Dining With the Black Angels
posted by on October 23 at 17:37 PM
No, I’m not referring to their catering rider, but the recipe for white bean soup included in the liner notes for their much-heralded record, Passover. I had never noticed until the booklet mysteriously appeared between the pages of the Bruce Springsteen bio I was reading. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it sounds damn good:
Black Angels White Bean Soup by Evil Bunny
1 pound of cannellini or other white beans
8 cups of water
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves (1 smashed, 2 chopped)
1 large fresh rosemary sprig
1 bay leaf
1 large onion, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)
1 large carrot, coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 large celery stalk, coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
2-1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
4 cups (more or less as needed) low salt chicken broth
1 pound fresh chorizo sausage links, casings removed
1/4 cup whipping cream
The Angels don’t offer much in the way of instructions (other than soaking the beans overnight), but my approach would be to sauté all the veggies in a large stock pot, fry and drain the chorizo separately, then combine everything in the stock pot along with the chicken stock and let it simmer for say, the duration of Lou Reed’s Berlin. I’d also opt for hitting it with the cream and thyme towards the end.
I'm glad you found the recipe useful, Hannah, or at least interesting. I have never tasted it but I trust the band is right; it's probably delicious, considering who invented it (the evil bunny!).
I made that tour booklet w/ the recipe with LITA super-intern Kate last spring during the earlier BA tour. The artwork was by David Lasky, who did The Clash comic with me for HOTWIRE #1. It's one of a limited edition of 77 I think.
This band fucking killed it on the radio today and now you are telling me they give out recipes for soup too?
Fucking rad.
Hey, Lou Reed here. I'm sick of people comparing bands such as the Black Angels or Brian Jonestown Massacre or blah blah blah etc whatever to my band The Velvet Underground, or to any of my work as a solo artist in general. Have the BJM or Black Angels ever written any songs that anyone will remember such as: Sunday Morning, Heroin, Pale Blue Eyes, Chelsea Girls, All Tomorrow's Parties, Femme Fatal, Venus in Furs, Candy Says, I'm Waiting for the Man, I'll Be Your Mirror, Who Loves the Sun, Sweet Jane, Rock and Roll...etc etc. I don't think so. Don't get me started on the Dandy Warhols. I don't think they've ever actually listened to a Velvet Underground record.
Having superficial elements in your music such as feedback, droning guitars, heavy reverb and retro equipment and hair styles don't even bring you close to what I, Lou Reed, have accomplished with my music. I'd have to say most every band being compared to the Velvet Underground is basically just trying to chase one of my genius elusive farts from 35 years ago. Stop and do something honest with your music, or just be a cover band. Fuck soup.
Yours truly, Lou Reed.
Mr. Reed--Love you, love your work.
Comments Closed
In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).