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The Constellations – Southern Gothic – CD Review

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I cannot believe it is June 22nd already.  Summer is officially here and what better way to bring in the warm fun season than to jam out to some amazing music – but what exactly is out there to listen to?  Luckily Atlanta act The Constellations have decided to drop their debut release titled Southern Gothic just in time to provide a great soundtrack for your summertime fun.

After two years in the making with assistance from producer Ben H. Allen (Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective), the eight piece act has released an album that mixes all the fun of bands like Outkast, MGMT, and the Gorillaz with almost a 90’s grunge / soul combination all while adding their own flair.

Honestly there really is no way to define a genre for this band as their songs range from rock to hip hop to pop – that is not necessarily a bad thing.  Lacking consistency never sounded so good.  Add in love for Tom Waits and guest appearances by Cee-Lo Green and Asher Roth, it is quite apparent this band is not a gimmick you are listening to.

“Setback” opened the release with a funky electronic jam heavy on the bass with lead vocalist Elijah Woods almost rapping over music that easily could be thought on something the Chemical Brothers might have created or even Fatboy Slim.  This was the song that was brought to my attention to earlier in the year and needless to say it sparked my attention tremendously.

Not giving the idea that Southern Gothic might be only an electronic album came “Perfect Day” a relaxed and very cool sounding track reminiscent of good ol’ Gnarls Barkley.   It’s only fair to mention Gnarls Barkley seeing as “Love Is A Murder” featured ½ of the act otherwise known as Cee-Lo Green who provided a monologue throughout the track.  This was one of those songs that easily will stick to the minds of many and be broadcast all over the radio.

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“December” was another track that just screamed to be played on the radio and sounded like a unreleased Broken Bells track.  I could not help but think of how perfect the song would be for a going out on the town mix.  “Take A Ride” proved to be another inebriated party track with the message to just raise hell starting at the barstool.

“We’re Here To Save The Day” sounded like a strange alliance between Beck and Eminem.  Listening to Asher Roth supply a flow of heavy heard rhymes throughout it was apparent song clearly was out of place with the rest of the tracks yet was amusing to listen to.  I also could not help but wonder why Asher Roth was almost blatantly shown the spotlight on the song while earlier Cee-Lo barely crept through his spoken word of sorts.

“Step Right Up” was by far my favorite track on the album as it was a clear tribute to Mr. Tom Waits.  The song was a completely off the beaten path revolving around one of my favorite artists of the 70’s.  Keeping with the iconic storytelling individual this song also keeps the funk moving around for almost ten minutes.  I can not see everyone getting a kick out of this song but something tells me this is one of those songs best seen live.

“Remurder Is A Lovemix” was a soulful piece with the commonly heard advice “if you really wanna live, you gotta be ready to die”.  I enjoyed this song with Elijah Woods changing up his singing style as well as the random distorted guitar solo that jumped in the middle of the track.

Southern Gothic is a gallant release by a group of musicians who seemingly refused to keep their material contained.  Usually the result of something of this nature could be disastrous but The Constellations manage to pull it off in a great way.  Already turning heads at SXSW and Bonnaroo the band continues to tour and will be making a stop at Lollapalooza.  Do yourself a favor and make sure that Southern Gothic is part of your playlist one way or another this summer.  This band will be going places, I know it.

DOWNLOAD THIS! – The Constellations – “Setback”


The Constellations – “Setback”

THE CONSTELLATIONS | MySpace Music Videos

Babble Blog, Road Trip

Babble Blog: Tyler Durbin, WV

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In case any of you were wondering, I am still alive.  My paying gig has been taking a lot of my free time as has the new relationship I have started with a wonderful girl.  I have not forgotten about BHP and still have a few interviews and whatnot up my sleeves I will be posting shortly.  I can’t let down all 4 of my readers…

Before any of that happens though I thought I might take a little vacation, rather, an adventure.  Skipping Bonnaroo this year (tears still form at my eyes about that decision), I made a pact with one of my best friends to go on an extended camping trip with him and our dogs in the mountains of West Virginia.

I am leaving here as soon as I am done typing up this blog.  Why am I telling you this?  Well because in the middle of the mountains there is no internet or cellular phone service so I am going to be off the grid for a while.  I am excited yet nervous about this as I pretty much depend on the internet and my cellphone these days.  I know, sad.

I will be trying to make daily journal entries that I will compile into a blog when I get back.  Should be interesting as I have not done anything like this in at least 10 years.  I am sure I am going to have a blast but wish me luck anyways.  I need an escape and this should do me just fine.

Be well.

Babble Blog, Cleveland, Good Eats, Got Local?, Personal Entry, Photography, The Awesome

Babble Blog: Melt My Day

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Odds are if you live in or around the Akron/Cleveland area of good ol’ Ohio you have probably heard of a little place called Melt Bar & Grilled (aka Melt).  Honestly though if you have no idea of this Melt I speak of you might live inside a box and do not read this blog very often.  As many readers of BHP know, I have a slight obsession with the establishment.

How obsessed you ask?  Well not only to I try and make it there once a month but I also am one of those folk who prove their undying love for Melt by sporting a Melt tattoo (25% off for life yo).  I even have gone so far as to attend a filming of a Man vs. Food episode at the Lakewood, OH location just a couple months back and will enjoy watching myself scream/cheer at Adam Richman as he took on the Melt challenge.  The episode will be showing sometime this summer on the Travel Channel as the all new season is starting on June 16th.

I love the place and I can honestly say I am not the only one.  With a 2+ hour wait on most days just to be seated to grab a delicious bite to eat, I would say that most folk in this neck of the woods have at one time enjoyed some Melt.  The gourmet grilled cheese restaurant, owned and operated by Matt Fish, recently spawned (pun intended) across Cleveland for a second location in Cleveland Hts.

This little babble blog is about that new location.

A few weeks back I had received a piece of mail with the Melt logo on it.  Having no idea what it was I opened it up and there it was, an invitation to a pre-grand opening to the new location.  I seriously felt like Charlie from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory as this was my “golden ticket” to a special event.  I was invited to check out the new location before the public and might have been a little excited about it.

So about a week later I headed out to Cleveland Hts. to check out the new eatery.  I had heard bits and pieces about the location and the extent of the renovations it took to turn what used to be the Rhythm Room (RIP) at one time into the new Melt.

Anyone remember that place?

The Rhythm Room was less of a room and more of a a hole-in-the-floor bar.  When you walked in the bar there was a large opening that peered down into the basement where the stage was.  There is more to that of course with rails and a stairwell but it was always interesting to see a punk show there.  You would either cram in the basement or hang out above and lean on the rails to watch the shows.

I miss that place a lot and have some fond memories thanks to my good friends who used to be in the “Clevland” punk rock band The Narcoleptics x5.  I used to hang out there a lot actually and saw my fair share of local independent punk acts as well as even caught The Unseen there.  Sadly the place stopped hosting punk shows and morphed into a reggae club before finally calling it quits.

Enter Matt Fish and his idea to expand his amazing creation.  I am not sure how or why he chose the location but I am in the works of interviewing him so that will be told at a later time.  Knowing though on what the place used to look like I was highly curious to see how he was going to pull it off.

Walking up to the building nested on the corner of Cedar and South Taylor I started having mini flashbacks of fun times with my pals usually fueled by cheap beer but it all stopped as soon as I looked up and saw the giant Melt sign located just above the entrance.  Imagine if you would a giant grilled cheese and crossbones…  All I could do was smile as I opened the doors and made my way in.

I was wowed by what I saw.  The place looked nothing like the Rhythm Room and was completely renovated.  There was a large bar in the center of the building that spanned over where the hole-in-the-floor used to be.  Retro decor graced the walls of the much larger new restaurant including a giant Dairy Queen sign on the wall over by where I sat.  There were arcade signs incorporated into the liquor racks, old advertisements, and of course random plastic light up pumpkins and other holiday items that make Melt so unique over many other places.  I even spotted some broken bottle stained glass windows over the entrance – sounds crazy unless you have seen them at the Lakewood location.  Flat screen TVs hung about showed The Goonies while music blasted from a very impressive PA system.

The place looked like the Lakewood Melt in a sense but was much larger and just…new.  Staff ran around the floors seating other special guests and basically getting a preview for what they were hired for.  With in about 20 minutes of me being there the place was packed.  It was no surprise to me at all and I can see this being a trend from here on out.

In the back left corner at the pick-up window I could see that Matt Fish in the kitchen area showing all of the new cooks how it was done helping prepare countless amounts of various grilled cheeses.  Plate after plate was picked up by the waiters and waitresses and delivered to happy customers.

I wanted to try something new on the menu but went to my default and grabbed a Big Popper.  I lied to myself and said it was healthy for me.  There is nothing good for you about a jalapeno grilled cheese sandwich that is battered and then deep fried other than the guilty pleasure and the taste for that matter.  The fries and cole slaw too make it a pretty kick ass meal.

As I destroyed the sandwich I saw some familiar faces some of who were staff from Lakewood that came out to help train and others who were at the Man vs. Food event.  As if I was not full enough I decided to try the fried Twinkie for dessert and must say…amazing.  I left that place a full and happy man…maybe a little too full.

If you live in the Cleveland area you really have no excuse to hit up a Melt Bar & Grilled and try one of their gourmet grilled cheeses.  The new Cleveland Hts. location is located on the corner of Cedar Ave. and South Taylor Rd.  Parking is available on the streets or in a small metered area that is free after 6pm if I am not mistaken.  If you are not from the area and are worried you might not be able to find the restaurant,  just look for the giant Melt sign at the corner.  You can not miss it.