M&M On Cultural Capital

#41. Mixology

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 05:12:00 +0000

Everyone loves (needs) a stiff drink. That being the case, not everyone who appreciates their local mixologist is a hipster, and not everyone who is a good mixologist is a hipster. However, there is an inordinate number of hipster-mixologists around. Here in San Francisco, it's difficult to find a mixologist who isn't a painfully obvious hipster.

It's not hard to understand why hipsters would be attracted to mixology (nee bartending). They get to work with one of hipster-dom's favorite past-times, in a dark room, full of people they can judge that seem to be begging them for their offerings. They also get to work with, and talk about, obscure liqueurs, tinctures, syrups, and bitters that allow them to float around in their own smug superiority.

It's hard not to find a legitimate bar in San Francisco that doesn't have a mixologist on board. Bourbon & Branch has been around forever. Nopa, Two Sisters Bar & Books, Churchill, and Hi-Lo Club have all popped up recently. And the Bon Vivants just opened a new bar called Trick Dog where the menu includes an extensive in-house drink list printed on Pantone color wheels:

TRICK DOG

Say what you will about drinks that take too long to make, if hipsters know how to do anything right, it's appreciate a good drink.

#40. Trips by Train

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 17:08:00 +0000

What's fun about traveling by car or airplane? Nothing. Traffic, getting lost, airport security, and middle seats make those modes of transportation a necessary means to an end. We are predicting a rise in the popularity of traveling by good ol' locomotive in 2013. Why? Because traveling by train is quite simply the shit.

In a competition between cars, airplanes, and trains, trains win hands-down. You'll never get lost (unless you're in Darjeeling Limited), you don't have to pull over to pee, you can fall asleep and not kill yourself, you can lay down to take a nap, and you can drink as much booze as you want during travel. What's not to love?

Book a sleeper car for your own personal space to sprawl out. Head to the observation car and relax with some coffee and watch the sun come up. Chat with some retired folks about their fifth cross country train trip over dinner in the dining car. Seriously, taking a long distance trip by train is something everyone should experience at least once.

For the most eventful, memorable, and amazing documentation of why trips by train are the best, check out "Big Easy Express," a documentary film about Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros traveling from Oakland to New Orleans by train and playing amazing music the whole journey there.

HELLO FROM M&M!

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:18:00 +0000

If you're ever wondering who is behind this lil' blog...THIS IS US! Eerily accurate I Made Face representations of our likeness. xoxo -M&M

Follow us on Twitter: @marcellneri @myyoume_moto

#39. HIPSTER CUISINE

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:05:00 +0000

While it is less a cuisine in the strictest sense, and more a style of food, "hipster cuisine" goes beyond coffee and mixology, and often begs mockery. Case in point, the "We can pickle that" skit on Portlandia:

We Can Pickle That

The biggest difference between "hipster cuisine" and actual cuisine is the background of the culture that creates it. Food cultures around the world are based on locality, traditions, and ancestral information. "Hipster cuisine" may have some of the same aspects, but not longevity.

Let's consider Artisanal ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, and donuts. This perfect combination of the blend of food with modern flavors and techniques exemplifies "hipster cuisine." It plays on the irony of serving childhood to adults with just enough smug to make people want to talk about the newest, coolest [ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, or donuts] place on the block.

This writer recently learned of a "new, cool place" that will serve artisanal toast. This writer immediately laughed at the idea, made some reference to Portlandia, then uttered disgust while thinking about when to try said artisanal toast. The conversation then turned to what artisanal toast was, which the group decided was nothing more than open-faced sandwiches. Again, childhood served to adults with smug.

The truth is, this writer can't wait to try these new open-faced sandwiches . . . but will refuse to call them artisanal anything.

Best of 2012: #1 "Coexist" by the xx

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:00:00 +0000

2012 was a great year for the writers of this blog due to the release of the xx's highly anticipated second album titled "Coexist." Late in 2011 and earlier this year, rumblings were abound that the xx had gone back into the studio to record an album that was highly inspired by club music in Brixton. Given these predictions, it was difficult to know whether the follow-up to the band's self-titled album would massively diverge from the Mercury Prize winning band's beloved sound and aesthetic. All fears were calmed with the September 2012 release of "Coexist." The xx maintain their sultry sound steered by the conversational vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. Though the dance beats don't smack you in the face upon first listen, there are definite nods to beat-driven club music throughout the album - you'll know it when your head starts bobbing to the beat. Expect the xx to tour widely in 2013 in support of "Coexist."

Best of 2012: #2 "Mixed Emotions" by Tanlines

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:50:00 +0000

Summer is never ending when your ears hear the warm tones of Tanlines and their debut album "Mixed Emotions." The Brooklyn-based duo of Eric Emm and Jesse Cohen made quite the impression on listeners this year with their calypso-infused electro dance tunes. Cohen handles all things electronic - from synths to keyboards to electro drums - and Emm takes care of lead vocals and guitar. There are tempo changes spliced throughout the 11-track album pausing the steady stream of energy for a critical little break from dancing. As new albums drop in 2013, we fully expect to see other artists follow in the footsteps of "Mixed Emotions." Calypso is the new shoegaze.

Best of 2012: #3 "Visions" by Grimes

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Claire Boucher is a DIY genius. From sketching her own album art to self-producing "Visions" in her apartment Boucher, also known as Grimes, is a part of the new generation of bedroom musicians taking over the world of electro-pop music. What sets Grimes and "Visions" apart from Boucher's contemporaries is her songwriting and subtle vulnerability mixed among the grit and...grime of this world she's created through very conscious and calculated production decisions. Grimes' "Visions" is smart and focused album and she doesn't take herself or her art too seriously.

Best of 2012: #4 "A Thing Called Divine Fits" by Divine Fits

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:39:00 +0000

We hate the term "super group." It's misapplied and thrown about liberally to describe a mish-mash of musicians in a side-project band. However, Divine Fits are a super group in the truest sense of the label bringing together some of the finest musicians in indie and punk rock - Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs, Britt Daniel of Spoon, and Sam Brown of New Bomb Turks. All three musicians and their respective bands are solid stand alone bands, but, "A Thing Called Divine Fits" merges the finest attributes of each individual musician and combines them into one neat little package that hits you like a sidewinder to the tummy leaving you breathless and astonished.

Divine Fits - Would That Not Be Nice [Official Video] from Divine Fits on Vimeo.

Best of 2012: #5 "The North" by Stars

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:10:00 +0000

When NPR Music previewed Stars' sixth LP "The North" on its "First Listen" feature, that album played continually on repeat until its release on September 4, 2012. Stars consistently crafts solid feel good/feel bad music with heart. The harmonies crooned by singers Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell are seamless and reflective of the band's chemistry over their decade long history together. "The North" shows the bands range - from synth-pop to melodramatic overtures of love to quiet hushed tones. A definite must-have in your music collection if you are a Stars fan...or just a fan of perfectly crafted music.

Best of 2012: #6 "Give You The Ghost" by Polica

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 19:22:00 +0000

From front to back, the debut album from Minneapolis' Polica's titled "Give You The Ghost" is a subdued dream of an album from a band with roots in Gayngs. Founding members Channy Leaneagh and Ryan Olson collaborated with Gayngs and have made a huge fan out of Gayngs cohort Justin Vernon. Yes, "Give You The Ghost" can be heavy on the auto-tune at times, but, Leaneagh's vocals lend themselves to be equally dreamy and intoxicating when stripped down on their own. There is a subtle R&B influence in the rhythms and percussion on this album which create an unexpected groove combined with ethereal gauze. It's quite magical.

Best of 2012: #7 "I Know What Love Isn't" by Jens Lekman

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Our favorite Swede returned in 2012 with "I Know What Love Isn't," the follow-up LP to 2007's "Night Falls Over Kortedala." If you don't know, Jens Lekman is one of the most amazing storytellers in music today. His songwriting topics are both literal, like the narrative story of asking his best friend to marry him in exchange for Australian citizenship, and figurative, like the song inspired by being in Washington, D.C. on election night in 2008. "I Know What Love Isn't" is quirky and honest and perfectly frames Lekman's heart-on-his-sleeve character.

Best of 2012: #8 "Banks" by Paul Banks

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Paul Banks shed his Julian Plenti alter ego and released his second solo full-length album simply titled "Banks." All you need to know about this album is that it's nothing like the albums by Paul Banks' band Interpol. The only thing they have in common is the blonde guy playing the guitar and singing the songs. The tone is less somber. The guitars are heavier. Banks' voice is more confident. "Banks" gives us the most intimate insight into the world of Paul Banks and is the truest reflection of who he is as a solo artist.

Best of 2012: #9 "Shrines" by Purity Ring

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

This summer out of no where, Purity Ring dropped "Shrines," one of the most talked about albums of 2012. I cannot tell you how many people asked me if I knew who they were and whether I had their album. The Canadian duo of Megan James and Corin Roddick crafted a massively appealing collection of 11-tracks with disjunctive beats, crisp vocals, and image-filled lyrics. Though there isn't a lot of variety and range on "Shrines," what Purity Ring do, they do extremely well.

Best of 2012: #10 "Untogether" by Letting Up Despite Great Faults

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Dream-pop at its finest. Austin by-way-of Los Angeles' Letting Up Despite Great Faults put out one of the best albums in their genre late in 2012, their second full-length effort titled, "Untogether." Though dream-pop with a heavy lo-fi aesthetic can be emotionally difficult to connect with for some, largely because the vocals unintelligibly distorted beyond comprehension, "Untogether" triggers a sense of nostalgia taking you back to precious emotional memories from your past which garners an immediate affinity for the album and this amazing band.

Best of 2012: Honorable Mentions

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Beach House, "Bloom"

Tame Impala, "Lonerism"

Chromatics, "Kill For Love"

Japandroids, "Celebration Rock"

Mumford and Sons, "Babel"

M&M Countdown 2012 with the Top 10 Albums of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Look for M&M's countdown of 2012 with the top 10 albums of the year. We will say goodbye to 2012 one album at a time beginning with #10 on 12/22/12 all the way to #1 on 12/31/12. Stay tuned!

Back from Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 22:23:00 +0000

We've been on hiatus lately dealing with our everyday mundane lives in the real world. But we're back ready to judge and provide poignant commentary on cultural capital. It feels good to be back. - M&M

Source: spanky-few.com via Sarah on Pinterest

SHOW REVIEW: BON IVER - SEPTEMBER 22, 2011, GREEK THEATER, BERKELEY

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:08:00 +0000

Depth. Bon Iver says:

Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

We suckled on the hope in lite brassieres

I'm breaking at the bridges
And at the end of all your lines

With all your lies,
You're still very lovable

I was teased by your blouse
Spit out by your mouth
I was loud by your lowered
Seminary soul

I wear my garment so it shows

So I’m ridding all your stories

You know it won’t beseech you, we’re laying in an open field

Storing up the clues, it had its sullen blue bruised through by showing

…and at once I knew I was not magnificent

By the simple act of being heartbreakingly honest with their fans, Bon Iver showed that no other words explained them.

#38. Counter-intuitive Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:12:00 +0000

"Crafted with performance innovations that provide safety, mobility, and protection for the modern urban cyclist." This is the description of a new line of denim crafted by Levi's called "The Commuter." Really Levi's? You've literally managed to create a product specifically for cyclists...who like to shove U-locks down the back of their pants, with magical odor blocking powers for those who never do laundry, and reflective tape on the ankle inseam for those who ride with their pant leg rolled up...wait a second...did hipster Harry put you up to this Levi's? The jeans were also designed in the brand's signature 511 fit, which is Levi's skinny fit, which next to the ex-girlfiend fit (I shit you not, there is a fit called the "ex-girlfiend") is probably the style most commonly found in the wardrobe of hipsters like Harry. Le sigh.

Whoever came up with this idea is probably the stupidest person on the planet. No right minded hipster would ever purchase these pants. The number one and number two reasons why someone like Harry would never purchase these pants are spite and envy whereupon at first glace the above ad the rhetorical question of "why didn't I think of that" runs through their mind. From a non-hipster point of view, these pants seem pretty great, everything about these pants screams convenience, ease, and durability. These are reasons three, four, and five on the "why hipsters would never buy these pants" list. Convenience? No thanks, I don't need a hidden cell phone pocket. That's what my Chrome bag is for. Extra padding on the butt? No thanks, I like for my bony butt to be uncomfortable. Durable fabric? No thanks, that just means my jeans will never look worn in which means, I will never be able to look like a homeless person. These pants are just too utilitarian and that makes them really uncool!

Hipsters are all about counter-intuitive inconvenient fashion. It's cold out, so rather than putting on a warm jacket, I'm going to layer about 5 different shirts under this plaid flannel in an attempt to stay warm. It's summertime, but I'm going to put on a scarf with this tank top and rock it all day long no matter how hot I get. I drank a whole bunch of PBR, and now I have to go to the bathroom and unbutton this romper that I'm wearing just to sit down to pee. So...nice try Levi's. But I don't think your target audience will be purchasing these jeans anytime soon. Just in case you kiddies are interested though, you can own a pair for 78 bucks. Check 'em out.

SHOW REVIEW: FLEET FOXES - SEPTEMBER 10, 2011, GREEK THEATER, BERKELEY

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 05:20:00 +0000

Once in a while, a band comes along that breaks from the usual while still creating something comforting and familiar. Fleet Foxes weave folk, indie rock, gospel, and psychedelic rock into something new. The songs build on one another while sounding completely original to the point that it seemed each song could have been played by a different band.

On top of that, each song also played to one of the band's strengths and showcased Fleet Foxes varied use of instruments. Mr. Pecknold's voice has great range, and the lyrics went from scholarly to uplifting to deeply emotional. The only weakness that Fleet Foxes showed was that at times, the show went to a very campfire-like, feel-good place. That sense might be totally unecessary, but given the timing, perhaps totally on-point: 091101.

The Walkmen opened for Fleet Foxes. We caught the latter half of their set, which included "The Rat." That song defined The Walkmen's sound and secured their place in indie town. Unsurprisingly, The Walkmen fit well with Fleet Foxes, both utilizing strong guitar work and a strong classic indie sound. Some bands just make sense being played outdoors with natural acoustics. And sometimes those bands find that perfect place that adds major importance to the memory.

SHOW REVIEW: OUTSIDE LANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL - AUGUST 12 - 14, 2011, GOLDEN GATE PARK POLO FIELDS, SAN FRANCISCO

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:32:00 +0000

This is the second FESTIVAL this writer has had the opportunity to write about. To be sure, before this blog was even conceived, these two writers attended the inaugural session of the Treasure Island Music Festival. Considering the three (TI, Coachella, and OSL), Outside Lands was by far the best. The weather was mild, sunny and temperate during the day though cold at night. The proximity to home simplified a lot of things, i.e. no need to drive for miles. And the crowd was not a scene albeit still over-represented with hipsters. Like other major festivals, OSL draws people from all over the country and the world, and every year it gets better and better.

The big draw is always the music, but what sets OSL apart was the focus on food, wine, and locality. There was an entire tent devoted entirely to local wineries. The vast majority of the food came from San Francisco restaurants. There was even a special area hidden in the forest devoted entirely to desserts. The environment also plays a huge role. The entire time, it feels like you're just in the middle of a sprawling forest, and easily forget that civilization is just a few yards away.

The lineup was incredible this year. THE BLACK KEYS, GIRL TALK, Muse, The Shins, and ARCADE FIRE were the showstoppers. Each was as good as they were when they came through earlier. The other bands that I hadn't seen that floored me were Toro y Moi and Beirut. The big disappointment was Big Boi (for his failure to announce that he was present but was not going to perform), and MGMT (mostly because of their lackluster sophomore album). To round things out, The Roots, Erykah Badu, John Fogerty, and Phish helped maintain the city's reputation as a center of culture on the west coast.

Another addition this year were the after-party shows. OSL ended between 9:30 and 11 each night, and throughout town, bands played shows at the city's regular venues. On Friday, ARCTIC MONKEYS played at The Independent. On Saturday, Questlove spun in the Mission. By all accounts, the after-parties were equally impressive. If OSL keeps going in the trajectory that it appears to be, it will probably surpass its older competitors.

For making it all worth it, thank you Carol, Char, Ethan, Kayla, Kevin, Marco, Matt, Mayumi, and little Sophie.

Evolution of a Hipster - From Caveman to Modern Day

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:52:00 +0000

"The hipster is embarrassingly ironic..."

Courtesy of Glove and Boots via Huff Po

SHOW REVIEW: CULTS - JULY 24, 2011, THE CLIFT HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:23:00 +0000

This won't be the first (or last) time this writer goes to a show with the full intention to pay attention without over-inebriation. The writers arrived 2 hours before the opening DJ started playing, and in those 2 hours, quickly spent close to $100 on libations. Also in those 2 hours, watched as groups of tourists from every place between New York and Eastern Europe gave way to a hoard scenesters, hipsters, and everyone in between. The crowd seemed particularly hip, but it may have just been the venue. Or it could have been the band.

Cults showed up on the indie scene with a familiar mix of old and new, with the chemistry only a boy-girl group can bring, and the kind of undercover talent that hipsters love. Sitting with my head in my hands at the bar, my only recollection of the music was that it sounded "off." I blamed it on my location. Sitting in another room separated by a large door with wood paneling covering all of the walls, giant pillars and furniture between, swaths of glass everywhere, tons of people, and a bunch of ethanol flowing through my bloodstream. That had to be the case, I am still convinced it was, because I like the Cults too much to believe that it was at all their fault.

# 37. Consumerist Angst

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:07:00 +0000

As if being newly (or not so newly) upper classed members of society were not enough (see Gentrification), the hipster can never be happy with the status quo. Ever. Regulated by their middle and upper middle class upbringings, hipsters loathe what they attain and reject it as if grotesquely unfamiliar. This cycle tends to be very formulaic. The middle class is defined by consumerism. Told what to purchase and how to live their lives by corporations and advertising companies, the middle class buys into what's presented without a second thought, and often at the expense of credit. This is the world the hipster grew up in. And for those reasons, the hipster can never admit that that is who they were ... or are.

Hipster style is the primary mode through which this life philosophy manifests itself. "Those new laceless Toms are awesome." "Yeah ... they're alright." "You're such a Band of Outsiders prepster." "It is what it is." The irony of this sensibility is in the way the knowing rejection of one's upbringing beckons one back to re-create exactly what was rejected. As stated by a writer for Adbusters, "While previous youth movements have challenged the dysfunction and decadence of their elders, today we have the 'hipster' – a youth subculture that mirrors the doomed shallowness of mainstream society."

"'These hipster zombies… are the idols of the style pages, the darlings of viral marketers and the marks of predatory real-estate agents,' wrote Christian Lorentzen in a Time Out New York article entitled 'Why the Hipster Must Die.' And they must be buried for cool to be reborn." Self-imposed rejection of consumerism, while still being consumers unifies hipsters. Thus, the Adbusters writer concludes, hipsters represent "the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new."

On the one hand, the writer above assumes that there's something not cool about being a hipster because hipsters collectively endorse prior aspects that defined the revolutionary classes in American culture without actually engaging in revolutionizing anything. Hipsters might be followers, but consider their leaders. Musicians are at the front, fashion designers a close second, and whatever form of artist third. Each of those groups continue to re-create cool. The musicians hipsters follow constantly transcend and change rock, pop, hip hop, and dance music. They blend styles to create new ones without forgetting their predecessors. They experiment with ways to make sound, and create something universal. The same thing happens in fashion and art. Even though hipsters might just be simplistic consumers, it's one thing to look upon them disdainfully, but it's quite another to completely forget that if you want to know what's cool (or going to be cool), ask them what they're into. So, what do Northern California hipsters like? They like new stuff, and they like being on the pulse of culture. If that means acting out hipster consumerist angst, then so be it. Hipsters may not exist to create something new, but maybe their existence is to remind everyone else of cultural possibilities.

Adbusters Article

# 36. Gentrification

noreply@blogger.com (m & m) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 04:33:00 +0000

Merriam-Webster defines "gentrification" as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people in deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. Hipsters outwardly despise gentrification but secretly are really happy about it on the inside...don't let them fool you. Is it coincidence that many of the recently gentrified neighborhoods in SF, Oakland, and Sacramento attract throngs of hipsters to their areas to live and to play?

If you think about it though, gentrification is a little bit of a double edge sword for hipsters. Hipsters like nice things. Nice clothes, music, gastro-pubs, nice bikes, Apple products. That shit ain't cheap. If you want to keep up on acquiring all this stuff, then you're gonna need to get smart with your money and at some point you're going to be faced with tough choices. Purchase (if you are the type of hipster who actually BUYS music) a bunch of new music? Or pay your electricity bill? Live in the TL with a whole bunch of nice stuff in your own apartment? Or rent a room from a couple who has a baby and a dog in Noe Valley with not a lot of nice stuff in your bedroom? Since many hipsters are not also homeowners, but renters, gentrification can be a bad thing. With gentrification comes higher costs of living, meaning less money to spend on other stuff. So maybe, gentrification is really not something that hipsters like when it comes to the neighborhood that they're renting in.

One exception would be the trust fund hipster suffering from the persecution complex. If they're lucky enough to have parents as your financial savior, then all bets are off and they fucking love the shit out of some newly redeveloped neighborhood like Portrero Hill with "live-work" lofts that have exposed brick walls and a parking space.

The other exception is when it comes to neighborhoods to hang out in. Gentrification means new hip places to hang out at and the newest most hyped restaurant getting consistent 4-star reviews on Yelp. Take for example the U Street Corridor in Washington DC. About eight years ago, I would only venture into the U to do some vintage shopping or to go to the Black Cat for a show. There wasn't a whole lot going on in there. But on a recent trip back east, I hardly recognized the U...at all. The area has undergone some major redevelopment bringing in new businesses, new bars, shops, restaurants, and a TON of kids on fixed gear bikes with regrettable hair choices. Though they may look like the people being ousted by the gentry coming in don't get it twisted, hipsters love nice things, nice newly redeveloped neighborhoods, and new stuff that looks like it's old...but it's new. They are the gentry.