Anneke van Giersbergen, former singer of The Gathering.
It never ceases to amaze me how much cool stuff never manages to wash ashore in America. I’ve lamented the shaft female-fronted metal has gotten in previous posts. Today’s entry is particularly galling.
Check out the video below by the outstanding Dutch band, The Gathering. Mind you, this was done in 1997! In America, hard music had the joy hoovered right out of it. The heavy music landscape was so dour here in America. Every... Read Full Story
If you look at that big ol' rut on the right, that's exactly where you'll go. Focus on that sliver of rideable trail dead-center.
Welcome to Mountain Bike Monday at WanderingJustin.com! In each Mountain Bike Monday, I offer some mountain biking wisdom. Sometimes, you’ll get a gear review. Other times, a handy riding tip or three. If you have a question for Mountain Bike Monday, send it to wandering.justins@gmail.com.
It’s been nearly 10 years since I took my wife on her first mountain bike r... Read Full Story
So when I was a kid, the Rocky movies started coming out. And I have to admit, they made me love the band Survivor. Yes, I am unashamed to tell you that I loved “Eye of the Tiger.” In a way, Survivor was proto-power metal, before the genre even existed. You know, that whole pure-of-heart underdog reaching for the top vibe, minus the Nordic references.
This Starbucks commercial is another reason for me to love the Survivor dudes. Talk about a sense of humor!
I must say, it would b... Read Full Story
This bike is simply radiant and resplendent. Photo by Yakota Fritz, found at cycleicio.us.
Back in the mid 90s, the sleek, elegant Breezer mountain bikes made me swoon. Then they disappeared, with the brand being consigned to commuter bikes. No shame in that – and also no excitement (not for me, at least).
Now, Breezer owner and all-around mensch Joe Breeze has done enough planet saving through bike commuting, and he’s getting back to his mountain biking roots: The awesome Breezer Thund... Read Full Story
Peace in our time: Wandering Justin learns to love tubeless wheels.
It’s been about a decade since tubeless wheelsets started appearing. When I was still working at Adventure Bicycle in Mesa (part-time, by that point), wheel giants Mavic sent a representative to our shop to show us how to work on them and convince us of the benefits.
I didn’t come away convinced. Not at all. Didn’t like ‘em. Didn’t want ‘em.
Let’s get this straight: I’m not old-school just to be contrary. I’m just a ske... Read Full Story
Sometimes, I just feel like skipping the airlines and FedEx-ing my bad self on vacation.
Because I fly out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, I’ve collected the majority of my air miles on US Airways. I’ve also scooped up decent amounts from Continental and American. All of these are members of either oneworld or Star Alliance – you know, those associations of various airlines that seem to have no real benefit aside from making it easier to collect air miles.
I thought it might be inter... Read Full Story
Here in the big, bad Phoenix metro area, a lot of people are a-flutter about Modified Arts getting out of the live music game to focus on art. From the way people are acting, out-of-town folks might get the impression that Modified was some sort of influential, state-of-the-art epicenter of rockin’ awesomeness.
Sorry, folks, but I’m here to burst your bubble. It was nearly exclusively indie hipster music. It has it’s place, but it’s not my bag.
While Modified is baskin... Read Full Story
Want to know about cool stuff like Sedona's rock? Check out the Arizona state geologist's blog.
When it comes to geology, Arizona has a lot to offer. It’s an incredibly rich source of copper. Then there’s the Grand Canyon. There’s the remains of a stratovolcano that now provide quality skiing for Arizona residents. Speaking of volcanos, there’s also the very cool Sunset Crater. And geology meets exogeology (is that even the right word?) at Barringer Crater! Let’s... Read Full Story
Phoenix is the country fifth most-populous city. You’d never know it, though, from its absolutely putrid selection of music stores (the kind that sell instruments, not CDs). The last time I bought an amp, I had to go to Tucson - 120 miles away!- to get it. The last time I bought a guitar? I called Carvin, because I couldn’t find jack here that could compete, dollar for dollar.
This is one of those posts that will call people out and name names. If you’re on the list and take... Read Full Story
