ZB's YouTube Cavern #10: A Lovely Wormhole

The other night I had a splendid little run on YouTube that started off with a quick search for a live version of Nikki Lane's tune "Send the Sun". I found this one below and it's amazing - her voice is angelic and the backing musicians do a terrific job at accenting and complimenting her vocals. Always awesome when an artist can strip down a song and crush it.

Nikki Lane - Send the Sun - 1/25/2017 - Paste Studios, New York, NY

Naturally after that video the all-powerful YouTube algorithm had a juicy suggestion for me. And I couldn't help but click it, thus opening up the wormhole. It's an OG rendition of "In Dreams" by Sierra Ferrell from 2018. I think this is the video that went viral-ish and eventually lead to her getting signed by a label and ultimately releasing her debut album this year. She is a master of her craft - great guitar playing, thoughtful lyrics, and a voice that will send chills down your spine. She's in Holyoke, MA in November (with Bella White opening) and I will 100% be in attendance.

Sierra Ferrell, "In Dreams" // GemsOnVHS

Next up was a group that I wasn't familiar with called The Staves. It's a trio of English gals (I believe they're all sisters) and they play a live rendition of their song "In The Long Run" in the middle of a meadow. The lead singer/guitarist has a stunning voice and the backing singers come in with well-placed harmonies all throughout. And that chorus - my lord. Pure folk bliss plain and simple.

The Staves - In The Long Run

After a trip across the pond I found myself hopping back over to the backwoods of the USA watching Cat Clyde's rocker "Mama Said". The melody instantly reminded me of "Where Is My Mind?" by the Pixies and the music video itself gave me Into the Wild vibes for sure. It's a cool song structure that feels icy thin, and the song subject is heavy af. This is sort of where the tone shifted in the wormhole and I'm glad it did (stay tuned to find out why).

Cat Clyde - Mama Said (Official Video)

Last but certainly not least I stumbled upon my final epic video of the night: "Hertz" by Amyl and the Sniffers. There've been a handful of moments the last decade plus when the stars aligned and a new musical artist presented themselves to me within a cavern. There was Gorillaz back in the OG days of YouTube - I remember watching Feel Good Inc over and over and just marveling at this new website and all it had to offer. Then there were the college years when Reggie Watts and Dub FX truly blew my mind - their looping style was perfect for the medium. Then Ty Segall came later on - I'll never forget hearing "Feel" in my bed at Hathorne Crescent late one night just completely floored. And then came Amyl and the Sniffers - what a freaking hilarious yet badass hodgepodge these guys are. Lead singer Amy Taylor is mesmerizing and the bringing-it-back-the-old-school swagger they have is infectious.

Amyl and the Sniffers - Hertz

I proceeded to watch about another dozen Amyl videos, as one does once they've found that "it" factor within the wormhole lol. And while it can be a bit of a time suck I must say the YouTube suggestion bar is a great place to discover new artists and videos. I'm on a never-ending quest to find good tunes I've never heard, and a quick little cavern can really do the trick. It was a late bedtime that night, but totally worth it.

- ZB James

Reusable Packaging: What Some Publications Are Ignoring in Their Evaluations

    As the people of the world continue to realize the growing need for environmental rehabilitation and stewardship, I have seen a number of large publications evaluating the costs and benefits of reusable packaging vs single-use. I do not know whether big oil goes so far as to lobby against reusable packaging - they probably do - but from the majority of the publications I’ve seen (specific post inspiration came from this TIME article: Reusable Packaging Is the Latest Eco-Friendly Trend. But Does It Actually Make a Difference?), these evaluations are shortsightedly from an energy-use-only standpoint.

The main argument is “you would have to use a reusable product X amount of times before it would save more energy than it took to create single-use product Y”. While energy-use may be the most important factor at the moment, it is not the only concern that requires acknowledgement when assessing the costs of reusable vs single-use, especially when a large percentage of consumers and services (accidentally or not) are not properly disposing of waste.

What I have not seen many of these publications include in their assessments is the impact that single-use packaging has on wildlife, specifically marine wildlife. When you have massive swaths of single-use packaging blanketing portions of the ocean, suffocating animals, being mistaken for food, and entering their bodies (which enters ours if we consume them), the problem is bigger than just energy. To ignore that incalculably complex issue in these publications is irresponsible. *This is not to say there aren’t plenty of people and organizations out there raising awareness about the issue; just that I’m not seeing it in this conversation.*

I know not everyone cares about the suffering of marine wildlife, or even recognizes that marine life can suffer, but the problem is a symptom of a bigger environmental issue if nothing else. Habitat and biodiversity loss threaten to exponentially increase the speed at which these emissions freely enter our biosphere, pushing the world past its tipping point at even greater speeds.

The more (overwhelmingly single-use) waste that collects in our oceans, the less viable a host it becomes for marine flora, which sequester enormous amounts of Carbon. This leads to increases in overall ocean temperature and acidification, further clearing the path for greenhouse gasses to enter our biosphere and raise global temperatures beyond repair.

No matter how you slice it, there is more to consider in the “reusable vs disposable” debate than the amount of energy it takes to create or recycle the product. It concerns me to comb through these articles and see little-to-no recognition of this problem, which could easily outweigh energy-use issues once we’ve ditched fossil fuels as an energy source.

As a leading publication, I think printing any article that leads people to believe they should go on using single-use packaging is a harmful misstep when complete ecosystems, species, and the suffering of wildlife are at stake. As of right now, there is no comprehensive way to calculate the long-term impacts that plastic pollution will have on our oceans and its inhabitants, which is all the more reason why it can't be ignored.


- Moth

Lucius: The Doreen to Irene Trilogy

 A listener's perspective on Lucius' 2010s album trilogy

Throughout the 2010s there were plenty of captivating album runs from indie artists that spanned the entire decade. But one trilogy of records has truly captivated my attention: Lucius' prolific Wildewoman --> Good Grief --> NUDES trilogy where many different motifs and perspectives were touched upon (both sonically and lyrically). I recently reviewed all three of these pieces on the Album Review, and wanted to put them up on Lush and Todd. Below is the trio, hope anyone reading enjoys.

God Bless,

- ZB James

Moth's YouTube Cavern #2: Final Day at GHS: June 2001

 

Final Day at GHS: June 2001

After only two caverns I’m noticing a trend, but I like this video for its true-to-life depiction of a real time and place. I find it amazing that in our latching to the concept of time we’ve found so many ways to record it. For thousands of years, modern humans existed on the planet knowing not much more than their immediate surroundings: Oxford University and the Aztec Empire existed simultaneously; the Bicycle and Steam Locomotive were independently invented just a few years apart. For better and worse, today we can see what’s going on in every corner of the world, however relatively mundane or spectacular.

I look back on high school fondly, and in the grand scheme 2001 wasn’t too far from 2009, so this was a nostalgic viewing. These are my supervisors at work; friends’ older siblings; my camp counselors and cousins in their youth. Look at them go!

- Moth

Moth's YouTube Cavern #1: The Life of Andy Warhol (Documentary)

Part 1

Part 2

This one took me a couple of weeks' worth of lunch breaks since it's around 3hrs total but it was a great journey.

Before watching, I was not privy to Andy Warhol's life and work other than the fact that he was the Campbell's Soup guy and did the cover art for The Velvet Underground & Nico. From watching this video I got the sense that he was a truly prolific artist who pioneered mediums, fused art with industrial concepts, and changed the world through his visionary work.

I was particularly interested in the first batch movies he made. Beginning in the second half of his career, these movies consisted of what might be most direct representation of "motion pictures". One film is just 5hrs of a person sleeping, another captures a man's face throughout a sexual encounter, and a handful of others record people doing everyday activities like drinking a coke or getting a haircut. These early films gave the viewer a chance to watch people do things that we all do every day, but can never experience through the body of another. I sleep every day, and I've seen people asleep, but to really watch someone sleep for 5hrs, or enjoy a whole beverage? I find Andy's idea of allowing us to view people simply experiencing the world especially poignant, and was most impressed by that period in his career.

I now have a much greater understanding of the depth of Andy's work, his unique story, and his far-reaching cultural impact. There is no accounting for taste, and Andy had it in spades. Some art historians claim that he is the most important artist since Pablo Picasso, or the most important art figure of the second half of the 20th century. After watching this I am inclined to agree.

- Moth

ZB's YouTube Cavern #9: The Great Alex Turner

 

Awesome acoustic cover of Tame Impala's "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" by Alex Turner. He totally makes it his own and knocks it out of the park. Such a G.

The Banquet Bunch - Cheesecake Factory

 

Welcome to The Banquet Bunch Review, where recent restaurant meals are discussed and/or reviewed by one of The Double B attendees. Today I’m going to take on the mighty task of summarizing a trip to the hallowed Cheesecake Factory in Peabody. It was a monumental occasion for many different reasons, which I’ll get into below. Hope you enjoy it.

May 30th, 2021 - Peabody, MA

This past Sunday it was a rainy day and there wasn’t much to do, so of course The Double B pounced on the opportunity to dine out. It was a big moment in Massachusetts - the first weekend with no mask mandate anymore - and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate place to usher in this new American era than the mall (plus I had a $50 gift card lol). Nothing says freedom quite like a chaotic chain restaurant surrounded by retail stores.

The Venue

As we got there and went inside, immediately you could feel an artificial and distinctly American energy. For some reason the Cheesecake architecture is basically a nod to all previous empires. There’s Egyptian sphinxes, Roman columns, and some Elizabethan era structures all washed over with a desert tan color. There are intricate light fixtures everywhere and the lighting is dim, which gives the whole place a Southwestern America illumination (Tay called it an "Arizona energy"). It’s a marvelous and colossal hodgepodge that’s over-the-top and corny - like a romanticized dream of a dream of what ancient times were like. The imitation vibes are so heavy that it almost makes Cheesecake Factory come across as a theme restaurant and not a chain. All in all it’s very strange and pure Americana.

But that’s the whole shtick and charm of the place at the end of the day. The second you walk in there you know what you’re in for. The stakes couldn’t be any lower, which helps the guest avoid the daunting pressure that comes with going to super nice restaurants. There's also a guilty comfort knowing that it's a chain - in the back of your mind you know that it's not going to be horrible as there are corporate standards that need to be met. So for a first big meal out with no masks, this felt right. A safe step back into the real world with the American people, packed into a pastiche jungle gym of a restaurant ready for the troth. USA! USA!

The Meal

They made us download the menus on our phones, much to me and Taylor’s chagrin. I thought that maybe having the menu in digital form would help with navigating their notoriously massive list of options, but it didn’t. It took me up until the final few seconds before I knew what I wanted. Just so much to choose from - Thai food, Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, pizza, their “skinnylicious” entrees, and about a million side dishes/apps. So overwhelming. In the end we went with this (from what I recall):

Appetizers:

• - Bread and butter (they included some tasty brown bread. Possibly pumpernickel? Not hundo sure)

• Factory Nachos (no chicken)

Beverages:

Carol - 2 Coors Lights and a water

Taylor - Multiple waters with a lemon slice

Hinchey - 4 Cheesecake Factory Special Lemonades (free refills)

Tim - 3 Cheesecake Factory Special Lemonades (free refills)

Zach - Multiple waters with a lemon slice

Entrees:

Carol - Chicken Parmesan Sandwich (w/ fries)

Taylor - Caesar Salad (appetizer size, he wasn’t hungry/ate before we went)

Hinchey - Fettuccine Alfredo

Tim - The Lettuce Wraps (w/ grilled avocado) and a Beet and Avocado Salad

Zach - Chicken Taquitos and a Cuban Sandwich (w/ fries)

Desserts:

• Slice of Original Cheesecake (shared by all)

• Slice of Tiramisu (upon Taylor’s insistence, shared by all)

Summary

Looking back I certainly enjoyed the occasion, and the highlight for me was the Factory Nachos. Great presentation that had a well balanced layering. The key is the shallowness to the nacho - if it’s too mountainous some chips get buried by cheese/salsa while others are bone dry. With this nacho each chip had an acceptable cheese/salsa ratio and it was all thanks to the thin bedding. Well done by the Factory. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention how delicious both desserts were. Their original cheesecake is as good as it gets, and the tiramisu was to die for. Brilliant baking.

It was also nice to get out and do something on an otherwise dreary weekend filled with crummy weather. In an interesting twist the meal itself took a long time to come to a close, which I’m guessing is because the staff was swamped. There was a general sense of discombobulation, especially at the front desk, which was also noteworthy. It added to that classic hilarity/notoriety that comes with a Cheesecake Factory night. And as for the lengthy wait for the check - I’d rather have a stretched out meal than a quick one. To just hang and chat as we contemplated the final bill price was a delight (I was pretty close with my guess of $150). Lastly, our waiter was a good dude that earned his tip. He was happy-go-lucky and dealt with our demands quite well (Tim dropped his napkin...big party foul).

Thank you so much Cheesecake, you're always a top notch basic choice. Until next time!

- ZB James