Show Journal 2003-01-24
Good things about this show included all the cool people we met, the highly amusing and very rocking kids from Stand Off, getting to see (and apologize to) Brandon from Mass Productions, finally having a request for ‘Get In The Van’ at a show and the large assortment of backstage food which included lasagna, salad, chips, m&m’s, coke, gatorade, water and red vines. Some lesser points included our slow and sloppy renditions of our normally easy to play songs, the wet and slow drive to Corvallis and the late start time. All in all a pretty good evening. Thanks to James and crew for making this show happen!
Show Journal 2003-01-17
I really thought this show was going to be great and at approximately 10:02 PM I watched my high expectations turn into the dismal reality of being an unwelcome band in front of an apathetic and intoxicated crowd. We actually started off strong opening with ‘Kelvis’. Beer was spilled and bodies were moving. By the second song people realized something was amiss. They wanted long hair and metal. We had neither to offer and soon the projectiles began to fly. For each can, cup and lit cigarette that was tossed at us we cut another song on the set list. We finished 9 songs in just over 20 minutes and that was more than enough. Truth be told we actually did get a lot of compliments from people but sadly the section of the crowd that didn’t like us was the more vocal section. Dave tried to rationalize things afterwards by saying that “sometimes people throw beer on bands they like”. That is often a true statement (especially at Zak’s) but not tonight. All that came to mind was the line from the Blues Brothers … “those lights are off on purpose”. We watched Pornstore Janitor’s set and bailed. I really hate bands that do that but we really needed a change of scenery. After returning to Kevin’s crib, we ordered 120 hot wings, many drinks and did our best to forget our excursion to Zak’s. Despite my complaining we do want to thank Brian and Janitor Jon for hooking up the show.
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Thanks to all friends and fans of the Rick Emerson show for the great time this weekend. Next weekend is our return to Seattle. It’s been over a year and a half since our last show there so hopefully it won’t suck.
Show Journal 2003-01-11
Whoa … people at the Satyricon … what the hell? For the uninitiated the show tonight featured some of the bands that listen to (and call into) the Rick Emerson show in Portland on 1080 AM. The main attraction of the evening (and the cause of the large crowd) was of course the appearance of Rick himself and his band called ‘The Tim Riley Factor’. Lots of bands, lots of music, lots of funny commentary and even a fight or two. This was easily the most fun we’ve ever had playing at the Satyricon and since Rick is a huge Ramones fan we even learned a cover just for the occasion. I gotta reserve most of my praise for Pornstore Janitor as they totally rocked. They just get better and better with each show and the fire dancers was a nice touch. Big thanks to Paul for hooking us up with the show and even more thanks to Rick and staff for all the support.
Show Journal 2003-01-04
My god … where do I start on this one? Initially we were supposed to be headlining an all day 9 band show in Creswell, OR. We ended up playing in Springfield at someone’s house for 10 people. How you ask? I’m not quite sure but here’s my account of the story. I woke up to an e-mail from the promoter of the show asking me to call him. He informed me that 3 of the bands cancelled, more specifically the 3 bands that I most wanted to see. I would have cancelled us too, but the guy jumped through some hoops and ladders to get us the show and in a good time slot. Anyway … Justin had to work today so we sent Dave and Dan to the show early with the van and the gear while Justin and I drove separately. We got out of town around 4:30 and got a call from Dave. I asked how the show was going and Dave responded with one word … “terrible”. He went on to inform me that there were maybe 12 people there at most and half of them were parents. The show was in a gymnasium and the vocals were running through the overhead PA. Not a real sound system but those little 6″ white circular speakers you see in schools and office buildings. The sound quality was somewhere in between a blown out dashboard speaker and a hissing snake. To make matters worse 3 more bands cancelled!!! Six bands cancelled the show!!! Despite all logic the guy running the show had the bands play as they got there. So there was a band, a gap, another band and another indefinite gap until another band (us) showed up. Not a good plan for anyone involved. By the time we got to Salem we checked in with Dave again and apparently there was only 2 people remaining. They were about ready to pack it up and come home early (we were still an hour away) then someone at the show says “hey, if we can find a PA would you want to play at my house instead?” To make a long story short that’s exactly what we ended up doing. Dave, Dan and the local Eugene crew found a PA, gathered up some friends and we all met up at Jaron’s house to play some songs. Jaron’s band played a few songs (quite well I might add) and then we played a few songs until the neighbors threatened to call the cops. Nothing quite as satisfying as hearing the phone ring in between songs and the caller ID says it’s your impatient, annoying, elderly neighbor. At one point Jaron answered and asked that she doesn’t call the cops because we were almost done. 2 minutes later … ring, ring. (On a side note … how bad could it be to hear music from next door for maybe 25 minutes? Christ, it’s early on a Saturday night … mind your own business. Turn on the TV, listen to the radio, have a conversation, do something constructive other than sitting around looking for a reason to bitch at your neighbors.) We had to call it quits after 6 songs but I guess that’s ok. We played all of Crozz’s requests so that’s good enough for us. Playing tonight was so-so but I think we had the most fun just hanging out waiting to play. We had pizza, we quoted ‘Office Space’, we discussing kids urinating in public and we watching Justin belch into an unplugged microphone. Making the show happen was the real achievement tonight, not the actual performance. Anyway, big thanks to everyone who helped to save us from wasting 4 hours at that damn Creswell show. It actually ended being a pretty fun evening!
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Happy new year everyone. If you missed the show then you missed our renditions of songs by A Flock Of Seagulls, Men Without Hats and Twisted Sister. The song selection is just more evidence that the end is near
Show Journal 2002-12-31
Man, what a great night. Highlights included: all of the Runaway Boys set, Danny from CTL’s jokes and stage chatter, the mysterious dancing man, the unexpected circle pit in the fancy club, the 80′ DJ, the piñata boobs, the much anticipated but never seen potatos, the unnamed person who did ‘the worm’ on the floor … after the show (yuck!), our set of covers which included ‘I Ran’, ‘The Safety Dance’ and ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’, all of Thirty 3’s set and the ending multi band cover session which included a NOFX song, a Lifetime song and the best way to ring in the new year … an Andrew W.K. song! Dan said it best – “that was one of the best New Years I’ve ever had”. I agree. Super big thanks to all of our friends including Ashley, Sesha, Sarah, Angela, Jon, David, Crys, Larissa, Lee, Danny, Josh, Ty, Attom from C56, Tim from 3xR, Jesse, the other Jon and Sara. I’m sure there are more but seriously, thanks to everyone else who chose to spend the evening with us!
Show Journal 2002-12-26
Ugghh. Our set was such a disappointment tonight. The other bands played great, there was a ton of people, everyone we met was totally friendly, but we really kinda sucked. Drum parts broke, amps malfunctioned, cords failed, and we played sloppy. Definitely not the best of performances. Thankfully NLA turned the evening around and got everyone excited and moving again. Thanks to them for being totally cool to meet and hang out with. Good album too!
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Thanks to everyone who came to see our unplanned outing of 2 Bend shows in 2 weeks. Our next big show is Not Long After’s CD Release Party in Vancouver, WA and then comes the big New Year’s show. Rumor has it we are learning some wacky covers specifically for that show!
Show Journal 2002-12-20
Crap. I just typed out a really long review and accidentally erased it so here’s the abbreviated version. The snowy drive sucked. Arriving late and missing the first 2 bands sucked. All Out did not suck. PBN did not suck. We did not suck. The long drive home with 100 miles of snow did suck. Despite the long drives tonight did not not suck. Thanks go to all who deserve them.
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