Truck stop question

So why does a truck stop in Carl's Corner TX have all of these maps for BC?

10/15/11

First mobile post

I'm on i35 sitting in the back of the freak van heading home. Hickoids played at this place called the Kessler theatre and it's one hell of a nice place. The deco front is really cool...

We could hear ourselves on stage which is something we aren't too accustomed to. It's amazing what good gear and competent sound people can do.

Breakdown

I ended up with three drink tickets, not bad but lone stars were $4 each! That is painful to my sensitive Austin wallet.

My rig rules

This is only the second show I've played with it, but It is incredibly versatile. I love turning up the tube tone and makin things "Bootsy"! One hell of a good sound.

Gear nerd

That is a picture of my new and old favorite toy, the Electro Harmonix Linear Power Booster (LPB-1).
I picked up the old one years ago when I was playing solo all the time. I needed a preamp for my acoustic, most PAs don't have enough gain for a straight acoustic and I found that thing used, in a guitar store and fell in love. After a while I used it so much I got tired of changing the battery (notice the four screws on the top, total pain in the ass) so I added the wall wart. That made it sound like shit so I moved on.

Just the other day I saw the "new" LBP and I said to myself "GET IT!" so I did.

I don't use it for solo stuff anymore (hollow body and an amp for solo now) but that thing does some amazing things to the electric. I've been using a modded blues driver and a compressor for a long time and they sound great, but putting the LPB in front of those two takes me to supersonic delight! I'm a guy who never used a pedal until a couple of years ago and now I have (and need!) three. What a cool toy.

New/Old

The new one beats the pants off the old one. The fact that it has a foot switch alone makes it better. The only bad things I can say about it is the case is cheap and the battery that came with it was total crap (but who would actually use that thing anyway). This thing sells for about $25 and that is one hell of a steal.

A little more about "CHiP's"

For background see this.

I finally paid the ticket. They added a $12.95 convenience charge to the total making it $167.95. I could have avoided the charge if I'd shown up in person or mailed in a check, but then California would be out all of that extra money. They could go broke....

9/24/11

San Antonio once again. It really is a great city for music. Austin gets all the press, but the crowds are so subdued. It's like everyone in the audience is thinking "Interesting concept" or "I'd play that differently/better". In SA people get rowdy and are ready to ROCK! This is even more evident when it's someones birthday.

Nightrockers. Generally this place is dead (at least when all the bands I play in are there) they have a PA that is about twice the size that the room needs. This can be a problem but for Belle's birthday folks came out. It sounded really good in there. The bill was Born to Lose, Los Number 3 Dinners, Churchwood and the Hickoids. Lots of sonic ass kicking and plenty of folks eating it up. Very nice.

Breakdown

Two beer tickets, lame. But enough folks wanted to buy me drinks that I was able to tie one on without hitting my wallet too hard.

Finally got a chance to use the new rig, it is so damn good. That TC is really powerful. I was next to a Fender twin that was cranked, LOUD and I still had no problem hearing myself. Number 3 and Churchwood used it too and both bass players said "And it has a built in tuner!"  It was in use for three bands and it never gave any trouble. Hell, it never even got hot! I now understand how it's got such a great reputation. What I really don't understand is how my old Ashdown head was supposed to be a match for that cabinet I've been using.

The TC killed it.

9/18/11

ACL day 4. The last day of the Corn Lovers Fiesta, it's a little sad it over... I played first with the girls and we kicked ass! It was our last time playing with Jill (new job and life stuff) but we have a new drummer we are gonna start getting whipped in to shape this week. Cunto was next, those guys have come a long way, really tight and strong. They said they were recording with Cris Burns, I can't wait to hear it. Hickoids were next and we continued to dominate. With seven pieces it's hard not to.

Then something weird happened. The next band, the Swindles showed up, I even saw Joe from the stage while we were playing, but by the time we finished they were gone. Apparently the drummer didn't want to do the show, so they all piled back in to the car and drove back to SA. Weird.

The Pocket Fishermen did the usual ass kicking later in the night. Brandt was dressed as, as... uh well, just look at the picture... Nightmare clown?

Breakdown

All this went down at the Scoot Inn and I was there all day drinking free beer (thanks to playing twice and getting some drink tickets from some non drinkers) it's nice to get treated like a human. I wish I could remember his name, but the sound guy was great. He had the room dialed right in.

I used my guitar rig and the SVT for bass. BC had a lot of fun playing a huge bass amp.

Damn, I love music.

The Big O

Otis...

I can't stop watching this!

Good God I don't believe in, thank you for the greatest music ever, thank you...