Show Review: Wild Weekend @ CHOB; Five Minutes of Gabe Vega's B Day Bash; Drive Bys: Tower Bar, Pink Elephant

JFCD and JGFJFCD are in town for the weekend. They didn't even get to sd until 930 PM, so I went to see all girl Zero's cover band "Wild Weekend" at the CHOB. Wild Weekend features Kelly Alvarez, Maren Squiddo and the two ladies from the Atoms. The Zero's are a 70s(?) Chula Vista(?) punk band that sound like... a punk band from the 70s. The crowd was large and appreciative- the Chula Vista scene was in the fucking house: The Sess (record release party at the Tower Bar 8/10 w/ Vision of A Dying World), Atoms were most def. in the house, Power Chords of course and the various and sundry CV scene stars that I know an love. But no Chad? Where was Chad? Atoms and PChords are heading to Seattle and back. Let me know about the "new venue" in Tacoma guys- you're living my dream! I want to be a "tour manager" on a tour up to Seattle and back.

It was good to see Kelly Alvarez perform, live, for the first time ever. More of that. Wild Weekend is playing Sessions Fest. Sessions Fest is 9/15. Non CV personalities- Bart Mendoza and Anna Troy-- anyone else notice that they hang out a lot? Corvinas were representing- check out Kadan next thursday 7/19- with Fifty on Their Heels- the flyer is up in the gallery. If you haven't seen the Corvinas yet, you are sleeping. Garage Mex is the shit. The Corvinas are comers.

JFCD wanted to see the Beauty Bar San Diego for the first time, so we drove over. I was hoping I could at least say "happy birthday" to Vega, but I didn't actually see him- or saw him from afar. Beauty Bar was a mad house- we listened to New Order (natch) and walked out after five minutes- nothing personal. Happy Birthday to Gabe Vega- he just turned 26!

Drove by Tower Bar- looked crazy. Drove by Pink Elephant- looked crazy. What's up with everyone being out the weekend I want to go out? Ended up at Hamiltons saw had a beer, ate mexican food went to bed.

Cat Dirt House Party tonight. Invite only. What's up with tonight? It's totally wack- thus- the house party.

Show Review: The Vultures, The Roman Spring w/ Skull Kontrol DJ's @ the Casbah

As I've said to Tim Pyles about fifteen times, "Tim Mays should start other "franchises" on the Casbah's "weak/week nights"(i.e. tuesday, wednesday, thursday) similar to the Anti Monday League- i.e. local bills when there is "nothing" on the calendar, and totally kick ass touring shows when the opportunity arises. That way, you maintain some awareness of the night itself, building "brand" identity for say, wednesday at the casbah, and then when you get a good touring act you just kill it.

I've got lots of ideas, and lots of advice, just read this posts and my past, even more so with the earlier posts, some ideas are good, some ideas are bad - Matty, I browbeat you with ideas because I care. If I'm not barraging you and your band/club/radio station/publication with ideas and "advice" then it means I pretty much don't give a fuck about what you're doing right now and/or I'm taking a break from harassing you (Troy - I'm giving you a month off for summer).

So "Skull Kontrol Wednesday". That's one extension of the Anti Monday league concept. Of course, Tim Mays still calls the shot- if a touring band is in town, that show gets booked and the local stuff does not.

As it stands, the opening band on a three band bill a the casbah on a bad night really takes it in the chin. Such was the case for the Roman Spring, who played an (unphotographed?) show with Fifty on Their Heels @ the Rythym Lounge under the august "banner" of Cat Dirt Presents. Not sure if this was their casbah debut or not. They opened with the single. That single was the "local member of the day" song over at ye' olde' 94/9.

Hey guys- here's a tip for that local page- "dynamic content" i.e updates on a regular basis. Like- instead of just adding the Local Member of the Day to a web page, make it- I don't know- a blog entry or something. With a link to their myspace page. What would that take- 5 seconds for intern? No? It will increase your web traffic and help you sell more ADS.

Frankly, I was looking forward to seeing them after the Rythym Lounge, which- fyi has TERRIBLE sound. Do I have to buy equipment and shit? That's one reason to play the casbah over some... other venue... people are more likely to listen to you if the sound is GOOD, as supposed to TERRIBLE.

The focus point of the Roman Spring is the 19 year old (boy) singer who has a kind of croon/warble that- coupled with his flannel shirts- can we work on that look? reminded me of... I dunno... Silverchair? That's not an insult, I hope.

The band is comprised of the bassist- fuck- forgot his name- who is a cool guy, has a connection to... Capicorn? studios? Here in town. They have a second guitarist- the singer plays guitar. Drummer, of course. One idea would be to try to let the singer perform without the guitar- I GENERALLY support that concept (Kristin- it can't hurt to TRY it, at least... in practice? just to see how it feels?)

I have pretty much come to the conclusion of any potential commercial success (i.e. record deal, publishing deal, maangement, etc) is based on the presence of charisma on the part of one of the band members. If you're going to play the "big stage" you need someone prancing around on stage like a demented elf.

The jammy alt rock sound shows some promise. I wanted more angularity. Angular gutiar? I love that characteristic, and the funky jammy Roman Spring parts left me yearing for great angularity. And they should play their single- "Pain" LAST not first. Hello?

IN BETWEEN SETS: I talked to Branden, Andrew- has anybody seen his "posse"?, Mario, Natalie, Kristin- "Our album is coming out... at... the...end of august? i think." Kristin has now assumed ownership of Branden's trademark Palestinian head scarf.

The big reason I went to Casbah last night was to see the Vultures. And to browbeat Matty from the Muslims about the possible las vegas showcase from 8/7 to 8/10 (possible). Matty, I got the sense, did not appreciate the browbeating ("We have to write some fucking songs!"). Anyways- people have been giving Vultures crap here and elsewhere- and fuck that. Personally, I love the Vultures.

1) Chuck Rowland is a sneering, inspired punk front man with quality, first rate front man moves. Given some of the criticism directed his way ("Wa. He plays cover songs.", "Wa he incorporates elements of others performance style.") Hey you scenester fucks fuck off. What the fuck? You all love Junior from Fifty on Their Heels- or maybe you don't but- what exactly is the problem here?

I thought his performance last night was great- I love it how he slams the mic stand into the stage at the beginning of each song in time with the first note. Now is that his move, or what? Either way- it doesn't matter- it's a GOOD move, and I've never seen it before. You know- I'm just a simelpton who likes the Velvet Underground.

2) The backing band is impeccable- Dan Wise (Kill Me Tomorrow, Starlite Lounge) is an impeccable bassist. Jimmy Vulture (guitarist) and Nick Lennen (drums) were also directly on point, showing skills that place the band- aside from Chuck Rowland in the upper echelon of San Diego rock acts.

In fact, I think they should bring cback "Chuck Rowland and the Vultures", and make it a more anatagonisitic relationship during the set. I thought Jimmy's guitar work was really good- Junior has to play guitar and sing at the same time, and that necessarily impacts the guitar work. In that way the Vultures and Fifty on Their Heels are different. Jimmy also uses... pedals. So mysterious? What do they all do? Last night was the first time I can recall seeing a guitarist playing with pedals and being like "oh cool."

3) The songs are good. No one is trying to deny that there are covers intermixed- even if I am not sophisticated enough to catch them. But who gives a fuck? Bitter scenesters, that's who.

4) I would think that this would be a band that would do very well with the "kids" because of some of it's broader elements. They would be a good pick up for a booking agency- especially since you could probably get them on the next locust tour or some girls or whatever. But- the broadness of it- is the key.

Anyways, I'D go to see the Vultures at SOMA or Epicentre. And they should play LA- have they played LA yet? Part Time Punks? I don't know.