Burritos and Pancakes

Will's Birthday Show: Ash Williams - Weekender - Sic Waiting - Western Settings - Shinjoku Riot/No Talent (2/13/15 @ Til-Two Club, San Diego CA)

Oh, hello there! I didn't see you come in. It's been a few weeks since I have graced the music scene with my presence, but here we are, back in the saddle. Kevin rides again. Whatever.

Hard

This Friday just so happened to be on the 13th. So as is tradition, after 9 soul crushing hours of working, I ventured off to a tattoo shop to grab one of those quick $13 tattoos. Excitedly, I rushed to San Marcos, ran into the shop to sign in, and sat down on the world's most inappropriate and extremely uncomfortable waiting room "chair" that has ever existed (This tattoo shop is super hip, so fashion over functionality, you know?) Have you ever gone somewhere and walked in and just felt like you shouldn't be there? I'm looking around at all the people in the room, and I realize I'm the oldest person here by at least 8 years, I'm still rocking work clothes, and I'm the only guy. These are the types of situations most dudes would fantasize about, but in real life, fuck that, I'm surrounded by annoying children was my only thought (I'm aging very nicely into my personality). Thankfully I overheard that the wait was about 3 hours, so I packed it up and bailed before I had to explain to Chris Hansen why I was there.

The second obstacle to getting to the show was my softball game. Yes, I play adult co-ed slow pitch softball. It's fun, sue me. Our team is The Parking Lot Drinkers, a name we have earned. This weeks game was against our bitter rivals, and old team mates The Velocibatters. We totally fucking lost. But we had fun doing it!*

Two disappointments down, it was time to head down to San Diego to watch some bands!

Shinjoku Riot/No Talent

Only half of both of these bands from Mexico showed up, so instead of letting the people down and canceling their appearance, they did the quick math and realized half a band plus half a band equals a whole band! One mega Tijuana band. Which I completely missed. Traffic down there was a bitch, even at 9 at night. I blame the stupid fake love holiday.

Western Settings

Almost every time these guys play, for whatever reason I just don't watch them. I have no idea why. Maybe its because I know them. Maybe its because I know I'll be able to see them play again. Maybe it was the evolution of Ricky's rat tail to full blown mullet. Whatever the reason, I decided tonight I was going to not only watch them, but actually pay attention, no matter what. It was Will's birthday after all! But after half a song I found myself involuntarily outside smoking a cigarette. Like they play and I just get teleported elsewhere. Luckily some naggy blonde a dear friend was there to remind me I couldn't write about the show if I didn't watch the show. So I ventured back in and forced myself to stay, like a dog, with promises of treats (beer).

I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong. Most of the time. Sometimes. Maybe. If I'm drunk. What I'm trying to say is, yes I am dumb for not really paying attention to these guys. I'm sorry. The whole band plays with this energy, almost like they enjoy playing music! Audible gasp! Weird right? Tonight was no different, very solid, very good. About halfway through, Ricky had us sing Will happy birthday, which is normally cliché and dumb, but when you have a room of about 75 friends singing to another friend, its actually kind of cool. Another point of interest, is during the last song, they were joined by Kevin White, formerly of Caskitt, currently of living in Florida, who apparently hopped on a plane and flew in to hang out.

I'm an idiot, this is a known fact. It always takes a while for a band I eventually end up liking to actually click in my brain. I have seen Western Settings play a ton of times, I have their old EP on my iPod, I have even streamed their new full length that's coming. I've liked this band, but I've kept them at arms length. This show has made me finally want to fully embrace Western Settings in nice big warm awkward holding it for too long hug.

Disappointed Will wasn't wearing a party hat

Sic Waiting

I'm not going to lie, I mostly wanted to watch Jared and company because Jared has a broken foot, and I thought seeing him hobble around on stage in a cast would make me feel better about myself. And it totally did. In spite of that, I think WS left some of their energy on the stage, because this is probably the best I have seen Sic Waiting play yet. Jason broke a bass string he was rocking so hard. A bass string! Those fuckers are thick. Very well done. I was thoroughly impressed with the San Diego music scene that night.

 

Nice cast bro.

 

 

I wanted to watch Weekender, I have heard really good things about them, but unfortunately the night kind of devolved into a drunken shit show. So while I didn't watch Weekender or Ash Williams, I did smoke an entire pack of cigarettes, took shots of what tastes like Listerine, and watched part of Beverly Hills Cop II on mute. Kenny was really hammered, and wouldn't shut up about breakfast foods. Particularly pancakes and breakfast pizza. I have one note in my phone that Jess had me take:

 

Life's weird man, like we are hear now and tomorrow we're like, "I just want to eat some pancakes" (makes pancake eating motion), and then we are back at work"

-Kenny

 

So that pretty much sums up where the night went. Which don't get me wrong, I absolutely love. I had a blast. Good night, good music, good friends. Party.

 

Next weekend should be a good one. Friday is Dre day in Hollywood, which is a celebration of Dr. Dre's birthday with a bunch of bands playing and covering Dre produced songs, and games and shit in-between. And Saturday is Mac Sabbath, a Black Sabbath / McDonalds cover band. Look them up. Please.

 

*that's a lie. Losing is never fun. fact. Win or die.

Lets Talk New Music: toyGuitar

toyGuitar - In This Mess - Fat Wreck Chords





I knew nothing about the band toyGuitar except they are signed to Fat. Then I saw them play not to long ago with Lagwagon in LA. I was excited to see them, everyone kept saying how awesome they were and how I would probably like them. Well, I didn't. It honestly kind of bummed me out a little. I wanted to like this band, but I couldn't get into it. But, forever being the optimist I am, decided maybe it was just that particular show or that particular venue. Its hard to actually hear a new band in a place like that.

So, I was stoked when I downloaded this album. Was this when Kevin finally became a toyGuitar fan? Nope. Turns out, I just don't like this band. Listening to this album, the first thing I thought was it sounds like the old-other-singer-who-wasn't-Chicken from Dead to Me doing a terrible Lou Reed impression. Turns out, I wasn't wrong. It finally clicked why people kept telling me I'd like this band. "It's Jack's new band" they would say. And I'd just kind of be like ,"Cool. Who the fuck is Jack?" Jack is Jack Dalyrymple, who has been in or is still in or recently rejoined: One Man Army, Dead to Me, The Re-Volts and The Swingin' Utters. It makes perfect sense why people thought I would like this as well. I SHOULD like this band.

Musically, this record is solid. A little bit Garage Rock, a little bit Pop Punk. The guitars, bass and drums all sound great, I actually really like the music. The last song on this album, Loose in a Room fucking shreds. So what's the problem? Weirdly enough, my issue is Jack Dalyrymple. I really like One Man Army, and I fucking LOVE Dead to Me. I don't know why, but I absolutely can not stand his voice on this album. I think it's a combination of the way it was recorded and the fucking weird way that he is actually singing the songs. Seriously, the music part sounds great, well recorded and well mixed. I can hear and pick out each instrument. Meanwhile the vocals sound like as they were about to record them, a worm hole opened up and Jack traveled back in time to the 60's inadvertently walking in on the recording of The Velvet Underground & Nico, where he had to wrestle Andy Warhol in a cage match and won, graciously accepting his prize of an era appropriate "state of the art" microphone, and when he was handed his prize, brushed ever so lightly against the prize givers finger sending an electroshock between them and sending him back to the appropriate year, where he decided as a homage to his 5th dimensional adventure, he would use that microphone. Also, right before that, he was listening to a lot of Violent Femmes and it kind of influenced the way he sang. Whatever was going on there, I don't like it and it ruined the whole thing.

Opinion: 3/10 - Music is good, vocals are to weird to ignore.



Hey man, did you see that girl band?

Bad Cop/Bad Cop - Great Apes - Turkish Techno - Caskitt (1/9/2015 @ VLHS, Pomona CA)

The cool thing about living in North County San Diego, is that I have access to not only San Diego shows, but also shows up north. Today's review comes to us from the mysterious land of Pomona. Now, don't get me wrong, it's a butt hole of a drive from here. I decided to go up the 15 instead of the 5 because google maps claimed it was "faster" and "more gas efficient". Google maps is a disgusting liar and the 15 is a shit hole boring freeway. The 5 4 lyfe!

This show took place at VLHS, a DIY venue in Pomona. If you have never been here, this place fucking rules and puts every other venue to shame ever. It has a glorious "smoking lot" aka parking lot where everyone smokes and drinks and hangs out. A tiny entrance room with a fridge for beer. or wine. or water. or energy drinks. You know, pretty much any liquid you would like to keep cold and consume. This place is BYOB, and there are usually others willing to share, say whiskey, with you. Once you pay, you get a cool hand doodle, sometimes a cat face, this time a Stussy S. You know, those S's you would draw in high school, you throw down 6 lines then connect them because you were bored out of your mind. Then there is the "main room" complete with "stage" and "inconveniently placed skate ramp" and back roll up door for when everyone is breathing and things get a bit too swampy. Oh, and don't worry, they have a bathroom! But with no door knob, so if you go, you better have a friend who can stand guard. Or just go outside if you have the proper means. AKA a dick. Or I guess one of those cup things ladies can pee in to pee outside. I think its like a funnel? And the best part is the man, the myth, the legend, Party Marty, roaming around, giving high fives. Tonight, as everyone was showing up and standing outside smoking, Marty called for everyones attention, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement" he yelled in his gruff voice silencing the heathens. "Ya'll are looking gooooooood." Seriously, every time I go here, I can't help but smile. I love VLHS.

Caskitt (or the band where the drummer sings)

Up first for the night was San Diego's own Caskitt. They are probably my favorite San Diego band (sorry I'm not sorry other SD bands, step your fucking game up), and it is awesome to see them out and playing in front of different people. Recently, they lost their bass player to the wasteland known as Florida, and Ricky from Western Settings has stepped up to fill in until they can find a replacement. I have seen Caskitt play a thousand times it seems like, and I immediatly noticed the difference in the tone of Ricky's bass. It sounded dirty, kind of like Banner Pilot's, and I liked it. Anyways, Caskitt did what Caskitt does, Matt rocked the drums and sang songs about being found out and not going outside, Steffen shredded guitar, Ricky's mullet/rat tail thing blew proudly in the wind. Shit was tight. I'm pretty sure they made San Diego proud.

The Coronado bridge sheds a tear

Turkish Techno (or the band with the shirt logo made of dicks)

Turkish Techno were one of the first bands I ever saw at VLHS. I remember the first time I saw them I thought, damn, I didn't know a band with such a stupid fucking name were allowed to be so good. Since then, they are another band I have seen play a thousand times, and who I just don't seem to get sick of. Since TT are almost a house band at VLHS, the crowd was super pumped when they played. Running around, screaming along.  It always seems to get crazy-go-nuts when they play. I am a little bummed they didn't play DUI, but you know, who the fuck am I? Shit was tight. I'm pretty sure they made Riverside proud.

I sent this picture to Lindsey to make her jealous

Great Apes (or the band I didn't watch and drank instead)

I fucked up on this one, instead of watching Great Apes, I sat outside and smoked cigarettes and drank some Modello's and talked about how bad we need a VLHS type place in North County, but with Burritos too. Because burrito's rule and should be mixed with punk rock as much as possible. Also, at this point Jackie stumbled by and offered a pickleback shot. If you don't know what a pickleback is, its when you take a shot of whiskey, and chase it with pickle juice. It's heaven on earth. Or in your mouth. Whatever, just do it. Shit was tight. I'm pretty sure they made alcoholics proud.

Bad Cop/Bad Cop (or the band that is all chicks, dude.)

Every time I see someone talk about Bad Cop/Bad Cop, they always mention how they are all females, like that is their gimmick, like they are Masked Intruder or something. I am not here to talk about the merits of punk and how its a boys club and blah blah blah, you've heard it a million times (actually I could be here to talk about that, but I won't because its boring and this is already border line too long), the fact of the matter is they are a kick ass punk band. I remember a long long time ago, I saw them play at the Blue Star in L.A. Linh wasn't even in the band yet and Stacey had a broken foot or something. I watched them play and was blown away by how good they were, so much so that by the next time I had the opportunity to see them play, like 2 years later at Awesome Fest 7 , I put them on my can't miss list. Now here we are a few years later and they are about to put out their first full length, and second overall release on FAT FUCKING WRECK CHORDS. So yeah, they good. Fuck you, get over that they are females. It's 2015, whatever. Anywho, they fucking killed it like always. They played a bunch of new stuff that has me excited to buy their full length when it comes out. I missed a few songs because I had to pee super bad, but made it back in time to hear them play Asshole and Get Rad. Shit was tight. I'm pretty sure they made, I guess San Pedro proud? Also, I lost my BC/BC doughnut button, but got to replace it with the totes appropes BC/BC badge.

 YOU PUNK ROCK LIKE A GIRL!

 

Appropriate merchandise, KISS

 

That was night 2 out of a 3 night music bender. Stay tuned tomorrow to find out how I atoned for my missing Great Apes sin. I'll give you a hint, it involves me going to a show.

I'm getting too old for this shit.