After a 15 year hiatus, one of the coolest San Diego bands decides to go on tour and record another record. Well its not like they completely disappeared or something. 1 third of the band was busy with The Black Heart Procession and another 1 third was busy with Pinback. Both great bands in their own right, but more of a splintered progression from this band. I can remember hearing Na Vucca Do Lupu for the first time and the wierd photo of a mouth on the inside of a traffic cone on the cover. I was an instant fan, besides I had to check out Zach's bass playing technique, because I couldn't understand how he made the sounds he did on a bass guitar. I can remember seeing them play for the first time at either a cargo/headhunter show at the Roxy or some show in San Diego, I think maybe the womens center club or something like that. I remember seeing Pall use a bullhorn to sing through for circumcised and just loving the chords that Zach was playing on his bass. From then on I would try and see them play as much as I could. And believe me it seemed like they played a lot back then almost like every weekend their would be a Three Mile Pilot show. I think it got to the point where it kinda was like any great band thats active and playing you think you can see them whenever and take it for granted. Then one day it seemed like there were no more Three Mile Pilot shows. Pall was playing more shows with Black Hearts and I didn't even know Pinback existed until I saw their record on the shelves. As both of those bands became more popular on their own, it seemed like everyone had kinda forgotten about the previous band and how good they were. I actually had a chance to see these guys back together at Touch and Go's 25th, but hadn't heard of any other shows after that. I'm glad I got a chance to see them again at the Echoplex last week. I didn't have a photo pass for the show but luckily ran into Pall outside in front and was able to hook one up. Thanks Pall. Overall the show was super rad and opening was one of Rob Crow's many musical creations, Optiganally Yours. I can't even keep up with Rob musically, he seems to have side projects all over the place. He keeps it fresh without trying to repeat himself creatively and I'm always down to check out what he's got going next. Waiting for the band to start.
Rob Crow's Optiganally Yours, there seemed to be a kind of underwater or oceanic theme to the performance, will have to check out the record when it comes out.
Artist/Mad Scientist Matt Lorenz, providing Oceanic props and background video art to Opt. Yours and 3 Mile Pilot.
Pall, belting it out when it needs to be belt out.
One of the few dudes who can strum chords on a bass guitar and make it sound great. Armistead Burwell Smith IV.
