I meant to head to Placerville on Friday night to see my son's band perform and visit friends. That did not come together for me. Fortunately the boys played a show in neighboring Sacramento last night. A savings all around on gas and potential partying.
The house concert venue, Fun Castle is put together by Liz Liles who also owns a cool retro clothing shop in midtown called Buff Castle
It was a house concert in midtown. A venue I have not been to before but was hopping already when I got there. I bet that about sixty to seventy kids were crammed into that bungalow considering the outside smokers, the back yard hangers, the enthusiastic audience and the members of the five bands.
It was pretty organized as far as house concerts go. I met Jocelyn in front of the house. Her boyfriend, Daniel, was also playing this show. The boys and the other band were organizing the stage area. Kids were hanging outside smoking (yeck and double yeck for Jocelyn, who is pregnant , and I hope she was not sick the following day!) and drinking assorted libations.
Apparently this venue is a bit of a hot spot as police cruisers stopped and patrolled throughout the show. Joc says they have stopped shows in the past. Honestly, the whole evening, aside from loud, was nothing to be concerned about from my perspective. A gathering of kids and loud loud music. Nothing different from years and years of living and learning. Another thing I appreciate about Davis, kids hanging out after dark are not immediately suspect as they are in so many places. As far as I know, the cops did not invade the place this night.
Erik Woodard and Michael Saalman of Afternoon Brother
Several of my fave kids were about. I hung out with Jocelyn. Michael said hello and gave me a hug, as did Erik, his guitar player. They were the first band up so were focused on getting ready to play. I have not heard the new incarnation of Afternoon Brother. I am very excited to see them. They are all thrilled about the sound.
Jon Bafus on drums, Michael playing a little guitar
The boys sounds amazing. Organized, crunching very very loud but amazingly melodic. I cannot help but compare them to off kilter jazz riffing with electric guitars. You feel and hear the melody through every instrument but not in the same way you would expect. Jon's drum technique is a lead and catch riff as much as the guitar. And although there were no vocals, Erik's guitar playing gave a sense of vocals or back up harmonies. The boys were awesome.
Dadfag, a punk band out of San Francisco
Loud, very loud. No matter. The kids were all up, stopped smoking and chatting, and clung together at the front stage area to bounce a bit to the high energy shamble of Dadfag. I could not get close as the mob was definitely in rocker mode for this grrrrl fronted band. They reminded me of punk bands doing last minute shows in China Basin in SF, in locked and closed up store fronts that someone somehow got into. Club Foot being one. It made my last remaining punk gene proud. And, their band t for sale had Richard Brautigan emblazoned on the front. How very very cool. Nice work Dadfag. They were heading to Portland right after this.
From Japan - 2UP (called Up Up)
Next up was Up Up. Tetsunori on vocals and guitar and Keiichi on percussion. They were so enthusiastic and really, after listening to their myspace page, live does not do justice to nuances of their punk pop music. But their enthusiasm was absorbing and the crowd was loving them.
2Ups adorable merch girl, the band in action, the Wall of Hair shakin' their groove things
Frenetic and way too much fun. Why do Japanese take what the American kids do in angst and rebellion and make it neon and more fun like candied apples? I don't get that. The suicide rate there is astronomical. I do not mean to morbid or glib, but the way our media portrays the Japanese culture, fun and zen are of the order. But I think reality is something else. Meanwhile, I enjoyed 2Up and am impressed that they came from Japan for a month to tour around the West Coast of Cali doing these smaller shows. My son said they are really cool to work with. This was his second show with them. They had a bigger crowd in San Francisco earlier that week.
Addison (with the coolest chops and great striped pants) poses with my daughter Jocelyn, my son in repose with a PBR listening to Daniel's mellow set, Joss the funniest kid in the place (reminding Jocelyn to get prenatal ear plugs for shows like this)
The show was donations and I saw the house show promoter counting up a nice wad of one dollar bills. It isn't much but it looked as though everyone contributed. That is awesome during these hard times. As I was standing around by myself trying not to look like the really old mom that I am (Joc was using the bathroom) I overheard some kids near me, a group of three in skinny leg jeans and worn out cloth converse, spiky greasy hair, hooded sweatshirt's, a cute petite girl with a peter pan doo chit chatting about...the economy. I was internally cracking up. Yes, it is affecting us all.
Daniel Trudeau - he goes by the moniker Pregnant
The last band I stayed to see was Pregnant. Daniel is Jocelyn's beau and father of my future grand-baby. His latest tunes have been wonderful lullaby pop themes with a touch of the grand and delicate procession of the pageantry with the crash thunder of the elephants on parade. At times he makes me think of Brian Wilson during his Pet Sounds and Smile deals. I love his stuff. He was a kindly gentle respite to the tumult and thrashing (but smashing!) of the first several bands. He held the room mesmerized.
He spent the better part of his set with his back to us. Even for some vocal pieces. It really was a great set. Nicely done Daniel. He is going to make the soundtrack to my future grand-baby's life a magical and elegant/elephant song thing.
More pictures of my kids. Because I can.
I had a lovely night. Home a little late but who cares?
Today a meeting at the gallery as I am helping at the upcoming Beat Conference in October (9th through the 11th). If you are local to the area you ought to check it out. Free music for three days, free ceramics and painting for the kids. And the exhibit from the 50's and 60's is stellar. John Natsoulas does an awesome job representing and honoring this period that should never be left behind. Music, art and booze. Adorable downtown Davis, bike parking, free parking and stuff for the kids. What is not to love, Daddy-O?
How can anyone say this is not a food group?????
Have been having awesome time with friends. Shoot, on Thursday poor Debi had oral surgery and HAD to have a liquid diet for a couple of days. The generous and caring person that she is, she invited me over to have MARGARITAS with her and her fam. Oh my dog, thank you Zane for driving me home. I had to do what a friend had to do!
Investigating school for the Spring semester. I let fall slide with the mortgage job and now with getting consistent cash flow it makes sense to look at Spring semester. I missed out on some financial aide opportunities but they will be there next fall, so no loss.
My brother, Mike, rebuilt the front deck to my mom's place and put in this wheel chair ramp. He did an awesome job
My mom is doing ok, only. With my free time I can see her more often . I am worried for her but she is stubborn and avoids the doctor now that she is back at home. She is great about the doing her physical therapy and still not smoking (on the patch, but geeze, this is awesome!). Recently she has lost her voice and is lethargic and a bit depressed. I am hoping this is only allergies. She is taking antibiotics for a couple of days. I have not seen any improvement. I just do not know.
That about covers the Cassi hood. You can also keep up with me on facebook. I am totally addicted to that. For good or for evil. I even twitter now and again.
Hope all is well, I try to visit far more regularly than I post.
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League of American Bicyclists
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