Thursday, May 30, 2013

5/26/13

Day four,

We made the drive to Marfa after an incredibly good and greasy breakfast in Midland. I drank a shitload of coffee and I was jacked up for the entire drive. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got to Padres, said howdy and loaded the gear in. Tonight the Hickoids are first. There are some concerns about the "language issue" with the Beaumonts... I wonder why?

Our set was short and a little underwhelming (at least from my end). It wasn't bad, just not great. It happens.

The Beaumonts were amazing. The sound guy, Hondo had never seen them before and I'd look over on occasion and see him behind the board, laughing his ass off. You really can't help it when you hear "Pour some wax on it baby". I dare you not to laugh (or be offended, but if offends you, should stay away from my blog). That was the reaction throughout most of the crowd, except for some folks who hightailed it after the first "fuck" was uttered. The Beaumonts are not for them.

We packed up and got paid, said our goodbys to the staff, our travel buddy's and Lance drove the eight hours home.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

5/25/13

Day three

We hopped in the freak and made our way to Midland. We played at the Blue Max last year with our short-penised friends, the Beaumonts and it's good to do it again. 

Erica, the club owner always takes care of us. Right after we got there she said "Rice, I got a whole cow out there ready to grill for you". I said "uhhh...."  And she laughed and told me "I made you some veggie pasta, you'll be fine".  

I love this place. 

Beaumonts were first. After a couple of songs Troy Wayne was tuning and there were a couple minutes of "uncomfortable" silence. Followed by a couple of minutes of comedy gold. Those are some seriously funny fuckers.  

We didn't want to be outdone so we had a couple of awkward silences in our set, followed by attempts at hilarity. We tried, but we ain't no Beaumonts. We are much younger and WAY more attractive. Not as funny, but its a trade off I'm willing to take. 

Marfa tomorrow. 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

5/24/13

Day two

Friday night at the Grotto in Ft Worth. Our old pals the Me-Thinks were the big headliner we were right before them and the Beaumonts  were before us. 

It was a bitch of a drive from Austin. Nonstop rain and a bunch of wrecks, but the freak 3 did beautifully. She drives like a dream. 

Beaumonts are KILLING it live. They have a knack of controlling a crowd in a truly bizarre fashion. During their first song some dude in the crowd looked at me and asked "Did he just say stick my pecker in a dog's behind?"  Yes, yes he did.  

When we were setting up this dude was standing there saying "I bet you won't have half the fun I'm gonna have". I accepted his challenge and monitored his "fun level" for the rest of the night.  I believe I hovered in the 60%-70% range of his enjoyment level. I win!

Midland tomorrow. 

Friday, May 24, 2013

5/23/13

It's day one of the latest Hickoids mini-tour, four days with the Beaumonts. It's a themed tour, I don't really know what the theme is, but I know it has something to do with goats or sheep... We are starting off close to home and will end things up in Marfa on Sunday (we are told the livestock will be there, in force).

I know I've said it before, but I love spending the night in my bed on the first day of a tour... It's rock and roll, old man style!

We were in San Marcos at a former massage parlor know as the Tokyo Spa. They call it the Triple Crown now. Hickoids were first, we had a good set. Smitty's playing a lot of guitar at the top of the set. Energy wise we seem to start things off a little more subdued than usual, but we still bring the rock by the end of the set.

We did the Brontosaurs and that always makes me happy.

Beaumonts were on next. I didn't see them (work the next morning) but, I heard the top of the first song as I headed to my truck. Lame, I know, but I'll see PLENTY of them this weekend.

Ft Worth tomorrow!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

5/16/13

My first time at the new Antone's. They did a really nice job with the place. Two stories, two bars (and most importantly) two coolers stocked with Lone Star tallboys for the bands. Iced beer! They STILL know how to treat bands here.

Hickoids were in the middle. Black Eyed Vermillion was first. The lineup was different from the last time I saw them (it seems to change a lot!). A couple of the Cunto fellas have joined and that's a very good thing. They held it down while Gary stomped and yelled all over the stage. They were louder than usual, but that makes them rowdier too, another good thing.

Our set felt quick to me, It wasn't, but it proves I have no concept of time when I'm playing. I'm always the person who thinks we've played twenty minutes more (or less) than we actually have... I need a soundman to keep me straight.

I borrowed Marcus's (from PP) rig. I'm liking the Orange gear more every time I use it. There may be a change in my future.

Pinata Protest was last. This was their record release and the crowd came out for the Protest. Loads of drunken people jumping around on the dance floor and having a great time. They always seem to bring the rock and roll beat down. It's expected at this point.

Breakdown

Two coolers of iced down Lone Star (a CASE of tallboys in each). And we got paid! Damn... one hell of a Thursday night.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

5/14/13

Tuesday ay 8PM usually isn't the best time for a show. After it's booked your always thinking "No one will come, it's too early and a TUESDAY". That leads to thoughts of the club not wanting you back and other things you shouldn't be thinking if your gonna go rock.

Over the years I've done a pretty good job of keeping away from that kind of thinking. It's easier when your "just" the bass player and you didn't book the show. I didn't book this show either, but some of that thinking drifted in to my brain as I was driving downtown.

Red Eye Fly. I haven't played there in years. We were first of four on the bill and we got up and rocked it. When your thinking "I hope SOMEONE comes out" you are thrilled when twenty folks show up. You get even happier when some of the folks you told to come out actually do!

Breakdown

Two beer tickets each. Nice for an early Tuesday. The Ladies and I had a shot together before playing. I wasn't going to have one, but it looked really tasty when everyone else was gonna have one! I think I'm finally caving in to this peer pressure I've been hearing about...

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

5/4/13

Saturday night in Dallas, the big D. There were Gringos up there...

Hickoids made the drive separately. Smitty, Tom and Davy went up early in the freak to pick up some LPs from the Dallas pressing plant. Lance and I drove up later. Our time was filled with kolache and coffee.

We made it to Bryan Street Tavern in enough time for Tom to bully us into ordering our free pizza (apparently the Thai food he had three hours earlier wasn't holding him over). We ate and Graceland got up to play. They had a nice set, but they got into a little argument in the middle. Having been in SEVERAL bands that fought onstage (sometimes with fists) it was nice to see someone else do it.

We were next. I was sloppy and a little out of it. The two shows the night before, four hours of sleep, eight hours of work and a three and a half hour drive was knocking the crap out of me. Folks seemed happy with the show. I used Tubb's Orange rig and it's making me think about replacing mine. I am a gear whore.

Gringos go on playing the classics. They were kicking ass and I start dragging it. Lance and I head back to Austin early (lame, but needed). More kolache on the way home to

sleep...

Saturday, May 4, 2013

5/3/13

Friday night in Hunter Texas, Yeah! Riley's Tavern has been around since 1933. It's like a lot of joints out in the country, cool as hell. I was playing twice (Ladies and Hickoids) and the Beaumonts were finishing things off.

The Ladies and I were on first. We are an excellent opener... and talented and lovely and...
We kicked some ass.

Hickoids were next. It was the calmest Hickoids set ever. Smitty is playing a lot of guitar and it cuts down on his ability to bounce around. It also saves me from getting fucked with continually, so it's not a bad thing.

I loaded up the truck and ran back inside to get drunk for the Beaumonts. God I love them. At midnight (during last call) the crowd was still pretty thick and they kept going, even after the soundman turned off the PA! Instrumental Ace of Spades. Beautiful.