We think Matt Maust (Cold War Kids, French Style Furs) has great taste, and he spends a ton of time on the road. That's why we wanted to pick his brain for a very special edition of the Saturday Six.
WATCH | THE CRUISE
Directed by Bennett Miller, this black-and-white documentary follows Timothy "Speed" Levich through his meandering Manhattan city bus tours; expeditions replete with existential rants and rich architectural history points. Levich is a poet and a savant atop a Grey Line. As such, this documentary proves to be equal parts love letter to NYC and an odd-ball character study. You won't be disappointed and you'll probably watch it more than once.
DOWNLOAD | GRAILED
An avid collector of vintage, Maust has one of the most impressive and well curated t-shirt collections that we've ever laid eyes on (on top of designing his own line, ŁUV). He's known to acquire rarities and bootlegs off the Grailed app. If you haven't downloaded it yet then be warned - it's highly addictive and provides a constant supply of fresh band tees, designer resale and one-off finds.
GO | THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART GALLERY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
If you find yourself in the Greater LA area, carve out some time to visit the Huntington Library. Once a working ranch, the property is open to the public and boasts 120 acres of immaculate greenery, including 16 themed gardens. There's a Bonsai collection, succulents that would make Dr. Suess jealous, a sprawling private residence-turned-art-gallery, and a special variety of roses named the "Huntington's 100" or "The Life of the Party" (depending on who you ask). Quite a bit of walking is required, but this destination is as good as it gets for getting in your steps.
photo by ridzuan rosli
READ | LEONARD COHEN BOOK OF LONGING
This is Leonard Cohen's first book of poetry since 1984's Book of Mercy was published in 2006. The prose itself was completed during his five-year stay at a Zen Monastery. If you're a fan of the musician's storied and layered song catalogue, diving into his intimate, raw, and unflinching voice on the page is an invitation into wonder. If you've never heard of Leonard Cohen then dive right in - we promise that there's something here for everyone.
DO | CHICKEN SH*T BINGO
A longstanding tradition at Ginny's Longhorn Saloon, this Texas weekend occurrence is a bizarre combination of happenstance and gambling. Yes, the name denotes the sport and it's exactly what it sounds like. For a $2 donation, you get a raffle ticket and a chance to watch chickens run around and, well, hope something lands on your winning number. We're told this started in California with cattle, but Texan's have really made it their own. There's also over 100 beers on tap, so stop by, have a drink, and play one heck of a game of Bingo.
LISTEN | THE TOUR STORIES WITH JOE PLUMMER | PODCAST
Hosted by drummer Joe Plummer (Cold War Kids, Modest Mouse, Mister Heavenly), Tour Stories features stories of adventures on the road from a wide array of colorful, globe-trotting guests. Joe and Matt have been traveling together as bandmate for years and years. The tales told on the podcast are, by Joe's own estimation, "funny, sad, and most of all, real." Tune in for some great driving vibes.
If you're in town for SXSW, come by the HELM store on East 11th St and enjoy a cocktail while you check out Matt Maust's mixed media along with his ŁUV clothing pop-up.