January 19th, 2019 - Rough Mixed Media

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing a tasty Mixed Media from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and "Rough Mix", an amazing and very underrated album by Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane!

Album Info:

• Artist: Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane
• Title: "Rough Mix"
• Recorded: Winter of 1976 and Spring of 1977 at Olympic Studios in London, England
• Release date: September 16th, 1977 (1st and only album by the duo)
• Record company: MCA
• Production: Glyn Johns
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Ronnie Lane and Pete Townshend (vocals, guitars, electric guitars, mandolins, bass guitars, banjos, and ukuleles)
• Additional musicians: Edwin Astley (orchestration on "Street In The City", John "Rabbit" Bundrick (organ and Fender Rhodes on "Nowhere To Run, "Rough Mix", "Keep Me Turning", and "Heart To Hang Onto"), Boz Burrell (bass on "Heart To Hang Onto" and "Till The Rivers All Run Dry"), Eric Clapton (electric guitar on "Rough Mix", acoustic guitar on "Annie", and Dobro on "April Fool and "Till The Rivers All Run Dry"), Mel Collins (saxophones on "Catmelody"), Julian Diggle (percussion on "Misunderstood"), John Entwistle (horns on "Heart To Hang Onto" and backing vocals on "Till The Rivers All Run Dry"), Peter Hope Evans (harmonica on "Nowhere To Run" and "Misunderstanding"), Benny Gallagher (accordion on "Annie"), Chris Green (cello on "Street In The City"), Charlie Hart (violin on "Annie"), Chris Laurence (bass on "Street In The City"), Graham Lyle (twelve-string guitar on "Annie"), Dave Markee (double bass on "Annie" and "April Fool"), Billy Nicholls (backing vocals on "Till The Rivers All Run Dry"), Steve Shingles (viola on "Street In The City"), Henry Spinetti (drums on "Nowhere To Run", "Rough Mix", "Keep Me Turning", "Heart To Hang Onto", and "Till The Rivers All Run Dry"), Ian Stewart (piano on "Catmelody"), Charles Vorsanger (violin on "Street In The City"), and Charlie Watts (drums on "My Baby Gives It Away" and "Catmelody")
  
• Musical style: Rock, blues rock, folk rock with elements of country and jazz
• Sound: Folksy, bluesy, and rockin', "Rough Mix" is a wonderful blend of the talents of Lane and Townshend as songwriters and musicians.  This very underrated gem is a warm, honest, and inspiring album!
• Major themes: Love, life, relationships, isolation, sadness, hope, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "My Baby Gives It Away"
2. "Nowhere To Run"
3. "Rough Mix"
4. "Annie"
5. "Keep Me Turning"
6. "Catmelody"
7. "Misunderstood"
8. "April Fool"
9. "Street In The City"
10. "Heart To Hang Onto"
11. "Till The Rivers All Run Dry"
12. "Only You" (studio outtake)
13. "Good Question" (studio outtake)
14. "Silly Little Man" (studio outtake)

    

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)
• Website: https://www.dogfish.com/
• Brew: Mixed Media
• Style: Saison-Wine Hybrid
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.5% 
• IBUs: 15
• Ingredients: Late-harvest Viognier grapes, hops, and Belgian yeast
• Pour: The Mixed Media pours a slightly hazy golden yellow with a thin, bright white head .
• Nose: The nose is fruity, earthy, and spicy.  There are aromas of white grapes, Pinot Gris, melon, leather, soft banana, cloves, and lemon zest. 
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with fruity, tart, earthy, and spicy flavors.  There are notes of  white grapes, melon, light lemon, soft banana, cloves, and a hint of oak.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Mixed Media is dry, slightly tart, and crisp with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The unique blend of beer and wine aromas and flavors of the Mixed Media is perfect for the blended talents of Lane and Townshend!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!