SOTD by u/RedMosquitoMM

Aug. 31, 2022 - That's a Wrap, Folks!

• Brush: Zenith B36 "Copper Scrubby!" 28x50mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM SS (31)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Soap
• Post Shave: Porter's Lotion, WSP - Neroli - Cooling Aftershave Balm
• Fragrance: Gallagher Fragrances - O'Vert
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Colombia, Bruselas, Huila - v: Caturra, Colombia - p: Washed, Sun-dried
• Music: John Moreland - In The Throes
• August 2022 SOTD Photo Album

#GEMsOfWisdom / #RawHoggin

We made it! Thirty-one shaves, using the same gear and software, and many of us exclusively face-lathered with a raw boar brush. And we posted about every shave along the way. Following June's Lather Games, I'm feeling pretty tapped, but it's important to finish strong.

First, some photos of the gear prior to this morning's shave:

• The knot, before this morning's shave, from the side.
• The knot, before this morning's shave, from above.

And some photos after the final shave of Austere August 2022:

• The soap after shaving.
• The knot after shaving, and blow-dried per the u/USS-SpongeBob method, from the side and the top.

I used a Zenith copper B36 Scrubby all month and it transformed over 31 shaves. The knot is looking very feathery, though there's still plenty of splitting to be done, and I plan to give it a few blow-dry cycles to accelerate any remaining break-in. The knot is terrific; I enjoy this brush's unique, robust backbone, though my usual Precision Loading™ approach won't take full advantage of it. Also, I'm very fond of the copper handle. The patina looks fantastic and the shape is super comfortable—it might just be my new favorite handle.

Last year's Austere August convinced me the MMOC is a really good razor. This year's Austere August didn't change my mind, but I managed to score a Peerless a few months back, and I'd reach for that Micromatic over the MMOC every time. It's just as efficient and well-designed, but it doesn't feel as harsh, and isn't as unforgiving to complacent shaving. I also prefer how Micromatic razors look in brass.

I didn't manage to kill any of this month's software, which is a bummer, because this Neroli balm is too strong for my tastes, I'd rather have Thayer's Cucumber around than this Porter's, and what is Austere August for if not emptying a tub of shave soap? Still, I put a dent in this tub of Lime. That's something I guess. As for the aftershave balm, I'm going to combine the remaining Neroli with some Glacial Lemon Chill and keep it in an old conditioner tub. My countertop would appreciate fewer bottles.

So what's next? I'm going to try to kill a backlog of samples all September, enjoy some mild razors, and try out Voices and Coffee & Contemplation. The variety is going to feel like sweet relief.

Date	Soap Before (g)	Soap After (g)	Usage (g)	Loading
8/1	235.5	232.5	3	◊
8/2	232.5	228.0	4.5	◊
8/3	228.0	227.0	1	◊
8/4	227.0	223.3	3.7	◊
8/5	223.3	220.3	3	40 seconds
8/6	220.3	218.8	1.5	30 seconds
8/7	218.8	217.9	0.9	40 swirls
8/8	217.9	216.5	1.4	40 swirls
8/9	216.5	215.9	0.6	40 swirls
8/10	215.9	215.6	0.3	50 swirls
8/11	215.6	213.9	1.7	60 swirls
8/12	214.7	213.0	1.7	60 swirls
8/13	213.0	211.5	1.5	60 swirls
8/14	211.5	210.5	1	60 swirls
8/15	210.5	209.0	1.5	60 swirls
8/16	209.0	207.2	1.8	60 swirls
8/17	207.2	205.9	1.3	\~62 swirls
8/18	205.9	204.4	1.5	60 swirls
8/19	204.4	203.3	1.1	60 swirls
8/20	203.3	202.8	0.5	70 swirls
8/21	202.8	202.0	0.8	60 swirls
8/22	202.0	200.5	1.5	60 swirls
8/23	200.5	199.2	1.3	60 swirls
8/24	199.2	197.9	1.3	65 swirls
8/25	197.9	196.3	1.6	80 swirls
8/26	196.3	194.4	1.9	80 swirls
8/27	194.4	192.9	1.5	80 swirls
8/28	192.9	191.9	1	80 swirls
8/29	191.9	191.0	0.9	80 swirls
8/30	191.0	189.4	1.6	80 swirls
8/31	189.4	◊	◊	80 swirls

⁂

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

My final #sidetracked selection is pretty self-explanatory; we should wrap up the month of song recommendations with a song about songwriting. John Moreland's 2019 album In The Throes introduced me to the Tulsa singer-songwriter's powerful chops, and the second track— "Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore"—was immediately one of my favorite songs of the year. It fits within a long tradition of songs about performing, touring, and being a professional musician, with a particular focus on the existential burden of skill, fame, and vocation. "Why’d I have to go and get blessed with a curse / I’m chasing death or glory, whichever comes first." Ultimately, Moreland reckons with the same question any musician with half a chance at fame does; when you write a song, do you write for you or do you write for them?

John Moreland - "Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore"

But Wait, There's More

I wanted to cover a long list of songs this month but couldn't figure out how to link them together or other songs felt more timely. Maybe I'll get to more of these next year. Anyway, here's some of the remaining list, presented in no particular order. I had planned to mention a few of these together (like "The Last Great Washington State" and "The Trapeze Swinger" as beautiful, super long songs) and I wrote most of an unfinished blurb for Kyle Craft.

• The Mountain Goats - "Palmcorder Yajna", "Ezekiel 1 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace"
• Deer Tick - "Smith Hill"
• Kyle Craft - "Lady of the Ark"
• Duke Ellington - "Isfahan" (sorry u/VisceralWatch)
• Big Thief - The back to back combo of "Mary" and "Black Eyes"
• Scott Hutchison - Frightened Rabbit ("Head Rolls Off", "I Wish I Was Sober") and Owl John ("Los Angeles, Be Kind")
• Damien Jurado - "The Last Great Washington State"
• Iron & Wine - "The Trapeze Swinger"
• Wilco - "Summerteeth", "California Stars"
• Weyes Blood - "Seven Words"
• James - "Laid", "Ring the Bells"
• Chelsea Wolfe - "Feral Love", "After the Fall"
• Deep Dark Woods - "All the Money I Had is Gone", "18th of December"
• Pepper Rabbit - "Older Brother"
• Murder by Death - "I Came Around"
• Sunset Rubdown - "Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings"
• Nick Cave - "Palaces of Montezuma" Live at Alexandra Palace, 2020
• Bob Marley ("Mr. Brown"), Desmond Dekker ("Israelites"), and Gregory Isaacs ("Mr. Cop")
• Simple Minds - "Glittering Prize"
• Pulp - "Razzmatazz"
• Daniel Romano - "Old Fires Die", "A New Love (Can Be Found)"
• Agnes Obel - "Broken Sleep"
• Saint Saviour - "Reasons", "Let it Go", "Tightrope"
• The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Bad Luck Again"
• Shearwater - "Breaking the Yearlings", "Backchannels"
• Yeasayer - "O.N.E."
• Crypt Sermon - "Temple Doors"
• Dawnbringer - "V"
• Queens of the Stone Age - "I Sat by the Ocean"
• Kelley Polar - "Satellites"
• Elbow - "Leaders of the Free World"
• Primus (not sure what I'd cover here)
• Roy Orbison (same as above)
• Sisters of Mercy - "Temple of Love"
• Brian Eno and John Cale - "Spinning Away"
• Poni Hoax - "Antibodies"
• Witch - "Black Saint"
• Kate Bush - "This Woman's Work"

Check these out sometime.