So there I was the other day at the Bay Bridge toll plaza, in a perfectly fabulous mood. So fabulous, in fact, that I decided to pay the toll for the guy behind me. Y'know, just a little gesture to bring a little smile to the face of a complete stranger, make the world go around a little more, etc.
After doing so, I looked in the rear view to see the toll taker pocket my cash, charge the guy behind me, and hand him a receipt. The guy behind me raced past me, and this little human nature experiment only cost me $3.
People...
Eric Friedmann and The Lucky Rubes at The Hotel Utah this Wednesday, 4th & Bryant here in lovely SF, with The Highway Robbers and Front Porch
Highway Robbers, or three fourths at least, played on the Silverfish in the Kitchen Show live on KZSC radio in Santa Cruz last night. I'm really enjoying these live radio traipses. The challenge for me is just to keep my stupid yap shut during the interview bits until I'm inspired to say something very brief that in my mind is witty and insightful. I choose not to listen to the podcast a day later to see if I fell on my face or not, and I'd just as soon let Shane be the mouthpiece as he should be. But it was a ton of fun. Thanks Carla!
After the show we went to The Jury Room on Ocean Street (formerly the home of the Giant Gopher; don't know where the critter went...) for a beer and to see some local band yuk it up. Leads me proudly to present my award for By Far The Best Band Name Of The Month:
Blood Bath and Beyond
Need I say more?
EF and The Lucky Rubes at The Hotel Utah on the 31st, at The Riptide June 3, and also for the International Pop Overthrow Festival here in SF sometime in August, exact date and venue tbd.
Highway Robbers at Peri's in Fairfax this Tuesday the 23rd, Red Devil Lounge playing a couple of our favorite Cars songs on the 24th, and the Pyramid Brewery in Berkeley on the 26th.
Lots more to come. Busy year for music, and that can't be a bad thing.
Y'know, it's not easy being in a band, let alone several. Let alone several really good ones. It's not made any easier by venue owners/staff that just don't give a shit about anything besides upholding their long-since abolished right to smoke at the bar. Highway Robbers had a gig at a local "club" last night, and I was mortified the second I walked in. We played well and rose above the stankola, but...
The smell. Oh, the smell. Invest in a mop, why dontcha.
No sound guy, although I heard a rumor that he poked his head in and said howdy before attending to the more exciting outside world. Can't say I blame him really. We had to do it ourselves.
No guest list. That REALLY makes me feel like I've been pissed upon from a great height.
Barely someone working the door. She just got up and wandered around whenever she felt like it.
2 drink tix per, which is fairly expected. But when they're good for Bud cans only, I get mighty testy.
Garbage, yes garbage, all over the stage, left over from several previous shows.
Mic stands, all of them, and mic cables, all of them, on their very last legs.
Nady mics. I say again; Nady mics. Nady. The cheapest of the cheapest of the cheapest.
Hands down, the surliest bartender I've ever encountered. You're a tranny? Fine. Enjoy. Good for you for asserting your sexuality as you see fit. Doesn't give you license to be a raging asshole.
This place is an utter disgrace to the club scene around here. They don't even try. What a complete waste of space. When you play at a place like the Red Devil, Slim's, GAMH, even the friggin Utah, etc, they go to truly impressive lengths to take care of the musicians and make them feel welcome as best they can. Why? Because it's the right thing to do. This place makes you feel like you need a shower. Don't play there, don't go there, don't even look at it as you drive by.
This place, for the purposes of this rant, shall remain mostly anonymous. But, if you're ever at a show at the Red Devil and aren't having a good time (not bloody likely...), DO NOT go south about 4 blocks to the place that begins with a K on the same side of the street hoping to find something better. Anybody got any money? I'd love to turn the place into a respectable venue. Hell, a coat of paint, a little vacuuming job, and a some Lysol would go a long way...