Category: ska and reggae

Wanna Hang?

OK – to be honest, I don’t really know who all is reading this. That being said, this might not be such a good idea, but I’m going to let you all know where I will be next Saturday night. Hopefully all the Mark David Chapman’s of the East Bay region will stay home.

At any rate, long time friends, and even longer time rockers Los Hooligans (Fresno, CA) and Monkey (San Jose, CA) will be playing, along with close acquaintances SOL (East Bay, CA) at the Starry Plough next Saturday. This promises to be an excellent show, and I promise to drink at least one beer. Los Hooligans don’t play often, so it’s always a treat when they make it to the Bay Area. (Yes, it’s capitalized. ‘Cause I said so.) So, if you’re in the vicinity and you want to hang out and hear a variety of takes on the sounds of Jamaican ska, please stop by.

Starry Plough Flier

What a Month. . . What a Week. . . What a Chore

I didn’t realize how much time it would take to move over all of my archived posts from the MySpace account. I think it’ll be worth it, because I want it all to be comprehensive. It just means that the official launch is going to be later than I thought. I hope to have it all done by sometime this weekend. I haven’t really told anyone that I’m moving it, either. So far I think I’ve had two views. When I’ve finished the archive, I plan on posting something on MySpace and have a grand opening. I hope people will read it!

I also hope that I’ll be motivated to get more into the habit to post. I’ve noticed while I’ve been cutting and pasting that just how much more frequently I used to write. It was so much easier before. I think that one of the features of WordPress that will real lend itself to my productivity will be the ability to save drafts. That way I can write half of a blog at home, and then come back to it when I’m at work, if necessary.

This last weekend was a doosy. I did the Slackers weekend. It all started out with a Deal’s Gone Bad/Monkey Thursday evening. I love Deal’s. Those boys are wonderful people, and what a wicked sound. I have too many good things to say about them. Todd H. is a lovely guy. We talked about me going out for a visit to Chicago. I’ve only ever been to Chicago once. I was 15. I was with my godparents/aunt & uncle.

Which brings me to the last few weeks of my life. I have been a traveling fool. First off, I was in Washington for Labor Day with the folks. It was a pretty mellow weekend; we went to a few minor league ball games, the Everett Aquasox, and went to the state fair, too. It was nice. I got home from Washington on a Tuesday night, and the following Saturday, I was on another plane heading towards Iowa. I had to go see my uncle, that same uncle that I saw in Chicago. The thing is, he has cancer. Not only that, but he recently had a heart attack. It was a heavy trip, and I’ve been having a tough time dealing with the stress of the situation. Anyway, I got back on Wednesday. The next night, I went out to see Deal’s. I really needed to be around friends, people, activity, loudness, dancing, etc. I got everything I needed.

On Friday, I went out with J4 to see Deal’s Gone Bad, The Phenomenauts, and The Slackers. Everybody was there, and it was a lot of fun. It was very hot, too. There was some hi-jinks between the Slackers and Phenomenauts who have been on tour together for some time. It was an amazing show at Slim’s.

But the best part was the after-party. First I took J4 home and put him to bed. Then I went over to Strange Manor. We hung out all night, and when I say all night, I mean all night. We were talking, talking, talking, and suddenly the sun came up. I got home at around 7 in the morning.

Then on Saturday, I headed up to Sacramento to do it all over again. J4 missed the Saturday fun. I picked Andy up in Vacaville, and we headed out for an early show with Boss 501 and Deal’s. It was sort of bitter sweet, because I knew it would be the last I heard from them for a while. After that show, we headed further north to see The Slackers and Phenoms again, with The Street Vendors opening. Luckily a few of the Deal’s guys came to the late show, too, so I got to hang out with them a little longer.

By the time we got to that late show, I was starting to feel the party from the night before. I caught just a bit of the Street Vendors, and I think they have gotten much better since the last time I saw them. When The Slackers came on, I perked up. They have been one of my favorite bands for the last six years. The shows they put on are always amazing. They are fabulous showmen and musicians. It was a good show, although, I have to say that the Friday night show was better. Maybe I’m biased.

Anyway, after the show, we hung around for just a little while to say a few words to the fellas in the bands, and have my goodbyes with the Deal’s boys. Todd assured me that they would be back soon, possibly January. It was hard to leave, but for once, I felt like it was a good idea to leave the party while it was still in full swing. After about five rounds of hugs, Andy and I were on our way home.

Yesterday, all I could do was my best impersonation of a lump. The lead singer of The Slackers, Vic Ruggiero had a couple of solo gigs, and I wanted to go to at least one. I figured it was best not to push, it though, so I stayed home.

I have some pics from the trips and the Friday night show that I may post later. That’s all I got for you now.

Why I won’t be seeing Warsaw Poland Bros. on January 20 @ Blake’s

A Theme, by Peggy

I won’t be going to Blakes on Janurary 20th to see Warsaw Poland Bros. It makes me very sad. However, the show is a Savage Production show. Savage Production is evil. They are in the habit of not paying bands that play their shows. I used to love to go to Blakes. The dank, dark basement filled with music, sweat, love, and booze. Savage Production has ruined it for me. I boycott Savage, not Warsaw, so I hope they’ll understand. I love Double A and Ska Queen, and Mike on drums, but I cannot, in good conscious, give my money to that Monica Savage, as I know none of the money will go to the band. Maybe next time.

You know (Madness/Aggrolites)

    I don’t even care that it’s almost six on a Friday evening and I probably have another hour or two at work.

That’s how good that Madness show was on Wednesday.   It was so good that even my shit job doesn’t seem so bad, and nothing can put me in a bad mood.

In fact, the only way I could be happier is if I got a good phone call tonight or tomorrow.

But seriously, that show went off.   I can’t even begin to describe how good it was to you.   I wouldn’t know where to start.  All I know is, when they broke into “House of Fun,” I nearly peed myself.   I was jumping around like an idiot in the pit in a way too nice dress for such behavior, and I nearly passed out, and I didn’t even care.    Hot damn that was good times.    Two feet away from Madness.   And The Aggrolites opened.   They were the poo, as usual.

If you don’t know who The Aggrolites are, you need to find out.

If you don’t know who Madness is, I’m ashamed to know you.   Get yourself to the nearest record store (CD store, whatever we’re calling it now) and find out.

I’m set for life now.

Current mood:  chipper

Playlist:  Shame & Scandal
By Madness
Release date: 23 August, 2005

Maybe I should explain

Why it says I’m in a nauseated mood on the last post with the Go Jimmy Go show. The two things are completely unrelated. How could I be nauseated thinking about my favorite band/best friends coming back into town and playing what will probably be one of the best shows of my life with local greatness, The Uptones and The Struts? It’s impossible. It’s just that I was at work today, and having continued my pattern of sleep, or not sleeping actually, I was feeling pretty assy. So, of course, I’m giddy as all hell that GJG is going to be in town shortly. Also, despite the sleep I didn’t get, it was a great weekend. A little Warsaw, a little King Django (who is nice as hell in addition to rocking), and some quality time with a sniper at a Denny’s in Vacaville. It just doesn’t get any better than that, truly. I came home from work today and crashed hard, though. Slept two hours, and hopefully in a couple more hours, I’ll go back to bed and sleep very well through the night. So, in order to maintain good kharma, but more so because I love you all so much, I want to wish you all the sweetest dreams.

Current Mood – Chipper

Playlist –Playtime
By: David Hillyard & the Rocksteady Seven
Release date: 30 March, 1999

spread the word

I have a lot of friends that are in bands.   Someone once said to me that musicians in San Francisco are like actors in Los Angeles;  if you lived in LA, everyone you knew would be in an actor and if you live in the Bay Area, just about everyone is a musician.  Plus, once you know one person in a band, then they start to multiply like bunnies.

A lot of my friends in the area have been having a problem with this one particular “promoter,” and it kills me to see.   I know how much time, effort, and finances they put into getting their shows together.   To see them get shafted by a promoter breaks my heart.   To see a band travel three hours to play a show in Berkeley, and get nothing, not even get $40 bucks to throw in the gas tank, is disgusting.

So, I’m posting this here: http//www.myspace.com/boycottsavage

If you’re a music fan or musician in the bay area, you should check it out, because ignorance is no excuse.

This person has infected one of my favorite places, Blake’s on Telegraph, and until she’s gone from there, it’ll break my heart, but I won’t be going to shows there.

I will be attending an awesome show in Berkeley at Ashkenaz on August 18:
Go Jimmy Go
Deals Gone Bad
The Uptones

Ashkenaz is a great place to see shows as it is always all ages and they serve Red Stripe.   I hope to see some of you there.  I know Miami will be in the front row with me, cutting it up.

Thanks for your attention.

Just got in.

Can I tell you how much The Aggrolites rule? They rule more than the pirates, that’s how much. It doesn’t matter how big the club or how small the bar, those guys put it on. I don’t know why I bothered spending all that time doing my hair before the show, though. I mean, Aggrolites shows always turn into saunas, anyway. I’m sporting a head of curls right now. Gosh I dig that band. That’s why I’m going to see them again tomorrow. There’s going to be so many people at that show, too. I’m completely looking forward to it.

You know what I’m really looking forward to, though, is a new Los Hooligans CD. There’s a track off their new album on this sampler I just got, and it’s amazing. I can’t wait for a whole new CD of that.

What can I say? I love me some ska and reggae.