1/6/17

When I pulled up to the Deanville bar and grill it was 22 degrees outside and the wind was blowing at around 20 miles an hour. There were only a few cars in the lot, pretty obvious we weren't gonna set any attendance records. Most people in Central Texas like the heat. Dry, cracked earth and no rain for a month heat. We stay home when it's this cold out.


We were gonna play from 8-11 but we didn't get going until around 8:45. Almost immediately we drove off of the older couples and we were left with a handful. Some of them were actually proud that they braved the elements to see the Hickoids!


By the time we packed up the temperature was 18, and the wind chill was 12. We hadn't been this cold since Berlin. Earlier we'd played a 20+ minute version of "Stop It" and a 20+ minute version of "Truck/Bronto". There was a little bit of phoning it in, but we hit 'em pretty hard for a bunch of old men, slugging out rock and roll for two hours during the coldest night of the winter.



More tomorrow.

1/5/17

Free week in San Antonio. Lots of clubs with lots of bands and it was all free!!!!
At this point, I don't know if we got paid so it really could be free ignoring the two drinks got and the gas I used...


We were on at 11 at the Paper Tiger. I think we were third of four. That place was cold as hell. The barn doors were closed, but they don't really have any heating in there. Originally it was a garage, no fixing it. I love it in the summer!


A decent amount of people we there when we went on. Our set was pretty good. I kept the coat on for the first few cause I was freezing. I screwed up a bunch. I'm still figuring out that new bass. At times it sounds amazing, then my hand moves position a little and it starts sounding wrong. I'll figure it out in a few shows.


More tomorrow.

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). 

11/26/16

Bigfoot at the Nomad. I'd never played there and I'd only ever been a handful of times. The first few they didn't even have a stage, it was just a couple of acoustic folks strumming on the wood. Now there is a stage, PA, bass amp (!), drink tickets!! AND it's a mile and a half from the house.


We were in the middle of three. The first band's drummer couldn't make it so it was just a guy banging away on an acoustic. Then we went up. We had a nice set we were fairly mellow for us, but we still gave it plenty of rumble.


Because I am pitiful (notice how long it took to post this...) I can't even remember the last bands name... I'm pretty sure the singer's name was Ira. I do remember they had a pretty soulful sound and were kicking that ass. Hopefully I'll see them again.


I'll be back at the Nomad on NYE with the Swishbucklers. It's the perfect distance from my house for a drunk holiday show.

10/7/16

Late late lame



ACL Week Two

Hickoids were on earlyish at the Hole. In fact we were so early I almost missed the set! I showed up, plugged in, got a drink and we were on. GO!! Our set was decent. The crowd was nowhere near what we'd had the weekend before, seems like the big festival crowd can' make it above MLK. Oh well... We rocked it.

It was the typical two stage setup, back and fourth, bam bam bam. Meet your death was after us up front. Cool set, but Walters amp popped so he didn't sound like his usual self.

Sailor Poon was next in the back. I could barely understand what was being sung, but that didn't matter. They were great! I really liked them. As a matter of fact they have a bass player and a drummer that work pretty well together. Hmm...

Beaumonts were last and upfront. Their penises looked HUGE up on that little stage. I took off around the half way point, they were killing it and there was no reason to believe that wouldn't continue.

And that was all the ACL for me. I wasn't on the bill the next night, I was gonna go but by 9PM I was still in my underwear and I'd poured myself a whiskey so...

And AND The fellas (with Odie as my sub) are curremtly on the east coast and about to head over to Europe (bastards, without ME!!!!) Go see them! And tell em you miss RICE!!

10/1/16

ACL night two.


Hickoids were last at the White Horse. I got there just as Chrissy Flatt's new group (New Mystery Girl) was going on. Hell of a good set. For years she was doing more of a folky solo (sometimes with a band) set. Now it's a lot more rocking and I think it fits her better. Nice work lady!


Pat Todd and the Rank Outsiders were back in Austin! And of course they whipped ass. Fuck, it's really good to see, hear and play with those guys again. I can't really add much, nothing has changed since the last time we played with them. Other than all of us ageing...


Our set was a good sloppy mess. A decent chunk of the (big) festival crowd stuck around for our stupidity. They were drunk and there was still music.. why not! During one tune Lance broke his kick pedal. I kept playing till he straightened it out, a lame ass bass odyssey that shouldn't have been heard by anyone... But I had no choice. With the show going on and all.


We finished with the lights on. The crowd was quickly tossed and the night ended with a bit of a whimper...


More next week.

9/30/16

First Night of ACL. We were at the Lost Well and it was costume night. What a bunch of silly ass shit... Grannies, Fishermen so much fun.

The Shut-Ups started things off with a loud as shit set on the floor of the club. The drummer was in front of the bass and drums. I think they are a total improv group (in costumes!). At some point the drummer was on the bar with his floor tom on his head. Not balancing it there, he'd broken through the top head and was playing the sides of it with his sticks. Awesome!

I was with the Swishbucklers. We were on second and had a rocking little set. I love getting to play guitar! One of the regular 'bucklers couldn't make it so all of the lead lines were mine and I whipped the shit out of them. Through the magic of over amplified guitar, one little move can send you off to feedback heaven. Glorious. 

Fishermen and Grannies did the usual ass kicking. Nothing special, just the regular greatness.

The night went on, I left before The Upper Crust and Chasca started... Full on lameness on my part. It can't be helped.

Hickoids at the White Horse tomorrow.