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Finally! After writing for coolgrrrls for over half a decade, last month I got to meet the one and only Frank! I got to spend the weekend with him when the Gore Gore Girls headed out to California for a Halloween weekend supporting the Cramps in sunny Southern California. We played a pre-show Devil’s Night at a smaller club in North Hollywood opening up for the legendary band Frankenstein. Unfortunately, our plane was late and we ended up having to play after him, just before the club closed. It was a rushed, but intense experience. I spent most of the time trying to figure out how to work the borrowed equipment. I did make note though that almost half the audience was taping this mess of a show, for what reason I don’t know. One of the cameramen was the one and only Falling James, who introduced himself to me after the show. It was nice to meet someone cool just a few hours into my introduction to southern California. Check out James’ band at www.theleavingtrains.com.

After the show we met up with Frank who was our gracious host for the rest of the weekend. What a sweetheart! The next day he took us shopping around town and down to the Huntington Beach pier. We had a blast! Southern California is so bright and sunny. Everyone is healthy and thin and tan – it’s bizarre! It must be the Jamba Juice.

We spent Halloween night watching The Cramps at the Greek Theatre in the pouring rain. It was still raining by the time headliners Queens of the Stone Age came on, but I didn’t notice. This band has been one of my favorites since the release of “Rated R.” As a bass player and a guitar player, Nick Oliveri and Josh Homme are my idols. My favorite QOTSA show is still the Detroit date of their small club tour a few years ago with Dave Grohl on drums. In fact, it was one of my favorite shows of all time, by any band. But on this rainy night in Los Angeles, dressed as priests in the sprit of Halloween, they put on a killer show.

The next two nights the Gore Gore Girls opened for the Cramps at their shows in Ventura and San Diego. The show in San Diego at the 4th & B Theatre was my last show opening for the Cramps, and my last show as a member of the Gore Gore Girls. After three years with the band and performing in over a dozen countries, I couldn’t have asked for a better run, or a better last performance.

As each band I’ve been in just gets more and more exciting, I can’t imagine what I’m in for next! Next year will definitely be the year of the Sirens. Our first full-length album will be out in early 2004. Our 7″ single “Chez Maximes,” which was put out by France’s Wiped Out Records has already sold out, and we plan on releasing another single with them this year. We’ll be performing January 24th at Tina’s Annual Birthday Swarm at the Magic Stick with many other local favs.

I discovered a new great band last weekend, Grande Nationals. They played Plane Nine’s poster art show at Small’s Bar in Hamtramck, along with another favorite of mine, the Demolition Dollrods, and the Amino Acids. The Grande Nationals have this sing-songy heavy rock thing going on. Catchy, but hard. It’s three dudes up front, and one mutha of a drummer, Sarah, on the skins. Damn, can this girl hit ‘em! I swear, Detroit produces the best female drummers ever. And we’ve got another one on the way! Miss Becki, formerly of Team Clermont in Athens, GA, is heading for the snowy white north of Detroit to be publicist for up-and-coming label Times Beach Records. A publicist as well as a drummer, Becki is sure to add some mischief and mayhem to the Detroit scene, whoo-hoo!

Hamtramck, the city with more bars per capita than any other city in America (besides San Francisco), has gained another live music venue! The Belmont bar had it’s grand opening on Halloween with the Detroit Cobras wsg Bisou Bisou. The bar continued to have stellar acts throughout the fall such as Outrageous Cherry, the Singles, Bomb Pops, Hard Lessons and DangerVille. Although there is still a bigger and better stage to be built, the Belmont offers cheap drinks ($1 Pabst, a Detroit favorite!), a hip atmosphere and clean bathrooms! Check out the Trembling, Violet Skin and the Icicles at the Belmont on Jan 16th. The Hard Lessons will return on Jan 23rd, opening up for the Grande Nationals. Sounds like a good way to start off the new year!

Happy New Year everyone!