9/19/13

The Red Eye Fly on a sweaty Thursday night. It was raining enough to make it disgusting outside. No relief from heat when you've had thirty minutes of spitting rain. It just becomes a pressure cooker. I was drenched with sweat before we went on.

In the old days (last month) the REF's neighboring parking lot was a hell of a good deal. $10 for all night on a weekend, $5-$7 during the week. Apparently someone new owns it because they jacked up the rate to $12 for three hours!!! I know I'm an old, small town guy, but DAMN! What a scam...

I paid for parking on the street... $3.50 for the rest of the night a deal in the current economy of Austin parking. I know this was (and still kinda is) one of my big bitches. Years of seven-days-a-week free night time parking conditioned me to expect it... I guess it's my fault I "miss" it (also see small town/old comment above...) Parking is big business in the ATX.

Me and the Ladies played up front while three or four "younger" bands fought for rock star status out back. Tough gig out there, you get paid, but only from what you bring in. As in if three of your friends paid $5 each to get in, you get $15. You don't get much more than that if you are playing up front, but there is no cover and your friends spend their money on beer (and maybe buy one for you!) not on a cover to see their friends band... again... It's nice to not give a shit about being a rock star. It really allows you to concentrate on the playing of the music and not stressing yourself out because only two people showed up and you owe the drummer $20 for posters.

We did two "New-Old" songs last night. The first is "59" which I wrote five or so years ago and never really played until now. And "When The Money Gets Big" from the "Get So Little" Cd I put out tenish years ago. The new versions are really good. Have I mentioned how much I love this lineup? We aren't just good, we are ass-whippingly good!

6/28/13

Another two in one! This one was easy, the clubs are neighbors and I didn't need a bass rig for the second one (even though I had it in the car).

#1
Me and the Ladies at Red Eye Fly. Another good night at the Fly. Not packed but a nice amount of folks were up in the front to watch us.

It was ridiculously hot on stage. We were all a little off our game and coated in sweat, but we were able to punch our way through to the end.

Played a new one I'd written called "Selfish". It's about Davy Jones getting busted by his father jerking it as a preteen. "David, that's the most selfish thing a person can do..." He told the Hickoids and the Grannies all about it when we were in Europe and each of us were talking about writing a song. This one is mine.

I worked up a couple of beats that seem a little at odds but really come together in a nice way. Added it with one of those "tricky" six cord song that sounds like it only has two. Add a bass part and some 60's style backing vocals (which I make everyone sing even if they don't have a mic!). Beautiful

#2
Bigfoot Chester at Beerland. Continuing the tour of Red River, it was Walter's birthday and Bigfoot was on the bill. We played after Chitlins (which is Bigfoot with Davy and I being substituted by Billy Steve Corpi and Cindy Toth). I dug their set, it was like a bouncier, upbeat Bigfoot.

We played a thirty minute set of ass kicking, thick and swampy music. Ted Roddy was there and right before he got up it was announced that the Bigfoot/Roddy 45 had just arrived from Spain! That's right I showed up to the gig and got a brand new piece of vinyl that I played on... KICK ASS!

Cunto was last and they gave it their Cunto all. I wouldn't expect anything less.

Breakdown

The three free beers I got at each place was more than enough for me (a couple of folks offered to buy me more, but I was fine). Using a house rig is the best. Even though I loaded/unloaded mine it was better than having to screw around with parking and a second round of the load/unload game.

Classic me!

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...