Pint&Pen&Paper Week 144 (Vol II)
Litzomania
Litzomania
- Congress Bar (@congressbarbrooklyn)
- Henry’s Public Saloon (@henrypublicsaloon)
- Montero Bar (@themonterobar)
- YouTube Rabbithole
![Phoenix – Lisztomania – CD (Single, Promo), 2009 [r1989867] | Discogs](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1haB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdd9756de-60fe-40e0-9b65-674f3760bdec_594x600.jpeg "Phoenix – Lisztomania – CD (Single, Promo), 2009 [r1989867] | Discogs")
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Phoenix’s Litzomania because it was on in the background at one of the many fine drinking establishments in Brooklyn this past June.
Phoenix is a band of four childhood friends from Versailles that formed in the late ‘90s. Despite being French, their main musical influences were new wave American sounds like Prince, but they wanted to honor their music’s history by naming their album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
Lead singer-songwriter, Thomas Mars, told Washington DC’s Express, “We liked the idea that it’s just a mash-up, that our songs bring in influences from everywhere. I think that Franz Liszt was one of them. Maybe it was the fact that we grew up in Versailles and we were surrounded by historical things. Maybe they came back that way.”
Due to English not being Thomas Mars’ primary language, it seems he’s sometimes willing to compensate words that sound good over lyrical meaning. For instance, he explained to Rolling Stone that jugulate is “A word I love - it means to cut someone’s throat, with an amazing amount of blood coming out. There are a lot of words we use on the album that come from French, like ‘armistice.’ They have a romantic feeling.”
That quote of his sounds very French, but…
The term “Lisztomania” comes from the hysterical fan frenzy that mid-19th-century musician Franz Liszt created among his fans. The expression is in the same vein as Beatlemania, which happened over a century later.
While this song never became a Billboard Top 100 Hit, it’s pretty famous for being the closing tune to Entourage’s Season 6 Finale. (At that’s where I first heard it.) Phoenix also performed this song in the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Great tune, a favorite and definitely an upper, but I’m not in the mood. On to the ball…
Game 1 Recap
- In a battle of Southpaw Aces, the Yankees strike first on an Anthony Volpe solo homer to RF. Max Fried gets out of jams in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings, unscathed despite being plagued by walking batters with two outs. After 6.1 scoreless innings from Fried, Aaron Boone gives the ball to Luke Weaver, who proceeds to walk the Boston 8-hitter and gives up two straight hits, along with the lead. Boston’s Garret Crochet settles into the game and retires 17 straight Yankee batters. Down 3-1 in the Bottom of the 9th, the Yankees get the bases loaded with no out, only to fail to plate anyone as Mike Stanton strikes out, Jazz weakly flies out, and Trent Grisham strikes out. Yanks lose 3-1. Devastating loss.
Game 2 Starters
- Boston SP Brayan Bello is making his first playoff start. The 26-year-old had his best year yet, going 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA this regular season. Bello has been elite against the Yankees throughout his 4-year career. In 11 starts against the NYY, Bello is 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 65 innings, and those numbers get even better if you take out his last start against the Yanks (1.95 ERA in his first 10 starts). Aaron Judge, in particular, really struggles against the righty as the Yankees’ captain is 2 for 21 off him with zero home runs. While most of the Yankees’ lineup struggles to hit anything but weak contact off Bello, Cody Bellinger, Jose Caballero, and Jazz Chisholm all have hit over .333 for their career off him.
- NYY SP Carlos Rodon is making his 6th career playoff start. Rodon went 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA during the Yankees’ playoff run last year, but was clutch in the ALCS, going 10.2 innings while allowing just 3 runs. The Yankees’ Southpaw faced the Sox 3 times this season, finishing 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA. The power pitcher is susceptible to giving up home runs, but what really hurt Rodon this season against the Sox was giving up 10 walks in 15.2 innings. Yankee fans should fear if Rob Refsynder is at the plate, the former Yankee prospect has a career batting average of .353 (.476 OBP) off Rodon with 4 extra base hits in 17 at-bats.
I need a pint…
#GuinnessChallengeSeason
Commonly Asked Questions
What’s the deal with “hashtag Guinness Challenge Season?”
I don’t know; it was invented after a Jets loss and quite a few pints on New Year’s Day of ‘23. The “Season” was supposed to last from New Year’s to Saint Patrick’s Day, but the bit has stuck for 144 weeks now.
What is a Guinness Challenge?
When you split the G of a proper pint of Guinness in one sip, it’s fun. You should try it next time. See the picture above for reference.
Is there a difference between Guinness at different places?
Why yes, of course, great question. Guinness varies more than any other beer. It comes in all shapes and sizes like bottles, cans, and drafts (draughts, as the Euros say it). A proper pour of Guinness is a work of art. Guinness kegs must be run quite a bit, and their lines must be cleaned extensively. As a self-proclaimed Guinness connoisseur, my 0.0 to 10.0 scale is extraordinarily nuanced, but for reference, the only perfect 10.0 will be at the Guinness Factory.
Congress Bar (@congressbarbrooklyn) 6/3 ‘25
Service & Staff: A
Guinness: 7.1
Guinness Challenge: Count It! ✅
Song On In The Background: Litzomania by Phoenix
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: This place is very hostile, with fervent political discourse spewed everywhere. “Your side is old, dumb, and stupid, hell-bent on pleasing lobbyists over its constituents….No! Your side is old, dumb, and stupid, hell-bent on pleasing lobbyists over its constituents.” Nah, I kid, haven’t heard anything but the usual post-work happy hour conversations. The Congress Bar building has a cool old, fading “Food and Produce” sign outside. Their patio seems to be very popular on this sunny Tuesday in Brooklyn.
Congress Bar opened up in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, in December 2013. They serve craft cocktails, wine, and draft beer, with a popular 4 to 7 PM Happy Hour on weekdays. The intimate neighborhood bar was previously a landmark with its “Jim & Andy’s Produce” original storefront signage. The fruit and vegetable grocery store was opened in 1970, before becoming the bar it is today.
Henry’s Public Saloon (@henrypublicsaloon) 6/3 ‘25
Service & Staff: A
Guinness: Milk Stout Substitute
Guinness Challenge: N/A (No Logo)
Song On In The Background: Summer Song by Louis Armstrong
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Left Hand Milk Stout, they have no Guinness. Henry’s Public Saloon is located in a neighborhood with a ton of nice brownstone buildings. Cobble Hill Stone Park looked nice to walk past. The saloon’s wooden floors look original and the bar feels like it’s been around since the 1800s. Long Island College is just right down the road, and I had no idea that it was located in Brooklyn, figured it was Out East. The more you know.
Located on Henry Street in Cobble Hill, Henry’s Public Saloon honors the history of Kings County. Their food menu features grass-fed hamburgers, fresh East Coast oysters on the half-shell, salads, marrow bones, steaks & chops, and a famous Turkey Leg Sandwich. On Sunday evenings, Henry’s Public Saloon hosts live old-time Jazz & Blues performances from the Milkman & Sons. Nice spot!
Montero Bar (@themonterobar) 6/3 ‘25
Service & Staff: A
Guinness: 4.5 (Standard Can)
Guinness Challenge: Count It! ✅
Song On In The Background: Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: “Promise me, Red. If you ever make it out. It’s behind the rock” scene of Shawshank Redemption is being played on AMC on the TV. Great movie, ‘90s classic. The bar has a nautical theme to it with boat gear galore. In the back is a pool table. They also have a wooden, old-school telephone booth. Montero Bar is a cash-only, bar’s bar with no food. According to the bartender, the bar is named after the owner’s last name. Still family-owned. The bar has been here for over 80 years. “Back when the ports actually were used, shipmen would come here for a drink.”
The 80-year-old classic Mariner bar has walls full of history. For instance, they have a framed photo from 1943 of Hollywood stars who worked for MGM Boss, Louis B. Mayer, in which I could spot the lady from I Love Lucy. There was also a poster of the Statue of Liberty from 1976, commemorating 200 years of American Independence. Lastly, they had a 1995 article about the bar written by The New York Times. In the article, Mr. Montero explains he “stopped serving food when the piers died down,” and there is a mention that the bar used to have a 20-year-old Green Parrot named Poncho. A great place for pool or karaoke, they also show great movies on AMC. Cool historic dive bar!
