The Little (Big) Things: March

Last month, I took the first step in making good on a New Year’s resolution; to write more.

I shared a few quick links to the music, articles, podcasts and documentaries that brought on bouts of thoughtfulness and/or happiness between the comings and goings of the previous month. (See The Little (Big) Things: February)

I really enjoyed reading the responses to the post and working through the links people sent on. Thanks for those, keep ’em coming!

Now, here are a few of my favourite things from March.

Music: Kendrick Lamar | Phife Dawg | Flying Lotus | Kamaiyah

March was defined by two key moments in my music world: the surprise release of ‘untitled unmastered.’ by Kendrick Lamar and the passing of Phife Dawg.

Check out ‘untitled 08 09.06.2014’ on Kendrick’s release and, as for Phife Dawg, check out…everything. ‘The Low End Theory’ is where I started.

Flying Lotus’ ‘You’re Dead’ found its way back into my consciousness (as if it ever left) this month too, and 20-year-old Oakland lady, Kamaiyah, got plenty of my attention as well.

I suggest ‘Dead Man’s Tetris’ by Flying Lotus and ‘I’m On’ by Kamiyah to find out if either are your kinda thing.

Podcast: You Must Remember This

And now for some darkness.

I’ve been plugged into the ‘You Must Remember This’ podcast on almost every walk to work for the past few weeks. Namely, an outrageously intense 12-part series called ‘Charles Manson’s Hollywood’.

‘You Must Remember This’ recounts untold stories from Hollywood’s first century. There are plenty of enjoyable listens in there, but the Manson series is the standout.

The story of how Manson’s ambition blended with the “American Dream”, a malfunctioning juvenile justice system and no small amount of hallucinogenics to intoxicate lost souls that littered the sidewalks of Haight-Ashbury shines a stark light how the “peace and love project” came to an abrupt end.

To Do: Hop House and The Gate Theatre

Korean food and Irish theatre. One of this city’s finest combinations.

Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, I popped into Hop House on Parnell St., devoured some bulgogi bibimbap and took a two-minute stroll around the corner to The Gate.

Hop House wins big on atmosphere, food and price and The Gate is usually showing something iconic. Last month it was ‘Juno & The Paycock’. You shouldn’t have to part with more than €50 for the night if you don’t have a gargle.

Here’s a snap of Hop House’s bibimbap from a previous visit. See what I’m talkin’ about?!

Article: After The Fact

There was a great piece by Jill Lepore in the New Yorker last month on the meaning of truth in the age of instantaneous access to “facts”. It’s called ‘After The Fact’ and considers the possibility that our ability to ‘know’ might be quickly slipping through our fingers.

I’ve often thought that search engines and our susceptibility to confirmation bias make for pretty dangerous bedfellows. Any idea, however radical, can be all-to-easily verified by digging up an agreeable article from a dusty corner of the web these days.

As Lepore says, “I Google, therefore I am not”.

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If you made it all the way to here and end up checking out any of the links, please let me know! And if you feel like it, please send on some recommendations of your own.

I think it’d be really cool if we got an open group together, sharing music, films and other good stuff with eachother every month.