Big Business and Tweak Bird @ Detroit

Just recently checked out one of my favorite bands Big Business at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa.  Big Business is Jared Warren, who used to be in one of my favorite bands of all time Karp, and the super rad drummer Coady Willis who used to play in Murder City Devils.  They are both recent additions to another awesome band The Melvins.  Almost not fair how much awesomeness they've contributed musically.  They've just recently released their new Lp Mind the Drift and added a guitarist Toshi Kasai to the lineup.  The new record is a bit different from the previous two records.  The guitar definitely sticks out more now that its seems to be a fixture of the band.  Not sure if there was guitar on all of the songs from the first two albums, but what I did hear of the guitar on those records was more minimal and in the background.  I still dig the direction Big Business is going in though, its still heavy as shit.  Thanks to that killer tone Jared gets out of his Sunn bass heads and whatever else he's using.  And Coady's drumming live is like watching someone run a marathon at full sprint.  Opening the show for Big Business was the band Tweak Bird.  I didn't know anything about these guys going into the show, besides the fact that they're record is on Volcom Entertainment and they have a pretty cool/weird photo of themselves on their record cover.  And since I'm super down with a band with a cool/weird photo for an album cover, I was interested in hearing their sounds.  Their set was pretty heavy with some interesting singing that I couldn't quite remember if I thought it sounded like anything I've heard before.  The dudes seemed like young guys and I think their record is their first or second EP.  Besides that I'd have to say they are a rad live band and I'm digging their EP Reservations as I'm writing this.  Both bands played awesome and if I were a bit younger and had less responsibilities I'd have gone to the LA show that was tonight at the Troubadour.      

Tweak Bird, the drummer rockin a cymbal way up high in the sky.  That sky high cymbal setting is all John Stanier's fault

Jared rockin all the while rockin in those New Balance's.

Marathon Man Coady Willis

The Hive Dwellers & Chain and The Gang @ The Smell

Last Friday night went to check out the new Calvin Johnson band The Hive Dwellers and new Ian Svenonius band Chain and The Gang at the Smell.  I have to say this might be one of my favorite shows that I've seen in some time.  Both of these punk rock veterans manage to do what most music makers cannot.  Stay relevant, keep writing cool material, and put on a great live show.  If you're already familiar with these guys and know their history then you already know what I'm talking about.  If not, then a brief introduction to both of these dudes is in order.  Calvin Johnson, owns and runs K records out of Olympia WA.  He's been influential in the underground music scene since the 80's and has released a large amount of cool records.  Also has played in the bands Beat Happening, Go Team, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Halo Benders and now The Hive Dwellers.  Ian Svenonius has also been a huge influence in underground music since the 80's.  Nation of Ulysses, Cupid Car Club, The Make-Up, Weird War(aka Scene Creamers), and now Chain and The Gang is a list of rad bands that Ian has been a founding member of.  He also wrote a book "The Psychic Soviet", a collection of essays that says a lot about pop culture in only the way Ian S. could write it.  I'd like to think one day that there will be a college class offered to the analysis of The Psychic Soviet.  Large discussions and debates on Rock n' Rolligion and The Mix Master Race.  Maybe this will be in my daughter Isabella's generation to come.  To get back to the list of radness that is Ian Svenonius, he also is presently hosting a show on VBS called Soft Focus.  On the show Ian interviews other influential music makers like Ian Mackaye, Henry Rollins and Steve Albini to name a few.  Now that we're up to speed, let me say a few words about last Friday nights show.  I haven't seen Calvin Johnson or Ian Svenonius perform for quite some time.  I think like around 97 or so.  So I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed both of their new bands.  The Hive Dwellers don't have any recorded material yet, but Calvin told me that some of the songs were off his solo release Before the Dream Faded.  I have to say I enjoyed the Hive Dwellers version of When you Are Mine as much as the recorded version.  Chain and The Gang's Down With Liberty Up With Chains was recently released on K records.  With a running time of 36:55, I found myself listening through this one quite a bit.  My favorite tracks have to be Reparations and Interview With the Chain Gang.  The second song having one the coolest guitar riffs and tone to be heard over vinyl or digital 1's & 0's.  Overall I'd have to say this show reminded me of days hangin in San Diego, going to Jabberjaw shows and just stoked to be witnessing a night of rad music.  I took some video footage of the show, hopefully I faithfully captured the blood, sweat, sounds, energy, commitment that these dudes create.

LB premier of Tmos new film The Present

Thanks to the Barbee family for the nice meal before last nights show at the Long Beach Art Theatre.  Thomas Campbell's new movie The Present premiered last night with Ray Barbee and the Mattson 2 opening the show.  The new surf epic is a good follow up to Sprout and makes Thomas's trilogy a must have for any surf film enthusiast.  A lot of familiar faces from the previous films as well as some modern additions.  Ry Craike and Dane Reynolds both had some awesome footage that makes me wish I could shred on a short board.  While Dave Rastovich and Dan Malloy had some truly epic parts as well.  Overall I will have to pay a visit to Shelter or Harbour surf shop to get my copy once it hits the store's.  Opening the show with some epic instrumental tunes was Ray and the Twins.  They've been playing together for at least a couple of years now and it really shows.  The dudes seem at ease jamming in and out of neat rhythm's that seem to flow with the visuals that Thomas puts to screen.  I had a lot of fun last night and hope Tmos keeps makin these rad films.  

Maxwell Barbee downing some chips n salsa.

mmmm, enchilada's!

My man Ray B.

Nolan Barbee getting in some Star Wars action figure time before the show.

Sound Check.

Ray, getting in some single notes.

Now that's a sharp dressed band!

GP playin drums for Brushfire Artist Zee Avi

My good friend and  ex fellow bandmate from way back in the day.  Gabe Palmer recently picked up a gig, playing for new Brushfire artist Zee Avi.  Gabe also works at one my favorite hang outs and one of the best drum shops I've ever been to, West Coast Drum.  Going to a drum store is kinda like going to a good surf shop, the craftsmanship of the drums just makes you want to buy everything in site.  Unfortunately, this is super unrealistic because unless your some super loaded rock star drummer, it ends up being some pipe dream left to the casual window shopper.  I was super psyched to see Gabe playing drums last night at an instore performance at Fingerprints in Long Beach with Brushfire artist Zee Avi.  Zee has a really pretty voice and creates cool melodies whether she's singing with a back up band or just singing with a ukulele.  Although her sound definitely has a modern indie pop feel to it, you can hear elements of her homeland island sound as well.  Here are some pix of GP at work and at the show, also a little video footage I took with my G10.         

I'll take a few Ludwigs, DW's, vintage Gretsch sets and some Zildjan, Paiste, or Sabians with those fish taco's to go. 

Snare's and more Snare's.

GP gettin down with the robot synth electro drums.  

Gabe "The Mariner" Palmer.  We call Gabe the "Mariner" because as well as being a rippin drummer, GP also shreds the waves and can tell you just by puttin his finger to the wind if the surf is any good that day.

Palmer family with new addition Anderson.

Zee's Ukulele.

Zee playing the instore at Fingerprints!

Listen to Death!

3 Bros. from the Motor City making punk rock in 1975.  7 tracks of a long lost gem of a record.  Thanks to Drag City for releasing this stuff,  its nice to see that some record labels are interested in undiscovered old sounds as well as the new.  

GR Hangin with Mulder!

Spent the day with Martin and Paul Kwon, doing a piece on Pro Skateboarder Richard Mulder.  Richard used to skate for Chocolate and now skates for Hosoi Skateboards.  He also is doing his own apparel line called Heel Bruise.  Richard is a rad dude that is totally committed to skateboarding.  He took us to some mini ramp on a rooftop then did some switch frontside nosesliders on a really high ledge.   Got some cool pics and had a lot of fun that day.  

Martin pickin me up in Pedro.

Element Shoe guy and all around good skateboarder Paul Kwon, checkin the latest issue of GR.

Heel Bruise elephant graphic.  Appropriately named, Richard is quite the street skatin dude and I'm sure he's had his share of heel bruisin.

Besides being an ripper on the rolling plank, Mulder also is a stock guy for Merrill Lynch and helps other fellow skate pro's with their investments.

Anthem Coachella Party 2009

Dre's doggy.

Dre's doggy got a little sick, almost hit that beer that was sitting on the ground.

Dave Mau was there cookin it up with the rest of the Memphis dudes.  Some super good eats that day.

Pool Party with lots of boomin bass coming from the guest DJ's.

Anthem's 2009 Coachella party has come and gone.  Was hired to shoot party goers, dj's, celeb's and all sorts of interesting people that showed up to this years house party.  There was a lot of sun, beer, dancing, swimming, bikinis, loud bass, and a whole lot of hangin out in the Indio heat.  Good thing there was a huge pool, man made lake, and giant slip n' slide for all to enjoy.