Propeller Skies

Last night, I was relaxing on my couch perusing Creative Loafing when I came across a mention of Lush, an allegedly upscale vegetarian restaurant. Because vegetables disgust me and vegetarians annoy me*, in this post I will use my mad philosophical and rhetorical skills to write a restaurant review, without even going to the restaurant and eating filthy vegetables.

First, the restaurant’s classification as upscale vegetarian is simply a marketing ploy cleverly designed to efficiently separate fools from their money. A quick survey of a local grocery store will reveal that vegetables, such as tomatoes, go for approximately $1.49 per pound. In contrast, steak starts at around $5.99 a pound and, depending on size, shrimp fetches roughly $8.99 a pound. So, if a meal costs roughly $50 per person (see this article for details) and consists of nothing but vegetables, it is a swindle.

“Lush offers [snip] three signature punch drinks free of preservatives and processed substances. The cocktails are built from fresh fruit juices (including mango and papaya) and fruit puree…”
- from Creative Loafing, Redeye, July 15, 2004.

We here at Propeller Skies fully support the making of cocktails using fresh fruit juices, as opposed to the cheaper and less tasty sweet and sour mix. However, since alcohol is a poison anyway, there is absolutely no point in wasting money on preservative free mixers.

In conclusion, a bit of chlorine needs to be added to the gene pool. This chlorine should be added in the form of a person with a big shotgun standing at the valet stand, who shoots patrons as they emerge from the restaurant, since they are clearly too stupid to live. I predict this restaurant will do well, because one thing Atlanta certainly has no shortage of is people with more money than brains.

notes:

* I once went on a date with a vegetarian, but she was really hot, thus mitigating the annoyance.

Friday evening I stopped by the High Museum to photograph their monthly jazz event. Since there were approximately two hotties in the whole place and roughly five people under the age of forty, I bailed. I do not recommend this event.

Some lucky soul landed here at Prizzo Skeezy yesterday by searching for, “valentines day sucks party atlanta ga tin roof.” That, in and of itself, is not really a funny search phrase.

However, the Valentines Day STILL Sucks Party happened over five months ago. What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you really have nothing better to do than search for events that have been over for almost half a year? In all fairness, it was a great party, but by the end of February it was time to move on.

I recommend you stop by the new and improved AtlantaBuzz or visit one of several other fine pages that list events happening in the future. Since you so obviously need something to occupy your time.

In conclusion, at least sick perverts are not hitting my site after searching for, “pictures of female torture.”

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PHOTO: Sunset in Atlanta, GA. July 14, 2004. Courtesy of Green Chicken Associates.

It has come to my attention that Dusty, of Pork Tornado fame, is now blogging for Atlanta Illustrated. And getting paid for it.

It is about time that Nathan hired a good writer, because, frankly, the dreck that Kim blogs is bloody boring. Only Kim could bore people to tears with a story about a strip club frequented by truckers. Fortunately for the people selling Sleep Number™ beds, not too many potential customers have discovered her blog. In contrast, Dusty is pretty fucking funny.

In conclusion, it warms my heart to see a talented writer get paid to blog. Now back to our regularly scheduled anger, mockery, and cooler than thou references to obscure indie bands.

notes:

PHOTO: Sunset in Atlanta, GA. July 14, 2004. Courtesy of Green Chicken Associates.

That you recognized and admitted I am the smoovest. Thanks for the link.

I was planning on having a beer or two with Spy after their fantastic show and then heading across town to drink more beer with recurring Propeller Skies character Stacia. 13 Stories put a huge dent in that plan.

After taking a long swig of beer, I turned around and discovered that there were not one, but two blonde hotties on stage. My first thought was, “I’d better get my camera out, because this is going to make the blog.” My second thought was, “I better pound this newly purchased beer, since I need both hands to operate the damn camera.”

After finishing the aforementioned beer and snapping off a few photos, it dawned on me that this band was pretty fucking good.

About the middle of the second or third (by this point in the night, I was not paying all that much attention) song, I thought I heard the singer belt out, “ladies, listen to your pussy.” A few minutes later, she sang it again. Other highlights of the show included Cheri D introducing a song by mentioning it was an instruction manual about stripping for your man. Which was fantastic, but a bit redundant. You had me at pussy.

Enough with the gratuitous googlebaiting references to stripping and pussy. 13 stories plays an infectious brand of upbeat danceable pop. They remind me somewhat of No Doubt, except with a huge dirty south influence. Normally, I would not have stuck around for this type of music, since I tend to like heavier bands with an angry edge to them. However, as previously mentioned, 13 Stories is good.

A highlight of their sound is Cheri D and Cat’s sunny vocal harmonies. They sound every bit as good as the vocal harmonies of the darker and more math rock oriented Black Kites. I recommend checking out 13 stories the next time they play.

As a side note, I picked up a copy of their four song promotional CD on my way out. It has been in my CD player all day.

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PHOTO: Cheri D of 13 Stories at Vinyl in Midtown, Atlanta, GA. Second blonde hottie not pictured. July 9, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics.

For the first time in a while, since they have been busy recording, Spy played at Vinyl on Friday night. For those readers who have missed my earlier reviews, Spy is a heavy rock and roll band with a strong progressive rock influence.

After arriving at Vinyl and grabbing a beer, I ran into John Skinner, one of my favorite drummers. His family was there, so he introduced me and we all shot the shit for a while about digital versus film photography.

Soon after Spy took the stage, it became obvious that the Spy Kids were out in force. It was tough to get a good position to photograph, since so many fans were there.

This was a great show, as the band members were clearly fired up to be playing out for the first time in several months. Additionally, they played several new songs that sounded great. I am excited about the previously mentioned album they are recording and cannot wait to get my hands on a copy.

Vinyl is a great venue and one of the nicest places in Atlanta to see local bands. I was happy to see that a good crowd turned out last night. When it first opened, I was a bit concerned that no one would show up and it would close, since bands that regularly packed 10 High were only drawing about ten people to Vinyl.

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PHOTO: Mark Skinner of Spy at Vinyl in Midtown, Atlanta, GA. July 9, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics.

Friday night, I stopped by the Fernbank Museum to cover the Martinis and IMAX® happy hour for AtlantaBuzz. Prior to arriving there, I dropped in at Compound to check out the Tiger Beer event, despite the fact that Tiger beer tastes like butt. Not surprisingly, given the aforementioned disgusting taste of Tiger Beer, the event was mostly old people, so I hauled ass out of there.

At Martinis and IMAX® I ran into Kim, who I have not seen in quite a while. I chatted with her and her friend Kathleen for a while.

After hanging out for a while, I wandered off to take photos. As I was packing up and getting ready to leave, Jenn and Molly showed up with some friends. I chilled briefly with them and then left.

This is a good event and I recommend it if one is on a date or out with a few friends. However, do not expect to meet new people here, as most of the participants were quite obviously on dates.

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PHOTO: Random revelers attending Martinis and IMAX® at Fernbank in Atlanta, GA. July 9, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photograhics. View more Martinis & IMAX® photos.

As recurring Propeller Skies readers know, I am rather fond of East Atlanta in general, and The Earl in specific. So, I was thrilled to find out that Delta Moon, a band I have been wanting to see for a while, would be playing there.

I arrived at The Earl just as Delta Moon was starting their set. The crowd was a bit sparse, since it was only about 9:40 pm. During their first song, I hung at the bar and drank an ice-cold Rolling Rock. After they had warmed up, I snapped a few pictures and then went back to drinking.

During the first three or four songs, the band played competantly, but without fire. Around the middle of the fourth song, an R.L. Burnsides cover, the band began to loosen up and the guitarists began to jam and open the song up. By the fifth song, they were really ripping shit up, much to the delight of the crowd that had been slowly growing and was quite substantial by then.

This was the first time I managed to catch Delta Moon and I really enjoyed the show. They are basically a blues band with a strong rock influence, which gives them a very modern sound. I highly recommend seeing this band.

Normally, I would spend this paragraph complaining about how awful the mix at The Earl is and how the sound guy is obviously deaf as a post. Surprisingly, this show was mixed amazingly well.

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PHOTO: Gina Leigh of Delta Moon at The Earl in Atlanta, GA. July 8, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics.

Last night, I attended the Atlanta Jaycees Happy Hour Social at Vinocity in Midtown. Upon arriving, I ran into Jennifer and recurring Propeller Skies character Michael. While waiting for the crowd to arrive, I chatted and had a few glasses of wine with them.

Soon, the lounge was packed full of about 50 Jaycees, so I had to stop drinking and start photographing the event. After taking several photos, I decided to sample yet another wine. By this time, recurring Propeller Skies character Lara had arrived and I hung out with her for a bit. Later, I moseyed out on the porch and chilled with a guy who works for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

I enjoy the Jaycees events, there are loads of potential contacts and several interesting people. The other great thing about the Jaycees is the age limit, which keeps pervy old dudes from OTP from attending events and scaring off all the hotties. This is the third Jaycees event I have attended and at each one I met some really cool people. I highly recommend the Jaycees.

Vinocity is one of my favorite places in Midtown. Like several other venues in the area, the restaurant is in an extensively remodeled old house. The first floor is the swank lounge area and wine bar, with one of the best wine selections in Atlanta. Over 100 varieties are available by the glass or bottle. I hear the restaurant, which is on the second floor, is superb as well. However, I have never eaten there, because I have always been too busy sampling the wines.

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PHOTO: Jennifer and her unidentified friend attending the Atlanta Jaycees Happy Hour Social at Vinocity in Midtown, Atlanta, GA. July 8, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics. View more Atlanta Jaycees Happy Hour Social photos.