Jim Adair's "The Bearded State"

Last summer, out of sheer boredom, I decided to do something I had never done before. I decided to grow a beard. Now, for background, I was never able to grow facial hair. It seemed to come in really patchy (and it still does) and I never had the patience. But last summer, while on my yearly retreat in Wildwood, NJ, I decided to give it a shot. I am in a mostly solitary state there all summer, so I figured why not. I really enjoyed how it turned out, so I kept it, on and off, for the last 7 months or so. But now, since summer has come back around, I figured I would experiment again.

Here are the rules for my experiment:

• No trimming, shaving, clipping, or shortening is allowed until the set end date
  
• The set end date is August 23rd, my 21st birthday
  
• If I want to, I do not have to shave on the 23rd of August
  
• Every now and again I will post updates here, with pictures, a story or two about being bearded, and a video or song by one of my favorite bearded bands.
  

So, without further ado, here is...

"The Bearded State - Episode 1: Sarsgaard."

So I was looking through Us Weekly magazine yesterday, and doing so without shame thank you very much. In this magazine, I stumbled across a picture of a very bearded Peter Sarsgaard. For those who don't know, Mr. Sarsgaard is what you could call a character actor, known for his roles in Jarhead and Garden State. Mr. Sarsgaard is usually pretty clean shaven, with maybe a little 5 o clock shadow now and again. But in this picture I saw, he had what one can describe as a "Megan's Law Beard," where the wearer immediately looks like an imminent threat to your children. Jaoquin Phoenix has been sporting the same kind of facial hair. When I saw this, I started to think, is that what mine will look like at that length, and how do I stop from looking like a total pedophile? I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

108 days to go

Pattern Is Movement - Sound Of Your Voice

Number 10...With Hair!

What a grizzly sight.

We've made it to our tenth show. Impressed? I am. Here's what's on the menu: BEARS! Not really, but famous men (women, too?) with great beards. The beard makes the man and the beard makes the men's music awesome. Tune in to hear The Black Keys, The Doors, The Hold Steady, Iron And Wine, and plenty more hairy-faced musicians, rock'n out on Never Mind the Mainstream.

WARNING!: This show is not for the weak at heart. It's Beard-Vember, folks.

Also, I (Mike Pop) will not be in attendance, so Jim, a shadower, and fellow indie rock fan Andrew P. (of the Ralph Flavin Show on KUR) will be in the studio, mixin' up the medicine, and spinnin' the tracks. So be sure to call in at 610-683-4058 (I know I will), or IM them at KURRequest on your instant messenger service. Tune in online, via kur.kutztown.edu. Good lord - this show will be epic.