#maybe it was about brian sella

[k-kha0tic]

the vibes at the front bottoms concert were crazy (i was at the st louis concert)

talking to a couple people while waiting outside and them mentioning that they lowkey couldn't believe that my dad introduced me to tfb at the ripe age of like 5 and i was raised on tfb

people almost fighting before the concert even started

i got an achievement on my tamagotchi for almost killing it and getting the ambulance called

people smoking (both vaping and weed)

crowdsurfers

the girl in front of me (so literally right on the barricade) on her phone texting someone on snapchat about how she wasn't enjoying the opener (maybe u would enjoy it if u weren't on snapchat...)

seeing brian sella in socks struggling to put on a boxing glove while singing and playing guitar and proceeding to punch a shitty blow up thing and proceeding to just drink beer on stage instead of the 2 water bottles that were right there (immaculate vibes)

me throwing up in the pit (my back hurt!!!!)

[briteboy]

Chubby

who? ramona? yes

[thepurplecatdork]

I still can't wrap my head around how far these guys have come. The first time I saw them was at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids MI in October 2012, and I fell in love so hard I ended up going to the next show with my ex after we broke up because he bought the tickets and there was no way in hell I was giving mine away. That one was at the Crofoot in Pontiac and it was iconic. I lived for these tiny shows. I've seen them maybe 7 or 8 more times since then, each crowd bigger than the last. Watching them grow is bittersweet because I would have been happy if they'd remade their self titled 3 or 4 more times. I try not feel alienated by the new stuff but that's another conversation.

I've talked to @blatantartist a lot about this, but in Michigan, TFB were cherished by a small number of die-hard fans you would see at every show. We would push each other around, get super sweaty, have screaming contests, pass around water that mostly ended up getting poured over grateful heads. It was..well, so punk.

Maybe it's partly because they're a bit more mainstream now, but here in Tennessee, it's just...different. There's no moshing, no crowdsurfing, barely any dancing and the first time I saw them here (at Cannery earlier this year) I didn't think I fit at all. But I think this show at the Ryman on 11/25 kind of made that seem like it was in my head. Tennessee fans love TFB just the same, but they're a little quieter about it. Maybe it's the southern charm? But they still know all the words, they still have a love for the music and the message, so I guess I can live with that.

Also I got to see TFB play the fucking Ryman and that is just really hard to beat.

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

May I have fluff headcanons for the dads from dream daddy with the dadsona?

Got ya!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

☕ Mat Sella 🎶

- These two go to concerts whenever money isn't tight

- Whenever Dadsona is down Mat would sing to him while holding him and sometimes this would lead to awkward slow dancing in the room they're in. Yes, even the bathroom

- Whenever Mat's anxiety gets too much or is down Dadsona does whatever he could to make him feel better. Favorite music? Done. Awesome dishes made by your's truly? Perfect! Pot? Pffft, nothing stops Dadsona to make this man feel better

- Dadsona and him do duets during Open Mic, stuff like Monster by Dodie to Falling Slowly

- Writing random songs is a favorite between the two cause they can simply goof-off yet somehow make a bomb song

🎣 Brian Harding 🎣

- Fishing. Lots of it

- They watch a lot house flipping shows

- I feel Brian would try and convince him to grow a beard

- Pokemon nicknames

- The two knows each of their family recipes by heart

- Brian's a cuddle bear

🍆 Robert Small 🍺

- Wanna bet if a bar has a karaoke part they'd be there singing random songs

- Hear about haunted locations they're down to spend about a weekend to hang out

- With that they have several saving jars for their top haunted or spooky places

- "Best At Hide And Seek" Big Foot shirts and "I've seen the Moth Man" shirts is just one of many gifts

- Dadsona has helped Robert with his drinking and self loathing when they officially started dating

- Dadsona has full on bought/made Robert a Mothman plush that smells like jasmine or lavender and Robert nuzzles it whenever he's stressed and away from Dadsona

🦇 Damien Bloodmarch 🥀

- Dadsona braids his hair sometimes

- As mentioned in the Damien, Lucien, and Dadsona post yesterday the two attend the gardens a lot and both help at the shelter

- Dadsona draws Damien a lot (The Dadsona I made was very much a artist and writer)

- Goth poem reading nights are the two favorite dates that isn't a hauntingly beautiful candle lit dinner with deep red wine

- Damien gives Dadsona soft kisses against his neck lace while Dadsona gives his fingers and knuckles smooches back

- Any form of Victorian and/or Gothic movie/documentary the two HAVE to watch it right away and a few times after

- They often use the vows from Corpse Bride whenever they're extra flirty

��‍♂️ Craig Cahn 🏕️

- Craig and Dadsona go to the bating cages after or without drinking some alcohol

- I see them going on beautiful hikes and visits of the zoo

- In one or two dates they went to their college town and go on dream dates the two weren't able to do since they were dating others

- You know those scenes in romance movies where the two lovers break into a closed pool and have a fun time maybe sipping some beers or drinks while they splash around and maybe kiss? They've that for sure. Maybe even at that water fall

- They at times dare each other in a goofy and/or flirty way like "I bet you can't kiss me without fainting bro" or "Bro, bet I can't bench you?"

📚 Hugo Vega 📖

- Dadsona and him kisses once or twice in the museum or bookstore

- Dadsona cried during Les Miserable and Hugo comforted his ugly crying mess

- Dadsona helps Hugo with grading sometimes

- He chaperone field trips and dances a lot

- These two watch a lot of historian documentary

- Hugo often recommends Dadsona some books whenever they're just alone or a day before a date

- It's thanks to Hugo that Dadsona now owns a lovely Dead Poet Society type suit and sometimes call him "Oh Captain, my captain."

🛥️ Joseph Christansen ✝️

- Dadsona was there to help him through every step of him and Mary's divorce and the three all remained pretty good friends after the finalization

- During one yacht trip they copied the scene from Titanic

- Scratch that, a lot of scenes from Titanic

- They both do Church and/or Youth related bake sales a lot

- Due to the obvious stuff, Joseph had a while to come out of his divorce and new relationship, but Dadsona was there to help him through it yet again and that alone gave Joseph a lot of courage to hold his hand after every sermon

- Whenever the church gets a homophobic/transphobic/biphobic/panphobic/acephobic person or rumor Joseph and Dadsona will go out of their way being cute with each other and loving to their kids

- I like to think after the divorce Dadsona helped Mary find a wonderful person

- Joseph kisses Dadsona's temples and the center of his palms while Dadsona kisses the bridge of his nose and behind his shoulder and/or his tattoo area whenever they don't kiss on the lips

ALL THE DADS

- Whenever Dadsona is sad or lonely they all cuddle him with each bringing stuff to make him feel better, examples being cookies from Joseph and Damien's warmed coat etc.

- They all have a special plan with dates from either certain days or different moments of one day

[aftonfamilyvalues]

rate my blorbo brian sella from the front bottoms :)

more like brian sella-bit. get it? like celibate? hm. honestly, he just looks like some guy. but maybe the some guy who bothers you at the local cafe about his indie band and talks about how great his college experience was while youre just trying to enjoy your lunch break though. 5/10

[euaxel]

heyyy, eonia. i’m reid, i’m twenty-three, still can’t read, and all i know about pjo is that it fucking rocks and the protag has the same learning disabilities that i do! also, i picked hypnos for this punk mainly to be mean to him and because in the hades game hypnos bullies me every time i die and i’m kiiiinda into it. hmu on discord one on one for the best plotting experience, but i’ll be around plenty to bug y’all in the gc too. you can read about bastard boy number one right here and under the cut we’ll get down to business. 

⟨ ELLIOT FLETCHER. TRANS MALE. HE/HIM. ⟩ though the mist might prevent some from seeing it, AXEL EVERETT is actually a descendent of H Y P N O S. it’s still a question of whether or not the TWENTY-TWO year old VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT & COMBAT TACTICS MAJOR from BROOKLYN, USA has taken after their godly parent completely, but the demigod is still known to be quite WITTY & SELF-DEPRICATING.

be advised, axel’s a pretty heavy character.  i’m gonna keep it brief for the bio & need-to-knows, tag around the parts with bold applicable triggers so you can skip around as needed, and tag this post accordingly, but just let me know if i miss anything and i’ll fix it & be safe reading. godspeed and i apologize in advance for bringing you all my personal punching bag as my first muse. 

the main triggers that are gonna come up are: parental abuse, alcoholism * major, mentions of bullying, drowning * major, religious trauma, and drug abuse with some harder drugs ( particularly, weed, pills and cocaine / nothing with needles. )

general stats. 

— full name ,  axel harley everett.  — nicknames/alias ,  axe, ax, wolverine jr, tyler durden jr, trouble, Who? - every professor he’s ever had. — house,  hypnos and mad about it.  — age, 22, as of today. also mad about it.  — gender,  trans male.    — pronouns,  he/him.  — sexual orientation, bisexual with a somewhat heavy masc lean.  — d.o.b, january 1st, 1999. ( generally unknown to anyone but maybe siblings, he will probably lie and say Nobody Knows... I Just Am unless he really fucks with you. ) — hometown,

phys. 

— height,  5′0ft even. furious about it. — eyes,  brown. — hair, brown.  — face claim, elliot fletcher.

misc.

— zodiac,  capricorn. — alignment,  chaotic good. — character inspo,  lip gallagher, steve rogers ( young ), ellie from tlou1, logan howlett, stiles stilinski ( if anyone says shit i will scream ), probably someone from euphoria but i’m too scared to watch that, peter parker ( andrew garfield ), shinsou hitoshi, finn mertens, marceline the vampire queen, dipper pines, this is all over the place but it’s there.  — most played spotify songs, passion for publication by anarbor, sober haha jk unless by hospital bracelet, nobody by mitski, class of 2013 by mitski, king princess’ cover of monster from adventure time, way too much phoebe bridgers, in love or whatever by future teens, and the entire front bottoms discography but especially in sickness & in flames with the hard way & bus beat well at the top of his loop.  — aesthetics,   bloody knuckles, left open and tipped over prescription bottles, walking on the carpet with socks to get that tingly feeling, skateboarding inside, dozing off at the bar, tangled legs in messy sheets, ten pillows on a twin sized mattress, laying down in the shower, brian sella’s cracky singing voice. 

bio. 

— axel was born and raised in brooklyn, new york, and he was claimed at thirteen, on his thirteenth birthday, by hypnos. — the day he was claimed, axel ceased contact with his human mother and his step-dad, and he attended a camp for half-bloods that wasn’t far from home. he spent his adolescence there year round for safety from monsters at home and abroad, then moved on to eonia.  — ( parental abuse tw, drowning tw begin ) i don’t want to be too graphic here so i’m going to plainly say that axel’s mother was a very, very bad person, and the man she married was absent at his best, physically abusive at worst. axel’s powers (  hypnokinesis, namely )  were potent and difficult to control at a young age, and as a deeply religious catholic woman, this scared his mother and influenced most of the animosity in their relationship. she was convinced that the defensive visions he created and his ability to put her to sleep ( an attempt to help her, on his end; insomnia plagued her and later, it would him, too ) were of demonic origin, and tried to drown him more than once; cleansing, she claimed. the worst instance was the day he was claimed, actually — new years day, 2012; his life was saved by hypnos, and that was the last he saw of her.   ( parental abuse tw, drowning tw end. )  —  that said, he’s a little ( very ) hydrophobic. poseidon kids do NOT fucking interact ( i’m kidding. kind of. he Will avoid a little though ) —  anyway! moving on. all of this aside, axel did his best to put his past behind him, and he was actually super stoked to learn that his powers came from somewhere good and that there was places out there for kids like him; to learn he wasn’t any kind of monster. ( still working on believing that, though.. marcelines monster.mp3 right here )  — he’s less stoked when he starts having trouble falling asleep, and really, it feels like a more cruel twist than any other fate has thrown at him ( his upbringing was chock full of mean twists, so that’s saying something ); and really, it’s more like insomnia just full on kicks in, but he can put other people to sleep. great, right? whatever, though — combat classes are kickass and he’s surrounded by babes that think he’s hilarious so things could be totally, way worse.  — ( bullying tw (brief) ) for the most part, axel was pretty well liked among his peers. he was bullied as a young kid (pre-claim), but he bit back and he bit back hard, and sure, some of that followed him into his teen years but he’s more confident by then; less fun to poke at, and absolutely unhinged when provoked, so people learn better of it. the only real lasting effect was one instant that hit him a little too deep in the inferiority, when he was seventeen — he fell in love with a girl, told her that, and found himself at the end of a very mean spirited prank. he shook it off like he did anything else, or at least — he told himself he did, even if the hurt hit him somewhere a little too deep rooted ( ie. being god’s most unlovable son would naturally land him here, right? ) love’s kinda stupid anyways, so what the hell, right?  (bullying tw end.)

— ( alcoholism tw, drug use tw begin ) this is already obscenely long so i’m just going to keep it to the point here and say he began drinking when he was sneaking booze in to camp at fifteen, and it just never stopped there. he’s also a massive stoner, which is all well, harmless and good for the most part; he’s always grinning, half-lidded, and has a room full of smoke at any given time. it’s the pills that do him in, and he did them at first just so he could get some shut eye, and... well. after that, because he’s dependent on them. but he keeps this part under wraps for the most part; it doesn’t have to be anyone’s problem but his, and it’s not a problem until it is one. partying’s fun, so is coke; so is taking a few too many xan’s, mdma.   ( alcoholism tw, drug use tw end )

FUN FACTS!!! 

— i swear he is not as doom and gloom as he sounds from the bio, and yeah, writing that made me so sad i feel like we absolutely must hone in on the fun and cute things about him!?!  — he loves dnd. he can talk about it for HOURS and if you let him, he absolutely will. — adventure time makes him cry. he’s a baby don’t let him fool you.  — very into cryptids, aliens, horror stories, conspiracy theories, in love with ryan from watcher, wanna be shane medej.  — he loves to draw! the one thing he loves about his power is what it’s done for his imagination, and sure, he mostly draws horror things, but it’s why he went into video game development. he wants to be a concept artist.  — his double major is in combat tactics because he loves fighting. he thinks it’s so fun. he’s a little nuts, actually — i mean, get hit in the face and come up grinning. all he’s ever wanted is to run a fight club and be the shortest, baddest little bitch on the planet.  — he tends to nod off in weird places because he doesn’t sleep enough at night, which is sad, but; he can seriously fall asleep anywhere. standing up, in a tree, you name it.  — he’s a hobby musician! he loves singing and playing guitar.  — he’s a huge flirt.  — loves to scare people. he’s harmless, though. like, honestly. he might make you think you’re seeing a walking toadstool but he’ll probably apologize later.  — he’s very much a singing in the shower type?  — clothes thief. friends and significant others beware.  — actually, just kind of a thief? but of weird, little things. like, just the left shoe. puts them in a little corner in his room that he has set up like an exhibit. “things you thought you lost lol” is written on the whiteboard on the wall above it. he likes collecting rocks too. he’s a little freak!!  — he’s better at the memory retrieval part of his power than the rest. naturally, as this mostly applies for other people. 

WANTED CONNECTIONS. im literally so tired of hearing myself talk... 

friends/squad. self explanatory!!!  he’s friendly, a class clown, and a loyal friend through and through; he’s also adaptable, and his demeanor is very relaxed and inviting. he’s probably gonna have 2-3 people that he’s really close with, and he’d do quite literally anything for them. seriously, don’t tempt him.  a best friend.  so this is kind of vague but. i’d really love for him to have one person that is just a tier above the rest? they’d know things about him that are like pulling teeth to find out ( aka, anything deeper than his most recommended podcasts and loudmouth opinions on non important things ), someone who will call him on his shit, and maybe take care of his stupid little self when he gets too fucked up, because they’d be someone he trusts enough to let them.   enemies?    he probably gets along with most people until given a reason not to? but he is a loud mouth and if one of his friends gets into drama, he will stick his nose where it doesn’t belong and he will throw hands, so it could happen.

harmless rivalries. maybe even steamy ones. he’s a little shit and he likes banter so, so, so much? if given the opportunity and if someone rubs him a certain type of way, he’s so not above being a menace, although never super maliciously. just, you know, annoying the shit out of them on purpose, for fun. he’s also not above blowing a few kisses their way.

current hookups. self explanatory too. he’s a little harlot. HFBHVFNJ. it’s gonna be kinda hard to go beyond sex with him because he’s very deep in his own insecurity but he does catch feelings, he’s just mad about it when he does. i’m mostly gonna go off chem for that though! an ex. could be on friendly terms? but, it should be noted that he could’ve ghosted someone too; or pulled from the relationship when things got serious and he couldn’t choke out that ‘i love you’, even if he felt it. worse, if he did choke it out, but they didn’t feel the same way.  siblings. hypnos kids he is gonna be so protective of all of u... family is hard for axel, i’m ngl, but he really wants one is the tragedy of it all, i guess? so he just really wants to be a good brother. he thinks hypnos is kind of a dick for making him but he tries not to fault him for his existence. fuck u dad i dont wanna be alive feels a little unfair. HDBHFDSJ. anyways he’s a good brother even if he is absolutely so reckless and terrifying in regards to himself but his siblings. his siblings he will do anything for. ALSO!!! FOUND FAMILY!!!! it would be kinda nice if he bonded with someone a little older maybe, could be outside of the hypnos house even, someone he’s kind of a bratty-little-brother type with.... or bratty older brother that takes your things and makes you laugh, y’know. 

PERSONALITY.  just tacking this part of the app on at the end too to highlight parts that i think are important for understanding who he is, and just so it’s all in one place!

toothy grins, half-lidded eyes, and keepin’ them laughing is what it’s all about, baby. axel walks with more confidence in his posture than he’s earned ( or claimed, for that matter ), and it’s the backbone of what gets him by. he’s a glowing example of the fake it ‘til you make it mentality, and he knows what he wants, usually how to get it, and doesn’t mind letting you know that. there’s an ever present mischievous glint in his eyes that says more about what to expect from him than he does, and that’s still not much? he likes to have fun, and there isn’t a whole lot of regard for righteousness or responsibility on his end, but hey! it’s usually only ever at his own expense, so what’s the damage? he’s an absolute clown and he knows it.

axel loves people. he does — you might not guess that with how elusive he is, but it’s true. there’s nothing he likes more than a good conversation with someone interesting, or maybe not even then; if there’s a sparkle in you, he’ll see it. ( might even draw it, not that you’d ever know. ) he’s warm, loyal, compassionate, relaxed, and understanding; and none of that is at the cost of being passive, or lacking passion. 

as long as the vibes are right, he’s happy to just be; though, he’s known to have a fuse for certain provocations, and will jump readily at chance to fight in someone else’s honor. also, it’s not unlike him to spar for the sake of sparring; but that’s all in good fun, no worries.

there’s no way to sugarcoat it — axel has an inferiority complex. where that stems from is something he’s more self-aware of than he’s willing to admit, but he doesn’t have the patience or the will to dissect it; much less do anything about it, and he’s as bull-headed as they come — especially regarding anything related to the psyche. how much this impacts his demeanor and relationships with others varies on the situation, but one constant is that he’s going to retreat before things get bad; even if ‘things are getting bad’ exists only as his own paranoia-born hypothetical.

things can’t go bad if you don’t let them, and he’s content to keep it that way; even if it means being stuck in the stasis of missed opportunities. it’s when he’s retreating into himself that he can get irritable, anxious, jumpy; secretive, defensive, even. he’s personable until he isn’t, essentially.

[heartxshaped-bruises]

SENSES AND OTHER ODDLY SPECIFIC HEADCANONS

TAGGED BY: @vitrexanima  (( thank you, love <3 )) TAGGING: @x-brokencrowns  @alxnetxgether  @exs-et-ohs  @down-in-dixie  @brokenblondeprincess  @stelledicartone  @ask-thedepressedkidatthetable  @yourlovingspy  @xdaughter-of-bloodyfacex​

1. what does your muse smell like?

He smells like boy. I don’t know how to break that down the right way. He has a distinctive hint of matches about him, you know, that specific smell when you light them up but it’s very fleeting. He spends a lot of his time outside what kinda neutralizes a lot, unless he was at a fast food place or somewhere else, if he smoked - there really isn’t a very special smell about him. Maybe second hand clothing? Some clothing does have a “worn” scent to it in some way, if you can relate.

2. what does your muse’s hands feel like?

Bony, a little sweaty, large - too large compared to the rest of his arm.

3. what does your muse usually eat in a day?

Davey doesn’t know yet how much he needs food since he’s already dead. He’s hungry, yes, but he has no idea if he could go without food if he’d give it a try. But generally, he eats very unhealthy stuff because he barely has money. He’d snatch Twinkies or other smaller snacks from a shop to stuff his face for breakfast; lunch would be a sandwich he’d buy somewhere - with some lettuce because, healthy - and he often skips dinner. If he eats something it’s nachos or another salty snack that doesn’t cost much. It’s sad, really. But sometimes he gets to order a vanilla milkshake, he really likes those.

4. does your muse have a good singing voice?

I’ll put it that way: Either you like his voice or not, it needs to get used to. He’s not hugely talented but some may find appeal in it. I’m thinking of Brian Sella and Pat The Bunny as very good references what he sounds like.

5. does your muse have any bad habits or nervous ticks?

He fiddles a lot with his sleeves nowadays. In school it had more been a shaky leg, though.

6. what does your muse usually look like/wear?

The whole set would be old jeans, blue, bleached out and dirty with dust and earth; the ends are shredded and a little ripped. He usually wears a plain shirt, either black, white or khaki with a hoodie jacket over it. When it’s cold outside he also likes to wear a beanie and especially fingerless gloves.

7. is your muse affectionate? how much? how so?

Oh, he is very affectionate right from the start and sadly, can come off as pushy in the worst case. He doesn’t mean any harm but is very quick to touch people. Patting their shoulder, holding on to their arms, bumping... that and little smiles are very distinctive ways for him to show his affection.

8. what position does your muse sleep in?

A very curled up fetus position. His knees would almost touch his chin, arms hugging the pillow or tightly clutched to his chest, depending on where he sleeps - on a playground in the slide, under the stairs in his old house... he needs to feel save.

9. could you hear your muse in the hallway from another room?

Sometimes? Simply because Davey’s a little clumsy and would drop stuff accidentally. When he’d play drums, ofc you’d hear him, but since he was very good at sneaking out at night when he was still alive, he’s probably quite good at being quiet.

[biansella]

This December, Bergen County natives The Front Bottoms will be throwing their annual ‘Champagne Jam’ in Asbury Park’s historic Convention Hall for the fifth year in a row after a successful co-headlining tour with beloved indie band Manchester Orchestra. The Front Bottoms are a band that just won’t stop from their humble D.I.Y. beginning on Bar/None Records to their cult-icon status on Fueled By Ramen. Their last major release was the Ann EP, the second in their grandmother series, which sparked a tour where they would play both the EP and Going Greyfront-to-back.

 This tour, they’re taking things even looser with an entire bar setup on stage and more crowd interaction than thought possible for a band that signed to a major label. I got the chance to catch up with lead singer Brian Sella and talk about new beginnings, the artistic process and what home means to him.

How are you liking tour so far?

 So far, so good, you know? All the shows so far have been pretty fantastic, so it’s been a nice feeling…To be able to come out here and, you know, play the music, and it’s like, “Oh, wow, people are rockin’, rollin’ and having a good time.” So, it’s really incredible.

You guys are originally from New Jersey. I am too, so I know it must be nice to get away from it for a bit, right?

 [Laughs] Yeah you know it. Jersey is a nice place to come home to. A nice place to leave, a nice place to come home to.

Lots of great bands and musicians are from New Jersey, like Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, My Chemical Romance and The Misfits. What do you think it is about New Jersey that inspires great art?

 Well, really, I’m not sure. I think it’s probably the tone or the atmosphere of it all. It’s just kind of, like, you could live close to Manhattan, but you don’t live in the city. You live close to Philadelphia, but you’re not from Pennsylvania. You could go to the beach, it’s on the coastline. You could also shoot up to Boston. I think the fact that there’s access to so many different styles makes its own style. I think that’s kind of why so many people from Jersey end up being total freakin’ nutjobs. [Laughs] Just kidding.

Your music seems to be heading towards a more polished, pop sound with each release. Was this the goal of your art from the beginning, but you now have the skills and label power to complete it?

 I think the goal from the beginning was to just play shows. My life for the past eight to 10 years has been going on tour and playing shows every single day for months at a time, going to a different city and playing in front of different people. And the recording process for me? That lasts, like, two weeks. That’s such a quick blip in terms of the artistic experience. So I would never say that that was a goal to make the recording sounds the way that they sound. It was just part of the discovery of the art. I was just trying my best, and when all of a sudden you’re in a room with amazing equipment, and your friends are there and all the time it’s like, “Let’s try to make this sound a little bit better.”

 But really the process for me is just one of discovery. It’s not like a projected path, I’m not thinking, “Oh, when I was playing a basement in New Jersey,” or “Oh, I wish this sounded like a Katy Perry song.” Each day happens and it unfolds and you roll with the punches. I think the most important thing is hindsight and looking back and saying, “Okay, that happened. So what did I like? What don’t I like? What do I want to change?” And really every single step and every single part of the process is you just figuring it out.

 So, I don’t know the next album in terms of the discovery of myself through the art. It might be a country album or a D.I.Y.-sorta basement style recording. I can just kind of discover [myself] through the music and everybody can listen to it.

 To answer your question, it definitely wasn’t a plan to have things turn out this way. I feel like that’s why things happened so positively; because it was never a plan. Everything was awesome and any little experience or accomplishment was the biggest thing that had ever happened to us, even if it was just a tiny, little thing. We just kinda roll with the punches all the way through. I think it would be unfair to give myself the credit of saying this was all a plan.

You kind of built your way up from the bottom — you played D.I.Y. shows and you and the audience were on a peer level where you could have a beer with all eight members of your early shows. Now, you’re selling out large venues and people are tattooing your face on their body. How does it feel like to have gained a cult following?

 [Laughs] It’s strange, it’s a strange world. I think that’s part of the whole thing that we were saying — there was no plan, you kinda let the audience decide the plan. That’s why I always take requests on stage, because I’m not up here for myself, I’m not up here for my plan. This is whatever people want.

 Like, back in the day, when there would be 10 people at the show, I could drink a beer with every single one of these people and a lot of these people got my face tattooed on them. It’s crazy, it’s a weird experience. I’m still so fucking lucky and I just try and stay naive about the whole thing and just excited about every little step.

I think that’s the best way to do it.

 I think so. You can’t plan anything, really, and it’s a bummer, but sometimes it works out. In this particular situation it worked out. It was years of time that I think people would consider it not working out. The six or seven years of time where there was only 10 people coming to the shows. And my family was like, “Okay, what are you doing? You’re still living in the van with Mat…” But for me, I was so happy and so pumped, this was amazing.

 So, I think that naiveté of it all was very important. If I had listened to anybody else talk, I wouldn’t be where I am now. You gotta stay positive and do what you want to do. I know it’s hard to be like, “Oh, just stay positive and everything will work out,” but really that’s kinda what happened. Me and Mat just stayed positive and remembered that we were having fun, and how lucky we were to not have to go work at a landscaping job or at a grocery store or something like that. That was the best feeling in the fucking world. You know, like with your writing it’s the same thing, you write articles and people read them. That’s a form of art. That’s incredible.

Thanks. Yeah, it’s nice for people to see what you produce.

 Exactly! One time this girl was like, “I want to go around the country and read my poetry to people.” And in a very negative way I was like, “That doesn’t exist, that’s not a real thing.” And she said, “That’s what you do.” And it really hit me like, “Oh my gosh, that is what I do.” And it was like this crazy awakening of, yeah, I shouldn’t be telling people, “That doesn’t exist, that doesn’t happen,” because that’s what everybody was saying to me when I was trying to “read my poetry” around the country.

Now that you’ve been signed to Fueled By Ramen, you guys have been able to add more touring members and build a more elaborate stage setup. You, Mat and Tom are familiar faces on tour, but Jennifer, Roshan and Eric are now a part of the ensemble. What made you choose them?

 Basically, Mat. First of all, the people in the band: Roshan, Eric and Jen, are unbelievable musicians. They’re fantastic. They are actual musicians. They are the reason it sounds incredible on stage.

Oh, I agree, it sounds great.

 Thank you very much, that means a lot. It’s an experiment, like I was sayin’, we’re trying to figure it out. It’s all over the place, everyone has their style and we’re just trying to put on a good performance.

 But basically, Rosh[an] is in a bunch of bands, he played keyboard in a band Mat was good friends with. Mat’s girlfriend was somehow involved. I met Ro[shan] at a bar one night, he was playing bass, and he had come highly recommended from Mat. And then Jen was in a band called River City Extension that we have quite a history with. We’ve known those guys a really long time, and I really wanted a violin player, I thought that would add a lot. And then Eric, we met at the studio. He was a studio rat, just always there, and I was making demos and stuff with him and it turns out he’s really incredible at bass. So we had him play bass and moved Tom over to electric guitar. And he loves to play electric guitar, so he was all about that.

 And that’s always how it all comes together. Same with how I met Tom. I met Tom through [former guitarist] Ciaran, eight years ago. He just showed up at my house and Ciaran was like, “This guy plays bass, he’s amazing,” and we heard him play bass and we told him, “Dude, you should be in the band!”. That’s always the way that it’s been. We always try to keep it loosey goosey like that.

Sounds like a good deal. By the way, ‘Champagne Jam’ is taking place where you live: Asbury Park, one of many coastal New Jersey beach towns [like where I’m from]. In your latest single “End of Summer,” and also “Vacation Town” off of Going Grey, you capture the melancholy that comes with the passing of another season. Was that inspired by Asbury [Park]?

 Absolutely inspired by Asbury Park. My girlfriend and I, we’re living there right now, so it’s definitely full circle. I wrote a lot of those songs when I was living there. That vibe of the summer time going into the winter time, it is definitely an energy that inspired those songs, absolutely.

Do you feel like that sort of parallels your life? Like you’re entering a new season, or new chapter?

 Everything is very personal with my art, even if it’s about somebody else. I’m always drawing from my little perspective in there, especially as a songwriter, I gotta do that. I do feel like maybe it is a new chapter. Like I was saying, I’ve been on tour for fuckin’ nine years. Not consistently, but I’ve been hustling for nine years and it’s been a fucking grind for sure. And we have this tour, we do the ‘Champagne Jam’ and then in the new year we’re planning to just write a lot. I’m going to try to write as much as I can.

 So I do think that it’s kind of like a chapter sort of ending and also sort of starting again. You need that refresher for art. You need to go get new inspiration. That’s where I’m at. I’m taking it year-to-year in Asbury, and you know, I like it. You’re always looking for the next thing and this is the first time in my life that I’m like, “Okay, I guess I can just chill”.

[thebadpick]

Summer of TFB

One of the hard things about being a journalist, of any type, is dredging up the past for content. I write about music often and I rarely write about a band or song that isn’t in some way related to my personal life. The other day I wrote an article about the New Brunswick underground music scene in the context of a band I really like, The Front Bottoms. I mentioned them pretty briefly, but I kept coming back to the summer I discovered them. The summer my whole neighborhood discovered them.

They’re a modest band with less than eight hundred thousand followers on Spotify. But in the summer of 2014 they must’ve had less than a quarter that. That was my high school junior year. I was the first dude in my little suburban community to get a car in my class. This was far from a silver spoon situation. It was a 1996 GMC Jimmy that I used to skip school to work forty hour weeks with.

One day my sister steals my aux chord and puts these guys on. I was immediately drawn to front man Brian Sella’s whiny white guy voice and the five minute songs about being young and in love and fighting depression with good vibes. There was one song I played on repeat, Twin Size Mattress.

 Now don’t forget I’m the guy with the car. This song slowly turned into the anthem of the hooligans I hung out with. We’d all get together in my basement and drink (irresponsibly of course) while absolutely screaming “I wanna contribute to the chaos.”

 You dear reader, might be thinking, why the hell do I care about your teenage angst and partying? You should care because these little subcultures pop up everywhere and they have a real impact on the world around you. I’d wager that you too at some point had a crew of friends that was heavily influenced by a song or band. Music is powerful. I did some stupid shit that summer, all in the name of having an excuse to yell anthems of youth.

I went though a breakup and the last thing I said to the girl was “Hey man I love you but no fucking way.” Talk about cringe man.

 Something about that music got us all riled up.

“I'm sure that we could find something for you to do on stage  Maybe shake a tambourine or when I sing, you sing harmonies”

This line was one of a call and response variety. You’d run into someone on the street and say “hey man you got something for me to do on stage?” and they’d say “You could shake a tambourine,” and then laugh together and at times it felt like a little twin language. My sister’s friends weren’t exactly girls I was cool with but say a few lyrics from whatever song and out of nowhere I had a bunch of new friends.

 However, way more things were happening in my neighborhood. Things a lot more permanent than cringey memories. I think the whole craze lasted about two months. It ended really abruptly. The reason for that being a car incident in the local park involving my sister and her best friend. The two had decided it was a good idea to jump into her friend’s mom’s car and do donuts in the field whiled drinking boxed wine.

 My sister got a slap on the wrist but the other girl faced a full blown DUI charge. I must’ve scolded her up and down one hundred times telling her how stupid she was. Part of me felt really responsible and guilty. The crazy thing though is that the cops didn’t get called because of a vehicle incident. The police were dispatched on a noise complaint. The neighborhood hadn’t heard the car making a mess, they had heard two girls screaming song lyrics.

[monokuroo]

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Or at least post-Valentine in my part of the world. I hoped you have a wonderful date with your significant other.

But if you’re like me who’d rather hang out with my 2D husbandos (yes I have a sad layf lol), then let the eligible dads of Dream Daddy be your date!

If you tell me 2 years ago that I’m going to play and love Dream Daddy, I would probably laugh my ass off.

Released in 2017 by Game Grumps, Dream Daddy is a dating sim where you can customize your ‘dadsona’ and as the name suggests, you can date different kinds of dads. There are 7 dads in total but let’s start by making the dadsona who will date these dads.

At the start of the game, you’d be prompted to customize a dad to your liking. Think of it as the simplified version of the Create-A-Sim menu in The Sims.

So here’s my dadsona, Bae Summers.

Isn’t he good-looking? I loved that egg nipz shirt! hehe

Once you meet all the dads, it’s time to date! You have to message them on the game’s version of Facebook, the Dadbook. Each dad has 3 dates that need to be passed. Aim for S or A rank to ensure a good ending.

Or, if you’re like me, you can turn to guides such as these https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1085165969 and https://allgamers.com/article/2932/dream-daddy—guide-to-unlocking-all-dad-endings.

You’ve done all the things above and now you’re ready to push that message button. So the next question would be…

Who is your Dream Daddy?

You’ll see mine at the end. 😉

Craig Cahn

The main reason I got this game! After watching Kelsey from this video I had the urge to get his end!

MC’s college buddy and partner-in-crime. But when they meet again, Craig is already a responsible father of three.

Wait, there’s more.

He’s also a businessman, running a sports business. Also, he’s a health junkie. He trains every day, jogging around the neighborhood with his baby strapped on his body. To top it all, he coaches his twins’ softball team. Such a busybody.

Bae: My ultimate sexual fantasy is you. 😏😏😏

Craig’s ending, his route, heck even his kids did not disappoint! I would play his route again and again just to see his daughter River. She’s, like, the cutest kid in this game!

Seriously, though, I’m shipping MC with Craig because their bond is something. I love the whole bromance to more-than-bros going on. The confession scene at the end is sweet and cute. Too bad the game’s pretty short. I would have liked to see more of these two.

That third date, though. 🤩

Another reason to love Craig’s route is that, unlike the other dads, he has none of those minigames. So you can just safely play through this route without worries of a failed date.

(There’s a mini-game where Craig invites you to do the treadmill. But in my game, it didn’t appear on his route. Rather, he invites you when you are in another dad’s route.)

Mat Sella

Mat is the owner of the coffee shop in the neighborhood. He loves music, coffee, and his daughter Carmensita.

After ogling at Craig, I’m not sure I’d like Mat. But there’s a certain charm to his awkward personality. Like how he looks flustered when meeting people, which, at first glance, is totally unlike him.

Bae is so thirsty I kennot. 😂

But Matt’s really sweet and thoughtful to everyone. Contrary to his belief that he doesn’t like crowds, he’s rather good at taking care of people. It’s nice to see him complimenting MC’s personality. Together, they look like cute awkward teens and that’s…adorable.

The last date and the scenes leading up to the ending are so sweet. I loved how they get so flirty with each other. Mat is just giggling and flirting with the MC. That’s the happiest I’ve seen him in the game.

Brian Harding

Brian is MC’s rival dad. From the first time Brian and MC meet, this dad keeps on one-upping our MC. So for the rest of the route, they work through their rivalry thing.

Hence, this route contains the most nerve-wracking minigames! Brian invites the MC in different activities such as playing golf and fishing. And since, MC is competitive as ever, you as the player have to win them all!

So if you’re planning to get all of Steam’s achievements, I can only wish you luck. I admire you for having the patience I can never have. Because you’ll need a lot of it to finish Brian’s minigames, especially the golf part.

As for Brian and MC as a couple, I find it hard to see any chemistry between them because of their constant rivalry. But once I realized what Brian is doing, I found it cute. It’s nice to see them sort out their differences in the end.

Also, his daughter, Daisy, is a bit of an uptight at first. She keeps on correcting Amanda’s jokes which had me rolling my eyes a lot of times. But Amanda’s really chill so she teaches Daisy to be a bit more laid-back. Then, the two of them makes an adorable pair of siblings.

Robert Small

Robert looks wild and gruff, someone giving off a dangerous vibe.

MC’s first encounter with him is when he and Amanda visit Mat’s coffee shop. There, Robert checks out MC, staring darkly from the corners of the shop. I admit, he gives off a creepy vibe on that scene.

If MC decides to go out at night, he’ll go to a pub where he’ll be properly introduced to Robert.

Anyway, the other characters call Robert as an enigma. He’s such a mystery to everyone due to the cryptic way he speaks. You can never EVER get a straight answer from him. I can’t help but roll my eyes every time he speaks like that…

One of those rare moments that get him to speak what he really thinks.

…I guess I really am no good with people like him because it feels like he’s belittling other people with the way he speaks.

Surprisingly, I loved the ending. Robert did have some baggage. But I think he has the most realistic ending. I appreciated his no kiss-and-tell personality because at least he’s really clear with what he wanted in his relationship with MC.

Another surprising part of this route is Mary. It is already weird to have her hitting on MC on his first night in the neighborhood. Being friends with Robert, she is not someone to be messed with.

But Mary’s actually a really good friend. She doesn’t look like it, but she cares for Robert. And I appreciate her for that.

Damien Bloodmarch

When I watch Let’s Plays of the game, whenever players meet Damien, they’ll all have the same reaction — “Vampire Dad? No way!” But whenever I scrolled through the comments, everyone says that Damien is just misunderstood.

Those mixed reactions are really intriguing.

Damien dresses and acts like a Goth and has a love for the Victorian Era. Because of this, he gives off a standoff-ish vibe.

Damien is a sweet and romantic guy. Underneath his classy look lies a cute cinnamon roll. He proves that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  His route is like watching a slow and old-school romance unfold. Like, how he prefers handwritten letters (with seals!) over Dadbook messaging.

And I loved how everyone could tell that they’re sooo in love with each other to the point of teasing them. I even love the part where Amanda saw them kissing in front of their door because that’s like a reversal of their position as dad and daughter.

Also, he’s a fudanshi. 😏

  He has a collection of SasuNaru fic? 😏

Hugo Vega

Hugo is Amanda’s teacher. Being a person of authority, he’s pretty uptight.

Hugo is, well, nerdy. Other than teaching middle and high schoolers, he writes scholarly stuff and he’s very knowledgable with high brow lit.

He’s knowledgable. Period.

But he has another hobby: wrestling. He’s got a room of wrestling things. And it goes without saying that he knows a lot about it, a huge fanboy. That and those teach-me-wrestling-moves had me 😏.

Thing is, I enjoyed Hugo and his son, Ernest moments more in Damien’s route. Unlike Damien’s son, Ernest didn’t really show his appreciation for Hugo in his dad’s route. Meanwhile, in Damien’s, due to certain events, the relationship between Hugo and Ernest have a big leap. They have a more familial atmosphere around them in the end.

Or maybe, Ernest is busy on other things…

Joseph Christiansen

I have mixed feelings about this dad.

Joseph freaking Christiansen is a youth minister at the church. He’s the husband of Mary and father to the freakishly looking kids, Chris, Christian, Christie, and Chrish.

My initial reaction when I meet him and his family: YOU’RE TELLING ME YOU CAN DATE HIM!?

Just look at their names. I feel like I’m committing a sin.

Also, he spends most of his route being extra sticky to MC, like being sweet and clingy. I could definitely picture him staring longingly to MC, giving off mixed signals.

It’s uncomfortable knowing Joseph is married to Mary. She’s not the nicest neighbor. But after playing Robert and Damien’s routes where she is a good friend, she’s grown on me.

AND NOW I’M SNATCHING HER HUSBAND.

You’re being such a good friend MC. 🙄

So other than the names and his wife’s existence, Joseph intrigues me in the previous routes. During Amanda’s graduation party where MC talks to each character, Joseph asks MC to hang out with him anytime he’s free. He’s not telling MC that in a casual way. It’s more of like this:

… which is like silently pleading MC to notice him.

When MC did, he so brilliantly dumped him.

Which brings me to another reason why this route brings me discomfort.

Joseph’s best end is in the opposite direction with the other dads. After flirting around, he’d tell you that he’ll go back to his wife. And that’s perfectly okay. That’s a good thing, mending a broken family.

But it feels like MC is subjected to a needless embarrassment and rejection for someone who’s only stringing him along. He’s just a rebound, a one-night stand.

I couldn’t help but compare Joseph with Robert, because of their internal issues and how they treat MC. Thanks to this, I ended up liking Robert more, mainly because he’s very clear with what he wants and puts a distance from MC as he fixes his life.

Now I kind of regretting leaving Joseph for last since it taints a charming game. It’s like Joseph lives in a different world, far from the sweet worlds of the other dads.

===

So to answer my question above:

Craig is the love of my life in this game. Though I loved everyone, in all fairness. I just especially loved him. Even MC agrees,

For my favorite in the game – Craig > Damien = Mat > Robert = Hugo > Brian > Joseph. Or it can actually be Craig = Damien = Mat = Robert = Hugo >Brian >>> Joseph.

Everyone is farrrr better than Joseph. lol

So who’s likely to be your date among the dads of Dream Daddy?

As of this writing, Steam is having its Daily Deals and Dream Daddy is included. Snag this game over there and have a fun post-Vday celebration!

Next post will be my one and only reason to play Dream Daddy.

The Eligible Dads of Dream Daddy #dreamdaddy Happy Valentine's Day! Or at least post-Valentine in my part of the world. I hoped you have a wonderful date with your significant other.

[mikecardenmpreg]

you know in lone star when brian sella is yelling about not using traditional techniques? well considering the events of lone star i think maybe he should

[glittervomitcreep]

The Front Bottoms?

i do know the front bottoms :)

How long have I listened to them? to be honest, i’m not too positive. maybe since 2015? 

Favourite song: cough it out and flashlight.

Least Favourite song: n/a

Favourite Album: i don’t have one lol. 

First song I’ve heard from them: twin size mattress.

Have I ever Seen them in Concert? i have not.

Any merch I possess: none, unfortunately.

Favourite recorded concert, If available: i don’t have one.

Favourite Single/Music Video: i like the one for twin size mattress bc i really like concert footage music videos. 

Favourite Member, current: brian sella i suppose lmao.

Favourite Former member(if available): N/A

send me a musical artist and i’ll answer questions about them! only doing a few more. 

[isaiahrippinus]

Why White Wine Fans Should Consider Zippy Vermentino

Just a week before the world as we once knew it dramatically changed — before store shelves and online retailers’ supplies of hand sanitizer and toilet paper were completely depleted, and before New York City was deemed the epicenter of the coronavirus — I made a visit to the Jane Hotel’s restaurant Old Rose with a pair of friends. It was a Monday. The weather was ominously warm for the beginning of March, and that was more than a good enough reason to stop for a glass of wine.

I settled for a pour of Nùo, a Vermentino produced by Azienda Vitivinicola Cardedu in Sardinia. The first sip was unforgettable. For starters, the aromas of citrus fruit nearly jumped out the glass. But on the palate, the white wine zinged with salinity, and herbaceous notes of basil and rosemary, with a hint of grapefruit, instantly transporting me to sunny seashores in a peaceful place far away from the noise and madness of Manhattan on the brink of a pandemic.

I ordered another, and made a mental note about Vermentino, a grape that I, at the time, wasn’t aware of until fate brought me to occupy a seat in this buzzy restaurant. It would mark my last restaurant experience before lockdown regulations, overwhelmed hospitals, and skyrocketing cases of Covid-19. Over the course of the quarantine, Vermentino became the wine I turned to for an escape.

Every sip took me beyond the walls of my shoebox apartment to a place miles and oceans away from the harsh realities surrounding me. But finding bottles of the Italian wine often proved to be a challenge, mostly because shops and retailers aren’t stocking shelves with much of it. Sales of Vermentino are relatively low compared to well-known white wine varieties from Italy. According to a Statista report, the sale value of Vermentino produced in Sardinia, the island with the highest production of the wine, amounted to just $15.5 million in 2018, while grapes from better-known varieties, like Tuscany’s Chianti, topped $52 million.

But curiosity among drinkers is rising. “As Italy’s expanding out, certain varieties like Vermentino are taking a bit more space in the conversation about what people know about Italian wine,” says Brian Long, a sommelier who formerly worked at the Michelin-starred Marea restaurant in New York.

With so many styles and varieties, it’s easy to understand how people can be a bit apprehensive about Italian wines, but Long notes that producers like Marchese Antinori are helping expand Vermentino’s reach. “Part of the reason why people are becoming more familiar with Vermentino is because of the Antinori family and their Guado al Tasso. People who are really into their red wines, they look at them and say, ‘I know them, why don’t I just go ahead and try that?’” says Long.

As one of the first wineries to plant Vermentino grapes in the 1990s in Bolgheri, a coastal village in Tuscany right near the Tyrrhenian Sea, Marchese Antinori only planted about 14 acres of Vermentino at its Guado al Tasso estate, which covers 2,500 acres. * But today, about 170 acres are dedicated solely for growing Vermentino, and Antinori imports 2,800 cases of Guado al Tasso Vermentino, with a global production of 39,000 cases, both annually and only for Vermentino grapes.

Younger drinkers’ growing thirst for wine knowledge and new experiences are driving interest in Vermentino, says Alessia Antinori, vice president at Marchese Antinori. “Knowledge is becoming more and more of a thing, especially with the younger generations who are studying wine and maybe go out more often and are more inclined to try new things. Younger generations specifically are really attracted to a good variety that is different that they can discover.”

She adds: “Italy has really interesting varieties. It’s one of the places with more indigenous varieties and Vermentino is one of them. And what we are doing as a family, we are concentrating a lot on indigenous varieties.”

Italy isn’t the only country producing Vermentino. Winemakers in France and Spain and even the U.S. dabble in the grape but Italy’s Mediterranean coastline is where Vermentino shines because the grape grows best when it’s close to the sea.

Vermentino is also versatile in a range of soils, from volcanic to limestone. Where bottlings from Liguria can be bursting with intense and distinctive minerality, says Jennifer Foucher, who was head sommelier at Fiola in Washington D.C., before coronavirus hit, expressions of Vermentino in Tuscany may be more floral, with riper fruit. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, the wine can be more full-bodied with saline and tropical fruit notes. “Sommeliers like it a lot because of its versatility and value. Once you introduce someone to it, they love it,” Foucher says. Although there are some premium examples, much Vermentino comes from cooperatives, making it a wine that’s meant to be young, fresh, and fruity, with an accessible price point.

The grape has loads of character that make it a perfect patio pounder or something to wash down a meal with, according to Pierangelo Tommasi, executive director of Tommasi Family Estate’s Tuscan winery Poggio al Tufo, which also produces Vermentino. “It’s a great solo sipper wine, but of course Vermentino with its creamy character, salinity, and bitterness is a wonderful wine to match with medium-weight dishes that play with rich herbs and spices,” Tommasi says. “You can easily match this wine with richer fish such as halibut or even meats.”

In fact, many foods pair well with Vermentino, from grilled vegetables to pork tacos. And it’s that versatility that makes the wine great on it’s own if you’re sipping a glass sitting out on your fire escape, reminiscing about the pre-Covid past, or just unwinding after work. Whatever the context, it’s bound to deliver a memorable experience.

5 VERMENTINOS TO TRY

Guado al Tasso Vermentino

This bottling from the iconic winemaking family radiates with freshness and balance and intense citrus aromas. “You know those things you will never forget because it was one of your first experiences? I have that memory of those aromas of grapefruit after harvesting Guado al Tasso,” Antinori says. “It was at the beginning of my experience as a winemaker, and the aromas of grapefruit left such an impression.” Average price: $25.

Riviera Ligure di Ponente Vermentino

Liguria-based Azienda Agricola Laura Aschero produces fewer than 6,000 cases of wine annually, including Pigato and Rossese, but Foucher says the winery’s Vermentino is a standout thanks to its vibrant freshness and aromatic herbal quality. “The wines are consistently good, and I use them in my wine pairings,” she says. “I always get requests for an additional pour.” Average price: $30.

La Cala Vermentino

Long noted Sella and Mosca as one Sardinian producer worth remembering. It makes Vermentino in the northeastern area of Gallura, known for its strong, northerly winds that gives the wine its superior quality. Although the aroma rings of citrus fruit and white flower, it is surprisingly soft and balanced. Average price: $12.

Poggio al Tufo Vermentino

The volcanic soils where Tomassi’s family grows its Vermentino is what leads to the wine’s richer and fuller style. “The soils on which the vineyards were planted are of different types,” Tomassi says. “All the vineyards have been designed in full compliance with the morphology of the area, safeguarding the characteristic rolling hills and enhancing them.” All that diversity of the soil results in incredibly lively wines that are characterized by fragrance and freshness. Average price: $13.

Nùo Vermentino

The vineyards at Azienda Vitivinicola Cardedu in Sardinia are dry-farmed, but make no mistake — this is a full-bodied wine that drips with acidity, juicy stone fruit and a lingering salty finish that begs for another glass. Average price: $18.

The article Why White Wine Fans Should Consider Zippy Vermentino appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/white-wine-fans-vermentino/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/627259472366157824

[wineanddinosaur]

Why White Wine Fans Should Consider Zippy Vermentino

Just a week before the world as we once knew it dramatically changed — before store shelves and online retailers’ supplies of hand sanitizer and toilet paper were completely depleted, and before New York City was deemed the epicenter of the coronavirus — I made a visit to the Jane Hotel’s restaurant Old Rose with a pair of friends. It was a Monday. The weather was ominously warm for the beginning of March, and that was more than a good enough reason to stop for a glass of wine.

I settled for a pour of Nùo, a Vermentino produced by Azienda Vitivinicola Cardedu in Sardinia. The first sip was unforgettable. For starters, the aromas of citrus fruit nearly jumped out the glass. But on the palate, the white wine zinged with salinity, and herbaceous notes of basil and rosemary, with a hint of grapefruit, instantly transporting me to sunny seashores in a peaceful place far away from the noise and madness of Manhattan on the brink of a pandemic.

I ordered another, and made a mental note about Vermentino, a grape that I, at the time, wasn’t aware of until fate brought me to occupy a seat in this buzzy restaurant. It would mark my last restaurant experience before lockdown regulations, overwhelmed hospitals, and skyrocketing cases of Covid-19. Over the course of the quarantine, Vermentino became the wine I turned to for an escape.

Every sip took me beyond the walls of my shoebox apartment to a place miles and oceans away from the harsh realities surrounding me. But finding bottles of the Italian wine often proved to be a challenge, mostly because shops and retailers aren’t stocking shelves with much of it. Sales of Vermentino are relatively low compared to well-known white wine varieties from Italy. According to a Statista report, the sale value of Vermentino produced in Sardinia, the island with the highest production of the wine, amounted to just $15.5 million in 2018, while grapes from better-known varieties, like Tuscany’s Chianti, topped $52 million.

But curiosity among drinkers is rising. “As Italy’s expanding out, certain varieties like Vermentino are taking a bit more space in the conversation about what people know about Italian wine,” says Brian Long, a sommelier who formerly worked at the Michelin-starred Marea restaurant in New York.

With so many styles and varieties, it’s easy to understand how people can be a bit apprehensive about Italian wines, but Long notes that producers like Marchese Antinori are helping expand Vermentino’s reach. “Part of the reason why people are becoming more familiar with Vermentino is because of the Antinori family and their Guado al Tasso. People who are really into their red wines, they look at them and say, ‘I know them, why don’t I just go ahead and try that?’” says Long.

As one of the first wineries to plant Vermentino grapes in the 1990s in Bolgheri, a coastal village in Tuscany right near the Tyrrhenian Sea, Marchese Antinori only planted about 14 acres of Vermentino at its Guado al Tasso estate, which covers 2,500 acres. * But today, about 170 acres are dedicated solely for growing Vermentino, and Antinori imports 2,800 cases of Guado al Tasso Vermentino, with a global production of 39,000 cases, both annually and only for Vermentino grapes.

Younger drinkers’ growing thirst for wine knowledge and new experiences are driving interest in Vermentino, says Alessia Antinori, vice president at Marchese Antinori. “Knowledge is becoming more and more of a thing, especially with the younger generations who are studying wine and maybe go out more often and are more inclined to try new things. Younger generations specifically are really attracted to a good variety that is different that they can discover.”

She adds: “Italy has really interesting varieties. It’s one of the places with more indigenous varieties and Vermentino is one of them. And what we are doing as a family, we are concentrating a lot on indigenous varieties.”

Italy isn’t the only country producing Vermentino. Winemakers in France and Spain and even the U.S. dabble in the grape but Italy’s Mediterranean coastline is where Vermentino shines because the grape grows best when it’s close to the sea.

Vermentino is also versatile in a range of soils, from volcanic to limestone. Where bottlings from Liguria can be bursting with intense and distinctive minerality, says Jennifer Foucher, who was head sommelier at Fiola in Washington D.C., before coronavirus hit, expressions of Vermentino in Tuscany may be more floral, with riper fruit. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, the wine can be more full-bodied with saline and tropical fruit notes. “Sommeliers like it a lot because of its versatility and value. Once you introduce someone to it, they love it,” Foucher says. Although there are some premium examples, much Vermentino comes from cooperatives, making it a wine that’s meant to be young, fresh, and fruity, with an accessible price point.

The grape has loads of character that make it a perfect patio pounder or something to wash down a meal with, according to Pierangelo Tommasi, executive director of Tommasi Family Estate’s Tuscan winery Poggio al Tufo, which also produces Vermentino. “It’s a great solo sipper wine, but of course Vermentino with its creamy character, salinity, and bitterness is a wonderful wine to match with medium-weight dishes that play with rich herbs and spices,” Tommasi says. “You can easily match this wine with richer fish such as halibut or even meats.”

In fact, many foods pair well with Vermentino, from grilled vegetables to pork tacos. And it’s that versatility that makes the wine great on it’s own if you’re sipping a glass sitting out on your fire escape, reminiscing about the pre-Covid past, or just unwinding after work. Whatever the context, it’s bound to deliver a memorable experience.

5 VERMENTINOS TO TRY

Guado al Tasso Vermentino

This bottling from the iconic winemaking family radiates with freshness and balance and intense citrus aromas. “You know those things you will never forget because it was one of your first experiences? I have that memory of those aromas of grapefruit after harvesting Guado al Tasso,” Antinori says. “It was at the beginning of my experience as a winemaker, and the aromas of grapefruit left such an impression.” Average price: $25.

Riviera Ligure di Ponente Vermentino

Liguria-based Azienda Agricola Laura Aschero produces fewer than 6,000 cases of wine annually, including Pigato and Rossese, but Foucher says the winery’s Vermentino is a standout thanks to its vibrant freshness and aromatic herbal quality. “The wines are consistently good, and I use them in my wine pairings,” she says. “I always get requests for an additional pour.” Average price: $30.

La Cala Vermentino

Long noted Sella and Mosca as one Sardinian producer worth remembering. It makes Vermentino in the northeastern area of Gallura, known for its strong, northerly winds that gives the wine its superior quality. Although the aroma rings of citrus fruit and white flower, it is surprisingly soft and balanced. Average price: $12.

Poggio al Tufo Vermentino

The volcanic soils where Tomassi’s family grows its Vermentino is what leads to the wine’s richer and fuller style. “The soils on which the vineyards were planted are of different types,” Tomassi says. “All the vineyards have been designed in full compliance with the morphology of the area, safeguarding the characteristic rolling hills and enhancing them.” All that diversity of the soil results in incredibly lively wines that are characterized by fragrance and freshness. Average price: $13.

Nùo Vermentino

The vineyards at Azienda Vitivinicola Cardedu in Sardinia are dry-farmed, but make no mistake — this is a full-bodied wine that drips with acidity, juicy stone fruit and a lingering salty finish that begs for another glass. Average price: $18.

The article Why White Wine Fans Should Consider Zippy Vermentino appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/white-wine-fans-vermentino/

[johnboothus]

Why White Wine Fans Should Consider Zippy Vermentino

Just a week before the world as we once knew it dramatically changed — before store shelves and online retailers’ supplies of hand sanitizer and toilet paper were completely depleted, and before New York City was deemed the epicenter of the coronavirus — I made a visit to the Jane Hotel’s restaurant Old Rose with a pair of friends. It was a Monday. The weather was ominously warm for the beginning of March, and that was more than a good enough reason to stop for a glass of wine.

I settled for a pour of Nùo, a Vermentino produced by Azienda Vitivinicola Cardedu in Sardinia. The first sip was unforgettable. For starters, the aromas of citrus fruit nearly jumped out the glass. But on the palate, the white wine zinged with salinity, and herbaceous notes of basil and rosemary, with a hint of grapefruit, instantly transporting me to sunny seashores in a peaceful place far away from the noise and madness of Manhattan on the brink of a pandemic.

I ordered another, and made a mental note about Vermentino, a grape that I, at the time, wasn’t aware of until fate brought me to occupy a seat in this buzzy restaurant. It would mark my last restaurant experience before lockdown regulations, overwhelmed hospitals, and skyrocketing cases of Covid-19. Over the course of the quarantine, Vermentino became the wine I turned to for an escape.

Every sip took me beyond the walls of my shoebox apartment to a place miles and oceans away from the harsh realities surrounding me. But finding bottles of the Italian wine often proved to be a challenge, mostly because shops and retailers aren’t stocking shelves with much of it. Sales of Vermentino are relatively low compared to well-known white wine varieties from Italy. According to a Statista report, the sale value of Vermentino produced in Sardinia, the island with the highest production of the wine, amounted to just $15.5 million in 2018, while grapes from better-known varieties, like Tuscany’s Chianti, topped $52 million.

But curiosity among drinkers is rising. “As Italy’s expanding out, certain varieties like Vermentino are taking a bit more space in the conversation about what people know about Italian wine,” says Brian Long, a sommelier who formerly worked at the Michelin-starred Marea restaurant in New York.

With so many styles and varieties, it’s easy to understand how people can be a bit apprehensive about Italian wines, but Long notes that producers like Marchese Antinori are helping expand Vermentino’s reach. “Part of the reason why people are becoming more familiar with Vermentino is because of the Antinori family and their Guado al Tasso. People who are really into their red wines, they look at them and say, ‘I know them, why don’t I just go ahead and try that?’” says Long.

As one of the first wineries to plant Vermentino grapes in the 1990s in Bolgheri, a coastal village in Tuscany right near the Tyrrhenian Sea, Marchese Antinori only planted about 14 acres of Vermentino at its Guado al Tasso estate, which covers 2,500 acres. * But today, about 170 acres are dedicated solely for growing Vermentino, and Antinori imports 2,800 cases of Guado al Tasso Vermentino, with a global production of 39,000 cases, both annually and only for Vermentino grapes.

Younger drinkers’ growing thirst for wine knowledge and new experiences are driving interest in Vermentino, says Alessia Antinori, vice president at Marchese Antinori. “Knowledge is becoming more and more of a thing, especially with the younger generations who are studying wine and maybe go out more often and are more inclined to try new things. Younger generations specifically are really attracted to a good variety that is different that they can discover.”

She adds: “Italy has really interesting varieties. It’s one of the places with more indigenous varieties and Vermentino is one of them. And what we are doing as a family, we are concentrating a lot on indigenous varieties.”

Italy isn’t the only country producing Vermentino. Winemakers in France and Spain and even the U.S. dabble in the grape but Italy’s Mediterranean coastline is where Vermentino shines because the grape grows best when it’s close to the sea.

Vermentino is also versatile in a range of soils, from volcanic to limestone. Where bottlings from Liguria can be bursting with intense and distinctive minerality, says Jennifer Foucher, who was head sommelier at Fiola in Washington D.C., before coronavirus hit, expressions of Vermentino in Tuscany may be more floral, with riper fruit. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, the wine can be more full-bodied with saline and tropical fruit notes. “Sommeliers like it a lot because of its versatility and value. Once you introduce someone to it, they love it,” Foucher says. Although there are some premium examples, much Vermentino comes from cooperatives, making it a wine that’s meant to be young, fresh, and fruity, with an accessible price point.

The grape has loads of character that make it a perfect patio pounder or something to wash down a meal with, according to Pierangelo Tommasi, executive director of Tommasi Family Estate’s Tuscan winery Poggio al Tufo, which also produces Vermentino. “It’s a great solo sipper wine, but of course Vermentino with its creamy character, salinity, and bitterness is a wonderful wine to match with medium-weight dishes that play with rich herbs and spices,” Tommasi says. “You can easily match this wine with richer fish such as halibut or even meats.”

In fact, many foods pair well with Vermentino, from grilled vegetables to pork tacos. And it’s that versatility that makes the wine great on it’s own if you’re sipping a glass sitting out on your fire escape, reminiscing about the pre-Covid past, or just unwinding after work. Whatever the context, it’s bound to deliver a memorable experience.

5 VERMENTINOS TO TRY

Guado al Tasso Vermentino

This bottling from the iconic winemaking family radiates with freshness and balance and intense citrus aromas. “You know those things you will never forget because it was one of your first experiences? I have that memory of those aromas of grapefruit after harvesting Guado al Tasso,” Antinori says. “It was at the beginning of my experience as a winemaker, and the aromas of grapefruit left such an impression.” Average price: $25.

Riviera Ligure di Ponente Vermentino

Liguria-based Azienda Agricola Laura Aschero produces fewer than 6,000 cases of wine annually, including Pigato and Rossese, but Foucher says the winery’s Vermentino is a standout thanks to its vibrant freshness and aromatic herbal quality. “The wines are consistently good, and I use them in my wine pairings,” she says. “I always get requests for an additional pour.” Average price: $30.

La Cala Vermentino

Long noted Sella and Mosca as one Sardinian producer worth remembering. It makes Vermentino in the northeastern area of Gallura, known for its strong, northerly winds that gives the wine its superior quality. Although the aroma rings of citrus fruit and white flower, it is surprisingly soft and balanced. Average price: $12.

Poggio al Tufo Vermentino

The volcanic soils where Tomassi’s family grows its Vermentino is what leads to the wine’s richer and fuller style. “The soils on which the vineyards were planted are of different types,” Tomassi says. “All the vineyards have been designed in full compliance with the morphology of the area, safeguarding the characteristic rolling hills and enhancing them.” All that diversity of the soil results in incredibly lively wines that are characterized by fragrance and freshness. Average price: $13.

Nùo Vermentino

The vineyards at Azienda Vitivinicola Cardedu in Sardinia are dry-farmed, but make no mistake — this is a full-bodied wine that drips with acidity, juicy stone fruit and a lingering salty finish that begs for another glass. Average price: $18.

The article Why White Wine Fans Should Consider Zippy Vermentino appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/white-wine-fans-vermentino/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/why-white-wine-fans-should-consider-zippy-vermentino

[bisexualr2d2]

Should I fight this dad? A guide to whether or not you should fight the DDADDS dads.

Robert Small: As 100% sure I am that he has done something to deserve getting his ass kicked, it would probably be unwise to fight a guy who's always drinking and carries multiple knives on his body. However, the constant drinking and deep self loathing might affect his ability to fight back. Maybe fight this dad.

Damien Bloodmarch: Damien has done nothing wrong in his life ever and does not deserve to be fought. If anything, I would fight FOR this dad. Do not fight this dad.

Craig Cahn: Are you really gonna challenge a guy who does nothing but work out and always has a baby strapped to his chest? No not fight this dad.

Joseph Christiansen: ABSOLUTELY FIGHT THIS DAD. At best, he's a guy who lies about planning to leave his wife so he can seduce other dads. At worst, he's a murderous cult leader. There is no reason not to fight this dad.

Mat Sella: I mean, you probably could, but why would you? Do not fight this dad.

Hugo Vega: This is a guy with extensive wrestling knowledge and a lot of pent-up anger from teaching middle schoolers. Nothing good can come from this. Do not fight this dad.

Brian Harding: As desirable as it would be to fight him after that first encounter in the park, he undoubtedly had a size and strength advantage. Do not fight this dad.

BONUS! Mary Christiansen: Not a dad, but engaging in random brawls might be one of the few things that makes her even feel alive anymore. Probably needs to fight someone as a means of emotional release. Fight at your own risk.