California!

I've been back from California for a few days, I'm exhausted, and a little bit sick. Since i've been back i've been trying to find the time to write about my trip, but i've been having troubles find the words to explain my trip. I could write a boring, cold blog stating what i did. But i can't find the words to explain certain moments, or the feeling i got while i was in San Francisco.
The Bay Area means alot to me, so it was nice to finally get time to hang out there again (the last few times i was there on tour. I saw a club, some roads, and then we left town). Back when i was a young punk Bay Area punk was this magical mythical thing that i would read about in zines like Maximum Rock n Roll, Cometbus, Absolutely Zippo, Lookout Magazine, etc. My trip there back in 1993 was a real eye opening experience. This trip to SF/Berkley was also really good.
Some highlights of the trip;
--wandering around the North Beach area, checking out all the old Beat haunts i found myself in front of the old On Broadway / Mabuhay Gardens. I never knew they were in same building. These venues were ground zero for west coast punk in the late 70's/early 80's. Look at classic flyers and chances are you'll see these club names. I was shocked to look up and see the old On Broadway sign still out front.
--walking around the Mission district. As soon as i checked into my hostel i walked to the Mission, singing J Church songs the whole way ("as the rain falls hard it fills the cracks on Mission Street"). I stopped in for a burriot at Pancho Vila (amazing!) and then over to my favorite coffee shop on Valencia, Muddy Waters. This neighborhood has been gentrified a little, there's more "shops" and more people with money living in the neighborhood. But there's still alot of burrito joints, local people who aren't white, punx & indie rockers, and a certain charm that can't be explained. There's also a new punk record store there called Thrillhouse that had some good shit.
--Beyond the bay area; on Sunday i drove out to Sacramento with my friend Devon to see This is Hell and Comeback Kid. Before we hit the highway we stopped for krispy kreme donuts and pizza! We walked around "Old Town" in Sacto, which apparently means tourist shops and candy stores galore (and yes i was stoked on the candy shops!). After trying to find Kevin from 7 Seconds coffee shop we went to the show, which was in a suburb called Orangeville. The club was shitty, but it was good to see some of my friends in CBK & TIH.
--After the Sacramento show i stayed at Devon's place in the east bay so when i woke up i went and hung out in Berkley . I wandered around, stopping in record and book stores, drinking coffee. But at one point decided to walk around the college campus there and found myself in this beautiful wooded area, next to a stream, and far away from people. It was so calming, so i sat down and drank my coffee and chilled out for a while, thinking about all the other times i've been in the Bay Area.
--show in petaluma; I saw an amazing show, Look Back and Laugh, Iron Age, Rise and Fall, Life Long Tragedy. The kinda show that gives you PMA. After the show i caught a ride back to the city with my new friend Kim and her friends. Oh, and seeing Todd from southern California in Petaluma was a nice surprise.

I guess there's more i can say about my trip, but this will turn into a book if i'm not careful. To sum it all up; my trip was good and i still like the Bay Area. Pictures to come soon.

Summer? Is that you?!

I think today was a sneak preview of the summer. The sun was shining and warm and I took full advantage of it by going on a long, long walk with my friend Erin. We started at Canada Place, went past the "upside-down church" art piece, then along the sea-wall thru the boat docks, leading towards Stanley Park. We then attempted to walk the sea-wall around Stanley Park but had to detour around the half way point just below the Lions Gate Bridge due to a mudslide last week. We climbed up a dirt path, which ended up being a super steep hill that just didn't seem to end. Once at the top, and after marveling at the view and taking a quick moment to catch our breath, we started taking random paths thru the park. I'm pretty sure we took the least direct route, possibly going around in circles for a while. It was interesting and sad walking thru the destruction of the massive wind storm that hit Vancouver a few months back. Massive trees were scattered everywhere, lying on their sides to show with their roots dangling next to them. Eventually we ended up on the south-west side, on the sea-wall again, heading towards English Bay. The sun was bright and reflecting off the water as we suddenly realized we were getting hungry and tired. Off the sea-wall and up Davie Street hill to Hamburger Marys we went.
It was a great walk, felt good to get out and enjoy the warm day. It also helped me stretch my legs and get me ready for the long walks up and down the hills of San Francisco, only 1 week until i go! Somehow time has really flown by today.

Where's the potatoes?

It's just after 12 midnight and i'm waiting for a van full of dudes from Idaho to show up. No this isn't the intro to some messed up porno flick, just the reality of my Tuesday night.
I just got home from putting on a show, 2nd show this week. Last night was a big show, packed wall to wall with people. The bands that played were Go It Alone, Trash Talk, Pressure, Scouts Honor, and Resist the Right. It was good times, for everyone involved by the sounds of it.
Yesterday was a successful day because my paper work to get bands thru customs worked for all 5 bands i needed to get thru! That mean that not only did last nights show go off without a hitch in Vancouver, but also that Manville and Set it Straight could play Victoria last night and then Vancouver tonight. I'm pretty proud of myself for making this shit happen.
The only downfall to all this is that i'm tired....so very, very tired. I was up late because we had dudes from Illinois staying with us. And now tonight I'm waiting for a bunch of Idaho potatoes to show up.

Good songs

What makes a classic song? This question has been rattling around my brain for months and months now. I've been thinking about it and making a list in my head of songs that are simply amazing. I'm talking about a song that grabs you instantly and gets stuck in your head. The kind of song that you have to listen to, that follows you for years & years. The kind of song that becomes a classic, even if only to you. The kind of song that you put on every single mix tape you make. Maybe some day soon i'll post a definitive list of songs, or better yet post MP3's of the songs i'm talking about. But for tonight, since i'm lazy & feeling tired, I'll just list a couple songs that everyone needs to listen to:
"Trash" - New York Dolls
"First Time" - the Boys
"Suspect Device" - Stiff Little Fingers
"Nervous Breakdown" - Black Flag
"Between Planets" and "Head On" - Jesus & Mary Chain
"Bastards of Young" - the Replacements
"20th Century Boy" - T. Rex
"Baby I Love You" and "Be My Baby" - the Ronettes
"Another Girl, Another Planet" - the Only Ones
"We're Desperate" - X
"Ain't Got No Sense" - Teenage Head

Anyone care to send me a list of songs that they see as definitive, classic and just down-right fuckin' awesome?