12/31/16

A New Years Twofer!

#1) 8:30PM

This was the Hickoids at the Spiderhouse Ballroom. They had all three stages going, each with their own themed decade from the 60's-80's. We were on the 70's stage and we took that to heart. All covers, no crap! Well it was mostly crap... China Grove and Take it Easy were our first two songs... Jesus Fuck what a horrible bunch of shit. I hate those songs even more now that I know how to play them.

Anyway we did eight tunes, got free keg beer and got paid! Not a bad way to start things off. Fingerpistol was after us. I had fun hanging out with Jill and Kim, but I didn't get to see them play because....

#2) 11PM 

Swishbucklers at the Nomad. We were opening for the Pocket Fishermen. THe crow was small but spirited and we gave them all we had! We gay-pirated their faces off!

Fishermen went up after everyone tucked in to cheap champagne and rubbed and slobbered all over anyone they were allowed to hug and slobber all over. Their set was great as usual. They went long and eventually I went home tired (IE lazy). 

12/31/15

t was the grandest night of all. The big, fancy New Year's Eve. The night where all of your hopes and expectations fall flat and leave you thinking "this is it?..." And the Hickoids were playing... As you can probably tell, I don't like NYE. I'd rather stay at home and hide, but if I'm playing...

We were a part of a two stage party at the Spider House. This was the place where I first played a left handed bass. It was during a NYE house party back when the Spider House was just a house and someone had a left handed bass and someone else told me to play it. I was hooked! A couple weeks after I went to Southpaw in Houston and bought my very own. BASS!!!

The big headliner was Roky Erickson but he was going on a couple of hours after us, but I was at home and on the couch by the time he went on...

Hickoids went up on the outside stage. It looks like it was designed by a Fairy in an enchanted wonderland. It's nice, but a little weird looking for a place where Hickoids would play.  It was cold but we've played colder. There was a good crowd who was pumped for the big night and ready the rock and roll. We gave it to em.

We were on for about 45 minutes and hit them pretty hard for most of the set. Finished up and stood around the fire pit until I finished my beer, said some goodbyes and headed home for the night.

12/31/13

It was the big fancy NYE show. We all made the drive separately and took along our ladies. Downtown Dallas was packed with folks ready for the big night. I saw multiple people walking in to our hotel with CASES of booze. These were not employees, these were guests and they were going to party. The drunken stupidity was inevitable.

Our hotel was a half a mile away from the HOB. I hoofed it over to set up my gear (Smitty brought the heavy stuff in the freak) and to check the place out.

The House of Blues in Dallas has three venues in it. One had a grunge show another had an oldies show and the big room had us opening for the Old '97's. I walked in the back stage entrance and off to the Hickoid green room. A lovely place with chips and salsa, a veggie tray, a coffee maker, a second coffee maker (for toilet coffee), a lovely assortment of soda and water.... and no beer... zero... we had to buy our own... NYE and no free beer for the band. Interesting decision since generally a "Blues" club feeds it's musicians booze like it's water and asks them if they want more when they are drooling and laying on the sidewalk (or ground if it's out in the country). We got food so it wasn't all bad but it still seemed odd. I never left the backstage area the whole night. The club looked like a cool place, but by the time I could check things out it was packed so I hid in the back.

RTB2 Kicked things off. They played the Saturday show at Antone's but I missed them then. This show they kicked ass! A little blues, a little rock and a little pop. A lot of sound for a two piece.

We were second and did pretty well. It was obvious that people were there for the '97's and wanted them on NOW! But we did our thing and did it good and by the end they were in to us.

The 97's went on and BOOM! The folks that were all reserved for our set boiled over into the drunken mob I knew was hiding under the surface. It's New Years Eve and these people ain't fucking around.

While they were rocking the Hickoids started drifting off into the night. We left by cab, van, car and foot. NYE would soon be in the past and another year of kicking musical ass is out there waiting for us.

Some BIG opportunities are on the way! Stay tuned.

12/27/13

Hickoids at Antone's, Austins semi home of the blues. Someone bought it again and they are shutting down for a few months to change things up. It's been a rough go for that place and now a bunch of people are gonna be out of work for the new year... ouch.

We were invited to play with the Old '97's for two of their three NYE shows. So we did this one and we will be doing NYE proper in Dallas at the House Of Blues. Hickoids are getting fancy on ya...

The first act was Sealion from Dallas. The had some sweet poppy tunes and a chick bass player! Always great. One of the guitar players had one of those reissue Fender '68 Princeton amps (I had an original, but it got too old to play out.) He said he picked it up when they were on their way to Austin. It sure sounded sweet with his Tele, no real shocker there.

We were next and did the Hickoid thing. It's always nice to play to a crowed club but a BIG crowed club is even better. There were a ton of people ready for fun and we gave it to them. You could tell that most of them had never heard of us up until then, we should stick in their brains after last night.

'97's were next and since pretty much everyone that was there was there to see them the place went a little nuts. They delivered the Americana Rock and the crowd wanted more, so they gave it to them. It's a very simple formula, but it seems to work every time.

I'm looking forward to Dallas on Tuesday.

These people know what they are doing

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.

12/30/11

Last show(s) of the year! Me and the girls and the Hickoids (and Glambilly) at the Mix. San Antonio is the perfect place for a pre NYE show.
We all shared gear, it was a genuine love fest.

Breakdown

I can't say enough good things about the Mix. Free booze (!) and a whole bunch of happy drunken people. The "girls" and I whipped it good. We played "The Boyds Creek Breakdown" for the first time and it rocked. I even came up with a new intro for "You Make Me Feel...", it was beautiful.

Hickoids had Tony on drums and Lutz on fifth man duties. Luts had just finished a 15 hour shift at a fireworks stand. Hickoids!

(I know it's a lame joke but I can't help myself) See you next year...