June 10, 2024 – LG Day 10 – Best Friends Forever
- Brush: AP Shave Co. Pure Bliss SHD 24mm x Heritage Collection Merit 99-4 Handle
- Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
- Blade: AccuTec Pro Premium
- Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. x House of Mammoth – Armonía
- Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Black Label
- Fragrance: House of Mammoth – Tobacconist
First time trying Armonía today. I’ll be honest, smelling it when the tub initially arrived in the mail, I thought I would use this once for the Games and then sell it. After using it today, though, I might keep this one. I dub today’s #FOF as a modern, sophisticated cowboy. Armonía Soap unfurls with a deep, rich tobacco accord that exudes elegance and mystery. As the lather builds, the fragrance reveals a bright freshness, with the requisite fougère herbs and citrus. Despite my initial belief that this fragrance would be heavy for summer, it eschews the typical heaviness I expect in a fougère, instead evoking the delicate scent of a tobacco plant in bloom. The richness of of Armonía melds seamlessly with Black Label’s bold tobacco and earthy oakmoss, and hints of bergamot with delicate whispers of violet and lavender infuse a refreshing brightness and floral elegance. Strawberry, the most unexpected note, imparts a light breeze of sweetness, and keeping the shave appropriate for summertime. Tobacconist is so effective in transporting me to a tobacconist’s shop. The cedar and tobacco create a warm, nostalgic embrace that simply feel like comfort. It’s an interesting pairing with the rest of today’s shave, because of the emphasis on an entirely different tobacco accord, but I think it works beautifully. This must be how cowboys feel. Yeehaw.
To add to the Happy Together theme, I used a collab brush, and you might argue that the MM24 is a collaboration of two different razors, the final product being greater than the sum of it’s parts.
Thinking about the idea of the “modern, sophisticated cowboy,” here are five musicians (in no particular order) that present entirely different representations of the archetype. (To my judge today, feel free to pick just one song to listen to if you don’t have time and/or don’t like these genres.)
Orville Peck, Daytona Sand. Like today’s shave, Peck is mysterious and unexpected. He doesn’t reveal his face publicly, kind of like u/Priusaurus. He was born in South Africa, took 12 years of ballet lessons, moved to Canada at the age of 15, and is nothing like the cowboys of old Westerns, but he sure sings like he is.
Colter Wall, Bob Fudge. Wall, another Canadian, released his first EP at the age of 19, already sounding like a grizzled cowboy who has seen some shit. If you think “real country died with Johnny Cash,” give him a listen.
Tyler Childers, Nose on the Grindstone. This Kentuckian is a mighty fine lyricist, but also has some musical marvels like the album Long Violent History and Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?. Like any good modern cowboy, he supports coal miners’ rights just the same as same-sex marriage.
Benjamin Tod (aka Lost Dog Street Band), September Doves. In the tradition of American troubadours, this band’s music tells real stories, evoking a special sense of nostalgia despite being a modern band.
Sierra Ferrell, In Dreams – Alternative Version. I mean, just listen to her. Plus, she spent her 20s as a nomad, hitch-hiking, freighthopping, and living in her van, which is essentially cowboy shit.