#49 Pierce College Halloween Harvest Festival on 10-22-10

(I really had misgivings about including this photo, taken by Vivian Lovell.)

I was eager to see what this show would be like. I realized that we hadn't brought a box of CDs to sell, and this was the very type of event that people would probably be buying them. I managed to dig up 4 from the van and luckily one of the attendees had some backup copies. We played on a gigantic outdoor stage, facing benches and several concession stands. We were all so spread apart that we couldn't really hear each other's amps. (The sound men kept telling us to turn down so as to not drown out Castro's drums.)

I felt a bit performance-unsatisfied, and turned to Francis to say "one more." He shot me down.

We had friends who brought some people, and plenty of children watching our set. Children intrigue me as audience members, because they pretty much like it or they don't, and when they do it's pretty magical.

#48 Central on 10-8-2010

(photo by Amber McCandless)

Central Social Aid and Pleasure Club is in Santa Monica. It used to be called 14 Below. (I once played there with an earlier band and our attendees were not counted correctly so I was screwed out of $140.) We had been invited to play by Holy Rolling Empire, a Tucson band.

We were set to open the show, and we were going to share drums with some of the other bands, and I was borrowing a bass amp. We set up for what seemed like forever, and the sound men were having some technical issues, so it was actually longer than forever. I didn't remember the stage being so cramped. We played to a modest crowd, but they seemed into it. It would be a shame if I didn't comment on the lights in the room, which were pin-laser-psychedelic-spiral-dance-club madness. They were definitely in competition with us.

The crowd filled out as the night went on, and I must say there is nothing like playing shows with bands that are your friends. This was our 5th (6th? 7th?) show with the Monthlies, and the 2nd show with new friends Cola Cola, so the environment was warm and inviting. It reminded me a bit of shows on tour.

#47 The Terrace on 9-29-10

The Terrace is a Japanese restaurant in Pasadena with a good stage. We got the show thanks to a referral from artist Melissa Knowlton. She also borrowed an ebow for Wayne for the show.

The booker Vince was a very down-to-Earth guy. The bands who played with us were a bizarre assortment of sludge metal, surf-garage rock, indie pop, etc. There was a definite 'white trash' element at the show, and I'm not entirely certain which band(s) brought it. I don't know that that 'fans were shared' between the bands, but we did our work and enjoyed it. Good friends came to the show and we celebrated afterwards at the Yard House.

We played with Urrea, Moondog Orchestra, Black Guppie Sound and The Zermatts.

#46 La Bries on 9-28-10

(photo by some guy walking by)

La Bries used to be called 'The Scene.' I don't know if there was ever much of a scene there.

I raced to get things together for the show and get to the venue. I arrived at 7:20ish to set up for our 8 o'clock set time. Castro was already there, waiting outside the locked club. We all stood there and waited. The person who we booked the show with called and said we were supposed to be at the Rainbow Club in Hollywood. However, she was joking.

The owner arrived, and we quickly set up our equipment. There were no microphones set up though. The sound guy was 'on his way' and was 'never late before.' We waited. When he did arrive, we decided we would cut our set down so as not to drag the night on and on. After all, there were 3 bands after us and it was now almost 9:30.

The sound on stage was FANTASTIC, and the concise set worked quite well. Sadly though, Wayne broke his ebow.

We played with Julian Shah-Tayler, Charles and Model K.

#45 Mountain Bar on 9-23-10

We were confused about where to park, and where the club even was. We went around the and Francis opened the side door of the van. We changed our minds and went back around the block. The door was not fully closed, so it slid open when a left turn was made. My Ampeg SVT-3 pro bass head went flying out into the street. After a stunned exchange of looks, Francis dashed out into the street and watched a car fly over it, no damage. Then a second car ran over it. Thwack.

The casing had been crushed in on the side, but it worked fine for the show.

We played with Hot TV and Cola-Cola. A couple gents from Casxio came to watch, which was a pleasant surprise.

New Video: Let The Games Begin

Yes. The video has arrived, and this is pleasing to us. "Let The Games Begin" directed by Israeli director Lior Molcho. Perhaps a tribute to our fine city.

#44 The Mezz on 9-8-10

(photo by Amber McCandless)

The Alexandria Hotel is currently (apparently) a low-income apartment building. The second floor is a bar called the Mezz. The ceiling is rather low, having originally been the ceiling for the lobby below. However, this makes for a nice atmosphere. We played without any monitors, so much of the sound was generalized throughout the room. We played with Julian Shah-Tayler (who was releasing his double album) and the Clouds. The crowd was mostly there to see Julian. Despite being a cool night, it got rather warm in the room.