It was some time near the year 2001 when I ventured into Media Play to seek out my weekly CD purchase. I had very little disposable income and what I had was used for the 15 dollars of bliss that I would listen too obsessively.
I had watched one of my favorite movies of all time in 28 days a few months prior and my brother had recently asked me if i liked the soundtrack. I had enjoyed it immensely and enjoyed the brilliant modern, prog rock style of slow-building multi-piece dark symphonies that abounded. He then informed me of the artist behind the music, Godspeed! You Black Emperor. I had tucked the information into my grey matter recesses until that trip to Media Play.
The seemingly interminable day came to a close and I was finally able to enjoy this album. The double disc opens with optimistic horn, chime and thoughtful yet simplistic guitar riffs and builds to a deafening triumphant cymbal crashing climax midway through the song then tapers to violin saturated washed out guitar riff driven head nodding perfection. This is carefully orchestrated to prepare for the achingly slow descent into the depths of a spiritually-fueled, preacher dialogue tinted labyrinth of aching souls and melancholy disillusionment. This is punctuated by a classical string drenched tightrope walk over a ravine of mournfulness where each muted guitar pick feels like the inch by inch steps of a creeping madman. This builds to another brilliant thrashing guitar and intense vibrato violin crescendo before mellowing once again to a very slow moving reflection on lost good old days with dialogue of an assumedly aged individual longing for days of Coney Island and sleeping freely on beaches. This weaves its way into an uplifting climb towards reverb rich and tremolo filled ambience which finally culminates in a heavenly ascension towards redemption.
There is little to add to my experience other than listening to this album was literally life changing and GodSpeed! has been my favorite band ever since. Sadly, I discovered this group too late. They had already broken up and were pursuing other projects. I added this band to the list of those that I would never get to experience in concert.
Until last year, when they reconnected and I leapt on the opportunity and saw the most epic show ever, convinced I could die happy. Amazingly, I have the fortune to see this phenomenal group not once but twice in the upcoming week! To say I am ecstatic is an understatement.
To many there is a beer that is as legendary as I perceive Godspeed! You Black Emperor….
It is called Pliny the Younger. It is brewed the Russian River Brewing company and is available once per year. Russian River is available in select areas on the west coast, select areas of colorado, and the Philadelphia area. It is an extremely in demand and highly sought after brewing company in the beer community and the quality of their beers is assuredly world class. Pliny the Younger is even more limited. It is brewed once per year and is only available on draft and for about two weeks. At the time I first had it it was rated #1 beer in the world on beer advocate. (I have since trusted these rankings less and less as I am convinced they are predominantly based on scarcity, but that’s a discussion for another post)
With my parents along for the ride we departed at about 8 o’clock for an 11 o’clock open time at Capone’s in Norristown. it was early March, and the weather wasn’t the most favorable but we stood in the early morning mist and waited patiently for our turn as the staff sold tickets at $7 a piece for a 5 ounce glass. After the hour and a half wait for the door to be open we are herded in tickets in hand and selected our glass from the serving trays at the door. After deft collaboration with a few other patrons we found a table and quaffed our rarified libation.
Pliny The Younger (1st try) – Super crisp and sweet nectar that smelled like dank grass and pine and crisp hops. The taste was clean and tingling in the mouth. The bitterness was perfectly balanced and not overpowering but not highly carbonated. Each sip beckoned a return to the glass despite the limited supply. Disappointing was that the brew was virtually warm after sitting out on trays for who knows how long. (8/10)
The second time I had the opportunity to try Pliny the Younger was on a trip into Philly to see a show. Pleasantly we took the train which deposited us at the 30th street station and we were en route to our hotel on 15th street to our hotel when I discovered the events. I convinced my travel mate to try to get to one of the two events as the opportunity was very rare to be in proximity of a Pliny the Younger tapping, let alone two events. We traveled towards the earlier event which was at the South Philly Tap Room to commence at 230pm. Being the optimist I believed we could make good time and accomplish the 3.5 mile walk with ease. The reality was it was snowing, incredibly cold, and hampered but constant luggage malfunctions we were just not able to make fast enough time to give enough cushion to present a plausibility that we could get drafts of the beer. We adjusted course about 3 miles into the walk and proceeded another .7 miles in the direction we had just traversed. We arrived in enough time noting the 20 or so people that were congregated outside of the closed Sidecar bar and Grill. (Sidecar announced the the first 50 in line could get drafts) We waited in line patiently for about an hour while the line extended behind us. Three individuals had walked by to join the line at one point and one of the individuals separated from his acquaintances and began talking to a lady in front of us. Several boos were voiced from the rear of the line and his friends joined the back of the queue. He proceeded to stay cut in line even after the doors opened and then finally check with his friends to make sure they had gotten tickets stating that if they hadn’t gotten them he would have relinquished his ticket that he received by cutting in line. The Sidecar had an excellent system in that they didn’t require prepayment, but rather the ticket you received in line was good for a draft when you were able to present it. After warming and sitting at a cozy table I procured our 13oz drafts for $10 a piece and relaxed to a delicious draft and some excellent food and solid customer service.
Pliny the Younger (2nd try) Perhaps it was the larger glass. Perhaps it was the arduous journey. Perhaps it was the fact that it was poured straight from the tap and was colder and more carbonated. This was the one I had craved, the potation of legend. Delicious triple ipa that had all of the qualities aforementioned with the added flavor bonuses of an accomplishment hard won. 9.5/10
