Here are a few more pics from the L.A. tour...enjoy!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Up and out to the UPS store downtown to ship off Tommy’s bass and merch, then T, C, Nate and I grab a quick breakfast, then back to the Kellers one last time to pack, say our final farewells and make our way towards LAX to drop off the van and shuttle to airport. I run into Dorass standing at the check-in line and we catch-up a bit. C and I have managed to catch a nasty cold, and settle in for a tiring 8 hour flight back.

Soundtrack: The Church – Reptile

Monday, September 29, 2008

Sadly, It’s our last full day in California. Tommy and I meet up with Calvin and Miss Maggie for one last meal at Barrigans, and learn of an early echo park childhood game of "see who can jump in the chalk outline the fastest." Then off to meet up with the crew and venture down to Front St. fashion shop on Glendale and pick up some really cool wears from the Endofanera collection; very dark and moody and almost vampire inspired. Tommy and I then get the invitation to visit Mr. Ausgang’s studio, so we split up and head a few blocks away to a nice bungalow overlooking downtown Los Angeles, where we get the grand tour and a private viewing of some of his works. Mr. Ausgang has also been kind enough to give a plug on the call in line for the show tonight at Mr. T’s Bowl Tommy and I leave after a few hours giddy with a signed Bomp! poster and an autographed copy of his latest publication Vacation From Reality. Stop off for groceries, then back to the Kellers to load-up the equipment, and drive to the club. We’re early, so we befriend a local who agrees to take us to downtown Highland Park to pick up Mexican candy and Halloween masks. Get to the venue (a converted bowling alley) and settle in. The two bands before are quite unplugged and I fear we may run everyone out; thankfully the next band is a bit louder. Speaking Russian over vodka tonics and scotch, we notice in the security monitor Tommy being attacked by a giraffe! We soon take the stage and deliver again, a solid and driving set, in which we've included Patroness. Finish, and out to mingle with Mr. Ausgang and a local promoter who wants us to come back and play in April at a deathrock festival. Load-up, and back to the Kellers for our final night with our new friends for more tequila shots and vagina candle spin-the-bottle.

Soundtrack: Elliott Smith – Christian Brothers

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Today we decided to spend the day at the beach; Nate says he knows a place just above Malibu that’s pretty secret. I elect to drive and we tear through one of my favorites, Laurel Canyon, which empties onto the PCH and a grand view of the Pacific Ocean; we speed past Pepperdine University and make our way to a market where we stock up on sushi and avacados. Find the driveway for the beach parking, and make our way down the cliffs to a gorgeous view into the Pacific ocean! Small wonder these views have inspired countless songs; I was inspired to scribble a few words..

On the edge of the Oblivion,
dark creatures learch forth from the loam above
to witness their miniscule in her vast
power to tinker and mold giant
sandcastles as she lumbers forth to reclaim her own…

We then drive back down the PCH to Santa Monica and walk the pier, and to the Keller’s to get dressed and visit Karrie at Andiamo. Drive home, then Nate, C and I walk down Sunset to an ex biker dive called Happy Joy, for drinks and pool with the locals. Then back to drift off to Reno 911 episodes.
Soundtrack: Doors – Moonlight Drive

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Up early for coffee and doughnuts at Angelinos, then back to the Keller’s to find out that the show was moved to last night instead of tonight; we missed the email and scramble to find make-up shows for tonight and the rest of the trip. Tommy and I print up flyers and distribute around the neighborhood while Trey and the Kellers work other angles, then over to Nate's bar again. Nate has arranged for us to go to the studio next door and meet a producer friend of his who has in his posession some of John Bonham’s drum takes for Immigrant Song and Livin’ Lovin’ Maid among others. Then, meet up with the rest of the crew and drive over to Burbank for a party at Stephi’s house, where Tommy meets artist Anthony Ausgang who invites us over to see his studio sometime before we leave.

Soundtrack: War – Low Rider

Friday, September 26, 2008

Up at 9:00 and over to Barragans with Tommy and C for coffee and discussions about tomorrow night’s show at L’KEG Gallery. Later, C and I join Nate and Kerri for lunch in Korea Town for bbulgogi and stew and take in more of the city. Explored the local thrift stores and garment shops, picked up a few things at Y-QUE Trading Post and more coffee from Intelligentsia in Silver Lake, where we ran into Francis from Malcolm In the Middle; then back to Echo Park where we decided to walk down to Historic Echo Park, feasting on food cart fare along the way, churros, elote (corn on the cobb, sprinkled with cheese and chili powder), bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and grilled peppers. Legend has it that the name Echo Park came into use in the 1890s after workers building the newly established city park discovered that their voices “echoed” off the bluffs and hillsides to the east and west. Afterwards, meet up with the crew and all pile into the van and venture over to Amoeba Music; I pick up a Pretty Things best of album and an H.P. Lovecraft cd. Then back to Kellers for pizza and Night of the Demons, then over to Mixville to see Nate.

Soundtrack: Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Out to explore the neighborhood; apparently the surrounding area, Angelino Heights, was the first official neighborhood in Los Angeles. Brunch with the crew at Barragans for some excellent huevos rancheros, bloody marry’s, and Mexican coffee; Tommy vows to eat only Mexican this whole trip. Then, next door to a Latino voodoo shop for fetishes, "quit your job" potions and dirty magazines, then over to the Evol Music for a lug tuner and sticks, then to the mexi-mart where Tommy was converted to Mexican Coca-Cola made with real sugar! Tommy, Nate and I then split up for Malibu to pick up merch from Philip’s restaurant called South. Then, back to the Keller house to set up drums that Calvin has been cool to let us borrow for the shows; then a quick run through of Safe and Seduction before load in at Bordello which apparently used to be a downtown brothel, but now an absolutely beautiful Victorian decorated venue, awash in blood red walls and gold interior, along with chandeliers and hard woods. On as the second act of three, our first ever L.A. show is both raw and powerful. The stage looks fantastic; ornate masks and shrines, theres even a sarcophagus! We load out, do a quick round of networking, and venture to a club further downtown for more networking; then back to Keller house to meet up with the crew for homemade artichoke dip, more tequila, and front porch shenanigans.

Soundtrack: Captain Beefheart – Autumn’s Child

Entertainment Tour Diary - Los Angeles, September 24-30

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Met up at Airport, check in and board for what turns out to be C’s first airplane ride. 4 spirited hours later, the lights of Los Angeles appear as we land. Plans to stay at Philips beach house fell through; luckily, Trey has some friends that are kind enough to let us stay at their place in Echo Park, somewhere between Silver Lake and Dodger Stadium. We collect bags, pick up the rental van and off to meet the Kellers, Klocko and Seth. Unpack and walk down Sunset to a late night burrito and taco stand for chicken tacos and churros; ¡Necessasito! ¡Buen alimento mexicano de Necessasito! Then over to L.A.’s oldest bar, Taix, for drinks and a fantastic jazz guitar rendition of LZ’s Rain Song. Dodging the motorcycle cops, Nate, Karrie and I navigate to the liquor store to pick up tequila and vodka and meet up with the crew for shots, Stone Roses records, and electronic drums.
Soundtrack: Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums

Edgefest, September 13, 2008

Trey, Tommy and I arrived in Birmingham 2 hours early, Central time, so we had time to explore a bit, grab coffee and take in some local antiques while the Matthew’s crew got things in order.Ventured back to the club and waited as all of the bands started to arrive to load in and assimilate, comparing equipment, exploring all 3 floors of Matthew’s as they echoed with sound. During discussions with Justin and Todd from Feeding Fingers, the double-doors suddenly fly open and in sprints a blur of hair and glasses, “Where the F*ck is he!” Turns out, this is the festival promoter Coyote J! When the dust clears, we walk over to express gratitude for having us; turns out he’s a very lovely guy as we discuss the venue and line-up situation. Trey and I decide to walk about and try to find the local music store, and take in a bit of historic downtown Birmingham. This city is covered with great old vacant buildings, but sad in it’s neglect; we come across the science center, where the local skate kids are doing tricks…”Hey man, where’s the music store?” ”Huh?” It’s a bad sign when even the local kids don’t know where the music store is. We make our way back to Matthew’s and meet up with Roman who has made the drive from ATL. and been given merch detail for all of the bands. We find out that Coyote J has arranged for us a hotel room at The Highland, which is about 1 mile away according to Justin; a relief since we hadn’t found a place to stay yet.. So, Trey, Tommy and I make what turns out to be a solid 2.5 mile journey, across the UAB campus, past new condos and late-night cocktail lounges, and directly across the street from the music and record stores! We check in and ride the cigar box sized elevator to the room for showers and change, then taxi back to the venue where people are starting to gather. First band up is Misfortune 500 who, with a stand-in bass player deliver a solid set from beyond the police barricade. Next up is Black Tie Dynasty, who, making the long drive from Texas, play an melodic and spirited set. Then upstairs to transport drums downstairs as Feeding Fingers set-up and start an impressive set of mostly new material. Soon we’re up and I notice Trey has moved that ridiculous barricade from in front of the stage. After a quick set up (thanks Matthews crew), we start with Confusion, which set’s the tempo for what turns out to be a very powerful set; close New Rose and 2 broken sticks, a toppled cymbal stand and shouts for an encore! Baby J was very complementary before he and Kristeen Young took the stage, who sound very reminiscent of Kate Bush. Got to mingle with some old friends and new before IAMX went on and closed out the night on a fashionably high note. We say our goodbyes, sign some autographs, and proceed to take the party back to the hotel for PBR, pizza, and linguini ala room key; finally crash around 6:00 am to the sound of dropping picks and heavy shoes. Up to grab the still functioning and walk down to join the locals, along with an entire girls soccer team from Illinois for breakfast at the Pancake House for a recap of the nights missing socks and hangover remedies.
Soundtrack: Rolling Stones – Citadel