Not quite 100th post interview... myself (by Tom)

So... I was trying to work out what to do for my 100th blog post and my good friend Tom suggested letting him interview me. What could possibly go wrong? After all, I've previously been interviewed by Glyn Roberts a while ago which was pretty damn cool.

Turns out that Tom was a bit slack in getting my interview all typed up so I was forced to post something else as my 100th post. Then something else as my 101st post. So this is actually my 102nd. Have been meaning to post it sooner but I've been ill and lacking concentration levels. Well, I'm bouncing back so I thought I'd post it now.

What do I have to say for myself?


Ok, so we’re going to do this in a format you should be familiar with, starting off with booze.

What was the first beer you ever remember really enjoying?

Wychwood Hobgolbin, when I was about 15. I chose it because of the name.

You speak passionately about the beer scene in your hometown of Norwich, and Norfolk in general, but what county would you argue is producing the best beer right now in the UK?

Yorkshire is very good, with Magic Rock and Ilkley. Then probably London, with Camden Town and Redemption.

Following up from that. In a make believe world where a county’s brewing skill equates to military power, who would win World War 3?

Oh Christ, that’s really difficult. I’d like to say the UK, but I think it would probably be the USA, so not much different to a real war. Demark would be a strong contender.

America is in the middle of a craft beer boom right now, are there any American breweries you would especially recommend to someone looking to get in to beer from across the pond?

I’d start them off with Anchor and Sierra Nevada. Anchor steam is a great starting point.

Is there anything that hasn’t yet happened in the beer industry that you’d like to happen?

I want CAMRA to finally accept that keg isn’t bad. I want people to stop arguing over the definition of craft.
I want people to stop asking whether cask, keg, can or bottle is better.

Here’s a question from @dredpenguin – “How big is your beer fridge?”

I don’t actually have a beer fridge, but people get annoyed how much space I take up with the beer.

And finally, have you yet come across a beer as awesome as yourself?

No, but Pliny The Elder came close.

On to Beats.

Here’s a question from @Richthevillain “If you were stuck on a desert island, what album would you want with you?”

Devin Townsend – Epicloud. I literally cannot stop listening to it.

You seem to enjoy music from all around the world. How is it that you come across such obscure artists?

It all started years ago when I was young. I found people that I have common ground with, and we introduce each other to bands. Now I get sent crazy music from different record companies,

The RZA, the GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef
U-God, Ghost Face Killer or the Method Man?

What? No! They’re all so different. I love Method Man because he has so much charisma. But I’m still annoyed that he didn’t play the London show I was going to.

To finish, some quick fire questions on Bites.

Favorite Roast?

Lamb.

Hot Dog or Burger?

Burger.

Favorite type of cheese?

Camembert.

Eggs. Poached, boiled, fried or scrambled?

Poached.

Thanks a lot Nate.


Thanks to Tom for an awesome interview. Hopefully I'll be back to business properly soon and can get some other posts sorted.

Until next time...

Nate
http://www.twitter.com/NateDawg27
http://www.facebook.com/BoozeBeatsBites

Booze: The Norwich Taphouse is Bitchin'

LOOK AT THE LOVELY TAPS. THERE ARE 20 OF THEM.

If you follow me on twitter, y'all would've seen me obsess over when the fuck this place was opening. FOR MONTHS. Well it's open and it's bitchin'.

20 draft beers and a lot of bottles. I'M NOT GOING TO FUCKING COUNT.

Booze: Cask, Keg, Bottle or Can?

YES PLEASE!

Nate
http://www.twitter.com/NateDawg27
http://www.facebook.com/BoozeBeatsBites

 This is post 100. I do not give a fuck.
 

Beats: Wisdom – Judas Review

Wisdom are a Hungarian Power metal band that formed in 2001. After some promotional records, they released the Wisdom E.P. as an attachment to the Hungarian heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer which put them firmly in the public eye; then, in 2006 they released their first full length album Words of Wisdom.

After another E.P. in 2007 entitled At The Gates, some tours and some opening spots for popular bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, Europe & Helloween, this year they have released their second full length album Judas.

Each song that Wisdom writes is based around a famous quote which is a brilliant and unique idea because there is no solid theme or story like with most power metal bands.

So, what of the album?

Interview: Andrea & Fabio from Arthemis

Last night, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Martongelli (Guitarist) & Fabio Dessi (Vocalist) of Italian Thrash Metal band Arthemis before seeing them play at The Waterfront in Norwich. What did these guys have to say?

Beats: ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead gig review (NAC)

On Monday, I went to see ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead at Norwich Arts Centre. Although I’ve been a fan of theirs for years, this was the first opportunity I had to see them so I was pretty excited.

...Trail of Dead is a progressive rock band and was formed in 1994 by Conrad Keely and Jason Reece. They originally started playing music in the indie rock town of Olympia, WA but eventually relocated to Austin, TX where they became the band they are now.

They currently have 7 albums out, in which each is uniquely different to the last, with their 2012 release Lost Songs out tomorrow but more on that later...

Beats: Job For A Cowboy live review (Norwich Waterfront)

On 17th September, if you remember, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jonny Davy from Job For A Cowboy.

Afterwards, I thought it would be rude to not go and see them live. They were supporting Dying Fetus, along with Revocation and Cerebral Bore.

I first saw Job For A Cowboy live in 2007 I think. They were supporting Megadeth at the UEA in Norwich which is a fucking big score for quite a young band. In that case, they had a massive stage to work with and managed to pull it off brilliantly.

I was quite excited to see them again, to be honest. Just to see how their live performance has progressed over 5 years.

I'll start off by saying, they were playing in The Studio at The Waterfront which is pretty small. The stage is absolutely tiny. It was my first ever gig up there; I'd only previously been there for Wraith club nights before, all other gigs I've seen at The Waterfront had been in the main Auditorium.

Job For A Cowboy managed to work with a small stage incredibly well. Jonny has so much charisma and really knows how to get the crowd going.

They played 7 songs which were an amalgamation of everything in their discography. Starting with Entombment of a Machine couldn't have made me happier. They managed to jump right in with what's probably their most brutal song before showcasing how much they've progressed since the very beginning.

All in all, it was a bloody brilliant show. They managed to pull off the small stage as well as they could a big one and as a fan I couldn't be more proud of how far they've come. It was just a shame they only had 7 songs!

Full setlist below:

1. Entombment of a Machine / Embedded
2. Imperium Wolves
3. Unfurling a Darkened Gospel
4. Regurgitated Disinformation
5. Children of Deceit
6. Knee Deep
7. Constitutional Masturbation

Nate
http://www.twitter.com/NateDawg27
http://www.facebook.com/BoozeBeatsBites

Beats: Anuryzm – Worms Eye View review

Anuryzm are a 5 piece progressive metal band from the sandy deserts of Dubai. Yes, you read that correctly; a metal band from Dubai.

Originally self-released in their homelands of the Middle East in October 2011, Anuryzm teamed up with Melodic Revolution Records in order to get their debut album Worm’s Eye View more widely distributed. Worm’s Eye View was re-released in July 2012 and has already had a mushroom cloud of success.

So, what of the album?

Beats: Foreign Beggars – The Uprising review

Foreign Beggars are a critically acclaimed hip-hop group that is comprised of Orifice Vulgartron, Metropolis and DJ Nonames.

I want to start off with saying right off the bat that they are my all time favourite hip-hop group. I’m not going to lie. Ever since I first heard Stray Point Agenda a few years ago, I have loved them. What enhanced my love and respect for them is that they’re massive heavy metal fans, especially Napalm Death.

Foreign Beggars are a rare example of a hip-hop group that doesn’t do the same thing on every album. They are constantly progressing and trying new things. Is there such a thing as progressive hip-hop? I don’t know but that’s what Foreign Beggars are.

Over the years they’ve gone from pure U.K. hip-hop vibes, changing again and again to keep themselves and their fans interested. If you’ve been following them lately, you would’ve seen them do collaborations with some major electronic and dubstep artists such as Skrillex & Flux Pavilion. These guys are really getting out there.

So, on October 1^st 2012, they dropped their new album; The Uprising. Now, I had heard that it was going to be very electronic and dubstep orientated so I’ll be honest with you... I was slightly sceptical. Y’know, as much as I love Foreign Beggars, most of you will know that I’m not too hot on dubstep.

So, the album; what of it?

Booze: Gadds’ Green Hop Ale review

So, Gadds’ is a brewery based in Ramsgate, Kent. This is my first ever beer by them and it was sent to me by my good friend Tom. You may remember Tom from my Journey To Olympia post but don’t worry if you don’t, I understand that you’ve been drunk since you read it.

Anyway... Green hops are fresh as fuck. None of those dried hops we get at other points during the year. These are fresh as fuck. They’ve been harvested and whacked in the kettle like you know how.

How do I feel about this beer?

Interview: Chris & Elliot from Alestorm

Last Thursday I had the opportunity of interviewing Chris & Elliot from the fearsome pirate metal Alestorm. See below for a laugh...

Booze: The Session #68 – Novelty Beers

The Session is a monthly event for the beer blogging community which was started by Stan Hieronymus at Appellation Beer. On the first Friday of each month, all participating bloggers write about a predetermined topic. Each month a different blog is chosen to host The Session, choose the topic, and post a roundup of all the responses received. For more info on The Session, check out the Brookston Beer Bulletin’s nice archive page.

This month’s session is about Novelty Beers and is hosted by 99 pours.

Beats: The Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud review

To many people, Devin Townsend is regarded as the king of progressive metal music and I can't disagree with them. He has been making progressive metal both as solo projects like this one and with bands like Strapping Young Lad for almost two decades. Whenever Devin's name is credited to an album the immediate thought for fans is "What is this crazy bastard gonna do next?"