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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Concert Review: Bruce Springsteen @ Bridgestone Arena

Photos courtesy of Mark Maxwell
Having just witnessed my very first Bruce Springsteen concert, I can now officially echo Jon Landau’s prophetic endorsement that “I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.” Although that statement was originally made in a pre-Born to Run 1974, it holds as true today as it ever did then. After a 2 encore, 3 hours plus mixture of majestic musicality and sweaty showmanship, there is no question that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is still the bar by which all other bands are measured. With no signs of slowing down any time soon, Springsteen seems content to be continually raising that bar with each show.

The follow-up sentence to that Landau quote proved equally fitting for me tonight as well: “he made me feel like I was hearing music for the first time.” While that could easily be shrugged off as euphoric post-show hyperbole, I can honestly say that there was a specific point in the show tonight where the music that was being created on stage was something I had never experienced before. During “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” honorary E Streeter Tom Morello (formerly of Rage Against the Machine) played an outlandishly otherworldly guitar solo – if you can call it that – that transcended the song to somewhere I’d never been before. Originally a Steinbeck-inspired, acoustic-led folk song, Springsteen has morphed “The Ghost of Tom Joad” in recent years to be an aural onslaught of instrumentation that matches the anger and indignance of the lyrics. Morello seemed to pull out every technique and trick in his inventive guitarsenal, effortlessly switching between bouts of manic melodiousness and surrealistic sounds. At one point, he even unplugged the guitar and furiously tapped the cable in the palm of his hand as he rocked out a rhythm on his beloved whammy pedal. But as jaw-dropping as it actually was, the thing that made the moment so special was how Morello’s boundless guitarwork fit in with what everybody else was doing. As Springsteen looked on, strumming away on his own guitar, the rest of the E Street Band provided the flawless atmospherics to support this feat of fleet-fingered fancy. That’s what makes Springsteen’s music and his shows so singularly special. It’s the unified combination of the band, the songs, the crowd, and, of course, the Boss.

Springsteen opened the show with “High Hopes,” the title track of his most recent covers and outtakes album. As the militaristic marching beat set the groove, the Bridgestone Arena crowd was immediately loud, engaged, and insatiable. Every song, new or old, seemed to be met with the same level of enthusiasm and top-of-your-voice singalongs. After a mix of Darkness on the Edge of Town favorite “Badlands,” Born in the U.S.A.’s “No Surrender,” and Wrecking Ball’s “Death to My Hometown,” Springsteen greeted the enthusiastic attendees to deafening approval. Continuing on with the crowd interaction, Springsteen took off his guitar and let the arena take the first verse of “Hungry Heart” as he wove his way through the fans on the floor. After resuming vocal duty midway through the crowd, Springsteen took the opportunity of Jake Clemons’ saxophone solo to crowd surf back to the stage, collecting signs of song requests along the way. As Bruce got back to the front of the stage, Clemons played the final few bars of his sax solo with one hand as he coolly pulled Bruce back on stage with the other. At this point, the crowd was at fever pitch and we were barely five songs in.

After a rousing “Spirit in the Night” from his 1973 debut album, Springsteen launched into his infamous “Stump the E Street Band” routine where he chooses a couple of songs based solely on sign requests. After some short instructions – “Key of D, band” – he did a convincing Elvis on “Burning Love” and then brought a young fan on stage to help sing on a loose cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.” Moving into a mini “Electric Nebraska” section, Springsteen and company amped up “Atlantic City” and “Johnny 99,” with Morella and the E Street horn section contributing stellar solos to the latter. “Johnny 99,” one of my absolute favorite Springsteen numbers, was played with the fervor and tenacity of a set closer. However, at this point, we were only 10 songs in.

Deciding to finally give the frenzied crowd a breather, Springsteen’s moving “American Skin (41 Shots)” was next. Originally written in 1999 after the controversial police shooting of Amadou Diallo and resurrected in 2012 in light of the heartbreaking Trayvon Martin case, “American Skin (41 Shots)” is equal parts somber and stirring, a tricky line that Springsteen is a master at traversing. After picking things back up with a raucous “The Promised Land,” E Street guitarist Nils Lofgren turned in an incendiary guitar performance on crowd favorite “Because the Night.” Although Lofgren and Morello have decidedly different guitar styles, their joint efforts compliment each other in a unique fashion that provides for some fun, eclectic moments. After another moment of deceptive dreaminess courtesy of “I’m on Fire,” Born in the U.S.A.’s “Downbound Train” and Wrecking Ball’s “Shackled and Drawn” mirrored the percussive thump of the show opener. For “Waitin’ On A Sunny Day,” Bruce grabbed another set of young fans to help with background vocals, reminding us all of large reach that Bruce and his music has over fans of all ages and generations.
The first set closed mightily with Springsteen and Morello trading verses on “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” the palpable uplifting swell of “The Rising,” and the crowd losing their minds for “Land of Hope and Dreams.” Tagging the last song with a few lines of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” Springsteen left the crowd (if only for a moment) with a redemptive hope that was seen in the smiles and heard in the shouts. Surprisingly a few people in our section actually left at this point, unfortunately missing out on the fact that Springsteen encores are not to be missed.

For his first encore, Springsteen came back out to give an amazing tribute to fellow New Jersey musician Walter Cichon (and everyone else) who died in the Vietnam War and performed “The Wall” to thunderous approval. Next, he reached back to 1980’s The River for “Point Blank,” a surprising song that he hasn’t played on this current tour thus far. However, it was the closing foursome of songs that threatened to break Bridgestone in half. Starting with an anthemic “Born in the U.S.A,” the house lights would occasionally turn all the way so that everyone could see (and participate in) the party that was taking place on the arena floor. It was fist-in-the-air singing and like-nobody’s-looking dancing the entire time throughout “Born to Run” and “Dancing in the Dark” as well. However, the crescendo hit maximum intensity during “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” as the arena screens showed shot after shot of deceased E Street members Danny Federici and Clarence “Big Man” Clemons. As the song essentially tells of the beginnings of the E Street Band, Springsteen paused after hitting the lyric “When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band” and the crowd erupted in tribute. Even after Springsteen closed out with "Shout" and his customary “You’ve just seen the heart-stopping, pants-dropping, house-rocking…” carnival barking, the crowd refused to call it a night. Springsteen came out for a second encore and played his laid-back, acoustic version of “Thunder Road” all by himself. As the crowd fought between trying to listen and singing every single word as loud as they could, there was no question that we had all been a part of something magical together; something that is not regularly experienced and not easily forgotten.

High Hopes
No Surrender
Death to My Hometown
Hungry Heart
Spirit in the Night
Burning Love
Atlantic City (electric version)

Johnny 99 (electric version)

American Skin (41 Shots)

The Promised Land

Because the Night
I'm on Fire

Downbound Train

Shackled and Drawn

Waitin' on a Sunny Day

The Ghost of Tom Joad

The Rising

Land of Hope and Dreams/People Get Ready

Encore #1:
The Wall
Point Blank
Born in the U.S.A.
Born to Run

Dancing in the Dark

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out/Shout

Encore 2:
Thunder Road (acoustic version)

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Record Store Day: 10 Classic Country Collections

(This article originally appeared on CMT Edge.)

Record Store Day’s seventh annual celebration of independent record stores takes place Saturday (April 19) and, once again, the event will be commemorated in style.
Hundreds of unique, limited edition vinyl releases have been thought up, pressed up and will be snatched up by music fans and vinyl enthusiasts alike. Whether it’s a brand new offering or a reissue that has been out-of-print for decades, Record Store Day has a little something for everyone.
While some may question the validity of vinyl in a digital delivery world, the numbers tell a different story. Last year marked the sixth year in a row that vinyl sales topped their previous highest totals — with a 32 percent increase from 2012 to 2013 alone. For a visual depiction of the boom, look no further than this weekend when consumers around the globe will be waiting in line before their stores even open.
While Record Store Day releases are available for a variety of tastes and preferences, here are 10 classic country offerings CMT Edge readers might like to pick up from their local record store.
Johnny CashWith His Hot and Blue Guitar
This is Cash’s debut full-length album from 1957, originally released two years after he recorded his very first single for Sun Records. Not only was it Cash’s first LP, it was the first LP for Sun Records, as well, as they had previously only released singles. This historic album is being reissued on title-appropriate blue vinyl.
Steve EarleTownes: The Basics
Earle recorded the Grammy-award winning Townes in 2009 as a tribute to his mentor, legendary singer-songwriter Townes Van ZandtTownes: The Basicsfeatures Earle’s original guitar/vocal only performances. This is the first time Earle’s solo versions of these songs have been made available on vinyl.
Ramblin’ Jack ElliotJack Elliott
Folk troubadour Ramblin’ Jack Elliott first released this album in 1964, his first for Vanguard Records. The track listing for Jack Elliott features a mix of traditional songs, covers and originals, but the album is also notable for featuring a young Bob Dylan on harmonica.
The Everly BrothersSongs Our Daddy Taught Us
With the passing of Phil Everly earlier this year, this rousing release has become a bit more poignant. Originally released in 1958, Songs Our Daddy Taught Us was the Everly Brothers’ second full-length album. Last year, this album was covered in its entirety by Norah Jones and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and released asForeverly.
Wanda JacksonWindy City Redux
The 7-inch single from the Queen of Rockabilly features a live recording of a longtime fan favorite, “Funnel of Love,” along with her more recent hit “Shakin’ All Over” on the flipside. These tracks were plucked from one of her 2012 concerts where she was backed by a rowdy band and an equally rambunctious horn section. This single was mixed and produced by Shooter Jennings and is pressed on snow-white wax.
Waylon Jennings/Sanford Clark, “My Baby Walks All Over Me”/“It’s Nothing to Me”
This split 7-inch single is the inaugural edition in a series of releases celebrating the famed Audio Recorders studio in Phoenix. Available for the first time on vinyl since their initial Ramco Records pressings in 1967 are country legend Waylon Jennings doing “My Baby Walks All Over Me” and Rockabilly Hall of Fame member Sanford Clark performing “It’s Nothing to Me.” There will only be 500 copies of this rare release available, and it will be pressed on gold vinyl.
Gram Parsons180 Gram: Alternate Takes From GP and Grievous Angel
Enigmatic country-rock icon Gram Parsons only put out two solo albums (one of which was released posthumously), and alternate versions of the songs from both recording sessions are presented on this double-LP release. Although his tragic death at 26 cut short the opportunity to hear more of his self-described “cosmic American music,” releases like this at least allow listeners a chance to hear his songs in a different context than their original album versions.
Dolly Parton, “Blue Smoke”/“Home”
In advance of the May 20 release of her new album Blue Smoke (her stunning 42nd studio album overall), Parton is releasing this 7-inch single showcasing the title track with “Home” occupying the B-side. While the full album will feature Parton doing covers of Bob Dylan and Bon Jovi, as well as duets with Willie Nelson andKenny Rogers, these two self-penned originals certainly hold their own as a standalone release. Playing off the new album and lead single title, this record will be pressed on smoky blue vinyl.
Doc WatsonSouthbound
The bluegrass aficionado and guitarist extraordinaire first released Southbound in 1966. Although it was only the second studio album to be released under his name alone, Watson had already made a name for himself as an inspired interpreter of traditional folk standards. However, with Southbound, Watson finally started coming into his own as a songwriter, as well. Mimicking the original album aesthetics, this release is being faithfully reissued in “exact replica” packaging.
Hank WilliamsThe Garden Spot Programs, 1950 — Extended Play
What some consider the pièce de résistance of this year’s Record Store Day releases, this 10-inch EP features eight previously-unreleased tracks from Williams’ stint on various Garden Spot radio shows in 1950. The first, last and only time these performances were heard was 64 years ago on Texas regional radio. The recovery of these lost recordings allows for a unique look at the legend playing both host and performer, giving equal vigor to their jingles and his singles. This extraordinary release is pressed on gorgeous brown vinyl.
To find out more about these releases and to make your own game plan for this weekend, you can browse through all of the Record Store Day releases and find a list of participating record stores at the Record Store Day website.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Interview with Erin McKeown + "CIVICS"

Last year, Erin McKeown released MANIFESTRA, a compelling album that mixed together guitars and governments in a decidedly head-on manner. While these can be notoriously tricky waters to tread, McKeown’s gift for inclusive storytelling and her knack for melodic and percussive magnetism invite the listener into conversation instead of a debate. Looking to take the concept of civil engagement further, McKeown then recorded CIVICS, a companion album of the 11 songs from MANIFESTRA reinterpreted in a nuanced, solo acoustic fashion. According to McKeown, “CIVICS whispers where MANIFESTRA shouts.” Choosing to record these performances inside of a marble-tiled library proved to be quite the aesthetic (and poetic) final touch.

NoiseTrade: What sparked the idea to break down these songs and record CIVICS as a companion album to MANIFESTRA?
Erin McKeown: My songs usually exist in at least two versions: the idealized band/album version that comes first and the more economical/practical solo version that comes later with touring. Since the MANIFESTRA batch were orchestrated to amplify the message in each song, I was curious how the messages would react to the solo treatment. If the song were played more intimately, would you hear the song rather than feel it? Would the songs feel more like songs than messages or vice versa?

NT: How did you land on recording CIVICS at the Field Memorial Library in Western Massachusetts?
McKeown: I've driven by the Field for over a decade now. It's such a curiosity; a large, ornate building stuck in the middle of a tiny, very rural town. It’s all marble where everything else is clapboard. It isn’t often open, but one time I happened to drive by when it was, so I stopped just for curiosity’s sake to have a look. The instant I stepped inside and heard my footsteps echo, I knew I had to do some recording in the space. At the time, I didn’t know for what project, but I filed the sound of the building away in my mind for the future.

NT: Do you feel that the stripped-down performances of these songs shape the lyrical content or your vocal delivery differently?
McKeown: I think the most fundamental differences in the CIVICS versions are the guitar parts. They've got to cover what the bass, keyboard, and drums are doing in addition to being a guitar. The parts I am playing on CIVICS are so different from MANIFESTRA that I inevitably sang the songs differently, emphasized different lyrics, and found different emotional shades to the songs.

NT: The mixture of music and politics can often end up being a shouting match with only one participant. What has shaped your ability to bypass that route and instead create an open dialogue through inspired storytelling?
McKeown: That is very well put! I can certainly fall into the trap of shouting: "if I just say this LOUDER, you'll understand". But I live in fear of creating a bad song with a good message. That does no one any good! So I rely on my primary instincts as songwriter and performer. I need to tell stories first, to craft a dramatic arc, to find an image that will stick with the listener long after the song is over. Through years of touring and writing, I’ve built up a toolbox of effective, adaptive ways to make people listen. In the case of MANIFESTRA, the work was to stick to the song first and let the politics follow. With CIVICS, I found that there was even more power in being quiet.

NT: One of the songs on the album, “Baghdad to the Bayou,” has a pretty unique origin story, as it was written - correct me if I’m wrong - over text message with Rachel Maddow as your co-writer?
McKeown: That's right! I was in Alaska with Thao Nguyen and we ran into Ira Glass in a diner in Anchorage. Ira and I became fast friends, and shortly afterward, he invited me to perform at a benefit to raise money for the 2010 deepwater horizon spill cleanup. Rachel was also on the bill for the benefit. Since she and I have known each other for years from Western Massachusetts, Ira asked us to collaborate. She was so busy that the only way we could communicate around her travels was by text. It’s a unique song, one that probably leans more to being a better message than song. However, the message is so important, and Rachel is so amazing, that I am going to give myself a pass on it not being the greatest song ever.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Interview with Ethan Luck + Hard Seas [EP]

After spending the largest chunk of his musical career behind a drum set and guitar for a variety of bands, Ethan Luck has stepped up to the microphone and has spent the last year working on his own material. He released his debut solo EP, Wounds & Fears, last November and has just recently released his equally gripping follow-up, Hard Seas. Mixing his punk rock roots with a West Coast country twang and a sprinkling of sparse folk simplicity, Luck's wide-ranging musical tastes produce a cohesively diverse outing that never loses its bearings. Even in the short space of just five songs, Luck's ambitous twists and turns make for a fun and worthwhile listen. Which, if you're like me, means that the singular "listen" quickly morphs into multiple "listens" before you know it.

With Hard Seas, Luck has also taken the opportunity to write about his recent struggles with anxiety. Using music as an outlet to address and work through everything that has accompanied it, Luck stated, "In the last year, for reasons I don’t need to get into, my anxiety went to places I thought I would never see or deal with. While trying to figure out ways to deal with it, I would write songs about it. That was a very therapeutic and painful process, but I needed it."

NoiseTrade: You released your debut EP, Wounds & Fears, last November and you’re already back with your second one, Hard Seas. Were these songs hold-overs from Wounds & Fears or are they the prolific product of brand new moments?
Ethan Luck: The only things that were left over from Wounds & Fears were half done songs. Those are still sitting around. The songs on Hard Seas are all brand new, after I finished the Wounds & Fears EP. I write music in any downtime I have. So, I started on songs for this new EP before Wounds & Fears even came out. I had a completely different goal in mind. I wanted to write an EP of songs with one constant theme. I wrote most of them while on the road, in hotel rooms.

NT: As someone who does all of the writing, playing, and recording on your own, what does the process look like for you from initial idea to song completion?
Luck: Mostly, I start with playing a couple chords and singing a melody of gibberish. Once I find a good melody that works well with the chords I'm playing, I record a quick memo on my phone, so I won't forget it. I do that most days. I'll revisit those ideas and decide which are the strongest and figure out what to write about and go on from there. It's been fun to write while on tour, as a guitar tech. I'll finish a few songs in hotel rooms and when I get home, I go straight into my garage studio and start tracking. I already know what I want to hear with other instruments so I make quick progress the day I start tracking. My normal tracking times are in the morning or late at night. I feel that I can focus better, especially at night. When I take a short break, I'll go in my backyard and it's silent. That helps a lot when finishing lyrics. I don't spend a lot of time over-producing anything. If I'm happy with it, then that's what you're gonna hear. I'm not trying to be anything I'm not. I'm not trying to please or impress anyone. Plus, I like the idea of capturing good moments as opposed to making it perfect. I have the same approach to photography. I'm never going to be perfect, so why pretend to be?

NT: On your website, you spoke candidly about your struggles with anxiety. What role does music, specifically the creation of your own music, play in that?
Luck: Music plays one of the biggest roles in dealing with something like anxiety. I've been surrounded by music since birth. When anxiety became something real in my life, music became one of the few things that made it diminish or drove me right through the hardest parts of it. Even if a song isn't about what I'm going through, maybe the mood of the song is. When I listen to a song about pain or heartache, it hits me pretty hard. It pulls things out of me, whether I like it or not. When I've had an anxiety attack, I can't tell you how many times I've put on "The Cure For Pain" by my long time friend, Jon Foreman. It's a sad song with so much hope, to me. I'll send him a text from time to time, thanking him for that song. In regard to my own music, it's one of the best therapies out there. I've even listened back to this EP and it's helped me. I have many ways of dealing with anxiety and I'm still working on ways to do so. For me, to put what I'm going through into a song is like having someone to talk to. It's a perfect way to get across what you're going through and I can only hope that it might help someone else, dealing with similar things. When you meet someone with similar struggles, it becomes that push you need to get through the day. Music often does the same to me.

NT: In the song “Can’t Sleep Sound,” you sing the line “I hid myself so well, well enough to not be found.” How do you reconcile attempts to do that with your job as a professional musician whose job is in the public eye?
Luck: That line is talking about hiding from what's real and hoping that it will just pass. It won't. In the last year or so, when anxiety got worse than ever, I felt embarrassed. I feel like I'm a pretty social person and transparent. I love being around people. I want to love people. I didn't want anxiety to take over and change who I am. I felt like it was about to at so many times. I had to get to a point where I could deal with this and still be myself. So, what better way than to write about it. It's out there now and I feel great about that. "Can't Sleep Sound" is specifically about how I was feeling last summer, when I started a new job that was pretty unexpected. I got thrown into a situation where I barely knew anyone. Although I feel I can walk up to anyone and make conversation, this felt different. On top of that, I was dealing with the feelings of having to set aside my life of 16 years, playing music for a living.

NT: In regards to the sound of Hard Seas, your country influences and guitar tones seem to be pretty West Coast in nature, like a mix somewhere between Buck Owens and Mike Ness of Social Distortion. Do you feel that as well or does living in Nashville play a part too?
Luck: Where I grew up and where I live now definitely have an effect on me when it comes to my "sound." Growing up in California, I discovered bands like Social Distortion, Face To Face, Rancid, Green Day, Black Flag...etc. While living there, I also was exposed to the "Bakersfield Sound" by my Dad. That led me to artists like Johnny Cash, The Louvin Brothers and Hank Williams, just to name a few. When I got to the point where I wanted to write my own music, writing with all of those influences made sense to me. The sound came naturally. Believe it or not, there actually is influence from my love of ska/reggae on this EP too. The chorus to "Set Me Free" is where you'll find it. Mostly, with the "Oh-Oh's" on the chorus. Put an upstroke guitar and a kick drum on 2 and 4, you have a mid tempo ska song.

NT: You created a gorgeous 48-page photo book of your photography to accompany Hard Seas. What's the association between the photos and the EP?
Luck: The digital photo book was a bit of a last minute decision. I had all these photos I had taken over the time of writing this EP. I wanted to do something with them. So, I went back and found my favorite photos from all the places I was while writing and touring. I picked my favorites and made a digital photo book. Each photo was from the surroundings of where I was writing, arranging or recording. You'll see photos from Australia all the way to my backyard.

NT: This may be a bit of a music nerd question, but what do you think is special about EPs, as opposed to singles and full-length albums?
Luck: I don't know every artist's reason for making an EP. Maybe you're taking to long to make a new LP? Maybe you have a batch of songs that are different than what people know you for? Who knows? To me, they do seem more special and leave me wanting more. For me, I want to put out music in shorter time frames. I don't want to work on a 12-song album and have it come out a year later. I like recording songs about life at that point and having it still be fresh when people hear it. My good friend, Nathan Thomas, mixed and mastered Hard Seas a week before I released it. I love that. If I end up writing 12 songs in a few months time, then who knows, maybe I'll have a full length out. For now, I like the idea of just EPs.

NT: As a fellow fan of the format, what are some of your recommended EPs you’ve dug over the years from other artists you’ve enjoyed?
Luck: Good question! Here's a few that come to mind...

The Clash - Black Market Clash EP
Fishbone - Fishbone EP
Jon Foreman - Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer
EPs OFF! - First Four 7" EPs
Metallica - Garage Days Re-Revisited EP
Noah Gundersen - Family EP
MxPx - Small Town Minds EP

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Interview with G. Love & Special Sauce + "20 Years On... And A Taste of Sugar"

20 years after releasing their self-titled debut album, hip-hop blues trio G. Love & Special Sauce are celebrating with a retrospective look back and a refreshing look ahead. Although it's been eight years since they last played together, the original line up of G. Love, "Jimi Jazz" Prescott, and Jeff Clemons have reunited to record a brand new album, Sugar, and they're currently on tour playing 1994's G. Love & Special Sauce in its entirety.

To add to the festivities, they're offering a cool EP titled 20 Years On... And A Taste of Sugar that includes three tracks off the new album and three live tracks form their ongoing tour. From Sugar, "One Night Romance" sizzles on the duet vocals of the legendary Merry Clayton, "Nothing Else Quite Like Home" gets a little help from Ben Harper and Marc Broussard, and the funky chug of "Cheating Heart" will have you moving in no time. The three debut album live tracks showcase the talented trio grooving through the laid-back chill of "Blues Music," the jazzy interplay of "Walk to Slide," and the sleazy slink of "Garbage Man."

NoiseTrade: It’s been eight years since the original G. Love & Special Sauce played together. What got you guys back in the same room and playing together again?
G. Love: I was down at my sound guy/tour manager/producer’s wedding two Septembers ago and Jim (Prescott, bass) was there. We hadn’t seen each other in about five years. I asked him if he ever wanted to come back out on the road. He wasn’t exactly interested in doing that, but he said he’d be down for doing some recording. Fast-forward a year and a half, and after doing a session for the Sugar record, we felt like we wanted to cut some more tunes. I said, let’s see if Jim’s available to do this next session. Sure enough, he said he was into it. It was the first time we had played together in about five or six years and we were able to pick back up right where we were at the best times we had ever had playing together. The instant chemistry and joy of playing together were still there.

After that session, I was helping him load up his car and I asked him again if he wanted to come back out on the road. This time, he was into it. It worked out pretty serendipitously with it being the 20-year anniversary of the first record. So it’s been great to put together the original line-up that made that record.

NT: What’s the experience been like to play your self-titled debut album in full each night?
G. Love: It’s been cool to play again as the original trio and play something that we’re all so endeared to and care so much about. It’s been just like getting back on the bike. We knew it would be since we had already done a successful recording session. We’re playing the whole first record and most of the new record with some other songs mixed in for fun. At soundcheck we try to work on other songs from our catalog to throw in.

NT: Are there any songs that have a taken on a different meaning for you now, 20 years later?
G. Love: Yeah, it’s funny… It’s almost like having a kid and watching them grow up. You love them as much now as you did when they were little, but you almost respect them more. Instead of just jamming on the songs like we do sometimes, we’re performing them pretty close to how they were first recorded and letting them stand on their own. We’re trying to respect and celebrate the original performances.

NT: Early in the tour you had back-to-back shows in Philly. How was the hometown crowd?
G. Love: It was really awesome. It was emotional to play the Boston show and the Philly shows because a lot of the old heads came out. A lot of people showed up that worked in the music business in Philly around the time that we recorded the first record. So it was nice to see everyone. We’ve never been part of a trend or a scene, but it’s still nice to feel that community.

NT: What drove the decision to record Sugar live with you guys playing in the same room at the same time?
G. Love: Of all the stuff I’ve put out over the years, it seems that the best stuff has been recorded like that. Where we’re just going for it and not trying to be too polished. I try to stay away from the three compound words that can destroy any recording session for me: sonically-correct, radio-friendly, and commercially-viable. Over the years I’ve sometimes tried to cater to one or more of those curse words, but it’s always been to limited success and it was always a let down. When you’re recording, oftentimes the producer will want to have complete control over the sonics of the tracks, so they’ll want isolation. They’ll start with the drums and build everything around that individually. However, since it takes a certain emotional vocal and guitar performance to get the right drum take you want, why wouldn’t you use that same vocal and guitar track that got the drummer there in the first place? That’s where the connection is. It may be a little more raw or unpolished, but it’s emotionally connected and that’s a trade-off I’m willing to make every time. Things go a lot faster that way as well (laughs).

NT: “One Night Romance,” your call-and-response duet with the legendary Merry Clayton, is downright incendiary. How’d that come about?
G. Love: That was a song that was written by a friend of mine named Kristy Lee, who sings background on that track. Emmitt Malloy at the label (Brushfire Records) saw that documentary 20 Feet from Stardom that had Merry in it. He thought it would be great to do a track with her and brought up “One Night Romance.” I asked Kristy about it, because we had initially sung it together, and she was really supportive and honored about it. So, Merry came in and she was so awesome. She told all these great stories about working with Mick Jagger and Ray Charles. We drank some wine, went in to sing for about an hour a half, and then we had it. She’s one of the greatest singers of all time and she really helped me a lot. It was a really special moment for me.

NT: Along with Merry, you pulled in some other amazing guests like David Hidalgo and Marc Broussard. What did they add to the overall experience?
G. Love: David Hidalgo was a really crucial part of the recording. Jeff (Clemens, drums) had the idea to take a couple days recording as a trio and then take a couple days to bring in some special guests. As it turned out, David was only available that first night, the first time that we would be playing together again after so long. Initially, I thought we should get into a groove, just the three of us, before bringing anybody in. But then I thought, what’s the worst that could happen? If we don’t get anything good tonight, we’ll just try again the next day. It ended up working out perfectly because it gave us a game plan. We picked the three tunes we wanted to have David on and prepared them for later when he arrived. When he showed up, we were ready and it was amazing. Jeff was so thrilled, he’s a huge fan of David’s, and he was like a kid in a candy shop.

We also had Ben Harper and Marc Broussard on “Nothing Quite Like Home.” That song started out as an instrumental. Then, I met Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons and it turns out he was a big fan when he was a kid. The first song he ever performed was “Baby’s Got Sauce” when he was 13 at a New Year’s Eve party. We talked about collaborating and I sent him that instrumental track to check out. Six hours later, he sent back a demo where he had written lyrics and recorded vocals over the groove. As it turns out, Dan couldn’t be on the final track, but I still wanted to do a collaboration because that’s how it started out. I called up Marc and he took a stab at it. Then I dragged Ben to the studio and he did his thing. I was really happy to get those guys on that track.

NT: There’s a song on Sugar called “Run for Me” that was originally written for your debut album and never got recorded until now. What’s the story behind that song?
G. Love: That was one of my original street-side blues tunes that I had written while I was a street performer back in 1992. There’s a version of it on my first solo record called Oh Yeah that I recorded when was 19. We had recorded it as a trio for our debut record, but it didn’t make the cut. It fit right in with this record, so we gave it another shot. We had played it live at various times over the years and if you’re still feeling a song 24 years after you wrote it, you know it’s got some merit. So I’m glad it’s got its place on a real release.


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Oats Pulihora

When I decided to do “cooking with store bought mixes”, all I could think of was desserts and sweets; brownies, cakes, trifle pudding and if these were not enough, I went and picked up sheer kurma mix and vermicelli pudding mix from the Indian store. I told myself I was not going to do more than one dessert/sweet recipe for this theme. I kept them as back recipes, in case I can not come up with anything interesting for this theme.

When I saw Suma’s Oats Bisibele Bhath last week, I wanted to try something with oats. I had a box of rolled oats which has to be consumed in less than a week. I did pick up bisibele bhath powder and I also picked up a pack of puliogare powder from the Indian store. I ended up making oats pulihora. Puliogare powder is made of tamarind and spices to prepare the infamous pulihora or puliogare, tangy rice from South India. Tamarind pulihora is usually made with paste prepared with cooking together tamarind juice and spices. I substituted rice with oats and I was surprised how the tasteless oats transformed into flavorful morsels! This was my breakfast yesterday & today. I seldom use store bought spice powders but I think this puliogare powder is going to be put to good use to spice up my oats.

Oats Puliogare, Tangy Oats, Blogging Marathon

Cooking Time: 10 – 15 minutes
Serves: 1

  • ½ cup Rolled Oats
  • ¾ cup Water
  • 1 tsp. Oil (approx.)
  • 10 Peanuts
  • 2-3 Curry Leaves tore into two pieces
  • 1 Green Chili split into two (Opt.)
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 tsp. Puliogare Powder (I used MTR brand)

  • Lightly toast oats in a sauce pan, this should take about a minute or two.
    Add water and cook until the oats are cooked. I used 1: 1 ½ ratio oats to water. It takes about 5-7 minutes to cook the oats. I cooked it on high flame until it came to a boil and reduce the heat and cooked until all the water evaporated.
  • In a separate pan, heat oil and roast peanuts until light brown.
  • Add curry leaves, green chilies, salt and lightly roast them.
  • Add puliogare powder and cook for a minute. Turn off the heat.
  • Pour the tempering into the oats or transfer the oats to the tempering pan and mix well.
  • Serve hot.

  • Puliogare powder is well seasoned with spices and need not add green chilies or curry leaves. I used them in the tempering as I wanted my photo to look good and off course, it did enhance the flavor of the oats too. This powder also has peanuts in it but I felt I could add a few more. If one does not like peanuts, they can skip it in the tempering.
  • Pulihora mix had too much hing aka asafoetida for my taste. We do not use hing in our everyday cooking, both at my maternal & married family. So I used only 1 tsp. of puliogare powder. It was seasoned well but if one wants a tangier flavor, one can add more puliogare mix.

Recipes this day in 2011: Sauteed Shrimp
Recipes I posted this month in 2008, in 2009 and in 2011.

Blogging Marathon: To know more about the various themes and participating bloggers for this marathon, checkout the blogging marathon page on Srivalli’s blog

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New To Subscription Boxes? Start Here!

Posted by on in Beauty Subscription Boxes, New Subscription Boxes, PinkSeoul Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women | Tags: | 14 comments

PinkSeoul Mask Subscription Box Review + Coupon – April 2016

This post may contain referral/affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

PinkSeoul is a monthly Korean beauty subscription box curated to your skin type. They focus on customized, full-sized, and curated products that are designed to guide you in your K-beauty journey of discovery. You can also shop their online store for more K-beauty goodies.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

PinkSeoul offers 3 subscription types. The PinkSeoul Box is $39.95 every two months with retail value over $60. The PinkSeoul Plus Box is recommended for subscribers age 35+, $49.95 every two months with retail value over $80. These two boxes are shipped bi-monthly and each box contains at least 4 full-sized items plus an accessory item. The PinkSeoul Mask Box is $29.95 every month with 10 customized mask products and an accessory item.

This review is of the PinkSeoul Mask Box for Oily skin types.

The Subscription Box: PinkSeoul Mask Box

The Cost: $29.95 per month + free US shipping

COUPON: Save 10% off your first box with code MSA10.

And for a limited time only, receive a bonus washing hairband with your first Mask Box! No coupon needed!

The Products: 10 K-beauty mask products customized to your skin type plus an accessory item or full-size cosmetic/skincare item

Ships to: USA (free shipping), Canada ($8.95 shipping), and other countries listed here ($15.95 shipping)

Check out all of our PinkSeoul reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Prior to purchasing a subscription, PinkSeoul will ask you several customization questions. Be sure to figure out what your skin type is because, for example, some ingredients are more compatible with dry skin than with oily skin.

Each box includes a detailed info card. PinkSeoul stated that they will now be alternating between an accessory item and a full-size cosmetic/skincare item each month. I think alternating is a wonderful idea. Plus, who doesn’t love full size products? The info card also has some FAQs and useful tips on sheet masks (i.e. don’t reuse sheet masks!)– be sure to read through them, they’re great.

Elizavecca Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask – $14 (on sale for $11.95)

I’ve seen this product around before– it’s a bubbling wash-off mask. PinkSeoul describes this as a “deep cleanser and pore cleansing clay mask in one.” The mask has a thick mousse-like texture in the jar. It smells earthy and a little chemical-y. I’ve documented the process below. Basically you just scoop out a liberal amount of mask and start applying to the face. I suggest applying with the flat tip of the spatula because it gives you more smooth, even coverage than your fingers would. The mask begins its bubbly transformation upon contact with my skin. At minute 1, it’s a tame fizzy foam. By minute 10 I had a full-blown monster foam face. Even then the mask. Kept. Bubbling. Please don’t smear too much under your nostrils like I did unless you like snorting foam.

The mask is quite difficult to wash off. It took 3-4 minutes to rinse my face. I will try washing it off in the shower next time. There was a strange phenomenon that occurred during the washing process: my sink started bubbling! Bubbles started oozing out of that extra hole that sinks have to prevent water from overflowing. It is really strange but also mesmerizing to watch bubbles push its way out from seemingly nowhere.

Overall, I definitely recommend it for the “fun” factor– you know, take a few selfies, scare your family, record it for posterity– but the arduous cleaning process prevents me from using this frequently.

Here are some selfies of the wash off mask and the mysterious bubbling from my sink.

Tonymoly Intense Care Snail Hydrogel Mask – $8 (on sale for $6.50)

This is a hydrogel mask, which is made of a gel-like material instead of your usual pressed cotton. Hydrogel masks allow “more moisture to be locked in and absorbed into your skin” and requires more delicacy when applying since it can tear if you pinch it too hard. It’s also more expensive than your usual $2-3 sheet mask. This Tonymoly one contains snail secretion filtrate which helps improve skin tone, skin cell regeneration, and replenish moisture. There are not one, not two, but three different types of plastics protecting the two-piece hydrogel mask. There was a lot of peeling involved. It has a neutral smell– not great, but not unpleasant either– and fades quickly. It doesn’t slide off my face like some other masks tend to do and does not feel sticky after use.

Banobagi Vita Genic Jelly Mask (Relaxing) – $5.95

This mask is soaked in “liposome jelly” instead of usual watery essence and contains aloe vera and 8 types of vitamins to calm and soothe sensitive skin. I didn’t enjoy wearing the Banobagi mask from March’s mask box. The texture was too gooey for me (I think my exact words were “medical lubricant”). Despite that it is a super hydrating mask and I’d recommend it to those who can handle the gooeyness.

Secret Key Starting Treatment Mask – $5 (on sale for $3.95)

The highlighted ingredient of this mask is galactomyces ferment filtrate and aloe. Galactomyces is a type of yeast. If you think yeast skincare is strange, then you should know SK-II’s popular Pitera ingredient is basically yeast as well (and it sells for so much!). The fermented/filtrated version contains a lot of things to help improve skin tone, hydrate, brighten skin, and increase elasticity. The mask fit is average but the essence feels great. I could barely detect any scent. There was so much essence left over in the packaging that it would be a waste not to use it up! The mask slowly slid down to my upper lip, which would typically bother me but it hydrated and softened my lips so much! An unexpected new use for ill-fitting sheet masks – lip hydration. This one leaves my face a little sticky afterwards.

SNP Diamond Brightening Ampoule Mask – $3

Diamonds. Apparently this mask contains sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide, and diamonds. I’m trying to think about all the practical uses for diamonds but “skin hydration” really isn’t one of them. Honestly, though, I like these SNP sheet masks because they fit well and feel great on my face. I’m always happy to receive more.

Leaders Amino AC-Free Mask – $3

Leaders is a great sheet mask brand. This one has 17 kinds of amino acids, AHA, BHA, and snail mucin. The mask is thin and the water/gel-like essence has a slight fragrance that disappears quickly after opening. The best part– the fit is perfect on me! It fits every contour of my face and adheres snugly to the skin. My face feels slightly tacky after use but it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

This is how much essence is left in the Secret Key mask pouch. So much!

Skinfood Propolis & Bee Venom Mask – $2

This mask has propolis and bee venom. Propolis is an anti-bacterial, soothing, and anti-inflammatory ingredient that my acne-prone skin loves. If you have bee allergies please be aware that this contains bee venom.

Skinfood Bird’s Nest Mask – $2

Bird’s nest extract in this mask helps give skin deep hydration. The fit is average. The essence is creamy instead of the watery essences I’m used to. These Skinfood masks stayed moist for quite a long time– but that is partly due to me layering a lot of extra essence from inside the packaging. My face did feel a little tacky afterwards.

Etude House Vitamin Complex Mask – $2

Etude House has a series of sheet masks with different featured ingredients. I’ve tried a couple before. This one contains vitamin complexes with skin brightening and purifying properties. The fit is decent and the scent is pleasant. The essence feels slightly tacky on my face after use.

Etude House Royal Jelly Mask – $2

The royal jelly mask has royal jelly extract, which hydrates and smoothes the skin. I’m in a “bee everything” skincare phase right now so this is great!

It’s Skin Nutrition/Yellow Mask Pack – $3

This mask pack last several uses. The thick paste is pale yellow and has a honey-like consistency. It smells strongly of honey and the scent doesn’t go away quickly. It made me really hungry while wearing the mask. Although I struggled a little to wash off the thick mask, my skin was left feeling smooth and nourished!

The Face Shop Mascream Sheet samples

These are sample-sized sheet masks. They’re ridiculously small and would be appropriate for your pet guinea pig. I love how cute these are! PinkSeoul says to use one for each cheek for a hydration boost.

The sample mask even has eye holes!

Verdict: The PinkSeoul Mask Box delivers on awesomeness once again. My favorite Tonymoly Snail Hydrogel Mask– it’s pricey but the hydrogel masks do make for a whole new masking experience. Total retail value comes to around $45.35, and that’s with PinkSeoul sale prices. I think this is a solid sheet mask subscription for people who want both variety and quality. The potential is even higher now that they’re including a full-size beauty or skincare item every other month. I’m definitely looking forward to what PinkSeoul has to offer in future months!

Also, PinkSeoul is currently having a promotion: for a limited time, if you sign up for a new PinkSeoul Mask subscription they’ll include a bonus washing hairband in your first box!

What do you think of April’s PinkSeoul Mask Box?

Written by Nancy Su

Nancy Su

Nancy used to be a Candy Crush addict but then she became addicted to subscription boxes instead. Now she has a particular interest in Korean/Asian beauty after seeing the wonders it has done to her skin. She’s constantly in search of new lippies, skincare, and tasty international snacks.

All views in this review are the opinion of the author. My Subscription Addiction will never accept payment in exchange for a review, but will accept a box at no cost to provide honest opinions on the box. This post may contain affiliate/referral links. Read the complete My Subscription Addiction disclosure.

  1. That is hilarious; the bubble mask looks so fun! I have been debating whether I should replace one of my U.S. subscription boxes with a K-Beauty box. I am totally intrigued.

  2. A mask for your pet guinea pig, HAHAHA *love*

  3. Omg your pictures of the Elizavecca mask are so cute! I love that mask, but I agree–it is pretty difficult to wash off.

  4. I LOVE that Elizavecca Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask. Definitely use it before jumping in the shower though. I’ve found it was a lot easier to rinse off. Also, I watched a youtube video demo and it really helps to rub it in a bit before trying to rinse it off. My face always feels so soft and clean after using it.

  5. Great review! I have never seen a bubbling mask before. That looks intense! 🙂

  6. I love your reviews!

    • Came down to say the same thing!

      LOVE your reviews!

    • Lurker here, just wanted to say that I like your reviews

      • Awwww thanks everyone! 🙂

  7. Ha, love the pics with the bubble mask. I just started this sub after reading your review of the last box, and got many of the same items including the bubble mask. It works best for me if I think of it as clay mask that works like an oil cleanser — I can slap it on a full face of makeup and sunscreen and it cuts right through that mess while leaving my pores feeling tighter like I did a mud mask but way more entertaining.

  8. I always use the Elizavecca bubble mask before I shower. I also find using a wash cloth helps to remove it. When it’s really bubbly it gets so itchy! And honestly, I haven’t seen much benefit from using it and I’ve finishe up the jar I purchased. Using it twice a week so maybe it wasn’t quite enough.

    Love those mini-sheet masks! Too adoreable.

  9. Lolz!! That foaming mask looks amazing (photo= priceless!) & I like that that it multi-tasks as an inside-the-sink-unreachable places cleaner (thinking scrubbing bubbles) too. I need to try that!

  10. wow, this looks like a great box. I also tried the mysterious Elizavecca Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask and I love it. I actually use it to take off my makeup. It works great!

  11. Loving your review! SO funny?

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It May Be Time to Diversify
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by Rod Getz - Getz Fire Equipment, Peoria, Illinois

Now that 2009 is behind us and the economy is still trying to recover, this may be the best time to look at some ideas to expand your business. I will review some areas that have been successful for my company and some ideas we are working on.

First Aid

In the past, we started a first aid division. This is an add-on product with a very good profit margin. Most of the products are easily available, and I think it works best if you dedicate a specific sales rep to concentrate on selling first aid and some minor safety products. You have an existing customer base, so your techs can hand out flyers and look for opportunities and customers who might already use this type of service. Start off by selling cabinets and stocking them with the first aid supplies and tablets that may be used for that customer. Some competitors use a “stock” cabinet fill, but by suggesting to customers that you can “customize,” you might be able to get some new accounts. Restaurant and industrial accounts may be serviced monthly, others are serviced bi-monthly, and others semiannually. It has grown to be a nice addition to our business and another service the competition may not offer, which separates us from everyone else.

Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning

We also started a division of kitchen exhaust cleaning. This is a type of business that not everyone wants to get into (but then again, that might be the reason for you to look at it). The down side: it’s difficult to find quality employees who want to work nights, in the grease, and crawl around inside hoods and ducts. The upside is: you probably already have restaurant accounts (who may not be happy with their current vendor), and there are not many competitors in this area. It’s all service, so the profit margin is very high. The average single hood and one exhaust duct take about three hours to clean. Our crews consist of two people, and we use high pressure/hot water (which most of the industry uses) to clean the systems. The initial investment is about $10,000 plus a vehicle. It also leads to other add-on sales, e.g., replacement filters, fan hinge kits, access panels, and grease collection devices around the exhaust fans on the roof.

Fleet Washing

Another specialty business we ventured into is fleet washing. This involves washing truck fleets, delivery vehicles, new and used cars at car dealers, and also getting into concrete cleaning. The investment is more, but the competitors are fewer. We purchased a reverse osmosis water system (RO) that generates spot-free water (this is very helpful because we don’t have to dry off the vehicle after we wash, which saves time), where most competitors don’t spend the extra costs. Remember we try to differentiate from everyone else! We then carry our spot-free water with us, therefore needing larger trucks, so the cost to enter this market can be high (equipment with RO system: $15,000 plus vehicle). However, because it’s all labor and very little material (some soap), the profit margins are very high. The add-ons such as pressure washing buildings and other types of pressure washing can also help. We even got a contract to pressure wash mining equipment on a regular basis. The nice thing about this business is you can pick up one account and because you are often washing on a weekly basis, the annual amount is large. It doesn’t take a large number of accounts to keep one truck busy.

Fire Alarms and Sprinklers

Other services we have grown over the last couple of years are fire alarm and fire sprinkler service. While these may not be new to our industry, I think there is plenty of growth that can be had. Again, you already have the customer base, so why not expand that? It’s easier than going out to get new accounts, and it should be more profitable. Put on your thinking cap and brainstorm some ideas for expansion. Remember, some of the odd or unusual areas might be the best for you to get into.

New items that we are currently looking at include video surveillance and access control (security). I think this is a growing industry and our system and alarm techs can pick up the installs and service with little additional training. Video surveillance (CCTV) is the easiest. Most of the install is low voltage and coaxial cable, which is easy to install. Again, a large number of your existing customers are using this, but they may be interested in replacing their old tape cassette recorder to a new digital recorder (DVR) and adding cameras to what they monitor. You can buy this equipment easily, and the profit margins are good. Access control (card access) is a little more technical, with some programming and installation of electronic door strikes which may require a locksmith to install.

The latest area we are working on is updating our website. I think this is very important as most people are using the Internet and not the phone book to look up vendors. Contact your current supplier and get their thoughts on sprucing up your website. Your website administrator should be able to use search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to update your website so when customers use Google to search for key words, your company comes up on the top of the screen. I am reducing my yellow page ads and spending more on our website.

In these trying times, it’s very nice to have different divisions to pick up sales where one division may be down. It also keeps us different and unique from our competitors. Not many companies offer all the services that we offer, which makes it difficult for competitors to take accounts. So talk to your customers, your employees, and “think outside the box” and come up with a new idea for your company to grow and expand (which will make your company stronger). Good luck with your new venture.

Article published in Firewatch! March 2010. Copyright NAFED 2010. Do not reuse without permission.
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Peon held for robbery
Published on 15 Jan. 2009 1:24 AM IST
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Kohima police Monday last apprehended one person in connection with the looting of Rs 1.3 lakh from the Nagaland State Women Commission (NSWC) office during Christmas and New Year holiday period. Police said the accused identified as one Isaac Konyak of Wangchang village, Mon district confessed to the crime during an investigation in the office premises. Police said the accused broke into the office on December 26 through a ventilator who broke open the Goodrej almirah with the help of a screw driver and looted the cash. Police has recovered Rs.40, 000 from one of his acquaintances residing in Lower Forest Colony, Kohima. During interrogation, the accused also disclosed that he had kept Rs.10, 000 with one owner of a mobile shop, located below Hotel View Point, Old NST which is still to be recovered by the police. Further investigations are on. (Staff Reporter)

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Result of Army recruitment rally
Published on 13 May. 2010 12:35 AM IST
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The result of the army recruitment rally held at various locations and common entrance exam held on April 25 at Jorhat are given below. For Kohima rally, soldier GD (dispensation category) - RPDX 0581, RPDX 0606 and RPDX 0645; Dimapur rally soldier GD (dispensation category)- RPDX 0560, RPDX 0608, RPDX 0626, RPDX 0651, RPDX 0656 and RPDX 0688; Jorhat rally- soldier technical- RPST 5002, RPST 5003 and RPST 5004.
All the successful candidates have been informed to collect their joining letter along with original documents from ARO Rangapahar on May 28 or between June 15-17 or from July onwards at anytime between 9 am-2 pm. Also, one photocopy each of the original documents, admit card in original, original and one photocopy of permanent residential certificate dully photo affixed and attested DC/ADC containing details of village, post office, telegraph office, police station, Mouza/sub-division/thesil, district, state and pin code. The selected candidates will be sent for training in September after verification of the documents.

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Mining & Mineral Processing

Contact Information

Global Nalco Locations
Local Sales Offices

Nalco Water
1601 W. Diehl Road
Naperville, IL 60563-1198
630-305-1000  Phone

Nalco Champion
11177 S. Stadium Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77478.
281-632-6500  Phone

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Mining & Mineral Processing

As the global leader in Process & Water Treatment, Nalco Company provides essential expertise to the Mining & Mineral Processing industry with technically, economically and environmentally sustainable solutions from mine-to-mill.

Nalco’s on-site, trained engineers help our customers achieve their goals by selecting and implementing optimal water and process technologies to increase recoveries and improve finished product quality, while providing the lowest overall total cost of operation. Some of the primary industries we serve include the following:

  • Bauxite & Alumina
  • Coal
  • Construction Minerals - sand, gravel, crushed stone & cement
  • Iron Ore
  • Oil Sands
  • Pigment & Clay fillers – Kaolin & Titanium
  • Phosphate - phosphoric acid & phosphate fertilizer
  • Potash
  • Precious Metals - Gold, SIlver and Platinum
  • Base Metals - Copper
  • Other Industrial Minerals

Mining Industry Links

SME, The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration


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Welcome to the Gearing Up Baby

We will begin with some Pro’s and Con’s of renting vs traveling with your own baby gear. Many people travel with their own gear and that is great. However; as a parent and frequent traveler this becomes a problem for us. We can only carry 2 pieces of equipment on the plane for free and that will probably be coming to an end with the direction airlines seem to be going.  We like to ask our customers at the end of there rental period with us why they chose to rent instead of bring there own equipment? We have outlined our valued customers answers below for your review.

Home to the Airport

-No Room in the cab , friends or family vehicle for baby gear.
-Forgetting items at home in the rush to the airport.


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Free Shipping on orders of $100+. Details your wholesale headquarters Coupon Offers: Save an additional 10%! Details
Wholesale Catering Tableware Supplies

Disposable Tableware for Catering

Caterers, dining establishments and other businesses that serve food and drinks will find everything they need in our extensive caterers dinnerware selections. Stylish serving dishes, utensils, coasters and other accents are available in generous case quantities at competitive prices for celebrations and gathering all year long. Classy and functional, the assortment of caterers supplies holds the quality and look you need for a memorable event.

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Agua de piedra 2009 Wine Review

Agua de piedra 2009

Agua de piedra 2009

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 1

  Add My Review

Price: $13.99

Drink: Now

Alcohol: 13%

Wine Type: Red Wine

Reviews and Ratings

Ross rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

I brought to stuarts summer 2010. Everyone liked

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Wine of the Week

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Terra D'oro Red Wine
Zinfandel 2015,
Amador County, California ...

Natalie MacLean

Canada's Most Quoted Wine Writer

Natalie MacLean is editor of Canada's largest wine review web site, publishing hundreds of wine reviews every week for more than 258,312 members.

She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, the second was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. Get access to all of her reviews today by becoming a member of her site.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

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Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

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Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

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Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a fiesty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
Four-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award


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Welcome Back!Sign in here:

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Sol De Andes Reserva Chardonnay 2009 Wine Review

Sol De Andes Reserva Chardonnay 2009

Sol De Andes Reserva Chardonnay 2009

Casablanca Valley, Chile

Community Score:88/100

Community Reviews: 1

  Add My Review

Price: $13.95

Drink: Now

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: White Wine

Winery: Sol De Andes

Agent: Cork and Crown

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Jason Solanki rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Cork smells of gorgeous guava, pineapple, tropical fruit aromas. More guava and tropical fruit from the glass. Very aromatic. Buttered popcorn, pear on the palate. Full-bodied white. Nice structure. If you like Chardonnays, this is one to try! Tasted Nov/2011.

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Wine of the Week

As featured on

CTV Wine of the Week!

Terra D'oro Red Wine
Zinfandel 2015,
Amador County, California ...

Natalie MacLean

Canada's Most Quoted Wine Writer

Natalie MacLean is editor of Canada's largest wine review web site, publishing hundreds of wine reviews every week for more than 258,312 members.

She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, the second was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. Get access to all of her reviews today by becoming a member of her site.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a fiesty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
Four-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award


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Surya Caesar Hand Tufted Purple Rug CAE-1024 - 3' x 12' Zoom

Surya Caesar Hand Tufted Purple Rug CAE-1024 - 3' x 12'

This Caesar Hand Tufted Purple Rug - 3' x 12' by Surya is available with free shipping and Norton Shopping Guarantee

Availability: In stock

Regular Price: $519.84

Now only: $433.20

  • Buy 2 for $389.88 each and save 10%
  • Buy 4 for $368.22 each and save 15%

With this product, you earn 867 loyalty point(s).

Log into your account to collect points for sharing.

Small Packs sent by Fedex/UPS
Big Packs sent by LTL Trucking.

Call us +1 (877) 225-0804 now for Ordering in Bulk & Availability

Small Pack - 1-2 Week Transit Time
Big Pack - 2-4 Weeks Transit Time

No Tax except Georgia
Hassle Free 30 Day Return Policy

Product Description

Surya Caesar Hand Tufted Purple Rug CAE-1024 - 3' x 12'

Elegance, sophistication, and grace are just a few words that define the radiant rugs found within the flawless Caesar collection by Surya. Hand Tufted in 100% wool, the timelessness found within each of these perfect pieces embodies a classic charm that has been revered for generations, and that will truly emanate a sense of warmth from room to room within any home decor.

  • SKU: CAE1024-312
  • Manufacturer: Surya
  • Collection: Caesar
  • Designer: Surya
  • Size: 3' x 12'
  • Category: Rugs
  • Country of Origin: India
  • Contruction: Hand Tufted
  • Knot Type: Not Applicable
  • Details: Cotton Canvas Backing
  • Material: Wool
  • Backing: Cotton Canvas
  • Navigational Color: Purple
  • Family Color: Purple
  • Colors: Burgundy, Khaki, Dark Red, Camel, Black, Charcoal, Tan
  • Style: Traditional
  • Pattern: Classic
  • Shape: Runner
  • Gender: Unisex
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Reversible: No
  • Distressed: No
  • Border Color: Eggplant, Beige, Ivory, Rust, Burgundy, Black, Charcoal, Olive, Beige
  • Border Materials: Wool
  • Fringe: No
  • Outdoor Safe?: No
  • Rug Pad Needed?: Yes, Recommended
  • Product Warranty: 1 Year
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Weight (Lbs): 27
  • Diameter: Not Applicable
  • Pile: Medium Pile
  • Pile Height (In.): 0.63
  • Custom Size Available: Yes
  • Swatch Available: Yes
  • Ship Method: Small Parcel
  • Freight Class: 77.5
  • Eco-Friendly: No
  • Shipping Dimensions: 6W x 36L x 6H Inches, Weight: 28 Lbs

Additional Information

Additional Information

Free Shipping
Delivery Type Fedex/UPS Drop off Delivery (If bought alone ) without Appointment / For large quantity, LTL Curbside Delivery with appointment
Designer No
Delivery Time N/A
Manufacturer Surya
Oversize N/A

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Search the Archive

Search the National Gallery Archive containing records of the Gallery's activities from its foundation in 1824 to the present day. Find out more about the National Gallery Archive.

Record NG6/14/445

Archive reference number NG6/14/445

Letter to Mr M.W. Yates from G.E. Ambrose

Date 13 Aug 1889

Informing that works by living artists are not purchased for the collection at the Gallery

Record type Item

Your list will only be saved temporarily. Inactivity of more than an hour could result in the loss of your list. If you would like to keep a record of your list, we suggest you email it to yourself.

Your list of records will be sent to us if you request an appointment, and a summary will be included in your appointment email notification.


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Club Draw

The July draw was held on Saturday night and the big winners were; €E600 - Edmond Fahey, Cluainarra, €E300 - Nellie Roche, Thomastown, €E150 - Ciara & Eoin Halpin, Galtee View. A sincere thank you, as always, to all our promoters and supporters.

Golf Classic

By now our Annual Golf Classic has become a fixture on the calendar so please pencil in August 11th and 12th as the dates for this important club fundraiser in Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort . For information on Sponsorship, Teams, Tee Boxes etc. Contact Willie Tarrant on 086 8197506 or Brian Shiels on 087 6695016 or any Committee member.

Rossadrehid Tidy Towns wish to thank everybody who supported their recent fund raiser in the Foot Bar, the sponsors Caitriona Kenny, Ballykisteen Hotel, O’Connor Brothers, Mary & Eamonn Bresnan, Emly Tidy Towns, Joe’s Garden Centre, Kissanes Pharmacy and Julies Shop. Thanks to Vegas nights for providing the music, a total of €E1,190 was raised for Rossadrehid Tidy Towns.

The annual Bansha Show will be held on Wednesday, August 24, closing date for show entries is Wednesday, August 17. The Society thank you for your support in the past and hope that with your financial support at the annual Church gate Collection will be held on the weekend of August 13 and 14 in Bansha & Kilmoyler, and with an increase in entries, that this year’s show will be a huge success CHURCH NOTICES

The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock is on Sunday, August 7, names can be given to the Sacristan in either Church.

Friday is the First Friday, Holy Communion calls to the housebound as usual on Thursday and Friday. Mass in Bansha Church at 7pm and in Kilmoyler at 7.30pm.

The annual peters Pence Collection will be taken up next weekend, envelope in the packet already distributed.

Ceremonies will resume in Bansha Church this coming weekend, sincere thanks to the chairman and committee of the GAA for the use of their magnificent centre for the past seven weeks.

Bansha Celtic Schoolboys

We will be holding our Registration day this Saturday 6th August in Celtic Park Bansha at 1pm. It is €25 per player and €40 for a parent registering more than 1 child. We take players from the age of 7 (born 2004). We currently have teams at U10, U12, u15 and U16. New players must bring a copy of their birth cert. We are trying to start either an U13 or U14 team this season so need new players born in 1998, 1999 or 2000, all new players are welcome born 2004 all the way to U16 born 1996. We are hoping to start a Youth team this season but need to get new players to add to last years lads, to play youths players must be born in 1994 or 1995. We pride ourselves in giving every player a chance and also provide a friendly but disciplined environment for all our players.


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Heather C. Wright, NNP :: Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Heather C. Wright menu

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Heather C. Wright, NNP

Heather C. Wright, NNP

Nurse Practitioner Team

Contact Information

Patient Care Services/Affiliated Grant
700 Children's Dr
Columbus, OH 43205 [ map ]
PH: (614) 722-6510
FX: (614) 722-4772

Heather Camille Wright, NNP is a board-certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specializing in caring for all newborns requiring specialized treatment. She has dedicated her entire nursing career to premature infants and their families. She obtained her undergraduate degree and her Master of Science degree in Nursing from The Ohio State University. She worked full time as a staff nurse at Nationwide Children's Level III NICU at Riverside Methodist Hospital for two years, and then continued her advanced career at Nationwide Children's Level III NICU located at Grant Hospital. She is a leader on her home unit, where she heads up the unit Small Baby Committee to improve care practices and ensure best outcomes for her smallest and most fragile patients. She serves as a unit Safety Coach, helping to keep the safety of her patients at the forefront. She also assists in the Mock Code Committee to help improve response times during critical situations. Camille enjoys caring for patients at the start of their journey through life and works closely with the physicians and nurses to improve neonatal outcomes and provide quality care to all babies and their families.

  • Female

Languages Spoken:

  • English

Education and Training

Undergraduate School

  • The Ohio State University
    Date Completed: 06/09/2000

Graduate School

  • Ohio State University College of Nursing
    Date Completed: 06/13/2004

  • Pediatrics

  • Neonatology

  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Date of Appointment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital:

  • 09/01/2005

Awards, Honors and Organizations

  • Member, The Academy of Neonatal Nursing
Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive Columbus, Ohio 43205 614.722.2000


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Family Owned & Operated 25+ Years

The TropiCal is an economy heat pump designed to fit any budget. It is perfect for above-ground pools and small in-ground pools.

  • Optimum heat output in a small footprint
  • Large surface and corrosion resistant evaporator
  • Vinyl coated fan grill
  • Microprocessor controlled automatic defrost allows operation down to the mid to lower 40s
  • High performance titanium heat exchanger (patented ThermoLink heat exchanger in the T115 and T135 models)

* ratings outside the scope of the ARI standard 1160 water temp/ambient air/relative humidity
** rated in accordance with ARI standard 1160 water temp/ambient air/relative humidity

"Thanks so much for the great Service & Support, it's no wonder why you are A+ rated BBB"

Vanessa & Todd Macerone

Family Owned & Operated

Not Just another ONLINE Retailer!

Online Reiews

Hear what customers are saying about the Florida Pool Heating.

Corporate Office: 10790 Wiles Road Coral Springs FL 33065 - Fax 954.341.2004 - Toll Free 800.780.4328
Copyright Florida Pool Heating; . All rights reserved.
This website was built by Ewisoft Website Builder.


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Watch Video

Dog behaviour problemsSee more in this category
General veterinarySee more in this category

Fear at the vets: spotting the signs

Views: 1891
Length: 8:54
It's not uncommon for dogs to feel uncomfortable when they visit the vet, but what are the signs to look out for that the dog is getting stressed? Some of the signs may seem obvious but there are many subtle signs to look out for too.

In this video, Victoria Stilwell Positively approved dog trainer, Jo Pay, who runs Standish Dog Trainer, looks at the whole range of signals the dog may give out to communicate how they are feeling.

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Naughty Blog Cover

Cast: Brandi Sweet, Alicia Silver, Catherine, Dana Kernevali, Cinna Page, Silky Thighs Lou

These sexy MILFs are newly single and out on the prowl for some new cock. For too long they were stuck with one cock, but no more. Divorced life brings new single life and that means new man meat to enter into their soaked cunts. These moms are wild, horny and unpredictable, so buckle up its going to be a wild ride!!

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Mahdi Ghodrati - Madar

Mahdi Ghodrati

Lyrics: Roholla Hemati
Arrangement: Reza Panahi

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