Montreal Pop, Wiggle Waggle Walk, and a Weezing….

Friday October 3rd and it’s off to Montreal to play the Pop Montreal festival… I have to fly to Chicago, change flights, continue to Montreal, and hopefully have enough time to rest a bit before hitting the Stage at the Saphir at 8 pm. The rest of the band flew in a day earlier, so they’re waiting, exploring, getting a little of that French Canadian flavour. I end up on an early morning flight that gets delayed, so i miss my connecting flight, and end up spending hours in airports, and make it to the hotel around 3 pm, with a club check in time of around 5 pm. Exhausted and hoping for a second (or third – by this time) wind.

All is seemingly going well – we get to the club – the soundman is there – one of the other bands is there (the I Spies) – but it turns out we are all waiting for the “Headlining” band – Crystal Moustache – to arrive, because we are borrowing some of their equipment (i wasn’t about to fly a drumkit with me). We start at 8 pm – the band shows up around 7:30, so we have a real rushed soundcheck and then just start right up – with a broken drumkit, a few technical sound problems on the keyboards, no real monitor sound, and random floor / stage experiments with smoke machines and lights.

The crowd is very not there at this point…. we got a nice little write up in the Montreal Hour, and some good words in the official Pop Montreal description, but i think we were playing a little early and we are – well – unknown – in Canada – so a few more people started arriving by the time we were on our last song – and the I spies got a decent crowd, and the headliners pretty much packed ’em in. I don’t understand those crazy Canadians….

we had a few drinks, got our stuff back to the hotel, and wandered the late night streets looking around and then finding a little late night cafe  / diner for some much needed food – and in the process discovered the wonderful meal that is Poutine….

The next day we pretty much just explored – some touristy sights, some not so much. Old Montreal was kind of like a French reproduction of Vancouver’s Gastown, Some amazing architecture, and all the people seemed very friendly – we stopped in a couple of the Pop Montreal Craft / Record Swap  Fairs, i met my old friend Ralph, we chatted, then off to wander – hit a gallery, ate more food, drank some beer, and later hit a surreal and empty karaoke club.

Then bedtime and early Sunday wake-up to get to the airport and fly straight back to LA – exhausted, and happy to have made it out of LA, even though the show could have been better.

Back in LA – and Diesel is a little better, Shelley having stayed home to nurse and watch the dogs, but Kiku is now a little sick, so it’s to the vet again – and about a week of watching and worrying – but now Kiku is back to her hyper happy little self…

Friday the 10th – it’s Solley’s time again – with Tina this time, and then Saturday Shelley and I get up early to head of to the Wiggle Waggle walk at the Rose Bowl – part of the Punk Rock Rovers – Cosmo with us – and we rock the walk…

Cosmo did great – barely had to carry him at all, and he was a little nervous around all the dogs, but didn’t bark at all, and just seemed a little more shy than usual…. and found a few butts to sniff as well, which seemed to make him happy. You can find more info about this event here:

Wiggle Waggle

Then – home, change, and dinner at Daichan, and to bed early – ’cause we got up even earlier on Sunday to head down to the LaBrea Tarpits to do our volunteer work at the Super Adoption… a weekend overflowing with dogs… but it felt good to be doing good for all them pups….

Shelley and I drove around on our little cart – loading and unloading crates and dogs and merchandise for various vendors and pet groups – from about 7am until 6 pm – when we finally got the last of everyone loaded out – and weary and smelly and exhausted even more – it was dinner at 4’n’20 and then home, some Freaks and Geeks on DVD, and bed crash.

Now it’s wednesday – halfway through October – and we’re heading for halloween.

Last night we went down to the Forum – to see Angels & Airwaves and Weezer play – which was… interesting. I haveta say that seats at the soundboard are definitely a good place to be. sometimes a little special treatment goes a long way.  a long day, long night, and now back to work and getting ready to head up to San Francisco for a little visit with friends and a Pre-Tour Metallica show.

strange funny or ha ha

Time for a quick Monday Update. That’s what lunch breaks are for, yeah?

lessee… back to June 28th – a nice dinner at Matsuda with Shelley’s sister, since my sister couldn’t make the trek out to visit – being all sick in Denver. I hate being sick in Denver. I think this might have been the 5th time that Shelley and my sister didn’t manage to meet. it’s like one of those “not supposed to happen” things – or hopefully just “not supposed to happen yet”.

the 29th, Tina & Nathan stopped by for a quick little Ebay tutorial, which may or may not have helped.

Monday the 30th, Shelley and I went off to experience the hilarity that is Patton Oswalt at the new Largo – We knew it was Patton & Friends, and we knew that would include some other comedians, and Michael Penn, who isn’t a comedian, but he did say a couple of funny things between songs. we didn’t know that the other friends would include Margaret Cho as well as a very short 2 song set by Flight of the Conchords. We deefinitely got our $’s worth. everybody performing was great, and it was very cool to see the Conchords pretty up-close and intimate. Laughter is good.

Then July hit, and we met up with Ted & Jenny for dinner at the Tam O’Shanter. Not a place i could eat at every week, but once in awhile, it’s perfect. Gotsta love that Welsh Rarebit.

The long 4th of July weekend was spent pretty quietly at home – doing some home improvements, painting the hallway, hangin’ out with the dawgs:

 

 

Then on July 9th, time for some more laughs, so we went off to the Brentwood Theatre to see Ricky Gervais. Very fun and funny. Awkwardly hilarious. Now, just another month until our next comedic outing, when we will once again find ourselves in the presence of Eddie Izzard.

So that almost brings us up to date – yesterday we went to Scott & Ricky’s Bowling Birthday Party –

we said hello, had some food & drinks, played video games badly, and that was that.

 

And that brings us to Monday, today, which makes tomorrow Tuesday, and that’s when the Black Kites will hit the stage at Boardner’s with the Black Pines and EXITMUSIC. i’ll let you know how that all goes in the next week or so….

show to show (to show)

So – seems like i’m managing a post about as often as the Black Kites play live – gotta pick up the pace a bit.

Tonight – the band hits The Scene – for a benefit show – and who knows – could be a good turn out, but there seems to be a little lack of promotion – as far as i’ve noticed – so maybe the good crowd will appear at our July show. we’ll see. I do enjoy playing at the Scene – it’s small, but kinda relaxed – and it’s playing live, on stage – so – we’ll have fun.

gonna make it short and sweet.

May 14th – Metallica. now that was an interesting show – also a benefit – but – the crowd was definitely there. I’m not too familiar with the musical output of the band – unlike Shelley – but we had nice seats, a good view – and those guys are performers. A pretty stripped down stage set, but they were definitely enjoying themselves.

 

 

May 16th – It was a nice dinner at The Valley Inn for the two of us – other than some annoying customers – it was very good, as per usual. Old timey steak houses just have that coolness. The next night we met up with Amy & Ben for dinner at Barone’s. The one that used to be the Matterhorn (from Fast Times at Ridgemont High). so – a weekend of 80’s referencing food (Valley Inn from Valley Girl).

on sunday we took the dogs out to the Dog Beach at Oxnard – they weren’t so sure about the waves and water, but they loved running through the sand – Cosmo was pretty freaked out by the big water – until he got wet – then he didn’t mind so much. got a couple of nice pictures – but, along with so many other pictures, they aren’t quite ready to post (still gotta get those last Vegas pics edited…. oh – time….).

Monday -19th – the band finds out about our acceptance / invitation to play in Toronto for SXSE… in like a month and a half. Not really a lot of time to prepare and be ready, and other plans had already been made – so we aren’t all going to be here… so – no SXSE for us, but hey – at least we were invited, which i think is a good thing.

Friday – 23rd – we get out of work early thanks to that Memorial day thing – and head straight to the Sherman Oaks Arclight to see the new Indian Jones film – it was good – fun.. and definitely nice to see on the big screen. we don’t make it out to movies much – partly because of ticket prices, partly because of our mutual dislike of annoying people who go to movies – but the theatre was pretty empty – and it was worth it.  Followed by a nice dinner at Katsuya – and the long weekend was off to a good start.

Saturday we ran a few errands – i ddid the practice thing – we watched The Orphanage – went to Krispy Kreme… love sitting around in the living room watching good videos and eating good donuts. very relaxing. Sunday we took the dogs to the park, walked around a couple of times – chased squirrels, enjoyed the outside…  and Monday – no work – met up with Audra and Brennan for a brunch / lunch type thing at a place called Home. Mimosas on a monday afternoon. pretty smooth. and that was a holiday weekend.

So yeah, there you have it. Tonight – the scene… Saturday it’s the Cure. (and Friday I’m in Love?)

 

a san francisco weekend

Black Kites hit San Francisco this weekend – we had a wonderful time in a great city – opening up for The Prids and Loquat at the Café Du Nord – so we were excited to play out of LA – and we were even happier to arrive at the club and find that everybody working there was cool and nice – the doorman, the bartenders, the soundman – all amazingly cool. We definitely want to go back!

Shelley and I stayed at the Hotel Rex, we got there after taking the BART in from Oakland around 2pm on Friday – a few hours to spare before our 7:15 “show-up-at-the-club” time, so we had a little snack next door at the Persimmon café, and relaxed a bit. The rest of the band had driven up the day before so they were busy doing some SF shopping and looking after the equipment at their room at the Phoenix – evidently they managed to get some Black Kites love from a local winery, and then also Explosions in the Sky, who were in the room next to them. Spread the word, spread the music.  

Amy and Ben drove up to hang out, watch us play, and that was very cool – it’s always nice to have friends in the audience. 

So – there was a good crowd when we started around 9:30 – and the crowd just kept growing, so by the time the Prids had finished (a very good and energetic set for a very happy and crowded audience), the place was jam packed.

Shelley and Amy were dancing behind the merch table, selling some t-shirts and EPs and having a fun time – like demented cigarette girls  – and I definitely mean that in a good way.  

 We played a nice strong and short set – better to end early and leave ‘em wanting more than to over stay our welcome… and we were all definitely having fun up there on stage, and we were all very happy when we finished – a rare occurrence – for all four of us to be pleased with our performance. I really have no idea how it sounded, it just felt really good playing. I couldn’t see the audience, but I could hear them, and felt nothing but a good energy.  I think that energy followed all of the bands that night – the Prids were fantastic, and Loquat definitely killed it – playing their hometown crowd. Definitely a band that has a buzz.

So – after the traveling, the playing, the dancing, the drinking, we needed to get some food – so off we went, Shelley, me, Amy, Ben – to Sparky’s for some perfect late night breakfast food – just what we needed – and then it was around midnight – and time to head off to some bar to meet up with some friends of Ben’s – we ended up at the Hemlock Tavern, which was packed – and Shelley and I managed to stick around for a beer before we let the tiredness take us over and we said g’night – and cabbed it back to our hotel home. 

Saturday morning we got up around 9:30, which was a bit too late for the rest of the band – so we said goodbye – and they went off to do their breakfast thing and head back to LA, while we got ready and met up with Amy and Ben and then found our way down to Yank Sing for some Dim Sum. Not my usual choice for day after show breakfast food, but it turned out to be pretty good.  

Then it was up to Haight street to do some shopping – shoes and records and coffee and clothes – can’t go to SF without hitting Amoeba, which is strange, because I really never go to the one here – maybe I should… but on the other hand, it’s probably better for my wallet if I don’t… Amy and Ben left Shelley and I in the record store and headed of for some Lake Tahoe adventure – I was good, didn’t spend too much time, and only grabbed a small handful of records – I can never go there and buy CDs for some reason – It has to be vinyl… so that’s what I got, including a nice Gary Numan 7” picture disc, a Bubblemen 12”…. Ahhhh …. What else – LP’s by The Lilac Time, Congo Norvell, New Wet Kojak, The Magnolias, and Sons of Freedom… and a couple more 7”’s – like the Black Angel’s Death Song “rollercoaster” on clear vinyl, and a nice little sixteen deluxe single. Sigh – I love music….  

Saw some nifty shoes at Fluevog, but didn’t get them – might have to hit up the LA store soon, though. Shelley got herself a pair of the Johnny Ramone Vans – so now we got matching Ramones shoes… we wandered, took photos, and enjoyed the city. 

 Saturday evening we made our way to our friend Raoul’s place – which was very nice – to hang out for a bit before dinner – and see his dogs, Fiona and Truman – Fiona being the mother of our Diesel. It was pretty astounding seeing the family resemblance in dog features – Fiona is a little more brown, a little older, but her eyes and her facial expressions – were so much like Diesel’s – even the little sounds she made. So that was cool – we chatted and drank  – and then made our way to dinner at Maverick – which was very very good. We thought about doing some more walking and photographing – but we were just too stuffed and tired, so – it was just bedtime for us.

Wake up early Sunday – pack – hit the airport – fly home – rest for a very quick little bit – and then off to have dinner for Shelley’s sister’s birthday at Tokyo Wako. Wacky.  And now, it’s Monday – at work, listening to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, and ready for another vacation….

Hollywood Mom

Thursday evening my mom arrives from Vancouver for a short weekender visit. Shelley picks her up at LAX and brings her back to the office – “Look Ma, I’m in a Cubicle!” – Shelley and I finish up some stuff, and around 6 pm it’s off to the house, where we have a nice little room set up for our guest. The dogs are a little hesitant at first, except for Kiku, who’s all “Me! Me! Pick me up! Now! Me!”, but after a bit – all three are pawing and cuddling up to my mom. We do a quick change and it’s off to Daichan for dinner. Yeah. Love that place. We’re all a bit tired, so it’s just home to bed, and then Friday morning, we’re up, and out. First stop is Breakfast at Hugo’s. Nicely uncrowded during the weekdays… One thing we are good at is treating our guests to good food. Then we show my mom more of the Marcel & Shelley day to day routine – she saw where we work, where we live, the feeding of the dogs, the making of the morning coffee… and now it’s a trip to the vet because little miss Diesel had a dentist appointment. All is good, and we got a little dog, slightly buzzed, with nice white teeth. Soon…. it’ll be my turn, not for the vet… for the dentist.  

After the vet trip, it’s off to the Art…. Almost…  We do a nice little detour over Mullholland Drive, stopping at a couple of scenic points… views of the Valley, glimpses of places once inhabited by Marlon Brando, etc. (*note to my mom: David Hockney painted Mullholland: The Road To The Studio in 1980). We stop at Big Sugar for some bakery treats… how can you not love cupcake donuts? It’s like having a donut and a cupcake at the same time! And the brownies are great too…   We make it to the Billy Shire Fine Arts Gallery in Culver City to see the Shag exhibition (Conspicuous Consumption) – which was very cool. It’s been going on since September 15^th, so it was empty on this Friday, but we wandered and admired the cocktail tiki hipness that surrounded us. Then off to the Bergamot Station, to pick up some Art for Shelley – a new painting, paid off in installments – at the Copra Nason gallery – where Shelley and I gazed longingly at Isabel Samaras’ exhibit of Monster Ballads. My mom looked around, but our lobrow juxtapoz pop culture monster lovin’ art fix wasn’t really her cuppa tea… but then around the corner at the Rose Gallery they were displaying Photos by Manuel Alvarez Bravo – which she really enjoyed, so, we all got some good art in that day.  We had sorta planned on going to Nobu in Malibu – but timing and traffic said “No Way”, so instead we went over to Matsuda for a great dinner… and it was my mom’s second time there, so she enjoyed the feeling of familiarity floating over the fine food. Ahhh, Beef Aburi.  Then home, cupcakes, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 ( my mom had never seen it, and it was on – so – it was pretty fun. She did not like Davey Jones much though….) , and off to bed.  Ok… um… Saturday. Already. Coffe and Brownies for breakfast, oh boy! Shelley had to run off to do a couple of side jobs, working hard for the money, so hard for it honey , and you know I’d better stop singing that song now. Anyhows, Shelley dropped us off at the Getty, so we could wander and look at some real life fine-art… we really had no idea what to expect, having not researched the exhibits, but we figured it would be nice to just wander around up there regardless. So wander we did. Some nice art around, and good lunch at the Getty Café. There was some renaissance art, a couple of nice Rembrandts to gaze at, photography by Edward Weston and Luc Delahaye (we both gravitated more towards the Weston side), and the gardens and sculptures popping up around the building. A few hours there, then Shelley picks us up and it’s off to Melrose – Where Shelley has some more work to take care of.So there’s me and my mom, wandering Melrose, window shopping, coffee at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, I put a little more $ down on my pair of Fluevogs in Waiting, we do a little shopping at English Laundry, and then meet up with Shelley at Necromance. Some more in car sightseeing…. Melrose, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive… and then home to just relax a bit, sit in the yard, play with the dogs, and Kiku just loves my mom. She whines outside her door at night, and runs into her room as soon as she gets up in the morning, and runs straight to her as soon as we get home. “Yay! New Person! Pick Me Up! Play With Me! Me! Me!”

 Then it’s off to meet Karen and RJ at Cham Sut Gol for some great Korean BBQ. It’s a damn good thing we all like eating meat, ‘cause there ain’t much else available there. There was a couple across from us throwing some nice looking Octopus parts on their grill, but we avoided that treat, and after watching Pirates, my mom was a little uneasy about the nearness of the tentacles, but other than that – Great meal! Karen & RJ left a little early, feeling under the weather, but it was cool having them meet my mom.  So, Saturday night, bellies full, driving around Los Angeles… what to do, what to do….

 Well, when in doubt, do Dessert!  So, close to 10 pm, and we hit the dark lit and crowded Sweet Lady Jane. The sugar buzz focuses inside, but tendrils of sugary sweetness drift out into the night pulling people in. Late night shoppers, quiet sidewalk walkers, upscale party goers, and hipster chocolate poppers. We get three slices of cake goodness, and head back to home, a night drive through the Flats of Beverly Hills and over Laurel Canyon. Home, and we introduce my mom to Curb Your Enthusiasm, and sit, laugh, watch tv, open a nice bottle of champagne, and eat cake.  Next day, and we get up and head to the Tam O’Shanter (the restaurant, not the poem by Robert Burns…) for a delightful Champagne Brunch where evidently my mom has the Best Eggs Benedict Ever (well, Florentine, actually – ). A favourite restaurant of Walt Disney, and one that’s been around for 80 years, it was a very nice Sunday time. We have a little time to just relax, and then it’s off to the airport, hugs, farewells, and off my mom goes. Canada bound….  

-M