Monday, December 31, 2012
12/30/12
Hickoids at Murphy's in Memphis. This was basically an after party for a wedding reception. Our buddy Misty White got hitched and needed a dose of the 'oids to round out the nuptials. We were happy to oblige.
It was a big beautiful drunken mess. Our set started with happy people dancing and ended with a bunch of those same folks rolling around on the floor. The booze was flowing freely and everyone was happy.
Frontier Circus opened things up. It's some friends of Davy's and he played lead with them. I've never seen someone play a theremin with a guitar before. A cacophony of sound.
We had the middle slot and Skip Town closed things up. Yet another bad ass local band packed full of surprising amounts of talent. Memphis is loaded with that and it's always fun to see.
A Hot Springs NYE tonight!
It was a big beautiful drunken mess. Our set started with happy people dancing and ended with a bunch of those same folks rolling around on the floor. The booze was flowing freely and everyone was happy.
Frontier Circus opened things up. It's some friends of Davy's and he played lead with them. I've never seen someone play a theremin with a guitar before. A cacophony of sound.
We had the middle slot and Skip Town closed things up. Yet another bad ass local band packed full of surprising amounts of talent. Memphis is loaded with that and it's always fun to see.
A Hot Springs NYE tonight!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
12/29/12
We ended up doing two shows last night. The first (and originally the only) show was at a coffee shop that happens to have bands. The second was at a bar.
#1
We only played five songs because we went on fifteen minutes before closing. We were too loud for the joint, but that didn't stop folks from having fun. We got paid and loaded the freak for...
#2
We were put on this bill a little after we loaded in for the the first one. Gotta love a last second show. We did about an hour after a local band and did a decent job of not scaring off too much of their crowd. Or everyone was so drunk they didn't care. Either way they stayed.
Memphis next!
#1
We only played five songs because we went on fifteen minutes before closing. We were too loud for the joint, but that didn't stop folks from having fun. We got paid and loaded the freak for...
#2
We were put on this bill a little after we loaded in for the the first one. Gotta love a last second show. We did about an hour after a local band and did a decent job of not scaring off too much of their crowd. Or everyone was so drunk they didn't care. Either way they stayed.
Memphis next!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
The next three days
Hickoids on a little tour. Shreveport tonight then Memphis and NYE in Hot Springs Arkansas.
We have a temporary freak and it nice and clean. We should be fine this trip.
Updates will follow.
We have a temporary freak and it nice and clean. We should be fine this trip.
Updates will follow.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
12/22/12
Hickoids at Headhunters. That's kind of a lie. Headhunters is going to
be on a Bar makeover show so some fancy "designers" came in and changed
the joint. It's now called Metal and Lace and it's a steampunk club...
They have clocks and gears on the freshly painted walls. But all of the
new decorations look like they were bought/rented from the same supplier
for a bar in Disneyland. It might work somewhere. Apparently it's going
right back to Headhunters as soon as the show airs.
The back is pretty much the same, but now it's called "Headhunters Lounge". Swanky. So swanky they have a stripper pole up on the second floor. I busted a couple of moves and made a couple of dollars before we played. I'm an entrepreneur.
Breakdown
Zero free beer. Sad. At least all of the bartenders were cute.
The back is pretty much the same, but now it's called "Headhunters Lounge". Swanky. So swanky they have a stripper pole up on the second floor. I busted a couple of moves and made a couple of dollars before we played. I'm an entrepreneur.
Breakdown
Zero free beer. Sad. At least all of the bartenders were cute.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Transportation Breakdown
This is a blow by blow account of what happened on the last Hickoids
tour. It won't be a pretty read because it wasn't pretty to live.
According to Smitty it all started after I told him my flight out of Austin was running 15 minutes late. The rest of the Hickoids stayed in Houston after THIS, the night before while I drove home to work Saturday morning. They were planning on picking me up in the Freak Van from the New Orleans airport a little after I landed.
I get on the plane and just as I was shutting off my phone I got a text from Lance "Serious van problems between Lake Charles and Lafayette." Shit. I finish shutting down and we fly to Houston. I turn it back on and get a couple of messages saying things were looking up. They were in Welsh LA and there was a guy helping with the Freak and they should make it to NO before showtime. It was right about then the SWA attendants told us we were switching planes because the one we were on wasn't big enough for all the passengers... So I jump to the other plane and get some updates and head to NO.
We land and I'm told the Freak won't be making the trip. Manny (the mechanic in Welsh) couldn't get the parts to fix it in time, but he was kind enough to drive Smitty to Lafayette to rent a mini van. They piled all the gear that would fit and headed east. The plan was to meet them at the club.
I took a cab to the hotel. Well, I tried... We get on the interstate and every lane of traffic is backed up. 45 minutes later we are approaching downtown and there is another problem. This weekended is the "Soul Bowl" and all of downtown New Orleans is packed. He gives me directions to the club (for later) and drops me as close as he can to Canal St and I walk the rest. No big deal.
Get to the room, play a bit at the casino and head to the show. The cab driver told me the club was in the French Quarter, it isn't. But it's not too far away according to the map on the phone. I'm getting closer and I walk by this building that's a Po Boy shop. I remember it from the last time we played here because someone had gotten shot outside... And now I'm walking by it...
Nothing happens and in a couple of blocks I find the club and then THIS. Siberia closes and Smitty and I hit the hotel/casino and the other fellas stay with Jimmy Bradshaw. We meet up the next morning and drive the mini van to Lafayette. It took us a little over four hours to make the trip. Under normal conditions this should take an hour and a half. Not today.
After a boat load of deliberation we decided to pick up a Uhaul and use it to follow the the Freak back to SA. The mini van would have been another $600 to get us there and if the Freak dies the rest of our gear will be stuck on the side of a Louisiana highway. Bad move. We get the Uhaul and take the mini van to the Lafayette airport and drop it off.
There are only three seats in the front of the Uhaul and five Hickoids. Jones and I take the back. It was about an hour to Welsh and fortunately there was a light on in the back of the box. Jones and I talked, smoked and slept most of the way. Not horrible. I was thankful for "my superpower". It really comes in handy at times like this.
We stop and they open the back and I meet Manny. He says it's the head gasket and he couldn't fix it, but he did what he could. To make the Freak lighter we loaded all the rest of the gear into the Uhaul. Tom and Lance drive it. Smitty, Davy and I in the Freak. It starts up and sounds like all hell IS breaking loose. Like a thousand paint cans stuck in an earthquake. I knew then it wasn't gonna make it.
We hit the road and the check engine light is on. We pull on the ramp to I-10 and the oil light comes on. Then this incredible cacophony comes from the engine. After a hundred yards it comes to a simmer and then rages up to a boil until the engine seized.
The Freak is dead.
We get the remaining stuff (mostly crap and tools) out of the van and say goodbye to the Freak forever, leaving it on the side of I-10.
Davy and I head back to our places in the box and because the third seat is tiny Tom joins us in the back. There is barely any room with all of the gear so Tom takes the "Mom's attic" portion right over the cab. He said it's been a childhood dream to ride up there.
From here on it was pretty uneventful. We stopped a couple of times and made lots of jokes about being smuggled across state lines. Eventually we made it back to SA and unloaded what we could in to Davy and Lance's cars (the rest went in Smitty's house) and we made it home to Austin after fourteen hours of driving.
It was stupid and exhausting and we missed the show were were supposed to play in Lafayette, but we all made it home. A little sore and tired, but we made it home safe.
According to Smitty it all started after I told him my flight out of Austin was running 15 minutes late. The rest of the Hickoids stayed in Houston after THIS, the night before while I drove home to work Saturday morning. They were planning on picking me up in the Freak Van from the New Orleans airport a little after I landed.
I get on the plane and just as I was shutting off my phone I got a text from Lance "Serious van problems between Lake Charles and Lafayette." Shit. I finish shutting down and we fly to Houston. I turn it back on and get a couple of messages saying things were looking up. They were in Welsh LA and there was a guy helping with the Freak and they should make it to NO before showtime. It was right about then the SWA attendants told us we were switching planes because the one we were on wasn't big enough for all the passengers... So I jump to the other plane and get some updates and head to NO.
We land and I'm told the Freak won't be making the trip. Manny (the mechanic in Welsh) couldn't get the parts to fix it in time, but he was kind enough to drive Smitty to Lafayette to rent a mini van. They piled all the gear that would fit and headed east. The plan was to meet them at the club.
I took a cab to the hotel. Well, I tried... We get on the interstate and every lane of traffic is backed up. 45 minutes later we are approaching downtown and there is another problem. This weekended is the "Soul Bowl" and all of downtown New Orleans is packed. He gives me directions to the club (for later) and drops me as close as he can to Canal St and I walk the rest. No big deal.
Get to the room, play a bit at the casino and head to the show. The cab driver told me the club was in the French Quarter, it isn't. But it's not too far away according to the map on the phone. I'm getting closer and I walk by this building that's a Po Boy shop. I remember it from the last time we played here because someone had gotten shot outside... And now I'm walking by it...
Nothing happens and in a couple of blocks I find the club and then THIS. Siberia closes and Smitty and I hit the hotel/casino and the other fellas stay with Jimmy Bradshaw. We meet up the next morning and drive the mini van to Lafayette. It took us a little over four hours to make the trip. Under normal conditions this should take an hour and a half. Not today.
After a boat load of deliberation we decided to pick up a Uhaul and use it to follow the the Freak back to SA. The mini van would have been another $600 to get us there and if the Freak dies the rest of our gear will be stuck on the side of a Louisiana highway. Bad move. We get the Uhaul and take the mini van to the Lafayette airport and drop it off.
There are only three seats in the front of the Uhaul and five Hickoids. Jones and I take the back. It was about an hour to Welsh and fortunately there was a light on in the back of the box. Jones and I talked, smoked and slept most of the way. Not horrible. I was thankful for "my superpower". It really comes in handy at times like this.
We stop and they open the back and I meet Manny. He says it's the head gasket and he couldn't fix it, but he did what he could. To make the Freak lighter we loaded all the rest of the gear into the Uhaul. Tom and Lance drive it. Smitty, Davy and I in the Freak. It starts up and sounds like all hell IS breaking loose. Like a thousand paint cans stuck in an earthquake. I knew then it wasn't gonna make it.
We hit the road and the check engine light is on. We pull on the ramp to I-10 and the oil light comes on. Then this incredible cacophony comes from the engine. After a hundred yards it comes to a simmer and then rages up to a boil until the engine seized.
The Freak is dead.
We get the remaining stuff (mostly crap and tools) out of the van and say goodbye to the Freak forever, leaving it on the side of I-10.
Davy and I head back to our places in the box and because the third seat is tiny Tom joins us in the back. There is barely any room with all of the gear so Tom takes the "Mom's attic" portion right over the cab. He said it's been a childhood dream to ride up there.
From here on it was pretty uneventful. We stopped a couple of times and made lots of jokes about being smuggled across state lines. Eventually we made it back to SA and unloaded what we could in to Davy and Lance's cars (the rest went in Smitty's house) and we made it home to Austin after fourteen hours of driving.
It was stupid and exhausting and we missed the show were were supposed to play in Lafayette, but we all made it home. A little sore and tired, but we made it home safe.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
11/24/12
It was one hell of a long and rough trip. I'll get in to that in another post, right now I want to talk about Siberia.
Hickoids were there Saturday night with The Unnaturals and Nick Name and the Valmonts. I met the rest of the fellas at the club after hoofing it from my hotel on Canal St. I'll get in to that later too...
I walked in just when Nick and the Valmonts were finishing. I wish I'd caught more, I liked what i heard. I did catch all of the Unnaturals and I loved the hell out of their set (and the CD! Thanks!). Some really inspired punk/surf, very cool. I hope we see more of both of them in the near future.
Hickoids get up and we do our thing on borrowed Unnaturals' equipment. As usual I wish I had mine, but I was really happy to be playing, especially after all the shit that lead up to that point. Once again more on that later.
Breakdown
Three beer tickets and a few free ones thrown in. Siberia is a lovely place.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
11/23/12
Hickoids at Fitzgeralds in Houston. This was a reunion show for the
Axiom, a Houston club that was way before my time. There were a ton of
people out for it. When I pulled up around 10 PM there were a few
hundred folks waiting to get in and it was already packed inside. Nice.
This is the first of three nights of a little tour, Houston, New Orleans, and Lafayette. I had to work on Saturday (today) so I made the round trip drive by myself while the other fellas were packed up in the Freak. I was on the road by midnight and in the house and showering by 2:30. I didn't even speed all that much... I'm flying out to NO for the show tonight. I'm fancy.
I went to Houston early to hit Southpaw Guitars, the happiest place in the world, if your a lefty. I was/am looking for a lefty P bass, but they didn't have what I wanted (picky). I did see a really cool Gibson 336 if you have a spare $3200 you want to give me!
Breakdown
There was a backline but the bass amp sounded like crap. It was some fancy tube amp, but it couldn't keep up with the SPL level needed for the Hickoids. A backline is nice, but I wished I was using mine.
In the expansive backstage area there was a cooler of beer, pizza and cookies. I almost felt spoiled.
More tomorrow.
This is the first of three nights of a little tour, Houston, New Orleans, and Lafayette. I had to work on Saturday (today) so I made the round trip drive by myself while the other fellas were packed up in the Freak. I was on the road by midnight and in the house and showering by 2:30. I didn't even speed all that much... I'm flying out to NO for the show tonight. I'm fancy.
I went to Houston early to hit Southpaw Guitars, the happiest place in the world, if your a lefty. I was/am looking for a lefty P bass, but they didn't have what I wanted (picky). I did see a really cool Gibson 336 if you have a spare $3200 you want to give me!
Breakdown
There was a backline but the bass amp sounded like crap. It was some fancy tube amp, but it couldn't keep up with the SPL level needed for the Hickoids. A backline is nice, but I wished I was using mine.
In the expansive backstage area there was a cooler of beer, pizza and cookies. I almost felt spoiled.
More tomorrow.
Friday, November 23, 2012
11/21/12
Hickoids at the ND the day before Thanksgiving. It's a beautiful time of the year. Decent turnout for a Wednesday night, especially since a lot of people I know were already out of town.
This was our first show with what should be the Hickoids lineup for a while. Tom(Tony), Davy, Lance, Smitty and Me. Smitty is even picking up the guitar and "helping" on a few tunes. He did this for a while when I first started, but he dropped it pretty quick. This time I think it's sticking around.
We are sounding tight and huge. Weekly practices for the last year are really helping. It's amazing what happens when a lazy band gets off it's ass. They get better! Amazing I know...
Breakdown
Three beer tickets good for tallboys. That's good with me.
My only "problem" the whole night is the stage cuts back behind the section I was standing on. It makes me paranoid I'm gonna step back and bust my ass. It's in my nature to do something stupid like that. And much more likely since I'm standing on the stage.
Houston/NO/Lafayette this weekend!
This was our first show with what should be the Hickoids lineup for a while. Tom(Tony), Davy, Lance, Smitty and Me. Smitty is even picking up the guitar and "helping" on a few tunes. He did this for a while when I first started, but he dropped it pretty quick. This time I think it's sticking around.
We are sounding tight and huge. Weekly practices for the last year are really helping. It's amazing what happens when a lazy band gets off it's ass. They get better! Amazing I know...
Breakdown
Three beer tickets good for tallboys. That's good with me.
My only "problem" the whole night is the stage cuts back behind the section I was standing on. It makes me paranoid I'm gonna step back and bust my ass. It's in my nature to do something stupid like that. And much more likely since I'm standing on the stage.
Houston/NO/Lafayette this weekend!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
11/16/12
Davy and I made the drive to SA to knock out some backing vocals for the
new Hickoids record. Joe Trevino is an absolutely amazing engineer. It
isn't all about owning all the right equipment and knowing how to mic
things up. It's mostly about having patience and looking/waiting for the
right performance. Jones and I were there for a little more than two
hours and over that time I heard him say "Don't worry about it brother,
we are getting there" a dozen or so times. Saint like patience.
Beautiful.
It was pretty cool actually hearing some of Smitty's lyrics I've never heard before. Generally it's way too loud (and I'm too busy) to understand anything he is singing. In the studio you can hear every word and he had me cracking up several times. I've been on the other side of the fence for most of my life. With the Ladies (and previous incarnations of my act) I'm the songwriter so I know what I'm saying and I've had my band mates say "Oh, that's what that songs about..." This time, that was me. Perspective!
It was pretty cool actually hearing some of Smitty's lyrics I've never heard before. Generally it's way too loud (and I'm too busy) to understand anything he is singing. In the studio you can hear every word and he had me cracking up several times. I've been on the other side of the fence for most of my life. With the Ladies (and previous incarnations of my act) I'm the songwriter so I know what I'm saying and I've had my band mates say "Oh, that's what that songs about..." This time, that was me. Perspective!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11/10/12
Hickoids in Dallas at the Doublewide. It took forever to get there. Bad
traffic on 35 and a couple of extra stops on the way. Forgive us, it is
hard driving by the Czech Stop in West and kolaches make the drive better!
We make it and load in. My favorite thing about this club is it has three different sections. The main bar, outside and the music part. It's nice because the bar can make money on drinkers without having to force them to watch a band they may not want to watch. And it's great for the bands because the people in the music room want to be there! Smart.
The openers were Lois and the Psycho Sidekicks and Graceland. Both did a hell of a job. The Graceland folks had a bunch of matching Orange amps, It looked and sounded really cool.
We played and kicked our usual amount of ass. We had to do some serious hauling of the ass to get home. Scott had a gig at the San Antonio marathon and needed to be there at 6 AM! I did the last half of the drive (after much caffeine) to Austin. We pulled up to Davy's a little after 5. I don't know if Lutz and Smitty made it the rest of the way.
As for me I was still jacked up on the wake up juice when I got home. After a couple of beers I made it to bed around 6:45 and woke up the next day around 3. I was glad I was off...
Breakdown
Two free beers and $2 Lone Stars after that. Not bad
We make it and load in. My favorite thing about this club is it has three different sections. The main bar, outside and the music part. It's nice because the bar can make money on drinkers without having to force them to watch a band they may not want to watch. And it's great for the bands because the people in the music room want to be there! Smart.
The openers were Lois and the Psycho Sidekicks and Graceland. Both did a hell of a job. The Graceland folks had a bunch of matching Orange amps, It looked and sounded really cool.
We played and kicked our usual amount of ass. We had to do some serious hauling of the ass to get home. Scott had a gig at the San Antonio marathon and needed to be there at 6 AM! I did the last half of the drive (after much caffeine) to Austin. We pulled up to Davy's a little after 5. I don't know if Lutz and Smitty made it the rest of the way.
As for me I was still jacked up on the wake up juice when I got home. After a couple of beers I made it to bed around 6:45 and woke up the next day around 3. I was glad I was off...
Breakdown
Two free beers and $2 Lone Stars after that. Not bad
Friday, November 9, 2012
Doublewide in Dallas
Hickoids will be there on Saturday. You gotta love a club with a mural like that.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
10/27-28/12
I love recording. Even when I'm not the one tracking I love being in the
studio and around the process. Working with Joe Trevino at Blue Cat
Studios in San Antonio makes it even better.
The Hickoids are rerecording the "Hairy Chafin' Ape Suit" EP we put out a couple of years ago. It will have a few more songs and already sounds a WORLD better than the last try. Joe has no small part in that. It isn't just his ears, the gear or the room. It's Joe who knows ALL of that stuff like the back of his hand to the point where he doesn't even think about it. He is solely concentrating on the performance and extracting the best one possible out of the people in the room. The ladies and I really need to get in there.
We cut most of the stuff live with a few overdubs and punches where a part wouldn't work. A lot of studios try to isolate things as much as possible. With us Joe kept saying "Bleed is good!" You will hear mistakes on this one, just like it should be. It's a record made by a band, not some artistic piece of glory perfected. There are still some backing vocals Davy and I need to lay down, but we are very close to having a new one in the can. It was a pretty easy couple of days considering how much work was involved.
We did an electronic (I am not kidding) version of Cool Arrow. When I finished laying down the bass line Smitty said "Hey this mechanical bear band just called, they need a new bass player." I quickly let the "fuck you" fly and then I heard the track... Apparently they do eighteen shows a day and they have dental after six months, so...
The Hickoids are rerecording the "Hairy Chafin' Ape Suit" EP we put out a couple of years ago. It will have a few more songs and already sounds a WORLD better than the last try. Joe has no small part in that. It isn't just his ears, the gear or the room. It's Joe who knows ALL of that stuff like the back of his hand to the point where he doesn't even think about it. He is solely concentrating on the performance and extracting the best one possible out of the people in the room. The ladies and I really need to get in there.
We cut most of the stuff live with a few overdubs and punches where a part wouldn't work. A lot of studios try to isolate things as much as possible. With us Joe kept saying "Bleed is good!" You will hear mistakes on this one, just like it should be. It's a record made by a band, not some artistic piece of glory perfected. There are still some backing vocals Davy and I need to lay down, but we are very close to having a new one in the can. It was a pretty easy couple of days considering how much work was involved.
We did an electronic (I am not kidding) version of Cool Arrow. When I finished laying down the bass line Smitty said "Hey this mechanical bear band just called, they need a new bass player." I quickly let the "fuck you" fly and then I heard the track... Apparently they do eighteen shows a day and they have dental after six months, so...
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
10/14/12
Day Four ACL
The last day of the fest at the Hole in the Wall and we are running on fumes. Hickoids went on at 4:30 and played for about an hour. 4:30 is way too early for a show, especially a Hickoids show.
There were around nine bands throughout the day and both stages were going front and back, one right after the other, until the back kick drum broke. The last few bands were all up front on the "classic" stage. It really only feels like the Hole up there. The back is cool, but the front is the HOLE!
Purple Stickpin, Billy Joe Winghead, Pocket Fishermen, De Los Muertos, and many others. After the Hickoids played I drove home and rode my bike back to enjoy the rest of the night. I had a hell of a time and I really enjoyed the new Pocket Fishermen song about Chips mutilating people. It's an instant classic.
Breakdown
The Hole was great all day. I had a bunch of Beers on the tab and even near the end of the night they were still buying them for me! Thanks
I need some rest...
The last day of the fest at the Hole in the Wall and we are running on fumes. Hickoids went on at 4:30 and played for about an hour. 4:30 is way too early for a show, especially a Hickoids show.
There were around nine bands throughout the day and both stages were going front and back, one right after the other, until the back kick drum broke. The last few bands were all up front on the "classic" stage. It really only feels like the Hole up there. The back is cool, but the front is the HOLE!
Purple Stickpin, Billy Joe Winghead, Pocket Fishermen, De Los Muertos, and many others. After the Hickoids played I drove home and rode my bike back to enjoy the rest of the night. I had a hell of a time and I really enjoyed the new Pocket Fishermen song about Chips mutilating people. It's an instant classic.
Breakdown
The Hole was great all day. I had a bunch of Beers on the tab and even near the end of the night they were still buying them for me! Thanks
I need some rest...
Sunday, October 14, 2012
10/13/12
Day Three ACL
Smitty busted out the duct tape pants with the added feature of corn lights (and a 30 foot power cord). The White Swan was aglow with corny goodness.
The neighborhood is VERY different from the Gypsy Lounge/White Horse neighborhood. East 6th is almost completely gentrified and about a year away from it becoming frat boy central.
On east 12th you can still buy crack from a few of the hookers that are trolling around. Good to know Austin still has some ghetto in it. A police helicopter flew over a dozen times right before we played. The crack and the hooking kept on going.
Both Chelsea Hotel and The Poor Dumb Bastards made it up from Houston to bring the rock. After an amp malfunction everything was golden. Lots of big loud and stupid. Beautiful.
Tom got some kind if food poisoning and warned me before we started to get out of the way if I see him take off his guitar. Fortunately it was a puke free set.
More tomorrow
Smitty busted out the duct tape pants with the added feature of corn lights (and a 30 foot power cord). The White Swan was aglow with corny goodness.
The neighborhood is VERY different from the Gypsy Lounge/White Horse neighborhood. East 6th is almost completely gentrified and about a year away from it becoming frat boy central.
On east 12th you can still buy crack from a few of the hookers that are trolling around. Good to know Austin still has some ghetto in it. A police helicopter flew over a dozen times right before we played. The crack and the hooking kept on going.
Both Chelsea Hotel and The Poor Dumb Bastards made it up from Houston to bring the rock. After an amp malfunction everything was golden. Lots of big loud and stupid. Beautiful.
Tom got some kind if food poisoning and warned me before we started to get out of the way if I see him take off his guitar. Fortunately it was a puke free set.
More tomorrow
Saturday, October 13, 2012
10/12/12
Day Two ACL
It was supposed to be my last show with the Casters, but Bill was MIA and the Hickoids played instead. I guess my last Casters show was this one... I'm glad I wore the dress now.
Scorpio Rising started things off at the Gypsy Lounge, yet another east Austin bar I've never been too. Wonderbread finally has a wireless so he can literally run everywhere during the set, it was time. I'd been tripped up by his cord plenty of times. And there is something about their drummer, he kind of looks like lady...
Hickoids get up and right before we were going to play, it's corn tug time. Two people one ear of corn and some Wesson oil. The most exciting three seconds in rock and roll and history was written with the help of some nipple twisting. The oil stuck around for the rest of the night. On the floor. Right in front of the stage.
We had the Lolly Gaggers step in and "become" Corn Maidens for the night. There was lots of rubbin and bumpin goin on all over the place. The crowd was pretty randy for a Hickoids show. Fun
Breakdown
I like the Gypsy Lounge. I got three free Lone Stars which wasn't too bad and the folks working were pretty cool. I'll go back!
It was supposed to be my last show with the Casters, but Bill was MIA and the Hickoids played instead. I guess my last Casters show was this one... I'm glad I wore the dress now.
Scorpio Rising started things off at the Gypsy Lounge, yet another east Austin bar I've never been too. Wonderbread finally has a wireless so he can literally run everywhere during the set, it was time. I'd been tripped up by his cord plenty of times. And there is something about their drummer, he kind of looks like lady...
Hickoids get up and right before we were going to play, it's corn tug time. Two people one ear of corn and some Wesson oil. The most exciting three seconds in rock and roll and history was written with the help of some nipple twisting. The oil stuck around for the rest of the night. On the floor. Right in front of the stage.
We had the Lolly Gaggers step in and "become" Corn Maidens for the night. There was lots of rubbin and bumpin goin on all over the place. The crowd was pretty randy for a Hickoids show. Fun
Breakdown
I like the Gypsy Lounge. I got three free Lone Stars which wasn't too bad and the folks working were pretty cool. I'll go back!
Friday, October 12, 2012
10/11/12
Day one ACL
What a night. I put in a full shift at the White Horse last night and I am paying for it today. Got there a little after 6 and left around 1:45. I wonder if they offer health insurance?
The Ladies and I started things off. We had a good set, but I'm starting to think my amp is too small to deal with the SPL of two drummers. I had that thing cranked and I wasn't getting much out of it. 22 watts through a 12" speaker may be a little on the wimpy side. We started things out early and played to a handful of people, but we had a lot of fun.
By the time the Hickoids came on the place was PACKED. It was hard getting to the stage. We did two of the new songs we've been working on. Including "If Drinkin Don't Kill Me" which has four different choruses. I think I sang most of the words right.
There were a total of seven or eight bands including The Beaumonts, Mike and the Moonpies, The Swindles and Cunto. Apparently the guys in Cunto count ACL for their anniversary because they started playing right before the first one. Beautiful.
Breakdown
The club was very generous to us. I had a bunch of Lone Star and I didn't pay for most of them! They took care of ALL the bands the same way. My old friend Waldo was even working the bar. What a cool fucking place.
More tomorrow
What a night. I put in a full shift at the White Horse last night and I am paying for it today. Got there a little after 6 and left around 1:45. I wonder if they offer health insurance?
The Ladies and I started things off. We had a good set, but I'm starting to think my amp is too small to deal with the SPL of two drummers. I had that thing cranked and I wasn't getting much out of it. 22 watts through a 12" speaker may be a little on the wimpy side. We started things out early and played to a handful of people, but we had a lot of fun.
By the time the Hickoids came on the place was PACKED. It was hard getting to the stage. We did two of the new songs we've been working on. Including "If Drinkin Don't Kill Me" which has four different choruses. I think I sang most of the words right.
There were a total of seven or eight bands including The Beaumonts, Mike and the Moonpies, The Swindles and Cunto. Apparently the guys in Cunto count ACL for their anniversary because they started playing right before the first one. Beautiful.
Breakdown
The club was very generous to us. I had a bunch of Lone Star and I didn't pay for most of them! They took care of ALL the bands the same way. My old friend Waldo was even working the bar. What a cool fucking place.
More tomorrow
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Things Change/ACL
ACL weekend. It's a busy one. As I posted here, me and the ladies are opening the fest on Thursday (Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta of course). But now it's 7PM at the White Horse, NOT Hotel Vegas. Things change...
We were practicing last night at BC's and the cops came and shut us down. That hasn't happened to me in years, it almost felt nostalgic (if it weren't for it being a total pain in the ass). Shut down at 9PM on a Wednesday night. Live music capital of the what? We'd been practicing there for a few months so this seems a little out of the blue.
We were in a practice space with some other folks, but things got weird and we bailed. We've been doing it at BC's but something has to change there, we can't have the cops showing up all the time. We are gonna try little amps and go from there. Ideally we'll get in a new practice space at some point. Things change...
Friday night is my last show with the Casters. It's time to move on, so I am! Tom is taking over. He did the same thing about a year ago replacing me in the Ideals, now it's the Casters. Things change...
I was joking with the ladies last night (pre cops) that Tom should replace me for a couple of shows. It would still be called "Rice Moorehead and His Ladies", but Tom would fill in on guitar and vocals. Personally I think it would be hilarious.
Updates all weekend!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
9/23/12
Bigfoot Chester at Million Dollar Sound.
I don't know who came up with the idea, but when I was asked about it I said "Hell YEA!" immediately. This was Bigfoot Chester with Ted Roddy singing and playing Harp. We did two of the Howlin Wolf tunes we've played before at the Wolf birthday party (we did those songs with Ted then) and we hit one that was a harmonica "duel". Two harps and a twelve bar in E, GO!
The first song Walter didn't even play on it. He just let Ted do his thing (so cool). I almost screwed up one of the endings in a big way when Ted was blowing some bad assed harp. I'll admit I'm easily excitable, but that solo on the way out of "You'll Be Mine" was pretty amazing. Walter came in to the tracking room to blow some sax on the second number and, of course, harmonica on the duel at the end. I can't wait to hear it.
This is the fourth or fifth location of Million Dollar Sound I've recorded in. As usual Kurtis has his shit together and his gear dialed in. Things were sounding really good and he is SO easy to work with. He got everything set up and three songs (five takes) with minimal overdubs done in under three hours. Thanks Kurtis!
A very nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
I don't know who came up with the idea, but when I was asked about it I said "Hell YEA!" immediately. This was Bigfoot Chester with Ted Roddy singing and playing Harp. We did two of the Howlin Wolf tunes we've played before at the Wolf birthday party (we did those songs with Ted then) and we hit one that was a harmonica "duel". Two harps and a twelve bar in E, GO!
The first song Walter didn't even play on it. He just let Ted do his thing (so cool). I almost screwed up one of the endings in a big way when Ted was blowing some bad assed harp. I'll admit I'm easily excitable, but that solo on the way out of "You'll Be Mine" was pretty amazing. Walter came in to the tracking room to blow some sax on the second number and, of course, harmonica on the duel at the end. I can't wait to hear it.
This is the fourth or fifth location of Million Dollar Sound I've recorded in. As usual Kurtis has his shit together and his gear dialed in. Things were sounding really good and he is SO easy to work with. He got everything set up and three songs (five takes) with minimal overdubs done in under three hours. Thanks Kurtis!
A very nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
It's official, we are opening ACL!*
It's just been announced, Rice Moorehead and his Ladies will be the opening act at this years ACL!
We kick things off at Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th st, Thursday, October 11, 9PM. **
Mark your calendars now, we will rip this one up!***
* Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta, don't confuse it with the other ACL that happens at the same time.
** All times/dates/venues subject to change. Refer to Smitty corp public relations manual page 114, section two paragraph 1 for more information.
*** This will be a figurative "rip up". We would like to play Hotel Vegas some other time in the future and if we literally rip things they may not have us back.
We kick things off at Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th st, Thursday, October 11, 9PM. **
Mark your calendars now, we will rip this one up!***
* Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta, don't confuse it with the other ACL that happens at the same time.
** All times/dates/venues subject to change. Refer to Smitty corp public relations manual page 114, section two paragraph 1 for more information.
*** This will be a figurative "rip up". We would like to play Hotel Vegas some other time in the future and if we literally rip things they may not have us back.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
8/31/12
And another one bites the dust...
Last night the Hickoids were the final band to play at the Scoot Inn. Today they are closed, sad. I liked the place and played there often. This is the current state of Austins "progress".
There was some band playing outside when I got there and the place was packed. Loads of good looking women, way more than your average Hickoids show so I knew something was fishy. They came for the outside band and most of them left when they stopped. El Pathos ran out the remaining stragglers so by the time we started so it was just a room of Hickoid fans. Let the party begin!
Our set was pretty wild. Roger was there and he showed great restraint by only getting up to sing on two songs and at no point did he fuck with Davy (which is actually a shame). It was Davy's birthday and there were a million old man jokes flung around. There was enough sweet cruelty to bring a tear to your eye. Jonnie Hell is back from the dead. He showed up and sat in on the Fruit Fly. It was a pleasure to play with him again. It was a mini time machine. The way I play my parts with Lance is a little different than the way I played them with Jonnie, so when I started the song it began in "Lance" style but quickly shifted to "Jonnie" style. A strange music geek thing and I'm sure I was the only one that noticed...
Breakdown
I got a ton of drink tickets at the beginning of the night AND I had several drinks handed to me by various, kind people. !
Most of my beers that made it to the stage were spilled by Hickoid stupidity and/or Rodger... oh rodger... It's OK, I really didn't need any more at that point.
The Scoot is gone. It's going to be replaced by a bar with no music.
And another one gone and another one gone...
Last night the Hickoids were the final band to play at the Scoot Inn. Today they are closed, sad. I liked the place and played there often. This is the current state of Austins "progress".
There was some band playing outside when I got there and the place was packed. Loads of good looking women, way more than your average Hickoids show so I knew something was fishy. They came for the outside band and most of them left when they stopped. El Pathos ran out the remaining stragglers so by the time we started so it was just a room of Hickoid fans. Let the party begin!
Our set was pretty wild. Roger was there and he showed great restraint by only getting up to sing on two songs and at no point did he fuck with Davy (which is actually a shame). It was Davy's birthday and there were a million old man jokes flung around. There was enough sweet cruelty to bring a tear to your eye. Jonnie Hell is back from the dead. He showed up and sat in on the Fruit Fly. It was a pleasure to play with him again. It was a mini time machine. The way I play my parts with Lance is a little different than the way I played them with Jonnie, so when I started the song it began in "Lance" style but quickly shifted to "Jonnie" style. A strange music geek thing and I'm sure I was the only one that noticed...
Breakdown
I got a ton of drink tickets at the beginning of the night AND I had several drinks handed to me by various, kind people. !
Most of my beers that made it to the stage were spilled by Hickoid stupidity and/or Rodger... oh rodger... It's OK, I really didn't need any more at that point.
The Scoot is gone. It's going to be replaced by a bar with no music.
And another one gone and another one gone...
Monday, August 27, 2012
My new gig
I'm on a little holiday in Las Vegas and I was called up on stage at the Penn & Teller show to assist with a trick.
According to Penn I did a great job, so I guess I'm adding "magicians assistant" to the resume.
According to Penn I did a great job, so I guess I'm adding "magicians assistant" to the resume.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
8/18/12
I'm late with this one...
Hickoids at Rudyard's in Houston with the Poor Dumb Bastards and El Pathos. All the gear goes up and then back down the stairs. I counted 21 of them. Thankfully I was using the Bastards bass rig! I guess it's better than playing out in San Fransisco where it would be gear up and down stairs every day of the week.
Saturday wasn't quite as wild with drunken stupidity as Friday, but it was a hell of a good time. Hickoids played the middle slot and we really got the crowd worked up. Davy did NOT try to kill anyone with his guitar this time. There was no need...
At some point Smitty asked it he was using the same microphone as Byron, then he stuck it down the front AND the back of his pants and rubbed in the Smitty stank real good. Byron, you are welcome.
Breakdown
You only get one free beer, lame, but folks were kind to me. I ended up sleeping most of the way home.
Hickoids at Rudyard's in Houston with the Poor Dumb Bastards and El Pathos. All the gear goes up and then back down the stairs. I counted 21 of them. Thankfully I was using the Bastards bass rig! I guess it's better than playing out in San Fransisco where it would be gear up and down stairs every day of the week.
Saturday wasn't quite as wild with drunken stupidity as Friday, but it was a hell of a good time. Hickoids played the middle slot and we really got the crowd worked up. Davy did NOT try to kill anyone with his guitar this time. There was no need...
At some point Smitty asked it he was using the same microphone as Byron, then he stuck it down the front AND the back of his pants and rubbed in the Smitty stank real good. Byron, you are welcome.
Breakdown
You only get one free beer, lame, but folks were kind to me. I ended up sleeping most of the way home.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
8/18/12
Hickoids at the White Horse. This is the second time I've played here and I like it even more than the first. It's the kind of place where they want everyone to have a good time so they can have a good time. You know, like it's a really good bar.
The Poor Dumb Bastards opened up for us and we are gonna open for them tomorrow at Rudyard's in Houston. I haven't see that bunch of fools since last years ACL. It was good to hear classics like "cum drunk" again. Byron didn't do a duct tape mask this time, I'm guessing it's ruining his looks or something...
The Hickoids set was something else. Loads of drunken stupidity. Early on David Nobody got up and sang part of a chorus on the mic. Then three other Hickoid fan/idiots wanted in on the action and they kept jumping up on stage again and again. It was like some lady told a bunch of fifth graders they could touch her boobs. These boys couldn't stop or help themselves.
So the set goes on and the crowd is getting tighter and drunker and we are playing really good and sounding powerful. Smitty is whipping the crowd up in to a frenzy. These four boys start turning my mic around to sing a chorus on one song and I grab it and swing it back, it's my part boys, I can do it. I sing my little part and I guess they thought they shouldn't use my mic or something, so they turned their attention to Davy. Rodger in particular.
Rodger is standing right on the stage about a foot away from Davy when he is singing. He is so drunk he keeps leaning in (he really couldn't help himself, you could see it in his eyes he NEEDED to sing). Davy is getting pissed. Near the end of the tune Davy starts swinging his guitar at Rodger and "stabbing" him with the headstock. Rodger is not getting it. The song ends and Jones starts berating him over the PA! "You don't even play guitar, motherfucker!" and so on for a couple of minutes. It was beautiful.
The best part was after that settled down there was this strangely awkward and anticipatory feeling in the room. Everyone was standing around waiting to see what else would happen. So the next tune comes and Rodger and some other dude (I have no idea what his name is, but he wasn't the guy who took off his shirt after the second song and walked around for a half hour after the show looking for it!) fall on the stage in some kind of bear hug and knock down all but two of the twenty beers sitting around. Smitty jumps on top of them and starts riding them to the end of the song. It was fucking hilarious. We played three or four more and called it a night, ending a pretty amazing set.
Breakdown
We got free beer/booze and we got paid. Hey White Horse, can we play again next week?
The Poor Dumb Bastards opened up for us and we are gonna open for them tomorrow at Rudyard's in Houston. I haven't see that bunch of fools since last years ACL. It was good to hear classics like "cum drunk" again. Byron didn't do a duct tape mask this time, I'm guessing it's ruining his looks or something...
The Hickoids set was something else. Loads of drunken stupidity. Early on David Nobody got up and sang part of a chorus on the mic. Then three other Hickoid fan/idiots wanted in on the action and they kept jumping up on stage again and again. It was like some lady told a bunch of fifth graders they could touch her boobs. These boys couldn't stop or help themselves.
So the set goes on and the crowd is getting tighter and drunker and we are playing really good and sounding powerful. Smitty is whipping the crowd up in to a frenzy. These four boys start turning my mic around to sing a chorus on one song and I grab it and swing it back, it's my part boys, I can do it. I sing my little part and I guess they thought they shouldn't use my mic or something, so they turned their attention to Davy. Rodger in particular.
Rodger is standing right on the stage about a foot away from Davy when he is singing. He is so drunk he keeps leaning in (he really couldn't help himself, you could see it in his eyes he NEEDED to sing). Davy is getting pissed. Near the end of the tune Davy starts swinging his guitar at Rodger and "stabbing" him with the headstock. Rodger is not getting it. The song ends and Jones starts berating him over the PA! "You don't even play guitar, motherfucker!" and so on for a couple of minutes. It was beautiful.
The best part was after that settled down there was this strangely awkward and anticipatory feeling in the room. Everyone was standing around waiting to see what else would happen. So the next tune comes and Rodger and some other dude (I have no idea what his name is, but he wasn't the guy who took off his shirt after the second song and walked around for a half hour after the show looking for it!) fall on the stage in some kind of bear hug and knock down all but two of the twenty beers sitting around. Smitty jumps on top of them and starts riding them to the end of the song. It was fucking hilarious. We played three or four more and called it a night, ending a pretty amazing set.
Breakdown
We got free beer/booze and we got paid. Hey White Horse, can we play again next week?
Friday, August 17, 2012
RIP Brent Grulke
Brent Grulke died the other day. There are a bunch of well written obituaries all over the web, you can find them here, here, and here and on the SXSW site. This is not an obit, I just wanted to say a little something about the passing of a really cool guy.
Every time I'd see him I knew I was in for a good story. Over the years I've heard stories about all kinds of places he'd been and about the ton of cool people he'd met. Seeing the global reaction to his death, I know he was like that with everyone, everywhere.
About a year ago I was doing my usual Sunday thing and went to the Dog and Duck. It was a little after midnight and Brent happened to be there and as usual we had some great conversations over a few pints of Guinness. He mentioned he was on a committee (or panel or board) with some folks in NYC who were involved in distributing largesse to worthy musicians. Brent said the people he nominated never made the cut because they weren't Musicians. He nominated musicians. The differences in the capitol and the lowercase m were huge to him.
Brent wasn't complaining, you could tell he really liked being involved with the program. But, he thought the capitol M musicians were going to get money from any number of other places and the lower case ones wouldn't.
Brent nominated the underdog. He wanted to help the musicians with shitty day jobs.
That was the mindset of the creative director for the largest music conference in the world. That is a rare and beautiful thing.
Every time I'd see him I knew I was in for a good story. Over the years I've heard stories about all kinds of places he'd been and about the ton of cool people he'd met. Seeing the global reaction to his death, I know he was like that with everyone, everywhere.
About a year ago I was doing my usual Sunday thing and went to the Dog and Duck. It was a little after midnight and Brent happened to be there and as usual we had some great conversations over a few pints of Guinness. He mentioned he was on a committee (or panel or board) with some folks in NYC who were involved in distributing largesse to worthy musicians. Brent said the people he nominated never made the cut because they weren't Musicians. He nominated musicians. The differences in the capitol and the lowercase m were huge to him.
Brent wasn't complaining, you could tell he really liked being involved with the program. But, he thought the capitol M musicians were going to get money from any number of other places and the lower case ones wouldn't.
Brent nominated the underdog. He wanted to help the musicians with shitty day jobs.
That was the mindset of the creative director for the largest music conference in the world. That is a rare and beautiful thing.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
7/30/12
This was one of those times where being exhausted made things better. Me and the ladies at the Frontier Bar, our first show with the double drummer lineup and we were mighty. We opened things up with "the record" * and went on from there. There was a proper amount of slop to make things pretty and we played as if we were on tour for the last five days.
I love this band.
Heather Bishop opened the show. I'd never seen her with a band before, they were great. Her bass player was wearing an Otis shirt so that made me real happy. Dickie Lee closed things out with his cosmic cowboy leanings. I hadn't seen him since he opened for the Hickoids a couple of months back, this was another great set. Brooks, the former Hole in the Wall bartender who has seen me play several hundred shows and has poured me several thousand beers, was still with him playing leads on a telecaster. That fucker is good. And hell, Donnie on drums... i know 75% of that band!
Breakdown
I've been friends the bartender since he was 19. I got two drink tickets and was taken care of after that. I like Frontier Bar and we will be playing there again.
I pretty much have this week off with practices/shows starting back up next week. I'm gonna go nap.
* The record means we start with the first two tracks on "You Make Me Feel...".
I love this band.
Heather Bishop opened the show. I'd never seen her with a band before, they were great. Her bass player was wearing an Otis shirt so that made me real happy. Dickie Lee closed things out with his cosmic cowboy leanings. I hadn't seen him since he opened for the Hickoids a couple of months back, this was another great set. Brooks, the former Hole in the Wall bartender who has seen me play several hundred shows and has poured me several thousand beers, was still with him playing leads on a telecaster. That fucker is good. And hell, Donnie on drums... i know 75% of that band!
Breakdown
I've been friends the bartender since he was 19. I got two drink tickets and was taken care of after that. I like Frontier Bar and we will be playing there again.
I pretty much have this week off with practices/shows starting back up next week. I'm gonna go nap.
* The record means we start with the first two tracks on "You Make Me Feel...".
Monday, July 30, 2012
7/29/12
Hickoids at Padres in Marfa. This time we had a chance to enjoy the town for a few hours. We were there last year, for the final show of the tour. We'd left the club in San Diego at 3AM the night (morning) before and got in to Marfa about a half hour before showtime. I played solo for 45 minutes then the Hickoids played for about an hour. We were beyond exhausted, and then we drove home. This time was a hell of a lot nicer. We still had the 7-8 hour drive after the show, but it only took us three and a half hours to get there from Midland so we had a few hours to wander and bullshit with a bunch of cool people.
We were there for the Viva Big Bend festival that was put on by Texas Music magazine. We kicked some serious ass. Kicked it in the way that it can only be kicked after you've played the last four nights in a row and spent a ton of time in the van, motels and suffered through a pile of shitty truck stop food together. We are Hickoids.
Last time the stage seemed pretty big, but with two extra people (and ALL of Scott's gear) it was crowded as hell up there. I only had one little area to jump around in. And zero places to hide from Smitty and the microphone of death. He took a shower before the show, but that mic has Smitty stank living deep in it's recesses. Plenty of "Smitty" stored up inside...
Breakdown
Free food, free beer.... We are spoiled! And it's gonna be hard to go back.
The hay made it through the whole set, no hay dust in every inch of everything we own!! A huge win for the end of the tour (and for Padres).
Me and the Ladies tonight!
We were there for the Viva Big Bend festival that was put on by Texas Music magazine. We kicked some serious ass. Kicked it in the way that it can only be kicked after you've played the last four nights in a row and spent a ton of time in the van, motels and suffered through a pile of shitty truck stop food together. We are Hickoids.
Last time the stage seemed pretty big, but with two extra people (and ALL of Scott's gear) it was crowded as hell up there. I only had one little area to jump around in. And zero places to hide from Smitty and the microphone of death. He took a shower before the show, but that mic has Smitty stank living deep in it's recesses. Plenty of "Smitty" stored up inside...
Breakdown
Free food, free beer.... We are spoiled! And it's gonna be hard to go back.
The hay made it through the whole set, no hay dust in every inch of everything we own!! A huge win for the end of the tour (and for Padres).
Me and the Ladies tonight!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
7/28/12
We are already in the van and heading to Marfa. Midland doesn't offer much for afternoon entertainment...
Hickoids and the Beaumonts at the Blue Max. It's a club stuck out in the middle of drilling supply companies, railroad tracks and a 1/8 mile drag strip where you can pay some cash and punch your gas pedal to the floor... for 1/8 of a mile. I was told by multiple people that there was a lot of oil money in town and folks generally spend it on booze, drugs and their cars. So there is a lot if drag racing.
I loved the club. They had a big spread of BBQ with a bunch of sides to feed us AND the regular customers. The coolest part was when the owner, Erica came and asked what she could get me because she knew I was a veg. Once again I'm spoiled when away from Austin.
Beaumonts were pretty amazing once again. Troy's voice was shot so Steve took over the singing. It was great. The same set we've seen for the past couple of days being sung by the other guy! They also got Lance and Tom up to sing, once again, one hell of a set.
The freak van has been filled with their beautiful music. ALL of us have been singing their songs over and over again. It's hard to argue with the truth, Toby Keith is one I the ugliest women I've ever seen.
Someone brought a mini bale of hay for the Hickoids set. For the first time in history it wasn't torn apart and thrown all over the club. We even took it with us and its in the van right now. Maybe it will be our new mascot or Davy's eventual replacement. Most likely it will be all over Padres this evening.
Hickoids and the Beaumonts at the Blue Max. It's a club stuck out in the middle of drilling supply companies, railroad tracks and a 1/8 mile drag strip where you can pay some cash and punch your gas pedal to the floor... for 1/8 of a mile. I was told by multiple people that there was a lot of oil money in town and folks generally spend it on booze, drugs and their cars. So there is a lot if drag racing.
I loved the club. They had a big spread of BBQ with a bunch of sides to feed us AND the regular customers. The coolest part was when the owner, Erica came and asked what she could get me because she knew I was a veg. Once again I'm spoiled when away from Austin.
Beaumonts were pretty amazing once again. Troy's voice was shot so Steve took over the singing. It was great. The same set we've seen for the past couple of days being sung by the other guy! They also got Lance and Tom up to sing, once again, one hell of a set.
The freak van has been filled with their beautiful music. ALL of us have been singing their songs over and over again. It's hard to argue with the truth, Toby Keith is one I the ugliest women I've ever seen.
Someone brought a mini bale of hay for the Hickoids set. For the first time in history it wasn't torn apart and thrown all over the club. We even took it with us and its in the van right now. Maybe it will be our new mascot or Davy's eventual replacement. Most likely it will be all over Padres this evening.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
7/27/12
Hickoids in San Angelo at the Penny Pub
It was another sloppy set, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. Beaumonts continue to kill. Song after song of brilliant, smart ass country songs. I'm really happy we are playing these shows with them. This is "tour" will continue to kick ass.
Charlie's holy happy hour was the opener. He lived in Austin for years and he and I played in many of the same songwriters nights back in my early days. I found out he was on the bill a half hour before we got to town. Nice surprise.
Breakdown
We'd been at the club for about 15 minutes, basically long enough to unload the freak and I was offered food and beer from two different people. Once again, spoiled by leaving Austin.
Davy and I finished the night with a smoke by the pool at the best western on the 306. It's really calm and quiet. A nice end to the night.
We will be back San Angelo. Midland tomorrow.
It was another sloppy set, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. Beaumonts continue to kill. Song after song of brilliant, smart ass country songs. I'm really happy we are playing these shows with them. This is "tour" will continue to kick ass.
Charlie's holy happy hour was the opener. He lived in Austin for years and he and I played in many of the same songwriters nights back in my early days. I found out he was on the bill a half hour before we got to town. Nice surprise.
Breakdown
We'd been at the club for about 15 minutes, basically long enough to unload the freak and I was offered food and beer from two different people. Once again, spoiled by leaving Austin.
Davy and I finished the night with a smoke by the pool at the best western on the 306. It's really calm and quiet. A nice end to the night.
We will be back San Angelo. Midland tomorrow.
Friday, July 27, 2012
7/26/12
Hickoids at the Hole. I got there just as the Beaumonts were starting they were strong as always. I'm glad I like them since this was the first of three shows with them. I was running late because I went to see BC and Draya's other band, Hey Gurl at the Frontier bar. Yup, half of my band was playing in another band at the same club we are playing on Monday. It's even weirder, Wiley was playing in the band after Hey Gurl... It's an Austin thing, play in as many bands as you can as often as possible. The slow orgy continues.
Hickoids had a good but sloppy set. The sound guy kept having us turn down so he could mix the room better. I get it and I appreciate a sound guy caring how things sound, but we will play better if our boxes are loud. It's a fact. A band like the Hickoids does not need a finely crafted soundstage where every nuance is revealed in layers of beauty. We are a cow punk band. We need to be loud.
Breakdown
I didn't pay for one beer last night! That's even better than the old hole. I even got lucky while we were playing, folks brought up four lonestar tallboys and sat them in front of me! Eventually half of them spilled all over the stage but it was pretty close to closing time so it didn't matter. Beer!
San Angelo tonight.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
7/25/12
This is the way to "tour". Granted you never get too far, but it sure is nice sleeping at home when your "on the road". Two days away from home for a five day tour is a pretty sweet deal.
First night at Nightrocker's in San Antonio. Hickoids played with the Limes from Memphis and The Hares from SA. It was a nice night musically and a decent turnout for a Wednesday. After our set we loaded up the Freak with all the gear and I drove it up to Austin so everything would be set for our second "tour" date, tonight in Austin...
Breakdown
Two beer tickets, this time it was fine since I was driving the Freak home and didn't need to be pounding them down... It's the exact opposite of driving home as Davy's passenger. Then I like to guzzle beers AND liquor so I don't pay attention to the road. It's a self preservation thing.
For these shows we are playing as a six piece. Lutz is with us for the whole time and that means his entire pile of gear comes with us. Two guitars, a pedal steel, a keyboard, an effects rack as big as the steels case, a Fender twin and a keyboard stand. He travels with five hundred pounds of gear at a minimum. And it's in the back of the van with two other half stacks, my bass rig, drums, various guitars and the merch. Packed!
The freak did fine on the drive home but it will be interesting to see what happens when five more Hickoids are on board.
First night at Nightrocker's in San Antonio. Hickoids played with the Limes from Memphis and The Hares from SA. It was a nice night musically and a decent turnout for a Wednesday. After our set we loaded up the Freak with all the gear and I drove it up to Austin so everything would be set for our second "tour" date, tonight in Austin...
Breakdown
Two beer tickets, this time it was fine since I was driving the Freak home and didn't need to be pounding them down... It's the exact opposite of driving home as Davy's passenger. Then I like to guzzle beers AND liquor so I don't pay attention to the road. It's a self preservation thing.
For these shows we are playing as a six piece. Lutz is with us for the whole time and that means his entire pile of gear comes with us. Two guitars, a pedal steel, a keyboard, an effects rack as big as the steels case, a Fender twin and a keyboard stand. He travels with five hundred pounds of gear at a minimum. And it's in the back of the van with two other half stacks, my bass rig, drums, various guitars and the merch. Packed!
The freak did fine on the drive home but it will be interesting to see what happens when five more Hickoids are on board.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
This week
Practice with the ladies last night. It's our last one before our first show with the double drummer line up. It keeps getting tighter and sounds so damn good... reconstituted Rice, exciting stuff! Our debut is on Monday the 30th at Frontier Bar in east Austin. We are on at 10:30 and will be kicking ass by 10:31 at the latest.
Prepare for a brunch of activity on the blog in the next week. Not only with "the Ladies", the Hickoids are hitting a few dates in west Texas but we start things off tonight in San Antonio and Austin on Thursday.
Many things to follow.
Prepare for a brunch of activity on the blog in the next week. Not only with "the Ladies", the Hickoids are hitting a few dates in west Texas but we start things off tonight in San Antonio and Austin on Thursday.
Many things to follow.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The coolest drug dealer I've ever met
This happened last Sunday night in New Orleans. We got to town around three and I'd been doing my typical NO shuffle, bouncing between food, booze and the casino. I really love that town... Somewhere around one AM I get a little itchy and I want a cocktail. There are plenty of places that make great drinks all over town but I was in the mood for The Absinthe House. It's right on Bourbon so it can get stupid touristy but it's been around for 150ish years and I love a 150 year old bar.
I leave the Casino and step out in to the street and it's ridiculously hot and humid outside. The air is so heavy it's hard to breathe. It feels like the inside a humidifier. I head up Iberville, passing the REALLY low rent strip clubs and several "massage" parlors and make my way to the bar. Two of the bartenders were taking about a drink called a Kingston Club and since I like putting myself in the hands of a capable bartender, I had one. Not sure what's in it other than Drambuie but it was kind of spicy and I really liked it.
I sat around talking with the bartenders and the security guys for twenty minutes or so. Finished my drink and headed back in to the humidifier. And that's when I saw him.
I've "run" in to street dealers in almost every city I've been to since I was sixteen. I've met all types of dealers trying to sell all kinds of drugs. Once in Amsterdam I walked in the middle of a sting operation and I was their target. These two guys walked up to me and tried to sell me coke and heroin. The one who was doing the talking was wearing a Yankees jacket and the other one looked like a skinhead wrestler. A very angry skinhead wrestler. The first guy asked "Do you want Heroin or Cocaine?" I said "Uhhh no thanks, everything I like is legal here". "Yankees" cop pulled out a walkie talkie and said "It's a no go. He Said NO" while the other guy looked upset that he couldn't slam my head in to the cobblestones and kick the shit out of me. I'd like to think I was wise and somehow knew they were cops but the truth was "everything I like is legal here"...
Last month I saw a couple of farm boys who were learning a lesson just outside of Times Square. The dealers had the "team" system in place. As in you pay this guy and you pick your dope up from this other guy standing a little down the street. The farm boys scored, but it was some week ass smelling weed I'm sure they overpaid for. That's how it goes if you are buying on the street. Your probably gonna get ripped off one way or another. I'm willing to bet those farm boys headed home and talked about the "sick weed" they scored in the big city.
Generally when I'm approached by someone they say something along the lines of "Hey man you want to buy some smoke?" My regular answer is along the lines of "No thanks. I have some in my room". This gets a variety of responses from "Fuck You Man" to "Hey do you mind if I walk with you through the casino so security doesn't hassle me?" I laugh at the first one and if I'm headed in the same direction I'm more than happy to walk through the Excalibur to the Luxor and bullshit with some of the local criminal element while providing a little cover.
Then there was the guy I met in New Orleans. He was in his late fifties at a minimum. He was pretty fat with white hair and a white scraggly beard. The second I saw him I knew he was dealing and heading my way. But I'd never imagine how cool it would be.
He came up to me with a huge smile on his face and with half mast eyelids that matched mine. He had his hand out to shake and asked...
"Hey brother what's your name? Where you from?"
I answered truthfully "Rice/ATX"
He said "Cool man... Hey, you wouldn't be interested in a little smoke or powder would you? I got some really good powder, Damn it's good powder..."
"Well I'm not really interested in powder... and I got plenty of weed back in my room"
He looked at me for a second and a grin started to sneak across his face as his eyes started getting wider. He starts cracking up and throws his arms around me and gives me a huge bear hug and said "Alright Rice! Well you go on back to your room and enjoy your smoke and have yourself a good night."
Then he turned the corner and headed down Bourbon still laughing. The coolest dealer I've ever met.
I leave the Casino and step out in to the street and it's ridiculously hot and humid outside. The air is so heavy it's hard to breathe. It feels like the inside a humidifier. I head up Iberville, passing the REALLY low rent strip clubs and several "massage" parlors and make my way to the bar. Two of the bartenders were taking about a drink called a Kingston Club and since I like putting myself in the hands of a capable bartender, I had one. Not sure what's in it other than Drambuie but it was kind of spicy and I really liked it.
I sat around talking with the bartenders and the security guys for twenty minutes or so. Finished my drink and headed back in to the humidifier. And that's when I saw him.
I've "run" in to street dealers in almost every city I've been to since I was sixteen. I've met all types of dealers trying to sell all kinds of drugs. Once in Amsterdam I walked in the middle of a sting operation and I was their target. These two guys walked up to me and tried to sell me coke and heroin. The one who was doing the talking was wearing a Yankees jacket and the other one looked like a skinhead wrestler. A very angry skinhead wrestler. The first guy asked "Do you want Heroin or Cocaine?" I said "Uhhh no thanks, everything I like is legal here". "Yankees" cop pulled out a walkie talkie and said "It's a no go. He Said NO" while the other guy looked upset that he couldn't slam my head in to the cobblestones and kick the shit out of me. I'd like to think I was wise and somehow knew they were cops but the truth was "everything I like is legal here"...
Last month I saw a couple of farm boys who were learning a lesson just outside of Times Square. The dealers had the "team" system in place. As in you pay this guy and you pick your dope up from this other guy standing a little down the street. The farm boys scored, but it was some week ass smelling weed I'm sure they overpaid for. That's how it goes if you are buying on the street. Your probably gonna get ripped off one way or another. I'm willing to bet those farm boys headed home and talked about the "sick weed" they scored in the big city.
Generally when I'm approached by someone they say something along the lines of "Hey man you want to buy some smoke?" My regular answer is along the lines of "No thanks. I have some in my room". This gets a variety of responses from "Fuck You Man" to "Hey do you mind if I walk with you through the casino so security doesn't hassle me?" I laugh at the first one and if I'm headed in the same direction I'm more than happy to walk through the Excalibur to the Luxor and bullshit with some of the local criminal element while providing a little cover.
Then there was the guy I met in New Orleans. He was in his late fifties at a minimum. He was pretty fat with white hair and a white scraggly beard. The second I saw him I knew he was dealing and heading my way. But I'd never imagine how cool it would be.
He came up to me with a huge smile on his face and with half mast eyelids that matched mine. He had his hand out to shake and asked...
"Hey brother what's your name? Where you from?"
I answered truthfully "Rice/ATX"
He said "Cool man... Hey, you wouldn't be interested in a little smoke or powder would you? I got some really good powder, Damn it's good powder..."
"Well I'm not really interested in powder... and I got plenty of weed back in my room"
He looked at me for a second and a grin started to sneak across his face as his eyes started getting wider. He starts cracking up and throws his arms around me and gives me a huge bear hug and said "Alright Rice! Well you go on back to your room and enjoy your smoke and have yourself a good night."
Then he turned the corner and headed down Bourbon still laughing. The coolest dealer I've ever met.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
7/14/12
This one is really late. The morning after I hopped in a car and went to New Orleans for eating/drinking purposes. I hope the delay is understandable.
Casters at the Hole. Andy was out sick so it was just the five of us (and the two dancers). It was Michaelanne's five year wedding anniversary, well it would have been if she was still married... She asked if I would wear her wedding dress for the occasion, I did and I looked lovely. I couldn't believe how tight it was. I guess that's what a bodice is for... That thing was so huge, I could barely move around the stage. On a positive note it did keep Smitty's mic out of my face!
Breakdown
The "new" Hole kinda sucks. They finally get that a band tab is a good idea, but you can only get drinks on that tab from the front bar. Not the bar in the room you are playing... It's a small but incredibly stupid rule.
I know I'm showing my age here, but I liked that place a whole lot more when their focus was on music. Time moves on even if I don't.
The Hickoids are playing there next Thursday, so I should probably just shut up and smile. Wish me luck with that.
Casters at the Hole. Andy was out sick so it was just the five of us (and the two dancers). It was Michaelanne's five year wedding anniversary, well it would have been if she was still married... She asked if I would wear her wedding dress for the occasion, I did and I looked lovely. I couldn't believe how tight it was. I guess that's what a bodice is for... That thing was so huge, I could barely move around the stage. On a positive note it did keep Smitty's mic out of my face!
Breakdown
The "new" Hole kinda sucks. They finally get that a band tab is a good idea, but you can only get drinks on that tab from the front bar. Not the bar in the room you are playing... It's a small but incredibly stupid rule.
I know I'm showing my age here, but I liked that place a whole lot more when their focus was on music. Time moves on even if I don't.
The Hickoids are playing there next Thursday, so I should probably just shut up and smile. Wish me luck with that.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
7/3/12
OK, so it looks like Trophy's is never gonna go away. Somebody was gonna knock it down and build condos. Someone was gonna build a better club. Someone was gonna build a grocery store... Right now none of that's gonna happen. You can't even rub the place out of South Congress, it just keeps working it's way in deeper.
When I got there the front door was being put back on the hinges because it came off again. On a more positive note there wasn't a sewer smell coming from the ladies room all night. It only lasted a little while and I played on the other side of the stage so I had another ten feet of smell dissipation between me and the sewer. With of the recent Austin club scandals like Jovitas ($7K a day in wholesale heroin sales!) Trophy's has moved up a few notches in it's overall status. It's a total shithole but an "honest" one. No one is getting rich out of that place...
Breakdown
Once again the free six pack per band. Lame, but enough people bought me beers I was happy. We kicked ass. Just the five of us, the new "core" of the Hickoids. We made a lot of fun of Davy and his porn addiction. The man is too busy masturbating to find porn on the internet! Sad...
Thursday, June 28, 2012
6/29/12
Not much to report. Just off a holiday on the east coast where I had the pleasure of waking up in 58 degree weather in Manhattan and coming home to 102 in Austin.
Miserable...
More stuff soon.
Miserable...
More stuff soon.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
6/9/12
Two shows in one night for me and Davy Jones. Both the Caters and Bigfoot on a Saturday night.
#1
Casters at the White Horse
This place was an old east side bar that was gentrified by the folks that own the Hole in the Wall. They did a damn nice job of it. It's a big room with loads of cool AC blowing everything all around. There is a little beer garden (or smoking area) with a food truck. Yup, they hit all of the bases with this joint.
They even have a good PA and the stage was big enough for the nine of us. Plenty of space to spread out. Loads of room for the dancers, dancers need SPACE!
Breakdown
At the start I ordered a Lone Star and I was told that one was free so I paid for a second right before we went on. During the second song someone brought a 12 pack of beer and a half dozen waters. Nice touch!
Little things like that go a long way
#2
Bigfoot Chester at the Continental Club
Once again, the best club in town. This was the annual Howlin Wolf birthday party. Lots of slow gritty Blues, Bigfoot fits right in. Davy and I show up about 20 minutes before we went on and the place was packed! It was tough getting up to the bar! Don't worry, I got a beer...
We had Dan Rupa filling in for Bill. Dan and Davy and I have all been "Ideals" in the past so it was good to play with him, dude can pick! It's also neat having a different sound in the band. I like shaking things up if only for a night.
On a "review" type of night there are a lot of special guests. We had Tex Edwards, Texacala Jones, Ted Roddy and Gary from Black Eyed Vermillion. One of many high points was finally getting to play "Insane Asylum" live with the two Texes. I played bass on a duets record with them that it was never released. Doing one of those songs felt great. Nice to pull it off.
Breakdown
Best club in town. Great PA with Jason on sound. My first couple of beers were free and they were $1 past that. A genuine South Austin Lovefest.
I love the Continental Club.
#1
Casters at the White Horse
This place was an old east side bar that was gentrified by the folks that own the Hole in the Wall. They did a damn nice job of it. It's a big room with loads of cool AC blowing everything all around. There is a little beer garden (or smoking area) with a food truck. Yup, they hit all of the bases with this joint.
They even have a good PA and the stage was big enough for the nine of us. Plenty of space to spread out. Loads of room for the dancers, dancers need SPACE!
Breakdown
At the start I ordered a Lone Star and I was told that one was free so I paid for a second right before we went on. During the second song someone brought a 12 pack of beer and a half dozen waters. Nice touch!
Little things like that go a long way
#2
Bigfoot Chester at the Continental Club
Once again, the best club in town. This was the annual Howlin Wolf birthday party. Lots of slow gritty Blues, Bigfoot fits right in. Davy and I show up about 20 minutes before we went on and the place was packed! It was tough getting up to the bar! Don't worry, I got a beer...
We had Dan Rupa filling in for Bill. Dan and Davy and I have all been "Ideals" in the past so it was good to play with him, dude can pick! It's also neat having a different sound in the band. I like shaking things up if only for a night.
On a "review" type of night there are a lot of special guests. We had Tex Edwards, Texacala Jones, Ted Roddy and Gary from Black Eyed Vermillion. One of many high points was finally getting to play "Insane Asylum" live with the two Texes. I played bass on a duets record with them that it was never released. Doing one of those songs felt great. Nice to pull it off.
Breakdown
Best club in town. Great PA with Jason on sound. My first couple of beers were free and they were $1 past that. A genuine South Austin Lovefest.
I love the Continental Club.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
6/1/12
Looks like I'm back from the dead.
Hickoids at the Triple Crown in San Marcos with Chief Fuzzer and The Jocks. Two SM bands that always deliver. Since my last time playing there they have made some serious improvements to the stage. It was still crowded as fuck once six Hickoids were up there (even with the new bass rigs slim profile, so sheik!) but me and the girls would fit fine. Speaking of which...
Breakdown
First off it was a treat getting out to play. After a week of sick I needed to be loud. I feel like I played (and sang) like crap, but I got to play and sing and I haven't done that in a week. Not even in the house. Another step towards my normal.
No drinking for me (yet). So no report on the boozin, sorry. I'll be back to normal soon enough.
I'm still learning the TC rig. I'm getting all kinds of cool sounds out of it and it's SPL capabilities are very nice. I'm sure I'll do a real "review" of it soon, but currently my favorite part is having a 12" driver punching me in the chest. It feels really nice.
Hickoids at the Triple Crown in San Marcos with Chief Fuzzer and The Jocks. Two SM bands that always deliver. Since my last time playing there they have made some serious improvements to the stage. It was still crowded as fuck once six Hickoids were up there (even with the new bass rigs slim profile, so sheik!) but me and the girls would fit fine. Speaking of which...
Breakdown
First off it was a treat getting out to play. After a week of sick I needed to be loud. I feel like I played (and sang) like crap, but I got to play and sing and I haven't done that in a week. Not even in the house. Another step towards my normal.
No drinking for me (yet). So no report on the boozin, sorry. I'll be back to normal soon enough.
I'm still learning the TC rig. I'm getting all kinds of cool sounds out of it and it's SPL capabilities are very nice. I'm sure I'll do a real "review" of it soon, but currently my favorite part is having a 12" driver punching me in the chest. It feels really nice.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Show Canceled
I had to do it. I canceled a Hickoids show. We were gonna open for the Biters at Salute on Wednesday night, but I got food poisoning. It wasn't gonna happen.
Breakdown
It was a bad bad scene at home. No details to follow.
Breakdown
It was a bad bad scene at home. No details to follow.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
5/24/12
Casters in SA, but down the street from the Mix... It's rough passing that place on the way to High Tones. The Tones is a fine club, but as I've said before the Mix is the best in SA. We oped for a Latin flavored reggae band from Miami. I don't know how the fuck they got to SA on a Thursday night, but they were there and sounded damn fine.
$3 Bill was being a little bitch, not wanting to dress for his band, but Smitty put the screws to him and he straightened it out. Kinda pitiful when the front man doesn't want to "play" in his own band.
Breakdown
Two beer tickets each which is shitty, but Lone Star tall boys and big, heavily poured well drinks for $2, not bad. They have a new stage there, It's fairly big, but I preferred playing on the floor. There are too many casters for a stage that size.
I used the new TC rig for the first time. It took a little while to get it dialed in, but it was sounding pretty mighty. Those TC folks aren't kidding. Stacking the 2X12 cabs makes it deep and punchy. I can't wait till I get a few more shows in with it.
$3 Bill was being a little bitch, not wanting to dress for his band, but Smitty put the screws to him and he straightened it out. Kinda pitiful when the front man doesn't want to "play" in his own band.
Breakdown
Two beer tickets each which is shitty, but Lone Star tall boys and big, heavily poured well drinks for $2, not bad. They have a new stage there, It's fairly big, but I preferred playing on the floor. There are too many casters for a stage that size.
I used the new TC rig for the first time. It took a little while to get it dialed in, but it was sounding pretty mighty. Those TC folks aren't kidding. Stacking the 2X12 cabs makes it deep and punchy. I can't wait till I get a few more shows in with it.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
It's a beautiful thing
Davy are doing our usual drive to San Antonio and all of our gear fits perfectly in his "new" car.
In the trunk, Davy's 4x12 Marshall cab, the matching head, his pedals and Les Paul.
In the back seat is my bass, my two new tc 2x12 cabs, the tc head in the laptop bag and my regulation sport coat.
The old ashdown cab would have never made it in.
This is a beautiful thing.
In the trunk, Davy's 4x12 Marshall cab, the matching head, his pedals and Les Paul.
In the back seat is my bass, my two new tc 2x12 cabs, the tc head in the laptop bag and my regulation sport coat.
The old ashdown cab would have never made it in.
This is a beautiful thing.
The new TC rig
I've had a couple of practices with it now and I'm really liking the way it sounds. It's real punchy and accurate. And at this point I'm louder than two 4x12 guitar amps!!
My first show with it is tonight so I'll see how that goes. I'll admit the cabs are light and I'm wondering how they'll hold up on tour, but right now they sound great.
My first show with it is tonight so I'll see how that goes. I'll admit the cabs are light and I'm wondering how they'll hold up on tour, but right now they sound great.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thoughts on rehersal spaces
It's a whole new world. Since we cut the ties with music lab rehearsals have actually become enjoyable. My "personal" space is about a quarter mile from my house. It costs $100 a month to share it with four other bands. I get one night a week for me and the ladies and can take ANY time not already taken by the other groups. So if we felt like it, the ladies and I could practice three days a week, all day long for $100 a month.
Lets look at that in terms of the Music Lab. $12-$14 an hour for a shitty room where you can hear EVERYONE around you. Shitty mics that they make you leave your ID to "rent". A useless PA and don't even think about going over on your time, that will cost you another hour. Also the room smell. I'm not sure if they have ever been cleaned.
The Hickoids have made the jump too. We are in a different place that Lance has been involved with for a number of years. All the numbers are the same an it only goes to prove one thing.
It's a tremendous deal to NOT use the Music Lab.
Thank the god I don't believe in that I'm not paying them any more money.
Lets look at that in terms of the Music Lab. $12-$14 an hour for a shitty room where you can hear EVERYONE around you. Shitty mics that they make you leave your ID to "rent". A useless PA and don't even think about going over on your time, that will cost you another hour. Also the room smell. I'm not sure if they have ever been cleaned.
The Hickoids have made the jump too. We are in a different place that Lance has been involved with for a number of years. All the numbers are the same an it only goes to prove one thing.
It's a tremendous deal to NOT use the Music Lab.
Thank the god I don't believe in that I'm not paying them any more money.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
5/5/12
This one started a little rough. The drive to Dallas went fine but there were some issues with getting all the Hickoids to the Kessler theater, but it all worked out. I got some 5 Hour to make it through the night. I really needed it after the week...
The May 5th celebration (they call it something else in Mexico!) was a lovefest of Dallas proportions. The Gringos brought out the usual big and happy crowd. It's nice heading up there and getting a bunch of hugs and free beers from people I generally only see in the big D. It actually makes me happy to be there (and that's saying something, I've had more than my share of bad evenings in Dallas).
Breakdown
The only free drinks I got were from the Gringos and a few of the lovely folks who came to watch. Shame on you Kessler...
The sound was great. I used Tubb's Orange Class D amp with the matching 4 X 10" cab. It sounds pretty mighty but it doesn't quite have the slam when things get LOUD! But I'm just being picky.
The May 5th celebration (they call it something else in Mexico!) was a lovefest of Dallas proportions. The Gringos brought out the usual big and happy crowd. It's nice heading up there and getting a bunch of hugs and free beers from people I generally only see in the big D. It actually makes me happy to be there (and that's saying something, I've had more than my share of bad evenings in Dallas).
Breakdown
The only free drinks I got were from the Gringos and a few of the lovely folks who came to watch. Shame on you Kessler...
The sound was great. I used Tubb's Orange Class D amp with the matching 4 X 10" cab. It sounds pretty mighty but it doesn't quite have the slam when things get LOUD! But I'm just being picky.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
5/4/12
Last night it was the Hickoids and Chickenhawk at the Mix. Damn right. You know it was a good night. As usual people were happy and drinking up a storm. I only saw one fight, but it was broken up pretty fast. It was someones birthday and this gal was walking around with a tray full of shooters. It explains my head today.
Breakdown
Sill the best bar in SA. Free drinks and people were STILL buying them for me! I used Chickenhawk's bass rig and Davy drove. Easy night, Dallas tomorrow...
Breakdown
Sill the best bar in SA. Free drinks and people were STILL buying them for me! I used Chickenhawk's bass rig and Davy drove. Easy night, Dallas tomorrow...
Friday, May 4, 2012
Repitition
I know I've said it before, but I love writing a song in the afternoon and playing it at rehearsal that night.
!
!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
5/2/12
Apparently Trophy's is getting remodeled. Of course no one knows who is paying for it and if remodeled really means torn down, time will tell. It's a total crap hole. The way the stage lights are set and the color of the stage area makes it nearly impossible to see the fret markers on my bass (I've been thinking about glow in the dark stickers, but it's only happens at Trophy's and it's closing). Last night the ladies room door was off the hinges and smelled like an open sewer and that was on my side of the stage. Delicious.
This is the same old crying about is the transition from "old" to "new" Austin. There is about a three percent chance of that place reopening as Trophy's. I guarantee someone with a shitload of money (maybe even the current property owners) will want to bulldoze the place and build condos or shops or some of that "mixed use development" developers are so hot on nowadays. It happens all over town and it REALLY happens on south Congress. Ten years ago and two blocks away there was a fully functioning porno theater (that's right a theater that showed porno MOVIES) now it's an office building and I'm not even sure the cleaned the semen out of the carpet.
Breakdown
Each band gets a free six pack of PBR. Not too bad. The sound was (once again) shit. The sound man had mics on everything and he is a legit sound guy, but that room just sounds like shit. I'm still gonna miss it.
This is the same old crying about is the transition from "old" to "new" Austin. There is about a three percent chance of that place reopening as Trophy's. I guarantee someone with a shitload of money (maybe even the current property owners) will want to bulldoze the place and build condos or shops or some of that "mixed use development" developers are so hot on nowadays. It happens all over town and it REALLY happens on south Congress. Ten years ago and two blocks away there was a fully functioning porno theater (that's right a theater that showed porno MOVIES) now it's an office building and I'm not even sure the cleaned the semen out of the carpet.
Breakdown
Each band gets a free six pack of PBR. Not too bad. The sound was (once again) shit. The sound man had mics on everything and he is a legit sound guy, but that room just sounds like shit. I'm still gonna miss it.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
4/27/12
This was a total 180 from the last Casters show. I think it's San Antonio. There must be something in the water that makes me play better. Or maybe it just makes the crowds happier to see us. The specifics don't matter, I love playing in SA.
The Swindles opened up for us with my buddy Joe Reyes on guitar. He might be the best guitar player I know, a regular six string monster. And Moses Roses, nice joint. Just around the corner from the Alamo, I was gonna go see it (it's been a couple of years) but I never made it down the block! I did see the sign for the Crockett Hotel so that should count for something.
Breakdown
Steve was kind enough to drive so that was easy for me. The Moses Roses folks fed us and bought our beer! How very kind.
The Swindles opened up for us with my buddy Joe Reyes on guitar. He might be the best guitar player I know, a regular six string monster. And Moses Roses, nice joint. Just around the corner from the Alamo, I was gonna go see it (it's been a couple of years) but I never made it down the block! I did see the sign for the Crockett Hotel so that should count for something.
Breakdown
Steve was kind enough to drive so that was easy for me. The Moses Roses folks fed us and bought our beer! How very kind.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
4/22/12
It was the Pocket Fishermen Sunday fish fry at the Scoot and boy was it fun. A shit load of bands on two stages with the usual lovefest vibe. Bless those fishermen, except the drummer (Biff?), I ain't too sure about him.
The Casters were kind of a cluster fuck. The only chance we had to rehearse was an hour before the show. Bill showed up sick (st least that is what he said) and started jumping around the room. I told him he might want to take it easy because we have to play the SHOW in a little while. He didn't listen. Five songs in to the set and he wanted to quit.
It's sad giving unused advice to people who are older than me...
Breakdown
Two free beers and a couple extras given by friends (once again, lovefest). Even with Bill's problem we had a pretty good set. We were inside so we PACKED the stage and that always looks cool. I had dancers flanking me, always a good feeling especially after a few tunes when everyone if getting sweaty. Fun!
The Casters were kind of a cluster fuck. The only chance we had to rehearse was an hour before the show. Bill showed up sick (st least that is what he said) and started jumping around the room. I told him he might want to take it easy because we have to play the SHOW in a little while. He didn't listen. Five songs in to the set and he wanted to quit.
It's sad giving unused advice to people who are older than me...
Breakdown
Two free beers and a couple extras given by friends (once again, lovefest). Even with Bill's problem we had a pretty good set. We were inside so we PACKED the stage and that always looks cool. I had dancers flanking me, always a good feeling especially after a few tunes when everyone if getting sweaty. Fun!
4/21/12
A little more of the Bigfoot Chester. We seem to be playing a little more. We even have a some of shows coming up in the next couple of months. Getting fancy!
This one was at the Dam Red Barn out near Canyon Lake (about 30 minutes West of 35). It's a barn. That has a bar. Lots of crazy stuff all over the place (see the last post) and a 20 foot piss trough in the men's room.
While everyone else was getting setup I was sitting at the bar having a free (!) beer talking with some folks. Eventually Adel's song "Someone Like You" comes on and this guy who was in is mid 40's says "Oh no, this song always makes me cry" and excuses himself and heads outside. It must have been an emotional night. He didn't come back!
Breakdown
Did I mention free beer! I was happy.
The only drawback was the "regular" one in a place like this. They want you to play a lot of country and we play a little of it. The country we play is old (good) and to some folks it's not considered country. A minor issue, but...
This one was at the Dam Red Barn out near Canyon Lake (about 30 minutes West of 35). It's a barn. That has a bar. Lots of crazy stuff all over the place (see the last post) and a 20 foot piss trough in the men's room.
While everyone else was getting setup I was sitting at the bar having a free (!) beer talking with some folks. Eventually Adel's song "Someone Like You" comes on and this guy who was in is mid 40's says "Oh no, this song always makes me cry" and excuses himself and heads outside. It must have been an emotional night. He didn't come back!
Breakdown
Did I mention free beer! I was happy.
The only drawback was the "regular" one in a place like this. They want you to play a lot of country and we play a little of it. The country we play is old (good) and to some folks it's not considered country. A minor issue, but...
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Goodbye Music Lab
I'm not going to miss you.
$12 to $15 an hour to practice in an under air conditioned 12' X 14' space, with the sounds of ALL the other bands around you coming through the under-sound proofed walls, or through the under preforming AC ducts. That's right, it was an exceptionally smart move running straight pipes from one room to the next guaranteeing crystal clear sound from the connecting rooms. Brilliant!
I'm also going to miss the microphones you let us use. I know I shouldn't expect much, but I'm in a band with Jeff Smith and he sticks his mic down his pants and makes me smell it. That mic smells like a rose garden compared to the mics you've let me use in the past. I'm not even gonna get in to the ones that have shocked me...
But most of all I'm gonna miss your employees.
I know it's hard being a musical genius and being in the coolest/best band in the whole goddamn town. It must be especially hard when some asshole wants his room (that he paid $12-$15 an hour for) opened and he has the gall to expect the PA to work and you need a smoke break... It's a tough life.
I'm just glad that you are no longer a part of mine.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
3/29/12
This is late... I'm getting bad about the next day posting...
Bigfoot Chester at Salute. It was the typical drive to SA, boring with odd spots of traffic. It was just Walter and me on this drive, everyone else had their own rides and or were staying in SA. Amateurs.
We hit Salute right before Chickenhawk was going on. Nice and strong set. Down the street T Tex and Big Drag were playing. It always makes me wonder why we weren't at the Mix. Bigfoot whipped it. Trey's family was there and they were REALLY in to it. Talking lots of pictures and buying us lots of drinks. I was lucky enough not to have to drive home. It's a way easier drive when your drunk! (and not driving...).
Breakdown
I used Chickenhawk's bass rig. It's a Marshall head through some kind of cab. It had the craziest distorto sound with the EQ flat. I got it worked out after a bit. The club gave us free Lone Star, but with Trey's family in the buying mood there wasn't much of a need.
I love playing in that band, I hope we do it a lot more often.
Bigfoot Chester at Salute. It was the typical drive to SA, boring with odd spots of traffic. It was just Walter and me on this drive, everyone else had their own rides and or were staying in SA. Amateurs.
We hit Salute right before Chickenhawk was going on. Nice and strong set. Down the street T Tex and Big Drag were playing. It always makes me wonder why we weren't at the Mix. Bigfoot whipped it. Trey's family was there and they were REALLY in to it. Talking lots of pictures and buying us lots of drinks. I was lucky enough not to have to drive home. It's a way easier drive when your drunk! (and not driving...).
Breakdown
I used Chickenhawk's bass rig. It's a Marshall head through some kind of cab. It had the craziest distorto sound with the EQ flat. I got it worked out after a bit. The club gave us free Lone Star, but with Trey's family in the buying mood there wasn't much of a need.
I love playing in that band, I hope we do it a lot more often.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
3/26/12
Another Bigfoot rehearsal at Trailer space Records. This one was even stranger. We got a late start due to some forgotten gear and before we started the guy working there gave Walter the key to the door and said "go ahead and lock up. I'm closing early". We forgot to lock the door and people started coming in to watch. Like eight or ten people. Which is about double the amount that have watched us there in the past.
Of course we eventually remember to lock the door... about a half hour before The Golden Boys needed to drop off some gear after driving back from Memphis.
What a shitty drive.
Of course we eventually remember to lock the door... about a half hour before The Golden Boys needed to drop off some gear after driving back from Memphis.
What a shitty drive.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
3/17/12
This is late... and I'm still tired!
Hickoids had two shows on St Patty's day aka the day before my birthday/ my last day of sxsw.
#1 Woopsy party at Trophies. It was the standard setup, three stages with bands going on all the time. We were inside and followed by the Grannies. Every time I play here I get up on the first song and remember "oh yeah, I need some glow in the dark fret markers". The stage and lighting is weirdly dark and shadowy. Usually that would be a good thing but I keep missing notes! It's possible that some day I'll fix this...
#2 Nightrockers in SA. Davy and I showed up and Pat Todd was going on! They were just a four piece but they rocked it. Before we went on I walked by Lance and he said "Hi, I'm Trevor" so I said "Hi, I'm Devin". He asked "did you say Bevin?" I lied and said yes. Fast forward and we are playing Bennie and I look at Lance and he is singing "Bevin and the jets". I lost it.
I'll do some kind of SXSW wrap up thingy in the next couple of days.
Hickoids had two shows on St Patty's day aka the day before my birthday/ my last day of sxsw.
#1 Woopsy party at Trophies. It was the standard setup, three stages with bands going on all the time. We were inside and followed by the Grannies. Every time I play here I get up on the first song and remember "oh yeah, I need some glow in the dark fret markers". The stage and lighting is weirdly dark and shadowy. Usually that would be a good thing but I keep missing notes! It's possible that some day I'll fix this...
#2 Nightrockers in SA. Davy and I showed up and Pat Todd was going on! They were just a four piece but they rocked it. Before we went on I walked by Lance and he said "Hi, I'm Trevor" so I said "Hi, I'm Devin". He asked "did you say Bevin?" I lied and said yes. Fast forward and we are playing Bennie and I look at Lance and he is singing "Bevin and the jets". I lost it.
I'll do some kind of SXSW wrap up thingy in the next couple of days.
Friday, March 16, 2012
3/15/12
Busy day. Three shows.
#1 Casters at the Dog and Duck. Tom was filling in on drums. Now he has filled in on bass, drums and guitar for that band. We did our set under the big tent and we rocked it pretty well. The crowd seemed to enjoy it. Bill was telling folks we were Canadian and we were gonna move to Austin and get on unemployment. I think someone booed.
#2 Me and the Ladies at the Local. Hell of a good set. The old drummer, Jill was there and she got up on bouncin. It was lovely. I popped a string on Boyds Creek and was ready to call it quits (we'd been playing for 45 minutes at that point) but the crowd made up play two more. Didn't do too bad, especially with a five string guitar.
#3 Hickoids at the Karma Lounge. This was an official showcase for Saustex and we played with some of our old friends from the left coast, the Grannies and Pat Todd. BIG rock and roll night. I know it wasn't the Springsteen extravaganza (which I would have loved to been at) but the "little room" rocked. Pat always looks me dead in the eye when he's singing. Imagine that, a connection with your audience!
More to come.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
3/13/12
Once upon a time the music portion of the fest stared on Thursday, now it's Tuesday. Austin is bursting at the seams.
I saw Bee vs Moth, Scorpio Rising, and R Steve Moore last night. The sxsw app said Headhunters was at 5th and Congress and I went there... It's at 8th and red River. At least I saw one song.
I've already been hassled by multiple door/security idiots. Most of those folks are OK. Some of them think they are cops (or some other kind of important first responder) and they like to strut around like a rooster. A rooster that makes $7.25 an hour...
More to come!
I saw Bee vs Moth, Scorpio Rising, and R Steve Moore last night. The sxsw app said Headhunters was at 5th and Congress and I went there... It's at 8th and red River. At least I saw one song.
I've already been hassled by multiple door/security idiots. Most of those folks are OK. Some of them think they are cops (or some other kind of important first responder) and they like to strut around like a rooster. A rooster that makes $7.25 an hour...
More to come!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
3/10/12
This town is ready to explode. It's so obvious already, and we are just in to the interactive stuff. I know they are WAY bigger than the movie and music, but they don't come with vans full of idiots with gear that makes loud noises. I happened to score a pass to the convention center parking lot. It wasn't completely full, but close and I got there at 8 PM. When I left at 11, it was beyond clusterfuck. Ten minutes to get from the Gas Pipe on 5th to the 35 access road. One block in ten minutes and I don't live in LA...
Ideals played. I haven't played with them in a year. I used my cheat sheets and it all worked out fine. The show was at the Legendary White Swan and I like the place a lot. It's an eastside joint with a lot of badassed soul and blues posters all over the place. They have a nice courtyard that was surprisingly nice even on a shitty, rainy ass night like tonight. I've been to Holland and as much as I'd like to live there, I live in Texas 'cause I couldn't stand the weather.
Breakdown
Two beer tickets and I was the one who hit the mute button on the PA. Hell of a good night!
Ideals played. I haven't played with them in a year. I used my cheat sheets and it all worked out fine. The show was at the Legendary White Swan and I like the place a lot. It's an eastside joint with a lot of badassed soul and blues posters all over the place. They have a nice courtyard that was surprisingly nice even on a shitty, rainy ass night like tonight. I've been to Holland and as much as I'd like to live there, I live in Texas 'cause I couldn't stand the weather.
Breakdown
Two beer tickets and I was the one who hit the mute button on the PA. Hell of a good night!
Monday, March 5, 2012
What time of the year?
I have five rehearsals this week. Four are with Davy Jones! He is still alive and "well" in Austin TX.
It must be that time of the year when all those people come to town to look at people play music... what's that thing called?
It must be that time of the year when all those people come to town to look at people play music... what's that thing called?
Friday, March 2, 2012
3/1/12
At a multi practice last night I learned about a specific behavior found in a San Antonio bathhouse.
There is no room for romance in the sticky pit game.
There is no room for romance in the sticky pit game.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
2/24/12
This one is a little late, things be crazy...
The Hickoids were playing in SA, first time with the new drummer Lance. Guess what? It whipped ass. We were incredibly tight for a first show. Things were so good when we finally made a decent sized mistake I looked at Lance and said "I don't know if that was your fault, but I'm blaming you anyway". He took it the way it was intended. Sound was decent, but only two mics which means Davy and I share. And that means when I'm singing, I get spit on. This isn't new, It's Jones!
Breakdown
This was at Hi-Tones. I'd never been there before. The folks working were very nice and we got three beer tickets each which is OK (you drive right by the Mix to get there, it was a little hard driving by all that free band booze...). I liked the place, but I'm on loyal dog. The Mix is better. "The Tones" may be a close second.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
2/24/12
I love writing a new song, polishing it up and playing it with the ladies all in the same day.
One hell of a good feeling.
One hell of a good feeling.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
2/17/12
I know things might seem slow if your going by my number of posts, but that is just the surface. As usual there are lots of little things brewing away. Most of which will never see the light of day. Many will be worked out to the point of tedium and we'll move on. Occasionally something really cool happens. Not that results matter that much (I mean some success would be great) but the point of all of this is doing the work.
"Art" is all about the work.
All "my" bands have been living in their respective woodsheds tightening and cleaning things up.
Lace is coming along amazingly well. We've had four rehearsals and he is improving with every pass of every song. I'm working harder. He is making me rework/rethink a lot of parts I've been playing with Jonnie and I think it will make for a better Hickoids.
The ladies and I have a very cool possibility on the way.
More later...
Friday, February 10, 2012
Derby
So the roller derby...
I/we played it twice, once with the ladies and then with the casters. Let me start out by saying I knew what we were getting in to and I am NOT complaining even if it sounds like I am. I get that the bands are maybe 3% of the reason people go to the thing and that everyone (myself included) just want to see cool chicks wail on each other. But, the city wide garage sale was in the main/larger section so the derby was relegated to the other hall.
The smaller hall...
So small the stage was at the side of the grandstands. As in half of us were playing to the the room and the other half was playing to what was under the bleachers. No ones fault, just bad circumstances. And no free beer or even water.
Oh well, both bands kicked some ass. The ladies and I did the usual whip it thing and the casters are more on the money than ever with the new drummer. I'm looking forward to playing in a club soon.
I/we played it twice, once with the ladies and then with the casters. Let me start out by saying I knew what we were getting in to and I am NOT complaining even if it sounds like I am. I get that the bands are maybe 3% of the reason people go to the thing and that everyone (myself included) just want to see cool chicks wail on each other. But, the city wide garage sale was in the main/larger section so the derby was relegated to the other hall.
The smaller hall...
So small the stage was at the side of the grandstands. As in half of us were playing to the the room and the other half was playing to what was under the bleachers. No ones fault, just bad circumstances. And no free beer or even water.
Oh well, both bands kicked some ass. The ladies and I did the usual whip it thing and the casters are more on the money than ever with the new drummer. I'm looking forward to playing in a club soon.
Friday, January 27, 2012
1/22/2012
Last Sunday I had both Casters and Hickoids rehearsals. Nothin is to spectacular with that, both bands have three members in common, the strange thing was both bands have new drummers.
Lance Farley is now a Hickoid. Jonie Hell is out for the season and we needed a fill so it's all Lance. We "stole" him from the Fishermen. He will make a fine Hickoid.
The Casters situation is a little sketchy but Steve McCarthy is in with that combo. He was one of the original drummers from 15ish years ago and one hell of an improvement.
It saw a sweaty six hours locked away in the music lab, but it was totally worth it.
As an aside the first shows of the year are this weekend at the roller derby. Me and the ladies open it up and the Casters at halftime. It should provide for some decent blog fodder.
Lance Farley is now a Hickoid. Jonie Hell is out for the season and we needed a fill so it's all Lance. We "stole" him from the Fishermen. He will make a fine Hickoid.
The Casters situation is a little sketchy but Steve McCarthy is in with that combo. He was one of the original drummers from 15ish years ago and one hell of an improvement.
It saw a sweaty six hours locked away in the music lab, but it was totally worth it.
As an aside the first shows of the year are this weekend at the roller derby. Me and the ladies open it up and the Casters at halftime. It should provide for some decent blog fodder.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
My Superpower 2
This one is from last year.
Hickoids were playing the "Gringopalooza" weekend up in the DFW portion of Texas. Friday night was in Ft Worth at a club next door to a club I played 10 years prior which was also the last time I'd been in FT Worth.
We play the set and say our goodbyes and we head off to find a motel for the night. We drive in the "Dallas" direction and we pass several sold out places and finally come up on a Motel 6 that has a vacancy. One room for the four of us * and those double beds are small, as usual I'm sleepin in the van. I brush my teeth and pull up the hoodie hood and drift off to dreamland around 3AM.
At some point in the night I hear two girls talking near by and I wake up and see them head upstairs. I turned over as I heard them knock on a door to one of the rooms and I fell back asleep.
A few hours later I wake up with my cell phone asking me if I was ready for breakfast so I'm up and moving around. As I was pulling on my pants I noticed a bunch of guys leaving the room the girls went in to. They had a couple of video cameras. And several sets of professional lights. Had I known what was going on I would never be able to sleep next to people making a real live movie!
* There is always fluctuating number of band members, as Smitty says "Seeing the Hickoids is like a handjob from a leper, you never know how many your gonna get"
Hickoids were playing the "Gringopalooza" weekend up in the DFW portion of Texas. Friday night was in Ft Worth at a club next door to a club I played 10 years prior which was also the last time I'd been in FT Worth.
We play the set and say our goodbyes and we head off to find a motel for the night. We drive in the "Dallas" direction and we pass several sold out places and finally come up on a Motel 6 that has a vacancy. One room for the four of us * and those double beds are small, as usual I'm sleepin in the van. I brush my teeth and pull up the hoodie hood and drift off to dreamland around 3AM.
At some point in the night I hear two girls talking near by and I wake up and see them head upstairs. I turned over as I heard them knock on a door to one of the rooms and I fell back asleep.
A few hours later I wake up with my cell phone asking me if I was ready for breakfast so I'm up and moving around. As I was pulling on my pants I noticed a bunch of guys leaving the room the girls went in to. They had a couple of video cameras. And several sets of professional lights. Had I known what was going on I would never be able to sleep next to people making a real live movie!
* There is always fluctuating number of band members, as Smitty says "Seeing the Hickoids is like a handjob from a leper, you never know how many your gonna get"
Thursday, January 12, 2012
My Superpower
It's become apparent to me it's time to talk about something I've been keeping under wraps for a while now.
It's my superpower. You may laugh, but I have one and it's real. It's not some overblown glorified superpower like flying, invisibility, or a prehensile tail, but it's mine.
I can sleep anywhere.
Across a bench seat in a van, squeezed between two fat people on a plane, backstage. The list goes on...
The easiest way to make it happen it to have a hoodie pulled over my eyes and covered up in a blanket. I've pulled this pose in more back alleys and crappy no-tel parking lots than I can count. If it's a couple of hours before showtime and I just ate, I'll be in the van.
Occasionally I'll whip out a "my superpower" story to mix things up but I figured a little background info was needed first.
It's my superpower. You may laugh, but I have one and it's real. It's not some overblown glorified superpower like flying, invisibility, or a prehensile tail, but it's mine.
I can sleep anywhere.
Across a bench seat in a van, squeezed between two fat people on a plane, backstage. The list goes on...
The easiest way to make it happen it to have a hoodie pulled over my eyes and covered up in a blanket. I've pulled this pose in more back alleys and crappy no-tel parking lots than I can count. If it's a couple of hours before showtime and I just ate, I'll be in the van.
Occasionally I'll whip out a "my superpower" story to mix things up but I figured a little background info was needed first.
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