Soulful Strut | Pioneers Bar | Bourbon & Branch | Turntable Chicken Jazz | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Soulful Strut by Young-Holt Unlimited. It was on in the background at one of these fine drinking establishments in The City around the time of Halloween last fall. It’s an instrumental with no lyrics, but you’ll know the song as soon as you hear it. Eldee Young and Red Holt originally were part of a trio that included Hysear Don Walker that formed in Chicago back in 1965. Young was on the bass, Holt banged the drums, and Walker played the piano. Young and Holt decided to take their talents as a US soul-jazz group in a different direction. They produced this instrumental hit back in 1968 and it landed at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. (Source: Last FM)
Eldee Young and Red Holt were extremely talented musicians who left their mark on music for the next generation of artists. Their beats have been sampled by many after. Some examples are Kendrick Lamar and U2 using their Wah Wah Man for their song XXX. Fat Joe used their song Please Sunrise, Please to make Shorty Got a Fat Ass… Sorry, that made me laugh out loud when I saw it so I had to include it even though it’s very vulgar… Back to Soulful Strut, it was used in hip-hop by the likes of 2 Live Crew’s Coolin’. It was also used by two talented singers Barbara Acklin and Dusty Springfield whose lyrical versions were known as Am I the Same Girl in 1969. (Source: Who Sampled)
Soulful Strut was prominently featured in the 1998 90s kids’ classic The Parent Trap. It plays on in the background of one of Lindsay Lohan’s English sister’s scenes. As always, I wonder what she’s been up to, can’t seem to find her IMBD anywhere.
On to the 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, whom 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: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: All in one pour, unfortunately. Basketball pop-a-shot in the back. Old school Frank Sinatra portrait on the wall. They were established on 12-12-12, my guess is they served their first drink twelve minutes after midnight. It appears they have a fascination with zebras because they have pictures of them all over the walls. They recommend the Tin Pan Alley for food if you’re hungry. Dancing skeletons on the TVs. I’m going to rip one more pint and call it a night. It’s Halloween night and everywhere is busy. I get to go home and write about football for this weekend, so no bother.
I hate being the bad guy, the Guinness tasted just fine but I gotta keep it honest and can’t be giving out 6+ ratings on all-in-one pours. Located on 29th Street, Pioneers Bar was the first bar on 29th Street in over a century so they are true pioneers in that regard. They have over 3,000 square feet of bar and lounge so plenty of space for parties, gatherings, corporate events, meetups, or just a simple hang-out. Featuring 20 ice-cold beers on draft, they also have games like Jenga, Connect 4, a Star Wars pinball, and a pool table. I got a few pop-a-shot basketball shots up, still got it from close range. Pioneers is a nice spot for sports as they have plenty of big-screen TVs. They also have a projector that’s 12’ x 14’ for movie nights. I look forward to one day re-reviewing Pioneers’ pint again!
Song On In The Background: vampire by Olivia Rodrigo
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: 6 months old. Maple Fig Bacon old fashioned is recommended. Truffle fries and spring rolls are very popular. There is a wavy feel to the place. It’d be like if the 70s and the future had a baby, I’d presume. They are a great pregame spot for MSG. The owner also owns Juniper. I had a nice social media talk with Kieran, he ran his brother’s music account for a bit. We talked about algorithms and such.
Located just steps outside Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, Bourbon & Branch is a nod to the southern traditions of drinking a “Bourbon & Branch.” The Branch Water refers to small streams or branches that deliver the water used by Bourbon distillers. The idea is to add a little bit of the same water to the finished spirit to make a clean, refreshing drink that retains the essence of the whiskey. When filtered, the Branch Water removes iron from the water. Iron is what discolors the Bourbon. Kentucky Bourbon is made with limestone-filtered water. The state of Kentucky sits on an ancient limestone aquifer, which is why it’s known as the world’s Bourbon capital. Limestone-filtered water is also very smooth on the palate and thus the perfect mixer for Bourbon so today many whiskey drinkers will just refer to water as branch. That was a very interesting thing I read on Bourbon & Branch’s website. This new bar will be a year old later this spring. They have 2 floors with their 2nd level being perfect for private events. Their kitchen menu looks delicious with many upscale bar favorites with a bit of southern charm added to them. I look forward to grabbing another pint at Bourbon and Branch again!
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: A very cool spot for fans of music. A retro speakeasy bar with a recommended chicken fried burger. Old sound systems are glassed off in shelves on a wall of a 20-foot ceiling. Also along the walls are thousands of records. Jazz instruments are found above the bar. I’m sitting next to a lazy Susan full of liquor bottles. The Stud is the recommended cocktail, it features bourbon, Domaine de Canton, lime juice, and syrup.
Turntable NYC has 3 joints, with this one being called Turntable Chicken Jazz located at 20 West 33rd Street. It was a very cool rustic setting that I’m sure my parents would love the vibe of. They have a Happy Hour from Noon to 5 PM every day. The chicken sandwich that the patron next to me ordered looked terrific. Honestly, the environment with the music all along the walls is very authentic, check it out next time you’re by the Empire State Building. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Turntable Chicken Jazz again!