Rock Candy

This week we deep dive on another heavy hitter - Madonna is an icon that goes beyond music, she is even know widely for her movies and her impact on the fashion world. And she knew this path was hers from the start. In this first part we cover her small town beginnings where she becomes a big fish jumping into an even bigger pond, making the move to NYC and begin to look for her own lucky star. Which, turns out, isn't too far away, because the hits were soon to follow. So why not live in a material world and drink a cold can of Mikkeller's Hazy For You IPA while you enjoy some terrible Italian accents? Source: Madonna: Like An Icon by Lucy O'Brien

This week we conclude our story of the guitar legend, Mr. Jimi Hendrix. He was on the fast track to dame, but had a hard time processing just what exactly that entailed. From his groundbreaking albums, to his historic Woodstock performance, to his tragic death, life was a nonstop ride for this tour de force. And while we cover it all for you, why not kick back with a tasty tall boy of Alewife's Forged By Fire before we kiss the sky (or this guy)! Sources: Room Full of Mirrors - Charles R. CrossVoodoo Child (documentary on Netflix)

This week we take on the task of covering one of the most larger-than-life legends in music history, Mr. Jimi Hendrix. In part 1 we discuss his downtrodden childhood and explain how he managed to work his way up to success with non-stop practice and a few missteps along the way. We explain how The Jimi Hendrix Experience gets started and do some particularly bad impressions of The Rolling Stones. So kick back with a can of Haze from Treehouse Brewing Company and open up your mind to the groovy jams of one of the most talented guitar players to walk the Earth. Sources: Room Full of Mirrors - Charles R. CrossVoodoo Child (documentary on Netflix)

We're back at it this week to talk about a band whose music you know oh so well, but whose story is a little harder to get the deets on. Talking Heads started out as a trio of art students just trying to express their disdain for the status quo using sarcasm and metaphors. Little did they know that was exactly what the times were calling for. As time progressed, they became a band who took chances that paid off and are now one of the best known new wave bands ever. Kick back with some Psycho Killer IPA from Finback Brewing as we tell the tale of this art collaborative that often gets looked at as a solo act (and why that totally does not check).

Get ready for arguably our crudest episode to date, and it couldn't be more appropriate. This week, Ashleigh gushes about her favorite new artist that you've never heard of. Maybe not for everyone, but totally for everyone. Devin Townsend is a true bard, telling stories with charm and skill, and making some of the most epic songs ever. Crossing genres from metal, to hard rock, to pop, progressive, and country, Devin has really tried a little bit of everything! This guy didn't do heroin or get beaten as a child, he put in the time, put in the work, and has succeeded with many projects. And you should get yourself listening to them right after you listen to us tell this delightful tale! Maybe kick back with some Bombaygenesis from Chatham Brewing while you do either, or both!

To close up Mental Health Awareness month, we bring it all back to music and get a little personal with our own stories. Depression has affected both our lives in different ways so after a month of stories, we decided to put together a playlist of the songs that we use in times where we need to pull ourselves out of the depth of bad places. Hopefully these can do the same for you. We also drank a tasty beer to get us through the feels- Big Hugs from Half Acre Beer Company. Don't forget, you f-ing matter.

In our continuing series for Mental Health Awareness month, we talk depression with the amazing singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. You may be surprised when we tell you what fantastic movie soundtracks you may remember him from. Covering his abusive childhood, to his struggles to create his music despite the things that hindered him from wanting success. But the end twist might really throw you for a loop, it certainly did for us. It might help ease the tale if you sip on some Willful Delusions of False Perceptions from Foreign Objects beer company.

This week we deal with a different kind of mental illness with a completely different kind of musician. Karen Carpenter was a wholesome, everywoman type of artist with the silkiest voice one could ever ask for. But she was haunted by the need to have control over her weight. In the end, she would succumb to complications brought on by anorexia nervosa, so it's important we talk about her life in order to better understand how this disease affected her and her music. Prepare yourself for a cocktail of BS with a delicious glass of Lagunitas Born Yesterday and take some time to appreciate this woman's beautiful voice.

We continue Mental Health Awareness month with another musician who has used his art as a way to live with his schizophrenia. We do spend some time comparing and contrasting him to last week's subject, but Daniel Johnston has a very interesting and different story. A little more mainstream and very celebrated in the outsider music scene, Daniel's creative genius cannot be denied. So sit back with some Live Transmission Milkshake IPA from Flying Money Brewing and learn yourselves about this fascinating guy!