u/loudmusicboy's SOTDs for challenge 'GEMsOfWisdom 2022'

Aug. 1, 2022 - Austere August 1st With Serious Jetlag

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (1)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

After 5 glorious days in London, I landed in Boston at noon and was home here in the great state of Maine by 3. I had 36 hours of growth to kill off so the #GEMSofWisdom was the perfect way to make me look more human. Gem of Wisdom #1- Using an OCMM or MMOC or whatever the hell you want to call it when you are battling jetlag is a huge friggin' challenge. I would dare call it a bloody challenge. Because bloody hell, while I have pretty good control over a razor most days and nicks and weepers are a rarity, I looked like a scene out of Sweeney Todd by the time I was done with this shave. All of the issues were mine. Of course, since I'm also #RawHoggin for the month, this was the first day with a brush I am not familiar with and the lather showed, in that it was less than hydrated.

#RawHoggin (paging u/EldrormR and u/Semaj300) with the Semogue 620 (unboxing pics here- https://imgur.com/a/Gr3gy9B) will be entertaining. On the plus side, there ain't no real stink to this brush (hallefuckinglujah). On the less than plus side, this is a small knot. On the plus side, I'm probably going to destroy this tub of Firefighter trying to get enough lather going during the month. I like the way Semogue's break in so I suspect that in a week or so, I'll have a good handle on where this brush is going to go.

#Sidetracked u/Teufelskraft has added a musical component to this month and I am more than happy to oblige. I'll start the month with one of my all-time favorite albums from Boston's Only Living Witness. Jonah Jenkins is one of the best voices in metal and OLW was the starting point. This is a band that should have been huge but their record company didn't know how to market them and essentially fucked them over. They left us with 2 amazing albums but Prone Mortal Form, today's selection is a banger. I've worn out several copies of this album. I saw Witness back in the day in clubs in Rhode Island, Boston and here in Maine. I got beat to hell in the pits and dropped more than my fair share of elbows in return. Jonah has gone on to several other projects including Milligram and Raw Radar War and has dropped vox for a bunch of other bands. So yea, I'm kicking Austere August in the ass and throwing elbows and windmilling my way around the house. Enjoy this one and stay away from the razors while doing so- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsQcQpJrP6w

If none of this made sense, blame it on jetlag and let's hope that tomorrow I am far more coherent. Have a great rest of your day everyone!

Aug. 2, 2022 - Jetlag and Blood-Free Austere August 2nd

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (2)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Unscented AS balm

#GEMSofWisdom Ahhhhh, it's amazing what a night of sleep can do for the body. No jetlag=no shave that leaves me cut to ribbons. The MMOC got me perfectly bbs with 2 passes (WTG/XTG) with no need for the damn styptic (there's only so much styptic sting a man can take).

#RawHoggin I'm just not going to be dainty about this brush. It was $20 but it clearly looks like it can take some punishment. As you can see from the SOTD pic the bristles are starting to open just a weeeeeeee bit. But, like every other boar brush, it is eating lather like a beast. This brush is small but hungry.

#Sidetracked u/Teufelskraft I'm going to offer up one of my favorite songs of the year. Big Scenic Nowhere is led by Tony Reed of Mos Generator, a band I've fallen hard for over the last couple of years. Their Shadowlands album from 2018 got me hooked and then I went down rabbit hole of their catalog. Tony Reed put together this side project and their Long Morrow album came out earlier this year, which is amazing. This song though...20 minutes of awesomeness. Some prog, some rawk. It's got something for everyone who stays in the rock side of the spectrum. Take the time and enjoy the ride- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CTS2VxM2c0

Have a great day all!

Aug. 2, 2022 - Austere August 3rd

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (3)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

#GEMSofWisdom- 1) After three days of using it, I continue to maintain that Firefighter is an overrated scent. What the hell am I missing here? 2) Face lathering with a new boar brush sucks. I miss my bowl. But, as you can see from the SOTD pic, the brush is starting to open up. #RawHoggin 3) Today I got minimal feedback from the aftershave splash so the blade is settling into the OCMM quite nicely.

#Sidetracked u/Teufelskraft I have loved Mike Patton since he first joined Faith No More. The guy is a musical genius. While I haven't been a fan of all of his post-FNM projects (looking at you Masada), I do make sure to listen to his output at least once. One of Patton's underrated projects was the Mondo Cane album where he covered Italian pop songs from the 50s and 60s. This album is genius. But what was even cooler was that Patton then decided to perform the album throughout Europe with various national orchestras. His show with the Metropole Orchestra in the Netherlands (?) is outstanding and well worth your time. Just let it roll and enjoy the ride. I know I have many, many times. This is the setting these songs were meant to be performed in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRjKlZiGHQI&t=1256s

Have a great day all!

Aug. 4, 2022 - Austere August 4th

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (4)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMSofWisdom This blade is smoothing out nicely and another BBS shave of goodness.

#RawHoggin I'll say it again today- Face lathering sucks. And this is coming from a guy who face lathered for years while shaving in the shower. I only started bowl lathering a year ago and it was then that I realized that all my years of face lathering didn't teach me to build an awesome lather. Plus, I find whipping up a lather in a bowl at the crack of ass to be quite the meditative experience. Face lathering...not so meditative. Meanwhile, the brush continues to break in better- https://imgur.com/a/JazxB2l

#Sidetracked So many options today, but I decided to go with one of my favorite songs- "The Rat" from the Walkmen. The Walkmen weren't exactly known for songs that really 'rocked', and this is definitely one of their punchier numbers, but this band knew how to write songs that could evoke an emotional response. I remember hearing this song when the album, Bows and Arrows, came out and being instantly floored by it. There was something about the song that caused an intense reaction that made me well up a bit. I'm not a 'welling up' kinda guy, but damn if this song didn't want to make me reach for a tissue. And this isn't a mellow dirge for sure. To this day, this song still evokes a response from me when I hear it. The lead singer, Hamilton Leithauser, has issued some fantastic solo records over the last several years and I've had the opportunity to see him live. But as good as his solo albums are and as good as many of the Walkmen records were, no song in those catalogs will ever surpass "The Rat"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWR1h-5EzUo Enjoy this one u/Teufelskraft (should we be tagging you in every post??) and the rest of the gang.

Have a great day all!

Aug. 5, 2022 - Austere August 5th, With Added Beastmilk

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (5)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

#GEMsofWisdom This one is not shaving related for sure. The two most important life lessons for me were learned in kindergarten- 1) Never, ever, ever,ever hit a woman and 2) Never, ever, ever, ever shove a Husky Pencil up your nose. These two guiding principles have kept me on the straight and narrow for years.

Shave-wise, WTG/XTG and a clean up pass were the keys to another BBS/low aftershave feedback shave.

#RawHoggin I'm enjoying all of these posts about rotting stink of some of your brushes and how the stink is lingering on you even through your splash and frag mistings. Bless you Semogue for your lack of stink. Tips are splitting more and I'm starting to get lather where I want it with this brush and dipping the tips in water. I'm still not converting back to face lathering when this is all over.

#Sidetracked I'm going to Finland today, musically that is. I have been to Finland physically for music as well for a couple of Tuska Festivals (which were amazing) and the opportunity to see Amorphis at a club there. I've long been of the mindset that when it comes to heavier music, "If it's not Finnish, it's crrrraaappp". One of my favorite records to come out of Helsinki is Beastmilk's 2013 album, Climax. This album also might be one of my favorite albums of the last 10 years. This is a dark rock record with vocals that will give some folks a goth-y vibe and some folks a Danzig-y vibe. The songs are hooky as all get out and once you put the album on 'Play', you'll find yourself hitting 'Rewind' on many of these songs. The opening track, "Death Reflects Us", pulls you right in and sends you on quite a ride. "You Are Now Under Our Control", "Surf the Apocalypse", "Love in a Cold World" are just some of the standouts on this album. I saw them in 2014 at Tuska and they were fantastic. Sadly, they broke up after this album, with the vocalist Kvohst and the guitarist reforming under the moniker Grave Pleasures (also highly recommended). So to you u/Teufelskraft and the AA gang, here's the soundtrack to your Friday- https://beastmilk.bandcamp.com/album/climax

Have a great day all!

Aug. 6, 2022 - The Cult of AA

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMSofWisdom Another fine non-shaving one- Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. Another morning of WTG/XTG/Cleanup/BBS with minimal aftershave feedback.

#RawHoggin The tips are definitely beginning to split on this brush and today was definitely the first day that I didn't have to work excessively hard to get a lather close to loudmusicboy quality. I'm still not a fan of face lathering but this brush is handling it like a champ- https://imgur.com/a/JqJRYKB

#Sidetracked Many of us can point to an album or two that might have changed our musical lives. I definitely have 2 of them. The Cult released Love in October 1985. Sometime in 1986, I was a high school student up late listening to WVUM, which is the University of Miami's radio station. I loved their metal show and I especially loved their late night alternative shows. One night, the DJ played "She Sells Sanctuary" and I immediately sat up in bed wondering what the hell I had just heard. Fortunately, the DJ backsold it and told the world it was The Cult. The next day, I found my way to Specs Records and bought a cassette and immediately popped it into my Walkman where it stayed for weeks as I listened to it non-stop. I'd never heard anything like it. Ian Astbury's vocals were incredible, especially for that time period in music. Billy Duffy's riffs and the production were also top notch. I became a fanboy of The Cult at the ripe young age of 15. I never got to see them in their prime, but I have seen them a couple of times in more recent years and it's a good trip down memory lane. So, u/Teufelskraft and the gang, let's all take a trip down memory lane on a Saturday? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXAu9e4u_ZU&list=PLHOtuay6mq8I09yWNmSuPgh43Bm94Pr6I

Aug. 7, 2022 - Austere August 7

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (7)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Using this razor for 7 days straight, I can firmly say this razor gives me the closest shaves of any razor I have in my den. This razor keeps my face bbs for a damn long time for sure. Another day of WTG/XTG/Clean up and then figuring out which body part to strop the blade on. I'm still not a fan of this soap scent and hoping that I pretty much destroy this tub so I can bin it come September 1. (note to judges- the bowl in the SOTD picture was not used for lathering. Solely for soaking the brush and dipping the tips. Come 9/1, it will return to its original purpose).

#RawHoggin The tips are continuing to split and the brush seems to be working toward the 'Semogue Splay". I'm liking this little brush. It's small but effective

#Sidetracked The Sheila Divine are one of my favorite bands out of Boston. In 1999, they released The New Parade which contained the minor alternative rock radio hit "Hum". As good as "Hum" is, it's the next song on that album that always hit me with all the feels. This song has a slow build which adds to the emotional depth for me. Aaron Perrino is a great vocalist and every time I've seen this song live (which is quite a bit), he pretty much nails it for me. u/Teufelskraft and the gang, I leave you with something a bit different (from my musical den) this morning. Enjoy- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdUKhKUnAf4

Have a great day all!

Aug. 8, 2022 - Austere August 8th

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Somewhat shave-related GEM of Wisdom- Don't ever invite u/j33pguy13 to play a game of Jenga. You will lose. That man has some serious precarious stacking skills. If you haven't been following his SOTD pics, you really should. That man is doing more with Stag than the average person can.

#RawHoggin My brush on Day 8 pre-soak- https://imgur.com/a/KusZVLO . And then my brush post-shave- https://imgur.com/a/KpT6Xrh It's not eating lather any more and is getting softer by the day. What more could you ask for?

#Sidetracked While there are plenty of amazing albums on the heavy side of the spectrum that will be in my Top Ten for 2022, my #1 album for this year is Denzel Curry's Melt My Eyez See Your Future. It is an absolutely stellar hiphop album that is getting constant spins in my musical rotation. I like my hiphop to have really creative beats and this album has plenty. I want to hear an artist that can flow in original ways and Denzel Curry absolutely does that. This album is a big leap from his last album ZUU, which was a big and bombastic album (and sounds great bumping from the car and contains this banger- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3hj4vkRkaw) that also nailed the Miami sound. To me, Melt My Eyez has a lot of parallels to when Guru of Gang Starr did his Jazzmatazz projects. This is a chiller album but with sneaky depth. I'll start the week by giving you one of the songs Denzel did for KEXP's live series a few months ago because it's just too damn hard to pick just one song from this album- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73izf7uf5lo . u/Teufelskraft and gang enjoy this one.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Aug. 9, 2022 - Austere August 9th- Raw Gems of Hoggin Wisdom

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (9)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

#GEMsofWisdom Buttery bread smooth after a WTG/XTG/Buffing clean up. As of now, the blade is performing well. It's not dragging...yet. I have been very conscientious about flipping the blade each day, something I've never done before. I'm curious to see how much impact that will have on this blade and its useability through the end of the month.

#RawHoggin I'm digging this brush. No hair loss. No pig ass stench. Plenty of backbone and is now tub loading like a 6 year old on steroids- small but mighty- https://imgur.com/a/QYPsgyn

#Sidetracked Jack White has released two top notch albums this year. I'm a fan of his guitar playing. Fear of the Dawn came out first and is the plugged in record. A couple of weeks ago, he released Entering Heaven Alive, which is a more stripped down affair. Tucked at the way back of the album is this gem, "Madman from Manhattan". While I could have provided the studio version, this was recorded a couple of weeks ago in London and sounds stellar as well. u/Teufelskraft and the #Sidetraced gang enjoy a sip of something (depending on what time it is where you live) and this swingin' number- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EB9nYjt4w8

Have a great day all.

Aug. 10, 2022 - Austere August 10- Raw Gems of Hoggin Wisdom

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (10)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

#GEMsofWisdom I miss using a soap I really enjoy, but only 21 more days until I can go back to using soaps I really want to use. Firefighter continues to be meh scent-wise, but I have zero complaints about NO's base.

#RawHoggin 10 days in and I can say that while I am still not a convert to face lathering, I am finding joy in breaking in a boar brush by using it. This little guy is continuing to break in well and is quite the little monster- https://imgur.com/a/WyR8gGh

#Sidetracked As the oppressive heat and humidity finally comes to an end here in Northern New England, I'm reminded of the greatest concert I ever attended. Soundgarden, 1994, Fitchburg State University hockey arena in the dead of summer. 95 degrees outside, 110 inside. I had already seen Soundgarden on Lollapalooza two summers before in Miami, on a grossly hot MIami day and the day before Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc, and they killed it in a 20 minute set. I thought I knew what I was in for seeing them live again. What I was not prepared for was that the show in the intense heat of that hockey arena was that I was going to have a god damn religious experience. I can assure you that I was not hallucinating as Soundgarden put on one of the most incredible sets I've ever seen from a band live and Chris Cornell (RIP) was jaw dropping that day. I remember them opening with "Jesus Christ Pose" and Cornell walking out of the fog onstage arms stretched wide and just ripping from the opening note. 90 minutes later, it was all over after they played everything I wanted to hear including today's musical entry. I was drenched in sweat but knew that I had witnessed something special. I have loved Chris Cornell's voice from the moment I heard it in my college dorm to this day. I haven't loved all of his post-Soundgarden music. He was a special voice that I was fortunate to see live several times. So for u/Teufelskraft and the gang I leave with one of my favorite Soundgarden songs- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxbNHObyn1E

Have a great day all!

Aug. 11, 2022 - Austere August 11- Raw Gems of Hoggin Wisdom

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (11)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom WTG/XTG/Cleanup. Day 11 on this blade and I am buttery smooth and there was zero feedback from the splash (and we know Stirling splashes aren't exactly light on the alcohol).

#RawHoggin The 6-year-old on steroids of a brush I'm breaking in is trying to become the Incredible Hulk. It now takes a 15 second load to get all that I need for my shave. This is the second Semogue I've added to my den in the last year and I think Semogue is my jam. See SOTD pic for brush progress.

#Sidetracked u/Teufelskraft hates metal with -core in it. He's made that pretty clear. No hardcore, no metalcore, no mathcore, no emocore, no corecore or whatever. So today's offering is -core-free. Duel from Austin, Texas is carrying the trad rock flag in fine fashion. This is music made by men flaunting their hairy chests in their leather vests. This is music made by men who would scoff at those of us shaving every day and piss on men who are shaving more than their faces and heads. This is music meant to be listened to while swilling cheap beer like Busch Light from 30 racks. This is music that sounds good with the windows down in the car and the speakers at top volume (with a road soda between your legs). You like riffs? Duel's got 'em. Like hooky songs? Duel's got them too. Duel's 2021 album, In Carne Persona, had all of them in spades and this is one of my favorite tracks from that album- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3G6QVXGQNg

Have a great day all!

Aug. 12, 2022 - Austere August 12- Hoggin The Gems Of Raw Wisdom

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (12)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

#GEMsofWisdom WTG/XTG/Buffing. Day 12 on the blade continues to be smooth. I've been palm stropping each day so we'll see if that has any impact on blade life. I think the longest I've taken a GEM is 20 shaves

#RawHoggin This brush is rockin' and rollin' and the tips are a-splittin'- https://imgur.com/a/Zzic8wB

#Sidetracked Yesterday u/Teufelskraft wondered if mathcore was some kind of drone-y, shoegaze-y genre of the metal world, like a bunch of nerds with pocket protectors humming to themselves as they figure out some wacky math theorem. Ohhhh, how wrong of an assessment that is. Mathcore bands might have contained some of the smartest guys in your math classes, but this was not the pocket protector patrol. These guys were cooking up songs with complex rhythms and song structures while screaming in the garage. Bands like Dillinger Escape Plan and Converge neatly fit into this subgenre at one point or another. But my favorite band for snapping my neck in all different ways was Botch from Seattle. Botch's 1999 album, We Are The Romans is a landmark album for the genre and for the band. This album is bonkers in the best possible ways from the song titles, to the lyrics to the songs. This album will piss off your neighbors, may piss off your significant other and will probably leave a mark on your body. Botch had some very talented musicians, including guitarist Dave Knudson, who went off and formed Minus The Bear when Botch broke up. I'll probably save Minus The Bear for tomorrow for a mellower entry. In the meantime, let's destroy this Friday, shall we? https://botch.bandcamp.com/album/we-are-the-romans-remastered-reissue

Have a great day all!

Aug. 13, 2022 - Austere August 13- Hoggin The Gems of Raw Wisdom

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (13)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom The toast was buttered WTG/XTG/blade buffing. No complaints whatsoever.

#RawHoggin Here's today's preshave view of the Mighty Mite- https://imgur.com/a/dXKLVLO . Today was the first day that I think I got the lather where I typically like it. Face lathering is a challenge for me in this area.

#Sidetracked Living in Northern New England, summer is a short season and we have to make the most of it. One of the things I like most about summer is the ability to put down all the windows and open the sunroof and crank tunes while driving. I definitely have a list of summer driving albums, perfect for long drives wherever. One of my favorites is Minus the Bear's Menos El Oso album from 2005. Minus The Bear featured guitarist Dave Knudson from Botch (yesterday's Sidetracked entry for me) and Jake Snider from fellow Seattle band Sharks Keep Swimming on vocals. They ditched the rough edges of their prior bands and made some great smoothed-out alternative rock. This album is pretty damn perfect for summer listening (or really any time of year if you have more summer than we do). So u/Teufelskraft and the gang here's my entry for the day and I hope it fits nicely into your plans- https://minusthebear.bandcamp.com/album/menos-el-oso

Have a great day all!

Aug. 14, 2022 - Austere August 14- Hoggin the Gems of Raw Wisdom

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (14)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMSofWisdom I'm tired of this soap. I want to smell something better on my face. I'm not sure I want to use this soap again for a long time, if ever. I'm happy to entertain trade offers at the end of AA for my Firefighter if you're absolutely sick and tired of your soap.

#RawHoggin This brush is not a soap killer because it takes no time to load the brush to get a good lather going on my face. Dammit, I was so hoping to put a Ring of Death into this soap. Here's the brush post-shave- https://imgur.com/a/7EhaKn6

#Sidetracked And now for something completely different, The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. I stumbled on these guys while making an aerial yoga playlist and then went down the rabbit hole of the catalog. Need some instrumental funk that's organ-forward? Well, this is the group for you. I like playing these albums before I teach a class and they put everyone in a good mood before practice. So for u/Teufelskraft and the gang, I leave you with this ditty that gets a lot of play in the yoga studio and the car- https://delvonlamarrorgantrio.bandcamp.com/track/pull-your-pants-up

Have a great day all!

Aug. 15, 2022 - Austere August 15- Raw Wisdom of the Hoggin Gems

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (15)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Duke Cannon Ice Cold AS balm

#GEMSofWisdom This blade has reached the halfway point. I'm not getting any tugging or pulling but it is starting to reveal some inefficiency. This is the point in the month where shit gets interesting.

#RawHoggin My 6-year-old on steroids of a brush has a neat way of letting me know my lather is hydrated- it starts flinging it around my bathroom. Here he is at 15 days old, messy little bugger- https://imgur.com/a/0ELo4uI

#Sidetracked I've been a fan of Baroness since their sludgy beginnings and have really enjoyed following their progression to the album that I consider their peak, Yellow & Green. This album contains one of their best songs that hits me in all the feels, "March to the Sea". Lyrically, it is a bummer of a song, but musically, there is something anthemic about it that really makes this an uplifting song. For u/Teufelskraft and the gang, here's my Monday entry- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxNYP-OaPhE

Have a great day all!

Aug. 16, 2022 - Austere August 16- Raw Wisdom of the Hoggin Gems

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (16)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Duke Cannon Ice Cold AS balm

#GEMsofWisdom WTG/XTG/Buffing. Day 16 and this blade feels a little uncomfortable. Not tuggy or draggy, just not as smooth as past shaves. If this wasn't AA and if I wasn't trying to survive Nightmare Mode, today would be the day that I would typically pitch this blade. But, things as they are, we soldier on. We'll see if the arm stropping post shave had any effect.

#RawHoggin Can't complain about this little beast. it lost a couple of hairs yesterday but was fine today- https://imgur.com/a/ME3nbGk

#Sidetracked I'm not going to lie, I wish I had gotten tickets to one of the Rage Against the Machine Reunion shows. They sound awesome. I first saw Rage right after their first album came out at Bayfront Park in Miami. The main stage was all these electronic bands that were big back then. The back stage featured Rage Against the Machine and House of Pain, among other bands. Rage fucking killed it back then and my fandom was sealed. If you haven't seen any videos of the shows, here's the first show they did in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. u/Teufelskraft and gang, enjoy the show- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbFoKtnZI64&t=3335s

Have a great day all!

Aug. 17, 2022 - Austere August 17- Hoggin All The Raw Wisdom of the Gems

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (17)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom WTG/XTG/Buff it up. This blade felt a bit uncomfortable for the first couple of strokes and then it settled in and I got a better shave than I thought I was going to wind up with. Not too much feedback from the splash.

#RawHoggin The Mighty Steroid Fed 6-year-old of a brush keeps chugging along. This has broken in nicely.

#Sidetracked One of my favorite YouTube rabbit holes is Bill McClintock's channel. On this channel, you can see amazing mashup videos of classic metal songs overlaid on classic non-metal songs and some of the results are outstanding. My favorite is the vocal track from Slayer's "Black Magic" overlaid on the music of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy". It's amazing how the Slayer footage syncs up perfectly with the Prince song- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu5ZhAPcgQ . If you want to see something more messed up, how about Metallica's "Enter Sandman" over Huey Lewis and the News "Hip to be Square"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MRx4LpYbQ4 . This channel is just laden with pure gold. Regardless of how you feel about heavy metal, this channel is well worth your time because there is bound to be something for everyone. So u/Teufelskraft and the gang, enjoy your time down the rabbit hole.

Have a great day all!

Aug. 18, 2022 - Austere August 18- Welcome to the Pleasuredome

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (18)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom I've been flipping my blade every day since this all began thinking it would help extend blade life. Yesterday was a roughish shave and of course I flipped the blade and found today's shave to be very smooth and comfortable. It's possible one edge of my blade is wearing faster than the other so I'm not going to flip right now unless I have to. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

#RawHoggin Nothing to say today. This brush is great and looks pretty damn good- https://imgur.com/a/QgU5y56

#Sidetracked It's been gray and rainy and in the low 60s for the last 24 hours so, naturally, this would be the perfect day to pull out some doooooooooommmmm for u/Teufelskraft . But no. Days like this require upbeat music so I'm going with one of my absolute favorite guilty pleasure albums. Yes, Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Welcome To The Pleasuredome is what this day requires. If you've never listened to this full album, I highly recommend it. i also recommend listening to this album with headphones. Production-wise, this album rivals Pink Floyd's The Wall as far as the headphone experience goes. This album was way ahead of its time in that regard. Song-wise, it's an hour of pop gold. If you've never listened to this album, I recommend you try the first 15 minutes and see how it grabs you because it may not be what you expect and move from there. My work is done here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDtLsR89Z6c

Have a great day all!

Aug. 19, 2022 - Austere August 19- Hoggin All The Raw Wisdom of the GEMs

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (19)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Day 19 is proving my theory that there is a smooth side and rough side on this blade. I had another awesome shave with the smooth side this morning so I'm going to ride this as long as I can.

#RawHoggin Here's how the Semogue looked before its morning soak today- https://imgur.com/a/D2S0r2N

#Sidetracked I'm not a fan of Ozzy Osbourne and I was never a fan of Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne on the mic. But I have had a soft spot in my heart for Ronnie James Dio since I heard Holy Diver when I was 13 or so. As I got older and learned that Dio fronted two Black Sabbath albums, I knew I had to check those out. And lo and behold, I became a fan of the two Black Sabbath albums that featured Dio, Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules. Now these are two stellar albums with a frontman who can actually sing. It's too bad this iteration of the band could only keep it together for two albums, but then again those two albums did a fine job propelling Dio's solo career. So u/Teufelskraft and the gang on this Friday, I give you my favorite Dio-fronted Black Sabbath song that makes me crank the hifi to volume 11 every time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pXLQF7Tdkc

Have a great day all!

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August 20- Raw GEMs and Wise Hogs

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Who has two thumbs and is ready for Tabac Tuesday? This guy. Day 20 and the blade is going strong. Haven't taken a GEM blade beyond 20 shaves so into the unknown we go tomorrow.

#RawHoggin Brush is all good. Small but mighty in the face lather department.

#Sidetracked Undeath's It's Time...To Rise from the Grave is one of the best death metal albums of the year. It hits like a ton of bricks and is filled with sick riffs. So here's my bloody contribution to a Saturday, "Rise From The Grave" to piss off the neighbors- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23umtsJ3A7A

Off to teach an aerial yoga class. Have a great day all!

Aug. 21, 2022 - Austere August 21- Raw GEMs and Wise Hogs

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (21)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Today marks the farthest I've taken a GEM and it shaved just fine this morning. I made sure my lather was extra hydrated as well.

#RawHoggin The little bastard is still slinging soap around the bathroom as a I face lather.

#Sidetracked Time for another rock album that is a great album for those summertime drives with the windows down and the stereo cranking. Today, I give you Murcielago, a straight up rock band from Northern New England. There's some slight blues rock influences and stoner rock influences. The members are all veterans of both the local scene here and of the Boston hard rock scene. The production value on today's album, Casualties, is outstanding because these guys are pros. So u/Teufelskraft and the rest of the gang should get in your cars, drop the windows, open the sunroof and go for a long drive on a Sunday- https://murcielagorock.bandcamp.com/album/casualties

Have a great day all!

Aug. 22, 2022 - Austere August 22- Raw GEMs and Wise Hogs

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (22)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Day 22 and while the blade was a bit uncomfortable at times, all in all a good shave. Didn't palm strop after and didn't flip it. Onward we go to Day 23

#RawHoggin Yup...still good.

#Sidetracked I've been to hundreds of shows in my life. I've seen bands in shithole dive bars to arenas (and I prefer the dive bars to the arenas). But the one band I have seen the most in my life is Clutch. I first saw them here in my city in 1995 in a small club and was instantly hooked by them. I've since seen them a dozen times and try not to miss a touring cycle. They put on a killer live show, regardless of whether they are the headliner or opener (they more than held their own opening for Motorhead). I've spent many a sweaty a night up near the stage at a Clutch show with a stupid grin on my face as my musical soul is cleansed. Neil Fallon is a lyrical genius and the band are top-flight musicians. Clutch has gone through multiple evolutions of their sound while still remaining...Clutch. It's hard to pick one song from their catalog, but since I have to drive to New Hampshire this morning, I figured "Crucial Velocity" from the Earth Rocker album would be an appropriate track to kickstart this Monday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpziHgoEhgs So u/Teufelskraft and the gang, enjoy the ride and here's to an easy Monday.

Have a great day all!

Aug. 23, 2022 - Austere August 23- Dulling GEMs and Soft Hogs

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (23)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

SOTD Pic- https://imgur.com/a/tMixWzV

#GEMsofWisdom This edge of the blade is ok. It feels a wee bit rough, but I'm pretty damn near BBS 23 days in. And the splash didn't cause too much feedback. Fingers crossed this blade can hold on for 8 more shaves.

#RawHoggin Here's the little bugger post-shave today- https://imgur.com/a/dWgF2hW . Ain't he cute???

#Sidetracked Growing up in Miami, the only thing I knew about the J. Geils Band was the Freeze Frame album. "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame" were played to death on rock radio when I was in junior high. It wasn't until I was djing on a classic rock radio station after college here in Northern New England that I realized there was a whole awesome catalog of J. Geils albums. These guys were killing it in the classic blues rock game and Magic Dick's harmonica game was fucking strong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASF5CpqP6HY). Their albums were a giant party on vinyl and their live shows were legendary. Peter Wolf continues to tour on his own and the wife and I have seen him a bunch of times and he never disappoints. So u/Teufelskraft and the gang, this morning (or afternoon), we're just going to have a god damn party with J. Geils and this ditty- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip7wwUre4mc

Have a great day all!

Aug. 24, 2022 - Austere August- Scrapin' Paint Off the Bathroom Wall

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (24)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom I'm pretty sure my wife thought I was scraping paint off the bathroom wall this morning. The blade was loud and felt a bit more like a paint scraper than a lovely face shaver. Still, in the end, a shave between DFS and BBS with minimal AS feedback. Time to maybe flip this blade though

#RawHoggin Yup, still loading soap quickly and efficiently. Imgur is being a little fucker this morning so here's the SOTD pic- https://postimg.cc/gXXbYZZ2

#Sidetracked I'm a little tired from being at the Jack White show last night and it's foggy as all get out today. Today is the perfect day for a song that I am damn sure u/Teufelskraft and I can agree on, "Blackwater Park" from Opeth. It's heavy, it's epic and it's friggin' Opeth- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdWB7-uL3fE

Have a great day all!

Aug. 25, 2022 - Austere August 25- Are we there yet???

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (25)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom I flipped the blade and had a shockingly smooth shave at Day 25. Like really smooth. Who knew this was possible?

#RawHoggin I'm actually going to use this brush on September 1 and see how it performs bowl lathering because it has definitely shown me that this is worth adding into the rotation beyond AA/RawHoggin fun.

#Sidetracked It sometimes (is that an understatement?) feels like the world is going to hell in a handbasket. When those feeling set in, for some reason Fishbone's "Party at Ground Zero" always comes to mind. It's a classic that does a fine job of turning those frowns at the world doings upside down. You just want to friggin' dance when this song comes on. And who doesn't like a rippin' horn section? I sure as hell do. Fishbone were one of the best live bands and every show was a god damn party even when they were playing their political or socially conscious songs. This song was definitely one that could get a packed room dancing and smiling for sure- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwX0fkGf5rA So, u/Teufelskraft and the gang, enjoy today's party.

Have a great day all!

Aug. 26, 2022 - Austere August 26- No, Really, Are We There Yet?

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom After yesterday's smooth shave I was due for a bit of a letdown. Today, the blade felt a bit on the dull side without feeling tuggy. WTG/XTG was fine but it took some extra effort on the buffing finish to get this into DFS range. Whatever, it's Friday.

#RawHoggin Is there anything left to say about my brush at this point?

#Sidetracked The Viagra Boys (not to be confused with the Vengaboys) have put out some pretty interesting albums over the last several years. I haven't connected with all of them, but their new album Cave World has definitely grown on me since it's been out. However, "Ain't No Thief" from that album is absolutely a standout. They lyrics are hilariously well written. The song has a damn good beat. Yes, you can dance to it (if you want to, of course). This might be one of my top individual songs of the year because it's just awesome- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCYBYf62wns So to u/Teufelskraft and the gang enjoy the dance party.

Have a great day all!

Aug. 27, 2022 - Austere August 27- The Light Beckons

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (27)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom A blade flip and smoothish shave with little feedback from the splash. Hallelujah. I've grown to hate this soap, however, and will be ready to toss it on September 1.

#RawHoggin The steroid-fed 6-year-old of a brush is cruising right along. I love the fact that this brush has only shed a couple of hairs since Day 1.

#Sidetracked I'm offering up my early contender for heavy album of 2022 today, Kardashev's Liminal Rite. I have not been a fan of this band's past offerings. Their albums just never moved me, but then Liminal Rite came out and it floored me immediately. First, the production is stellar. Second, the songs feel epic but aren't necessarily of epic length. Third, this album has the perfect mix of clean vocal parts mixed in amongst the heavy, growly parts. This album has been a regular part of my listening rotation since it was released in June and I don't see it dropping out of rotation soon. So to u/Teufelskraft and the gang, here's my addition to your Saturday listening- https://kardashev.bandcamp.com/album/liminal-rite?from=search&search_item_id=3390114938&search_item_type=a&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2149062308&search_page_no=0&search_rank=1&logged_in_menubar=true

Off to teach an aerial yoga class. Have a great day all!

Aug. 28, 2022 - Austere Augst 28- Three More Days!

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (28)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMSofWisdom Day 28 and I am still shocked to be getting smooth shaves from this blade. All told, I think 26 of the 28 shaves thus far have been good to damn good. 3 more to go.

#RawHoggin I have to jump a flight Wednesday afternoon and I have decided to make this little monster my travel brush because this little bastard is awesome.

#Sidetracked I went to see Interpol last night at an outdoor venue here in town (https://imgur.com/a/YiVT0zm). It was fantastic and I've always been impressed with how their music translates in the live setting. I've been a fan of them since their first album, Turn on the Bright Lights, which just hit me in all the feels 20 years ago. For me, there catalog doesn't have a bad album. The albums are either good or f'n great in my mind and this year's release, The Other Side of Make-Believe, falls in the great category. So many song options from this band to choose from for this morning, but I think I'll go with "Pace is the Trick" from Our Love to Admire (absolutely fucking great Interpol album)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2fM0cVYRJA . So u/Teufelskraft and the gang, enjoy the tuneage today.

Onto Sunday, more coffee and yard work. Have a great day all!

Aug. 29, 2022 - Austere August 29- The GEMs are Raw and The Hogs are Wise

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (29)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Day 29 and the blade was a wee bit tuggy on the first WTG pass. For the second pass XTG, I made sure to add more hydration to the lather and everything seemed to flow fine. Almost no feedback from the splash so that's a win.

#RawHoggin Yadda Yadda Yadda...great brush...yadda yadda yadda

#Sidetracked On the third to last day of AA, I figured I'd go with the second band to change my musical life. The first band was The Cult. The second band to change my musical life was Jane's Addiction. I remember listening to WVUM, the University of Miami radio station, one night during my senior year and they played "Mountain Song" from the then newly released album Nothing's Shocking. My jaw hit the floor. I had never heard anything like...that!...before. The DJ fortunately backsold the song a bit later and the next day, it was off to Spec's Records and Tapes to add it to my collection. Damn I played the shit out of that record and knew every song by heart. I was in college and doing college radio when Ritual de lo Habitual came out so I got a promo copy delivered to me and spent days being blown away by that record as well. Of course, one of the standout tracks from Ritual is none other than "Three Days" which I think would be quite fitting as we enjoy our third to last shaves of AA- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmvG2GZ3S7o So u/Teufelskraft and the rest of you, enjoy the Monday tuneage.

Have a great day all!

Aug. 30, 2022 - Austere August 30- I Think I Can, I Think I Can

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (30)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom This blade clearly has one more shave in it. It hasn't gone over the cliff to awfulness but it really wants to start it's next life in the Peanut Can Retirement Home for Dead Blades.

#RawHoggin I've got nothing to add about this brush.

#Sidetracked I think I opened AA with my all-time favorite album, Prone Mortal Form, from Only Living Witness that features one of my all-time favorite vocalists, Jonah Jenkins. Well, Jonah has done a shit ton of projects post-OLW including Miltown, Milligram, Raw Radar War and, more recently, The Northern Skulls (all of which can be found on Bandcamp). The Northern Skulls gets today's vote because you just need this tremendous vocal talent in the rock/metal world singing some hooky as fuck rock/metal songs. The Northern Skulls EP has some serious earworms and if you like the earworms, buy the EP and get a few more included. So u/Teufelskraft and the gang, here's my musical contribution to the penultimate day of AA- https://thenorthernskulls.bandcamp.com/releases

Have a great day all!

Aug. 31, 2022 - Austere August 31- Hallefreakinglujah

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (31)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Holy shit...it's finally done and over with. The last shave of AA has been accomplished. In honor of this blade going 31 mostly good days, I did a three pass shave (which is a rarity for me) and once it was done, I gently removed the blade and placed it lovingly into the Peanut Can Retirement Home for Dead Blades. Things I have learned this month- 1) I will never say that I hate open comb razors again. There is at least one open comb razor that I really, really like. 2) It has been an interesting experience to take a blade to 31 shaves. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I have had good to fantastic shaves. But it could also be the luck of the draw blade-wise. 3) The Ring of Death has appeared in this tub of Firefighter. I'm not sad about this. 31 days of using this soap and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to use this soap again. If someone wants to provide a retirement home for this tub, let's talk since there's at least another 31 shaves in this tub.

#RawHoggin This brush might be the tiniest of my den but damn it is a workhorse. It's got plenty of backbone. it's got splay-ability. It paints well. This thing is a damn champ and I will absolutely only break in future brushes by using them straightaway. However, face lathering sucks. The End. I can't wait to have my bowl back.

#Sidetracked Damn, I'm almost at a loss for words as to how to describe my end of AA feelings- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DrjwpI7PPc - I could almost cry tears of joy- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3iVEb8ujQk - but that might be a little weird. Jumping for joy might be a little strange as well- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhzpxjuwZy0 . I feel like there's an epic musical ending to this month, but honestly, all that I'm left with is this gem from the one, the only...Barry Manilow- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47GV5xFkTg . So u/Teufelskraft thanks for adding this 'challenge' to AA. Thanks to everyone that chose to add their musical inspirations.

On to September 1 and completely different shaves! Have a great day all!