Fried Chicken & Hot Water Cornbread at Shirley Mae’s Café

Posted on July 13, 2017 by theurbanllama

I’ve been trying to visit Shirley Mae’s Café for a while now. The fried chicken from this legendary soul food purveyor is routinely ranked as one of the top in the nation. But I’m mostly over in Louisville for work, and since Shirley Mae’s is only open Thursday-Sunday, our schedules have never quite jived for me to sample the comfort cooking from this notable establishment.

Finally I made a commitment to venture over for a Friday lunch. Located in Louisville’s historic Smoketown neighborhood, Shirley Mae’s can be found inside a clay-brick building that dates to 1880 on the corner of S. Clay & Lampton Streets.

Nestled in the heart of the oldest African-American community in Louisville, this former residence housed a grocery store beginning in 1910, before it became the J & H Food Bar in 1946. This remained one of the premier bars for minorities in Louisville, attracting celebrities and sports figures like Redd Foxx, Della Reese, Quincy Jones, Cassius Clay and Joe Louis, until its conversion to Shirley Mae’s Café in 1988.

The smell of pork ribs on the sidewalk grill may be the first thing to grab your attention. It’s fired up rain or shine to slow-cook slabs over a hickory soaked flame.

Inside is more functional than fancy. This is a down home kind of place, and has that lived in look with its mismatched tables, chairs, and booths. Cookbooks and magazines sit behind the bar, with framed photographs of famous guests like Morgan Freeman and Whoopi Goldberg hanging above, while University of Louisville memorabilia is tucked about throughout.

Shirley Mae Beard in her cafe’s kitchen doing her thang.

It’s no museum but does reflect the passage of time and has a history to it. It has a soul. Don’t worry about pretense, none is required. This simply is the genuine article. Shirley Mae Beard, along with Chef Theresa, her daughter, prep and craft every menu item fresh from scratch each day their doors are open.

“I don’t like anything artificial. The way I cook takes some time, but cooking is a waste of time if you don’t do it right,” said Shirley Mae.

My buddy Thomas and I took seats at the time-worn bar. I was afraid we might be limited to sweet tea and soft drinks, but no ma’am. Continuing its roots as a bar, Shirley Mae’s is full service. Domestic beers are $2 and imports are $3, including Bourbon Barrel Stout, a local favorite.

There’s wine and wine coolers. Take your pick of liquor for mixed drinks: lower shelf is $5 and premium is $7.  I love that Shirley Mae’s offers Kool-Aid, grape or cherry, which is perfect to mix with the available Moonshine.

I went with a chilled Colt 45, channeling the Billy Dee Williams/Lando Calrissian flavor, as I looked over the menu.

These are true Southern classics: Fried Chicken Wings; Fried Fish; Meatloaf; Smothered Pork Chops; Ham Hock; Pig Foot (or Trotters); Barbecued Spare Ribs; and Shirley Mae’s one of a kind Chitterlings.

Only available on Sunday is the Chick’n & Dress’n Special (Baked Chick’n and Cornbread Dress’n for $13). There’s also a “Blue Sunday” Happy Hour, 8PM-11PM.

What you seriously don’t want to miss out on is the Hot Water Cornbread. That stuff is dope! The best move is to embrace the Lunch Special – choose a meat, two sides, and two pieces of Hot Water Cornbread for $10. It’s available ’til 3:30.

I ordered the giant Fried Chicken Wings (comes with four full wings), Fresh Turnip Greens (pork), and Real Potato Salad. It was all sick good. The wings were seasoned, moist, and pan-fried to a golden crispy perfection; the greens were cooked down with just the right tartness to be offset by the pork juices; and the potato salad was creamy and robust (which isn’t easy to find in these parts). I was so pleased I ordered another round of the wings and Hot Water Cornbread to-go.

Drop by this quaint restaurant on South Clay Street and sample any of Ms. Beard’s heavenly creations. Do save room for her jaw dropping blackberry cobbler, and share a conversation with the warm folks who put in the time and work to make Shirley Mae’s Café a living piece of history.

SHIRLEY MAE’S CAFÉ | 802 S. Clay Street | Louisville, KY | 502.589.5295

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 11AM – 9PM; Sunday 11AM – 11PM | CASH ONLY

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A Creole Casserole to Tame the July 4 Masses

Posted on July 11, 2017 by theurbanllama

I trust everyone had a pleasant July 4. It was a bit of an odd duck, being it fell on a Tuesday. It just felt bizarro going from the weekend, to working Monday, to off Tuesday, and then back at it come Wednesday. Weather was an issue in Central Kentucky. It was overcast and rained through the morning before giving way to clearing skies in the early evening.

My crew headed to a family gathering in Simpsonville. About 20 of us drove over from Frankfort and Louisville for a pool party of sorts and barbecue. What you had to keep in mind is that it could storm the whole time and the outside patio and pool would not be available to spread out the herd. That’s a lot of folks, a lot of kids, and a bunch of cats & dogs all cooped up indoors for the day.

My thinking was this situation called for a stronger beverage than beer or wine. An alcohol infused punch could work, something sweet and fuzzy – with as much liquor as the mixers could hide.

Being I reside in Kentucky, I find it best to stick to bourbon-based beverages whenever possible. Maker’s Mark, out of Loretto, KY, has a sunset cocktail that will knock your socks off.

Take a tall glass and fill with ice. If it’s slightly crushed or comes in small pieces that’s even better.

Pour 2 ounces of Maker’s Mark Kentucky bourbon over the ice.

Take plain orange juice, no extra calcium or pulp, preferably Tropicana or Minute Maid, and add 4 ounces juice to the glass.

Top with an ounce or two of club soda. Canada Dry or Schweppes is preferred.

Finish it with a couple dashes of Angostura Bitters. If you don’t make Old Fashioned or Manhattan cocktails, bitters might not be in your everyday arsenal. They are easy to get, any Kroger or similar supermarket stocks this item for like $7.

Pour assembled ingredients into a cocktail shaker and deliver it back to its original glass.

There you have a Maker’s Sunset. But wait, this was the Fourth of July. Shouldn’t there be some rockets red glare? I tasted my concoction and thought on this day it could use a little something extra, so I added a capful of Rose’s red grenadine.

Now my glass was all kinds of festive with its orange and red colors. To make a potent pitcher of this calming elixir dispense 10 ounces of Maker’s Mark; 20 ounces of orange juice; 10 ounces of soda; a good 10 or so dashes of bitters; and 1-2 ounces of Rose’s Grenadine Syrup (red).

This sufficed in getting my patriotic juices flowing. Next was to do some cooking. We were grilling dogs and brats with the usual side dishes, so I wanted something heavy as a co-main course.

I pulled the base for this Crawfish Creole Casserole recipe off the back of a Boudreaux’s Crawfish Tail Meat package. Walmart sells 12 ounce frozen packages for $7.98. I thought it made a solid base to cook from, that sounded tasty and required a bit less chopping and prep work.

I needed to do some shopping beforehand:

12 Ounces Crawfish Tail Meat (thawed); 1 1/2 Cups Instant Rice (uncooked); 1 Sweet Onion (chopped); 1/2 Green Pepper (chopped); One 10.5 Ounce Can Tomato Soup; One 8 Ounce Can Tomatoes (diced); 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil; 1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce; 1 Tsp Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

Combine all ingredients and place in a casserole dish. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. Serves four.

Wham-Bam that was the recipe. I understood the gist but was unclear how some of this would turn out yet…

First, I got the crawfish tails from Walmart. I grabbed Uncle Ben’s rice. I prefer a Vidalia onion when available, which July is a great time to find them at the grocery. Use a sweet onion otherwise. One green pepper. One standard can of Campbell’s condensed soup. Have olive oil if possible instead of vegetable oil. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. I like using Frank’s Red Hot Original sauce to add heat to this kind of dish, but Tabasco, Crystal, Louisiana or Texas Pete will get the job done. Lastly I snagged a 14.5 ounce can of Hunt’s Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes.

Part of what I love about Creole and Cajun cooking, aside from the deliciousness, is the latitude within the recipes to tweak measurements and personalize a dish to individual preferences, or accommodate, say a 14.5 ounce can of tomatoes instead of 8 ounces.

The more flavor that can be added the better, because it will need to stand up against all the rice and be able to project satisfaction into each mouthful. With this idea in mind I made a few other modifications that I think took this dish to the next level.

We have two legs of the Holy Trinity already included, onions and green peppers, might as well add 2 stalks of fresh celery (chopped).

What goes great with crawfish? Sausage! Find 1 pound of Cajun sausage. I used Conecuh. They do a Cajun and a smoked sausage, either will work. PicPac in S. Frankfort stocks this brand. Andouille sausage from behind Kroger’s meat counter would be a solid alternative. Johnsonville and Aidells do a Cajun-style andouille that is acceptable and can be found near the hot dogs in Kroger.

You will need 3 Tbls of a good Creole Seasoning, something not too salty. I make my own with the following: 5 Tbls Smoked Paprika; 1 Tbls Ground Black Pepper; 1 Tbls White Pepper; 1 Tbls Cayenne Pepper; 1 Tbls Dried Thyme; 2 Tbls Garlic Powder; 1 Tbls Dried Oregano; 1 Tsp Salt; 1 Tsp Chile Powder; and 1 Tsp Onion Powder.

Butter makes everything better, so let’s drop in half a stick; 2 1/2 Cups Chicken Basics Chicken Stock; and 2-3 Tbls Holland House Cooking Sherry.

My questions as I pulled this together were whether there would be sufficient liquid to bring the instant rice to life? Do I add the condensed soup straight out of the can or turn it into soup first by mixing in water?

I found out after this was in the oven that there was NOT enough liquid involved to make this all go. I triaged that by adding stock to the pan after it was assembled in the oven. By cranking up the temp and cooking it longer I managed to produce a finished product that was outstanding, but there was anxiety for a moment when the rice and vegetables were a tad crunchy to serve.

From here on out I will give the steps necessary to make this dish successfully.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. You are going to need a large mixing bowl to combine the ingredients together and a big baking pan, like a lasagne dish or Dutch oven to fold the casserole into from the bowl.

Several folks helped chop vegetables, as I was making a double batch of this casserole to feed my crew. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil to a cast iron skillet or other large, deep sided pan, and half a stick of butter; get that melted and hot; slice and quarter the sausage, then sautée in a skillet till browned (this will expose all the juices from the meat); spoon out the cooked sausage with a slotted spoon, leaving in the skillet the oil, butter & debris (those charred bits of critter are intense flavor crystals).

Place the chopped onions, green peppers and celery into the skillet with a 1/4 cup of chicken stock; let that simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the vegetables begin to soften and the liquid mostly evaporates; dump sausage back in skillet with vegetables, stirring together and simmer for a couple minutes, then remove from heat.

Open the crawfish and thoroughly rinse the tail meat in a colander (can’t emphasize this enough). Get all the packing liquid gone and rinse the tails extensively to be sure they are free of debris.

Now combine everything. In a large bowl, put 1 tbls of olive oil in the bowl so that it lightly covers the bottom; measure out the rice and line the bottom of the bowl with it; crack open the soup and pour over the rice (do not add water); drain the tomatoes and spoon into the bowl; dump the 12 ounces of thawed and rinsed crawfish tails on top; take your skillet and with a mixing spoon or soft spatula, fold the sautéed sausage, onions, green peppers, and celery, along with all the juices, into the bowl; sprinkle 3 tbls of Creole seasoning evenly over the mixture; next 1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce; and the desired amount of Frank’s Red Hot sauce, I use 2-3 tbls.

Mix this all together in the bowl so the rice is integrated with all the other ingredients; spoon into a baking pan; measure 1 3/4 cups of chicken stock and stir into the ingredients in the baking dish; cover with aluminum foil and place into the oven.

Bake at least 35 mins; make sure the liquid is boiling, turn the heat up if it’s not; add the Sherry after 10 minutes and give a quick stir; at 20 minutes give it another stir; if the rice still seems dry, it will not hurt to add additional chicken stock in 1/4 cup increments; extend the cooking time to allow any additional liquid added to be absorbed.

That’s it. Congratulations you have cooked up one rich and flavorful Crawfish & Andouille Sausage Creole Casserole. It goes wonderfully with beer, sweet tea, or a crisp chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Bon Appetit!

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Atlanta’s Vortex Satisfies Hungriest Appetite 

Posted on July 7, 2017 by theurbanllama

The morning after the Radiohead concert was a slow-moving affair. Before my feet hit the floor I did a systems check; no headache, cognitive thought was functioning, and my parts & pieces were intact. I must be living right.

Sunday was a travel day. Atlanta had been beyond a gracious host, but time to shake the cobwebs, gather our debris, catch a shower, and get mobile before missing the late checkout deadline.

When you gotta get moving after an ambitious night out, I find the best way to guard against fatigue and a delayed onset hangover is to indulge in breakfast cocktails. It’s important to get your hops levels re-elevated and evened out.

While it’s sad to be departing Atlanta, travel days do have their positives when executed properly. My idea was to saddle up and rampage through a few notable establishments for a parting fix of Atlanta love.

Maia and I needed a plan, and in order to make that plan it would require a Bloody Mary.

My thought was to seek out inspiration at The Highlander. Open since 1992, it had a solid rep as a rock-n-roll dive bar, and seemed a sympathetic location to get our bearings straight as Radiohead’s music still rang from our ears.

Oddly, we found this devilish location tucked away quietly in a rather unremarkable Midtown strip-mall. Cheerful flower boxes hung welcomingly from the railings outlining the front patio, contrasting the black glassed front door and windows covered in a vast array of counterculture stickers. Inside the walls were hung with goth portraits, emblazoned skate boards, shadow box deities and one prominent psychedelic rendering of Edgar Allen Poe. Much, if not all of it, was for sale.

Our gaunt waitress was pale in complexion, with long straight jet black hair and lots of tattoos. She could tell what we were up to the night before and asked curiously about the Radiohead show. Having seen them previously, she was into discussing details about the set.

We took in the menu. The Highlander is known to have a solid kitchen that serves out of the ordinary comfort food, like Jamaican jerk chili, jalapeño corn fritters and oxtail soup. We easily could have dined here but I was looking for something else.

As I began searching through scraps of paper where I had written down local restaurants to possibly try, out came a tall and in-charge Absolute Bloody Mary, full of olives, peppers and celery. It was a vegetarian meal with a buzz.

With my vital signs starting to stabilize, I began serious strategizing of where to go next. Atlanta has world-renowned traffic and we didn’t want to go venturing across the city only to be sitting in our car. God bless the Google that provided destination distances and restaurant reviews.

We were in Atlanta, so serious barbecue was a legit option. A mere 12 minutes down the road from The Highlander was Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q. Texas twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened their Atlanta restaurant in 2007, after hosting backyard barbecues that grew to crowds of more than 250 guests. Here they smoke their hearty Lone Star-style barbecue over hickory daily.

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q is regarded as a national and international destination for barbecue lovers. It’s a big dog in the Atlanta region. These boys move 10,000 pounds of pork and brisket each week.

We arrived on this Sunday to find an expansive parking lot overflowing. Fox Bros. is a melting pot of different folks crossing paths in mutual love for the consumption of smoked pig and cow. It was brimming with energy, as all knew this would be a taste treat.

That being said we opted not to stick around. Sounds crazy I know, but parking was a pain and there was a wait for seating. In our slightly damaged condition we were not feeling the hassle or the crowd.

Don’t get me wrong, I did visit the carry-out window to secure a double order of the fatty cut brisket.  I may be particular but I’m not getting this close to a joint with a reputation like Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and not give it a try. That would be crazy. The smoke infusion was super yummy, and the fatty brisket was beyond decadent.

Back to the Google I went, but this time I needed a sure winner. We had a six-hour drive to get started soon.

I credit our waitress, Christine, from Friday night at Noble Fin with helping to make this selection. She suggested visiting the Little 5 Points neighborhood to get a dose of local weirdness. I took notice of a Midtown cheeseburger joint, The Vortex, that happened to have a Little 5 Points’ outpost not five minutes down the road from Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q.

The different atmosphere of Little 5 Points (L5P) was immediate. It had a funky lo-fi feel, very hippy & trippy. As I heard it described, your five senses will be stimulated by the texture of L5P. Murals cover many building walls and windows, giving the neighborhood a vibrant landscape. Don’t look for chain stores here, they’ve been provided limited access to preserve the community’s character.

I fully appreciated that the marijuana dispensary in L5P shared a storefront with an Atlanta Police substation.

The Vortex is a well-known hangout spot, and impossible to miss – just look for the 20-foot giant laughing skull. It is an Atlanta landmark.

Inside is full of strangeness, up the walls and across the ceiling. The original Vortex bar was opened in 1992 in a cramped Midtown location by the three Benoit siblings, followed by the L5P location four years later. What started as a bar that wanted to feed their friends quality cheeseburgers has turned into a reliable establishment that is a frequent winner of “Best Cheeseburger” in Atlanta.

The Vortex is first and foremost a full on bar and only serves those 21 and over. Vortex also enforces an “Official Idiot-Free Zone.” The owners are big on wanting to maintain a fun place to drink and work. They do not tolerate poor behavior from rude or demanding customers. Clearly they have a sense of humor, but violators do get tossed. Check the House Rules or “Idiot Barometer” if you have questions.

They don’t play around with their booze selection. Hundreds of beers are on the menu, along with a substantial selection of bourbon, whiskey, and Atlanta’s largest offering of single-malt scotch. Atlanta magazine was impressed enough to give The Vortex its “Best Overall Liquor Selection in Atlanta” award.

I went with a Maker’s Mark & Coke to get things started. It was a little Kentucky to go with the soft drink of choice when in The Real Thing’s hometown. Picking up the oversized menu it was quickly apparent everything The Vortex offered was substantial and aimed to please. It’s comfort food on steroids.

The soft drinks come in “big-ass 32-ounce tumblers,” why, “because this is motherfuckin’ America,” or so the menu says. The sandwiches come king sized and are unique concoctions.

Take the trademarked Hot Southern Mess: A fried chicken breast topped with a fried egg, all covered with white sausage gravy, and served on Texas Toast. “It’s so damn good you’ll wanna slap yo’ mama.”

Priced at a reasonable $10.95, my immediate thought was this sandwich could lead to a coronary, but just wait, the owners have that concept cornered.

I was no joke hungry, and informed my server I wanted a bacon double cheeseburger. He paused, giving me a once over, and then asked, “you sure about that?”

The burgers at The Vortex come in big, juicy half-pound patties of premium ground sirloin. I did not need a pound of meat, and revised my order down to The Plain ‘Ol Original Vortex Burger, for $8.25, adding bacon & cheddar cheese.

Now about that coronary. Past the Signature Burgers, Non-Beef Options, and Old School Diner Burgers on the menu come the Coronary Bypass Burgers. I don’t know what consumes these monstrosities but it must be large and have the stomach of a goat.

Take the entry-level (single) Coronary Bypass Burger. Instead of hamburger buns, two grilled bacon cheese sandwiches anchor the top and bottom ends of this beast. Included are four slices of white bread, a 8-oz. ground sirloin patty, 10 slices of American cheese, one fried egg, nine strips of bacon, with 4 ounces of mayo. This is served with 10 ounces of spuds topped with 6 ounces of Cheesy-Cheese Goo, sprinkled with bacon bits. Estimated calories (w/side): 3,707, for $19.95.

There are double, triple and Quadruple Coronary Bypass Burger offerings, with the latter topping out at 9,606 calories, and costing a weighty $79.95, which is nothing compared to the medical bills this behemoth must visit upon its victims.

Meanwhile my measly half-pound bacon cheeseburger arrived cooked to a medium rare perfection, all pink and bloody. It was a hefty sandwich, dense and substantial in my hands, like true ground steak should feel. The succulent texture was rich and exploded with the flavor of beef seared over an open flame.

One bite and I became a Vortex believer. Sure this place has lots of attitude and swagger, but it can back it up with its bar service, knowledgable staff, and what I regard as arguably the best bacon cheeseburger I’ve had the pleasure of sampling.

The next time you’re in Atlanta, make a pit stop at the giant skull in Midtown or L5P. The Vortex is still family owned, and still fiercely independent. Be sure to bring an appetite and do remember to play nicely with others.

THE VORTEX | 438 Moreland Avenue NE | Atlanta, GA | 404.688.1828

FOX BROS. BAR-B-Q | 1238 DeKalb Ave NE | Atlanta, GA | 404.577.4030

THE HIGHLANDER | 931 Monroe Drive | Atlanta, GA | 404.872.0060

 

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Car Seat Headrest Makes Stop at Louisville’s Headliners

Posted on June 12, 2017 by theurbanllama

Right off the top, for anyone who is a fan of alt-music, modern rock or indie rock styles, go out and buy Car Seat Headrest’s 2016 release, Teens Of Denial. It is one of those rarities these days where the entire disc is solid front-to-back. It’s probing, self-aware, smart and introspective about ‘coming of age’ incidents that shape how young adults evolve and the moments that leave scars. It ended up landing at No. 4 on Rolling Stone’s list of best albums from last year.

CAR SEAT HEADREST – DRUNK DRIVERS/KILLER WHALES

I don’t know a lot about this band except like many this generation, there is one guy actually behind it, in this case that individual is 25-year old Will Toledo. Car Seat Headrest got its name from Toledo’s DIY ethic of recording his early vocals after driving around to different spots in his hometown of Leesburg, VA, and climbing into the backseat with his computer for privacy. Toledo’s band already has 12 albums to its credit through the online music platform Bandcamp, giving Toledo and his band a decided Internet following.

Once signed to Matador Records in 2015, Car Seat Headrest began touring with a conventional band behind it, pushing songs that would end up appearing on Teens Of Denial. My introduction was through the song Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales. It gives an honest take on the quandary many teens and twenty-somethings face after ingesting sufficient drugs or alcohol to impair their abilities and are presented with the prospect of driving home in a state of “intoxicado.”

The vocals jumped out at me first. He sounds older, and that definitely speaks to Toledo’s old soul emerging outward through his creative songwriting. It has a tinge of Beck to it. This led me to check out the other tunes from this disc. They are uniquely crafted and musically arranged in a compelling fashion. The jingly guitar melodies and light choruses are reminiscent of the Beach Boys, but a decided anger lurks beneath that bursts through.

Definitely check out (Joe Gets Kicked Out Of School For Using) Drugs With Friends(But Says This Isn’t A Problem). Monster Tune!

I was super psyched to see these guys scheduled at Headliners Music Hall. This band was still on its way up, hungry, and ready to turn folks on to their vibe. The show was packed with younger folks and a few in-the-know older dudes such as myself. A great energy had filled the room fueled by copious consumption of drinks and such as the band hit the stage.

This was not a long show, 10 songs total, around about an hour, but full of fun.

CAR SEAT HEADREST SET LIST | Headliners | Louisville, KY | 06.08.17

This Virginia kid now resides in Seattle, and cut the look of a metropolitan intellectual in his black turtleneck, thick black glasses and slicked jet black pompadour. The show started off melodic with Unforgiving Girl (She’s Not An), and then jumped into full gear with Fill In The Blank, the lead song off Teens Of Denial.

The band hit all its current lo-fi pop hits, including Drunk Drivers and Drugs With Friends. It got jumpy and lightly combative near the stage throughout, exactly what one needs from an angsty crowd of Millennials.

CAR SEAT HEADREST – 1937 STATE PARK

This was the perfect show to serve as my first visit to Headliners and it will not be my last. Great venue! I highly recommend checking out Car Seat Headrest live or via recording. Hopefully new-found fame and success shall provide Will Toledo with plenty of writing fodder to explore his fascinating transformative experiences.

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Radiohead Rock Atlanta

Posted on June 4, 2017 by theurbanllama

Finally it was Radiohead Day. We arrived in Atlanta Friday night – dined impeccably at Noble Fin that evening, and Saturday at the Atlanta Breakfast Club, taken in whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium, but those were merely fringe benefits of making this 400-mile journey south. We were here to see Radiohead play a sold out concert at Philips Arena Saturday evening.

I was psyched by the new disc, A Moon Shaped Pool. It was more direct and up than the previous King of Limbs, and less ambient. This new tour opened in America, but only 11 shows would be played in the states, with the predominance of the dates overseas. Atlanta was my closest opportunity.

I last saw Radiohead in 2012 at Riverbend in Cincinnati on the King of Limbs tour. These boys don’t get out often, and the last few times I’ve seen them it has been outdoors. This would be a stand-alone show under a roof, allowing all the energy to stay contained.

Tickets for Atlanta went on sale Inauguration Day in January. I was off work, home watching the awfulness in Washington, DC unfold and monitoring Ticketmaster. I felt obligated to salvage a sense of civility by scoring tickets, in the midst of the despair witnessed by Trump ascending to the White House. This was no easy feat, as Philips Arena sold out instantly. I quickly turned to the brisk secondary market on Stub Hub, and was able to secure respectable lower bowl seats at a premium.

Radiohead is not a new band but they set themselves apart from others in that they remain in a calculated state of flux. Like their music, the band itself is divergent. Members are constantly shifting and shaping with the times, using technology and skill to develop a different sound and invent a new dynamic.

Most bands are one trick ponies. They are what they are, and they play the same sound till the creativity is gone and greatest hits shows are all that’s left. Whereas Radiohead creates its own energy force through reinvention, keeping the sound fresh and the interests of the musicians thriving.

Formed in 1985, casual observers know Radiohead for Creep, their 1992 debut single, and its inclusion on the subsequent first disc, Pablo Honey (1993). Creep became one of the definitive anthems of the fledgling 1990s alternative rock movement. Their reputation solidified with The Bends, its impressive sophomore release that saw the band pull away from grunge, and produce the epic, Fake Plastic Trees. But it was the third release, OK Computer, from 1997, that established Radiohead as international rock stars.

It’s easy to say Radiohead is the current generation’s Pink Floyd. They are different animals, but the social commentary is present in both, along with the trippedelic aspects. When a band like either of these hits the road I treat it like a happening. It’s a celebration to get the opportunity to be in a room with these boys. Watching them work these massive layered tunes up live is breathtaking. As a fan of psychedelic music, anytime I can venture through the mind’s eye of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards) and witness the brilliance of their audio & visual effects play out, I’m there with bells on.

Trust my buzz was fully engaged. It was an all-day affair, pre-gaming since waking with breakfast drinks. Things were going to get psychedelic, so I chose to sport a necklace of blue LED light-up dolphins. I arbitrarily purchased them that afternoon at the Georgia Aquarium. You never know when you might need light in a dark space, said anyone who has walked the moors at night.

Philips Arena is situated across from the Georgia Dome and is home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. It is sleek, modern and full of flavor. Maia and I walked around for a minute seeking Kentucky bourbon to mix with that fabulous Atlanta soda pop, Coca-Cola. None could be found. Only Crown Royal. Finally Maker’s Mark was spotted and two double Maker’s & Coke’s were ours at $20 a pop.

If the stage was at 12 o’clock, our seats were at 5 o’clock, perfect to take in all the visuals and stage antics. Yorke welcomed fans with Daydreaming off the new disc. The band played it straight with a solitary light on them for half the song before a sea of white pinspot rays pierced the darkness like a disco ball.

Three straight songs led off from the new disc before a jump to light speed came with Airbag from OK Computer, followed by the single My Iron Lung from The Bends. Joining Airbag was Paranoid Android, Subterranean Homesick Alien, and Karma Police – all massive tunes from OK Computer, which is being celebrated on this tour to mark its 20th anniversary.

Other highlights included: Street Spirit (Fade Out); Idioteque; the tour debut of House of Cards from In Rainbows, marking the first playing of it since 2012; Burn the Witch; and You and Whose Army. Atlanta made for the perfect backdrop to such a monster rock-n-roll show, and the knowledgeable crowd, many traveling from Nashville and Birmingham, responded with tremendous energy throughout.

RADIOHEAD SETLIST | ATLANTA | 04.01.17

Yorke’s spastic dance moves were unveiled 12 songs into the set with Myxomatosis (Judge, Jury & Executioner) off Hail to the Thief. Seemingly overtaken by trance, Yorke’s body began to gyrate and undulate in vertical waves moving him back and forth across the stage, as he punched holes in the air.

RADIOHEAD | YOU AND WHOSE ARMY | ATLANTA | 04.01.17

This English alternative rock band formed in 1985 while attending school together in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Twenty five years and nine albums later Yorke, Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Ed O’Brien (guitars, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums, percussion, backing vocals) continue to impress.

Radiohead, like the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd are different every time out of the box. They teach listeners the value of patience. Hold on tight, the journey to the crescendos will be winding, but some of the best stuff happens in these in-between moments.

Radiohead put its mellifluous brilliance on full display in Atlanta. It’s hallmark of ethereal diffusion was perfected with the band’s innovative musicianship, curated special effects, and simmering intensity throughout a 25 song set and three encores.

RADIOHEAD | KARMA POLICE | ATLANTA | 04.01.17

Outside a confluence of enthusiasm hit the Atlanta streets. My blue dolphin lights were blazing away, and had a Pied Piper effect as followers joined us marching to Centennial Olympic Park. Passing the CNN studios how could I not climb on the iconic red letters out front. I was informed the police frown on such behavior so we made it quick.

A block down, glowing like a beacon in the night was Skyview Atlanta. This was another take on the giant urban Farris Wheel. It was a big sucker, with crazy lighting. All the trippers spilled from Philips Arena to this spot in search of thrills. It just happened to also be prom night. Tux-clad seniors escorted their taffeta-challenged dates into enclosed viewing pods with wide-eyed Radiohead attendees. Bet those were some fun conversations.

Maia and I continued to walk deeper into the peace of Olympic Park. The lights diminished and sounds faded. Only water sliding over rocks accompanied us. Yet Radiohead lifted my spirit into the clear Atlanta night, reminding me that we would all be Okay.

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Franz Ferdinand Bring Modern Rock to Mercury Ballroom

Posted on June 2, 2017 by theurbanllama

The Scottish art-punk rock band Franz Ferdinand stopped by the Mercury Ballroom in Louisville on its first tour in three years Tuesday evening. The Grammy-nominated and Brit Award-winning band were met by a packed house of enthusiastic fans who showed up early to catch Atlanta-based indie-rockers Omni who opened the show.

Franz Ferdinand is a band that had been on my list of must see acts since its debut release in 2004. They combine elements of European electronic dance music, pumping disco beats and look-sharp guitar tracks, propelling each song with a fevered pace.

Named for the Austro-Hungarian Archduke whose murder sparked World War I – Franz Ferdinand features: Alex Kapranos (lead singer/guitarist), Bob Hardy (bassist), and Paul Thomson (drummer). Their original guitarist and keyboardist, Nick McCarthy, departed the band in 2016. Filling in for him in 2017 are Dino Bardot (guitarist) and Julian Corrie (keyboards).

Franz Ferdinand was successful straight from their first disc. They were smart, but their sound was evocative of garage punk, cleaned up, modernized, and glammed. They’re eponymous debut runs a tight 38:49, hard and fast, like a bathroom fuck, and it’s done. You’re still all hot and bothered when it’s over, but it was a damn good time listening while it lasted.

It ended up selling more than 3.6 million copies worldwide. Franz Ferdinand won the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and was nominated for “Best Alternative Album” at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Their debut disc was a popular choice on many of the “Best Of” lists for music closing out 2004.

In fact the single, Take Me Out, and its art-school slick video, made the band. This single broke in the United Kingdom in January 2004, reaching No. 3 on the singles chart. The following month Franz Ferdinand reached the U.S., as Take Me Out charted at No. 3 on Modern Rock Tracks and No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. This put a serious buzz behind the band’s debut.

FRANZ FERDINAND – TAKE ME OUT

After their second disc failed to reach the same fever fans were ecstatic with the band’s third, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, in 2009, with hits Ulysses, No You Girls, Bite Hard, Can’t Stop Feeling, and What She Came For. These tight, impactful songs, get in quick, hitting hard and fast, perfect for pre-gaming before the night begins or for the car ride over, with the windows down and beats popping headed for trouble.

The crowd at the Mercury Ballroom was a little older as expected, ranging mostly between 30-and-50 years old. Folks were at a fevered pitch for the band. I had gotten my pre-game on at 8UP, the elevated drinkery around the corner from the Mercury on Chestnut. Dirty Martinis on the rooftop bar had me greased for sound.

FRANZ FERDINAND – NO YOU GIRLS

It got off to a hot start with Jacqueline and No You Girls, but something was missing. There was this tired banter from the stage that introduced several of the songs that may have worked when the tunes were new, but felt forced 8-to-13 years later. I’m sure it didn’t help that it was a Tuesday night in Louisville. That was probably part of it. This show almost launched but failed to gain full elevation.

Another factor impacting this performance was Franz Ferdinand not being exactly spring chickens these days. They’re still trying to rock the look of 20-somethings and bounce around to club rock but are in their 40s. It didn’t exactly pass the look test.

FRANZ FERDINAND – ULYSSES

The other factor was the intermingling of songs from Franz Ferdinand’s other discs You Could Have It So Much Better, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions, and the upcoming Always Ascending. While critically notable, these discs I find are not as tight and possess less driven energy. During their set Tuesday their big hits tended to get the crowd up, but the fire was deflated by the less enthusiastic offerings.

FRANZ FERDINAND: MERCURY BALLROOM SETLIST – 05.30.17

They closed strong with This Fire. No complaint there, but by then I was ready for it to end. Good show, superior buzz and a fun Tuesday evening out for sure. Happy to have gotten a chance to see these blokes and pleased to get Franz Ferdinand off my list of Must See Bands.

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Chris Cornell of Soundgarden Found Dead in Detroit Hotel

Posted on June 1, 2017 by theurbanllama

One of the grand architects of the grunge movement and premier shapeshifters of the 1990s was lost on May 18, 2017, when Chris Cornell died. He was best known as the lead singer for avant-garde Seattle ragers Soundgarden, who along with Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Nirvana were vanguards of the alternative “grunge” rock movement that shattered the deplorable headlock hair metal bands had on popular music entering the 1990s.

SOUNDGARDEN | OUTSHINED (1991)

Formed in 1984, Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at number one on the “Billboard 200” and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles Black Hole Sun and Spoonman. The band broke up in 1997 due to internal strife over its creative direction.

SOUNDGARDEN | SPOONMAN (1994)

In 2000, after Zack de la Rocha left as vocalist of Rage Against the Machine, the remaining members Tom Morello (lead guitar), Tim Commerford (bass/backing vocals), and Brad Wilk (drums) decided to remain together and sought a replacement. After trying out several  prominent possibilities, there was no denying the instant chemistry that came when Chris Cornell stepped to the microphone with the remaining Rage members. This resulted in the formation of the rock supergroup Audioslave.

Through six years Audioslave released three albums and received three Grammy nominations. They also became the first American rock band to perform an open-air concert in Cuba.

AUDIOSLAVE | COCHISE (2002)

Audioslave

I had the privilege of catching Audioslave at one of its tour warmup shows on March 7, 2003. It was a Friday night in Philadelphia at the Electric Factory. Myself and two buddies drove up from DC after Audioslave’s self-titled disc had dropped and curiosity was at a premium for the volatility that would be on display when combining Rage with Soundgarden.

Both these bands were use to playing before massive crowds of spectators. Turning them loose inside a 2,500 person venue was almost unfair. They exploded onto the stage with “Set It Off.” I vividly recall Chris Cornell stalking the stage. His intense eyes were piercing, as he scanned the crowd looking at them like prey. Many in attendance were not familiar with the new disc yet, but were fans of Rage and Soundgarden. None was disappointed as tunes from all were played. It was a sharp, tight set, full of energy as these titans of the rock world knew they were about to unleash a powerful musical presence, and they were amped to be in front of a crowd performing the new songs. It was one of the best shows I’ve seen in terms of presence and sheer energy.

Audioslave disbanded in 2007. This corresponded with Rage Against the Machine getting back together in 2007 for a reunion tour. Soundgarden regrouped in 2010 and released a new disc in 2012, King Animal. Soundgarden was playing together up until Cornell’s death.

On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found dead with a band around his neck in his hotel room at the MGM Grand in Detroit, after performing a show with Soundgarden. From the outset, the investigation into Cornell’s death was described as a possible suicide. Subsequently, the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death as suicide by hanging. However, Cornell’s widow questioned whether he would deliberately end his own life, and said that the drug Ativan, which her husband was taking, might have led him to commit suicide. Cornell had a long history of substance abuse.

Cornell will be remembered for his extensive songwriting and nearly four-octave vocal range. His ability to maintain pitch and control while delivering his brand of powerful vocal belting is what set him apart. The man could shred.

Soundgarden

Cornell was voted “Rock’s Greatest Singer” by readers of Guitar World, ranked 4th in the list of “Heavy Metal’s All-Time Top 100 Vocalists” by Hit Parader, 9th in the list of “Best Lead Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone, and 12th in MTV’s “22 Greatest Voices in Music.”

According to Nielsen Music, across his entire catalog (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog and solo career), Cornell sold 14,865,000 albums, 8,808,000 digital downloads, and had 300,091,000 on-demand audio streams.

Admittedly Superunknown is the most accessible Soundgarden disc, but press play on Badmotorfinger to feel the full power of Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron.

Cornell was a seeker and a story-teller, translating his experiences and mental anguish into a coiled fist of vocals, ready to punch to the face. His angry growl will be missed.

CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! TRIBUTE TO CHRIS CORNELL | BLACK HOLE SUN

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Gregg Allman, Southern Rock Pioneer, Passes Away at 69

Posted on May 30, 2017 by theurbanllama

I can’t put my finger on when exactly the Allman Brothers Band consciously entered my world. I was born in Kentucky right around when they formed in Florida in 1969. Their music has held a constant position on my life’s soundtrack. Other bands have come and gone, but the Allman Brothers are reliably there year after year.

It’s with sadness that I learned Gregg Allman died May 27 at the age of 69. Liver cancer was given as the cause of death. The legendary “Ramblin’ Man” was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, GA, near his guitar slinging older brother Duane, who was killed on October 29, 1971 at the age of 24 after a tragic motorcycle accident, just as the band was becoming famous. Also buried there is original bass guitarist, Berry Oakley, who died on November 11, 1972, also from a motorcycle accident at the age of 24.

To this day no tune is as eminently promiscuous as the opening guitar shuffle on One Way Out. It fades in growing louder, like steps from a man trying to tip down the stairs quietly after getting it on with another man’s woman, to sneak out the back door before getting caught.

Ain’t but one way out baby, Lord I just can’t go out that door 

Ain’t but one way out baby, and Lord I just can’t go out that door

‘Cause there’s a man down there, might be your man I don’t know

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – ONE WAY OUT (LIVE)

It’s naughty Southern blues rock, and Gregg Allman, along with his brother Duane, were founding members of that sound. They melded together a gumbo pot of rock, blues, jazz, country and soul – a result of assembling a racially integrated group back when segregation remained a powerful truth if not the law throughout the deep South.

Over a more than 50-year musical career, Gregg Allman endured all manner of drug addiction, tragic deaths, divorces and the other baggage that surrounds a life lived on the road. Allman was married six times, most memorably to Cher from 1975 to 1979. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007. The following year tumors were discovered on his liver, and he underwent a successful transplant in 2010.

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – MIDNIGHT RIDER/SOULSHINE

With his grizzled beard and long blonde hair usually pulled back in a ponytail, Allman was an outlaw musician. His whiskey-tinged vocals and rhythmic keyboard were trademarks of the Allman Brothers’ sound.

There were big albums, At Fillmore East (1971), Eat A Peach (1972) and Brothers and Sisters (1973). They broke through and found commercial success on the radio, but what made it all happen was their recognition that the audience was an integral part of bringing out the best in them.

This realization drew the members even tighter together and they pledged an “all for one and one for all” oath to take things to the limit nightly on the road. So The Allman Brothers toured, and toured and kept on touring, and the shows kept getting more successful as their concerts became legend.

The shows stretched to three-plus hours or longer, as the band expanded their songs into experimental concepts, lasting sometimes 20 and 30 minutes each. This was the jam band phenomenon that the Allman Brothers Band helped pioneer.

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – WHIPPING POST

Starting in 1989, the Allmans began playing multiple night shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. In 1992 they played a 10-night stand, and going forward played residencies there of between 8-to-19 sold-out shows each spring for 19 years, excluding 2010 when the venue was unexpectedly booked. The band performed its final show at the Beacon on October 28, 2014. The show was the 238th straight sellout by the Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon.

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – STATESBORO BLUES

In 2014, the band retired, with a career that included seven gold and four platinum albums, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Rolling Stone ranked the Allman Brothers Band 52nd on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Thanks for the music and all the memories – Rest In Peace Mr. Allman.

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Trump Travels Abroad As Controversy Swirls Back Home

Posted on May 26, 2017 by theurbanllama

The Trumpster took to the air last Friday with his merry band of pranksters, to embark on his first foreign journey since taking office. The nine-day carnival ride is stopping in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Bethlehem, a sit down with the pope at the Vatican, Brussels and finally Sicily before heading home May 27.

It’s amusing that Trump had to venture to Riyadh to gain the fanfare and adulation he so desperately seeks in America. While he did pull off a long shot victory in winning the presidency, Trump was a damaged goods from the campaign trail for all his bluster, misogyny, xenophobia, and white nationalism.

Things only worsened once he began transitioning into the presidency with his questionable choices for staff and cabinet positions. Then the Russia investigation went public. There was no honeymoon period for Trump, which was of his own doing. But the president feels he deserves more love from the press and other detractors.

This made all the pomp and circumstance the Saudi royals lavished on Trump that much more welcomed by the beleaguered neophyte president. Evidently in Saudi Arabia Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, is held curiously in high esteem. I don’t get that, but I will say it has been powerful to see the first lady and Ivanka prominently accompanying the president in a country where women’s rights and human rights are tragically suppressed.

Meanwhile back in Washington a firestorm was raging on several fronts for a White House consumed by scandal over inappropriate Russian contacts, the haphazard firing of former FBI Director James Comey, and an inability to adequately run the country.

Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor who was forced to resign due to lying about his contacts with Russian operatives and for having served as an agent of the Turkish government, refused to comply with a subpoena to provide records to the Senate Intelligence Committee and is invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.

Subsequent subpoenas have been issued for records from Flynn’s two private businesses as well. The two leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee are weighing the option of a contempt charge against Flynn. Any daydream that Flynn might be granted immunity to testify appears remote. Instead it’s likely he will be squeezed to provide information because he is vulnerable to unlawful contact charges and possible influence peddling. Democrats say new documents show Flynn lied to investigators about trips he made to Russia and misled Pentagon officials about his contacts with Russians when he was renewing his security clearance in early 2016.

Ex-Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Roger Stone did turn over requested documents to the Senate Intel Committee.

Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor investigating Trump’s Russian ties.

Robert Mueller, the former FBI director appointed as special prosecutor to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into Russia’s contact with the Trump campaign, was briefed on contents of some of the memos that James Comey, the recently fired former director of the FBI, kept to document his conversations with President Trump.

Arguably the biggest development was the revelation President Trump asked Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, and Adm. Michael Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency, to publicly deny evidence of cooperation between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. The president’s treatment of Comey has raised questions about whether he abused his powers by seeking to discredit the FBI investigation or risked giving the impression that he was obstructing justice.

Both Coats and Rogers were uncomfortable with the nature of the president’s request and refused to comply. As the FBI investigation ramped up further and evidence grew stronger, Comey sought additional funds to widen the inquiry into Trump and his associates colluding with Russians so the president fired Comey to cover his tracks – as Trump indicated in his recent interview with Lester Holt from NBC News.

John Brennan, former CIA director.

Thickening the plot was testimony from John Brennan, the former CIA director, who confirmed the link between Trump and Russian officials during the 2016 campaign. “It should be clear to everyone that Russia brazenly interfered in our 2016 presidential election process,” said Brennan in testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, “and that they undertook these activities despite our strong protests and explicit warning that they do not do so.”

Brennan indicated that Trump campaign aides and associates repeatedly communicated with senior Russian intelligence officials, and that the information about these contacts rose to the level of being passed along to the FBI for investigation to determine whether collusion took place. “People on a treasonous path …don’t always realize they’re on that path until it’s too late.”

Brennan later confirmed that it wasn’t just the fact that Trump campaign officials communicated with Russians that concerned him – it was which Russians the Trump associates spoke to.

Brennan has served both Republican and Democratic presidents, and has a reputation beyond reproach. Considering the classified nature of much of this information, Brennan could only speak so freely in an open committee session, but this was some of the more damning indications of the evidence piling up against the Trump administration.

With all of this swirling as a backdrop, Trump again showed his impeccable sense of timing by choosing to release his first budget. Politicians from both sides of the aisle reported this harmful and cruel budget proposal was dead on arrival.

Overall, Trump’s budget would cut $1.5 trillion in non-defense spending and $1.4 trillion for Medicaid over the course of a decade, while adding nearly half a trillion dollars to defense spending. Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) and Sen. John McCain (AZ) say they will largely ignore Trump’s proposal.

Here’s hoping The Trumpster enjoyed the rest of his feel good journey overseas. It kind of closed on a sour note as Trump delivered a less than well received speech at the NATO summit in Brussels, and there was the unfortunate bum rush move Trump put on Montenegro’s prime minister so Mr. Personality could elbow his way into the front row of a picture. Why is this man such an embarrassment?

It appears Trump and his staff believe they stayed on message throughout the trip and all this foreign goodwill can magically chill the fervor for answers into his administration’s contacts with Russia, and why running the country is not coming easy. Staff remaining back in Washington and Republican officials are singing a different tune as they’ve been nervously hand wringing awaiting the return of their delusional leader.

It’s abundantly clear none of these issues are going away quietly, and with a special prosecutor such as Robert Mueller involved, rocks will be overturned to see what hides in the dark, pressure will be applied to the complicit, and answers will be found out.

Welcome home Mr. President!

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Terrorist Attack at Manchester Concert Kills 22

Posted on May 23, 2017 by theurbanllama

An explosion rocked concertgoers exiting a performance by pop star Ariana Grande Monday night in Manchester, England, killing 22 people and injuring 59.

The blast at Manchester Arena occurred around 10:35 PM in a foyer outside the main performance space. Making this a particularly disturbing attack was many in attendance were young girls and mothers accompanying their daughters, sharing in the American teen-pop sensation’s concert.

Reports indicate a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device that took the perpetrator’s life. Police are treating this as a terrorist incident, and the Islamic State did claim responsibility for the attack today.

It’s of growing concern that these types of soft targets have become a routine strategic target for terrorists. Aside from the carnage of the explosion itself, the Manchester Arena seats 18,000 – a blast of this nature creates a secondary catastrophe as crowds tend to stampede toward safety. It’s unknown yet, but speculation is some of the fatalities resulted from the storm of humanity trying to exit the arena in panic.

It’s sad that we have reached a point in the civilized world that death is a possibility when attending large public celebrations, sporting events or concerts.

I’m going to a highly political performance Sunday in Louisville featuring Roger Waters from the British psychedelic band Pink Floyd. Myself and three blokes from college are carving out time from our busy family lives to take in one of our favorite groups from back in the day. Unfortunately we will have to make a plan for where to meet in case of a terrorist incident.

Ariana Grande was not injured in the attack, but she has put a hold on the rest of the European dates for her current world tour. A message posted on her Twitter account read, “broken. from the bottom of my heart. i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.” That message has since been re-tweeted more than 1 million times.

British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke eloquently Tuesday on the bravery of emergency personnel and of the people of Manchester. May stated the attack stood out for its “appalling, sickening cowardice” in the way it had targeted “defenseless children.”

President Trump condemned the attack speaking in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, referring to terrorists as not “monsters,” because they would like being identified that way, but instead termed them “losers.”

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