Dustland | The Madison | Moran’s | 10th & Willow | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
The song Dustland by The Killers featuring Bruce Springsteen was on in the background of one of the bars I had a Guinness in Hoboken. It was released in the Summer of ‘21. The Killers originally made A Dustland Fairytale back in ‘08, which was on their 3rd studio album called Day & Age. I’m a huge fan of The Killers and they were heavily influenced by New Jersey’s own, Bruce Springsteen. Fun fact about Springsteen and Hoboken, in 1985 he shot the music video to Glory Days at the Maxwell Bar & Grill which is present-day Sirentta’s Seafood & Raw Bar.
Brandon Flowers, The Killers lead singer and songwriter, wrote this song about his parents. The Dustland is about his hometown in Nevada. In 1961, his parents met at 15 years old while living on the same trailer park. Moon River was written to be sung by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s which came out in 1961. So presumably this could have been a movie they saw at a drive-in or maybe just enjoyed the song on the radio.
The Cinderella refers to Flowers’ mother. The line where she is in a party dress but looking for a nightgown could show that she is innocent and doesn’t typically go out. Flowers’ father on the other hand wasn’t as innocent. The music video for this song depicts almost a Greasers vs Socs showdown. Having money on a pawn on a chessboard would be foolish because of the low odds, thus the couple’s chances seemed low to work out.
Apparently, Flowers’ father made a change when he was a kid and he quit his troubled lifestyle. His mom knew his dad had it in him. In an interview with Th Quietus, Flowers explained, “It's an attempt to come to grips with the fact that they're getting older. I'm quite young for them - I was a mistake, heh heh. They're in their mid-60s, and my dad is my connection to pure America. Yes, I pray every day. It's like a love letter I guess. I see what's happening now with the kids, and…it was just simpler back then. There's so much junk now."
Brandon Flowers randomly received a text in February of ‘20 from an unknown send that read: "We gotta do Dustland one day. - Bruce" Unsure if it was actually The Boss, Flowers saw that the area code was from Freehold, New Jersey, so he jumped at the opportunity. Flowers said, "Bruce has written a lot about people like my parents and found a whole lot of beauty in otherwise invisible people's hopes and dreams. Their struggles, and their losses. I'm grateful to him for opening this door for me. I'm grateful to my parents for their example to me." (SongFacts)
Lastly, while Flowers was writing this song his mother was battling cancer. Now Cinderella don’t you go to sleep is about him wanting her to hang in there. Sadly, she would pass away 2 years after the song’s release. In an Instagram post after collaborating with The Boss, Flowers said, "It was an attempt to better understand my dad, who is sometimes a mystery to me. To grieve for my mother. To acknowledge their sacrifices and maybe even catch a glimpse of just how strong love needs to be to make it in this world. It was my therapy. It was cathartic."
A Dustland Fairytale indeed, an amazing tune. We’re going to need some pints…
#GuinnessChallengeSeason
@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: Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Gihanelly is bartending. She’s been working at the Madison for 3 years, this being her first year as a bartender. She recommends the French onion soup or the dumplings. A nice old fashion is her favorite drink to make. The Madison is located in Uptown Hoboken so they get more of an “older” crowd of late 20s and up. My kind of scene, if I even have a scene at this point. They are a sports bar, always showing baseball, basketball, hockey, and of course football. They have Espresso Martini $10 specials on Thursdays, which get poured from the tap. They also do Sunday Brunch usually with a Jazz band. Gihanelly likes Hoboken for its “big town vibe.”
The Madison has a very nice ambiance to it with 1940s décor. As pictured above, The Madison serves 4Jacks Nitro Cold Brew, be sure to try it out next time you’re in there! They have a great menu for brunch as well as dinner. Their front bar is perfect for sports, but they also have a whole other classy restaurant area where you can sit down for a meal. The Madison is a great uptown staple bar in Hoboken and I’ve already been back for a pint since this Guinness review!
Song On In The Background: Dustland by The Killers ft. Bruce Springsteen
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Rachel is bartending. Tara is hungover sitting next to me and wants to steal the #GuinnessChallengeSeason idea, help! Moran’s has a special where they do a pint and shot of whiskey for $12. They have Golf Pin flags from the US Open ‘18 in Shinnecock, the 150th Open at St Andrews, the ‘22 Masters, the ‘23 Phoenix Open, and the 41st Ryder Cup all behind the bar. There is also more hanging up behind me. Bar patrons that love golf started bringing them in from tournaments they attended from all over, pretty cool! Cubs vs. Cardinals is on the TV, the series is being played in London. The “Guinness is good for you” sign is hanging up, one of my favorites. Not only do they have Golf flags but there is a hurling stick along with “The Original Rules of Golf”, which were established in 1745, framed at the corner wall of the bar. The owner is a huge fan of golf and he is from County Limerick. (Up the West!) I also see they have a rugby jersey on the wall too. As you can tell, Moran’s is a nice sports pub! The curry chicken is recommended. Rachel loves working here, “like a lot.” Rachel and Tara are from down the shore and recommend the Guinness at Red Rock & Dublin House in Red Bank.
Moran’s Pub in Hoboken has been serving quite a great pint this side of the Atlantic since 1989. Family-owned, before opening up Moran’s the owner, Len Hehir, bartended at the prestigious Four Seasons Restaurant in The City and as well as served at the famous steakhouse Gallagher’s. Hehir attended The National University of Ireland, in Galway before he met a Jersey girl and moved to the States. (Source: Len’s daughter penned it on Moran’s website) Just thought I should Note that, very cool! In ‘15, Morans teamed up with the innovative chef Vinicio Lantigua to make the bar the first gastropub in Hoboken. With years of experience at top restaurants in The City, Lantigua makes classic dishes with high-quality, fresh ingredients and innovative, health-conscious techniques. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Moran’s Pub in Hoboken again soon!
Song On In The Background: I Got Summer On My Mind (Sill DRE Remix)
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: After today, I will have had a pint at every current drinking establishment in the City of Hoboken that serves Guinness. When do I get my key to the city? 10th and Willow is more of a cocktail bar with a DJ booth set up in the corner. A great spot on the weekends, a lot of fun! Doubles as a nice date spot when it’s not the weekend. Also, 10th Street Pizza which is diagonal across the street is phenomenal - it is Giants QB Daniel Jones’ favorite pie in Hoboken. Sports are always on the TV and they have a back room for parties. Cool spot!
On Mondays from 4 PM to Midnight, 10th & Willow does all-you-can-eat wings for just $15. Friday to Sunday they are open for brunch. Not only do they have a great main bar when you first walk in, but a ton of space in their back bar area for private parties and open bars. Their Green Tea Cooler is ketel one botanical cucumber & mint, lemon, green tea, and seltzer. I always see people with their espresso martinis in hand too, so they must be good as well. If you’re looking for a pizza pie, make sure to check out 10th Street Pizza, their square pie is uniquely one of a kind and excellent - Portnoy gave it an 8.6 in case you don’t believe me. I look forward to grabbing another pint at 10th & Willow again soon!
YouTube Rabbithole
The Killers - A Dustland Fairytale
The Killers (ft. Bruce Springsteen) - Dustland (Official Music Video)