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
When crossing the Blueberry indica strain and the legendary Haze sativa strain, you get an absolute amazing hybrid called BLUE DREAM!!! This strain is as good as it sounds. Every aspect that you look for in a sativa and a indica strain is within this strain. This type of hybrid is considered a sativa dominate. What that means is, when you smoke blue dream you get the euphoric creativeness that you would from a normal sativa but also, you get the relaxing pain relief that you would get from a normal indica. Patients that suffer from pain, depression, or nausea love this strain because normally they would have to smoke a heavy indica to relieve the threshold of these symptoms. Which usually make you very tired and unmotivated. But, because blue dream shares the best of both worlds, it doesn't make you drowsy but still gives you the pain relief with the desired motivation. A great strain to have in the morning with your cup of coffee.
Have an awesome week!!!! Peace -Colin
This strain is the one that everyone brings up when they try to nay-say marijuana. In no way at all does Green Crack have anything to do with real crack or even butt cracks for that matter. This strain was originally known as "Cush" and hit the scene in the early 90's in SoCal. Somewhere in its travels thru California, Cush got sold to Snoop Dogg and his crew. Its said that Snoop Dogg took a few hits of Cush and said that he was going to call it Green Crack for now on because of how quickly it hits you with energy and how much he just wanted to keep smoking it. This strain is a fantastic morning weed. It gives you every benefit of caffeine and gives you a lot of creative juices. Artist tend to keep Green Crack around cause of how well it helps to break through creative barriers. A great med for anyone who needs motivation, stress relief, anti-depression and pain relief. This is one of the most sought after strains out!!! Have a hazy week ya pot heads! -Colin
TRAINWRECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I. Fa-king. Love. This. Strain!!!! Seriously tho, one of the best scented and best tasting types of marijuana in my opinion. If you are looking for a cerebral “head high”, as the kids are calling it these days, this is a perfect strain to pick up. Trainwreck has been a household name for us marijuana abusers for decades now. I’m sure if you said the name “trainwreck” around your hippy parents, they would know exactly what you’re talking about. Besides giving a crazy awesome head buzz, this strain is great for patients that suffer from depression, anxiety, appetite stimulant, cramps associated with PMS, RLS, DDD, nausea, muscle aches, and eases pain from nerve damage. I personally have found myself leaning towards this strain whenever I’m in need of a pick me up. It helps take a bad mood and turn it right around. It’s also great to smoke during the day because it gives you a euphoric state of mind with a high amount of energy.
Smoke em if you got em boys and girls! Have a gnarly week!
-Colin
Two weeks ago I had no idea what Lamb's Bread was until this amazing strain came around and blew my mind. As soon as I ripped into the bulk bag, a sweet earthy pungent smell sneaked into my nose and I felt as if I've found true love. This super sativa has an instant euphoric feel, leaving you with an abundance of creative and inspirational thoughts. Lamb's Bread origins come out of Jamaica and is said to be a favorite of Bob Marley. Lamb's Bread is an amazing strain to have around when you have been feeling down in the dumps. Its a major mood booster. Lots of laughs are packed into this fantabulous strain.
Peace&Love -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
The White is that kind of strain that you smoke once and fall in love with. I know people that won't even touch other strains cause of how much they love The White. This strain is claimed to be an indica dominate hybrid. You would never know that is its a hybrid unless you looked it up tho. It is a knock out bud. I will leave you feeling STONED COLD! If you needed help sleeping or with any pain, I would highly suggest The White. After the first three to four hits of this strain, you feel like you are on a cloud for hours. The white is not related to White Widow at all. There also is a strain called The Black which is on the sativa side of the fence. Keep it smokey!!! -Colin
So I know I keep reviewing really twinkly emo/post rock stuff, and I promise I'll get to some heavier stuff soon, but local dudes keep hitting me with these incredible releases and I'd be really fucking shitty for not showing them to you! Not too long ago I showed you guys the single "Hauntings" by Lemix J. Buckley, and now I get to show you "Forgive Yourself" and finish what's been started :)
Cred: Marlene Lacasse
It's a short lil' fella, with only 4 tracks, but it friggin' hits you. You go from the poppy, yet noodly, yet somber single to open with. Vocals chime in repeatedly "Does anybody have a gun? Won't you clean up when I'm done?". Heavy shit. Definitely a darker themed set of songs, despite the glassy twinkly finish. It's beautiful, though. Josh(Gill) and Gage(Welch) compliment eachother well with the sings and the strings. Then we check into "Bluff" which sort of sticks to the theme of "Hauntings", but seems to get even darker, as it seems to be telling a story from a convicted killer's vantage point- "Smiling in my concrete room//Remembering how I dismembered you ". Gorgeous guitar work and brilliant pacing by the drummer, Mr. Alex Bazzi, who's love for Zach Hill shows in this one. Kudos to Bradley(Lockheart) for holding it down on bass with such an animal on the skins. ;)
Next we hit a spacier sounding "The Advocate", which really is a change of pace with a waltzy-er pace to go with the echo-ing guitars. It slowly builds in to a much more driving sound and pounds away till the end. Most excellent. But they saved the best for last. "Complex Up" really just shows off everything you'd love about these guys. Kicks off with a really bright, dance-y riff and verse that leads to this glorious chorus bit that just makes you wanna touch yerself. The VERY BEST PART, however is the incredible, building climax of and ending. Josh starts screaming in-between croons, and it all just ends in the right place, with Josh Screaming "I'm fucking sorry". Juicy, twinkly, emotive songs from an incredible Metro Det. area band. Check it below:
SEE? I fucking love these songs. Go download this shit. Listen to it repetitively and check these guys out live, they post shows on facebook!
In the meantime, I need to figure out why my poop is neon green!
See ya next week <3
-XOXO TOPH
PS- MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!
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
Hey y'all, as a part of this weeks Man Mountain take over, I caught up with guitar player Mike Reaume to discuss the Honda CX. Both Mike and Man Mountain bassist David Reaume own and ride the Honda CX, which is the 80 degree VTwin little brother of the Honda Goldwing series. After tearing it up on the back roads of south east michigan, we stopped for a drink and some food and talked a little about his go to bike
"What do you like most about the Honda CX?
How different it is. I love the transverse vtwin. Being that it is shaft drive and liquid cooled, it makes for a really fun ride.
"How do you feel about how the cx has taken over the CB to become the new Honda project bike?"
It really makes sense. It's just a different kind of motorcycle from honda and can be easily converted to about anything you want.
"What do you plan on doing to your cx?"
Swapping out to Mikuni carb kits and true dual exhaust. Eventually I want to switch to a tracker seat and strip it out to a scrambler.
"What bike would you get, money not being a factor?"
The bmw r9t. I just love the bmws. There is something so special about the boxer motor. It's a perfect blend of classic and sporty
Thanks for sticking with us all week for our Man Mountain take over, and don't forget to check out their new song here!
Ride safe
-Justynn
This weeks portion of Thirsty Thursdays is brought to you by Man Mountain. I sat down (made up some questions last minute and sent them via facebook) with David who (is a meme) plays bass in Man Mountain to chat about beer and music because, those things go great together duhhh.
Me_ What's your favorite song to play out of the new tunes you guys have?
DAR_ Little known fact, we are TERRIBLE at naming songs, our new song "To Be Made As New" was code named "Side Boob" for the longest time. With that being said, we have a new song tentatively called "groovy new" that we are all crazy about, it features lots of melodic tapping and some crazy whale sounds Mike was able to come up with on guitar.
Me_ When can I get my hands on the album?
DAR_ We will be heading back to Minx studio in June so we are expecting to have the full length released late summer.
Me_ When did you first realize beer was more than yellow fizzy water from a cheap can?
DAR_ At age 20 when I had my first Guinness, it changed everything for me. I guess I started at the opposite end of the beer spectrum from most but it was finally a drink I enjoyed and not something you choked down to get drunk at a party.
Me_ What are your 3 most favorite go-to styles?
DAR_ Like a good jacket, my beer has to compliment the weather. IPAs are my go-to summer beer, nut browns for the fall, stouts for the winter and session IPAs for the spring.
Me_ For your money, who is a brewery that can do no wrong?
DAR_For the buck I go with New Belgium, I always have a 12 Pack of Ranger in my fridge and at just a dollar a beer its hard to beat!
Me_ How many beers does it take for you to pick up your bass and want to twist it 'round yo head like a helicopter?
DAR_ Sadly, about 4! I once had 5 beers after a show I played with Tokyo Police Club and got kicked out of the venue for throwing a lemon into someones eye from clear across the bar.
Me_ Based on the relatively recent boom of craft beer, where do you see it in 5 years? Bigger and bigger, or leveled off?
DAR_ Sadly I think in 5 years it will SEEM bigger but most of the small independent breweries will continue to get bought up by big box breweries and sell the same crap beer but with a new label.
Me_ When taking brewery tours is it important to hydrate?
DAR_ I once heard that for every beer you drink you should drink half that much water, do I do that? Not at all. I'm really terrible at drinking water when there is a perfectly good beer right next to it, it also doesn't help that I have a personal vendetta against straws.
Me_ What's a flavor of beer in any style you'd like to see made?
DAR_Grape. Not real grape flavor or even wine but grape Kool-Aid grape.
Me_ I don't think grape is a flavor. Purple however, is a flavor. I think that's what you mean. So, how often would you say you try new beers?
DAR_ About every week. Normally when I go to the bar I'll order at least two drinks, the first will be something I've never tried and the second will be an old friend, if the first one is good I'll just stick with it and see how it mellows on the palate for awhile.
Me_ Since we're here in the Mitten, do you have a favorite Michigan brewery/beer?
DAR_ This is really hard for me because I find myself on a different side of the fence every year, last year it was Founders but this year I have really been blown away by every beer Shorts has released. I'll be heading up to Bellaire for their 11 year anniversary this weekend actually.
Me_ One last question. If Jesus ever brewed a beer, what would hebrew and what would the ABV be?
DAR_ I would hope he would brew a beer called Hoplelujah and bottle it at a cool 7.77 ABV.
Me_ Trick question David. Jesus of Nazareth, even if he were a real person, would probably not have drank or made what we know today as beer. What was "beer" back in 30 AD was more of a fermented barley drink served at room temp or above. Plus, Jesus would have totally made wine. Everybody knows that. Cheers!
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
FRESH OFF THE MF'N PRESSES Y'ALL!
MY DUDES in MAN MOUNTAIN have done it again. The post-rockin' dudes of metro detroit have finally followed up last year's release of "To Call Each Thing by it's Right Name" with an incredible new single. "To Be Made As New" is an homage to spring, and it's come just in time. It's gorgeous, comes in twinkling with bright guitars that sound almost like a couple of acoustics echoing all seductive-like, and then before you know it the boys (Mike Reaume, David Reaume, and Jacob Goins) eventually crush you with their land-slide of epic beauty. These guys are special, and I've known that about them forever- so I'm so glad to get the chance to show everyone I know!
There's no vocals, but they don't need them. The layers of tones and melodies are so immersing. Go get that shit on bandcamp, and keep checking back here because It's Man Mountain's week here at vile company! And tomorrow I'll be tophin' around with Mike and going over the gear that he uses to crank out that delicious tone you're hearing!
Dueces!
-XOXO TOPH
SO ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN: RECORD STORE DAY! SO WE DECIDED TO WRITE UP A QUICK LITTLE POST SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE SOME OF THE AWESOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING DOWN TODAY. EVEN THOUGH THE REALLY REALLY COOL STUFF IS ALL GONE BY NOW.! BUT HERE GOES! HERE ARE A FEW RECORDS THAT MAKE OUR NEEDLES SALIVATE!
BRAND NEW- DEJA ENTENDU - LIMITED RELEASE OF 1400 2X12 LP
EVERY TIME I DIE- SALEM - 1000 7' COLOROED VINYL
AGAINST ME - OSAMA BIN LADEN AS THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST - 700 7' COLORED VINYL
FOO FIGHTERS -SONGS FROM THE LAUNDRY ROOM- 4,000 10'' VINYL
METALLICA - LO LIFE TIL LEATHER - 10,000 CASSETES
FOR ALL YOU DETROIT LOCALS. WE SUGGEST YOU CHECK OUT PARAMITA SOUND ALONG WITH MANY MANY OTHER LOCAL SHOPS FOR ALL YOUR RECORD STORE DAY NEEDS!
