Monthly Archives: June 2017

Serena Ryder headlines at TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Friday (June 23, 2017) night on the main stage in Confederation Park . Julie Oliver / Ottawa Citizen

Serena Ryder TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Reviewed Friday

Serena Ryder demonstrated the evolution of her artistry during a thoroughly enjoyable main-stage performance at the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival on Friday.

The singer-songwriter who grew up outside Peterborough not only showed off her star power as a vocalist and bandleader but also reached back to her formative years during a down-to-earth acoustic segment on the Confederation Park stage.

Its so weird to have a set list and a band of rock n roll stars because Im such a small-town little hick, she confessed, just after changing her mind about what song to play. Instead of launching into the solo acoustic segment, she switched guitars and fulfilled a request from the crowd for Mary Go Round, a song inspired by her childhood.

With the acoustic back in her arms, Ryder returned to her original plan, revealing her campfire roots with stripped-down versions of Its No Mistake, All For Love and Weak in the Knees, her breakthrough hit of 10 years ago. In this intimate format, without the band, the depth of her talent was evident, and she was in her element connecting with fans in front of the stage.

But she was just as genuine playing her new material with the big band behind her. Backed by a super-charged lineup that included Brian Kobayakawa on bass, Sekou Lumumba on drums, Joel Joseph on keys, and Joan Smith on electric guitar, as well as backing vocalists Miku Graham and D/Shon, Ryder delivered a funky show that was drenched in R & B. They brought the rhythmic tunes from Ryders brand-new album, Utopia, springing to life, and revitalized some old favourites along the way.

Show highlights included the opener Stompa, the 80s pop-rock feel of Ice Age, the rocking Wolves and the crisp new singles, Got Your Number and Electric Love. Also noteworthy was her turn on keyboards, an instrument she said she kinda plays, plucking out the accompaniment as she applied her most heartfelt wail to Wild and Free, another song from the new album.

Her smile radiating warmth, Ryder looked confident and comfortable on stage, always a good sign for an artist with a new batch of tunes to kick off and a summer filled with tour dates. Shell be back in Ottawa on July 1 to share the Parliament Hill stage with an array of artists, including Alessia Cara, Dean Brody, Walk Off The Earth, Gordon Lightfoot and two members of U2, Bono and the Edge.

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Jazzfest review: Serena Ryder shows her roots, rocks new tunes - Ottawa Citizen

A new addition to Pennsylvanias craft beer market is Modern Times Beer: A sunny, southern California native thats definitely hip to the craft groove.

Named after a utopian-minded community that once thrived on Long Island, New York, Modern Times is effectively snuggling its way into the Keystone States polyamorous arms with no gimmick needed.

Once a safe haven for progressives whose main desire was largely to break away from the rat race and slow down on their own terms, thank you very much, Modern Times residents were focused on social and gender equality. Unfortunately, there were outsiders who didnt understand the mentality of communal living, cohabitation and free love; others sought to take advantage of the communitys freedoms and bend it to their own sordid wills.

Modern Times was destined to have an expiration date.

Similar to its nearly utopian namesake, Modern Times Beer is unafraid to stretch conventional boundaries. Youll likely be pleasantly surprised with many of its offerings, which you now will find in many of your favorite local watering holes.

Most of its beers are named after other utopian communities, and discovering their stories is at least half the fun of drinking the beer, which is in itself an exercise in sensory pleasure.

Orderville, Utah, was an offshoot community of the Latter-day Saints; it had its beginning after Brigham Young proclaimed that his devotees form what he called united orders, or communities of like-minded believers.

Orderville the beer pours a light orange that grows in deeper intensity toward the bottom of the glass when held to the light. There are lazy particulates floating in the hazy body, and its all topped with an off-white head.

In aroma, a mingling of pine and resin blends with guava, passion fruit and pineapple. The flavor follows the nose, with loads of sticky pine and soft, juicy fruit. There is pineapple, mandarin orange and passion fruit, but plenty of bitter, dank earthiness to keep it from being a one-dimensional beer.

I loved the fine balance between juiciness and bitterness, like a tropical explosion in Pacific Northwest woods; this is supremely crushable.

Point Loma, a community within San Diego proper, was once the base of a utopian society formally named the Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society, founded by Katherine Tingley.

The people here placed a strong emphasis on humanitarian efforts and raised their children in an environment away from parents, with a school system called Raja Yoga.

Lomaland the beer is the color of pale honey with an incredibly thin, off-white head.

Its aroma swells with spicy pepper, soft wheat, dry grass, apples and flowers. There are loads of floral notes, earthy funk and pepper in flavor. The play between gentle mouthfeel and high carbonation is sheer joy, and it finishes somewhat dry and crisp with promises of sunshine.

A few years ago, my husband gave me a bag of coffee that was barrel-aged. The complexity and depth of personality and flavor were memorable.

Modern Times is doing the same thing: Instead of creating a barrel-aged beer, its creating beer brewed with barrel-aged coffee.

The result is nothing less than singular and spectacular.

City of the Dead pours a pitch-black abyss from the glass and is topped with a tan head.

Heavy notes of roasted black coffee, molasses, caramel and dark, bitter chocolate reign in the nose. The flavor mirrors that, with boldly roasted yet smooth coffee thats full of a bourbon shine but with no alcohol heat. This beer is mellow and deep with light carbonation. On the tongue, youll likely find chocolate, tart cherries and sweet, creamy coffee.

Try these and other Modern Times selections soon, although I get the feeling that this brewerys life expectancy is much longer than your average utopian society.

Contact Amber DeGrace with questions and comments at adegrace@lnpnews.com and find her on Twitter at @amberdegrace.

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Get with the Modern Times and try some beer straight from utopia ... - LancasterOnline

New Llano has a unique, 100-year-old, history. It is arguably the longest-lived socialist community in the United States.

New Llano has a unique, 100-year-old, history. It is arguably the longest-lived socialist community in the United States.

Originally established in 1917 as a Utopian community, people came from all walks of life, and from all over the world to New Llano. They were seeking a paradise where you produce for use, not profit;" where all members did equal work for equal benefits in a self-sufficient cooperative.

The first colony in California, called the Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony, was established by Job Harriman, in 1914. It was abandoned just four years later. Llano del Rio turned out to be too far from other settlements to develop a sustaining economy, and it had an unreliable water supply.

In 1917, 200 of the original 600 California colonists chartered a train and moved the experimental colony to Louisiana. They settled into the former lumber town of Stables, and changed its name to New Llano.

For the next 20 years, the colony evolved its own brand of "cooperativism," southern-style. Everyone over the age of 18 had a job. Usually jobs were assigned, but people were allowed to change occupations if they were competent.Life at the colony was not easy, but no one starved physically or intellectually.

In the early 1900's, lumber workers in Louisiana had faced many conflicts with big lumber interests in the state. This made the politics of a co-operative society appealing to them.

The socialist concept had much popular support in the United States, during the late 19th and early 20th century. Utopian colonies were scattered throughout the country during the industrial age, as the working class struggled to gain rights.

The New Llano Colony has often been dubbed a "socialist commune," however, this is not entirely accurate.

Although Harriman and many of the long-time colonists were Socialists, it was not a requirement for membership. Members simply had to agree to live co-operatively and abide by the Golden Rule-- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Many of the ideals, which were promoted within the Utopian community, were a source of pride, and have been instituted in today's American society. These include minimum wage, Social Security, low-cost housing, old-age pensions, equal rights for women, welfare, and a move toward universal health care.

Members collectively owned all industries, which they ran themselves, including water and electricity for their homes. The group produced many high-quality items, from shoes to machine tools, and popular food products.

New Llano was once home to a broom factory, sawmill, ice plant, sheet metal factory, and the leading national socialist newspaper.

The colony was one of the first groups in America to adopt the Montessori teaching method. Theodore Cuno, one of the founders of Labor Day, made New Llano his home until his death. Cuno endowed the colony with a substantial library, one of the best in Louisiana. Colony orchestras and theatrical groups performed on a roof garden, free of charge, to fellow colonists and their neighbors.

Everyone worked together to produce whatever they needed.

Eventually, in 1939, a series of financial problems and internal dissent forced the colony into receivership.

Documentary filmmakers Beverly Lewis and Rick Blackwood produced the 1994 film, "American Utopia," about the Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony in Vernon Parish.

The Town of New Llano is celebrating the 100-year anniversary with a two-day festival-style celebration, featuring live music and vendors selling arts and crafts, food and drinks.

The event runs Friday, June 30 - Saturday, July 1 at the park on Stanton Street. It will get started both days at 8 a.m. The celebration will will close at 6 p.m. on Friday. A fireworks display will take place on Saturday at 9 p.m.

Alcoholic beverages and pets are prohibited at the celebration.

The Museum of the New Llano Colony Museum will be open during the event. It is located at 211 Stanton Street, and is regularly open Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed from noon - 1 p.m.).

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The Town of New Llano is celebrating its 100th anniversary - Leesville Daily Leader