be missed.

Why go? Perfect date night, with either a long term partner/spouse; or a first date. But definitely get reservations. Not really much of a guys night out spot, but I'm guessing you could already tell that. They do have a very small bar area, but definitely don't expect many single ladies parked there. Almost exclusively either a date destination; or a large family dinner.

Oodles Uncorked (Knoxville, TN)

Oodles Uncorked bills itself as an Italian American restaurant, with a menu that focuses on pasta and wine. Oodles is located in Market Square, an ever popular portion of Knoxville known for dining and upscale nightlife. Based on its location and menu, we decided on reservations a few weeks in advance knowing we would be in Knoxville. Unfortunately, everything about the experience was underwhelming.

First the service was slow, and surprisingly unfriendly. It took an unusually long time t seat a party of two, considering reservations a few weeks in advance. Then we were seated in basically in the corner of an inside hallway, at a wire outdoor table, directly next to the mailboxes (who's mailboxes, remains to be known). Both food and drink came out excruciatingly slow, especially given the quality of preparation; which leads to my next point.

The quality of food was just subpar, no other way to put it. For an appetizer we ordered smoked crawfish dip, which was pretty good; except that it tasted nothing like crawfish at all. It was basically a cheesy dip, which is fine, but not what was expected.

For entrée, we ordered a duck club panini and chicken fettuccini served with 3 cheese alfredo. The duck Panini was mediocre at best. The chicken fettuccini was largely tasteless, with the chicken obviously a piece of frozen, processed chicken that would be found at your local discount grocery. Frankly, it tasted like something you would expect at Pizza Hut, Gatti's, etc. Just subpar altogether, but especially for a market square restaurant where most locations tout local sourcing. The only saving grace was the decent wine list. Yet even that was subpar, at least for a restaurant touting itself as a wine bar.

Why go? Tough call, because there are a multitude much, much better food options within a stone's throw of Oodles. Maybe if your date wants a glass of wine. Maybe. Even so, there are a couple options in the square with a comparable wine list; and much better food. The only other conceivable reason would be for a cheap first date. But if that's your line of thinking, you may as well just show up in pajamas while you're at it.

The Perfect Mint Julep

The mint julep is almost certainly the most iconic drink of the Kentucky Derby. With the Derby being 2 days away, what better time to explore how to make the iconic drink?

A explanation of the drink and the process can be found here.

The only modification I'd recommend is substituting Old Forester (if you're on a budget) or Basil Hayden (if you're not) as the bourbon.

I'm just not a fan of Angel's Envy "Bourbon" for a few different reasons; although I love their Rye.

So there you have it: the iconic, enigmatic Mint Julep. The drink that noone likes, but everyone drinks; at least this time of year.

Stock and Barrel (Knoxville, TN)

Focusing on burgers, Bourbon, and beer, this Knoxville restaurant is practically a mecca for masculinity. In fact, the only more manly substances on the planet would be Chuck Norris' beard/chest hair or Mike Ditka's mustache. I'm pretty sure my chest hair instantly started growing soon as i walked through the door. You get the idea.

We started with the white cheddar pimiento cheese dip, which also includes tomato jam and goat cheese; served with house made pita chips. Mind blowing. Maybe the best appetizer I've tried; which is quite the endorsement. 

Also heard the opa (flash fried feta, local honey, and a baguette) is incredible; but I was already getting full after practically dumping the whole serving of pimiento cheese directly into my face.

Then came the burger. All beef is locally sourced, which is usually a good sign your burger will be amazing. I ordered a special that came with pimiento cheese (there can never be too much pimiento cheese) and Bentons bacon (which is a treat all its own). Almost too much goodness. ALMOST.

I didn't have a drink, but they sport a nice tap list and Bourbon selection.

Why go?

Better question: why would you NOT? Food and drink are incredible. Atmosphere is great. Like almost every restaurant in Market Square, its extremely busy after dark. You really can't go wrong. Make sure to not miss a pilgrimage to this manly mecca. Just go.

Manny and Merle (Louisville, KY)

A self proclaimed "honky tonk" located in the shadow of the "Yum! Center" in downtown Louisville. Manny and Merle is the Louisville venue for local country music talent. A small tex-mex/southern menu, a bourbon/tequila hybrid focus, and a nice mixture of domestic, foreign, and craft beer options make for an interestingly focused, yet eclectic concept that has a little something for everyone.

Although small, the menu really makes every item count. The hot chicken is good, and one of the only places in Louisville you can find the dish. For $5.50 you get a breast and a wing; basically a steal.

The nachos are one of my favorite appetizers in Louisville. Any of the street tacos are really good. I haven't tried the wings, but the consensus is that they're excellent. The burgers are the only thing a little subpar, but may be because the cheeseburger competition has set the bar so high in Louisville.

Why go?

Great spot for Happy hour. A night out with the guys. Listen to excellent, local country music talent. A low key night out with the wife/girlfriend. A late night bite on non-music nights. This space is full of single ladies on live music nights (Thurs - Sat), making it a prime downtown spot for a single guy. Unfortunately that also means the "bro factor" is a little high during those times for my tastes. For dating, definitely choose a different location; unless the date really, really likes live country music.