November 13, 2009 - Silver factory

Sadly our last full day in California...out for coffee and a walk, then out to shop for a few final souvenirs and a stop by Amoeba Records (LA) before conveining back to Echo Park to run through the equipment and setlist options. Decided down to Front Street to pick up some new threads from the always cool Endofanera clothing line to sport for tonight's show.
Silver Factory studios turned out to be a
gallery room within a warehouse space near downtown; nate informes me this is the new thing to do as opposed to the traditional going to clubs to see bands. This was also our last show with the Blessure Grave crew as well, but the line-up was a good one and we had our lovely
LA contingent in tow. Local favorites Bestial
Mouths opened the night to a happy and
enthusiastic crowd, followed by Blessure Grave,
who put on another stellar show; the drums and
bass were especially rocking tonight. We were up third, and started the set off strong until the bass decided to drop out during Queens (SXSW flashback); we limped through China Walls and Flesh, where Jared joined us again and played beautifully despite the technical difficulties, and we recovered strong with Secrets, then proceeded finish the rest of the set respectably. Jared and Colin's band Full Frontal closed the evening and had everyone dancing into 2 encores. Loading out, we got to catch up with the other bands and friends; apparently a very smashed "reality TV winner" was in our midst, but didn't want her picture taken, so she will remain anonymous. We all gathered for one final group pic and closed out a phenominal night. Nate and I decided to drop Tommy off and take in an authentic Echo Park afterparty until the cold late hours of the California am; homemade tamales never tasted better!

Soundtrack: Blessure Grave - Stranger in the House

November 12, 2009 - Music Trader Sports Arena

Assembled the crew and drove south to lovely San Diego for a pretty kick ass bill, reuniting us again with Blessure Grave, along with Wet Hair and Talk Normal at Music Trader Sports Arena, which is actually more music trader than sports arena. We met at Citi Deli with the lovely Veronica to strategise, then over to Hillcrest to shop and meet the crew at TAANG, and then a stopover in the touristy Gaslamp and a tease of nearby Tijuana before heading over to the venue. Loaded in and shopped a bit in the already crowded store; wanted to visit the Adult Arcade, but decided to head over to the Rhythym Lounge for "Cocktails & Entertainment" and to raid the jukebox befor Hip Hop Night started.

Blessure Grave started first, and played another great show; great bass tone, and vocals, although the levels could have been turned up more. Fierce female Brooklyn duo Talk Normal were

up next, and I really enjoyed their minimal and powerful sound. We played third, and I thought we delivered a nice set as well; Jared joined us

on Confusion and China Walls and did a great job! Iowa City duo Wet Hair closed the night

with a really cool electro keyboard and drum set.

Hung out with Blessure again during load out and talked about tomorrow night's "Aphrodesiac Tea" induced finale in LA. Decided to get on the road and start fresh in the am. Apparently San Diego wanted us to stay, as we were detoured off the 5, then encountered a freak rainstorm, then California's finest decided to block the entire interstate for a stranded vehicle. Homebase for late night Burrito King and fade out to a 2012 bootleg. Looking forward to tomorrow night...

Soundtrack: Kesha - Tic Toc

November 11, 2009 - Break

Free day to catch up, so a quick stop by
Vacation Vinyl, then off to the Griffith Observatory for the day. We cought up with Einstein, daggered the moon, did our best James Dean knife fight impressions, and even activated the tesla coil. Hilarity ensues...

Afterwards, we conveined back for thoughts of night croquet in nearby Elysian fields park, then to put Jared through a strenous audition to play guitar for Entertainment for the next couple of shows....let's just say someone did their homework, and I was very proud!

Soundtrack - Black Tambourine - For ExLovers Only

November 10, 2009 - Orgami Vinyl In-store

Out to explore Echo Park, and of course the annual stop at Barrigan's. happy to see some changes in the 'hood. A few errands, then back for a quick runthrough the set at Orgami Vinly tonight. The Gypsy Lounge show was moved, so we were presented an in-store show opportunity instead. Initial idea was to play the set acoustically as we did with the WUOG Public Radio show last year...instead, opted to use the "Jiggytron" and a few pieces of the acoustic set. Aside from the crummy PA, keyboards disappearing after the first song, and jiggytron PA volume down until the middle of the first song, I really dug the sound, a nice departure from the usual set minus, Romance.

Orgami insert
"Come on over around 7pm and check out Entertainment. It has been said...and it is true...
few bands can make music this cold and abyssal; so fiery and enticing. Tonight, November
10th at 7pm. Bring a scarf...or a rope"

Oragami filmed the performance at it's entirety, and has it archived on it's site.

Soundtrack - bauhaus - Hope

November 9th, 2009 - Los Angeles

Up early to return drums to Sam's and then down to Antioch to retrieve Tommy for our anticipated return to Los Angeles. We opted for the 6 hour drive south on Hwy. 5 through old California, as the coastal scenic route was unfortunately out of the question due to time.
An odd landscape, there were periods of wind turbine and grass covered mumps spaced intermittent with flat pasture and orange groves. Somewhere between Los Banos and Mettier, I could have sworn we were passed by the Fear and Loathing cadillac, equipped with a boom box in the back seat.Got into Echo Park after rush hour to Jared's house to retrieve drums, catch-up and then off for a stroll before load in. Stopped by Orgami Records (where we were to do an in-store performance the next night) to meet and greet and find out we're playing up in the loft. Met up with the gang at the newly relocated L'KEG gallery, loaded in, etc. Tonight's Line-up included us, Haunted Tiger, Seth and his new Sheila, Cariss'a band, Velvet Stars Collide (Seth's first show ever), Lately Blu Blu and LANTVRN. We played last to a pretty sparse crowd, but served as a nice warm up for the upcoming shows... Calvin's drum heads still bore the divets from our last trip to LA. Loaded up and off to the bar to meet up with Nate, Calvin and the rest of the crew, then home for more shots, found videos and Mighty Boosh reruns.

Soundtrack - U2 - Indian Summer Sky

November 8th, 2009 - 924 Gilman

Drove over to the Haight-Ashbury district for breakfast and an Amoeba Records run. Looking through the newly busted passenger window,
I admit I was a little disappointed with the once "Hippie Mecca" of the world, as I could see the same exact thing at home...minus the Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop. 1 Giles, Giles & Fripp cd later, we headed across the bay and past a nice view of Alcatraz to Berkley to meet up with Tommy's parents. After a late lunch, we loaded
in and took in the historic 924 Gilman space, where back in the day, a band had to scrub the bathrooms in order to play. I scored a shirt,
just in time to catch the first of many great
acts on the bill that night.
Secret Tones started the night as an impromptu 2-piece, who still managed to pull it off; Blessure Grave killed it again with swirling bass tones and textures; we were third up and played pretty well, albeit a little sloppy in my opinion - Swann Danger were really impressive, and then New Thrill Parade (whom we played with earlier this year at Go Bar - TO ABSOLUTELY NO ONE - GO Athens!) finished off the night with a steamy orgasim of sound! (Props to T's parents for enduring the whole thing!) Packed up and back into SF for cheesy macaroni and hashbrowns at
Sparky's. and TV demolition..."And remember,
If you're not first, you're last... "

Soundtrack - Echo and the Bunnymen - Do It Clean

November 7th, 2009 - Kimo's

Arrived into San Francisco around Noon,
picked up the rental and navigated to
Sam Adato's Drum shop to pick up the set Sam had generously arranged for us, then off to Kimo's to load in and skulk about. Apparently Kimo's was once a gay bar with a concert area located on the second floor; actually reminded
me of the bar on the Morrison Hotel album cover. We loaded in and were then off to explore the coffee shops, restaurants and book stores until dark when we noticed all of the creatures coming out around the Gulch, including Ricearoni, Tucan Sam and the asian "Troll Lady" who would riddle all passers by while wearing no less than 6 layers of sweaters. Entropy Destiny opened the show and brought out the weird and painted Art Rock; Blessure Grave were next in what proved an inspiring initial performance and the first of many we would see while on tour together. We then closed with a decent first set, consisting of a sturdy representation from the Ent. catalog...started with Queens and 2 of the new songs and standards including Romance. After loading up and whisked out, we were abducted by a group of toothless trannies and taken to GrubStake, an all-nite eatery, then saved by Amy from VVV. We then retired with the first
of many, many Mexican meals sure to come.

Soundtrack - Chrome - Eyes In The Center