As solstice approaches - Two Old Goats Live in the Sun age · Thursday June 4, 2009 by colin newell
Wouldn’t it be cool to be in a folk band – or have a CD under your belt and sit in the audience and enjoy your music?
Ok. Kind of weird.
Anyhow. Tonight Andrea and I had the awesome pleasure of sitting outdoors and listening to 1/2 of the Two Old Goats (my band), Charlie Burton and his lovely and talented daughter Mariah – belt out some of the tunes off of our album and Charlies first album Take my Picks
The Two Old Goats recorded a CD last year – titled Island Standard Time in my 24 track home studio… and, get this, this is the 1st time I have ever heard any of the songs performed live!
The real star of the show, actually, is Mariah, Charlies college age daughter – whose vocal prowess was an utter knock-out – and whose talent was entirely not surprising. She is, after all, the daughter of a dude who has some pretty wicked chops.
Anyway – to our delight, they played at the Cadboro Bay Starbucks – out on the patio – in the brilliant Sun… on a wonderful evening. The weather has been spectacular the last few days, in Victoria, and like any outdoor setting for live acoustic music… well, it cannot be beat! Charlie sang and played his Martin guitar and Banjo – Mariah sang, harmonized, did some originals and played some awesome guitar and banjo as well.
In a stunning moment, Mariah did a version of Summertime that left the audience breathless. And as I said to Charlie after the show: “I have teared up twice in the last month – once during a Tony Bennett performance on Elvis Costello’s show Spectacle and second during Mariah’s perfect and breathtaking rendition of the classic.
For those Victoria area residents that are interested, Charlie will be playing at the Caddy Bay Starbucks every Thursday night for the rest of the month – from 7PM til 9PM. Come on down. I will be there.
Interested in the music of the Two Old Goats – check it out here
As solstice approaches - passports please · Wednesday June 3, 2009 by colin newell
Ask the average American which two countries border on the U.S.A.
And they will either give you a blank stare…
or they will say (after a suitable hesitation…)
“Alaska and Hawaii?”
or they will say…
“Countries?”
They don’t know.
And for Americans, a passport does not make sense…
because the U.S.A. is the World.
What do they need a passport for when the World is…
well… the U.S.A.
Yes. This is a gross exaggeration
And this exaggeration is like painting a snake and adding legs.
But it illustrates a subtle point. It may be difficult to convince a population of prospective travelers, of skittish explorers… that they need anything beyond their drivers license or an oral declaration – to allow them to enter, well… anywhere.
I am not a betting man – but I think it is safe to assume that American visits to Canada are about to take a major down-tick.
Meantime, my passport is up to date. I love America and I plan on visiting it often in the next while.
Doi Chaang Thai Civet coffee - chapter two · Tuesday May 26, 2009 by colin newell
At $500 per pound, Doi Chaang’s Thai civet coffee could be among the most expensive – and tasty coffee on the Planet Earth – and I speak from my taste experience.
And in early June it will be available at one of three Urban Fare Stores in Vancouver and Pusateri’s in Toronto.
Senior officer at Doi Chaang, John Darch, has received requests for this exotic brew which has easily exceeded the 40 lbs they have on hand.
John offers, “I’m pleased to say that the Doi Chaang Civet coffee tasting went
exceptionally well. So well in fact that Shawn MacDonald and I were invited to appear on the Fanny Keifer show.”
A tasting was attended by three Chefs, three writers and a person who is a part of the local Slow Food organization.
Their response to the Civet coffee, aroma and taste was very positive, recognizing the “Honey, floral” lingering taste which was first identified by John Gilchrist.
Without exception, all of those who had tried the Indonesia Kopi Luwak stated that the Doi Chaang wild Civet coffee was far superior in taste.
I second that. And I have never been a big fan of the caffeinated flash in the pan.
With so little Thai Civet coffee available it will be interesting to see what impact this product has on the “esoteric elements” within specialty coffee.
The upside, as I see it, is – Doi Chaang’s standard fare of traditional arabica coffees are interesting – and at under $20/pound for the conventional stuff…
Worth every penny.
For sheer thrill power, the 1/8 pound of Thai Civet Coffee that Doi Chaang sent me was enjoyed by 12 of my colleagues – who will not be forgetting their experience anytime soon.
And that’s priceless.
Spring into unusual coffee season with Doi Chaang Organic Civet Coffee · Wednesday May 20, 2009 by colin newell
Just brewed up a small < 20 fluid ounce Newco thermal carafe of Doi Chaang Thai civet coffee from the good people at Doi Chaang coffee.
Doi Chaang only uses Northern Thailand 100% arabica coffee – and their civet coffee is 100% pass grade – which means through and through – need another definition? The red cherries pass through the civet cat entirely – not chewed and expectorated.
The Doi Chaang Civet coffee (unlike some cheap Vietnamese knock-off Kopi Luwak coffees) are organic from free-range civet cats – not penned up factory product like you get from Vietnam.
What does it taste like?
In the bag (whole bean), the coffee is very mild with a pleasant caramel fragrance.
In the cup: Very softly defined sugars, a gentle astringency – not a hint of bitterness… a very, very balanced acidity that I would have never have expected from something so new and novel.
The Doi Chaang civet coffee reminds me of some of the better Kona’s that I have had – with a mysterious and whimsical edge that I cannot quite put my finger on.
We served to about 8 people in the first batch – everyone (even the Pro’s) found it agreeable and surprisingly mild. If you were expecting a wild flavor with tons of berry notes or big body and chocolate, this is not that coffee.
It is, however, light years ahead of the Vietnamese impersonators.
Thumbs up to a pleasant and tasty civet coffee!
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