George West. Photo: Marcelo Quinones
We’re past the point of the album cycle being a thing anymore. Ten years ago, an artist would wait at least two years to drop new material, but nowadays it’s almost foreign and clueless to use that approach. Houston’s George West has been on track to drop a new release every year for the past three when he drops his upcoming EP, Palmetto. The release sounds different than anything the electronic producer has dropped in the past, and cements my belief that he’s one of Houston’s most underrated producers going. Though the release isn’t due until February, West offered Free Press Houston a chance to debut the lead single, “Mustang Island.” The track found exclusively here is definitely future sounding, and takes West into a bold new direction.
Things start off with hints of West’s found sounds before it gets utilizes old answering machine messages and West drops some spacey synths and sounds accompanied by multiple beats. With hints of vaporwave and trap, the track definitely steers from the chill sounds that George West has become known for. Samples of live drums mixed with various beats and synths make the track sound like something from the future, where West is creating his own dimension where this jam exists to get down to. West said that the track came from the idea that Mustang Island is a fictional place, a remote island where you feel no pain, where money has no value, and all you can feel is the fresh crisp air and free running mustangs surrounding you. The track definitely embodies the vibe that the music itself is coming from somewhere we’re not familiar with, and that it’s a place that we would all enjoy finding ourselves in.
While Palmetto isn’t due until February 21st, “Mustang Island” definitely gives you a glimpse into the dream world that West has created, while giving you something to get down to in the meantime. The EP release party for Palmetto takes place on Saturday February 18th at Wonky Power Live. The show gets going around 9 pm, and the $5 ticket price includes complimentary drinks and a download card of the EP. from http://www.freepresshouston.com/george-west-returns-hard-on-new-single/
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Chef Rob and CrewNAO Rice Village is a Japanese Ramen Noodle, Bao and Yakitori Brasserie in the heart of West University, from Owner Piran Esfahani and Head Chef Rob Frias, both formerly of Tarakaan. The Clean Casual Eatery features an eclectic mix of traditional ramen dishes as well as inspired fusion variations on them. They also feature a good selection of cocktails, yakitori and other high end Asian fusion dishes. Piran Esfahani was a well known bartender in the Montrose area, having recently graduated from University of St. Thomas at the time, after having lived in Vienna, Austria. His time at Zimm's Martini and Wine Bar gave him a love for the industry which later rolled into becoming a Restaurateur. Chef Rob Frias is a graduate of Alief Hastings High, educated at Colegio San Augustin in the Philippines, U of H business, and the Art Institute of Houston. He's worked with Nara Sushi, been executive Chef at Tarakaan (also working with Esfahani) and is now executive chef at Nao. Esfahani and Frias bring a litany of Houston restaurant experience to create a great Ramen and Asian fusion eatery for the benefit of West U, Rice University and the Medical Centre, as well as all of Houston. Nao does not serve Turtle Soup!This particular day was devoted to Media Previews and a Friends and Family event that led to very full house. I was fortunate enough to snag a seat by the Ramen Bar area and got to see Chef Rob and the crew in action whilst enjoying the fruits of their labor of love. Chef Rob seems a kindred spirit when I saw his corner which included some Funko Pop figures, some Loot Crate Swag and I noticed his Facebook Bio indicates he speaks Klingon! Samurai Smash and Blue Blushing Dragon Cocktai;sOf course no great meal will start off without a good Craft Cocktail. And considering Pirhan Esfahani's pedigree having been a former Celb Mixologist, I had to partake of a couple of libations. The two that caught my eye most were the Samurai Smash (Rye Whiskey, Lime juice, bitters, St. Germain) which was a fine Rye Cocktail which evoked hints of an Old Fashioned or a Whiskey Sour; and the Blue Blushing Dragon (Bluberries, Lemon, Vodka, Cintrongo Mango, Lavender Syrup, Soda Water) which was less sweet than I anticipated and was quite refreshing. Great starters or a great complement to the forthcoming meal! Grades: A+ and A Next up was a chance to try some of their Yakitori. Though Yakitori is typically grilled skewered chicken, it can be done all kinds of ways and is a popular form of Japanese street food. Nao was serving up more than a few different kinds this evening. I chose the two that appealed to me most: the pork belly and the mushroom yakitori. Both of these had a great mix of veggies and seasonings, in sauces that had sweet and savoury leanings. A nicepair of appetizers to set the stage for the upcoming main courses or a nice snack to enjoy with a cocktail. Grades: A+ and A Nao has a good selection of five different kinds of ramen on their menu. All of them looked good. However, this evening I tried the Red Curry Ramen (with chicken broth, red curry, toasted garlic, spicy bean sprouts, chicken, coconut milk and bamboo shoots, garnished with a soft boiled egg) and the Tonkatsu Ramen (pork broth, pork loin, pickled shiitake, bamboo shoots, chicarron, pickled cucumber and a soft boiled egg). As a nice touch, the egg looks to have been in soy sauce and a visible brand in Kanji is on the egg! Both of these Ramens were hearty--the broth full of great spices and slurpable noodles. The Curry had those great elements of coconut milk and warm spiciness that put a fire in the belly, while the tonkatsu was more the warm comfort of home cooking. Grades: A++ and A. The folks at Nao also would not let me get out without trying their two desserts: Mochi Ice Cream and Tokyo Bread Pudding. They have these wonderful sticky rice covered ice cream balls in green tea, chocolate, raspberry, mint, mango and strawberry. I enjoyed some of the Green Tea and it was authentic, cool and not too sweet. The Tokyo Bread pudding isn't the usual bread pudding as it's made with a sweet bean and fruit compote, has maple butter melted into it and though usually is served with green tea ice cream, I elected to get raspberry instead. This Bread Pudding was hearty and sweet, satisfying and was a fine end to a great meal! Grades: A and A+ As first impressions go, Chef Rob and Pirhan made great ones. I intend to be back soon to try the Spicy Miso Ramen, as well as their Gyoza Dumplings and one of their hot stone rice bowls. There aren't a lot of Asian restaurants in Rice Village at present, and given the clientele, it makes a great fit for the neighborhood! Nao Rmen House is located at: 5510 Morningside drive suite 120 Houston, TX 77005 713.526.1669 Hours: SUN-WED 11AM-10PM THURS, FRI-SAT 11AM-11PM Eat Happy, Y'all!!! 吃得开心!!! Hank
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Dear Nick (Saint),
It’s been a while since my last letter on my own behalf, though I do write one regularly on behalf of my daughter through that creepy elf delivery system you and Hallmark started back in 2005. An addendum to this year’s letter, by the way. Please don’t bring her a FitBit. It’s hard enough keeping her glasses on her face.
At this point, as I’m sure you’ve read, America is kind of messed up. It’s messed up enough that I honestly think the only way out of this hullabaloo is through magic, hence my contacting you. I have some suggestions for America’s Christmas haul this year that I think might help improve things around here long-term.
Number one: books. If there’s anything I can attest to as a writer and journalist over the last seven years, it’s that we have become a country of headline readers without the stamina to get all the way through an 800-word article and decide whether it was worthwhile information. It’s all memes and pictograms down here, Nick, and it’s eroding thought like Coke takes buildup off a car battery post.
We need something to read to try and jumpstart the old contemplation reflex. I suggest you start small with some good young adult novels or something. What about The Hunger Games? That seems appropriate at the moment. Maybe you could go with those cute Brad Meltzer history books for kids. Those are nice.
On a similar note, do you think you could score the hook-up on bootleg Hamilton video recordings? Nothing seemed to sum up the “liberal elites are ignoring us” sentiment like the phenomenon that is Hamilton. If middle America could see this thing everyone is talking about on the cheap, and maybe also realize that you can like something that maybe doesn’t focus entirely on how awesome white people are, they’d calm down for five bloody seconds and catch up to the rest of us.
How about some of those stuffed toys that talk back to you? If the legion of think pieces I’ve read since the election are correct, the most important thing in the country right now is that we have to reach out and listen to people in rural areas because their feelings are apparently so overwhelmingly important that it clouds their ability to tell obvious right from obvious wrong. I don’t really have the time for that sort of thing, so maybe StarLily the Magical Unicorn could do the job for me.
Speaking of jobs, I’ve been given to understand that “economic anxiety” was the driving reason that things got this way, despite the fact that wages are rising and unemployment is down. If some of these people could find more rewarding work then that might do something about the anxiety. Luckily, iTunes University can teach them to code. It’s free. You don’t even have to put it in the sack. Just set it up to download on their phone while you’re having milk and cookies, and they can wake up to a whole new world of employment possibilities.
Some games might help. Interactive media is great at getting people to empathize. I recommend Firewatch since it’s basically the story of a man adrift who has to come to terms with the places his life has gone to. If nothing else, it’s a really pretty walk in the woods game that can be very soothing. Or maybe Gone Home? Learning to appreciate LGBT people by unraveling the mystery of Samantha Greenbriar could be very useful now that we’ve made a conversion therapy advocate the second most powerful person in the country.
These are little things for a troubled populace, but it’s the little things, Nick, that tend to make all the difference. It’s easy to take a mass of resentment into a voting booth with you, but sometimes the spark of joy and hope can light that darkness. That’s what Christmas is all about, isn’t it? The candle we hold as we make it halfway out of the dark?
As for the rest, those who will be most affected by the next four years in a variety of harmful ways: Bring them stout plush bears that can withstand the squeeze of someone who can’t sleep for worrying they’re going to lose their health insurance. Bring them bath bombs from Lush to ease the ache of working two jobs to pay for college. Bring them frames for the pictures of friends lost to suicide.
And bring them my apologies for failing them. We let so much get out of hand, and now, more than ever, we need a little Christmas.
Yours in Yuletide, from http://www.freepresshouston.com/dear-santa-a-political-christmas-list/
How much easier can a recipe get? Isn’t everyone looking for easy, fast recipes that give them a little more time with their families; and it’s Christmas eve and who has time to cook now or even wants to cook days after Christmas. All we want to do is still down and relax and enjoy the holidays with our families and friends. Merry Christmas to everyone and have the merriest times with your love ones. Whether it’s a nice piece of fish and some vegetables or potatoes or all vegetables. You will love how quick this is to throw [...]
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