Eclectic Avenue
Connect:
  • Home
  • About
  • Read

THE BIG EASY

5/3/2016

Comments

 
Picture
​Before last weekend, I had never seen New Orleans, but I had definitely heard it. I didn’t realize until I was on my way there how much music is truly influenced by the NOLA culture. It’s the birthplace of Jazz and Blues. A place where anyone with brass had the power to make people dance in the streets, and dancing is a must when you’re in New Orleans. 
On the road trip down, with nothing but Jazz Fest on the brain, Brittany and I had a blast coming up with tracks to add to this playlist and getting in the right mindset for the perfect weekend celebrating our favorite things - music and culture! Here are my thoughts on my favorite tracks from this fine mixtape.

THE CHAIN - FLEETWOOD MAC

That kick pedal is just addictive, and the gypsy soulful lyrics just make me picture a big dock party in the middle of a bayou swamp. Plus that banjo, I just can’t get over how powerfully deep this song hits me. Especially once that bass solo comes in and the tempo picks up, I lose myself in it. Damn you loved, damn you lied. Rock on Stevie girl.

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN - THE ANIMALS

The organ in this song is just so catchy, and the Animals really don’t hold back on this one. That classic raspy voice, along with the lyrics just make you feel like you’re in the Big Easy, or at the very least a house in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS - KID ROCK

Okay, it was purely ironic that Brittany and I had just seen Kid Rock at the 420 Fest and he has a song called New Orleans. The song picks up and all you need is that saxophone-piano-harmonic mixture to get you grooving. This one shouldn’t be overlooked, because it really captures everything about the road trip. "Burning through Mississippi with the Big Easy on my mind!" 

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL - THE CARS

This slow and steady jam has such a simply put message; let the good times roll! It can’t be put better than that, unless you say it in French which is what the locals in NOLA like to do. So, for the sake of blending in, next time you’re on Bourbon Street give someone a big “laissez les bon temps roulez” and they’ll probably buy you a drink. 

S.O.B - NATHANIEL RATELIFF

Mmmm, that clapping down-country big band kind of sound just makes me think ‘hot damn, Louisiana!’ Get me a drink and a dance floor, pronto. This song just felt like it belonged on the list, and if you haven’t heard it yet you’ll be hooked by the first note.

SWEET JANE - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

​I love Lou Reed’s classic voice and it just seems to fit in so perfectly when it comes to this playlist. And those soft ‘oOoOoh’s make you drift off into a relaxed state of mind.
This was easily the lengthiest mixtape I've published here yet, so picking out just six songs really doesn't feel like enough! I guess you'll just have to listen to it to see what other great hits are hidden along the way - and maybe grab yourself some jambalaya and make a party out of it!
Picture

RELATED POSTS

Picture
Picture
Picture
Comments

GATE CITY BREWING

5/2/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Wanna know what’s great about Gate City Brewing? It just opened in Downtown Roswell a couple of months ago, and it’s only a few miles from my house. A brewery in my own backyard? I had to go check it out, and what better way to explore new places than to bring a couple friends along?
For a little backstory, Gate City was founded in 2013 and named after Atlanta’s historical title “Gate City of the New South.” I love how connected this brewery is to the heart and soul of the city, and the phoenix in the logo is a perfect reminder of how Gate City’s beers aim to capture the spirit and opportunity that my hometown is all about.
Back to the beautiful Saturday afternoon, we strolled up to the huge open garage door and wandered inside. The parking lot was full of picnic tables and groups of people deep in conversations. As we waited to get our first round, we listened to some live music (oh yes, my kind of place!). There was an acoustic twangy sounding band called Crooked Wit playing some tunes that perfectly complimented the sunshine an light breeze. It couldn’t have felt like a lovelier day, and we hadn’t even tried the beer yet.
And man, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to go for (I guess that’s why they give you six tickets!). I landed on the 'Mosaic’n Me Crazy,’ honestly because the name sounded so fun. But the beer was delicious too! It’s a pale ale, and I remember it being much lighter and less bitter than the only other Mosaic I’ve had (Terrapin’s version, I wasn’t a fan of it). But both of them were distinctly smooth, and I really enjoyed this lighter session-style Mosaic. 
Picture
The rounds get a little fuzzy after this point, but I know I tried everything on the list at least once. I loved the 1864 IPA, it was so flavorful and bold compared to most of the IPAs around. It’s an American IPA that’s built to be a crowd pleaser, whether you’re new to the craft beer scene or are considered a veteran. Another one that stuck out to me was the 20 Grand, it’s a cream ale that has a tasty hint of something (vanilla, maybe?), and I drank every drop of it.

Perfection is literary conversations and craft brews. @gatecitybrewing

A photo posted by RJ (@beccajune12) on Apr 2, 2016 at 2:35pm PDT

It felt like we ran out of tickets rather quickly, but I think that’s just because we were enjoying ourselves so much. And all of the beers are so tasty that they don’t sit in your glass for long.
We didn’t get to take a full tour, but we jumped on the tail end of one. Pat, one of the founders, was kind enough to give us some extra time. I learned that they are in the process of building a larger tasting room below the brewery, and it sounds like it’s going to be the coolest space ever. There will supposedly be a sneaky entrance from one of the back alleys on Canton Street (old-style beer cellar sounds about right!). I can’t wait to watch the brewery grow. It has potential to gain a hell of a lot of attention. 
Gate City has already carved out a special place in my heart and I’ll definitely be going back soon to keep trying their new selections. Tours are held on Fridays (5-9pm) and Saturdays (1-8pm), if you’re in the area you gotta go check this place out. Tell me what my next brewery adventure should be in the comments below! 
Picture

RELATED POSTS

Picture
Picture
Picture
Comments

101 IN 1001 - UPDATE #12

5/1/2016

Comments

 
Picture
I’m rather impressed with myself for the way I spent April. I think I maximized the amount of fun that I could handle/afford, and I managed to go on a more adventures than I can count. I’ve been feeling insanely restless (beyond my normal amount, if it were possible) and I don’t know what I’m searching for. But in the process, I’m checking off a ton of goals, so it must count for something!
I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I started this challenge. I’m over 1/3 of the way there, but have only 16/101 goals completed. That’s a red flag to me, and it sounds like I’m going to have to reevaluate my methods. I’ve just been kind of aimlessly checking things off instead of making diligent effort towards certain goals (ahem, fitness). You’ve gotta keep yourself in check, because who else is going to? Let’s see what I did and where I went during the month of April.
Completed will be bolded. In Progress will be italicized. Incomplete items will stay normal.
Start date: May 15, 2015
End date: February 9, 2018
{16 COMPLETE, 85 TO GO}
6. Do at least 20 random acts of kindness. {10/20}
8. 
Have a conversation with 20 strangers {26/20}
36. 
Visit 3 new states. {2/3} Texas, Louisiana
37. 
Take an unplanned, spur-of-the-moment trip.
41. 
Put $10 in savings for every goal I cross off this list. {$160/$1,010}
45. Go to two new music festivals. {6/2} Euphoria [4.9.16], SweetWater 420 Festival [4.22.16], JazzFest [4.24.16]
46. 
Go to at least 10 concerts. {9/10} Zomboy [4.1.16]
47. Try 15 new restaurants. {16/15} Table & Main [4.2.16], Ladybird [4.6.16], The Highlander [4.15.16], Deanie’s [4.23.16]
48. Visit 3 new breweries. {5/3} Gate City Brewing [4.2.16]
79. Publish 100 posts on my blog. {59/100} 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59
READ THE FULL LIST
I remember being so ready for all the excitement of April and of course, it disappeared right out from under me again. I definitely feel like I maximized my time, though. Its strange to look back on the last 30 days and realize how restless I’ve been.
​
I met sooooo many new people this month, and I can't tell you how great it feels to come across so many beautiful inspiring souls. That's partly a result of all the traveling I've done this month. I come across the most interesting people when I least expect it.
​
I started off April with a kick ass night seeing Zomboy in Atlanta. He brought the heat to Opera, that's for sure. I got to hear everything off of his latest release Neon Grave, and I especially loved that he had his own Snapchat geofilter to hype the tour.
​

I warned y'all that April was going to be full of live music, but I didn't know quite how much it would inspire and impact me. I also didn't anticipate seeing Bassnectar this month, but it was a type of energy I needed to be infused with more than anything. 

Last night was so incredible. @Zomboy for kept the crowd hype nonstop □□ pic.twitter.com/Nqvhi7LcDZ

— RJ✨Bonnaroo (@BeccaJune12) April 3, 2016
Picture
The next day I woke up and impulsively threw myself into a road trip to go see Bassnectar in Austin, TX. Six days before the show, I jumped on a last minute opportunity to drive through the night with a couple of friends to see our favorite artist. 
You'll have to read my full post, On The Road Together to get a real taste of the experience! And, while you're at it, read Euphoria Found, my recap of Bassnectar's set and the message that it hit me with.
I crossed off another goal and began progress on my goal to visit three new states. Texas was pretty great, but I think I want to go back soon to get a better idea of what Austin is like!
Another exciting event that happened in April was Beer & Comedy Night's 5 year anniversary show. I've been a huge fan of this local Atlanta event, and it's gotten to the point where I rarely miss a show. 
I saw the anniversary show as the perfect opportunity to interview the hosts, Joe Pettis and Jeremy Mesi. They gladly agreed, and my post 5 Years of Beer & Comedy is one of the best I've done yet. Be sure to check it out!
As if I wasn't getting enough comedy, I also wen to a handful of 8-Bit Comedy Nights, another show hosted by Joe. It's every other Wednesday at Joystick Gamebar, and it's got the greatest nerdy vibes. Free comedy and 25 cent arcade games, I highly recommend it!

Tomorrow is the five year anniversary of @beerandcomedy @sweetwaterbrew and @EclecticAve gave us a great write-up: https://t.co/pJi8GO8Z1F

— Joe Pettis (@joepettis) April 11, 2016

Gypsy soul = rocked □□ thank you @ChiliPeppers ❤️ pic.twitter.com/89ZdW6X2Vx

— RJ✨Bonnaroo (@BeccaJune12) April 25, 2016
Not long after that, I was already off to Louisiana for Jazz Fest, but not before hitting the annual SweetWater 420 Fest in Atlanta. Music, music and more music! Seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the first time was life-changing and I'm so excited for their new album to come out in June! Read Black Bandana, Sweet Louisiana and see for yourself what a great time New Orleans was.

Ah the @420fest was amazing. @joepettis is hosting the comedy tent all weekend, make sure you drop in!

A photo posted by RJ (@beccajune12) on Apr 23, 2016 at 5:30am PDT

I could go on and on about all of the place I went in April and how much I loved each and every experience, but instead I hope to inspire you to go out and live your own! Check out a place you've never gone before, even in your own town. Strike up a conversation with a person you find interesting. Go forth and be friendly, kind, curious and excited about the world around you. Until then, I'll be doing the same.
Picture

RELATED POSTS

Picture
Picture
Picture
Comments
    Picture
    Picture
    Writer, stargazer, believer in human beings. Die-hard rock and roller with an insatiable urge to dance my way through life. 
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by @EclecticAve
    Picture

    ARCHIVES

    December 2020
    October 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    CATEGORIES

    All
    101 In 1001
    Atlanta
    Interviews
    Mixtapes
    Music

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.