The First Round

Welcome to the Music And Barley blog. This will quickly become the hub of all things melodic and malty for our small tribe. For those of you unfamiliar with our gatherings, here's our traditional liturgy:

"The format is simple: the music is (a theme chosen by our wise sage).

In the past we've sampled blues, bluegrass, jazz, music you'd need on a desert island, and some interesting,and strange, Christmas music (thanks to Whit Stiles for the strange...) including the music of George Strait; Miles Davis; Alan Jackson and Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss; Bruce Hornsby; Modest Mussorgsky; ZZ Top; Mel Torme; the Three Pickers (Skaggs/Watson/Scruggs); Gustav Holst; Manhattan Transfer; Eva Cassiday; the Commitments; Clapton; P.D.Q. Bach; Al Jarreau; B,S&T; Willie Nelson; the Swingle Singers; Maynard Ferguson; Stevie Ray Vaughan; Erroll Garner, Three Ring Circle; the Hendricks Brothers; Emmylou Harris, TubaChristmas Nashville and a bunch of other cool stuff.


Also think about bringing along a reading from a book you've found inspirational, thought-provoking, or just plain fun. Two to five minutes, including any setup necessary, about 2-1/2 to 3 pages max. Yes... you'll get to read it aloud. Don't worry... it's easy. And if you've never listened to a reading, you're in for a treat. A couple of us have been brave... we've heard from C.S. Lewis' "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", and from Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death." Ron Thweatt contributed a piece he penned about home, and its importance, in December.


The beverage is still Barley. It will be served in the format of a tasting. Bring along a 4-to-6 ounce glass and a new barleypop or two. Two cans/bottles/pints of each beer selection should provide a 2-3 oz. sample for each of us. Try to read up on your choices and let us know where, how and why they're brewed/vinted. We've so far sampled a couple of Rogues, Hoegaarden Witbier, Blackstone's Nut Brown, Caguama Cerveza (Mexican Lager), Young's Double Chocolate Stout, several Flying Dogs, a Hobgoblin or two, Sleeman Porter (from Canada), three Goose Island varieties, Key West Sunset Lager from Florida, Rebel pils from Czech Republic, Kronenbourg 1664 from France, Boddington's Pub Ale and Mackeson XXX stout from UK, a very nice Tusker ale, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Cleveland, a Pumpkin Spiced Ale, Warsteiner from Germany, and one night ended things up with Arrogant Bastard ale. Marie said it reminded her of me.


Let me hear from you! And, friends, relatives, spouses/significant others are most welcome... as long as they'll enjoy great music and fellowship. Coffee (caff, de- and espresso), tea and soft drinks are available for those not inclined toward the fruits of field."


More to come...