"Mudhoney - I'm Now: The Story Of Mudhoney" DVD (directors: Ryan Short and Adam Pease)

As the great 90's rock scene of the Pacific Northwest (aka the "Seattle/Sub Pop Scene") dissolved due to drugs, death, and self-destruction, one prominent and influential band persevered and survived. Mudhoney may have been cut from similar cloth as Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and others, and perhaps they never had a huge radio hit, but the band did well enough, traveling the globe, playing for rabid fans, and inspiring countless others in their wake.

From their classic debut single, "Touch Me I'm Sick" (which still stands as a scuzz-rock landmark), Mudhoney crafted a series of solid albums that joined heavy "superfuzz" rock with sixties-inspired pop (aka "songs"). They survived Sub Pop's lean period, a major label signing, a member leaving, and the inevitable drug and alcohol abuse. And they're still around.

Short and Pease's superb documentary includes the participation of all Mudhoney members, and the interviews and footage here are as world class as it gets. Sub Pop's owners (Pavitt and Poneman), affiliated bands (Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Tad), label personnel, and friends are all interviewed, and there's plenty of old live and promo footage as well. As far as rock docs go, "I'm Now" is as comprehensive as I've seen. Kudos to everyone involved for a well-done history (and celebration) of this band's life and times, from the underground to the "grunge" explosion to now. Excellence.

King Of Hearts Productions

Mudhoney Movie site

"Heroin King Of Baltimore - The Rise And Fall Of Melvin Williams" DVD

This skimpy, amateurish documentary is centered around a single interview with Melvin Williams, who gathered considerable wealth as a gambler and drug dealer from the sixties to the eighties. He also reportedly was instrumental in stopping the violent riots that went down in Baltimore after the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. So Williams' street cred is impeccable. His insight into underworld dealings is expert and experienced, so it's good to see him here lecturing inner-city kids on the futility of drug trafficking and gang activity.

To flesh and illustrate out this hour-long doc, the director wisely uses dramatic recreations. There are also other interviews with associates and those around Melvin in his heyday. The quality of the recording seems pretty sketchy (like it was recorded from TV), and the main point of this seems to be a cash-in to appeal to the whole urban thug mentality, from someone who did it way back before it was "cool". I lost interest pretty fast, though I give total respect to Williams, who is quite the survivor.

Eyes Wide Open Films

Beer: Fat Head's Brewing

The acclaimed Fat Head's Brewing was started in 1992 in Pittsburgh, but now seems to be based in North Olmsted, Ohio. They've won awards for their top-tier craft beers, and only recently inked a distribution deal to export to Southern Indiana. Good thing, as the three samples I tasted were superb! Here are the reviews of the initial three offerings here in podunk Indiana.

Remember that my ratings range from a 1 (awful) to 5 (awesome). Meaning that a 3 is perfectly acceptable and enjoyable, and a 4 is recommended. Enjoy responsibly and support indie beer!

FAT HEAD'S BUMBLE BERRY HONEY BLUEBERRY ALE - 4.0

I know that many craft beer nerds turn up their noses at "fruit beers", but sometimes, there's nothing better than a quality example, which is all-too-rare. But Fat Head's got it right with this blueberry-honey ale.

Pours a clean yellow-amber, with a massive head of fine off-white bubbles. I got no lace here! Nose is an appealing, refreshing rush of sweet berries and a little toastiness. Not bad. Taste is sweet and tart, but not overbearingly so. I also get more biscuity malts in the mix. Finishes with more tart blueberry goodness and a trace of hops. Very enjoyable and I will try this one again.

FAT HEAD'S - HEAD HUNTER IPA - 4.5

One of Fat Head's prime-time contenders, this is a stylish and deliciously serious IPA, and has Goatsden's full recommendations.

Clean and beautiful amber in appearance, this West Coast-style IPA pours with a huge head of off-white foam and an exquisite amount of detailed lace. Aroma is stunning and intoxicatingly hop-forward. All the floral, citrus, and pine loveliness you can imagine. Taste is pure West Coast, as in big heavy hops resins with plenty of acidic bite and notes of sour grapefruit and pine. 

Exquisite and a sure winner for serious hop-heads.

FAT HEAD'S OOMPA LOOMPA CHOCOLATE CREAM STOUT - 4.0

How could I resist a delightfully decadent chocolate cream stout? This one goes straight for the gut with a sweet dessert flavor combination.

Pours a deep black with ruby highlights. Thick (fat?) head of tan foam. Gorgeous lace. Nose is roasty chocolate and some vanilla bean in the background. Very appealing. Flavor is rich and chocolatey, with large amounts of bittersweet dark chocolate and a slight burnt finish. A fine stout, and one I'll gladly revisit.

Fat Head's website

"Bath Salt Zombies" (director: Dustin Wayde Mills)

Capitalizing on the freaky 2012 news story about the bizarre bath-salt-induced face-eating in Miami (which brought on paranoia about a so-called zombie apocalypse, as well as many ill-humoured jokes), this micro-indie horror farce was produced firmly tongue-in-cheek, and proves to be a solid trash film in the spirit of Troma, with plenty of sleaze and gore.

The premise is simple -- a mutant strain of "bath salts" comes to market, and it causes users to crave human flesh. So, we get zombie junkies who mercilessly dismember and feed upon their friends and girlfriends. Sure, it's cheesy and packed with plenty of silly and graphic effects, but it's fun. And, the scene of Erin R. Ryan (particularly her amazing breasts) in the shower (before she is sadly murdered) is quite memorable. Yow! But I digress.

"Bath Salt Zombies" is a fine B-horror/trash film, with even the soundtrack (featuring trash-punk from the Dwarves, Meatmen, and others) keeping the feel independent and underground. Good work!

(MVD Visual)

"Your American Teen" DVD

This skimpy documentary runs at under an hour, and profiles several teenage girls who experienced sexual exploitation firsthand. Candid interviews with the broken and traumatized teens are compelling, and shows that the road to recovery is long and quite challenging. As well, several "experts" are consulted, including doctors and, inexplicably, Daryl Hannah and the always-annoying Jane Velez-Mitchell (herself exploitational and self-promoting), who are (thankfully) given minimal talking-head time. 

I'm left a bit cold here, with little to really underscore the causes or solutions of such tragic circumstances. Is society broken and dysfunctional? Sure it is. I give credit to the courageous girls who were open enough to be featured here, but the film itself doesn't offer much help or positivity. 

(CTG Films)

Beer: Tin Man - A Review of the Converter Series

Seemingly years in the making, Evansville, Indiana's first production brewery in decades, Tin Man Brewing, is finally open, and their canning line has finally bore fruit!

Goatsden and company visited the stunningly tasteful and stylish tasting room/restaurant a couple of times, and enjoyed beer samplers alongside some food (the salmon BLT was quite good). On tap, we sampled the limited Bourbon Rye Dry, which was rich with plenty of flavor. And the Gearbox Black Ale on tap was notably smooth and session-worthy.

So what of Tin Man's pint can brews? From a design standpoint, they are lovely and distinctive. Flavor-wise, though, it's a mixed bag. I gave the entire line some serious time and tastings, and these are my findings. As with all previous beer reviews, the ratings run from 1 (awful, drain-pour) to 5 (exceptional and otherworldly). Anything over a 3 is enjoyable and worthy, so as always, drink (wisely) and be merry!

TIN MAN - ALLOY IPA - 2.0

The India Pale Ale is a craft beer nerd's go-to brew, and Tin Man were wise to put one out initially with their first round of beers. Alloy pours from the pint can a cloudy amber, with a huge and frothy head. Beautiful and heavy lace. Nose is pleasingly grapefruit-lemon citrus hops. Yum! Taste is...mild. The hops are dialed way back here, subdued to well below normal American IPA levels. The body here is light, too, even bordering on watery. I get very little hop snap or bitterness here. I understand that this is meant to be a "gateway" or starter IPA (and not meant for serious hop-heads), but this is weak even for a standard pale ale. Disappointing.

TIN MAN - CIRCUIT - BOHEMIAN PILSNER - 2.0

A good German-style pilsner is a real challenge, even to the experienced brewmaster. Needing to be clean, crisp, and light, this is the nearest of Tin Man's offerings to a "mainstream" beer. It pours a clean, golden into my lager glass, with a huge head of lovely foam. Nice and thick lace, too. Nose is malty/grainy, even approaching an adjunct. I get sweet corn and a hint of sharp wheat. Very average. Taste is also grainy and sweetly malted up front, with a sweet corn-like funk up front, followed by a tinge of hops toward the finish. Leaves me with a metallic weirdness, too, which I can't forgive or forget. Not a favorite.

TIN MAN - RIVET - IRISH RED ALE - 3.0

Irish red ales are like red-headed step-children, and thus pretty well ignored by serious beer nerds. But this one pours from the pint can an attractive ruby-amber, with a fine head of off-white suds. Superb and thick spider-web lacing. Nice! Nose is caramel malts, biscuity, and toffee-like. Not bad. Taste is chewy toffee maltiness, with a little toasty caramel in there. This one is easy to drink, and probably my favorite of Tin Man's initial 3 canned offerings.

Note that these are so far only available at Liquor Locker in Evansville, and they are priced at around $11 or so per 4 pint cans. Hmm. When I can get 12 bottles of Sierra Nevada or New Belgium for a dollar or two more, this seems a wee bit steep. I am all in favor of local independent breweries, but the beer has to be of quality, still, and these canned offerings aren't quite there yet.

Final prognosis? Visit the pub/restaurant and enjoy some fresh pints (and try the food), but hold off on the canned offerings for now. I have faith that the brewery will rally and make amends for these lukewarm brews. I will be standing by...

Tin Man Brewing site

Westmark Hermetus Bottle Opener/Resealer

Now, this is a creative twist on a tried-and-true tool. For those of us who can't (or won't) ever finish a whole big beer bomber by themselves, this may well be a godsend. From Germany's Westmark comes a bottle opener that doubles as a bottle resealer. Named, appropriately, "Hermetus", this handy contraption will easily open your bottles. Then, by sliding the other side over the open bottle's lip and pulling it tightly against a silicon/rubber stopper, the bottle is resealed, keeping carbonation and freshness as you rest to enjoy your beverage tomorrow.

I tested the Hermetus a few times, and though it took me a few minutes to figure out (the instructional diagram printed on the actual opener was vague), it DID, in fact, work fine at keeping my beer fresh enough. So score this ingenious tool some points. Useful, unique, and really pretty damned cool, if you ask me!

The Westmark Hermetus retails for $8.95 and is available in the USA from Kaufmann Mercantile.

Kaufmann Mercantile

Kaufmann Mercantile Store