On the I Missed Them At Sled Island, Fuck My Life list.
They have a newer record out (Mazes, out in... April? March? Something like that), but my friend Olga was playing this song on the radio last night and it has been lodged somewhere in the central back region of my brain ever since and is now the soundtrack to my day.
Centred text? We are doing that now? Ok. I fucking hate formatting this thing.
There we go.
Deadlines. Dead meat lines, more like it. How do people get things done? I feel like such a dickhead. I tried to find a good article to insert here about how to not be an asshole about not bailing on articles/rehearsals/birthdays/Sled Islands, but they all seem to be written by this guy: 
and I don't think that is the kind of help any of us need. I am going to cling to my current strategy of constant apologizing for as long as possible and hope that I don't lose too many friends. There have been some monster/monstrous/monstrosity projects that have been bumping all the little ones out of the way, weddings and grants and stints as a semi-nude blood guzzling metal band frontwoman. How they eat my time, these things. European vacations and burlesque glittertours. Finding time to beam love at my dog and mister. I have NOT been sitting on my couch watching Netflix and eating Nutella with a spoon. Okay? I have not.
Check out these paintings by Canadian/Berlin based artist Wil Murray. (If you are in Berlin, I hope you are at his opening at Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastrasse which is probably starting right about now. Get there! Buy the man some bourbon! He has earned it!)
(The Pain Cafe Sucre, 89 X 109 X 13, Acrylic & Found Images On Board)
And here is a totally dreamy shot of his Berlin studio.
Aside from making the fucking TASTIEST paintings, dripping (sometimes fairly literally) with sexiness, Wil is basically the best guy ever. He has big hair. He HELPS. He is one of those community builders. You know the ones. The people who make those connections between makers/doers that we would never have been able to make ourselves. The connections that lead to those huge awesome projects that change everything you do and like and want to be. You know how there are those people (Trevor Anderson is one. You know what I mean now?) that when you trace the history of an awesome happening it almost always goes back to them one way or another? Like that.
Anyway, Berlin is the shiny thing dangling in front of my magpie eyes right now. It seems like the best place in the world to me and I want us to all live there. I will research this on my upcoming trip and then we can start working out how we will transport all of us over there, ok? Countdown to Eurotour: 15 days.
Oh! Hey. There are renewed plans to get the Skinny recording up and out since it seems that we are officially, like dinner, fucking DONE. I don't know if anyone even cares anymore, but here's one song, fast and dirty. I don't have a date or any info on the file that I have, so I don't actually know if it is mastered or not. If it sounds weird and quiet to you, it is not mastered and I am sorry and a better version will appear in the future. Erin on vox and guitar, Andrea on bass, Gravy drumming and yours truly on the oh-shit-I-forgot-to-solo-let's-just-leave-it-out. Hear it! (This song makes me have a huge crush on Erin, I can't hide the truth any longer.)
That's all for now.
Oh, wait. I need to post a recipe. Hang on.
Doug's cute mom gave me this recipe and I made it for my sister's wedding last weekend. It is a DELICIOUS alternative to hummus, except it is a bit punchier. Add extra garlic! It is delicious! (I have included the subs/omissions that I always do with this recipe, but it is pretty forgiving, so just play with it). I like it a little chunky, so I don't food processorize it for as long as the recipe recommends. Serve it in a hollowed out red pepper for extra cuteness.
Muhammara (Syrian red pepper and walnut dip/spread/delight)
- a 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained (if you can find them with garlic, awesome. if not, add your own!)
- 2/3 cup fine fresh bread crumbs (Adding an extra handful of walnuts allows for eliminating the breadcrumbs, if you have any gluten-haters in your life).
- 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted lightly and chopped fine
- 2 to 4 garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses (this is REALLY tart, and an extra squirt of lemon juice will do the trick if you don't happen to have it around)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- toasted pita triangles as an accompaniment
In a food processor blend together the peppers, the bread crumbs (?), the walnuts, the garlic, the lemon juice, the pomegranate molasses (?), the cumin, the red pepper flakes, and salt to taste until the mixture is smooth and with the motor running add the oil gradually. Transfer the muhammara to a bowl and serve it at room temperature with the pita triangles.
Ok. Now goodbye.
<3
