BEST AND WORST PARTS OF 08!

2008 was a crazy year for me.HOME. I had another wonderful year living in(my opinion)one of the coolest neighborhoods around. It got even better, when we got rid of the most horrible fucking renters in history (Back House)! I don't have to wake up to a giant fucking SUV blaring horrible KLOVE Radio Amore in my drive way, or seeing babies wearing diapers running around chasing my outside cats, or Corona bottle caps all over the front of their porch. They are gone, and I'm over it!: WORST.


MOSPEADA.I was going over the gigs we did on Myspace the other day. We played A LOT! Some months had like 3 shows booked. We recorded an e.p. that pretty much fell on deaf ears. The people who did get though had kind words to say and I'm glad you enjoyed it. We went to San Diego, Modesto(OH GOD)and Oxnard. We had a song on a very cool comp with some others friends of ours on Itunes. But what's more important, is the friends we made while playing in the LA area. All the gigs were fun but I'd have to say the MOSPEADA practices were my favorite. The freedom of just trying any musical idea. The drink/smoke breaks which involved so many laughs and the occasional lighting a fart on fire from someones butt just holds a special place in my heart. We're broken up as people know but memories, you know how they work:BEST/WORST.



MUSIC. I don't have too many favorite bands for '08. I found myself listening to friends bands more than major/indie bands out there. I loved The Miles Approach ep. Their live shows were just as great! The trio work so well together and the vocals have that great boy/girl counter action going on. Awesome! The Hectors ep was great too. Their guitar tones are like neon icicles moving around at 100 miles an hour. Lead singer Corrine's vocals wrap around the sound and kicks it right in the ass. Wonderful band!
Noise/Gaze favorite's Guppies blew me away EVERY TIME live! The gentle yet ferocious sides of the band get me right here(points to heart). I was lucky enough this year to watch them lull the late night airwaves of KXLU. Also play host to a practice here at my own home. A great and drunk marathon of a day! The Health Club continued to burn every stage they played on and started to expand on their minimalist/maximilist take on punk. As far as the big bands go Black Mountain and Animal Collectives albums were top for me. I had more drunk nights with Strawberry Jam on my Ipod, but Black Mountain's In the future turned me on to some beautiful heavy riffs and angel/sultry vocals from Amber Webber. I know I'm missing stuff but anyone who has partied with me during this year knows what I love to put on when I get wasted :P BEST.








ME. When MOSPEADA ended I was in a funk and didn't really know what was next. But as things turn out in life, I was then asked to join Black Kites. It was a welcome invitation because I've been a fan of their's for quite some time. I was able to take a break from thinking about and trying to push my own vehicle. The first month and a half was not easy. A gig in Modesto led to my prized Jaguar and Twin Reverb being stolen out of our car. It was a brutal feeling to take on. But my new band mates helped me get back to where I was before. We played some more shows and just recently recorded two songs that will be on our debut album. Hope is all I can have:BEST.

PETS. Well as I posted before on here, I had a hard time with a rescue in the summer and I still think about her often. But just last month I was blessed with another character. I found him at my work in Whittier. If I wasn't going to take him they were going to call the pound. I had to take him. It's been a month now with him and he is one of the coolest dogs I've had the pleasure of knowing. He's so loving. He kinda reminds me, well, of me. LOL!:BEST.



RECORDING. For the past two and a half months I've been recording with my good friend Alex. The sessions have been really liberating in a sense that there is no pressure, rush or expectations. He's written music that is a weird cross between surf,psychedelic and noise rock. We've been collaborating on sounds and ideas and the results fucking rule. We asked our friend Max to lay down some Acetone organ on the tracks. His attack at the music was fresh which added even more to the fun:BEST.





So next year in a matter of hours, who knows what's gonna happen. I'm hoping for the best.

BLACK AND WHITE KITES. SPACELAND!!!!

I have been really lazy with the new post's but that's how It goes. I'm posting pics of the night we played Spaceland.As we are setting up the sound guy looked very fammiliar.I asked him if he was in a band called Friends in the mountains. He says yes so that's our good omen for the show. He used to work at a record store in Whittier and we had mutual good friends. Very nice guy. He did a great job with the bands stage mix and for once Evy was not screaming and keys were not buried under mounds of fuzz,bass and perccusion. The turn out was great too. We had a lot of people show up. For being the opener we had a lot of bodies in there. The set went fast but a good feeling was shared on stage and smiles were finally cracked! It was fun and you should have been there.

Tuesday is practice night....

And I'm feeling pretty crappy. I've got a sore throat that I'm trying to get rid of before the show at Spaceland. Black Kites will be playing with Shiloe, The Human Value and War Tapes. It should be a great time. I also brought home a dog. It was wandering around the continuation school section of the school where I work. Let's see if this one doesn't get picked up by it's cholo owners from Hacienda Heights.

THE SCENE THIS THURSDAY!

Nicki and I worked together on this one making for a very cool line up of music. Squaregirls will also be DJing the night as well. I'll tell you about after the show!

TWENTY YEAR LIST!!! PART TWO....

I haven't done a list since I think my first post in this blog. So let me recap. The 20 YEAR list is a list where you put songs you could go for 20 years not hearing. Maybe because you hate it, or it just gets picked way to much in your local dive bar. I think you get it so lets start this mofo.

The Cure- Boys don't cry.
Whether its played at a cheesy 80's/Brit Pop club. Or on the noon time retro mix on Power or on other like minded stations this song always gets the rotation. I don't have anything negative to say about it. It's just you know, Boys don't cry is being played again!


Eric Clapton- Layla
Let me just say first that I think EC is lame therefore I'm putting this song that kicked off so many classic rock station commercials. That opening lick just really gets under my skin. I just picture him doing those "I cant believe I'm still getting a blow job at my age" spewge face string bends. Annoying.


Rolling Stones- Satisfaction
Yes it was one of the first songs that used the Maestro fuzz box. Yes it's the Stones but this song could really disappear and I wouldn't even notice. Again another song with an opening riff that's just played out and old. Devo fucking did it right.



Joy Division- Love will tear us apart
Yeah, I said it. But really this song is up there with Boys don't cry. But you know it was their hit in a way. It reminds me of the time in my junior year we had a band practice and we did this song and I wish there was a tape recorder or video going because it would document the only time Fernando(Mospeada,Le Pepe's)took the role as lead singer and crooned those sad, sad lyrics.


That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure most will disagree but you know whatever...

MY BLOODY VALENTINE

Well the day finally came when myself and my old friend Fernando got to see MBV. I remember hearing about when they played The Roxy that they were voted the loudest band to ever play. Folklore? maybe, but last nights show at the Santa Monica Civic gave me the idea that they could very well hold that title. I had been seeing footage of their reunion tours and reading about the arsenal of gear they were bring with them. I'm gonna say though, it wasn't THAT loud. I mean yes Kevin was fucking aiming 3 stacks and some combos at us and Belinda had a half stack and combo but maybe I'm deaf already??? Everyone is going on about the noise break in "...realize" and for good reason. Fernando said it best, "Imagine the space shuttle taking off right outside your house." I didn't use ear plugs. I had to use them during the noise part because Kevin was switching on a wah and the treble frequency was just too much to take. I have a short video of it that I'll put up later. What really just got me was the execution of the guitars that Belinda and Kevin portrayed. All these ghost melodies and bends that you think they are doing it but you don't see them making the sound. Maybe prerecorded, maybe not. Maybe they were bending notes with their fingers? I don't know but it was so beautiful to finally see them. All the offsets they had were just gorgeous. A lot of Belinda's guitars are custom jobs by this Italian guitar maker. By the way, I don't know how old she is but good lord she looked so beautiful. I was in awe how she was attacking her tremolo bar I just find it hard to describe. I listened to some of loveless today and after last night the music makes even more sense. It was nice to see fellow fans like members of Die Rockers Die and Ojos Rojos. It was a great night and I think just maybe they only gazed at their shoes like 2 or 3 times.....

SUMMING UP.

Hey all! As some of you had heard I had my amp and two guitars stolen when I went on my first road trip with the Kites. The story is pretty much exhausted at this point. Thank you for all the kind comments guys. It made me feel better. I've recently acquired another Jaguar from Jack at Future Music. I know it will never replace my beloved modded CIJ Jaguar but it's not the gear, it's the player! I'm in need of an amp as well. The fucking fucks also got my Fender Twin Reverb that was also modded. Sooooo, now I have my sights on a Fender Showman. The research I've done tells me it's basically a Twin sans the reverb. I tried one out at Future and it's a pretty rad, ballsy clean tone amp! I can just get a Holy Grail for reverb if need be. That's pretty much it. I want to do some mods to my Jag, money permitting. I'm not gonna go nuts but we shall see. I want to take out the Seymour Duncan humbuckers that are in there and put in the Duncan Vintage Jag pickups I had in my old one. Also put a black pick guard on there. Depending on how the tremolo system holds up, I'll put an American trem in there. Then the big one, ordering a neck from Warmoth with blocks and binding. It will go from this,

to this.

We will see how it all goes. Until next time!

OUR LITTLE ONE IS GONE.

A week ago today I was at the computer. I heard cries from an animal so I rushed out onto 6th st. I see this dog limping with her right leg kinda sticking out. A witness told me she got sideswiped by a car. She was in pain so I brought her home. I got her food and spent time with her rubbing her leg. I made her a bed and just spent the whole day taking care of her. After that day D and I made sure she was comfortable and taken care of. We got her treats,leash and collar and other essentials. She started to walk on her leg better and as I was getting to know her she was such a loving,funny sweet spirit. She would bark at night protecting the house and offer back the love we gave her. So today I get home and I'm greeted with excitement from her. I'm changing shirts and I here a knock at the door. These two cholo looking dudes tell me that I have their dog. They said they lived in Hacienda Heights and left last week out of town and left her at a friend's house who lived here in BH's. They said she got loose from the friends house and they've been looking for her since. I told them to please take care of her in the future. I gave them the rest of the treats, and bone we bought her. I gave her some last pets on her short, smooth coat and said goodbye. I'm a fucking mess right now but I hope she's taken care of better from now on. I fell in love with her in such a short time. I just hope the loving energy we gave her protects her for the years to come.

BLACK KITES + SPACEFUZZZ = WIN!!!

So I'm playing with Black Kites. Very nice people who I met playing shows with Mospeada. I was asked to join them playing additional guitar. We've been practicing for about a week and a half. It's been a real different approach for me. I'm now asked to try sounds. Filling in space and creating space. I feel like it's making me a better player. Working with four other people makes you play a certain way. In a good way though. You have to listen and harness the energy. We've had about five or six practices and the outcome of that time was displayed at the ultra hot(temperature wise and hip) Echo Curio Friday night. I was nervous, like I hadn't played a show ever but you know, once you get up there blah...blah..blah I felt comfortable. Did I fuck up? Sure! but not in a ugly way. Just some fumbles here and there. The most important thing was the feel and energy we put out. That's what made it feel/sound good. Here are some pics and I hope to see you at one of our shows!






Thanks to Darlene C and Scott MKF for documenting the night!

HELLO....

Haven't really had time to update the page. It's been nuts all with MOSPEADA ending and everything else life throws at us. This weekend was very cool though. Friday started with watching the 88 Boadrums performance at The La Brea Tar Pits. I hadn't seen them in a real long time. We had got there like 10 minutes late but got a lucky Kojak and got a good spot to watch the show.

Saturday I just relaxed and got ready to see The Hectors, Health club and others at the Highland Park music festival. I stopped off at Future Music to say hello to Jack. Well from what I caught of the bands it was all very cool. Friends came over after and a small jam that included use of drums, a Casio SK-1, bass, drums and clarinet. It was a good time! I got all of 4hrs sleep and hung and had a nice Sunday evening. I'll post some more interesing stuff(or try to)later this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EARTHQUAKE AND RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS!

You know you cant go about your morning without having a giant plate of earth move. I was making breakfast and WHAM! my house felt like big invisible hands just shoved it. Pepper and nude(the cats)scram as fast as they can and I'm shitting myself in a doorway. Turns out it was only a 5.4. It was just the surprise of it that was creepy.
So now on to the birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRAIG GANNON!!! Once Aztec Camera member and 5th member of The Smiths. I was watching this doc called "Inside The Smiths" and I was waiting for theme to talk about Craig,they didn't. So then I go thought the extra bits and they have a section with him talking about his time with the band. In his interview he mentions his birthday,July 29 Weird coincidence. Here is some classic CG..


And finally that ever loveable band The Hectors have put out a great new video for their song "Carol and Sanford". It's a fun, cool video about these Russian cosmonauts who are in a band and they got a gig on Mars??? How did they manage that? Did Scott Sterling set that up? Is it a KXLU fundraiser?? At any rate, it's awesome so check it out. Oh and by the way, all I have to say is "cameo" *wink.......

Earthquaker Devices Dirt Transmitter

I've owned The first version of the DT since February. I loved the crumbled, gated fuzz emmissions from this little beast. Then a couple of weeks ago I was checking out Earthquaker's site and Jaime(he's the builder)posted an update to the DT's circuit. I said to myself "fuck it" and sent in my first one to him for upgrades. So after some waiting I got back a very cool, very beautiful, VERY fuzzy pedal. Check it out....

BACK WITH ME AGAIN

I had an amp like this several years ago. I think It was like 5 yeas ago when I first got one. I bought it from that museum known as Vintage Gear in Hollywood. Had it for awhile but as the times go, I sold it due to hard times. Well better times have found me(???)and I'm now back with another one. I bought it from a much nicer, friendlier shop, Future Music. When I hit up Jack about it he already had it on Ebay. It was not working so he was selling it as is/parts. He told me he would end the auction for me and I could come pick it up! I also had his tech do a complete repair job on it. The speaker was ripped, it was missing tubes and the grill cloth is shredded. I picked it up yesterday and I love it! I made a quick video of it....

TRIO'S AND OFFSETS....

Last night Mospeada had a fun show at The Scene in Glendale. We had our friends The Miles Approach, The Health Club and ExitMusic. I've written about TMA before when they played Echo Curio. They were first in the time slot and they sounded so good. Louie's fuzzed chords cut through The Scene's space. Drew's dub like bass tones made me think of that glue that comes in the brown jar and you apply it with the little brush. I think he should have been louder :) Vivian's drumming is really strong. And, while she is doing that, she is handling vocal duties and drum triggers. I'd fuck up in a song if I had to do all that.



The Health Club came up and preceded to just pummel those poor mics. When I hear the combo vocals of Gabe and Gerard it almost hurts my throat. The vocal delivery is so raw, and it sounds great. Their music is heavy. Think of those walking hammers in Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Menacing, on the move and scary.



Mospeada was on after THC. We played well and we cut the set a little short because as always, everything was running a little late. The songs flowed. It appears everyone liked our new song "Dress form". There's Moog, maracas and a droney Casio going on in that song. We need to record it.



It was my first time seeing Exitmusic. Devon made some beautiful looped noise via agitators and bow on his guitar. Aleksa plucked away at her Jagstang and sang in this lost ghost style that pretty much froze the whole bar. I didnt meet their drummer but the his attacks and midset for cymbal dynamics really caught my attention.



It was all a really great time. A big thanks to Murphy at The Scene who let me have my choice of bands. Thanks to our friends who showed up Max, Izzy, Marina, Jeremy, Drew, Nicole, Don and friends of the other bands. If you didnt go, yr lame.....