Uncategorized – Fare..Eat..Ales

Rod Stewart- Caesar’s Palace- Las Vegas, Nevada- May 18, 2022

July 27, 2024July 27, 2024 spennyrdLeave a comment

Of the many evolutions in live music over the last decade or two , one of the more pronounced has been the explosion of big name residencies, particularly in Las Vegas. Sure, artists like Barry Manilow and Wayne Newton figured this out years ago but only recently it makes perfect sense.. you bring the audience to you instead of going to them. You can also park the tour buses and avoid the repeated set up and take down of the stage on a nightly basis, especially if you are getting up there in age.

My Vegas trip was planned around a few things: a visit to Hell’s Kitchen, having a drink at Vanderpump a Paris and hitting up Rod Stewart at his residency at Caesar’s palace.

Vanderpump a Paris wasn’t my first choice but it was part of a negotiation to balance the week’s activities. That said, I was in intrigued to see what the hype was about. All I knew was to expect fancy and overpriced cocktails and charcuterie served in a cage to match the gothic theme of the restaurant. The service was impeccable and the experience was quite enjoyable although the target audience certainly isn’t my demographic.

Charcuterie and Cocktails at Vanderpump a Paris

My Hell’s Kitchen reservation was quite late at night but it did not take away from the expected ambiance. Sure, there was no cursing, expulsion of chefs or flying pans, but the opportunity to feast on scallops, beef wellington and sticky toffee pudding, three of the show’s most iconic dishes was iconic. I did find the Wellington a little underdone and echoes of Gordon Ramsey yelling “It’s F*cking Raw” filled my head for the first few bites.

Hell’s Kitchen- Wellington, Scallops and Sticky Toffee Pudding

Rod is on a list of a number of aging artists I wanted to catch before they hang up the microphone forever. Plus, there is some nostalgia in watching a concert done the old way meaning things like frequent wardrobe changes and interactive stage antics. I was also curious how a 77 year old with a very distinct voice would maintain the integrity of his music with a limited vocal range. The answer was an employment of a strong group of backup singers who would hit covers during his breaks as well as a few acoustic sets. That said, we were still treated with upbeat hits such as “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Infatuation”, some great covers including paying his respects to Robert Palmer. His other tribute was to the Celtic football team for their premiership league win including his signature antic of kicking a few soccer balls into the audience. His most compelling outfit was a bright yellow and blue ensemble worn out of respect for the Ukraine situation. He was quite gracious throughout the show reminding the audience that he had every intention of making it worth the hard earned money they spent for a ticket. In the end, I said he succeeded.

Rod Stewart acknowledging Celtic’s win as well as the Ukraine situation

Setlist

Addicted to Love(Robert Palmer cover)
You Wear It Well
Ooh La La(Faces song)
Infatuation
It Takes Two (Kim Weston cover)
The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover)
Forever Young
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind(Etta James cover)
Young Turks
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Rhythm of My Heart (Marc Jordan cover)
Call Me (Blondie cover)
People Get Ready (The Impressions cover)
The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)
You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison cover)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer cover)
Baby Jane
Sailing (The Sutherland Brothers Band cover)

Encore

21. Sweet Little Rock & Roller (Chuck Berry cover)

Kim Mitchell-Bingeman’s Park, Kitchener, Ontario- September 24, 2022

February 18, 2024 spennyrdLeave a comment

I went to the University of Guelph in the early 90’s which meant a yearly tradition became a trip to Kitchener for some kind of Octoberfest celebration. I remember stumbling through Lulu’s begging for constant refills of watery draft using my commemorative plastic mug somehow thinking I was honouring the longstanding German tradition. Years later I rarely attend the festivities but a buddy of mine managed to score a couple of free tickets Kim Mitchell at Bingeman’s..the current hub of Octoberfest festivities in the area.

After a few pints and live music (including traditional German) on the smaller stages inside the beer tent, we headed outside for main event. It was a crisp but comfortable evening and there was plenty of space to have good view of the stage. Kim, who had just turned 70, hit the stage opening with Rockland Wonderland and proceeded to knock out a number of his solo hits as well as a Max Webster song or two. I don’t recall his exact playlist but it included Go for a Soda, Patio Lanterns, Rock and Roll Duty, the audience interactive I Am a Wild Party and the ballad All we Are which he performed alongside longtime collaborator Peter Fredette. At one point during the show he jokingly invited the crowd to hit the washroom while he performed a newer and much less recognized song…in this case the “Best I Never Had”. It was a humorous way to deal with the conundrum that faces all long standing artists; the balance between playing new music and what most of the fans want and expect to hear. The encore song, Lager and Ale, was an almost obvious fitting end to a concert celebrating the historic beer festival.

Kim Mitchell at Oktoberfest at Bingeman’s Park

In the end, Kim sounded great. Sure, the long, flowing mane and OPP hat is long gone but he still engaged the crowd with a greatest hits performance which brought me back to the days when I never went for a soda and was never the first to kiss under those patio lanterns.

The Eagles- September 13, 2022- Canadian Tire Centre-Ottawa, Ontario

February 4, 2024 spennyrdLeave a comment

The first time I saw the Eagles was during the “Hell Freezes Over” tour in 1994 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. The show was opened by a then relatively unknown Sheryl Crow who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just this year. I remember two things about that concert; being on the much younger side of audience demographic and the constant and at the time illegal smell of weed wafting through the air for the duration of the show.

Twenty-eight years later a buddy of mine asked if I had any interest in joining him for their Hotel California tour since he had the ability to score a couple of box seats the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Needless to say, I agreed without hesitation. There is nothing over special about the venue; it’s a typical multifunctional arena hosting Senators games and larger indoor concerts. It’s biggest problem is the fact it’s located in Kanata which is a good jaunt outside downtown Ottawa making for an awkward commute especially if you plan to have a few drinks. Parking is also a pain in the ass and there is a surprising lack of entertainment infrastructure within proximity of the venue itself.

Of course, a few things have changed since 1994…most notably my progression up the age spectrum compared to 1994 and the passing of Glenn Frey in 2016 and the subsequent addition of Vince Gill as a honorable member of the band a year or so later. At times, they have also Glenn’s son Deacon join them on some tours. Over the years, the Eagles are known for producing a rather long show and their advanced age hasn’t changed that. The show began with a full revival of the Hotel California album, in order, complete with a orchestra and theatrical turntable vinyl flip by Don Henley after Wasted Time. I paid special attention to Joe Walsh during the Hotel California solo remembering that he once said it was the hardest he’s ever had to perform. One another note, tt’s hard to imagine that the working title of this song was once “Mexican Reggae”. Imagine the implications keeping it would have had on every aspect of the album including of the music’s most recognizable album cover which features a ominous picture of the famous Beverley Hills hotel at sunset.

The second set was a 17 song montage of songs celebrating the band’s greatest hits as well as Joe Walsh’s long and industrious career. It was great to see Joe, in his distinct voice, telling stories of his solo life plus his time with the James Gang and then busting into songs like Life’s Been Good and Funk #49 respectively. The aforementioned Deacon Frey, who has an oddly nervously shy stage presence, also hit the stage to perform a couple of Glenn heavy tunes including Take it Easy and Already Gone. The 4 song encore paid homage to Don Henley’s solo career featuring the band’s version of the perennial hit “Boys of Summer”.

In the end, it was a celebration of an iconic band with a turnstile of controversial members who were one of the first to fuse country sounds with classic rock. It also paid respect to the illustrious careers of it’s remaining individual members. As for the venue, I can’t tell you why they built it where they did (it would be much better if this major hub of Ottawa entertainment was in the city) because although it was a great show, the trek to get there and back with parking was certainly a whole lot of wasted time.

Setlist

Hotel California Album set

Hotel California
New Kid in Town
Life in the Fast Lane
Wasted Time(with orchestra)
Wasted Time (Reprise)(played by orchestra)
Victim of Love
Pretty Maids All in a Row(with orchestra)
Try and Love Again
The Last Resort(with orchestra and choir)

Greatest Hits Set

Seven Bridges Road (Steve Young cover)
Take It Easy(with Deacon Frey)
Peaceful Easy Feeling(Jack Tempchin cover) (with Deacon Frey)
One of These Nights
Take It to the Limit(with orchestra)
Witchy Woman
In the City(Joe Walsh song)
I Can’t Tell You Why
Lyin’ Eyes
Tequila Sunrise
Life’s Been Good(Joe Walsh song)
Already Gone(Robb Strandlund cover) (with Deacon Frey)
Funk #49(James Gang cover)
Heartache Tonight

Encore

Iron &Wine/Andrew Bird-July 31, 2022 Levitt Pavillion Steelstacks- Bethlehem, PA

December 28, 2023 spennyrdLeave a comment

Musically, Bethlehem is probably best known for Musikfest, a multiday festival with a wide variety of music ranging from local bands to larger venues with keynote acts. It’s a good time but is super busy and usually hot as hell given the fact it’s held during the dog days of summer which are near unbearable in Pennsylvania. I have a couple of the commemorative mugs on a shelf in my basement. Outside of the festival itself, it is a draw for many artists who can utilize a number of the available venues. This was the case with the Outside Problems tour with Iron & Wine and Andrew Bird as co-headliners. A dramatic shift from the Rage concert I saw the weak before, these artists offer a folk rock experience with plenty of acoustic guitar, clever lyrics and even some whistling.

The Levitt Pavillion is an outdoor venue located in the Steelstack area of Bethlehem. Steel, of course, is quintessential in defining the identity of the town (just listen the the song Allentown by Billy Joel). The stage is surrounded by symbols of the industry including old warehouses and silos which are laced with colourful lights, creating a unique and down-home setting which appeals to any musical genre.

I wanted to go to this concert for a couple of reasons. First, Iron & Wine was one of the concerts I missed out on when covid broke. I had tickets for Echo Beach in Toronto in 2020 but the show was never rescheduled. Second, I have family that live just outside Allentown so I could combine a visit with the show. Full disclosure..I wasn’t nearly as familiar with Andrew Bird but with a few listens on Spotify and a Grammy nod I didn’t need much convincing.

One thing I’ve come to appreciate as much as the artists is the fan base. As I’ve aged and diversified my musical spectrum, I enjoy taking in the array of fans that show up for shows. Some are very predictable while others are a bit more surprising. In this case, there were a lot of what one might expect..a rather wide age range and dress typical for a midsummer rainy night speckled with bohemian flair.

Iron & Wine, aka Sam Beam, using his grizzly yet gentle persona, started the show with an eight song featuring a mix of tunes from his two decade music career ending the set with “Call it Dreaming” which is one my favorites from his 2017 Beast Epic album. He’s actually quite humorous and frequently infused clever and thoughtful insights throughout his set.

Andrew Bird was next and also delivered an eight song set which focused primarily on his 2022 release Inside Problems but he also performed others including arguably his most popular tune Sisyphus, a catchy song featuring his trademark whistling. He was less charismatic than Beam but was still entertaining considering his use of the violin, ukulele, pedals and the aforementioned whistling as part of his set.

The two then combined efforts for half a dozen songs, alternating between each others’ creations. The highlight was “Flightless Bird, American Mouth”, an Iron and Wine ballad best known as part of the Twilight movie soundtrack. The show ended with a few more from Bird including a single song during the encore.

All in all, the Levitt Pavilion was a great place, despite the light rain, to see a folky concert during the summer. There is decent beer (both in selection and price) and ample room to wander while still having good audio and visual access to the show. As is often the case, the fan watching was an enjoyable as the concert itself. As for the concert itself, I particularly liked the back and forth collaboration which provided unique versions of half a dozen of the artist’s more recognizable songs.

Setlist

Rage Against the Machine- July 25, 2022- Keybank Centre- Buffalo, New York

December 18, 2023 spennyrdLeave a comment

One of the advantages of living in London, Ontario is that there are a number of good concert venues within a 2 hour radius. In many cases, if a band doesn’t come right to London, they will do a show in Detroit, Buffalo, Hamilton or Toronto. Sometime I peruse all three venues looking for the best seats and price for a show. Such was the case for Rage Against the Machine. I remember frantically flipping through my phone looking for the best seats before settling on the Keybank Centre in Buffalo.

This concert was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020 and was bumped twice because of covid restrictions. I figured hey…I waited 30 years to see them so another couple of years wouldn’t hurt. My only worry was the fact that Zack de la Rocha tore his ACL at the beginning of the tour so the expectation may be that the level of energy may be a little lower than normal.

Most of my trips to Buffalo either start or end with a trip to Charlie the Butcher. This institution is a staple in Buffalo culture best known for Charlie’s hardhat and a beef on weck that Geoffrey Zakarian once called the best sandwich he ever ate. Honestly, I can’t disagree. Coupled with any of the stellar sides they offer (I’m usually up for the cole slaw), this is a can’t go wrong lunch.

Once we settled into the hotel, it was time for some preconcert drinks and dinner. A quick walk up Main Street brought us to the Other Half Brewing Taproom, a roomy space with an array of games and plenty of seating. I recall this brewery has a big focus on big and boozy New England style IPAs so had to limit our consumption to one.

On the way to dinner we said hello to the Nikola Tesla statue which made me remember the significant contribution he made to the Western New York power grid while hob knobbing with the turn of the 20th century tycoons. I only mention this because it may in fact be machines like this that Zack et al. have raged against for three decades.

Dinner was at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, a large and historic restaurant known for its numerous bars and great views. We sat on the patio and got to experience Buffalo’s trademark wind while sipping Don Cherry Cherry Wheat and munching on mussels along with Buffalo staples including wings and a kielbasa platter.

The show itself was exactly what I expected…a greatest hits compellation surrounded with an aura of angst and plenty of choreographed strobe lights. Although I missed Zach pounding the stage with his flare of old, despite sitting he didn’t disappoint from the waist up and the remaining band members energetically filled in the gaps. The show opened with Bombtrack and we were immediately reminded in big bright letters that “Fear is your Only God”. About half way through the show Run the Jewels, the opening band, came back out to jam to Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck). This was immediately followed by one of my favorites, Down Rodeo, in which Zack mimicked using a shotgun to emphasis the corresponding lyrics. Toward the end, the billboard flashed “Abort the Supreme Court” (I believe with “Freedom” playing in the background) in response to the anti-abortion decision a month prior. Fittingly, the show ended in the same manner as pretty much every bar experience I had during university in the early-mid 90s; a crowd sing along to “Killing in the Name of”.

All in all, it was a triumphant return to big tickets concerts following the covid hiatus and another older school band I could cross off my bucket list and it completed my holy trinity since I had already seen Audioslave and Prophets of Rage previously. I enjoy Buffalo and it’s blue collar vibe as a city (especially when I’m tailgating at a Bills game) and Keybank centre is a decent larger venue to catch as show. I was also reminded me that, although I have aged and my musical tastes have simmered somewhat, I can still appreciate an aggressive political antics as much as a more subtle message in sync with the subdued strumming of an acoustic guitar.

Setlist

2022 Salsa and Such

September 2, 2022September 19, 2022 spennyrdLeave a comment

Thanks for visiting. With Ontario produce hitting peak season, it’s salsa time. I will use this site for updates on any other products so please follow so you can get email updates and if you’re bored, check out some of my stories, rants, travel stories and other nonsense.

Salsas

All of my salsas are homemade and whenever possible, use local ingredients. I purchase many ingredients from local farms and grow my own hot and spicy oregano in my backyard. I don’t have any fancy equipment or tools to mass produce…just a sharp knife and a stove.

Prices

$7/jar or 3/$20

All jars are 500 ml and processed for months of shelf life (although I don’t think you will need it).

Mextreme Salsa

This one isn’t for the weak hearted. It’s my jacked up version of Mezcalsa….more mezcal, more heat, more garlic and more cilantro. This is a bit of a pilot, but I’m hoping this one pairs beautifully with a margarita.

Mezcalsa

Mezcalsa is salsa with a hint of mezcal to add some subtle smokiness. Available in hot, medium or mild and with/without cilantro, this signature salsa will make nachos and chips a little more grown.

Simple Salsa

For those who just like things straight forward, this salsa won’t disappoint. Also available in hot, medium and mild and with/without cilantro.

Smoked Honey Peach Poblano Salsa

This is a sweet and smoky salsa with no heat. It would go great with tortilla chips or on top of chicken or fish. I piloting with with my buddies Christina and Justin and it came out great.

Other products

Cowboy Candy

Fresh jalapenos are bathed in simple syrup and seasoned with a spice mix to create a great sweet/spicy snack or a perfect addition to a tray of nachos.

Price: $7 for 500 ml jar

Serrano-Tequila Hot Sauce

Fermentation of the peppers ensures a deeper, more complicated heat and the addition of tequila provides even more punch. It’s a little thicker than tabasco it’s great on eggs, chili and in a Caesar.

Spice Level- Med/Hot

Vodka Jalapeno Hot Sauce

With lots of flavour vs lots of heat, this is universal sauce flavoured with cilantro, onion, garlic and Mexican oregano.

Spice Level: Medium

Frankly Garlic Hot Sauce

This is my spin on Frank’s Hot with the extra kick of farm fresh garlic. I blend versus strain this so it will be thicker than standard Frank’s which makes its use on wings particularly delicious.

Spice Level: Medium

Habanero Pineapple Sauce

I’m going to try both fermented and non fermented versions of this spicy sweet sauce. This one will be spicy (especially the non-fermented one) but I’m hoping it brings a lot of flavour.

Spice Level: Hot

Please note I don’t use a delivery service and can only deliver myself in certain parts of Ontario. Reach out and see if we can make something work.

My Hip Cocktails: At the Hundredth Meridian

December 29, 2020 spennyrdLeave a comment

With about a 140 Hip songs to choose from, some are easier to assign to cocktail names than others. Some are certainly a stretch. When thinking of At the Hundredth Meridian, I was hoping that Crown Royal would fit. Gimli, Manitoba was put on the map in 2016 as the producer of Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest which was named the whisky of the year in Jim Murray’s 2016 Whisky Bible. Using my “Who’s Smarter than a 5th Grader?” skills, I deducted that a small town in Manitoba should be somewhere around the 100th meridian. Google confirmed that it is in fact at 96.9887 degrees west so using the same fifth grade skills I rounded to the nearest hundredth and we had a winner.

At the Hundredth Meridian is a song from the 1992 Fully Completely album which many consider to be the Hip’s quintessential album. It became an instant staple in my university CD rotation. As a Hip fan, I think it was a rite of passage if you could flawlessly recite Gord’s famous mid-song soliloquy if I die of Vanity, promise me, promise me that if they bury me some place I don’t want to be that you’ll dig me up and transport me unceremoniously away from the swollen city breeze garbage bag trees, whispers of disease and acts of enormity
and lower me slowly, sadly, and properly get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy while under the influence. To this day I can recite it in my sleep.

For the cocktail, I did a simple variation on an old fashioned. I really like triple sec and find it very versatile, even beyond a margarita. I was still trying to bust through a big jar of maraschino cherries from Costco so I thought the juice (almost a simple syrup in itself) would nicely replace the sugar cube. As usual, Angostura bitters are always a good call but I find Dillon’s DSB bitters do just as well.

At the Hundredth Meridian

1.5 oz Crown Royal

0.5 oz Triple Sec

0.25 oz of Maraschino cherry juice

2-3 drops Angostura or Dillon’s DSB bitters

Mix all ingredients together and garnish with an orange peel and a maraschino cherry.

Although “At the Hundredth Meridian” is one of the most recognizable Hip songs, Ry Cooder is surprisingly unknown. In 2003, he was named the number 8th guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine (and 31 by the same magazine in 2015). He has played with numerous comparable and recognized guitarists over his long and illustrious career. In addition to Kingston’s own Tragically Hip recognizing him in the aforementioned song, Queen’s university also awarded him an Honorary doctorate in 2000 leading me to believe that he would be really popular at funerals in the Limestone City.

At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin

At the Hundredth Meridian- Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip

My Hip Cocktails: The Last Recluse

December 28, 2020 spennyrdLeave a comment

The whole covid-19 nonsense has certainly brought out the good and the bad in many. It has also led to an exaggeration of a lot of the behaviors people already displayed before the world changed. The extroverts have taken to social media reminding us of the dangers of not staying home or the perils of experimental vaccines while the introverts have used the time to hide behind their walls and use these platforms to remind us all how introverted they are. I’ve been called an extroverted introvert by my friends and colleagues so I guess that entitles me to a wider spectrum of behavior, one of which is feeling rather recluse for extended periods of time.

The Last Recluse is a song from the Hip’s We are The Same album. This is arguably one of the Hip’s more somber collections, containing songs like The Depression Suite, Coffee Girl and Now the Struggle Has a Name and the Last Recluse. Although written well before Covid-19 and the explosion of social media, the lyrics of the latter track could lead one to credit the band with a clairvoyant look into 2020. It’s a tale of abandonment and diminished hope which is a feeling a lot of us have had at times given the ongoing indications that things won’t change anytime soon despite one’s efforts. This reality has made me a bit reclusive at times, so I can certainly relate.

Since there are numerous references to the Canada goose in the song’s lyrics, it seemed a fitting name for a cocktail made with gooseberries. There are numerous variations of this fruit but in this case, I used the readily available cape gooseberry (aka. goldenberry or ground cherry) as inspiration. They have a rather sour but complex flavour which makes for an excellent base for almost any spirit. I was in a mezcal mood so I thought a take on a margarita would fit the fruit’s profile nicely. I also wanted to add a little heat to compliment the sourness so I threw in some jalapeno for extra punch.

The Last Recluse

0.5 oz mezcal

1 oz tequila blanco

0.5 oz triple sec

0.5 oz lime juice

0.5 oz simple sugar

6-8 cape gooseberries

5-7 slices of jalapeno

Muddle the gooseberries and 3-5 slices (depending on your preference). Add all other ingredients to an shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds or so. Fine strain into a cocktail glass with or without ice and garnish with remaining jalapeno slices.

Whatever 2021 brings, I can’t see myself going an extended period of time without reverting to transient reclusive tendencies (especially if the covid conspiracy morons continue to spew nonsense). Ironically, if this me the “last of the immune” then so be it…I’ll stay safe and take my chances because I won’t have to social distance from Jack Daniels or Tom Collins anytime soon.

Who are you?
The last recluse?
Who are you?
The last of the immune?

The Last Recluse- We are the Same, The Tragically Hip

My Hip Cocktails: The Completists

December 26, 2020 spennyrdLeave a comment

Earlier in the year I wanted to do something with a bottle of Mezcal Agua Santa which was recommended to me by a friend of mine over the often more expensive and celebrity endorsed options in the LCBO . What made the story even better is that the founder of this Mezcal, Carmen Marron, lives in Toronto and tells a great story of moving to Canada from Mexico and the perseverance needed to get such a difficult business off the ground. It’s a stellar example of a female immigrant’s passionate entrepreneur spirit and you can taste her Mexican pride with every sip. For a cocktail, my mind wandered to some take on a margarita. To me, Mezcal is the scotch of the white spirits, offering a unique smoky flare to a drink similar to what a peaty single malt might do in a something like a “penicillin”.

I’ll be honest on this one….I relied on google to try and find a Hip song what would complement my use of mezcal. Even worse is the fact that I did a search by simply typing Mexican and the Hip in the search engine. The top result was “The Completists” which is a rather short and mellow song in the middle of the Music @ Work album. Specifically, there’s a few lines in the song which reference Mexican pot and a desert so that worked for me.

Like scotch, with Mezcal a little goes a long way. Quite often a Mezcal margarita or sour will be paired with its cousin tequila to temper a bit of the smokiness. I also think a pinch of salt is a must for most mezcal cocktails..that smoky salt combination is incredible. I didn’t sway too much from a traditional margarita this time but used orange juice instead of simple/agave syrup and added some Angelica bitters for good measures.

The Completists

1 oz tequila blanco

0.5 oz mezcal

0.5 oz triple sec

0.5 oz fresh orange juice

0.5 oz lime

2-3 drops of angelica or mole bitters (I used Dillon’s)

Dash of salt

Add everything except salt into a shaker and shake with ice. Poor into a rocks glass with ice and sprinkle with a dash of salt. Garnish with cucumber or lime.

I’ll admit that this is not my most creative concoction but things like a margarita don’t really need a lot of shake up (pardon the pun). That said, it goes well with my less than creative pairing with a Hip song…but I don’t want to sound defeated.

You lured me with your bad intentions
You lured me with your Mexican pot
You lured me with desert dimensions
You lured me a lot.

The Completists- Music @ Work , The Tragically Hip

My Hip Cocktails: Long Time Running

December 21, 2020 spennyrdLeave a comment

I’m a firm believer that one of the easiest way to jazz up a cocktail is to use fresh herbs. The taste of even classic drinks like an old fashioned or a whiskey sour can be significantly modified with sprig of thyme or some rosemary simple syrup. When I was thinking about this, my mind wandered to the Hip song “Long Time Running” and the obvious play on words involving one of my favorite herbs. It started as a quiet and misunderstood song from the Road Apples album and eventually became the title of Hip’s critically acclaimed film which documented their final tour following the announcement of Gord Downie’s cancer diagnosis. In this production, the performance of this song was particularly moving, a somber yet satisfyingly reflection of the band’s illustrious career. I equate it to other songs, such as “The One I Love” by R.E.M, in the sense that on the surface it seems to suggest peace or love but a deeper dig uncovers pain and suffering, a fitting theme to a film which some call the band’s visual eulogy.

I initially made this during the summer and is one of the few vodka cocktails I made. That said, I think it would go just as nicely with gin as well. I used green chartreuse for a little spice and some sweet and floral St. Germain to balance it out. I topped it with a splash of Fentiman’s elderflower soda to boost the St. Germain and lighten it up a bit and then finished it with a fresh sprig of thyme.

Long Time Running

1.5 oz Vodka or Gin

0.5 oz St. Germain

0.25-0.5 oz Green Chartreuse

0.5 lemon juice

Fentiman’s Elderflower soda (optional)*

Shake ingredients together in cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a rocks glass and top with elderflower soda.

* If you don’t have elderflower soda, you can replace with 0.5 oz of thyme simple syrup and club soda. Add the simple syrup to the shaker, strain and add club soda (if desired) to taste.

Drive-in’s rained out
Weatherman wet-fingers the sky
He pokes it out, he pulls it in
He don’t know why
It’s the same mistake

Long Time Running- Road Apples, The Tragically Hip

My recommendation is to drink this while listening to its namesake sitting in a Muskoka chair with a background of loon hollers or cricket chirps. Otherwise, throw on the documentary and toast a glass to one of the most iconic Canadian bands to ever grace this earth. RIP Gord.