Death Disco A31.05

Kickstart/S-s-s-pectres/Shellshocked/The Bluffs
Death Disco//The Delancey//8/31/05

I've never been to Death Disco before. Yeah it's free but there's something about a list of bands + DJs that has me running scared, free or not. (Strummertime in the City, anybody?) But when I saw a lineup and schedule with actual times listed, I reconsidered. It was also Shellshocked’s album release party. They were to on at 10:15 or so and if it was getting to be too annoying with the DJ-ing in between sets I can always leave. After all, it’s free. And The Delancey isn’t that far away from the F.

Kickstart sounded like they'd be good and they were going on “at 9” so I left at 8, realizing I’d forgotten to write out my rent check which I’d intended to mail before getting on the subway. Alzheimer’s, I’m telling you. I wrote it on the subway and instead of putting my apartment in the memo, I started writing my bank account. What did I tell you? (Rhetorically speaking; I know what I told you.) I got to Delancey Street at 8:50 to see the tail end of a car accident at the intersection; a cab parked across the intersection, facing a lamppost and the car that hit it with a huge dent in the fender like a dead fish with its mouth open. Inside the club are signs for Death Disco (Death Disco Loves You, Just Say Know, and You Are Here.) The place smells like BO as I make my way up front, past a guy holding a skateboard, and see flip flops on the stage and a band packing up. I forgot to put the rent check in the mail. Hopefully, there’s going to be a fast turnaround with the bands. It’s a Wednesday, it’s NYC, it’s a free show, so you’d think they’d make things snappy in order to encourage people to return on a weeknight. But with poverty creeping in, Death Disco and Continental’s coverless crapshoots are going to start becoming my only options and beggers can’t be choosers, as the saying goes.

Kickstart literally did kick start the night off right with their sweaty, greasy honky-skronk rock riffs and Anna Copacabanna as the Human Disco Ball dancing. There was a nice crowd and at some point during their set my mini Sharpie fell off the keychain. A little before "Top Of The Pops" ended I'd found the pen and there was another band onstage. So the DJ was on only during set changes; he wasn't a separate act that had to spin for an hour before the next act. This is good.

S-s-s-pectres (that's going to get annoying to write out) were described as having "mathy" hooks but "math" isn't really a descriptive when it comes to music (is "math" ever really a modifier?)--though that's an adequate description sometimes. Noise punk with chunky riffs built around a pounding drumbeat and a singer prone to breaking out into spoken word, making them a nice pairing for Shellshocked.

To me, Shellshocked was one of the house bands of the RNC protests, playing the Bands Against Bush room at the East Village Welcomes the RNC (at Webster Hall) and Siberia's Bands Against Bush free show last year on 9/1. So it seemed fitting that their album came out this A31, the anniversary of the date marked for one of the heaviest days of protest last year. "Soft Targets + Bargaining Chips"'s catchy, singalong refrain "we're still around" only hints at the band's political passion and defiance. "We're still around/no carpet bombing can bring us down/we keep our heads held high/and refuse to be the poster children." It's the closing line of "Co-opted City" that sums up the spirit of the city during those days: "From Madsion Square down to the World Trade/You ain't gettin' no parade." So even though it was a Wednesday and the bill could've turned into an all-nighter, it was important to me to get down to The Delancey for their rekkid release because I haven't been able to catch some of their previous shows.

We were making good time, it was around 10:45 when Shellshocked ended and I decided to see at least some of The Bluffs. Maybe next time I'll get to Death Disco early to catch as many bands as I can for free, regardless of whether or not they seem interesting. The Bluffs are two guys, one on guitar and one on samples/computer. The smoke machine is like sugar and they have a strobe and a rotating rainbow light behind them. They're happy, trippy pop psych. The sound of happy with their big, loopy beats. If the Teletubbies started a band it would be The Bluffs. You can't help bopping around and grooving to their sweet sounds though they got a little heavier when sampler guy picked up a guitar as well.

I left after midnight. Hey, at least I don't have to futz around with the L train. The F is 2, 3 blocks away. And there's no Uptown at Delancey. So it was down to Jay St. and the A came first, so I took that to W4 for the E home. Got in around 2. Well, beggers can't be choosers and if the only bands I can afford to see are those playing for free, I really have no choice here. Besides, Labor Day is right around the corner and Friday is a light day at work.

If You See Something Say Something

Ah, End Of August '04. Hard to believe it's been a year since the RNC decended upon the city. My office fell in the shadow zone. I was hoping we'd close down. Perhaps if we were in the safety zone.....Nah, we'd still be open and I'd be singing "Safety Zone" instead of "Safety Dance." As if the inconvenience wasn't enough, every morning one of my coworkers would come in complaining that no one thought she was a terrorist and what does she have to do to be mistaken for a terrorist. I mean EVERY FREAKIN MORNING.

No Cover No Problem

The Repercussions/Roots Rock Rebel/The Franchise/Dayglow
Continental//8/28/05

So here I am, one year after the big lockout. It was after the Indymedia benefit at Southie. The Voice said those in attendance didn't look old enough to vote. Thanks, Village Voice! Right back atcha! Yeah, the show did kinda have that "give the kids in town for the big protest something to do" vibe and when I got home I somehow managed to lock myself out of the apartment. I tried to get myself to look on the bright side--this is the first time I've ever done that in all the years of being on my own--but it was 3:30 in the morning, on a weekend, and I did have the cat with me. I was bailed out to the tune of $200 + tip by a lecherous locksmith who kept hugging me, told me my place is a mess (thanx, but I didn't notice), and then invited himself for coffee later in the morning. (But I thought you said my place was a mess.)



^^^The Syndicate @ Southpaw, Indymedia benefit, 8/28/04 and Aa, belowvvv


(the pix look better in real life, seriously. I'll try to reupload w/another program.)

I assumed that that experience was me hitting rockbottom, but I guess not since I haven't changed my ways. Instead I went to Continental on a Sunday to check out some bands that sound like they might be cool only because there was no cover. I went to the websites linked and even the 7:30 band looked interesting but then that would be another all-nighter. (If I had a way to put a sound bite on this site it would be from that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry & Elaine are trying to lay down ground rules for their relationship and Elaine says, "Spending the night is optional!"--like the thought never occured to her before. I feel like every so often I need a reminder of this fact when I head out to shows.) At Astor Place is a banner from New York Company on the lightpost, you know the ones I'm talking about, right, that announce city events? Well, at the Astor Place lamppost right next to the Starbucks is one for CMJ. I laughed out loud. Not sure if there was a banner up for CMJ last year; maybe they're just making a big deal out of it since it's the 25th CMJ. Still, I laffed.

Anyhoo, Continental was exactly what you'd expect of a no cover lineup at Continental on a Sunday nite--nobody there and all the tables out and the few that were there all sitting down or at the bar. This is what I used to think Continental was like all the time and for the longest, I never went to Continental. The Repercussions are 5 guys in ties with a college-rock (what used to be called college rock) sound, before "college rock" came to mean hipsters, our thing is that we don't care, iPods, and attitudes. Their album is called "Modern Sounds" but they have such a vintage feel to them. The lyrics are angsty and about breakups and bad relationships and I thought of the Violent Femmes, especially with lyrics like "Everything is gonna work out/and everything will be just fine/the only thing that's meant to be/is that we're all gonna die" and extended song titles like "Running (barefoot) Through The Snow (in nothing but my underwear and a Modern Lovers t-shirt)" and "If Being Alone Was An Artform (I'd be the world's greatest fuckin' artist)." Even their name is simple and classic. Matt, their singer, has a habit of sitting on the stage and jumping off, taking the mic stand with him and standing in the audience and singing. At their last song he introduced the band and jumped off, letting everyone solo, and then came running from behind, sliding on his knees.....and crashed into the stage and fell over. Well, I was pretty much a goner after that.

So far so good, but this is Continental with no cover on a Sunday night. I checked out all the bands' websites and was figuring Roots Rock Rebel to be a ^. First off, Roots Rock Rebel? Huh? Roots Rock Rebels makes more sense. The bandmembers look like bikers with their leather caps and vests, skull and crossbones flag, killer sideburns, and a handlebar moustache. They were the only band on the lineup who had fliers posted all over the club and baby fliers on the shelf. What are they doing in between The Repercussions and The Franchise? Their first song, "50 Miles To Baghdad" is all instro and I was prepared to be pleasantly surprised by an instrumental band but no; they do have lyrics and all songs were political. "Two Amercias Roar" and "Bullets and Ballots." Gaaah.

I've put up with a lot from guys onstage, Lord knows I have, but before The Franchise even started I was having problems. Their singer was in a Napolean Dynamite shirt with the sleeves rolled under and mandals. True, they're from Washington, DC, so that may be why. Their site does say something like remember what college rock used to be and went on to compare them to REM and other luminaries but I was having a hard time feeling them. They are good pop rock, but the singer comes off like they type of guy who actually makes the yearbook as class clown and he tended to emote on some songs like he was in a high school play. Their song "Decoration Day" was written on a dare and it's about a relationship with an interior decorator--I'm the only thing that wasn't in her scheme and I'm the thing that didn't match the carpet. There was one about Rex, the punk rock dog, with choruses of "Punk rock dog/punk rock dog" that name-drops all the punk that the dog is into. "He's not fancy/His favorite movie is Sid & Nancy." Later on, Sid Vicious rhymes with "He thinks Alpo tastes delicious." And therein lies the problem. It's like they bypassed clever and are striving for cute and funny. If Jerry Seinfeld had a band, it would be The Franchise. "I want to be a superhero/and wear my underwear on the outside...Tell everybody that someone's coming to save the day." The singer did play guitar on some tracks and that did give their sound some meat, but they had one that went "My life is in flux...a flux capacitor." (Rhymes with "So I made a pass at her.") But they're young and energetic and brought a nice crowd with them and I felt bad that they had to sit through Roots Rock Rebel on a Sunday night when (if) they came up from DC.

Dayglow came onstage looking like they weren't even old enough to drink. Four girls, the lead singer in a pinstripe shirt and tie, V-neck sweater, glasses, streaky ponytail and calf-high combat boots. She holds the mic stand sassily, cocking her hip while she sings, bringing to mind prep school-Donnas. It's easy to assume they'd be another keybs-heavy 80s retread with a name like Dayglow, but they're a swirly pop band. They cover "Eleanor Rigby" and it's easy to imagine Stephanie, their singer, scrawling the lyrics in her journal.

I got back at midnite. Well, even if I didn't go out I would've gone to bed late anyway. I guess it's like Joe Hurley says/sings, "When you bottom out it's not the end of the world/it's just a bend in the road."

I {Heart} Balconies

Hiretsukan//Stockyard Stoics//God Is My Co-Pilot//World/Inferno Friendship Society
Bowery Ballroom//8/27/05

This time I made sure I got there way early and stood in front of the door anxiously. I had a book with me, but who could read at a time like this? At any minute the doors could open and I'd need to grip the bannister and charge up the stairs.

"Do you want to be close to the stage?" the security guard asked.
"I'm going to the balcony because there's going to be crowd surfing."
"Oh. Because I was going to say, the stage is over there," she says, meaning the door on the other side of the lobby, near the bathroom.

I know the other door is more convenient for the stage, but for some reason in all my years of going to the Bowery Ballroom, I always pick the main door. I thought you couldn't use the staircase near the bathroom; after all, it is marked "Not An Exit" and the guard is by the main door. Besides, that's where they set up the merch tables.

So after 45 minutes of standing around anxiously and listening to the pounding of drums as the bands finished soundchecking and watching kids attempt to head upstairs, oblivious to the line forming and security guard posted (this always cracks me up. Do they think we're lining up for our health? For the fun of it?) we were let in and I went to the balcony. I felt like I was heading to the gallows, felt like a pussy. How old am I? Hey, I believe in suffering for the cause but not standing in mosh pits. I mean, intentionally. Yeah, the stage at the Bowery Ballroom is wide enough that maybe I could stand up front but off to the side and not get hit, but you never know. I was joined by a woman who told me she used to go to shows all the time and always stood in mosh pits and she used to bring her daughter to shows but when she had the second one it got to be too hard and now she's stuck at home paying bills while the kids go to shows. The only time she goes to shows nowadays is if someone in the band calls her up, begging her to go. That's going to be me in the future. Well, minus the kids.

Hiretsukan is female-fronted screaming intensity. Hard, punishing music and beats. Their singer's throat must be chop meat after. Or curdly tofu, whichever the case may be. There was one guy thrashing around, clearing people away. Then again, there weren't many people there at that point. I take a picture and feel a hand on my back. The security guard. She points to the pile of backpacks against the wall. I shrug and she takes the bags. Yeah, kids going to a benefit are going to bring bombs in. And if they were, shouldn't you have busted them before they even got into the venue? What the hell is this woman's problem? I've never seen here there before; maybe she's new and playing by the books to assert her power. Or maybe this is standard balcony procedure and I don't know this because I'm never in the balcony at the Bowery Ballroom.

There was a group of kids sitting in a circle; I thought they were going to play Duck Duck Goose but it was the one where one of them decides what everyone in the circle does and whoever's It has to guess who the ringleader is. And the security guard comes over, spoke to one of the kids. Jesus, what is her problem? One of the kids moves their backpack, trying to cover something. Maybe they had a tape recorder with them.

I've only seen Stockyard Stoics a few times and always in tiny venues, so I was kinda excited for them to be playing a nice stage amnd curious to see how they'd look and sound. And also I can get some front-view pix instead of profile shots after being pushed aside by moshers. As they fine-tune their tuning, Joe Piglet tells us that he just came from his cousin's wedding and it was too long and you'd think that after 2000 years of Catholicism they'd come up with an interesting service. This time around they have a bass player, leaving Joe free to run around onstage and he seemed to be enjoying the stage and having a ball, smiling the entire time, running around and accidentally unplugging his mic at one point. "This stage is higher than I'm used to, so if I fall off, please try to catch me." Last time I saw them was at the Knitting Factory (also w/ W/I) and they sounded incredible last night. They're one of the few bands that just does everything right and a circle pit broke out and at one point I just wanted to hug them and say thanks. "Song Of Babylon" is a punk rock masterpiece. Joe says how happy he is to be playing the CBGB benefit, along with the Offspring, who did so much for the NYC punk scene. Ha ha. And then I look down to see the mom in the crowd, rocking out. I went downstairs and tried my luck. The pit was more in the center of the floor.

I considered staying downstairs for God Is My Co-Pilot because they're not a moshing band. It was a strange booking, since GIMCP have an art-noise Kill Rockstars sound. I saw them in Feb (also at the Knit, and on a Monday) and wasn't too impressed but they sounded much better at the BB. TONY did a venue roundup last year and rated the sound at many clubs and when they said "muddy" I didn't get what they meant but comparing the way GIMCP sounded at the Knit to how they sounded last nite, I get what they mean--and I also got the band better this time around. I'd see them again at the Bowery. While I was downstairs some other kids took over the table and there was a guy sitting next to me with his legs wide apart, bitching about the band and yelling "World/Inferno!" You know, I've never seen an opening act who gets heckled realize that they're in the wrong and cutting their set short so the headliners could go on, but there's a first time for everything. Good try. A group of kids crashed the VIP tables, planning to say "Thanks, the tables are working out great" if anyone caught them. And they were busted and went running.

I've always said I'd see World/Inferno Friendship Society at the Bowery Ballroom so when I saw them listed I ran out and bought the ticket, before I even knew Stockyard Stoics were going to be on the bill but I had a feeling they would be. Last time I saw W/I was at Sin-e and I sat on the ledge in the back corner. At Southpaw, I was in their psuedobalcony. The first time I saw them was at the Knit and by the time I made it to the balcony, it was packed. It's also too high up, and the Main Space is very dark. The Bowery Ballroom balcony is perfect for watching this band. Maybe I could've stood off to the side, but then maybe my pic wouldn't come out. As it is, I don't know how well these pix will come out, but I've taken pix from the BB balcony before and at least something comes out. There was no way my spine could've lasted being in the front. I got a good view of all the surging, swarming throngs of people. I'd end up with the edge of the stage pressed into my ribs. People were stage diving, as was the band. Girls crowd surfing in dresses. I have no idea how people don't get hurt, because stage divers were getting dropped, as were some surfers. The crowd clearly knows what it's doing. I guess it was that "Zen and the Art Of Breaking Everything In This Room." Huzzah!

Beneficial

In honor of the Stockyard Stoics and World/Inferno Friendship Society playing the ABC No Rio benefit at the Bowery Ballroom this Saturday, here's some pix of the Stockyard Stoics @ ABC No Rio (3/13/04) and World/Inferno (7/31/04).




Also on the bill were (It's Just) Blood, Baby (can't find the disc) the X-Possibles (all verticals--portraits, whatevs--and I don't have the means to get those up. Same with the verticals for the Stoics.) (The World/Inferno pix start now, for those who don't know).



When crowd surfing, it's always wise to keep a firm grip on your pint.

It's Mah Blogger Birfday!

Hollow Sidewalks started in the wee hours of July 24. That was a Sunday morning, so I'm thinking it was after a Seanchai show. Yep, I've been at this for a month.

I thought I'd be further along with the photo section and that's what's really bugging me. I was despairing yesterday, cursing my luck and my computer. Then I saw the daily CMJ listings and I thought, "Party! Party!" But not every venue website is up for September, like Continental and Lit, and I don't know what the cover is. So it's literally been a rollercoaster here. Angst and agita like a tangible force. I call it blogita--blog-related agita. Stomach acid and all. Things were supposed to be ready to roll by CMJ time. I put in the wrong link to the photo section and the bad link is coming up as a previous post, even though I corrected the link. Can't figure that one out. And oh yeah, Where am I going for Halloween? What am I going as? What am I doing about the rest of my life?

I may have posted too soon with Buzznet. There's a profile to fill out there and while I don't know what letting people know whether or not I smoke has to do with band photos, I filled it out. I wasn't too thrilled with the fact that others can fill out profiles when they comment on my pix because, hey, get your own account and a life. But people like doing that sort of thing, so that's not a biggie. I should've looked around at other photo hosting sites carefully. You can't crop photos. I'm a good photographer but I'm not that good. I can't do that much posting at work so the only other option is Kinko's, where time is money. Also, while the Buzznet address works well for my self-promo campaign, they're involved in bands and music promotions, they look fun, and they have pins for feck's sake, the site is cluttered. Messy. Sigh. And here's the biggie: photos aren't copyrighted. Anyone could download it and while I don't really care cause that's flattering, what if someone tries to claim them as their own? I'm a little tempted to say go for it so I could sue and have some money, here. But isn't that along the same lines as downloading music? Which I've always been all for, just go to the show and buy some merch to make up for it. But now I don't know. Another dark night of the soul. And I'm too busy for dark nights of the soul.

I realize now that maybe I should've started a separate bank account for shows/film. This way I could've had something in my savings account. Yeah, at the rate I'm going the shows/film fund would always have nothing in it as well but at least there would've been intrest. The things you learn when it's too late. Ain't it always that way?

I know, Rome wasn't built in a day and all that. For some reason, I just felt the need to touch base and tell you what's going on. What's that you say, less talk and more rock? You got it.

Circle Pit Shit (Oi!Oi!Oi!)

Suzuki Smith/Team Spider/No Place To Piss/Blackout Shoppers/Disorderly Conduct/Test Specimen//Grand Central Bar

Ok, now this is the sort of lineup that requires free food. Last time Blackout Shoppers played an all-nighter @ Grand Central Bar there was free BBQ chicken. Come to think of it, the all-nighter Wednesday at Continental should've had free food but I guess they feel that spending the night at the Continental more than makes up for the lack of food.

The first band on the lineup that I'm not familiar with is No Place To Piss, so I checked into them. They listed (on their Myspace page) "The Strangler's" as an influence. Huh? There's no apostrophe in The Stranglers. Unless you're referring to a specific strangler. "Whose bloody glove is that?" "It's the strangler's." Still, they seemed pretty cool--even when giving "prop's" to "classic rocker's." Argh! (or probably oi!) Maybe they're doing it on purpose to come across as uneducated and more street. It's so punk rock not to obey the laws of grammar. Fight the power! Also good about this bill is that this is going to be my first time catching the new Team Spider lineup. (For the full story of how Xris met Ben, their violin player, when both were arrested at Critical Mass, check www.teamspider.com.)

I figured I was getting there just in time for Suzuki Smith to be finishing up and put one earplug in across the street from the bar but when I got in at 9:45, Suzuki Smith--the 1st band--hadn't even started. And there were 7 bands on the bill. There was food, though. Mozzarella balls and some sort of chicken that wasn't BBQd, I have no idea what it was or how long it was lying there so I passed.

It's hard to say bad things about a band that came all the way from Boston with everything to lose and who probably won't even recoup gas money when Philippe de Buckette makes the rounds. Adding to their frat-punk cred is "Kamikaze Irishmen," (with a chorus of "Drink and fight!") and "Get Out! Get Out! (Johnny wants to fuck.)" They closed with "Turning Japanese," which was the best song in their set and what do you know, they didn't write it.

Though I was trying to focus on the new TS lineup with the 2nd guitar player and violinist, ZAK was missing due to a pacemaker replacement but I kept hearing ZAK's parts. His absence just created this hole, even though Seth tried to fill in on "Bush Bush Bush." Xris suggested he take his teeth out and try it that way. Having Team Spider follow Suzuki Smith made SS look/sound even younger.

I was really interested in No Place To Piss and at some point the AC, if it ever was on in the first place, cut out. Lead singer/guitarer Bomb Walker has a guitar strap that's coated in safety pins and the lenses of his sunglasses were painted around the edges with what looked like White-out. Already this is cool. Thing is, there was this annoying guy in a backward Independent (tm) baseball hat there who was always in their face and managed to always move in front of me while I was trying to take pix. By the time the shutter was released, his arm was up, blocking my shot. I worried that I'm that annoying at shows. Oh, right. I am. But everyone there, including a guy trying to videotape, were standing back politely so that's the thing to do, not run around in front of us. Wait, do I do that? "Are you always an asshole or is it just the alcohol?" Bomb Walker asked. NPTP have a great streetpunk sound though bass player Joe Sixpack, with his deep, growling vocals, came off as sounding like the odd man out. They had one song about how music nowadays doesn't have the heart and soul compared to bands from 77-81. Never caught The Spunk Lads, I take it. Uh, I hate to break it to you but 1977 is over. Get thee to a Seanchai gig, stat. They dedicated "We're All Gonna Die" to the annoying guy, saying they hoped it happened to him sooner than later.

Matt gave me his camera again. Digital cameras make me nervous. I can't tell on that little screen if I did a good job or not. I don't need the pressure but the Suzuki singer saw that I had my camera and he took the digital, this way we'd end up with double the shots of BOS. Except I'm not going to get these pix developed till next year at the rate I'm going. That, and I was running low on film and there were 3 bands to go. No empty bar crowd surfing this time around. No idea how Matt could play a gig in a ski mask and Seth in a knit hat especially in August, especially in a stuffy, hot bar like Grand Central in August. I don't know how taking Philippe around got to be my job, but after I threw in my tip I tried to get people to pass the bucket around but everyone ignored me. So I went around the bar and more people ignored me. Note to BOS--and other bands: Next time get a pretty chick to pass the tip jar. Sorry 'bout that, guys. I meant well.

We were running behind schedule when Dis-Con went on. I was wilting but I'd made it this far. Dis-Con was also street punk but they weren't grabbing me. Or maybe it was just getting so late and hot. Jay Specimen's mohawks were wilting.

I only saw Test Specimen once before, at the A/A Lady Unluck rekkid release show. While Jay can't sing (I realize that being able to sing is optional in this scene), what annoyed me then was that the sound guy announced one more song and they kept going. One more song means one more song, not finish your set and then do one song for an encore. It was an early show, the place had cleared out, and they were starting to shut the lights off. And the band played on. In the dark. That annoyed the crap out of me. That time, Jay and their drummer switched off, with Mohawk Dave on guitar and singing. Drummer could sing, somewhat. This time Jay did vocals with the Dave stuck on the broken stool. I heard more metal in their sound this time around and all band members are really good musicians. Jay is another one who sings like a roach and I was hesitant to write him off as being unable to sing, even though he really can't. It’s like this time around, I “got” them. But they started at 20 to 1 and kept going for a solid hour. Nobody seemed to be stopping them. We still had one band to go.

Dave passed out after the set. I went to the bathroom and got out to find everyone breaking down the set. Yeah, I was curious about all the bands but it was 2:00 in the AM. I don’t know if Threat Release never showed up or quit or what. If The Spunk Lads were on this bill and playing last, they’d cancel, too. Or probably go through with it for BOS and rock an empty and sweaty room, then curse their luck on the drive back.

“You’re a saint for staying the whole night,” Matt tells me.
“I know.”
“Hell, you’re a saint for going to any of our shows.”
“I know.”

Outside the air was heavy and thick, summer reminding you that it’s not going down without a fight. On the Manhattan-bound side of the Graham Ave. station is a rusty waterfall cascading down the tiles, like the Ghost of Graham Ave. is sitting in the rafters and he has the runs. It was about 4:00 when I got back, but at least I didn’t fall asleep with my street clothes on. Again.

Back To The Future

DJ Fleetwood Mac/Gene Dreamy, Gary Sincere & the Pets/The Notekillers/Enon
Mercury Lounge//8/19/05

Funny, but I haven't seen Enon since I started seeing The Spunk Lads. I'm not speaking figuratively--that's exactly how it happened. I used to see Enon at the Merc and Brownies. I have Believo!, their 1st CD, and that's it. I remember when the disc came out. Got it at Maxwell's when Enon opened for Man Or Astroman?. Yeah, pretty sure that was it.

Enon was the 1st band on the bill for the 1st Siren. July 21, 2001. I wanted to be there to see them but figured I'd have to leave mad early to get down to Coney Island by 11:30 and besides, I also wanted to see MOAM?, who went on in the afternoon and I wouldn't've had the energy in the heat.

That same evening I caught The Spunk Lads for the 1st time and after that, it just seemed that Enon and I were traveling in different orbits. Funny, also, that now--4 years later, The Spunk Lads have broken up and Enon is back at the Mercury Lounge. I even considered not going. It's just that it's been too long. What's the point? But how could I not go? It's only $10. Besides, I could always chalk it up to another stop on the birthday blowout.

Enon is now on Touch & Go--my fave record label when I was in college, home to MOAM?, Brainiac, GVSB, and the Dirty 3. How could I not have known that? Or maybe I did but since I've been busy with other bands, it just slipped my mind. I do know they have other albums out. I checked out the Notekillers: their S/T album is circa 1977-81.

Thing is, the Merc site only had Enon and the Notekillers listed for that night for the longest. I read (I can't remember where) that Turing Machine was supposed to be on the bill. The Voice review even reviewed Turing Machine. And is Gene Dreamy and Gary Sincere (who I have seen listed around) a separate act from the Pets, because I've never seen a listing for "Gene Dreamy, Gary Sincere & The Pets?" And what the hell am I doing about CMJ? And my money? And my life? And this site?

The doors were at 8 and DJ Fleetwood Mac (oy) on at 8:30, said the tix. I left late and had to stop at the ATM and sitting there on the counter was a cellphone. Don't get involved, I tell myself. You don't have time to do track someone down until tomorrow and by then the owner will have cut the service or the battery will have run out, and they'll get another phone. Well, then I can drop it off for recycling at Staples. Still, I ran the phone upstairs because what if it goes off at the show and I didn't know how to silence it beforehand. I don't want to be that person whose phone rings at a show and I'd be really embarrassed.

I got there at 8:10 to find that the doors haven't even opened yet and the lineup is now 9, 10, 11, & 12 AM. Nice, because I haven't been at work all day and don't have a long night ahead of me the next day. So, yeah, I don't mind being out until 1AM. Sure. Go ahead. But looking at the sandwich board and seeing that Gene Dreamy, Gary Sincere & the Pets are one act and Turing Machine isn't on the bill at all, I had to stop and say, "Oh, yeah. Notekillers are on this. And I've been looking forward to that one."

OK. I'm old. I admit it. DJ Fleetwood Mac is one of those digital/iPod DJs who sat on a stool onstage and played stuff I've never heard before. I'm not sure how this makes you a DJ but if you're onstage you should be standing up. Still, I kept wishing he'd get all scratchy with it and, you know, DO SOMETHING. At one point he had his shoes off. People were going up to him, so I guess he was taking requests. At the end of his "set," he actually got applause when he unplugged his iPod.

Gene Dreamy and Gary Sincere sound like names of 50s rock stars or movie stars, but they actually grew up on a compound where the boys were raised by women and men raised the girls. Their set was songs all about their childhood memories on the compound and their mothers, one of whom was a transvestite. Yeah. They had some good pop sounds so they're capable of writing pop music so I don't know why they had to have this whole story behind them. Oh, right. It's not a story. Or a shtick. It's real life.

Watching the Notekillers felt like I was watching a ping-pong tournament. The bass player had a lucite bass that he played like a guitar, only at breakneck speed and he was on the left, the guitar player on the right, drummer in the middle. The bass player and guitar player were dueling each other with their drummer as the anchor in their all-instro pieces. This must be the stuff they play when they hypnotize or brainwash someone. Dizzying. I can't imagine what this was like for someone without earplugs in.

The last time I saw Enon, I'm pretty sure the gal from Blonde Redhead was in the band. I know it's been a while, but to me, they sounded completely different from what I remember. This is what I meant by it's been too long and maybe I shouldn't go. With the addition of Toko Yasuda's lush, dreamy, swirly vocals, the music feels like it was written for her. The Enon I remember was full of electronic swagger, as in one of their encore songs, "Rubber Car," off Believo!

Since I was in the nabe I then headed over to Motor City but when I went up Ludlow and passed CakeShop, I wanted cake. I'd been meaning to stop in there and try something but had never gotten around to it. I looked in; I couldn't tell if it was closed and it was pretty late. I assumed the bakery part closed down when the shows ended but I didn't know when that was for that night. Since it was so late to begin with, I stayed only long enough for Roger to tell me that the new band is Somos Demonios, meaning we're possessed--or my guess we're demons. Still, I wasn't too far off and that's still cool and kinda subversive. And they found a great drummer....who can't play on Shabbos. Which sounds like a drummer only Scott and Roger could find. Note to self: Act surprised when Scott tells me this.

CakeShop was still open and serving cake. I went for the double chocolate brownie. It's vegan, as is a lot of treats I saw on display, and therefore I was expecting it to be like a Snackwells--y'know, good but lacking the fat/calories/cholesterol/or whatever and you can tell something's missing. This was evil in a square. Moist and chocolatey. CakeShop: It's not just for shows.

I get to 2nd Ave. to find that there's no uptown F and I'd have to go to Jay St. and back. When the F came applause broke out and even though I wasn't waiting long, that can't be a good sign. I got on the F and ended up across from a guy who asked me where I was headed and I told him home to my family and he said he hoped to go with me. I picked up the discarded Wonderword and when I found my pen in my bag, the guy asked if I was taking my pen out so I could take down his number. "I don't think my boyfriend would like that." He tells me he has a girl. Now you'd think an asshole like that would do anything in his power to hold onto that girl but no. I was afraid to look up in case he had it in his hand. He got off at W4--maybe he had to or maybe he couldn't harrass me in front of an audience.

I got back and saw the cellphone on the table and wrote down two numbers right before the battery went out. Tried both the next morning--yesterday. High-pitched beeps in my ear and that's it. Kept trying the numbers, same thing. That's weird. I feel bad. I shouldn't have gotten involved. But I usually have luck in reuniting phones and owners. Oh well. Klutz should keep a closer eye on his stuff.

Wednesday Night At The Lost & Found

The Trakes/Prozacs/Unloveables/41 Gorgeous Blocks/Darlington/Johnie 3/Dead City Rejects
The Continental//8/17/05

The Trakes had the 7:30 slot and since I was going to be spending the night, it didn't matter to me if I missed them or not. I was curious to see how they'd look/sound at Continental since seeing them pretty much swallowed up by the stage at Southpaw when they opened for the Undertones back in April. But then again, being good in the 7:30 slot at the Continental on a Wednesday night isn't that hard. I definately did want to catch the Prozacs on. I got there about 8:10 and heard some cool pop-punk stuff and couldn't believe The Prozacs were already on.

Imagine my surprise when I got up there and found it was indeed the Trakes rocking out. The guitar player got a haircut and dyed his hair. He was in new-wavey sunglasses and a shirt and tie. Unless they got their arena-rock tunes out of the way before I got there, they changed their sound. I didn't understand why a band from 3172 would play music from 1972, and wouldn't music get that much better in the next millenium? Unless it's so advanced and we're not. It looked/sounded like they saw The Phenomenauts, Epoxies, and probably Devo and they realized they were going about this all wrong. Now they have new Ts in yellow with Briefs-y cartoons of themselves on it. Besides, the "You Suck!" vibes at the U'tones show were pretty strong. Still not my new favorite band, but an improvement over April. The drummer admitted they were much sloppier back in April. When the Unloveables got onstage, Chelsea picked up the bassist's goggles and made a WTF? face. I noticed their shirts were still on the merch table even though they'd cleared out. Did they actually leave their merch behind? But at one point during the Unloveables' set they came back for the shirts but the goggles still remained on the floor.

The Unloveables--like The Prozacs, 41 Gorgeous Blocks, Darlington, and Johnie 3--are devotees of that whoa oh oh oh pop-punk sound/subject favored by Lookout! stalwarts MTX, Queers, and Screeching Weasel, rooted in high school horrors: I'm an outcast so I'll listen to my punk rock which further alienates me from everybody and gives me more issues. I can't approach my crush object because he's only after cheerleaders or she's only after the football star. The Prozacs, pinch-hitting for The Kowalskis (which kinda sux because I've been seeing Kitty at shows taking pix and here I was going to take pix of her and they couldn't make it) had one about asking a girl to the prom and they sounded like the Ramones + testosterone with their "1-2 Let's Go!" choruses. Yeah, and we're all outta high school now so it's kinda like the oldsters playing kids on 90210 but I guess the song remains the same. Arlington, TX's 41 Gorgeous Blocks have a chorus that goes "Fuck This/Fuck That/Fuck You/Whoa Oh/Fuck Everything." It's just that with a glut of bands with a similar sound all in a row, they start sounding the same. And the Trakes' goggles were still on the floor.

That night at the Continental was pretty freezing. I started getting toe cramps. It's hard to believe that club was the wall-to-wall bodies oven where I almost passed out at the Adicts show. I looked at the goggles still on the floor and told myself not to get involved. If I pick 'em up I'll have to find their website and track 'em down, meet up with them somehow, and return them. And they'd probably just tell me they were inexpensive anyway. Whenever I find a cellphone I always try to track someone down who knows the owner to return the phone because what if the owner doesn't know they lost the phone where they did? Like when I found a phone on the 1/9 train--what good would returning it to the token booth where I got off do for the person who obviously didn't use that stop? How would they know their phone is at a token booth? Hey, if I lose something I'd want it returned. So I put the goggles in my bag just before Darlington started. Luckily The Trakes' drummer returned, so no wild goose chase for me.

Just past midnight and with only about 8 people left, I was freezing my ass off. So let's see, that's what....4 hours at Continental. 5 by the time I got out of there. Still, a good night for the ole pin collection. Hajime from the Spunks introduced Dead City Rejects. Their singer is from Louisville, KY. Yeah, I saw his Continental workshirt and the mowhawks on his guitar and bass player. Still, there was something lacking--something not quite there. But I'd rather they start a punk band rather than do what Kentuckians probably do--like tractor pulls, cow tipping, NASCAR races, and voting for Bush.

Golden Threads

Threads/Pank Shovel/Diamonds Under Fire//Sin-e//8/15/05

Threads has members from LES Stitches so that's where I was going on that Monday. And the writeup for Pank Shovel sounded good. They called their sound Riot Rap. Diamonds Under Fire also sounded like they could be promising.

Nobody was there when they let me in. I was glad they did when they did--after making sure soundcheck was over--because I really had to use the bathroom but when I got out I just had this feeling that I shouldn't be there. Most of the audience was actually in the band and I think the others there were friends of the band. For now. Lead singer Mick Stitch kinda reminded me a little of Some Action's lead singer, only a more grown-up version. Mick rocks where Ian flails. Watching Ian is sometimes like watching someone have a breakdown (which can be both good and bad, depending on the mood and vibe and everything) and that distracts you from the band but Mick was clearly having a good time and comfortable in his own skin. He had a presence instead of faking it and letting his attitude do the talking. And the band worked and played together like they actually like each other and belong together and they seemed like nice guys. Yeah it was the opening slot on a Monday night but they didn't care. I've seen many a band know they were going over like a lead balloon and taking it out on the audience who are there for someone else instead of rolling with the punches and saying you can't win 'em all. With their punk-tinged rock & roll, I'm sure they'll be on a bill with Dougie Needles and F-Units soon. I hope.

The only problem was that the lighting was terrible. The few lights on in the house were dim and yellow and the ones on stage weren't that strong, either. The guitar player was totally in the dark. So I don't know if my pix will come out. I tried backlighting but I don't like that because it takes forever for the shutter to release and it's not good for action. Plus, I only had 2 rolls of Kodak film on me and one Fuji (a 4-pack of 800 film on sale for $5, man. I didn't want to do it but I had no choice) and Fuji film comes out like a colorblindness test so I was trying to conserve the Kodak and make it last for all the bands playing in the dark.

Pank Shovel is unique, all right. Dual female vocals and their bass player and guitar player are incredible but were also standing in the dark of the stage. They did rap in some places--and do push-ups. Their group participation aerobicizing song. I rocked out as much as I could, so no aerobicizing for me. After their set, what little of the audience there was left with them.

Diamonds Under Fire and Radio Vago were the co-headliners, if you could call it that. Their "Get Some Tour," as the flier said, actually had sponsors and they were the only 2 bands listed. As the flier said. They were the only ones who brought a lot of merch with them. The amps were upholstered--if that's the right word for it. It took a bit to set up and the drums said Radio Vago. But I wanted to see Diamonds Under Fire. They weren't that good. So now I'd have to sit through this till 11:15 or later to see Diamonds. But then the chick singer/guitar player said that they were Diamonds Under Fire from LA. Funny, but they sounded LES. But after two bands that pushed the envelope, generic indie rock wasn't cutting it for me. I wanted to stay, believe me I did. After all, they had pins and stickers. I left a little after 10:30. Maybe I'm getting older. No, I'm getting smarter. Besides, I still have a lot of shows coming up. And trains to wait for.

Oh, and get this. As I was walking down E. Houston to the F train, there was a Fox 5 News truck parked outside the American Apparel and a guy was holding a video camera. Great. I'll be on TV again. Or maybe not--the guy was walking toward the truck and there was no light on the camera. Turns out it was for their "Shopping in NYC past 10pm" segment that was on tonite. By the time my brain registered that it was what I saw them taping last night the exterior shot, which only lasted seconds, was over and they were showing the inside of the store.

Putting The Buzz In Buzznet

Putting the buzz in my Buzznet blog are those Guinness-swillin' pirates in Flogging Molly. Also, openers Briggs and Street Dogs who were on this stop of the Punk Voter Tour. (Roseland, 9/29/04)

Yes, I'm having way too much fun with this image uploading thing.

Fuck The MTA

I just had to go to Stinko's and get some pix posted. I won't even tell you how much that cost as my computer's a pile o'crap. The Kinko's is on Union Turnpike and I left at like 8:15, 8:30. The E comes after a while and crawls into 75th Ave. Due to flood conditions, Manhattan-bound E, F, and R is suspended. Take the Q60 upstairs. I could barely hear the announcement. Upstairs there's a line at the token booth for the block tickets. Again, why are they closing down token booths? I was heading out and some guy stopped me, telling me I needed the ticket. I try to explain that I don't need one since I have an unlimited as the guy kept it up, insisting that I pick up the block ticket so I don't have to spend another fare.

As I headed across Queens Blvd. to get the Manhattan-bound 60, I couldn't help but sing the chorus of Lady Unluck's "Fuck The MTA." It was about a 15-minute wait for a bus that took off before I could get on. And the bus wasn't that packed even though people were prying the back door open and sneaking in. After that it was 45 minutes of waiting for a bus that wasn't that packed and which didn't stop. Now, why didn't the MTA get a fleet of buses on the case? How is it a surprise that if there's a ton of rain in a short period of time, there's going to be a flood on the tracks? It always happens, so why isn't the MTA prepared?

I decide to walk. It's not that far to Continental Ave. and maybe something will be running there. As I walk the one subway stop, a bus never comes but it starts raining again. I was afraid to leave the bus stop at 75 Ave. because what if a bus comes? At least I'm not that far away from my apt. if I do have to walk. I could use some exercize. At least it's not 2:30 in the morning in Long Island City after Black 47. In February. At least it's not 3:30 in the morning after St. Patrick's Day and that was, what, on a Wednesday or Thursday? Thing is, I haven't eaten in a while. There's no delis around. If I have to walk home from Continental that's about 3/4 mile, I think. If I have to walk it I might as well stop at McDonald's and have something to walk off. Defeating the purpose, I know. And watch, after I eat junk the subway will be running again. Why the hell do they raise the fares all the time when nothing works? If they said they're raising the fares so they can give all the janitors who mop up our puke, shit, food, bodily fluids, garbage, etc. in the heat and when it's so cold you can see your breath while you wait for the trains $20,000 raises, fine. They deserve it. All the MTA does is give themselves--the executives--raises. But I get to the subway and ask if the R's running. Guy at the token booth says yes. See? I head downstairs thinking that I should've clarified: Is the R running now, not is the R running in general on a Sunday evening at Continental?

I get to the platform to see an R out of service and hear an announcement that the train is going to head backwards. Probably back to storage. An F arrives on the express track that says Shuttle. It's only going to Jackson Heights and from there those going to Manhattan can get the 7. So I could take the F to Jackson Heights and the R back? I ask an MTA worker. No local in either direction. Take the Q60. There hasn't been an R in 2 hours. That's how long I've been waiting for the 60. As I'm talking to the worker, a light comes on over our heads. Maybe the R will start running. Maybe it's a sign.

So I head upstairs and across Queens Blvd. The line for the 60 is pretty long and if it ever shows up, they wouldn't stop for me. I make it a few blocks, past a bus stop that isn't that crowded but is under a shelter and has a bench. No rain but lightning. And a 60 pulls to a stop ahead of me and lets me on. It's a good thing I stopped at McDonald's after all. I stand in the stairwell of the bus, sandwiched between someone's big ass and the bus door. I'm hanging onto the door pole. Come to think of it this is how I used to get to High School when I went to Bowne, pressed against the bus door with my bookbag hanging out the door. But the driver is in good humor, telling us all to lose weight and that he's dropping us at the gym so he can fit 5 more people on. We pass a bus stop and he tells us to wave to everyone as we pass them by.

At my intersection I ask if I can just get off since I'm down the block. He says he has to stop at the bus stop because if I get injured getting off I'll have someone to sue. If he leaves me off anywhere and I get hurt I'd have to sue him and half of nothing is nothing. Upstairs my light flickers and I'm ready to run out and buy flashlights. But then I realize that it's 10:45; if the lights go out I can just go to sleep until it's light out. I'm gross and sweaty and a little drenched and I need to wash my hair again but . . . I have no hot water.

The Zambonis

Congratulations to The Zambonis on winning Best Rock Band in Fairfield CT Weekly's Grand Band Slam for the 2nd year. Also, good luck on your gig with The Hold Steady at Central CT State University next month. I already checked it out--there were no mass transit direx given. Dammit! This was taken when they played Freddy's last September and those pix are on their way to the Buzznet blog.

The Buzznet

My next plan of action is to get the photos going. Image upload here doesn't let you rotate pix (or else I don't know how to do it) and I don't want a long column of pix. So what I want to do is post one pic on the main blog to let readers know that the pix from that show has been added to the Buzznet blog. I'm practicing with that and getting the Buzznet photo gallery to link to this blog. So far, it hasn't. I have to add it to my link list.

Wasn't sure if I needed the Buzznet photoblog but recent attempts at getting photos on here suggest that I do. Buzznet seems to be a photography-driven version of Myspace. So once I get the hang of that I'll open this up to comments and announce both sites. This morning I had visions of printing up cards to hand out at shows and hang up in like Other Music and stuff. We'll see.

Originally, I wasn't going to post any pix from last year. But then again, I have them. I'd decided on a date and said I was only going to post pix from that show onward, until I get to the point where I can get pix and posts to line up. However, the date I'd chosen as a starting point didn't allow for any Zambonis pix to be posted and how could I forge ahead without a band that I've been seeing for the past 10 years? Besides, it would only be right to kick off the obligatory photo section with those wacky singin' hockey nutz from Connecticut, The Zambonis.

So pix to come, I figure out the nuances of Blogger and Buzznet, everything looks all shiny, I open this up to the peanut gallery, and then take over the world.

Re:Search

Okay. I admit it. Last nite (er, this morning) I did a search on a musician I blogged about to see if Hollow Sidewalks would come up as a match. It didn't, of course; I'm still too new and in lurk-mode (which I feel is coming to a close). I was reading the instructions for this thing and I could've sworn it said that Bloggers would appear in search results. I didn't have the time to slag thru all the results to find me at the very bottom of the last page. So I did a search on "Hollow Sidewalks."

One match was an article from the Sacramento News & Review, which I have to make a link for as it's a longie. The article starts out describing a used music store and one of the workers feels it's haunted. There are tunnels in the basement that lead nowhere. It goes on to describe the underground city that existed in Sacramento c. 1850s. Of all things on the street as the record store, they lead off with the record store. There are haunting pix of storefronts under the streets, which are known as--you guessed it--hollow sidewalks and generally referred to as the underground. It goes on to quote a historian who says how important it is to protect the underground and its history. This stuck with me for obvious reasons. My hollow sidewalk is on Bleeker Street. I noticed it while I was heading to CBGB to see the Blackout Shoppers. What do you think I'm attempting to do here--preserve the underground.

There's a band called Cub Country who have a song called Hollow Sidewalks. I found a link to a review on eMusic. The album review (by a Charles Spano) ends with this: "The record culminates with the seven-minute-long 'Hollow Sidewalks,' a shimmering, nostalgic journey that, like the album as a whole, is honest, expansive, and rings true."

Today (uh, that would be yesterday) my mom happens to mention that she read an article about this city that existed under Central Park and that the Wall Street area was built on top of a pre-existing city. She couldn't remember the website given so I did a search and found an article in the Times about Seneca Village. The article was dated--you guessed it--August 10.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

They're The Band To See

FINALLY saw Avenue D last nite. I say finally--and all in caps--cause I went to see them at Lit in January and was told after sitting there for hours that Avenue D was going to either stop by or DJ. (When I saw that that gig wasn't even listed on their website I was thinking it was proof of a surprise gig. Or maybe they did play but I wasn't cool enough so the staff politely tried to throw me out)I was waiting patiently for the gig on my bday and they didn't go on till like 1:30 in the AM. Yeah, I saw the "8pm" on the flyer and even though listings said 10pm, well, I had to be up front on my birfday! ('Course I was worried that the silly string would still be in my hair today and I thought I broke my nose. Or somebody did 'cause I sure as hell wouldn't break my own nose. Still not even sure how it happened--there were strobe lights and I was tired and my camera went flying and got stepped on.)

Picture Le Tigre and Northern State starting a band but deciding that only 2 girls should be in it. And they should write songs about guys too drunk to fuck, vibrators, and trying to figure out if they look like a slut.

More later. I'm freakin tired.

Today's Mah Birfday!

Okay. A few things of note--and no, it's not "Northsix has a new website" because that's old news by now.

Still didn't do the expandable post summary thing correctly, hence clogging up the main page with all my deep (doodoo) thoughts. And I spent all day Sunday at the computer trying to figure it out. And it was a nice day out, not too humid, but then again I've been known to spend nice days inside dark, packed, humid venues. So I'll have to make my long stories short.

In my last letter from the blogger when I said "Nobody's reading this I hope (yet)," I meant I hope nobody's reading this while I'm trying to figure the nuances of this thing. I didn't have time to reread it before I hit publish. I'm hopin' to have things polished and ready by CMJ-time. You know--the C Musicians Jerkoff festival.

The pix are coming. I was thinking to only get the film developed for the shows I'm posting about and saying to hell with the beginning of the year but then I'll have piles of pix that are out of albums. So in the meantime I'll get some pix from last year (Le Tigre, the Briefs, the Donnas, Some Action, Captured! By Robots)up and hope I don't give up the blog before I get to this year's (Hot Hot Heat? Saints? Queers?Aquabats? Epoxies? Undertones? Spunk Lads Farwell tour?--Did I mention that it's my birfday? Film, 123-size batteries, and money always goes over well.)

I've reconsidered my "No Comments" stance. I wasn't going to have them for many good and probably predictable reasons but, hell--rock mags have letters to the editor and besides, comments are part of the whole blogging experience. Soon you'll be able to do your worst--when I'm further along; nothing like looking at yer blog, seeing "0 comments," and feeling like a (bigger) loser. And I can delete the ones I don't like.

Or delete the whole damn blog. We'll see. Well, enough with the letters from the blogger. We now return you to your regularly scheduled music blog.

Lower East Side Story

The Dents/F-Units/Hello Nurse/Hoy//Sin-e//8/6/05

So not only am I becoming crotchety, I'm getting Alzheimer's. I bought 2 packs of film and I forgot to take 'em. And not only that, I forgot that I forgot until I'd spent 10 mins. waiting for the train. It was barreling down the track and then it dawned on me. The film is sitting right there on the table where I keep my keys. Yeah there's a pile of crap on top of it on the table, but still. Had I realized it as soon as I got to my lobby I would've gone back for it. Had I realized it when I got to the platform, I would've gone back--or bought more. And I'd taken out my film from the night before and noticed that I only had 2 rolls on me. Is it going to be enough? Still, the more film I have the more I'll use. And I'd spent the 10 mins waiting for the train reading the circulars from the lobby, checking out digital camera ads.
I'm getting to be too old for this. I didn't want to catch the first band, Superlow, because their pic on the Sin-e site just wasn't doing it for me. The Dents were on at 9 and I left here at 8. I got there with the Dents onstage and getting ready to go. I never do that--I usually get there early to ensure that I get in and get up front, but the place was empty. There were 30 people there at the most. I'd briefly considered buying an advance ticket even though that would mean handling charges, but thank God I didn't.
Originally I wasn't going to stay for Hoy because I'd seen them before and though they're thoroughly nice guys, they weren't life-altering. Then again, it was past midnite that time back in April. But 2 things made me change my mind about them last night. One was Andy, their bass player, rocking a kilt. Secondly, Greg, their singer, went to introduce himself to the Dents by picking up his amp and proudly showing off the brand, saying, "Check out my Pacemaker! I just got it!"
Although I've seen the Dents before, this time around they really rocked out hard. Good, poppy rock in the vein of the Muffs. But I really don't think they're garage-y, though because they're hard to classify--garage? punk? pop punk? rock?--they probably get lumped into the garage rock category perhaps because of the female vocalists.
Greg from Hoy drums for the F-Units. Who knew? I saw F-Units almost exactly a year ago and Johnny Napalm from the Napalm Stars was their drummer. Come to think of it, I can't remember how they sounded back then. But this time around they were good ol' straight-up rawk with a punk edge and "Hey!Hey!Hey!" choruses. They're recording an album and their set was the album in its entirety and in order, save for the cover of "Johnny B Goode" which closed their set.
I was also interested in catching Hello Nurse, simply because a band whose name is an Animaniacs reference can't be all that bad.
Andy went to walk past the stage and their singer said, "You can't come near the stage. I just farted."
At least they're honest and didn't blame it on the dog. They're a young, energetic, nerdy, upbeat powerpop band that makes you dance. Their singer was whipping around and why should he have all the fun? The name is actually a quasi-Animaniacs reference. Hey, you can't go wrong with Wakko Warner. Boys, go fig.
I was thinking Hoy's motto is: "We're supernice guys" but as Greg informed us, it's "We're happy fun band." All bands should have Hoy on their bill at least once. All smiles, hanging out and watching all the other bands, absolutely no attitude, giving shoutouts to all the other bands--even though Greg said F-Units needs a better drummer. They just radiate positive vibes and it shows in their sparkly pop rock tunes.
Oh, and get this. Some guy chatted me up and hit on me. The guitar player from a band I saw last year and they weren't that good. I was sitting down after the Dents and he comes over to me, asking me if I go to a lot of shows. He spells out his name. He says he has to go outside and asks me if I'll still be there when he gets back. I say yes and he says, "Are you sure?"
After F-Units, he asks if he can talk to me outside.
"Why?"
"Do you smoke pot?"
Here we go. "No."
"Do you want to smoke some pot?"
Didn't I just say that I don't smoke pot? Does no mean yes to you?
After Hello Nurse he comes back to talk to me. Would I consider giving him my number? He asks me where I'm from. I tell him Queens. Really? Born and raised?
Would I lie?
He tells me I have an accent. Huh? He then asks if I'm wearing contacts. Huh?
"I mean, can you see all right?"
What? I was sitting down between sets, are you going to offer to give me a backrub? Believe me, I can see better than you think. Nobody in their right mind would make a comment like that to me, not when they're trying to pick me up.
He tries to cover by explaining that he needs glasses and tells me I have nice eyes. Am I seeing anybody? Do I date guys?
Yeah, so that means I'm going to reject you because you're an asshole.
And during Hoy's set he walks behind me, his hand brushing against my ass ever so slightly, to make me wonder if it was really him and to say that that he's coming back for me, to find out if I'd really give him my number.
Pot and guitars. Helping guys get women since pot and guitars were invented.

A 3-Second Tour

The Happy Ending/Color Guard//CakeShop
Dougie Needles and the Public Offenders/Guns On High Street/Alphabet City//Arlene's Grocery//8/5/05

I got there at 8:45--the email I got said Happy Ending on at 8:30, Color Guard 9:30. Thing is, I'd planned on heading over to Arlene's to catch Dougie Needles and even though I knew they weren't going to start at 11...still. The longer it takes for the first band to start, the later this is going to end. That's it. I think I'm officially becoming crotchety. But, c'mon! It's a Friday night! NYC! What if people have other things to do? I mean, yeah, I guess I can always spend the night at Cakeshop but I had plans!

Standing on the incline of CS's sloped floor, I felt really tall and like I'm in the nosebleed section. I had the urge to start the wave. Behind me the place looked packed even though it was 3 rows huddled together. But for the band member standing on the floor in the back, it probably looks like they're playing to a full house.

The Happy Ending is a competant but snoozy (Did I say "snoozy?" I prolly meant "ethereal"--there is a chick singer) pop band fronted by a blond who alternated between strutting behind the mic stand and constantly gathering her hair into a pontytail and then releasing it. Seriously, it's called an elastic. Look into it. Their set was bookended between 2 covers--the inaudible "Jessie's Girl" (This is my 2nd time at CS and I guess it's just standard procedure to open your set with no vocals) and "She Sells Sanctuary."

Adding a light moment to the Color Guard's lush, Dark Pop (as in their album title) were the guys hugging and jumping around to the wittily titled "Your Kiss Is My Command." And their set ended at 10:45, so it was down the block to the corner and turn left to Arlene's. The 10:00 band was still going strong. Needless to say this doesn't usually happen in H-Land. Or maybe it just helped that the venues were around the corner from each other. I looked at their setlist, trying to figure out how close they were to ending. The last song was "You May Be Right." Don't tell me they're covering a Billy Joel song. The name of the band is Frank. I shit you not. They were jammy and by the time they stopped the instrumental parts of the song, I'd already lost interest--not that I had much interest in them to begin with. Maybe punk rock has warped my brain. I'm not used to songs over 3 minutes and if a song is over 3 minutes, I don't have the attention span for it. Their parting shot is, of course, Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" and the best song in their set BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WRITE IT. The crowd was singing along and gushed about how great it was after. Yeesh.

In between sets a guy who recognized me from other shows gave me a flier for his band, asking me if I go to a lot of shows. Dude, I just left a show to come to here. He asked me who I was there to see and I told him Dougie Needles. Do I know them? No, they just sounded good. Only one way to find out, right? But then I panic. That is a seemingly random reason to see bands I don't know about. What if I'm wrong? The whole night has been planned around seeing these guys. Their bass player crooked a finger at me and called me over. Can I get their drummer a Budweiser? Do I look like a freakin waitress? What is it about getting onstage that makes band members realize they need a drink and that they need me to get it for them? Thankfully I was reembursed for the $4 otherwise they'd never hear the end of it. My first time seeing the band and already they put me to work.

And of course I didn't have to worry about Dougie Needles and the Public Offenders. They're incapable of sucking, even though Needles warned us unfortunate cocksuckers that we're about to see a lot of crap. Straight-up NYC punk 'n' roll straight outta St. Mark's Place. Wow. Needles speaks punk rock with the same accent as Tim Armstrong and with his pedigree plastered all over his guitar and spiked-up hair. Songs about wanting to be a dead boy (or Dead Boy) and (Trust Me I'm A) Liar. I don't know why they were on some walk-up bill as opposed to a spend-the-night one. (I think that may be more lexicography.) A cover of "Waiting For My Man." A terrif song about NYC and "New York Baby" where they invited everyone onstage to sing the chorus. Dammit, it's 90 degrees out and I didn't put any effort into getting dressed. Note to self: Always make an effort because you never know when you'll be onstage with the band. They said they were taping it. I didn't see a camera so maybe they meant recording it.

Alphabet City also sounded like they could be cool but my back was starting to kill me. I was able to sit through Guns On High Street but it was on a backless stool. To prevent myself from schlumping over I rested my left arm on the ledge behind me. Equally as bad, I know. Alphabet City are actually from Florida. How much you wanna bet that if Alphabet City were actually from Alphabet City or at least NYC they'd be incredible? Blazers and keybs. I had to leave early, afraid that I'd never be able to get out of bed today and with another long night of rock ahead of me.

(Dang it another longie. Sorry. I even knocked out the first paragraph. But for me this is actually short. Then again what the fuck do I care cause no one's reading it--yet. [I hope.] I'm going to work on the post summary thing tomorrow, tho.)

Hollow Sidewalks Is Go!

I inadvertantly went live last Thursday. I had the ideas for the first 2 posts before I even went ahead with the blog. I went to this site a few times and chickened out before I even created the thing. I gave up.

Then I had all these shows coming up that I had tix for or previous plans to go. I figure, What the hell. I'm going anyway, take pix. I went to that DotDash show and they were playing all these old punk videos. I thought, What could be more DIY than me actually doing this? I know nothing about HTML or code. Then I realized by giving up writing I was giving up on myself and music. I didn't know which was worse. Human Eye lit a vacuum and computer monitor on fire. The next day I saw Intro5pect and was just blown away.

I set the blog up on 7/24. Nobody's going to read it. Both ideas were thrilling. I wrote the 1st 2 articles and had them as a draft. What I intended to do with that was just stare at them in draft mode and try to keep myself from deleting it. Then I tried to post my picture to my profile and it came up as a post. I figure, What the hell. Why not post everything?

I was surprised I was able to make the links. I was worried that this is justifying my bad behavior but, hey. 10 years ago I was a DJ so this is just the next phase of that. What I can't figure out is the post summary thing, so either it's very obvious which is why I'm overlooking something or it's my computer. So apologies for that long-ass one. I'll figure it out eventually. Or delete everything. You know, it's all good.