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VILE BLOG
In celebration of this weeks Force Awakens premier we present to you Death Star! Finally an indica that is appropriate for night and day time. Of course it would be named after Star Wars. Death Star is a blend of the indica strain Sensi Star and the sativa Sour Diesel. Both strains have such dramatic effects that you would think the high from them being put together would drive you insane. Death Star is known to be a heavy indica, which is true but, the amount of euphoria that it takes from its sativa side is amazing. This strain is recommended for daytime or nighttime. It has great pain relief and tones of mental help. I would say this is a great strain to keep around for an anytime use. Its fairly popular now-a-days so, i'm sure you won't have trouble finding it! Keep it real! -Colin
A few weeks ago, I touched on a cannabis product that most of us stoners call dabs. This week i'm going to talk about one of the methods you take dabs. Dab rigs are essentially bongs for the most part. They do make dab pipes but, they are absolutely awful and I don't recommend using them. The way you use dab rigs is a bit different.... Some say that it reminds them of how you would smoke crack and in which is why some don't partake in a dab sessions. You can use any normal water bong. The only extra pieces you need is a torch, dab nail and a dabber. Dab nails are made out of either quartz, ceramic or titanium. Each nail has different benefits. Dabbers are a glass or titanium rod that you use to touch the dab (wax) to the dab nail. You consume the dab by heating the nail with the torch then taking the dabber with the wax on the end of it and putting to the heated nail. The reason that dabbing is even popular is because it sedates you more than any other way of consuming marijuana. For patients with pain, some say it works better than the best narcotic. For stoners, they say it feels like the first time they've ever smoked again. Dabbing is the ultimate high. Peace! -Colin
THIS WEEK WE ARE STOKED FOR THE RELEASE OF OUR BOYS IN RUMOURS FIRST MUSIC VIDEO FOR THEIR NEW SINGLE BLACKLISTED! CHECK OUT THE TEASER HERE!
When first seeing Stillwater come into the state it seemed as if they were sort of a one trick pony. Everything I saw was a saison, or a take on a saison. I'm not a huge saison fan but they seemed to have an allure to them that made me try every single beer of theirs. Then some other stuff started to trickle in with an eye-catching packing and style descriptions that begged to be sampled. Specifically the new Contemporary Works series that has just been released. The Surround is... wait for it, an oak-smoked imperial wheat stout. Oh yeah. Unfortunately this is a one-off brew so you may never see it again but for now it's in abundance. Taken from Stillwater's site: "Like a sound system that fills the room with audibles swarming in every direction. This massive stout overtakes your senses with aromas & flavor of dark chocolate, caramel, roast, smoke, earth & wood, It's heavy I know, but you have to drop that bass every once in a while if you really wanna get down." Fuckin' A Stillwater. I'm always tryin' to get down. Pair with all of the bbq. Especially a fat Delmonico steak. Cheers!
If you've ever felt anything in life ever, as a girl, you'll be able to relate to something from Valfre! Felt really good in lingerie? Felt like stuffing your face? Felt a little sassy? Femme Fatale? Yep, Valfre has something for all of that!
Valfre the brand all started with Miss Ilse Valfre herself! It started with her artwork, and sharing it through a blog! As the following for the blog began to grow, Ilse decided to to create a brand based off of the artwork! Grabbing inspiration from everyday life, powerful badass women, and "peppered with touches of humor and satire," it's safe to say, Valfre is perfect for any Vile girl! Her characters are the perfect representation of a Vile girl, because her girls don't care what you think about their hair, makeup, tattoos, and she's not afraid to be herself! Valfre embodies that ideal perfectly, which is why I love Valfre so much!
What has evolved from art prints, to shirts, sweaters, jackets, purses, and phone cases! I recently purchased the "100% BOY TEARS 3D Phone Case" for my iPhone 6, and it's seriously the cutest little thing ever. I've seen all of my favorite bloggers sporting it on their phones on snapchat, and Instagram, and I just had to have one myself! I was also lucky enough to be gifted a Valfre "Grow A Pair Jacket" recently, as an early birthday present!
Here are just some of my favorite Valfre designs, pieces, and prints! I've been very inspired by Valfre recently, and I know for sure when I put that Grow a Pair jacket on, I felt so cute, but oh so powerful and like a bad ass babe! I know there need to be more companies like Valfre, who can empower girls and women and make them feel like they can run the world, BECAUSE THEY CAN!! Valfre is growing everyday, and it never siezes to impress me what she comes up with!
Mel XO
ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! FUSHION SHOWS PUTS ON THEIR ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FESTIVAL: BLED FEST! SOME WHERES AROUND A THOUSAND KIDS PACKED INTO STAGE AFTER STAGE (CAREFULLY SEPARATED) ROCKING OUT TO THEIR FAVORITE LOCALS AS WELL AS A STRONG NATIONAL PACKAGE!
THERE ARE SOOO MANY GOOD BANDS PLAYING THIS YEAR! CHECK THE LIST!
MAKE SURE YOU CATCH SETS FROM OUR BOYS IN NARCO DEBUT, LAKE EFFECT, FLINT EASTWOOD, BOYS OF FALL
Possibly one of my favorite photographers to follow is Portland's Lanakila Macnaughton. One look at her Instagram @fevvvvaa and you will see why. At first look, it's hard not to scroll through pic after pic of women tearin it up on bikes. But it's actually so much more than that.
Armed with her Hassleblad, she takes to the road to document female riders for The Women's Moto Exhibit. She captures absolutely amazing shots of women living life on the road and riding free of everything. She has helped develop a culture where women are not afraid to embrace the "born to be free" motorcycle culture.
With International Female Riders Day come and gone this month, I would like to invite you to take a look and celebrate someone who helps to elevate this lifestyle, and brings the beauty and freedom of these riders to light. You can check for updates right here
This one is for my Michigan beer geeks who read this, however few there may be. Yes, another IPA. I had the pleasure a few months back of trying a delicious canned brew from Blackrocks brewery out of the great north... the Upper Peninsula! Blackrocks brewery has now acquired distribution into the lower half of the state, which means elsewhere soon enough. As of this week you can start finding their great canned line wherever finer beers are sold. The first one I'd recommend and the first I've tried was the 51K IPA. It has all the wonderful floral and citrus notes you'd expect from a midwestern IPA. Nice alcohol at 7%. Some might be reminded of a certain beer with a couple hearts, but this beer stands on its own. A great balance of malt and hops, I sure can't wait to try the rest of their beers. I can tell Blackrocks is going to be around for quite a while with flavors like this. Cheers!
I had my first experimentation with makeup the Summer before 9th Grade when I was finally given permission to start wearing it from my parents. It's definitely safe to say that it was not cute, and thank goodness I don't have any pictures to go with this awful story. That was about 7 years ago now, and since then, I've been able to try tons of products from all over the makeup spectrum, and I think I've finally found what I think works for me! By no means am I a professional, or think I am. Lots of trial and error, and I still end up with wonky eyeliner wings, and just deal with it because I can't be bothered to fix them for the 50th time. Who has the time?
The makeup I like most, would have to be eyeliner, and that might be very obvious... I've tried lots of eyeliners over the years, drug store and high end, and I have a few favorites! My personal favorite kind of eyeliners are the spongy, felt tip pointed liners! I feel like I have a lot more control over them when I apply it to my eyes! Brushes can get messy! Gels aren't bad, I just hate cleaning makeup brushes.
Here are some of my most used drug store eyeliners! I didn't put any coal/pencil/ crayon liners on here, because I don't use those for anything but tight-lining my eyes. All of these are ones I've bought once, and bought again!
Wet n Wild Mega Liner: $2.99 at any drug store! For such a cheap price I was so skeptical about this one, but after doing a little internet searching reviews on this guy, I gave it a chance, because I found it had generally good reviews. Also Kreayshawn uses this eyeliner, and I used to be all about her eyeliner wings! It stays on all day, it goes on very dark, and dries pretty fast! I never found that it smudged horribly either! It also comes in waterproof, but I'm terrified of waterproof eyeliner/mascara because it NEVER COMES OFF. I stay clear. Final verdict: 4/5
Maybelline Master Precise: ~$4.79 at Target! I've used this one more recently, and I recommend it to anyone who asks what eyeliner to use! I've only started using sponge felt tip liquid liners this year, and this eyeliner is great for getting a perfect wing, because of the sharp point it comes to, and the length of the applicator! So you can keep it small and sweet, or big and bold! It goes on very black, and dries very fast as well! I've never had any smudging or transferring onto my eyelids! 5/5 WOULD recommend!
Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Liner: ~$6.99 at Wallgreens! This is the liner that I'm CURRENTLY using! It's still pretty new to me, but I've been using it every time I put my makeup on! The found this eyeliner on Pinterest with the caption saying "BEST EYELINER IN THE WORLD FOR ONLY $6.99!!!!" So the easy to please consumer in me went out on the hunt to find it. Not all drugs stores carry Milani, so you may have to hit up a few stores! The search is very worth it! It goes on black, the sponge felt tip applicator is the perfect length, and it also dries very fast! It's my new go to, and I will recommend this one to anyone who asks me here on out! 5/5 WOULD recommend!!
E.L.F. Cream Eyeliner: ~ $3.00 at Target! This was the first gel liner I ever used, and it was what I needed at that point, and it worked for me at the time. I still use it to tight-line my eyes, or to smudge my bottom lashes, but I wouldn't use it for eye-lid liner wings! 2/5
Maybelline Eye Studio Cream Liner: ~$9.00 at Target! I really like this liner a lot, and if I still used Gel Liners for doing my wings, I would go to this one if I was in a pinch, and couldn't get to a makeup store! It's great for tight-lining as well! My mom bought this, which is how I first tried it! 4/5
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner/ Ink Liner: BOTH $19.00 // I'm just going to give my two cents about these together, because I feel like they're very similar. I didn't notice much difference between the two, to be 100% honest. They both worked pretty well, but I feel like they smudged by the end of a long day. Which is unfortunate because they're basically $20.. Also, in my experience, I couldn't get a line out of it at the very tip of the applicator! I like to get right into the inner corners of my eyes, and it was very difficult to do with these. They're lovely liners, very pigmented, I just didn't get what I thought I'd be getting when I paid almost $20 for them! Everyone else I ask about these liners, they love them. So maybe I'm just not advanced for these babies just yet. Try looking up some review on them yourself, and you may find different opinions! This is just my two cents~ 3/5
Sephora Brand Fine Line: $14.00 // I find that I had the same problems with this eyeliner, that I had with the two Kat Von D ones! They went on very dark, but the applicator wasn't all the way to the tip, and these one smudged over the course of my day as well! 2/5
Sephora Brand Dramatic Line: $14.00 // Was not a fan of this one... The little flat tip seemed practival, until I tried to use it, aaaaaaaand boom, a square on my eyelids. Returned instantly. 0/5
MAC Liquid Last Liner: $20.00 // I enjoyed this eye liner when I first purchased it! I'm not very great with brush liners, I feel like I have very little control with them, and the wrong FLICKOFTHEWRIST could mess up your fleekness~ So I try to avoid brush liners. Anyway, after using it and when I started to get to the bottom of it, the applicator started to get little clumpies on it, that were built up and was pretty gross. It also took a minute to dry after being applied. But it stayed on very well, and was very pigmented!
My biggest advice with eyeliner is THEY ARE SISTERS NOT TWINS! DON'T STRESS TOO MUCH, OR YOU'LL JUST GET FRUSTRATED AND IT WILL NEVER COME OUT GOOD THAT WAY!
Watch this video of Mykie of GLAM&GORE on Youtube of "How to 'WING' Your Eyeliner" She's really hilarious, and this is my favorite eyeliner video out of the HUNDREDS of winging your liner on YouTube!
SO MOST OF YOU MICHIGAN LOCALS ALREADY KNOW WHO AND WHAT GIFT GIVER IS. BUT FOR THOSE WHO DONT, GIFT GIVER EXEMPLIFY THE BEST PART OF THE MICHIGAN METAL SCENE AND THEY BRING IT IN THEIR NEWEST RELEASE: SHIT LIFE. WITH SONGS LIKE CURSED, BASTARD DEATH WISH, SCUMBAG PT2 AND MONEY SHOT YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO A PLACE...A DARK PLACE BUT A REAL PLACE NONE THE LESS. THESE ANN ARBOR NATIVES ARE REPRESENTING THE MITTEN HARD! SO GO BUY LISTEN TO SHIT LIFE FOR YOURSELF! AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF THIS FUCKED UP WORLD!
PS CREEP THEIR NEWEST MUSIC VIDEO "TRENDKILL"
Hops? Yup, lots. Malt? It's in there, promise. Alcohol? Yeah, that's there too at 6.9%. One of the best selling IPA's is brought to you by Stone. First introduced in 1997, this perfect example of the west coast IPA is bursting with citrus and floral hop flavors and aromas. Notes of pine explode from the glass. Fitted with Magnum, Chinook & Centennial hops Stone IPA is a dry biting beast. Nice body and nice carbonation, nothing about this beer is offensive and honestly it's a very refreshing IPA. Pair with cheese, salads... fuck, it's bbq season. Grill some chicken and fish and keep these as handy as the lighter fluid. Cheers!
BONUS VIDEO!
Amme B's is a clothing, accessories, and lingerie shop run through Storenvy and Etsy, based out of Southern California/Denver, and owned by Miss Amme B herself! A good portion of her products are handmade, and you can even do custom orders to Amme B's! They have a ton of the strappy, harness looking pieces, that are huge right now, in lingerie design.
The dainty florals, crossed with the strappy harness silhouette really make Amme B's stand out for sure. I know personally, whenever I wear any kind of lingerie that is even remotely similar to this, I feel like I can take over the entire world.
Amme B's has been seen on people such as Youtube blogger Leda Muir (Instagram: @TheLedaBunny), countless Suicide Girls such as Peggy Sue Suicide (@peggysue_suicide), and Arwen Suicide (@dametualma) and tons more!
Use code: FEELPRETTY to get 15% off your purchase!
MEL XO
Usually when the warmer months start to hit I always find myself wanting beers that are lighter on the gut. Thankfully, session IPA's and the lighter sour styles are becoming increasingly available. Among the lighter sour styles is the berliner weisse. A light bodied, slightly tart, low alcohol wheat beer. So refreshing on a hot day. Basically adult lemonade but not disgusting like a certain "hard" beverage. New Holland said, we see your light refreshing weisse and we raise you a ton of bacteria and funk. Incorrigible is the mother of sour berliners (New Holland calls it a White sour. Whatever New Holland). Still light bodied and lightly carbonated, this beer still packs that back of the jaw bite. Very acidic but also very fruity. Remember, wild ales get their fruity characteristics from the wild yeasts. Unless noted, typically on the bottle, these sours are not brewed with any fruits. For the price and the 4% abv, this beer is going to be a great picnic beer for me this summer. Pair with sandwiches and cheeses and fruits. Cheers!
Demode Clothing is a Raleigh, NC/New York based clothing company ran by A Johnson (@OnlyFame on Instagram.) Releasing new pieces almost several times a week, and always coming up with new silhouettes, Demode is definitely on the map for local fashion designers here in Raleigh.
Demode has been seen on Disney star Zendaya Coleman, and Vine famous KingBach himself!
I've been working closely with Demode Clothing for quite awhile now, and in that time, we've shot LookBoots, and I've modeled a handful of the pieces that have been released! I think my favorite thing about Demode is the obvious minimal and clean chic vibe that all of the pieces embody perfectly. It just goes to show that not everything has to be flashy and in your face to still be eye catching. The monochrome black and white designs keep it simple and chic, while still serving a high fashion street wear aesthetic.
At the beginning of Demode, it was a lot of menswear, and as of lately, it has been marketing more towards women's fashion! I'd say most of their t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories are unisex, wearable, and affordable! I was able to interview A. Johnson and pick his brain about his future plans for Demode, and how he gets his inspiration for his brand!
What's your name?
- haha .. great way to start, my first name is Arkim, pronounced like R-Kim
Where are you from?
- I feel like im from everywhere, born and raised in Long Island, NY. Lived in NC for some years as well as Cali and Japan for a year
How old are you/how old were you when you started Demode?
- Currently 25, just turned 25. Began Demode in 2012 so that would make me 22 when I started.
Why "Demode"? Where did the name come from, and what does it mean to you? How does it reflect the stylistic aesthetic of the brand?
- Demode sounds exotic, very different. I came across the word on google translator, looking up different words for fashion in different languages when I saw it I was like I can work with this. It means out of style, out of date, retro. Its an oxymoron to the brand yet very relevant because fashion changes daily and I create daily so to me designs become very out of style on a mainstream level but on a consumer based level its still very wearable. I like to make people think beyond a word. hahaha...
Can you tell us a little bit about the background of Demode, and how you got started?
- Demode is a reflection of me and how I see things. The brand is completely personal and my ideas just so happen to be relative to the supporters. I started this brand simply to design for myself, I began to post photos wearing my horrible first designs but to my amazement people wanted them. Thats when it began. I self-taught myself how to do everything from screen-printing to sewing, so I can grow at the same pace the brand would. Its been a learning process and you can't let it get to you when things don't go right. I saved up money and kept investing it into the brand, sacrifice and hard work are important.
Where/how do you get inspiration for your designs?
-Traveling inspires me, people inspire me, other forms of art inspire me. Its all about the way you look at things. I get my inspiration by just paying attention to detail whether its from other brands or from what I see people asking for.
You do quite a bit of traveling- what are some of your favorite places to go, and favorite things to do there?
- Yeah... traveling inspires me, it allows me to see the world from different views. NYC is definitely home to me, it has so much culture you see people from all over the world in one area. It allows for more designs and creations. I just like to network, meet people, take photos and just live.
How would you describe the brand (& yourself) in 5 words or less?
- Growing, Consistent, Original, Inspirational.
What's your team for Demode like?
- In the works, don't really have a team just yet, its been all me for the most part with some help from close friends here and there.
What is your goal with Demode/how far do you plan on taking Demode?
- Right now, i'm in the process of finishing a new collection, as well as the look-book. Then hopefully by june have a flagship store either in NC or in NYC, still debating. I plan on going as far as I can, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.
How do you feel the power of social media has aided the power of marketing for your brand?
- Social Media is incredible, it has honestly been a main source of branding and marketing for me because its so convenient. Im always designing, or out handling other things for the brand so its great that I can reach people by simply posting a photo in a matter of seconds.
Would you like to collaborate with any brands?
- It's definitely a possibility right now i'm still establishing Demode and building its following.
What are your plans for the future of Demode?
- A store in NYC, Miami, LA, or London. I have ideas that constantly revolve in my head, so you have to just wait and see.
Merci,
A. Johnson
He's very dedicated, and goal driven. Something to admire for sure.
Shop DemodeClothing, and use code "Melanie" at checkout for 10% your entire purchase!
Melanie XO
Hey guys!
As you probably already know, Wayne Szaliniski has won my heart with their full-length effort "Black Mirror" last year. Since the album's release they have gone through some changes, and now they are headed out on a whopper of a tour! I took a sec to chat with frontman Andy Milad, who doubles as one of my favorite people on earth!
PHOTO CRED: Daniel Balderas
ANDY: First off, thanks for takin' your time to ask us a few questions, I really appreciate it. Second, so glad you're into the record. That means so much comin' from friends I hope you know.
TOPH: Thank you for making such a gorgeous set of songs, man. We go back a lil' ways and it's always been so fun to be around you and the music you create :) So, tell me about this tour... Is this your longest one yet?
ANDY: Yep! This is going to be our longest tour to date. Super excited, I'm sure it'll be a blast.
TOPH: I fucking bet! And since you guys released black mirror(one of my absolute favorite things this past year), I know dudes like Nick Galli and Kurt Roy have moved/are moving away. So, how are you guys adjusting to that? (I really wanted Kurt to record my band so it hurts me, hopefully he can master/mix some stuff for me some day!)
ANDY: It's always a bummer to lose a band member. We've played with, I think, five bass players now... so we've learned to adapt pretty quickly. Drums are another issue entirely. When Nick left to go work at his dream-job, we were very sad. Nick had such a profound impact on the sound of the band through his playing-style, so it took us awhile to get back on track. We love Nick, we miss him, but we're also very happy for him. Check his Instagram, he's livin' lavish.
That being said, we're working with a fantastic new drummer now, Judson Branam. He's got a style all of his own and he's an incredibly positive force to work with. Jud's a really friendly guy and I'm super excited to be touring with him.
TOPH: Good to hear you found a good fit! However, I miss the hell out of Nick. Never got to ride bikes :( And I was broke when it first released, but is "Black Mirror" still available on vinyl?
ANDY: Black Mirror, our debut album, is definitely still available. We sold a bunch when it was released and got more pressed for this upcoming tour. If you can't catch us at a show, you can always get it online, here @ wayneszalinski.bandcamp.com
TOPH: DOPE! I'm snaggin' that shit ASAP! Now, what were your biggest influences on that record? (I mean both musically and "IRL")
ANDY: Black Mirror is our first full-length record, so it compiles a bunch of songs written over several years. In that time our influences were extremely varied, but I think the strongest were Jeff Buckley, The Smiths, and TTNG
TOPH: I can definitely see it. I'm gonna catch you at PJ's on May 7th, can I please sing with you? <3
ANDY: heck yea man, just get up there w/ me. :)
TOPH: Yesssss. You can count on it. See ya then buddy! Tell Andrew Adams I love him!
You can catch them on the kick-off, like I mentioned, at PJ's in detroit. Click here for the FB event, and peep the poster below for the full tour schedule! Dueces!
XOXO TOPH
Continuing on with this weeks "Man Mountain take Over" we decided to rock our normal #wcw post with "Man Mountain music Crush on a Wednesday!
Jacob Goins (Drums): @jacob_mountain
“The album “Two Conversations” by The Appleseed Cast has probably been the most influential for me in the context of Man Mountain, because this is the album I listened to the most in the beginning stages of the band. Before Man Mountain was anything, Mike and I would jam two or three times a week for hours on end, and every time we would play songs such as “Hello Dearest Love”, “Hanging Marionette”, “Fight Song”, “On Reflection”, and “As The Little Things Go”, among others. The first full song we wrote together as a band was “Lucerna”, and The Appleseed Cast was definitely a major influence for me when writing my parts for the song. There is long a list of bands that have influenced me as a musician, but in the context of Man Mountain, when David, Mike, and I first formed the band, The Appleseed Cast was definitely one of most inspirational.”
David Reaume (Bass):
“Sigur Rós came out with the album “Takk…” back in 2005 when my 16 year old self was busy filling my ears with as many Tooth & Nail and Solid State Records bands as I could get my hands on, so when I first heard the opening notes I was blown away. The best way to describe the feeling of listening to this album is like being a kid again, throwing a big blanket over your head, and pretending you are somewhere far away, in the dark, staring up at a million stars. Jónsi’s falsetto vocals and melodic glockenspiel spark a sense of childish curiosity while flowing into ripping tides of distorted chords that make you feel like you are summiting a mountain with no rigging and could fall at any moment. I had no idea you could make guitars sound like that; it changed everything for me.”
“Glósóli”, by Sigur Rós:
Mike Reaume (Guitar): ig @mike_mountain
“When we first started writing riffs and jamming skeletons of songs that would eventually become our first EP, this was actually before I starting listening to a lot of post-rock. At that time I was just finally discovering a band from Illinois called “American Football”, who’s only full length album had come out all the way back in 1999. The former metalcore kid in me was immediately drawn to the use of complex polyrhythms, yet this was something much different. The drumming wasn’t warp speed craziness, it was just simple and tasteful, but the more you listen the more you notice cool little details in the patterns.
The guitars on this album are really what grab me though. Everything just sounds beautiful and full of emotion, with a perfect balance of complexity and taste. This is also one of the first albums I got into where the guitars are just totally clean for the most part, and they sound amazing. I definitely love using a lot of effects at times, stacking delay pedals and such, and I still love a good brutal distortion on occasion, but this album really made me realize the importance of having an awesome clean tone.”
“Never Meant”, by American Football
