IT HAPPENED - And many folks couldn't be more pleased, as it was announced earlier this year that Anthony Green is the frontman for Saosin once again!! It may only be for a few select dates, but as the saying goes, "Better than nothing…" Can't recall specifically, but I believe it's been roughly a decade since he has held the reigns during a Saosin performance… It's bigger than just Anthony Green though, it's the dynamic of the entire band on the tracks written with him as the foreman… It's not that Cove Reber isn't an excellent vocalist, but it seemed that after "Translating The Name," they lost some "fluidity" (for lack of a better term) in their music, as their later releases seemed a bit stale… Now, that comparison is in contrast to TTN, not to discredit their later releases as they are still outstanding pieces of work!!
It has already been discussed with Anthony that the band name is not derived from the beer title, but from an Asian proverb which stresses caution… SO - What does a finely crafted saison have to do with Saosin?! Well, they have extremely similar spelling, are perfect for simultaneous enjoyment, and each are currently enjoying a nice lil' comeback this summer!! While both have been around a quick minute, both have also recently somewhat faded into the background as of late, but their resurgence is set to be well received…
A rainy day with an open itinerary is almost a form of divine intervention which beckons one to enjoy indoor activities... While many breweries offer outdoor seating, I have never seen one that is entirely outdoor, thus it makes it pretty safe to assume any brewery one chooses to attend will be able to accommodate on a rainy day... This particular day brought my companion and I to Solemn Oath Brewery in Naperville, Illinois, a desirable destination after thoroughly enjoying their "Kidnapped By Vikings" nearly a year prior... It's somewhat tucked away in an industrial parking lot, but the giant roll up door with their logo is a dead giveaway as to the location...
Upon entering the brewery, it left much to be desired as far as a "welcoming" setting is concerned, as it's again, very industrial in its' look and feel, and lacks homeyness... The bar-top was fairly standard, but the "lounging" area was quite compact and the only table tops offered were overturned barrels... Which was a nice touch, but a few spots to sit would have been a nice option for us patrons... The wall opposite the bar contained the "BFF Blackboard," which hosted a slew of names accompanied by a number... It's purpose was that when you attend the bar without your favorite drinking buddy, you can kindly show them they were dearly missed by buying them a beer for the next time they show up!! Adjacent to both the BFF board and the bar was the brewing room, accommodating many stainless steel fermentors, as well as an oak cask which presumably hid a tasty concoction that's picking up many desirable flavor elements... Once we had completed the short tour that we had helped ourselves to, it was time to indulge in a few cold ones...
