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New Music Monday: Diamond Rugs

By Dave Sanford Aug 6, 2021 7:45 AM

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Diamond Rugs - Cosmetics Art Diamond Rugs’ sophomore album, Cosmetics, came out February 24, 2015 on Sycamore Records. Comprised of members (and former members) of Black Lips, Dead Confederate, Deer Tick, Los Lobos, and Six Finger Satellite, the band put out its debut record in 2012 after recording in Nashville for 10 days.

Deer Tick’s John McCauley organized the first recording session, but it was Ian St. Pé, formerly of Black Lips, and Bryan Dufresne, of Six Finger Satellite, who organized the latest record.

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Like Diamond Rugs’ first album, Cosmetics embraces a classic rock & roll mentality. The band just wants to have a good time. This is apparent from the opening track, “Voodoo Doll,” which quickly finds a groove and keeps with it.

“Live and Shout It,” the record’s most successful track, follows a similar pattern, as do most of the successful songs on Cosmetics. The rhythm section sets the groove and provides a space for the other instruments to enter.

Diamond Rugs is a force of classic rock & roll. The emphatic presence of the rhythm section evokes legends of the genre, and it is clear throughout Cosmetics that the band recorded the album because it was fun. That is probably the most important aspect. It is not simply that the band is having fun, but that the album transmits that enjoyment to the listener.

Cosmetics is available via Amazon, iTunes, and Diamond Rugs’ online store.

Why John Ford’s Westerns Get Better as You Get Older

Clothing, Hat, Face

There are worse ways to spend an evening than watching John Wayne stop a stagecoach.

He stands in the road, saddle slung over one arm, spinning a Winchester as the camera rushes toward him. It is an entrance worthy of a movie star, and in Stagecoach, you can practically watch Wayne become one. Before he has done much of anything, you want to know where he is going. You would probably go with him.

Cigar Lounge Spotlight: Española Cigar Bar & Lounge in Miami Beach

cigar lounge

I was at Española Cigar Bar & Lounge in Miami Beach earlier this year when the idea for this weekly spotlight first came to mind. I was in town to interview Floyd Mayweather Jr. at a yacht party that turned out to be as bombastic as the 15-time world champion himself. The trip kicked off with dinner at Claudie for a taste of the French Riviera. I was whisked into the restaurant’s private dining room, where guests included a slew of GNC executives, former NBA players, and Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.

After five or so Old Fashioneds, three of us decided to keep the night going, and we were all in the mood for stogies, which is always a great idea during one of Miami’s muggy nights. Española Cigar Bar & Lounge was the place to be, and if you’ve ever walked Española Way on a Friday night, you understand why.

Feeling stuck or behind? Here are the five days you need to schedule every month

HIker standing in the sunrise

It feels like every single month, when the calendar turns over (figuratively speaking, unless you still have a physical calendar), there is no way it is already the first of a new month. It can feel like you are stuck in the middle of a grind, that you are behind on everything, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t catch up. Or even move forward. That can weigh on you. Just like a new year creates new motivations, new planning, and new goals, you can break the months into smaller scales.

Your monthly calendar (and even further, going to the week) should reflect the things you want to accomplish. And, if you are feeling stuck, unmotivated, or like you are falling behind, here are five non-negotiable days you should set up every single month to set you up for climbing out of your funk.