The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Friday July 31, 2015
We wrap up another fun Quote/Picture/Video week with a look into paradise.

Les Miserables
An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.
-Victor Hugo

If you have a choice between paradise and hell, always choose paradise. It's never stupid to choose paradise. If a “stupid paradise” exists it is a mirage, as any true paradise would not be stupid. I get Hugo's point, though: it's better to be smart and deal with the consequences than have your head in the clouds and think it's paradise.

Which is related to another quote I considered for this from Henry David Thoreau: “It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise.” I'd say it's best to know where you are in a concrete way, but I never stayed in a cabin in the woods within walking distance of my parents place so I could raid their pantry at will. So what do I know.

Para-para-para-paradise, whoa-oh-oh-ohoh-oh-oh

The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man by Jan Brueghel the Elder and Pieter Paul Rubens. As far as I know the latter is not a distant relative of Pee Wee Herman.

Gorgeous

“Paradise” by John Prine is my third favorite song of all-time (behind Dylan's “Desolation Row” and The Band's “Tears of Rage”). It's a simple, beautiful folk song about the true story of the Peabody Coal Company ruining the town of Paradise, Kentucky. On this recording Prine is backed by traditional country and southern music heroes Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Thursday July 30, 2015
Quote/Picture/Video week continues with a salacious topic: rumors.

Man...
I have Social Disease. I have to go out every night. If I stay home one night I start spreading rumors to my dogs.
-Andy Warhol

My Dad always gets on my case for being too negative, especially in my writing. Honestly, I try to find stuff I can say nice things about. Two problems with that: it's easier to rip people and there's a lot of stuff worth ripping. Maybe I am as arrogant as some of my friends think I am. Stop the presses.

Most quotes floating around about rumors are negative about them (“rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots” is a typically trite example). Who would want a friend like Warhol, who revels in rumors so much that he tells his dog if he stays home for one night?

Beej face blues

I was going to take the easy way out and post the cover of Fleetwood Mac's iconic Rumors album, but this picture came up in my research (that is, on my Google search) and it was too good/bad to pass up.

Close your eyes, hang your head until the fog rolls away

This closing track from the Band's underrated third album Stage Fright is a beautiful and vivid testament to the destructive quality of rumors. It's been called their “guitar album” and the solo on “The Rumor” doesn't disappoint (and was even better, and longer, when performed live). Classic Band harmonies and vocal interplay between three of my heroes, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, and Levon Helm. May they all rest in peace.

I also like the ultimately positive message of the song (“it's a-comin', a brand new day”).

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Wednesday July 29, 2015
We enter the void for today's Quote/Picture/Video.

Okay...
And you have been forever, and will be forever, and all the worrisome smashings of your foot on innocent cupboard doors it was only the Void pretending to be a man pretending not to know the Void.
-Jack Kerouac

Some faux-losophy from a guy who I want to like but really don't. I should read more of his stuff before I judge him, but this quote makes him seem like a hack trying to sound mystical or deep. Like a less mystical Kahlil Gibran. There are some interesting philosophical ideas here (have we been forever? will we be forever?) but lines about “worrisome smashings of your foot on innocent cupboard doors” scream of trying too hard.

My simple analysis:
Have we been forever? No. We aren't God for crying out loud.
Will we be forever? Yes, so begin working towards it as soon as possible.
Are we a void? No, we are who we are. Our individualism is important. Eternal. This is the biggest problem I have with Eastern philosophy.

Shaq > Kerouac

When Kerouac tries to get philosophical it comes off as trying to hard, partially because what he says is so convoluted, and partially because he really beats you over the head with it. John Lennon knew he wasn't a philosopher, so when he gets all Tibetan Book of the Dead in “Tomorrow Never Knows” it feels more like a songwriting exercise than a genuine attempt at philosophy. It lacks the pretense that Kerouac drowns in.

Fittingly trippy video for this one. Supposedly it was put together by Beatles assistant Neil Aspinall in 1967 for an unfinished third Beatles movie.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Tuesday July 28, 2015
Shut it! Today's Quote/Picture/Video theme: shutting the hell up.

A way with words
God I could love you all of my days
If you'd just keep your mouth shut
-Bill Mallonee, Stay With Me

Before Sam Smith had a terrible Tom Petty ripoff called “Stay With Me” Bill Mallonee had a better song of the same title on his solid 2006 album Permafrost. I've definitely dated a few girls that this lyric applies to – though I'm sure they'd say the same of me.

Some advice from on high

Even the president wants me to shut up. Sorry Obama, you don't choose the Daily Ramble grind, the Daily Ramble grind calls you.

We had to...

If you don't hear the phrase “shut your mouth” and think of Shaft, something's wrong with you.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Monday July 27, 2015
A fun #QPV about the first state: Delaware.

Sit on it, nerd
I would stare at maps of Delaware for hours.
-Ken Jennings

And that's why nobody liked you in high school, buddy.

For those who don't remember, Jennings is a minor celebrity in the trivia world due to his record setting run of wins on Jeopardy! The game should have stuck to having winners only allowed back for five days. You don't want to feed animals like Jennings.

Another day

A good bit

Funny, this is called the “Delaware Obsessed Edition,” but there's only one joke about Delaware. It's pretty easy but good for a chuckle, as the entire video is.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Friday July 24, 2015
We end the week with a collection of three facts that I'd consider fun. Hence the catchy title of this series, #FunFacts. For today: talking trees, crochet thieves, and the official sport of Bhutan.

The least likely
As Christopher Guest reminds us in his hilarious movie A Mighty Wind, you should do what the good book tells you to. “Thou shalt not steal” is a commandment, remember? Well early crocheters didn't pay any mind to it, as the earliest designs were often stolen outright, sometimes within weeks of their publishing (and despite copyrights). Who woulda thought that mild-mannered crocheters would be so beguiling.

The more you know...
Archery is the official sport of Bhutan, which makes sense considering that it sits on the east end of the Himalayas. Its beautiful scenery makes it one of the most popular places to vacation in Asia. Being the C- Georgraphy student I am I had never heard of Bhutan. Forgive me.

If these trees could talk
Evidently talking trees are a real thing. When attacked by certain insects willow trees release a chemical to alert their nearby brethren. The willows around them respond by creating more tannin, a strong compound that protects them, so that they won't be as harmed. Personally, my favorite talking tree is Darren the Ancient Sleeper on Adventure Time. Watch his epic battle with the Psychic Tandem War Elephant.

Sources
http://togatherdtla.com/highly-interesting-facts-about-crochet/
http://archeryna.weebly.com/interesting-facts.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan
http://sustainableatwood.org/10-fun-facts-about-trees/

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Thursday July 23, 2015
The final piece in our multi-part analysis of an ancient Indian proverb.

Read part I, part II, and part III.

On authenticity
He who purifies himself in the river of a subdued spirit, the waters of which are truth, its waves compassion, and its shores excellent temper and conduct, will be liberated from this world; but liberation cannot be obtained by just outward observances.
-Ancient Indian proverb

The last point of this proverb is something unequivocally similar with the teachings of Jesus: that outward appearances can't make up for what is lacking on the inside. As Jesus says:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
(Matt. 23:25-28, RSV)

The point of Jesus' harsh, somewhat cryptic words are the same as that of the proverb: “liberation cannot be obtained by just outward observances.” You can fool other people, you can even fool yourself, but you can't fool God. Who you are matters. Intentions matter. Why you do the things you do matters.

Gather at the river and throw yourself in
Ultimately, cleansing in the purifying river of this proverb means desiring to be the best version of yourself. It means searching earnestly for the truth, being compassionate, keeping anger in check, and doing what is right. We each have to make the journey ourselves, but wisdom from the greatest minds that have already made the journey, such as the people who created proverbs like this one, are an excellent guide.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Wednesday July 22, 2015
The third part of an extended commentary on an ancient Indian proverb explains the difference between Christianity and Eastern religion regarding the flesh and spirit worlds. Shit's about to get heavy, folks.

Check out part I and part II.

In the world, not of the world
He who purifies himself in the river of a subdued spirit, the waters of which are truth, its waves compassion, and its shores excellent temper and conduct, will be liberated from this world; but liberation cannot be obtained by just outward observances.
-Ancient Indian proverb

This proverb promises us that if we search for truth, practice compassion, control our temper, and have excellent conduct that we'll be liberated from the world. This is an interesting point of both similarity and dissimilarity to the Christian tradition.

By Eastern standards a person practices virtues, like compassion and good temper, in order to escape the world itself because it is evil. Jesus spends a lot of time condemning those of “this world” throughout the Gospels but he does not have that dualistic hatred of the physical world itself. The point of his Incarnation, the concept of God becoming human, is that humanity and the material world are good and are worth saving. Although he had problems with the system, Jesus was a faithful Jew of his time, and as such believed the Jewish philosophical claim that the physical world was “very good” because God created it. This is in sharp contrast with dualistic Eastern traditions which claim that the spirit is good and the world is bad.

There is a similarity between the two views, though. Jesus called Satan “the prince of this world” in the context of those who are weighed down by detrimental worldly things: lust, pride, power, and other temporary fixes that do not satisfy. Indian philosophy warns of these things as well. The difference is that Christianity sees it as a sickness in an otherwise good world, while Eastern thought claims it as proof that the world is bad in and of itself and thus must be transcended.

Check out part IV here.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.


Tuesday July 21, 2015
The second of a multi-part commentary on an ancient Indian proverb discusses the virtues of compassion, good conduct, and taming anger. Check out part one here.

Compassion, conduct, anger
He who purifies himself in the river of a subdued spirit, the waters of which are truth, its waves compassion, and its shores excellent temper and conduct, will be liberated from this world; but liberation cannot be obtained by just outward observances.
-Ancient Indian proverb

The waves of the purifying waters are the difficult virtue of compassion. Is it easier to condemn those you disagree with, and your enemies, or to have compassion on them? Once again, it takes hard mental and emotional work to have compassion, work that we too often lack today. Yet the more you focus on having compassion, especially for your enemies, the happier you'll be mentally. It's all part of subduing the mind. Only after it is subdued can there be any room for peace, which is why so few people have peace of mind today.

The shores of the purifying river are excellent temper and conduct. How easy it is to lose our temper. My mind immediately goes to driving: although I am not close to perfect, I tend to get angry at the slightest thing another driver does wrong. Even if I was a perfect driver, losing my temper does nothing but add unnecessary negativity to my life, which causes both mental and physical anguish. If I see the other as a brother or sister it becomes harder to lose my temper at them.

This is connected to the Christian concept of grace. Christians aren't called to love based on merit, but simply because each person is our brother and sister. God loves us for who we are, and as such we should do the same for those around us. When I lose my temper at another driver my heart rate goes up, I get angry, and I feel terrible. When I smile and laugh it off I always feel better about myself and the situation. This extends to any other time in my life when I can either get angry or stay calm.

“Excellent conduct” is somewhat relative to cultural and personal standards. In some cultures you're expected to take your shoes off upon entering a person's house; in others it's weird or gross. Regardless, there are plenty of things that fall into this category across cultures: treating people well, not lying, being presentable, being respectful. Cultures can differ on those things too, but there are parameters that are intrinsically set. Following your conscience is a good starting point but it can't end there – I'm sure Hitler followed his conscience, or at least fit his conscience to his hatred.

It's all a lot simpler than a convoluted explanation: be compassionate, control your anger, and be a good person.

Check out part III here.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

by Erik Ritland



Rambling On is a seriously fun blog and podcast covering sports, music, culture, and more. Check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.

This year's festival saw more food, a lot more art, and more area to roam around, as part of Minnehaha was blocked off for the main stage. The new arrangement was both a blessing and a curse. The extra room allowed more people to see the acts at the main stage but it didn't feel quite as intimate. Mathus, who closed out the evening, had a turnout about as large as last year's headliner (Sonny Knight and the Lakers) but a bit of energy was lost since the crowd was more scattered. The extra room to move around was still nice, though.

Food options were varied, plentiful, and affordable. Highlights included three tacos for $6 from nearby El Nuevo Rodeo, several kinds of sushi from Midori at $3 a roll, a generous portion of chicken curry and rice for $5 from Gandhi Mahal, and huge $4 slices of pizza from Parkway. I indulged in a couple fresh Shrimp Tempura rolls from Midori and the curry from Gandhi Mahal, which had an authentic spice to it.

The weather was hot and muggy, reminiscent of the deep south, as it should be. After all, the warmer the weather the better the beer tastes, right? Beer was everywhere at Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues, everything from PBR tallboys to a substantial amount of taps. Harriet Brewing, which hosted one of the stages, had the most impressive variety. The best bet to beat the heat was their Pils, which has a nice combination of sweetness and hops. Their Wondan Weizen, a well-balanced blend of fruit and citrus, was also refreshing. Although a little heavy for the weather, West Side IPA (Harriet's original beer) was still eccentrically tasteful with its combination of malt, hops, citrus, and spices.

Of course the real attraction was the music, which began at 1:00 PM and went well into the evening. Spanning six stages, the variety featured at this year's festival  was expansive. Here are some highlights.

Kent Burnside and the New Generation

R.L. Burnside, along with colleague Junior Kimbrough, breathed new life into the hill country blues tradition in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Their hypnotic, heavy hitting, juke joint style is a big influence on the current deep blues phenomenon.

Kent Burnside, R.L.’s grandson, does an admirable job keeping his grandfather’s name and tradition alive. He has his own unique approach that is a bit more urbane without losing the essential Burnside grit. He played a few classics, some original material, and of course several tributes to his grandfather. When he says “this is for my grandfather R.L.” there is real emotional and spiritual weight to it.

Charlie Parr

The Hub Alley Stage, which was located around the corner from Patrick’s Cabaret, was a popular location all day. Sure, the music was great – Willie Murphy and the Angel Headed Hipsters, heavy jammers and Cabooze regulars Frogleg, and The Last Revel each had spirited sets there – but its main attraction was a large tent covering it that many took refuge under. It made for a cool atmosphere, but if you arrived during a band’s set it was difficult to find a place to see them.

Charlie Parr hit the Hub Alley Stage after a fun, rootsy set from The Fattenin’ Frogs. High octane as always, he brings an energy to folk and country blues that is unparalleled. Accompanied only by washboard and harmonica, he tore through several classic blues and plenty of his own songs. Highlights included a rousing acapella “Ain’t No Grave” and a thunderous take on Robert Johnson’s “Preaching the Blues (Up Jumped the Devil).”

In case you missed it, check out our exclusive interview with Charlie, where he discusses his new album Stumpjumper, the recoding process, and more.

Bernie King and the Guilty Pleasures

Bernie King and the Guilty Pleasures are wonderfully hard to pigeonhole. Sometimes wild and crazy, sometimes serene and beautiful, their music is equal parts Western swing, bluegrass, rockablilly, and folk. Their set ranged from sweet and tender (“Broken Wings of Love”) to raucous and sarcastic (“Had Enough”). The band’s talent is equaled by their stage presence, especially that of drummer and accordion player Julie King, who jumped around and yelled wildly at all the right times (yet was also able to add subtle accordion when needed).

King and company play a lot of shows around the Twin Cities so you should definitely check them out. Click here for current dates.

Black Market Brass

Another local band that gets around is Black Market Brass. I saw them at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival a few weeks ago in addition to a couple other summer events. It isn’t surprising that they’re in high demand, as their percussive, horn-laden jazz appeals equally to those who want to dance and have a good time and jazz fans who appreciate expressive soloing. Jazz, rock, blues, funk, and Latin influences give their music a rare edge.

Catl

For me the best surprise this year was the raw, sexual energy of punk blues duo Catl. Jamie Fleming set the musical foundation with his gritty guitar work and heavily echoed, rockabilly-esque vocals. Combined with the wild, primitive drumming of Sarah Kirckpatrick they created an immediate, minimalistic, yet also full sound.

Jimmy "Duck" Holmes

Jimmy “Duck” Holmes is the last of the Bentonia blues singers, a pre-war style that was made famous by Skip James (for more information check out a review of Holmes’ show at the 331 Club last week). It’s a mesmerizing old time style, as he uses all ten fingers and the entire fretboard to create hypnotic droning blues. He began his set with an improvised ode to Minneapolis before digging into classics like “I’m So Glad” (a Skip James tune popularized by Cream), “Little Red Rooster,” and fun, suggestive “Six Puppies” (“I got a little bitty woman and I got a big, fat woman too/that little woman can cook/I can’t say what the big, fat woman can do”).

45 minutes wasn’t nearly long enough of a set for this legend, though he will be playing a series of shows in the Twin Cities area in the coming week as well.

Left Lane Cruiser

Lead singer Freddy J IV had a simple request for the crowd as Left Lane Cruiser began their set: “This is drinking music, so you better get drunk and keep drinking!” He and bandmate Joe Bent made good on their suggestion, each drinking what appeared to be whiskey out of plastic bottles and several beers throughout the set. If it impacted their playing at all it was only positively, as they tore through several tunes from their new album Dirty Spliff Blues in addition to classics from Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, and Junior Kimbrough. Their raw, dirty blues continues and extends the deep blues tradition, even if their energy and guitar tones sometimes border on metal.

After playing bass for half the set Joe Bent switched to his handmade skateboard slide guitar. It has only two strings (and its saddle/bridge is a Red Stripe bottle) but he gets a big, crunchy sound out of it. The band’s whiskey-fueled energy only got more intense after he switched instruments. His raw playing on new songs like “Tangled up in Bush” and the aptly titled “Skateboard Blues” proved the power of the skateboard guitar beyond its novelty.

As the sun set, a muggy day turning into a warm but pleasant evening with a nice breeze, headliner Jimbo Mathus and his Tri-State Coalition took the stage. The Mississippi native ended the festival with legitimate southern swagger, conjuring every Cosmic American ingredient that created rock n’ roll: country (“Good Ole Time,” “Fallen Angel”, “Hey Good Lookin’”), blues (“Little Queenie”), soul (“Blue Healer,” “Lodi”), Tex-Mex (“Mama Please”), and more. His setlist balanced creative covers with several songs from his last two albums, roots gems Blue Healer (2015) and Dark Night of the Soul (2014).

Mathus had a funny, charming outlook about his surroundings. “I heard Minneapolis is trashy. I like that, I like riff raff. Stay who you are.” He mentioned how much he liked the festival multiple times, calling it "funky like down home in Mississippi."

And that’s what’s great about the Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues Festival: it’s funky, it’s different. It shows that rock n’ roll music is still alive at its roots, that it’s possible to look to the past for inspiration while still being fresh. It also proves that there is a lot of inspiring new music being made today if you know where to look for it.

Other exclusive Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues Festival content from Rambling On:
The Evolution of Jimbo Mathus An annotated overview of his career, including work with the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Buddy Guy, and his diverse solo material.
Stumpjumper and the Varied Influences of Charlie Parr (an exclusive interview) The Minnesotan fills us in on the making of his new album and what new ideas he's brought to his songwriting.
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes: A Blues Legend in Minneapolis A short introduction to the work of the important bluesman and a review of his show at the 331 Club.
Heavy Blooze: Left Lane Cruiser's Dirty Spliff Blues On their new album Left Lane Cruizer takes their filthy blues rock to a new level.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.