Popping Montreal and Modest in Modesto

First off, It’s September.

things keep moving on and on. I guess the big news is that the Black Kites were invited to play the Pop Montreal festival in October. it just sorta happened, and we’re all very anxious and excited. First – it’s ok, we’re playing Friday Night at the Saphir, at 10 pm. good time, but there’s going to be an awful lot of competition going on at the same time. I’ve never been to this particular music festival, but i’ve been hearing good things – so i’m hoping that regardless, there will be an audience.

and then it turns out there’s some voting thing going on for some of the bands – who’s going to play the Sirius stage. so we’re all – vote for us vote for us – and i guess it worked, because we started kinda down on the list, but when the “contest” ended on AUgust 30th – it was like this:

	Artist	Track Title	Pop
	Black Kites	What To Do In Case of Emergency	34
	Flufftronix	Shark Attack	31
	The Craft Economy	OK.Ciao.Bye.	29
	Black Kites	Glass Parade	27
	Rachel Margaret	Fade (Master)	26

that was the top 5. we still have No Idea what it means, but we’re hoping it means something good.

Yay Montreal!

but before that, and before now… lessee…

I left off – on my birthday. August 14th – it was Shelley’s birthday. Together, we had a joint “party” or i guess more of a very nice gathering – of friends on Saturday the 16th. Food from Porto’s, wine, beer, brownies, great people, great conversations, and everyone finally went home by 2 in the morning. it was good.

August 18th – the Black Kites played at the Silverlake Lounge – i really like that place, except for the drinks – the prices, and how the drink tickets don’t really work for anything you want to be drinking (at least – what i wanted to be drinking…) but other than that – it was a good night.

August 20th – Shelley & I went to Daichan with Nicki. always a great place to go, and the next night it was our first full band practice with Gabe – expanding the black kite guitar count to 2. Thinking it’s going to sound great when we all start writing new songs together. It’s always a bit awkward when you join a band and start relearning old songs… i definitely know how that goes. it’s the fresh and new songs that you all hit together that really tell you where the band is going to next.

Then a quiet weekend – dinner with Amy at Damon’s, practice, practice, work, work…

and on the 29th, our first show with Gabe – at the Echo Curio. very small, very very hot. but a good place to start with a new line-up. felt like playing at the practice space whith a bunch of friends hanging out –

(pic “borrowed” from gabe’s site…)

August 30th, off to Daichan again – with Audra & Brennan. Next night, Natalia and Amy came over – we had some food and drinks (Absolut LA… we love it!). Natalia took a bunch of photos of the 3 dogs and Shelley and I – for some artwork she is going to be doing – very interested and curious to see how it will turn out. It was a nice evening – all of us hanging out.

September 1st, Steven & Tomi stopped by for a little bit – and then the long weekend was over, and it’s back to that daily grind. Saturday the black kites head up to Modesto to play with the Solar Powered People, and that should be fun.

until then – it’s just waiting for some good Canadian news to come our way….

rock and roll can save you!

these shots just came in from our last show – Silverlake Lounge – and I love that Salvation sign. Next show, San Francisco, and I’m hoping we get some pics from that….

      

last night lounging

ok – so, last night the black kites played at the small but funky Silverlake Lounge – where the stage is small and the drinks aren’t cheap.

we were a late addition to the line-up, which meant that we were playing at the early hour of 9 pm. not a bad thing when you have to get up early and go to work… or, in our bass player’s case, Mexico…. but it also means that there are less people in the crowd to be wowed by your musical stylings.

fortunately, there were actually a decent number of people there – and it’s small enough to look crowded even if it really isn’t.

We played with Hello Dragon – who were pretty popRock, and actually really reminded me of an old Seattle popRock type band that nobody around here has ever heard of – Faster Tiger. Then the Hard To Get played – as it was their CD Release party, and then Shiloe ended the night.

The stage sound was decent from where I sat, but i know my bandmates had some problems hearing each other – but thankfully we’re at that point where even if we can tell that we’re making a few mistakes here and there – the majority of the audience can’t tell – and from what i heard – the sound was good if you weren’t on stage – which is pretty much how i expect it.

i can’t wait until we can actually play a show where the stage sound is just as good as the crowd mix – i’ve experienced it in the past, so i know it’s possible…

anyhows, yeah – we played, did a new song – had fun, me and my tie getting tangled in my spinning sticks – i like getting dressed up and rocking out – adds to the pleaseure of the playing – might as well just throw yerself into it, y’know?

hopefully there will be a couple of cool shots from the show – i love that salvation sign – and i guess the next black kites explosion is happening in San Francisco in a couple of weeks…

and tonight… tonight i get a haircut.

oh yeah –

there’s also this little tidbit – kindofa fun little read.

http://sertopbands.com/2008/02/23/meet-the-black-kites/

and also – this little compilation – coming soon – with the black kites contributing a song: