5/30/22

 

Last of the three Bigfoot shows. Finally home in Austin.  It felt real good sleeping in my own bed last night! We were up at the Parlor with Gravyboat, hicks and Pat Todd for our third afternoon show in a row. 

We were second and quite frankly played a pretty great set. After three days, it’s to be expected. Kinda on fire. 

And the “boat” and Hicks were pretty great at well but Pat and the Outsiders just killed it again.  I know I’ve said that a hundred times, but it’s true. One of the best bands out there, in any style. 11 out of 10 and just fucking awesome. 

Here is where we come to the hard part. This was my last show in Austin. The wife and I are heading north to get the hell out of this state and away from the republicans that have been running it for the last ~30 years. It really sucks here. Austin in particular gets more depressing daily. So we made the decision and are headed to Baltimore. That’s right, we are choosing “murder town” over Austin and both of us are backflip thrilled for the move. 

I won’t dump too much but if you don’t already own a house or you aren’t going to school, there is no reason to be here. It never was what it wanted to be and it’s way worse than it was. 

Gonna miss the hell out of a bunch of people! But we won’t miss this city. 

So I’ve got one to go down in SA with Harvey and the Hicks and that is it. Boom!

5/30/22

So we hopped on the van and made that long ass drive from Clarksdale to Dallas. Oh boy. I’ll just say that some of us were fairly hungover, nothing too awful, but…

We went on at the Three Links early and kinda killed it. We were first of five and there weren’t a hell of a lot of folks there but that didn’t stop us!!

We were followed by the Me Thinks, Pat Todd (!), Lauretta Suede and the Hickoids. 

That’s right, the Hicks and Pat have been out while I’ve been out with Bigfoot. It’s a crazy world, changes everywhere!! ALL YHE TIME!!!

Speaking of… Austin tomorrow. 

5/28/22

 

Bigfoot went on at the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale. We were there to play Goat Fest. This was our makeup up gig from the  first part of the pandemic. Makeup gig from 2020. 

We were up in the afternoon at the Hopsun store out back playing in the shade and hiding from the sun. The stage was a truck bed that had  tin over the spots where the wood was rotted out. It would pop when you moved around and shake the whole stage. Jarring and made for an interesting time. 

Our set was decent, nothing magical but we didn’t tank it. And the crowd dug it. Again, all that really matters. 

After all the planned music was over there was a little jam session where I got up and played bass with a few different folks, including a dude we saw playing drums at Reds the night before. That was amazing he was a serious badass player. 

No clue when I went to bed. Kinda how it should be. 

3/20/22

 Last sxsw show of the year was at the chili dog fest held at Empire Control Room and The Sidebar. 

Bigfoot was up and our set was decent for the first one with the new lineup. We’d had two rehearsals so… 

There were three stages and two of them were running about an hour behind and of course we were on one of those. At least it was backlined.  When we got up we had a decent crowd that seemed to be in to it, but that five o’clock sun was really taking its toll on all the day drinkers. You could see them slowly shrivel as the sun beat down. Even the townies were feeling it. 

Mike Watt was up after us, heard it was pretty amazing, but I had to get the fuck home. I was whipped from being in the sun  all day and having all those beers… lord.

6/25/21

Had a Bigfoot show the other day. We’ve been practicing on and off for a bit. Some decent  gigs got scheduled then got cancelled. Then finally, FINALLY we played one!

It was at the Little Darlin down south. The last time I was there I was watching Maceo from De La spin, so I have some very fond memories of this joint. 

Our set was decent. We’ve been playing a bit but not nearly enough. There’s also the pandemic slump…. But we did a pretty good job of kicking some ass for the crowd   They were all warmed up by the time Lonesome Dave went up.  And that was the whole reason we were there. 

2/8/20

Last night it was a double up with Bigfoot and Harvey at the Black Sparrow out in Taylor. Made the drive and set up both bass and guitar rigs. Might as well lend them out since I’ll be there and using both. 

Right after he got there Harvey’s piano took a dive and the action got all screwed up.  As in a lot of keys didn’t work at all.  Fuck. We covered as well as we could but it was kinda hurting. Next time....

Bigfoot went up and we had a decent one. Couple of newish things here and there and plenty of the same old... not a bad set.  We might be in an upswing!!

Beautiful Delilah’s closed it out, but because I had to work at 8am in the morning I drove my ass home!!!

1/24/20

This was a Bigfoot show at Kick Butt. We were last out of four or five bands. I didn’t pay that much attention to the names of them... but they were all pretty dam rocking. I love that. Knowing no one and having a blast watching REALLY good stuff. 

We even had a decent set. We are starting to sound like a real group again as we all learn how to play in the new lineup. 

Nothing magical happened we just kinda held it down and rocked it. Loads of fuckups and plenty of room for improvement, but a solid step forward.  

10/26/19

Third night in a row in San Antonio, BUT first there is a party in San Marcos and Bigfoot was playing it. 

It was a pretty cool affair. Out on a ranch that had a real stage and food and BEER!!

We were kinda terrible. We aren’t good at playing tunes longer to fill time. It’s a huge flaw in that band and a skill we should learn. Not sure we will...

Then the Harvey band played at Francis Bogside. I’d never been here before but it’s a really cool joint and our set was pretty damn good. Felt nice to have a good one after the earlier one. 

8/30/19

Two days ago Bigfoot played a party for this fella named Yoshi. His restaurant won some awards and the South Congress Hotel (where it is located) was throwing him a party to celebrate. He wanted Walter to play and that meant Bigfoot!

It was kind of an odd event to start with, they don’t usually have bands and I don’t think they knew what to do with us. But everyone was kind, helpful and ready to make the party work. It ended up being a pretty cool night. 

Our set was solid. No real PA we just sang through an amp. Not the best but survivable. At some point some folks, Yoshi included, were up and dancing! All of this took place in the lobby bar of a fancy, new hotel on South Congress. Loads of potential for duchey-ness but there was none of that. A very pleasant surprise. 

9/8/19

A week ago Bigfoot had an in store at Antones Records. A continuation of the cassette release we had last month. Lots of Bigfoot love in the house. 

We played about a half hour and it was pretty good. I still didn’t have my guitar worked up the way I want, it’s calming but this was a little too soon after the tour for me to be 100% ready. 

Anyway, a good bunch of folks were there including Mike, Roger and Ray working the shop. Roger is from Knoxville like me and invited an old band mate out to see us! So nice of him. I hadn’t seen John in more than 25 years. Apparently he moved here a while back and I still hadn’t run into him. 

Oh Austin. 

9/7/19

It was Bigfoot last night at the Black Sparrow Music Parlor our in Taylor. That’s right Taylor has a really cool music venue. Who knew? And why did it take so long to get out there to play?!!!  

We were last of four in this great sounding room and a decent amount of folks stayed out to see us. I didn’t really expect that but people out there want to have a good time on a Saturday night, why wouldn’t they?

Anyway the set was ok...  I think we sounded pretty good for anyone who isn’t in the band (or more specifically, me) but I really played like shit for my first full show on guitar. There. I said it. A month of being on tour with no lefty guitars around, that’s how it works. It had to happen. We had to get it out of the way and last night was it.  

7/3/19

I got a message the other day that I needed to speak with Bigfoot Chester HR so I went in a little early. Turns out everyone wants Angele back in after her stellar performance at the anniversary show. Perfectly understandable, she fucking kills it. 

So there I was sad and dejected, thinking I was out of a job...  until they slid an envelope across the desk that gave me my new job description. I’m in on guitar!!

We were back at the Sahara for our last, first Wednesday. It was pretty packed but we weren’t fooled... it’s just the day before a holiday and folks wanted to party!!

Angele isn’t 100% on everything yet so I split the set between guitar and bass. Still a load of fun. And we kinda killed it. I’m really looking forward to where we are going with this band. The five piece Bigfoot is awesome! 

6/22/18

And the second two shows were at Kick-Butt Coffee. I’ve been there for a couple of shows but I’ve never played there. And on this night I did twice!

Beautiful Delilah’s were first. Great as ever. I love playing with Trey but it’s really fun watching him rock out with someone else. And rock it they did!

Bigfoot went next. Our 25th anniversary show. It was pretty cool and a little redemptive after that last set at Sahara... we put out a cassette with a bunch of leftover stuff from the past and a couple of new ones that we did with Cris last month. It actually sounds pretty good, the new ones in particular. Couple of the old ones sound awful. My bass is mixed OUT of one of them...  bad bad production. Even for a cassette.

So we got Ted Roddy to sing a couple and Angele got up and played bass on five. In the past I’d get down and watch but this time I played some guitar and it felt really good. I played guitar on one recording back when I started and that was it.  After 20 years of waiting, finally I get to strike!!

Hickoids were last. Our set was somewhat subdued by Hickoid standards. But there was lots of time for bullshitting with the crowd and I even got to gear a story about Davy I’ve never heard before. THERE IS STILL GOLD IN THAT HILL!!

6/5/19

Rough set last night at the Sahara... Bigfoot was back in the monthly slot. Usually Danny B would be there but he didn’t make it this time. No idea why....  I pay very little attention to anything other than the music. 

I missed Pinkus (of course...) but got there to see Henri playing a really good solo set. He sat in with us as well... probably not the best time for him to do it but you can’t really plan when the shitty set comes.  

And it came hard and heavy. What a mess.  Kinda epic in its awfulness. That’s how it goes, the only thing to do is move on and do what you can to make it not happen again.  

Wish us luck. 

5/15/19

Bigfoot did a little recording session the other day. Another one with Chris Burns at  Dales place. Or Dales old place... I don’t really know, I’ve recorded here a few times. It’s a cool little room and close to the house!!

The 25rh anniversary of the band is coming up. And we are releasing a cassette (?!?!) with a bunch of unreleased tracks and theses two tunes. Since I don’t have a cassette player I asked for a cd copy, trading one arcane format for another. ..

We did it mostly live. Overdubbed backing vocals on one tune and did the lead/backing on the other at the same time Bill put on two acoustic parts on that second tune. Honestly more tracking that has ever happened on a Bigfoot session. Bigfoot wall of sound!!

This fella Henri (didn’t catch his last name) played piano with us. He just moved here from outside of London and is staying on some kinda green card or work visa. Nice dude and he really added a lot to the session.  

Cassettes soon!!

4/3/19

Another Sahara/Bigfoot/Danny/Pinkus first Wednesday of the month. That is some sentence.

Of course I showed up right when Pinkus was finishing.... chronic. I can’t make an opener. It’s something I’m trying to accept but I do not like it at all...

Danny had a rough start. Apparently before Pinkus went up there was a band that needed eight vocal mics(!?!?!?!?) and for some reason they rewired the PA (also !?!?!?!?....)   They played a lengthy instrumental medley while this guy put the PA back in to working shape. Man... what a pain in the ass. It’s a good thing they have so many tunes they can throw in to cover when shit like that happens. That band is deep!

Our set was really solid. We actually had a chance to rehearse the other day so we could work out some of the finer points, it really helped.  I go from not wanting to play something at all to “can we do that one again?” in no time.  

We aren’t doing May, but we will be back Wednesday, June 5, lookout!

3/6/19

Last night was the first Wednesday, so you know what that means?!! (Except for last month when my schedule was off...). Sahara lounge with Danny B!

Jeff Pinkus has been added to the bill with his solo act, Pink Banjo!!  He played last month but I was off in Hong Kong so Bigfoot (and I) totally missed it.... I missed it last night as well, but I’m gonna try my best next month!!

Danny and them were ripping through it when I got there. Jesus you get spoiled seeing that all the time. Near the end of the set Danny’s wife got up and sang a few. Nice to see the family makin it!!!

I was a little worried about our set. We haven played at all in two months and that means zero rehearsal... We were fine. More than fine.  I’d say downright acceptable!

1/2/19

It was cold and damp as hell Wednesday night. A day and a half of nonstop rain and it was in the 30s all day, I knew the Sahara would be dead. I didn’t know that all they have for heat is a few space heaters and window units set to heat instead of cool. They don’t really help much when it’s summer and they blow “cold” but I can deal with sweating... I moved to Texas for a reason.  That damp cold made it fucking miserable in there. 

Danny did his usual killing it. He was playing through an amp that was a pedal (?!) and a speaker cabinet. Pretty cool setup. Technology touches everything nowadays. 

I wore a jacket for most of our set. We played everything too fast and we were sloppy as hell. I think we wanted to get it over and get home and warm. Which we eventually did. 

Looking forward to next month when I hope there is a heatwave. Lord. 

12/5/18

Another late-ass post...

Bigfoot at the Sahara with Danny B, again.  

Kinda the same as the other months we’ve done this, pretty sweet “problem” to have.  Playing in a band you love, in has a sweet monthly gig at a cool club. AND a world class guitar player opens for us and likes us!!

That become reality and it’s kinda weird how you can get acclimated to it. Something absolutely amazing becomes commonplace and part of your normal life. 

I could just be a spoiled child...jury’s still out. 

11/7/18

Late late late....  no shocker there. 

Another month another first Wednesday with Danny B. 

They’d been playing for an hour or so by the time I got there. I can’t seem to make it early enough for their whole set. Pitiful me....

They were killing it of course, even though the crowd was thinner than in weeks past. Beto losing the election the night before  didn’t help attendance.  We knew that going in.  But Danny and his boys just got up and did it. Like always.  

We went up and hit the room with a few new tunes. By new I mean we haven’t played them in a few years. We’ve got a pretty huge list of tunes we’ve played over the years. Lots to pull from.  We added “Endless Sleep”, “They Can Only Fill One Grave” and “Pistol Packin Mama” this time. And the folks that made it out dug it. 

It was pretty solid all around. Just like it will be the next time. And....