Month: February 2022

If you haven’t spent countless hours working as a bartender or barback, you might not know what a “house” bottle is. In the simplest terms, it’s the bottles that bartenders keep under the bar (not on the wall behind them). There’s usually one bottle of rye, scotch, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, and bourbon (plus a few others) that they use as their house brand. It’s the bottle they grab to pour you a shot, something on the rocks, or a simple cocktail/highball if you don’t specifically tell them which brand/expression to use.

Intuitively, it might seem like a bar would just pick the cheapest booze for this purpose, that would be a big mistake. While the house pour does have to be well-priced, its real purpose is to impart the flavor of the bar itself. You want your guests to enjoy it and ask for it again. That’s why the price-to-value is extremely important. You don’t want it to be too expensive, but you also want it to taste good. It’s not an easy job to pick the house bottle, especially a house bourbon that’s going to be ordered a lot.

How do they do it? We asked a few noted bartenders and mixologists to tell us the house bourbons they pour at their bars. Keep scrolling to see all of their answers. You might be surprised by what you learn.

Bulleit

Eric Cohen, lead bartender The Kimpton Sawyer in Sacramento

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $29

Why This Bourbon?

We use a lot of Bulliet Bourbon as our house bourbon. I like to use Bulliet because it has a very well-rounded flavor profile and makes a very good cocktail whiskey. It’s reasonably priced and has a depth of flavor that helps it stand up in cocktails.

Woodford Reserve

Verdell Ekberg, director of sales and marketing at South Seas Island Resort in Captiva, Florida

ABV: 43.2%

Average Price: $35

Why This Bourbon?

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon is our house brand. We chose Woodford Reserve’s flagship whiskey due to its broad appeal among bourbon drinkers. Woodford’s flavors are rich and smooth with hints of citrus, cinnamon, and cocoa.

Buffalo Trace

John “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick, spiritual advisor at Warren American Whiskey Kitchen in Delray, Florida

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $25

Why This Bourbon?

Our house bourbon is Buffalo Trace Bourbon. It was a no-brainer to have this for our “well” bourbon considering our unique relationship with the distillery and Sazerac, their parent company. What makes this special is that many restaurants are struggling to even secure a bottle of Buffalo Trace Bourbon these days. We recently visited Kentucky and purchased a new barrel. That will yield us approximately two-hundred damn good Buffalo Trace barrel pick bottles in the coming weeks! It is simply an easy-drinking, smooth, classic Kentucky bourbon with soft, easy notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice.

Old Forester 86

Eric Johnson, beverage director of The Waverly in San Diego

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $25

Why This Bourbon?

Old Forester 86 Proof is our house brand. This bourbon has some roasted oak, sweet caramel, and vanilla notes. Its 86-proof body holds up well in a cocktail but still can be a delicious drink, neat or on the rocks.

Jim Beam White Label

Josh Curtis, bar director at Malibu Beach Inn in Malibu, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $18

Why This Bourbon?

Jim Beam White Label Bourbon is our house whiskey. It was picked because it has corn flavors all day to remind us of what bourbon is made from. It also carries vanilla, caramel, and oaky flavors that accentuate any cocktail it’s used for.

Angel’s Envy

Christopher Devern, lead bartender of Red Owl Tavern in Philadelphia

ABV: 43.3%

Average Price: $50

Why This Bourbon?

Angel’s Envy has notes of vanilla, maple, toasted oak, and bitter chocolate, making it the perfect house pour. This may not be your typical or traditional bourbon but that’s another reason it’s one of my favorites. It’s a special tasting bourbon that is great neat or on the rocks. Also, give their rye a taste if you get the chance.

Four Roses

Emily Lawson, bartender and founder of Pink House Alchemy in Fayetteville, Arkansas

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $20

Why This Bourbon?

Four Roses Bourbon is my favorite house bourbon for mixing, but it’s often overlooked. It’s just as complex and smooth as a Woodford Reserve and is affordable without compromising any integrity. It’s also not overly sweet, so it holds well in a cocktail. I love incorporating it with Pink House Alchemy’s Mexican Chile Syrup for a delicious Kicking Mule Highball.

Old Forester 100

Heather Buelna, lead bartender at Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay in San Diego

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $30

Why This Bourbon?

We use Old Forester 100 as our main house bourbon. It was chosen because it is a classic. It’s also one of the very first bourbons to be mass-produced. Its flavors are rich and complex, but it isn’t overly aggressive from its overall taste profiles, making it an easy match for a house program.

On Wednesday, the nominees for the 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction class were announced and some hip-hop icons made the cut, including Eminem, Rage Against The Machine, and A Tribe Called Quest. Now, Tribe’s Q-Tip has spoken about the nomination, revealing that he’s happy about it but indicating that it’s a bittersweet moment for him.

In an interview with Billboard the day after the nominations were revealed, Q-Tip said, “I was pleased, [but] I wish my man [Phife Dawg] was here.”

Phife Dawg, a founding member of A Tribe Called Quest, died in 2016 at 45 years old.

Elsewhere during the conversation, Q-Tip spoke about how he believes A Tribe Called Quest helped bridge the gap between rock and hip-hop for many people, especially white listeners. He said, “I was just saying to LL Cool J the thing about Tribe is we played in front of more rock audiences than rap audiences. Just being on tour with Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Green Day, Beastie Boys, and our first show we opened for Big Audio Dynamite — at our time, we kinda helped bring white audiences to hip-hop. So it’s overall good. I feel like the story of music and music’s evolution can’t happen without hip-hop artists.”

Check out the full interview here.

Lawrence Stackhouse was among the thousands of MAGA rioters who stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, and in true Scooby-Doo fashion, he might have gotten away with it, too, if he occasionally shut his yap about Donald Trump.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Chester, PA resident “told a federal judge that he illegally entered the Capitol, took photos, and wandered into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office as hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the building on Jan. 6.” He was outed after, well, you know how there’s a Borat-impersonating funny guy in every office? Stackhouse was like that, except he was the Trump guy (and probably a Rudy guy, too).

And his co-workers were not happy about it.

A Delaware County man whose vociferous support of President Donald Trump at work prompted his coworkers to turn him into the FBI [pleaded] guilty Friday to Capitol riot charges… Though prosecutors have not identified where Stackhouse worked, they have said at least two of his coworkers helped pick him out of Capitol surveillance footage based on the distinctive Trump beanie and Proud Boys T-shirt he wore that day.

Stackhouse claims he doesn’t support the Proud Boys “after [knowing] what they are about,” but the day after the attack on the Capitol, he texted a friend, “Don’t regret one thing. F*ck the government.” Stackhouse faces up to six months in prison.

(Via the Philadelphia Inquirer)

After Neil Young and fellow music legends like Joni Mitchell began pulling their music from Spotify in protest of the platform allowing Joe Rogan to spread COVID misinformation, CEO Daniel Ek held a town hall with concerned employees this week. Unfortunately, the answers Ek provided did not sit well with employees as the CEO repeatedly touted Rogan’s presence on Spotify as key to the company’s success. Ek also said that Spotify doesn’t own Rogan’s content, they license it, so they have no control over his words. (Although, they can choose to pull certain episodes, as they’ve done in the past.)

Despite agreeing with employees that many things Rogan says are “very offensive,” Ek was clear at the town hall that The Joe Rogan Experience brings in a substantial amount of subscribers and Spotify has no interest in rocking that boat. Here’s how Ek responded after frustrated employees asked how the company can reconcile its commitment to diversity while Rogan says things like only people who 100 percent African can say they’re Black. Via The Verge:

“If we want even a shot at achieving our bold ambitions, it will mean having content on Spotify that many of us may not be proud to be associated with,” he says. “Not anything goes, but there will be opinions, ideas, and beliefs that we disagree with strongly and even makes us angry or sad.”

If that sounds familiar, it’s the same approach Netflix took when Dave Chappelle was embroiled in controversy: As long as the views and listeners are coming in, everyone should be happy because the company is making money.

Clearly, the employees on the ground are starting to feel differently.

(Via The Verge)

Red Hot Chili Peppers already had plans for a stadium tour in 2022 and now they’ll have a new album of songs along for the ride. Today, the band have announced that their 12th studio album, Unlimited Love, is coming out on April 1st.

Back on board are guitarist John Frusciante and producer Rick Rubin. This is their first time working with the band since 2006 and 2011, respectively. Frusciante said in a statement, “For me, this record represents our love for, and faith in, each other.”

The band have also dropped the first single from the album in the California-inspired (of course) “Summer Love.” Frusciante’s guitar licks are a welcome sound once again alongside the rest of the band and singer Anthony Kiedis in unwavering in his delivery.

The band also shared a statement on the album:

“Our only goal is to get lost in the music. We (John, Anthony, Chad and Flea) spent thousands of hours, collectively and individually, honing our craft and showing up for one another, to make the best album we could. Our antennae attuned to the divine cosmos, we were just so damn grateful for the opportunity to be in a room together, and, once again, try to get better. Days, weeks and months spent listening to each other, composing, jamming freely, and arranging the fruit of those jams with great care and purpose. The sounds, rhythms, vibrations, words and melodies had us enrapt.

We yearn to shine a light in the world, to uplift, connect, and bring people together. Each of the songs on our new album UNLIMITED LOVE, is a facet of us, reflecting our view of the universe. This is our life’s mission. We work, focus, and prepare, so that when the biggest wave comes, we are ready to ride it. The ocean has gifted us a mighty wave and this record is the ride that is the sum of our lives. Thank you for listening, we hope you enjoy it.

ROCK OUT MOTHERF*CKERS!” – Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, John Frusciante

Listen “Black Summer” and watch the video, which is directed by The Mandalorian’s Deborah Chow, above. Below, check out the Unlimited Love album artwork and tracklist.

1. “Black Summer”
2. “Here Ever After”
3. “Aquatic Mouth Dance”
4. “Not The One”
5. “Poster Child”
6. “The Great Apes”
7. “It’s Only Natural”
8. “She’s A Lover”
9. “These Are The Ways”
10. “Whatchu Thinkin’”
11. “Bastards of Light”
12. “White Braids & Pillow Chair”
13. “One Way Traffic”
14. “Veronica”
15. “Let ‘Em Cry”
16. “The Heavy Wing”
17. “Tangelo”

Unlimited Love is out 4/1 via Warner. Pre-order it here.

Red Hot Chili Peppers is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

To say that I was mildly disappointed in Jackass Forever is true. To say that I spent the entire movie screaming, stomping my feet, covering my face with my hands, and squealing with joy, and would’ve happily sat through another 90 minutes of it is also true. Did we really need for this Jackass to be the “best Jackass ever?” This merely reveals the basic truth that Jackass is still Jackass‘s only competition. I was more than content for the new Jackass to merely be what Jackass has always been: a good hang.

My standard review of Jackass, which also applies here, is “yes.” I have basically an unquenchable appetite for skate bros pranking each other and hurting their dicks, to the point that even when I’m vaguely dissatisfied by a bit, or have nitpicks, my general reaction is a desire for more bits. Do it again! Do it better! Just keep doing it!

It’s been 20 years since the first Jackass movie and a few things have undeniably changed. Ryan Dunn is dead, killed in a fiery car crash in 2011, leaving the gang without a member who would try more or less anything (getting shot with an anti-personnel mine, sticking a toy car up his ass) as long as he could bitch about it the whole time (no one could kvetch quite like Ryan Dunn, just like no one can howl in agony quite like Dave England, who now looks like Tom Petty after a hockey brawl). Dunn’s pal Bam Margera is also gone, falling off the wagon and becoming estranged from the crew. One feels their absence in Jackass Forever, especially in the dearth of Delco accents. But does it make Jackass any less relatable? Any less an expression of the American male id? Who hasn’t had friends die or spiral since 2010?

Johnny Knoxville, who always had a finely tuned cultural antenna, correctly surmised that keeping the Jackass inner circle entirely white and male wouldn’t play in 2022 (even if that perception itself was a bit a of generalization; the gang always had black minor characters and guests). Thus we have some new additions to the gang this time around. There’s Jasper, an ebullient, chubby black guy whose ex-con father, Darkshark, helps fill in the gaps where pranks on the Margeras would normally go. There’s Rachel Wolfson, a cute girl comedian who seems up for anything and wears her smile like a surgical mask. There’s Poopies, a real-life Jeff Spicoli who got his nickname by pooping in the street and seems to have an IQ of around 90. There’s Zach Holmes, aka Zackass, a jolly fat guy who combines Preston Lacy’s girth with Johnny Knoxville’s appetite for masochism. Holmes, raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, throws himself into cacti harder than Ryan Dunn ever did and seemingly without even a moment’s regret. Last but not least there’s Eric Manaka, the crew’s first Englishman.

The new crew fill in wherever a young body feels necessary to a bit, body surfing down massive slip and slides or deliberately wrecking mini bikes and kite surfing rigs, but on balance their presence seems less noteworthy than how intent the almost and actual 50-somethings from the original Jackass crew seem to be on doing their own stunts. There are plenty of times where it feels like if things had gone just a tad differently we might’ve had to watch one of our substitute friends die — usually Danger Ehren, who gets his crotch sniffed by a hungry bear and his crotch stomped by a pogo stick (among other things), but also Johnny Knoxville, who gets his umpteenth concussion from a bull; or really any of the rest of the crew, who all risked death and castration at some point, to varying degrees.

During the run of the original Jackass, we mostly all probably assumed it would be sad to watch 50-year-old men perform these stunts, if we imagined it at all. Yet if anything I wish Jackass Forever had leaned more into the fact that these guys are getting older. There’s one planned stunt, the details of which never become clear, that Preston Lacy spoils through the rather mundane mistake of trying to let slip a fart that turns into a shit. “I guess I shouldn’t have had that Indian food last night!” Lacy yells, which sounds sort of like shtick but I’m pretty sure wasn’t.

I enjoyed this brief foray into more dad-centric stunts, like trying to eat spicy Indian food and not shit your pants, and wished they would’ve done more deliberately rather than relegated them to outtakes. What other foods can’t these guys eat anymore? Who’s taking Lipitor and which of them are on blood thinners? What parts of them are sore now just from sleeping? Just because the stunts are different now doesn’t make them less of daredevils. Show the swelling! The “prestige” of a Jackass bit was always the medical bill

Walking into Jackass Forever was probably the first time I ever genuinely considered a movie being “the movie the world needs right now.” Watching dudes hurt themselves does bring demographics together like few things do these days, and it’s perhaps the only genre of movie or show during which I’ve never paused to look at my watch. And yet Jackass Forever, like virtually everything made during and after the pandemic, doesn’t quite work as pure escapism. Age, it turns out, isn’t nearly as much of a limitation as world events. In the era of COVID protocols, man-on-the-street bits are out, which robs Jackass of a key facet of its appeal. What would the original Jackass have been without rental car workers, uptight golfers, or people just walking by while an impish man in a devil costume exploded from the ground shouting “keep God out of California?”

The square world was always the foil for Jackass pranks. In Jackass Forever that world can only really be hinted at and represented symbolically, and Jackass was never much for hints and symbolism. It feels like they were sort of trapped in a bubble, like the rest of us, forced to play the pranks mostly on each other. In Jackass 3D, the concept evolved more towards elaborate sight gags than stunts specific to pain and danger. Yet even that is slightly muted in Jackass Forever, which I have to imagine was a limitation related to the same supply chain problems affecting everything else. Making Jackass, more so than just about anything, really does take a village, and that village has had staffing issues of late.

Which is sort of a bummer, but as always the gang perseveres, and to watch them do so is no less a triumph. They make do, mostly through more penis and ball trauma than ever before, and literal buckets of pig semen. It doesn’t feel sad or any less potent, and it’s true to the spirit of what Jackass always was: man’s dadaist attempt to find primitivist joy amidst the constraints of modernity. That’s still true, even with some transparent growing pains. When a scorpion lands on Rachel Wolfson’s breast during a bit called “scorpion botox,” Chris Pontius screams that he doesn’t know whether he’s allowed to bat the thing away. “I consent, I consent!” Wolfson howls.

Being afraid to touch a woman’s breast is hilariously Victorian for the Jackass crew, but it’s endearing and somehow cathartic as well, to hear these characters literally shout the mundane confusion we all have about the often blurry rules of interpersonal conduct, on pain of a scorpion sting. Someday maybe they’ll be able to take a power tool to Rachel Wolfson’s labia the same way they make a mini speed bag out of Preston Lacy’s ballsack, and that will be a great day. For now it’s understandable and weirdly sweet that they’d be a little cautious, a necessary transitional stage. The Jackass boys are changing and so are we, and that’s okay.

‘Jackass Forever’ is in theaters now. Vince Mancini is on Twitter. You can access his archive of reviews here.

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.

Three is a very common and important number in Amber Mark’s life. In a 2017 interview with NME, she explained how that number has constantly made itself present in her life. “My mother was born in 1953, my brother was born in 1983 and I was born in 1993,” she said. “Then, my mum passed away on June 3, at 10:23 pm in 2013. Since then, I’d see three’s everywhere.” In 2017, she released her 3:33am EP. Nearly five years later, she returns with her debut album, Three Dimensions Deep, and a riveting tale that follows her through a journey of searching for the deeper meaning for her life and the world that surrounds her.

Three Dimensions Deep presents a well-executed blend of R&B and funk used in different ways throughout the album. Sometimes it’s a 50-50 split, and other times, either genre sits in the driver’s seat while the other makes its presence felt just enough so that the 17-track project remains cohesive. This varying production helps to add a second dose of life to the listener’s experience with the album, one already boosted by Mark’s enthralling vocals. Her search for life’s meaning arises on the wistful “What Is It,” where she questions the point of the bad in her life with an emotional plea into the empty skies. “So there goes my heart,” she sings with disheveled spirits on the song. “I fell apart / Trying to love.” She later questions the source of faith as she’ll need it moving forward. “Is it love that proves in our faith? / Or how we move, spiraling?”

As often as Mark questions the ways of the world, she also stays true to what she’s previously learned. Her wisdom propels her far enough to leave her with a moderate and slightly frustrating, but solvable, amount of puzzle-piecing for her to do. She rightfully distrusts the “trifling” ways of men on “Most Men,” while begging for a friend to seek better than the insufficient companion she’s currently with. Mark acknowledges the difficulties behind healing and moving on both “Healing Hurts” and “Bubbles” while overcoming the temptation to fall for old tricks and back into her old pains. Following these anecdotes of hurt and heartbreak, Three Dimensions Deep transitions into a second half that’s both energized by a new wave of happiness and gracefully presented through a worthwhile romance.

Amber Mark won’t find all the answers she’s looking for in life. That’s a feat that goes unaccomplished even by the oldest souls of the world, never mind a 28-year-old. She soon realizes that a life driven by constant searches will leave her feeling incomplete at the end of the day. “FOMO” places this discovery on wax through funky and reinvigorating production that finds Mark high off life as her feet sweep the dancefloor. “Fill up my cup, made up my mind,” she sings. “Won’t miss out on living happily / It’s about time, I’m gon’ lose control.” There’s a time and a place for self-reflection and wallowing in sadness about life’s dealings, but Mark realizes that she should at least make sure to live life through it all.

This leap of faith, which also doubles as a discharge from life’s ankle weights, adds vibrancy and excitement to her life and the album. It also makes her an irresistible magnet to what she craves the most from life. Three Dimensions Deep swings upward from a contextual standpoint during its back half. Mark is consumed by a love that’s far too good to be true in her eyes. She details this behind haunting production that accentuates her disbelief on “Out Of This World” while also comparing the new love to finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. “Pull all this weight kept me out of sight / I close my eyes,” she sings. “And with surprise / I saw the light.” Mark goes above and beyond to describe the beauty of this new romance as she places herself amongst the stars and constellations on “Cosmic” to relay the “otherworldly feelings” it gives her. “It takes me to another planet / It’s all so cinematic,” she sings with a heart bleeding of gratitude as angelic harmonies rain behind her. “Is this some sort of magic? / It seems so automatic.”

Three Dimensions Deep is a testament to letting go and trusting that what is meant to be, will be. While watching Amber Mark get swept off her feet with a perfect love is a heartwarming aspect of the album, seeing her end the album on a high pedestal and free of some of the things that held her down is just as satisfying. Mark’s official debut album is truly Three Dimensions Deep as we watch her confidence grow, her insecurities fade away, and a path open up for her to experience at that’s meant to be in her world. Mark achieves this by letting herself freefall into life’s core where she discovers what to value the most day in and day out. It’s here that she also tackles her most-inner emotions with equal parts grace and feistiness for a riveting and magical album.

Three Dimensions Deep is out now via PMR/EMI. Get it here.

Two years removed from the 2020 uprisings over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, it doesn’t seem like much has changed in the US. Calls to defund police departments across the nation were more or less ignored (or outright defied), and in just one month, the number of headlines reporting police shootings of citizens is frankly kind of alarming.

Thus, Chicago rapper Supa Bwe has returned with his first new song of the year, reuniting with his old friend Chance The Rapper to remind us that “ACAB.” The new song, built over a plodding beat and featuring additional guest appearances from 7000 and Maryland underground rap rising star Redveil, takes the corrupt institution to task, with all four rappers calling out the overall failure to honor the “protect and serve” motto throughout the past few… well… forever.

According to Supa Bwe’s Instagram, the song is the first single from his upcoming project No Thanks, which is also his first project since 2019’s Jaguar. 2019 also contained “Rememory,” Supa’s last collaboration with Chance The Rapper, on the Just Say Thank You EP. Meanwhile, Chance recently expanded his own collaboration catalog, teaming up with Dionne Warwick on the soul legend’s “Nothing’s Impossible.” While he hasn’t been as busy on the music front since dropping The Big Day in 2019, there’s no time like the present for him to get busy on a follow-up.

Listen to “ACAB” above.

During Game 1 of the playoff series between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers last season, Chris Paul injured his right shoulder and had to leave the game for a period of time. The injury clearly hampered him offensively, as he scored just 20 points on 21 shots across the initial three games.

During a recent appearance on JJ Redick’s podcast, “The Old Man & The Three,” Paul detailed just how severe and limiting the shoulder issue was for him. He labeled it “probably one of the craziest injuries” of his career because he “would dribble and the ball wouldn’t come back up,” due to the lack of strength in his arm.

“It was the scariest thing ever,” Paul said. “I would dribble. ‘Whoa, why am I losing the ball?’ ”

At one point during Game 1, he said he made a shot by “literally” throwing the ball into the hoop.

“I, like, turned and looked at my brother,” Paul said. “I was like, ‘I don’t know how the hell that just went in.’”

In Game 2, Paul said he doesn’t know why the Lakers guarded him, explaining that he physically “could not shoot at all” and “could not raise [his] arm.”

Paul didn’t know whether Los Angeles was aware of his hindrance, citing that defenders kept adjusting their coverage, unsure of exactly how much the veteran star had to offer offensively.

“In that series, I wasn’t doing shootaround,” Paul said. “I wasn’t touching a ball. I wasn’t doing anything until the game.”

Later, he reiterated that head coach Monty Williams told him prior to Game 4 that Paul wouldn’t be playing, yet Paul refused to sit out and said Williams could bench him if necessary. As the story goes, Paul played, scored 18 points and dished out nine assists in a win. Phoenix tied the series at two before routing the shorthanded Lakers in Games 5 and 6 to clinch the series.

Derwin James Jr. has been a star on the football field since high school, when he was a consensus 5-star recruit who eventually signed with the Florida State Seminoles. The only thing that’s kept him from being one of the most productive players at whatever level he’s been on has been injuries, as his sophomore season in Tallahassee got wiped out by a meniscus tear and he played just five games in his second season in the NFL due to a foot injury.

When he’s on the field, James is a game breaker on the back end of the defense, earning Pro Bowl honors in both of his healthy NFL seasons thus far. He has a great chance at being named an All-Pro for the second time in his career later this year. The Chargers came mere seconds away from a trip to the Playoffs this year, as they rather famously just needed a tie against the Raiders in Week 18 to reach the postseason, but even with the disappointment of how the season ended, James sees nothing but a bright future ahead in L.A.

Uproxx got a chance to catch up with James this week over Zoom, as he was in Las Vegas for Pro Bowl festivities, including the Madden Bowl in which he teamed up with Nick Chubb to represent the AFC against Justin Jefferson and Micah Parsons from the NFC. That competition will air Saturday, February 5 at 6 p.m. ET on NFL social channels and the EA Madden Twitch account, as they played on the big screen at Allegiant Stadium. We got to talk with James about his season, why he believes so much in coach Brandon Staley and quarterback Justin Herbert, and how his injuries have taught him about himself.

First off, how are you feeling and what does it mean to be in Vegas for another Pro Bowl?

Man, first of all, feeling good man. Excited to be out here. You know, it’s an honor — my second Pro Bowl. I’m excited. Got the family are here, man, and I’m just soaking it all in.

Coming back this year off of injury, what was the year that you had when were sidelined like? And how do you try to stay engaged while you’re rehabbing and be able to come back as strong as you did this year?

Man you find out a lot about yourself through the hard times, and I feel like I learned a lot about myself. I grew and I just said like, I’m not gonna let this stop me. So whatever I can do to get stronger, come back from it, I wanted to do that, and I think I’m doing an OK job doing that.

Absolutely. You got to do the the Madden Bowl here in Vegas and what’s that experience like, getting to play with Nick Chubb and go up against Micah and Jet?

Man, I had so much fun last night man with those guys, playing on one of the biggest gaming stages in the world, represent EA and our AFC side and NFC side. We was just excited to be out there, you know, one of the four guys that was out there and so it was very exciting. Having Ocho out there, Marshawn was amazing, Charissa too. Everybody was just having a good time.

Have you ever played on the stadium screen like that?

Never in my life, boy. Like it was so many TVs in front of me. So we had like 7-8 small, regular TVs, and then we had this one big TV. I’m like, I don’t know which to look at like, know what I mean? So it was pretty cool.

Who’s the best Madden player on the Chargers? Cause I know Keenan Allen’s a big Madden guy too.

Not including myself?

Not including yourself, because I assume that you would say yourself?

Oh, yeah, I like me. But if it ain’t me then I say probably Keenan. He’s pretty good.

I want to get your general thoughts on this past season for you guys in L.A. Obviously had ups and downs and came just short of the playoffs. But when you take a look back now it’s been a few weeks, what are your thoughts on the season you guys just had?

I’m excited, man. Because I feel like just looking at everything that’s going on around the NFL and to have the security we have at quarterback, we know he’s gonna be what he’s going to be — what he already is — always gives you a chance and always gives you opportunity. So we just gotta build for more. We didn’t end how we want it to end but I feel like we got a great team and we one or two plays away from still playing today. So I mean, we got to just keep working hard and you know, just take that next step as a team.

Yeah, I was gonna ask, is there anything that you can see as what is that next step? Is it just finishing some of those games because you had a bunch that were close?

Yeah, finishing those games, because I look back on it on the season. I think 14 of our games were fourth quarter games — 14 or 15 of our games were fourth quarter games and one possession games. So we gotta just be able to man to give ourselves that comfort room, you know. Whether we’re up 10 or 12 or something to where, I mean, we could just finish those games.

This was the first season with Coach Staley. What did he bring to this team that makes you excited about what y’all can do next year having another year and comfort in what he’s asking you guys to do?

I feel like he brought aggression, belief. I feel like we’re a team, we closer. I just feel like he just brought everything. He’s really the whole package. And I feel like we’re gonna do a lot of great things. I don’t want to just sit up here and just talk about that, but I’m just like, he really the guy, man. And I feel like we picked the right guy for the job and the results will eventually finish how we want them to finish but no, we building here still.

Finally, as you look forward towards your offseason, obviously you’ll take some time to rest and recuperate. How do you go about planning, your offseason training and trying to continue to add to your repertoire so you can be back in the Pro Bowl again next year?

Really just like you said, man getting the body back right. Because, you know, it’s a long three, four, five months of the season man, and just getting the body ready to do it again. So that’s what it is constantly, man. Just getting reset in the body, reprogramming it. Whatever you need to get fixed or anything, just making sure everything’s good that way when the season comes, you don’t have nothing sneaking up on you or popping up, and you can just go play your best.