Anthology

An Interview with Jay Nash

by Casey Pukl

After years of relentless touring and non-stop recording, rustic rock troubadour Jay Nash has finally taken a little time to sit back and relax. The result of his down time? A gorgeous 4 song EP titled, Of the Woods, that displays the deep canyons of his “musical psyche”. Track 1 is a song titled, “Stay Home,” that poignantly explores Nash’s bittersweet relationship with touring and missing his new family at home. There’s a line in the song about Hurricane Irene raging at home in Vermont as Nash tours the desert in the “stabbing heat” that will absolutely slay you when followed up by the simple chorus, ” ‘Home, stay home. Stay home, stay home,” she says.

Let me tell you the best part about the EP— that’s just the beginning.  It gets even more heart-wrenching as it goes on.

Read on to find out what Nash has been up to lately, what’s in store for his next full-length project, and just what he’s looking forward to most about returning to California! Read the rest of this entry »

New Summer Picks

by Casey Pukl

It has been brought to my attention this week, that we have been neglecting the excellent beers that the Anthology bar serves up. For this, I am deeply sorry. I’m still getting my San Diego legs, and I have to remember that this is a big beer town. Fortunately, managers Warren Phelps and Marc Canzoneri have your back, and they’ve picked some new additions for summer!

Starting this week, we’re serving up two new beers on draft that aren’t to be missed (and also pair really nicely with our sausage plate and salads). “For the summer, we really tried to pick lighter beers that were really food friendly. The Pilsner and Witte are two great options,” manager Warren Phelps says.

The Ommegang Witte is a delightful summery wheat ale that is rich with spices, most prominently coriander, and a hint of fresh sweet orange peel. It is still a traditional Belgian-style ale that is full of flavor, yet soft on the palate. Accoording to Phelps, “The Witte has a little bit of a lemon flavor that makes it great with spicy dishes, salads, you name it!” This is sure to be one of the new summer favorites.

The second new addition is the North Coast Brewing Company’s Scrimshaw Pilsner. With an ABV of 4.4%, this one has a spicy, hoppy nose with pale malt flavors. ABC News actually reviewed this beer and rated it #1 in the Top 5 Brews for Barbecues saying, “Everyone should have this in their refrigerator.” It doesn’t get much better than that!

This pilsner is accessible and clean. The crispness is refreshing. “This one goes down easy and doesn’t compete with bolder dishes,” says Phelps. “It’s classic and light. It won’t weigh you down.”

Be sure to give these two new additions a try! As always, we’re open for Happy Hour from 5-7 Tuesday through Friday, or you can stop in for any of our fabulous shows! This week, we’ve got Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek tonight, Frank Gambale & Boca tomorrow, and a weekend of Valerie Simpson’s touching tribute to Nick Ashford! Don’t miss out!

An Interview with Trace Bundy

by Casey Pukl

With over 24,000,000 views on YouTube, it’s no wonder people are calling Trace Bundy the “acoustic ninja”! His playing style is something you have to see to believe, and it is definitely not something to be missed.

Bundy is currently releasing his fourth studio record titled Elephant King, and he’s hosting his CD release party here at Anthology. I had the chance to catch up with him earlier this week to find out what to expect on this latest record, just how he amassed such a large YouTube following, and just why he started learning to say his name backwards… Read the rest of this entry »

An Interview with Frank Gambale

by Casey Pukl

This is one of those interviews that is absolutely damn near impossible to write an introduction for. Why? Because simply put, Frank Gambale is the man. Not only is he a joy to interview, but his list of accolades could very well take up this entire article. Let me give you the short version:

Frank Gambale is a Grammy Award-winning guitar virtuoso and educator with over 200 published songs over 20+ records, the creator of the Sweep Picking technique, Gambale Tuning, former member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, Vital Information, and has had numerous custom guitars designed in his name. There’s no way one could ever truly grasp the amount of technical discovery that this man has contributed to guitar players around the world.

Not bad, eh?

Gambale’s latest project is a collaboration with his wife, and incredibly sultry singer/songwriter, Boca. Read on to find out what it was like working with his wife, what highlight of his career came recently, and just what his latest contribution to guitar technique is…

CP: I have to admit, I’m a big Elektric Band fan, so this is pretty exciting right now.

 FG: So am I (laughs). Those were amazing days.

CP: Absolutely. And I know you were also on the most recent Return to Forever tour with Stanley Clarke and the rest of the gang, right?  Read the rest of this entry »

Kristen’s Fresh Pea Soup

by Casey Pukl

Up until this week, I thought peas could be used for two things:

1. Adding color to rice or quinoa.

2. Icing my knees, head, or any other injury that requires an icepack… also known in our house as the, “pea pack.”

Fortunately Sous Chef Kristen Burman has once again come to rescue my meager cooking skills and teach me (and you!) another awesome dish! This week, it’s all about fresh peas and a fabulous wine pairing you won’t want to miss!

Spring Pea Soup
Mint, Feta Cheese, Pea Tendrils

Not only does this soup look like spring, but it tastes as fresh as it looks! Pea soup is a classic recipe, but this isn’t your mother’s pea soup. This week, Kristen put her own unique twist on this classic, and it’s a winner!

To make this at home, you’ll want to start with a basic mirepoix (mixture of roughly chopped onions, celery, and carrots). Sweat the mirepoix along with some finely chopped garlic, thyme, and bayleaf. Next, add chicken stock and boil until the vegetables are soft. Once the vegetables are soft, remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool to at least room temperature.

Next, add your peas (fresh or frozen will work!), mint, and a bit of cream to the chicken stock. Blend the mixture until creamy and smooth. Reheat before serving, and top with fresh pea tendrils (aren’t they gorgeous?) and a bit of feta cheese.

Not only is this soup simple to make, but it’s pretty healthy to boot! Read the rest of this entry »