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!