5/26/19

The last show of this little tour was Gringopalooza at Three Links in Dallas.  We have done this before, many times.  As a matter of fact, they did it without me last year when I was in Greece(!). 

Went up with Harvey first. It was the best we’d been received so far but I didn’t do as well as I should have.  Missed some stuff...  Oh well. 

Mean Motor Scooter was next. I don’t think describing them as “on fire” is a good enough description.  Those songs, and the way they are play them, that’s some serious shit!

Gringo’s played the best set I’ve seen them do in a while. They were up and ready.  Always nice to see them, that might have been my 30th time?!  

We closed it out with Frontier Dan.  Didn’t do any of the tunes we recorded with him but we hit our classics.  The crowd was really in to our set with and without him.  Great feeling having the biggest show of the tour on the last night. 

5/25/19

Whitewater Tavern in Little Rock last night. Same deal as the night before except for the Frontier Circus in the middle slot. 

The crowd was light when we got up with Harvey. It thinned out further as the night went on.  First set was great. We really got it going right from the top and only a couple of easily coverable screwups.    

Danny and the Circus were great. Better than I’ve ever seen them. And he is so stupidly charming.  

We kinda kicked it. Pretty sure all of us we so out of it that we were in full “fuck it, let’s rip this shit up” mode. And we did!!  

Wish the crowd was better but it’s kinda how it seems to work when we play here. Still fun. Dallas tomorrow. 

5/24/19 show

We got to the Lamplighter and got ready for the first set. Lance and I have been rehearsing with Harvey and we have a five song set we are playing on these Hickoid dates.  

We did a decent job of it. This was only the third time we’d played together so there were mistakes, but nothing horrifying and we never got derailed. Pretty much a win. Looking forward to getting it nailed down. 

Joecephus and The George Jonestown Massacre we’re in the middle slot. They were tight as hell and tore it up.  That is until a cymbal stand fell and chopped the power cable leading to the pedal board. A huge spark jumped out and the rig was dead. It was crazy. 

Hickoids were last. The set was pretty good. Of course Frontier Dan got up with us. That guy kills me...  felt good making music with him all day. I spent a fair amount of time outside in the window behind Lance. When I looked up in to the sky I could see planes taking off and landing. Pretty nice night. 

5/24/19 studio

Hickoids just wrapped up a recording session with Frontier Dan in Memphis. We headed to the birthplace of Rock and Roll to make Danny a star.  It’s our mission.  

The session was pretty awesome. Did it at Dale Watson’s place, Wat-Sun down in the basement.  Cris Burns engineered us live to tape, mono, no overdubs, no mixing. A beautiful and nerve wracking thing.

Got down nine tunes down, all of them loaded with “personality”. That’s what I’m calling mistakes.  You are gonna get them in this type of situation. Did multiple takes of most of the tunes, not all of them are gonna work but a bunch of them will. Pretty exhausting but satisfying day. 

Heading to do two sets at the Lamplighter. More on that tomorrow. 

10/5/17

Last night had us in San Marcos at the Buzzmill.


When I showed up Pat and the Outsiders were setting up, I'd already missed Harvey... Damn.


Pat's set was great, almost all of the tunes were different than the night before. Stylistically similar but different "numbers". Mmmmm, Professionals!


Our set was short but rockin. They have a noise cutoff at 11 and we went on a little after 10. A decent amount of time, but with all of the bullshitting we do... During the first song I pulled a Davy Jones by stepping on my cords and unplugging my tuner... twice... Sigh.



We did Glorious Heroin and Half Breed/Eighteen with Frontier Dan. What a charming son of a bitch. We ended our set with Donkey Lady at lightning speed. It was more than a little unhinged.

10/4/17

It's (almost) Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta time! The true ACL weekend one officially starts Friday, but we have a couple of preview shows first.


Hickoids played at Jandro's in San Antonio last night. I'd never been there, but it's another new/cool place on St Mary's. The ever expanding street of rock.


We were last after two bands from Sweden and our buddies Pat Todd and the Rank Outsiders!!! Bring it!



I was running a little late so I thought I'd only catch one of the Swede collectives, but the night was running late... I showed up when Shady and the Vamp were two songs in. Rocking ass set. As were the Martin Savage Gang. Both bands had the core "Vamp" and then (I'm assuming) Martin Savage added in on guitar and vocals. Two sets of high energy rock and roll. A great way to start the night.


Pat was Pat. Always engaging while the Outsiders sling that no bullshit rock and roll. This was the first of three in a row we are doing with them. I'm lucky as hell sometimes. We get all of this out-of-town love in for ACL.



Speaking of, Frontier Dan is in to do his part. He is hopping up for a few songs each night with us. It's always a treat to play with that dude. The comedy runs high when Dan is around. AND he brought his Theremin!! I love it...


We finished up around the time I thought I'd be back home and in bed... No big deal, sleep will come later.