Well That's Cool

For those lucky enough to get in on Friday Oct 14th, you got to see a band that will no longer be playing small venues. You might have even got in but could not see the band. It was the fullest Egan’s has ever been. Well, do we have a treat for you. With Mikey on the injured reserve, our own Erin Phillips fought the throbbing masses to record a few songs that are not on their wildly popular EP . The sound is not perfect but it really captures the energy of a packed out live Alabama Shakes show. These guys, much like the Dexateens, make us proud to be from Alabama.

Popularity: 34% [?]

As many of you know we were lucky enough to have the Alabama Shakes play on the WTC Brews Cruise III. Well for those that could not make it you can now see this fantastic band from Athens Alabama. Also don’t forget they are playing this Friday night at Egans for Bo’s birthday party.

Popularity: 26% [?]

That’s right everyone it is time for a new league to start. This will be our…..12 to 15ish league. Its hard to really remember when the sport practically demands that you drink large amounts of beer. The league works like this;

• You and two friends come out to the AMF bowling ally on Wednesday nights at 8pm
• If you don’t have two other people to help you form your very on three headed monster pure
  

  Hip socks encourged!

  bowling awesomeness come out anyway there are always a few people looking to join a team.

• You each bring $12, this covers the cost of the games, shoe rental and league scoring
• You get assigned a handicap to make it fair when bowling against better bowlers.
• How does this handicap work? Well I’m glad you asked, It is 100% of 200. I know you thought there would be no math but bear with us, all it means is that if you average 100 pins you’ll get 100 pins added to your score. So lets say you average 120 pins well you get 80 pins, 150 you 50 added and so on. So what ever you average under 200 will be added to your score.
• At the end of 12 weeks there are cash prizes as well as well as a big pot luck and free bowling. We also have it on good authority that there will be a special prize for each team this league. Hint it rhymes rolling fall.

We like to look at the league as sort of a midweek weekend. Something to help on Monday because shit it’s only two days till bowling and after bowing it’s almost the weekend. It’s also a great way to kick it with your friends and play one of the few sports that encourage drinking. If you have any questions please drop us a line at wellthatscool(at)gmail(dot)com. We hope to see you there.

Popularity: 16% [?]

The Oxford American is an American quarterly literary magazine that features writing and art from Southerners or about the South. We prefer how they describe themselves, ” The Southern Magazine of Good Writing”. The Magazine started a special focus on the music of each of the southern states and as luck would have it the first happened to be Alabama. This lead to a series of concerts called “ABALABIP!” around the state featuring Alabama artist of both past and present. The last of such concerts is Saturday night at Tuscaloosa’s Bama Theatre.

The event begins at 8 p.m. and also will feature jazz bass superstar and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Inductee Cleve Eaton & The Alabama All Stars; North Alabama alt-country folk players The Bear; Huntsville hip-hop sensation G-SIDE: and Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit. You get a heaping helping of all that for only $10…now that’s a steal.

To give you a little background on each artist this is what the internet has to say;

Cleve Eaton is an American jazz double bassist from Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His most famous accomplishments are substantial playing stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and later with the Count Basie Orchestra. His 1975 recording Plenty Good Eaton is considered a classic in the funk music genre. (Wikipedia)

The Bear is one of many bands emerging from the Shoals’ indie scene, bringing together artists from other projects to create a unique alt-country, pop and, yes, folk sound. (TimesDaily.com)

G-Side is an American hip hop duo from Huntsville, Alabama. Stephen “ST 2 Lettaz” Harris and Yung “David Williams” Clova met at the Boys & Girls Club in Athens, Alabama. G-Side says that artists like 8Ball & MJG, UGK, Outkast, Geto Boys, Scarface, Master P and 2pac influenced them both at an early stage of their lives and career. Their music has been described as a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Although they have created some more up-tempo tracks, they mainly create laidback, suggestive music often described as “Film music symphonic” or “Hypnotic” and “Spellbounding”. Block Beataz has provided the duo with beats that sample artists not commonly associated with Hip Hop music like Enya, Beach House and Dune. (Wikipedia)

in 2001 Isbell joined the rock band Drive-By Truckers while they toured in support of their album Southern Rock Opera. Isbell recorded and wrote with the Truckers for their next three albums… On April 5, 2007, Isbell announced that he was no longer a member of Drive-By Truckers. Jason Isbell released his first solo album, Sirens of the Ditch, on July 10, 2007. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit’s eponymous album was released on February 17, 2009, on Lightning Rod Records. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit is Isbell’s second solo release and his first release with his band The 400 Unit. Matt Pence of Centro-Matic serves as co-producer, drummer and engineer. Isbell and the 400 Unit released their second album, Here We Rest, on April 12, 2011, on Lightning Rod Records. (Wikipedia)

So after you’ve watched the Tide at 2:30 and let the fog of beer and whiskey dissipate, head over to the Bama for a musical treat that people always bitch about Tuscaloosa never getting. This is a chance to prove that there are people here in town that don’t want to hear some shitty cover band play “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Brown Eyed Girl” over and over again. I know we’ll be there and hopefully you will be too.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Come out to the Alcove International Tavern for another exciting Friday night with Well That’s Cool as we help celebrate the Alcove’s two year Anniversary. This Friday we will be hosting the WTC weekly podcast taping at the Alcove at 8pm (note: This is 30 minutes earlier than our regular tapings in the WTC world headquarters). We will have a special keg of Great Divide Titan IPA available for $1 from 8-9pm and just $3 after that, or if you prefer, you can enjoy one of the 12 draught beers the Alcove has on tap  or one of the many varieties of canned or bottled beer in their case. Also new this week is the Alcove’s mobile app. By accessing the Alcove’s website  on your smart phone  you will be able to see the Alcove’s full beer and mixed drink menu. If you are unfamiliar with the Alcove International Tavern, they are Tuscaloosa’s home for high end beer, spirits, and a smoke-free environment. In fact, the Alcove is the only smoke-free bar in town. They are located on 22nd Avenue between 7th and 8th streets in downtown Tuscaloosa (730 22nd Avenue) and can be found on the internet at www.alcovetavern.com.

Popularity: 17% [?]

On Friday, August 26th, Well That’s Cool held its 3rd annual Brews Cruise aboardThe Bama Belle.  For those who don’t know, The Brews Cruise is a 3 hour boat ride down the Black Warrior River as local bands play up on the top deck.  The previous two cruises were a great success, and this year’s cruise was no different.

The first band up was The Alabama Shakes!, who put on an incredible performance for those in attendance.  The entire crowd was entertained by the combination of rock, soul, and pure energy given off by the band.  If you ever get a chance to check them out, do so.  You will not be disappointed.

When the boat turned around and started heading back, The Alabama Shakes! turned the stage over to Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires for another round of pulsating and heavy hitting rock.  The two bands provided a great 1-2 musical punch for the evening.

The Brews Cruise wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the two bands along with all the friends and guests on the boat, the great event sponsors, and the fine staff at The Bama Belle.  Everyone helped improve Tuscaloosa with this event, and the stage was set for the inevitable Brews Cruise IV.

For the full gallery of photos from the event, please check out http://www.dsmithimages.com/site/events/well-thats-cool-brews-cruise-iii-8-26-11/1/

Also, please check out The Alabama Shakes! athttp://www.facebook.com/TheShakes and Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lee-Bains-III-The-Glory-Fires/148581995155439 

Enjoy!

-David
DSmithImages
“Modern Photography for Modern Times”
http://www.dsmithimages.com

Popularity: 27% [?]

I know sometimes you ask yourself, what do I do after an evening of rock and roll and nautical debauchery? Tomorrow night following the Rockin Brews Cruise we may have the answer for you. Starting at Ten o’clock at the Green Bar New Orleans based rockers the Revivalists will be on hand to keep the night going. This will be a great way for the recently disembarked passengers of this years Brews Cruise to continue their revelry and an excellent way to get a Friday night started for those who couldn’t be with them on the Black Warrior.
The Revivalists are a fantastic up and coming band that were recently named best emerging artist at Gambit weekly’s Big Easy Awards. They describe their music as a combination of soulful, syncopated rock and earnest songwriting, and according to Rolling Stone the “dash of Dave Matthews” in the lead singers “crusted tenor” and the pedal-steel guitarists’ “distinctive wah wah treated scream” make for a great show. I am not actually sure what the hell a “crusted tenor” is or how much Dave Matthews is contained in a dash, but I have to say I am intrigued, and if your interest is similarly piqued check out their website at www.therevivalists.com. They have tons of audio and video and a blog documenting their travels.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Monday August 22nd

Tour T-Town: Discover Tuscaloosa City Tour – 2:00 P.M. – Ferguson Center Plaza

Student Night at Target: 10:30 P.M.

Tuesday August 23rd

Bama Art House Film Series presents: The Cave of Forgotten Dreams: 7:30 P.M. $5 Arts Council Members, $6 Students/ Seniors, $7 Adults

Trivia Night at The Mellow Mushroom: 7:00 P.M.

25th Anniversary Celebration presented by the Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission

Jazz Night at The Alcove

Grindhouse Double Feature + $1.50 P.B.R. at Green Bar – 8:00 P.M.

Wednesday August 24th

Free First Day of Class Breakfast from Chik-Fil-A: 7-10 A.M. – Ferguson Center Plaza

Baptist Campus Ministry Free Steak Lunch: 11:30 – 12:30 P.M.

$2 Pint Night at Wilhagans

Tim Higgins Variety Spectacular at Green Bar

Thursday August 25th

Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market: 3-6 on the grounds of Canterbury Episcopal

Cotton Patch Gospel: 7:30 P.M. at Bama Theater - Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for seniors and $5 for students

Wilhagans Trivia Night: 8:00 P.M.

“Deep Impressions: Willie Cole Works on Paper” presented by the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art

Coyotes (www.facebook.com/coyotestheband), Megan Jean & The KFB (http://www.myspace.com/meganjeanband) – Green Bar – 9:00 P.M.

Friday August 26th

HAppy hour dj set with George and Sylvia, The Clemency, the brooms and happy Josh Folmar @ Egans later in the evening.

Well That’s Cool Brews Cruise III: Boat loading from 6:00 P.M. until 6:45 – After Party at The Green Bar with The Revivalist

University of Alabama Press Book Sale: City Fest Lot: 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Alabama Soccer vs. Memphis: 7:00 P.M.

Saturday August 27th

The Only Sons @ Egans

Alabama vs. Texas State Volleyball – 7:00 P.M. – Foster Auditorium

Random Conflict, The Original Snakecharmers, and The Andies at Green Bar

Sunday August 28th

UA Remembers: Campus remembrance service for the April 27th tornado – 7:30 P.M. at Palmer Lake

Trivia Night at The Downtown Pub: 7:00 P.M.

Popularity: 17% [?]

photo by Ben Flanagan al.com

*update after publication of our initial story we got a call from the good people saying that there is a grand prize of an additional set of tickets with a parking pass.

We have been pumped about what has been going on at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Count us as double pumped about My Morning Jacket, Neko Case and Phosphorescent coming to play a benefit show here in town. You don’t have the money to splurge on tickets right now you say; because lets face it, how could you not get that tattoo of Dark Lord Saban eating an oatmeal cream pie? It’s super roll tide but also ironic enough for the hipsters. Well do we have some good news for you!  Egan’s is giving away a pair of tickets. What do you have to do to get said tickets?  Well, nothing. You just have to show up, sign in and enjoy a beer or two. Here is what Egan’s had to say about the event:

We’ve got two tickets to Friday nights concert at Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and we’re giving them away. Come out to Egan’s Bar Thursday night and sign up for the free drawing. One lucky person will get a pair of tickets shortly after midnight. While you’re there, enjoy $2.50 Tommy Knocker Maple Draft, $3.50 Egan’s High Gravity Drafts, $4 Tallgrass IPA and Buffalo Sweat and $3 Bud Cans. We’ll see you at Egan’s this Thursday and every night.

Popularity: 20% [?]

The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is bringing something very cool back to the Bama, The Art House Film series. This fall’s series promises to be one of the best yet. It runs Tuesday nights at 7:30PM. The best deal in town for a film on the big screen is at the Bama Theatre where adults can see all nine films for $4.44 a film when you buy a season pass. Adults pay $40 and students/seniors pay $35 for a pass to the entire season. That’s a deal even David Smith can get behind and that’s before the $1 popcorn. The Bama Bar will be running drink specials and open at 6:45 in advance of each show. People sometimes gripe to us about there not being enough cool stuff here in our fair hamlet but this is a prime example of something we need to support. You can get you season passes here. The opening film will be Terrence Malick’s “Tree of Life” and continue through October 11th.

• August 23: The Cave of Forgotten Dreams 
• August 30: The Trip
• September 6: The Names of Love
• September 13: Beginners
• September 20: Terri (who doesn’t like John C. Reilly)
• September 27: Manhattan Short Film Festival
• October 4: Tabloid
• October 11: Submarine

Popularity: 19% [?]