Feel It Still | Amity Hall | Shade Bar | Shaffer’s | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s pints are brought to you with Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man. on in the background. This song was written and recorded in ‘16. Portugal. The Man is a band that originated in Alaska. That’s a first on Week to Week Notes! Feel It Still was a massive hit, the band’s 1st Billboard Hot 100 song which peaked at #4.
John Gourley, a songwriter and the lead singer said, “I have a little daughter named Francis. She’s five years old now. Over the course of this album, she’s obviously been growing up. She was two and a half, three years old when we started working on this record. Her growing up’s been a huge part of this record, and I think this song especially, some of that stuff just kind of seeped into the lyrics as I was writing.” (RapGenius)
That provides a bit of context, on the baby line. Not being able to keep his hands to himself means he needs to get involved with something, but just isn’t quite sure about what. Coming out of left field just in case people don’t know the idiom means to come across as strangely out of nowhere or bizarre. Of course, sometimes I do hope when you read Week to Week Notes you think I am coming out of left field.
According to the band, “Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now” was the first line and stemmed the rest of the tune. 1966 had a ton of movements from Civil Rights to Counterculture. The band specifically went with 1986 here because “Fight For Your Right to Party” by the Beastie Boys came out that year. It was how they found out about New York hip-hop, another form of a cultural movement. (SongFacts)
So apparently Blue Check Brigade on the Left tried canceling the band because they allegedly thought this verse was sexist. Gourley had to clarify that these lines had no deep subtext and were literally written about his baby daughter. “Just some wordplay by a high school dropout that doesn’t know what wordplay is,” he said on social media. These guys also got hate from people on the Right because they burned a newspaper version of Infowars in their music video so they started receiving threats from crazy bastards who love Alex Jones. Considering that the main lyric for the song is “I’m a rebel just for kicks,” both ends look foolish, but I’m not surprised in the slightest.
“We could fight a war for peace” is a George Carlin quote. Gourley told Billboard, "I think the lyric reflects the way a lot of us feel. It came out of this George Carlin quote, which was something we had talked about quite a bit within our circle of friends. George Carlin would talk about politics but in the same breath he'd also mention he doesn't vote, doesn't trust politicians.” The rest of the verse is about how the rebel just for kicks eventually gave up being a rebel because he grew up, got a job, had bills to pay, and kids to feed.
Ooh woo, I’m a “rebel” just for clicks, now. Nah, I’m more concerned with telling people how the Yanks’ Horace Clarke Era started in 1966 and that in 1986 New York was bizarrely a Mets town.
While also informing you where to find some pints of Guinness…
Guinness Challenge Season #1
@Kids don’t try this at home. Not just because you’re underage and will have plenty of pints to drink if that ends up being your thing when you’re older but also because Guinness is actually best served in a pint glass from a tap. A pint of Guinness varies depending on the drinking establishment. If the keg it sits in is rarely poured, it can lead to some underwhelming taste. Rather than stealing gimmicks, I’d like to start taking Notes while drinking Guinness. My grandfather from Connemara, who I never got the chance to meet, Thomas Davis, used to drink pints and by all accounts was a self-taught thinker. The one rule I’ve imposed on myself is that I will only have 1 pint per sitting from each establishment I review, so @AnyoneWorrying, don’t worry about my drinking habits. The Guinness Challenge is to “cut the G” on your first sip (more like a gulp and a half). If this is your first time hearing about it, I didn’t come up with the fun challenge @YouTheReader can try the next time you have a Guinness. The 0.0 to 10.0 scale will be extraordinarily nuanced but as a reference point, the only perfect 10.0 I plan ever to give out is at the Guinness Factory in Dublin one day.
Song On In The Background: Feel It Still by Portugal, The Man
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Bartender is from Ireland. Been here 4 months and he recommends the crispy chicken sandwich. Guinness is their top seller. Old Amity Street is what the bar is named after. Thursday to Sunday it is a college scene. Nuggets and Heat game 3 tonight with Tyler Herro still out. On Tuesdays, they do a deal called Tasty Bird’s Tuesdays where they have crispy chicken sandwiches and fries for $10 until they run out. Great deal.
Amity Hall is a modern American craft beer and sports destination best known for its diverse selection, handcrafted cocktails, and lively atmosphere. Named after the once-known Amity Street in the heart of Greenwich Village, Amity Hall was established in ‘09 with the opening of its flagship location at 80 West 3rd Street. Open seven days a week with two locations conveniently located in NYC, Amity Hall features lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. They offer the perfect venue for hosting special events or watching a game. (Amity Hall) I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Amity Hall again soon!
Song On In The Background: Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: The smoke in The City is coming from Quebec. Mika the bartender is from Serbia. He used to play professional water polo. He was a defender who played all over. “You have to be a great swimmer. It’s an intense sport.” Mike has been in New York for “13 years and I’ve survived.” The Joker is one of his favorite players, “all he cares about is basketball and horses. Good kid.” The king is recommended to drink. His favorite cocktail to make is a martini with a lemon twist, old fashions are number two.
Shade Room is a French Restaurant with a relaxed feel to it. They have plenty of great cocktail combinations and a wide range of wines. It was pretty cool talking to a former professional athlete. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Shade Bar again soon!
Song On In The Background: All My Life by Lil Durk & J. Cole
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Chris is the bartender. He’s been working at Schaffer’s for 2 years. They are named after the owner’s last name. Schaffer’s is a sports bar through and through, showing all sports, “mostly New York, but we are a Michigan bar too.” A steak sandwich and mozzarella sticks are recommended. Tito’s and Soda is the top seller. 20 TVs for sports. They have some old-school black-and-white tiles that I appreciate. It is still very Smokey outside. New York City is an orange smog.
Shaffer’s is Chelsea’s premier neighborhood sports bar. Their vibe is to imbibe. They have the ultimate quality bar menu. All My Life lost in the 2nd round of the Song of the Summer ‘23. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Shaffer’s again soon!