Thursday, June 12, 2003
ROCK AND ROLL WEEKEND PT. 2
So what else is there to know about the shows this weekend? Well, for one, here are some maps:
51 Buckingham
Mondo Video A Go Go
Also, it should be noted that the cover charge for the Friday show is $5.
But here is where enterprising D-Squad fans, the ones that go beyond the soon to be deleted mass email, that actually do as I suggest, come to the blog and take a magnifying glass to search for that little extra something not found in the propaganda - this is where it pays off. In exclusive D-Squad news and notes not found anywhere else!
For instance, here are some photos, taken by a crack D-Squad fan, of our May 18 gig at Old Town Pub. Just click on the box and you will be overjoyed at the selection! And hey, isn't that the just recently graduated Mr. P sporting his honors rope during the performance? Smashing! Thanks to Chris for the heads up!
Also, the email eluded to a secret new "trick" to be introduced by the Panda Man. Hmm, I wonder what that could be? Well, honestly, I cannot tell you. However, here is a clue. Figure it out yet? Smashing!
See you there!
So what else is there to know about the shows this weekend? Well, for one, here are some maps:
51 Buckingham
Mondo Video A Go Go
Also, it should be noted that the cover charge for the Friday show is $5.
But here is where enterprising D-Squad fans, the ones that go beyond the soon to be deleted mass email, that actually do as I suggest, come to the blog and take a magnifying glass to search for that little extra something not found in the propaganda - this is where it pays off. In exclusive D-Squad news and notes not found anywhere else!
For instance, here are some photos, taken by a crack D-Squad fan, of our May 18 gig at Old Town Pub. Just click on the box and you will be overjoyed at the selection! And hey, isn't that the just recently graduated Mr. P sporting his honors rope during the performance? Smashing! Thanks to Chris for the heads up!
Also, the email eluded to a secret new "trick" to be introduced by the Panda Man. Hmm, I wonder what that could be? Well, honestly, I cannot tell you. However, here is a clue. Figure it out yet? Smashing!
See you there!
ROCK AND ROLL WEEKEND
The band has two big shows this weekend. Here are the details, as provided by Panda Man in the last band mass email:
DESPERATION SQUAD AT 51 BUCKINGHAM W/ ROSEMARY'S BILLYGOAT, SHE'S DEAD, ADHD - FRIDAY JUNE 13 - 301 W. SECOND ST, POMONA - 21 & OVER - 9:00 PM
"Yes, Carson, I really did run for Mayor of Pomona."
It was ten years ago, we were in the final meter of D-Squad era No. 1 (we've just entered the third era, if you're keeping score), no one was really paying attention and then suddenly I proclaimed myself the "Rock and Roll Mayor" and entered the primary, shouted out a campaign promise consisting of "I'll put a boom box in the mayor's office and crank tunes all day," hawked D-Squad merch at the candidate's forum, became the darling of the press corps, ran quirky TV ads on local cable and got slaughtered at the polls, finishing seventh in an eight candidate field, capturing 1.8% of the vote and beating out only the homeless guy. The Squad, complete with entourage, belted out an impromptu performance on the steps of City Hall - and have not played within the City Limits since, the "Sounds like D-Squad" gig in Summer 1999 notwithstanding. Honestly, I haven't spent much time at all in Pomona since then. It's not exactly classified information that I snobbishly disdain the so-called Pomona "Arts Colony". Not to split hairs with the legitimate working artists downtown, but just because you have a street sign it doesn't mean dick. There's arguably less artists downtown now than there were when D-Squad was throwing loft parties in the old PIP building and an unknown guitarist named Beck was prowling the area and stealing my dance moves. You can have El Taco Nazo - I'll take Munchies any day. They always gave us free beers.
Yet, when I walked into 51 Buckingham the other night, in that frightful building more commonly known as the Vault, where more crystal meth has been ingested than probably any other place this side of Mead Valley, I was astounded. Big bright art lining the walls, a real honest-to-god stage, clean bathroom facilities, promoters who greet you at the door with a smile. I didn't know where the hell I was, I thought perhaps it was a dream. So maybe I've been swallowing the sour grapes a bit too long. And in any case, while the Glass House would still turn up its nose at us, this is a hell of a gig. If you have not seen Rosemary's Billygoat yet, you simply don't know what you're missing. There's costumes, there's bright lights, there's the "Satanic Pizza". Plus, the Squad has been in the process of tinkering with its set list, so there are likely new songs we are playing that you haven't heard. Also, the Panda Man has a brand new trick up his sleeve - a wild new dimension that will make the competition green with envy - and he will debut it at this show. Also, we've worked it so that you can possibly win tickets by listening to KSPC 88.7.
So get the hell out there grunts and support some local art.
D-SQUAD AT MONDO VIDEO A GO-GO - SUNDAY JUNE 15 - 4328 MELROSE, LOS ANGELES - (323) 953-8896 - 6:00 PM
Yes, there's an LA show this weekend as well! After the Odd Art Show last week I got shanghaied by a kid immediately after the show, saying that we just had to play the annual Mondo Video Father's Day open mike deal. I'm a bit sketchy about the details, you should call the store for better info, but this is what I can tell you: Mondo Video a Go Go is hosting an all-day bandfest. My original information was that it started early in the afternoon and goes till late in the evening. As I know it now, we will apparently be kicking things off at 6:00, with several other bands to follow. It's free, as far as I know, with no age limit, but again, call for details and try to talk to Ereck. If he's not there, ask for Prince Albert in a can. HA HA HA! It's Father's Day, I know, and everyone has someplace to be but this is going to be pretty good and you know it is when you hear, on the phone message, "And as long as you don't ruin any videos, you can do whatever you want. The floor is easily cleaned up." Or words to that effect. The Pomona gig is the one we demand that you come for, but this one will be good too.
Or, as Willie Dynamite says, "I only read the last paragraph!"
INTRODUCING SOMETHING NEW
Y'all are going to have this coming out your ears soon enough but for now let me proudly inform you that Mr. P now has a weblog or "blog" entitled "My Completely Random Life" which can be found at http://nixonsrevenge.blogspot.com. It's not a band blog per se - it is a daily diary of all the complex parts of the Mr. P whole. However, the idea is to eventually wean everyone off the increasingly hard to manage email list and reprogram them to consult the blog for any and all D-Squad related news. Yes, you read that right - one day soon the D-Squad email mass mailing will be no more. During the coming week you can find out why - at the blog. But for now, you are safe.
CHOW
The band has two big shows this weekend. Here are the details, as provided by Panda Man in the last band mass email:
DESPERATION SQUAD AT 51 BUCKINGHAM W/ ROSEMARY'S BILLYGOAT, SHE'S DEAD, ADHD - FRIDAY JUNE 13 - 301 W. SECOND ST, POMONA - 21 & OVER - 9:00 PM
"Yes, Carson, I really did run for Mayor of Pomona."
It was ten years ago, we were in the final meter of D-Squad era No. 1 (we've just entered the third era, if you're keeping score), no one was really paying attention and then suddenly I proclaimed myself the "Rock and Roll Mayor" and entered the primary, shouted out a campaign promise consisting of "I'll put a boom box in the mayor's office and crank tunes all day," hawked D-Squad merch at the candidate's forum, became the darling of the press corps, ran quirky TV ads on local cable and got slaughtered at the polls, finishing seventh in an eight candidate field, capturing 1.8% of the vote and beating out only the homeless guy. The Squad, complete with entourage, belted out an impromptu performance on the steps of City Hall - and have not played within the City Limits since, the "Sounds like D-Squad" gig in Summer 1999 notwithstanding. Honestly, I haven't spent much time at all in Pomona since then. It's not exactly classified information that I snobbishly disdain the so-called Pomona "Arts Colony". Not to split hairs with the legitimate working artists downtown, but just because you have a street sign it doesn't mean dick. There's arguably less artists downtown now than there were when D-Squad was throwing loft parties in the old PIP building and an unknown guitarist named Beck was prowling the area and stealing my dance moves. You can have El Taco Nazo - I'll take Munchies any day. They always gave us free beers.
Yet, when I walked into 51 Buckingham the other night, in that frightful building more commonly known as the Vault, where more crystal meth has been ingested than probably any other place this side of Mead Valley, I was astounded. Big bright art lining the walls, a real honest-to-god stage, clean bathroom facilities, promoters who greet you at the door with a smile. I didn't know where the hell I was, I thought perhaps it was a dream. So maybe I've been swallowing the sour grapes a bit too long. And in any case, while the Glass House would still turn up its nose at us, this is a hell of a gig. If you have not seen Rosemary's Billygoat yet, you simply don't know what you're missing. There's costumes, there's bright lights, there's the "Satanic Pizza". Plus, the Squad has been in the process of tinkering with its set list, so there are likely new songs we are playing that you haven't heard. Also, the Panda Man has a brand new trick up his sleeve - a wild new dimension that will make the competition green with envy - and he will debut it at this show. Also, we've worked it so that you can possibly win tickets by listening to KSPC 88.7.
So get the hell out there grunts and support some local art.
D-SQUAD AT MONDO VIDEO A GO-GO - SUNDAY JUNE 15 - 4328 MELROSE, LOS ANGELES - (323) 953-8896 - 6:00 PM
Yes, there's an LA show this weekend as well! After the Odd Art Show last week I got shanghaied by a kid immediately after the show, saying that we just had to play the annual Mondo Video Father's Day open mike deal. I'm a bit sketchy about the details, you should call the store for better info, but this is what I can tell you: Mondo Video a Go Go is hosting an all-day bandfest. My original information was that it started early in the afternoon and goes till late in the evening. As I know it now, we will apparently be kicking things off at 6:00, with several other bands to follow. It's free, as far as I know, with no age limit, but again, call for details and try to talk to Ereck. If he's not there, ask for Prince Albert in a can. HA HA HA! It's Father's Day, I know, and everyone has someplace to be but this is going to be pretty good and you know it is when you hear, on the phone message, "And as long as you don't ruin any videos, you can do whatever you want. The floor is easily cleaned up." Or words to that effect. The Pomona gig is the one we demand that you come for, but this one will be good too.
Or, as Willie Dynamite says, "I only read the last paragraph!"
INTRODUCING SOMETHING NEW
Y'all are going to have this coming out your ears soon enough but for now let me proudly inform you that Mr. P now has a weblog or "blog" entitled "My Completely Random Life" which can be found at http://nixonsrevenge.blogspot.com. It's not a band blog per se - it is a daily diary of all the complex parts of the Mr. P whole. However, the idea is to eventually wean everyone off the increasingly hard to manage email list and reprogram them to consult the blog for any and all D-Squad related news. Yes, you read that right - one day soon the D-Squad email mass mailing will be no more. During the coming week you can find out why - at the blog. But for now, you are safe.
CHOW
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
ROCK AND ROLL IS NOT MILK
I wrote a post similar to this two days ago and it got wiped out in a single wrong click of the mouse. So, here we go again.
On Saturday night I went out to the Dragonfly in Hollywood, to see a band called the Marginal Prophets, a hip hop band from San Francisco. Their manager is a guy named Paul Brodhead, who I had only corresponded with via campus email. I missed what apparently was a wildly successful show they played a couple of months ago at the Viper Room, so I had to make sure I saw this show, to see what all the fuss was about. The Dragonfly is one of those places you always see and wonder "Why the hell isn't my band playing here?" When I arrived, there was a rock band just finishing up and a smattering of people, but they were all more or less lurking in the shadows of the secluded, noirish booths, or outside on the patio smoking (note: whoever devised the smoking laws did not figure in what the effect would be on live bands since, given a choice, most club-goers seem to favor their addiction to nicotine more than their addiction to live entertainment) There was nothing for me to do but play "Who's the manager?" and I scanned the room for someone that might fit the bill. At the Dragonfly, home of the $5 Budweiser (whoever is responsible for that should be hogtied and forced to watch a Nick Jr marathon), apparently lightning was not going to strike twice for the M.P's, who drove all day, all the way down from the Bay area just to play a tank gig. There's nothing quite like looking into the audience and seeing nobody. Still, in true band "slogging it out" fashion, they put on a pretty good show. In fact I was a bit surprised since they turned out to be a hip hop group with a live players behind them. I could see why they did so good in front of a real crowd. This night, however, there was less than 40 people (yes, that's what I do when I'm bored - I count heads). After the show, after I had figured out who Paul was (my third choice), we went out on the patio and I commiserated with him. L.A. seems to be the absolute worst place to build a following, but I get the impression that live music is dying out everywhere. They talked about Bay area clubs closing up and one guy who has a weekend gig at the Derby sheepishly admitted that they had trouble drawing paying customers.
Why is this?
Well, I can tell you that once the live music finished at the Dragonfly that night, the place started to rage. The reason? DJ Ben Baller was spinning prerecorded hip hop and rare grooves. Why does this work and not live music? My guess is the answer is - CHICKS. What else could it be? Kids want to go somewhere there's a chance to get some business done (read: getting laid), a place that screams "HOT!" If this was 15 years ago, the same clubs would be overflowing with Big Hair and Spandex to watch a Guns N Roses/LA Guns show or milling about to get in the latest Poison or Ratt video. You can make fun of these bands and this music until your nuts are blue, but that scene is over and rock and roll has become the UPN of popular music - behind Hip Hop, Pop, Country, even broadway soundtracks seem to have more appeal. Disagree? Then tell me why a band that hasn't played live in over 25 years, releases a CD of live music almost 30 years old, and that becomes the number one record in the country. Yeah, sure, Zeppelin rocks! But this follows on the heels of the Rolling Stones, Elvis, the Beatles, Paul McCartney - all of these bands have been outselling today's rock acts in the last two years.
But, most "experts" will tell you that things are fine, that rock and roll doesn't need to be the top dog, that the pursuit of fame and riches goes against the credo, that there is a thriving underground scene with more than enough bands to sustain it. I don't argue with the last point. I recently picked up an issue of Destroy All magazine and you could spend an hour counting the number of bands listed in just one issue. So is the cup half-full or half-empty? My opinion is that the glut of bands works against the effectiveness of the whole. The problem is that no one has the guts, or perhaps even the talent, to do anything different other than perform a bunch of two-and-a-half minutes songs in an attempt to get on David Letterman. In this type of scenario, yeah Led Zeppelin still rules the roost, of course they do. Everyone can see the difference in quality. Do you imagine Linkin Park, Staind or Good Charlotte will be doing the same thing in 25 years? Do you think they will be doing it in five years? The Warped Tour, god bless it for the opportunity it gives young bands, is still in reality an event based on the power of marketing, not live brilliance, not that the occasional brilliant band doesn't emerge. But if you want homogenization, drink milk, okay? Rock and roll is not milk.
On the positive side, the last time rock and roll sucked this much we wound up with Surf music, Motown and the British Invasion. So there is hope yet.
I wrote a post similar to this two days ago and it got wiped out in a single wrong click of the mouse. So, here we go again.
On Saturday night I went out to the Dragonfly in Hollywood, to see a band called the Marginal Prophets, a hip hop band from San Francisco. Their manager is a guy named Paul Brodhead, who I had only corresponded with via campus email. I missed what apparently was a wildly successful show they played a couple of months ago at the Viper Room, so I had to make sure I saw this show, to see what all the fuss was about. The Dragonfly is one of those places you always see and wonder "Why the hell isn't my band playing here?" When I arrived, there was a rock band just finishing up and a smattering of people, but they were all more or less lurking in the shadows of the secluded, noirish booths, or outside on the patio smoking (note: whoever devised the smoking laws did not figure in what the effect would be on live bands since, given a choice, most club-goers seem to favor their addiction to nicotine more than their addiction to live entertainment) There was nothing for me to do but play "Who's the manager?" and I scanned the room for someone that might fit the bill. At the Dragonfly, home of the $5 Budweiser (whoever is responsible for that should be hogtied and forced to watch a Nick Jr marathon), apparently lightning was not going to strike twice for the M.P's, who drove all day, all the way down from the Bay area just to play a tank gig. There's nothing quite like looking into the audience and seeing nobody. Still, in true band "slogging it out" fashion, they put on a pretty good show. In fact I was a bit surprised since they turned out to be a hip hop group with a live players behind them. I could see why they did so good in front of a real crowd. This night, however, there was less than 40 people (yes, that's what I do when I'm bored - I count heads). After the show, after I had figured out who Paul was (my third choice), we went out on the patio and I commiserated with him. L.A. seems to be the absolute worst place to build a following, but I get the impression that live music is dying out everywhere. They talked about Bay area clubs closing up and one guy who has a weekend gig at the Derby sheepishly admitted that they had trouble drawing paying customers.
Why is this?
Well, I can tell you that once the live music finished at the Dragonfly that night, the place started to rage. The reason? DJ Ben Baller was spinning prerecorded hip hop and rare grooves. Why does this work and not live music? My guess is the answer is - CHICKS. What else could it be? Kids want to go somewhere there's a chance to get some business done (read: getting laid), a place that screams "HOT!" If this was 15 years ago, the same clubs would be overflowing with Big Hair and Spandex to watch a Guns N Roses/LA Guns show or milling about to get in the latest Poison or Ratt video. You can make fun of these bands and this music until your nuts are blue, but that scene is over and rock and roll has become the UPN of popular music - behind Hip Hop, Pop, Country, even broadway soundtracks seem to have more appeal. Disagree? Then tell me why a band that hasn't played live in over 25 years, releases a CD of live music almost 30 years old, and that becomes the number one record in the country. Yeah, sure, Zeppelin rocks! But this follows on the heels of the Rolling Stones, Elvis, the Beatles, Paul McCartney - all of these bands have been outselling today's rock acts in the last two years.
But, most "experts" will tell you that things are fine, that rock and roll doesn't need to be the top dog, that the pursuit of fame and riches goes against the credo, that there is a thriving underground scene with more than enough bands to sustain it. I don't argue with the last point. I recently picked up an issue of Destroy All magazine and you could spend an hour counting the number of bands listed in just one issue. So is the cup half-full or half-empty? My opinion is that the glut of bands works against the effectiveness of the whole. The problem is that no one has the guts, or perhaps even the talent, to do anything different other than perform a bunch of two-and-a-half minutes songs in an attempt to get on David Letterman. In this type of scenario, yeah Led Zeppelin still rules the roost, of course they do. Everyone can see the difference in quality. Do you imagine Linkin Park, Staind or Good Charlotte will be doing the same thing in 25 years? Do you think they will be doing it in five years? The Warped Tour, god bless it for the opportunity it gives young bands, is still in reality an event based on the power of marketing, not live brilliance, not that the occasional brilliant band doesn't emerge. But if you want homogenization, drink milk, okay? Rock and roll is not milk.
On the positive side, the last time rock and roll sucked this much we wound up with Surf music, Motown and the British Invasion. So there is hope yet.
Monday, June 09, 2003
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