Fall recap
Hey Readers! I am so glad this year is over! 2007 has been a really tough year, being the first year that I’ve lived with out my Dad alive, who was such an inspiration and important part of my life. I’ve gotten past the hard part now, and I am hoping to have a better year next year. I haven’t updated you since late summer, so here is my Fall/Winter update.
I’ll start where I left off last time. On Tuesday September 4, I went to see Sham 69 at the Red Devil Lounge. A lot of people in the punk scene were adamant about not attending because original singer, Jimmy Purcey, is no longer fronting the band. I guess he has written some information online somewhere and is angry that the band is using the name ‘Sham 69’ without him.
I agree with him, but since I used to book at the Red Devil and am friendly with the owners and staff, I wanted to go check it out at least. I was pleasantly surprised that they sounded really great, even with a different singer. The small crowd that did show up seemed to really enjoy the show, and (unfortunately for me), an impromptu pit started really suddenly, which knocked me down hard and messed me up! I had the biggest bruises of my life, and was in pain for about a week. I actually got knocked senseless there for a few minutes, and it really scared me! I didn’t know what hit me. After that, I had a hard time enjoying the show, but the band was good. www.sham69.com; myspace.com/hershamboys
On September 11th, I went to see MDC, (Millions of Dead Cops) from Portland, OR at Annie’s Social Club. I was really bored with this show. I ended up leaving before it was over, and was kind of disappointed by it. The singer was (admittedly during his stage banter) an ex-speed freak, and was amusing, but old and kind of sad. myspace.com/mdc
On September 21st, I went to Annie’s again, to see local female-fronted band, The Struts. Their singer has a deep soulful voice, and can really belt it out! I highly recommend this band, and think that they have a bright future if they keep at it. I hope they end up playing SXSW and get discovered by the right people. hoecake.xbuild.com
On September 23rd, I saw Bad Brains at Slims. I had seen their singer, HR’s, solo tour last time he came through San Francisco, which was a mellow reggae show, with no Bad Brains songs. I was a huge fan of Bad Brains, and I couldn’t wait to see them when they came to town to play 2 sold out shows with their original line-up.
The band sounded amazing, incredible, raw, energetic, and tight, just like they did in the distant past. I saw a few of their tours between 88 and now, but this might have been the only (or maybe the second) time with all original members.
Musically, they did not disappoint. HR, however, sang all the songs at his own pace, which seemed a little less energetic than the band, which were ferocious as always. He has a really interesting voice, but has mellowed with age, which was no surprise… (almost everyone does, except maybe Iggy Pop). He also played guitar for a while, which seemed to be distracting from his vocals. I don’t remember ever seeing him play guitar in the past, and I could have lived without that.
They played all the songs the fans were expecting, and everyone was really excited by the show. I’m really glad I went and saw the show, but it wasn’t so earth shattering that I felt like making the effort to go to the second night. I felt seeing it once was awesome, but was enough for me. www.badbrains.com
On October 11th, I went to see The Adicts at a newly resurrected venue, The Mabuhay Gardens. This venue was the original place to see punk bands back in the beginning in SF, nicknamed “the Fab Mab.” They remodeled and re-opened this fall.
The Adicts, whom I’ve seen several times before, always put on an awesome show, and this night was no exception. I really thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite song, which they did perform, is called ‘Chinese Takeaway.’ They did all the songs I love, and put on a great performance, complete with makeup, confetti, lots of people on stage, the works, Adicts-style. I look forward to seeing more shows at the Mab as well. www.adicts.us; myspace.com/mabuhaygardens
On October 23rd, I went to the Southern Wine and Spirits Import Wine Convention. Attending free booze conventions is a perk I always enjoy, being in the bar industry. This one was no exception. I tasted tons of fabulous wines and champagnes, and enjoyed a delicious catered spread with a few of my co-workers and manager from the Elbo Room. At the end of the event, we all took home cases of bottles that we absconded with!
The following week, I went to see Control, a film about Ian Curtis, the singer of Joy Division, who committed suicide. It was a very well done film, and I really enjoyed it. Of course it is pretty sad, considering the ending, but I do recommend it to fans of Joy Division and New Order (whom the band evolved into after Curtis’ death). momentum.control.substance001.com
When the film ended, my friend and I ran into local Goth band, Veil Veil Vanish, who exited the theatre at the same time. They are a band I just recently saw at ‘Club Debauchery’ at Annie’s that I really liked. They reminded me in bits of The Cure, Christian Death, and The Damned. I hope to see them again soon. I invited them all over after the movie, and we polished off the case of wine I had from the wine convention. myspace.com/veilveilvanish
On November 7th, I went to see the Phantom Rockers at Annie’s. They are a really fun psychobilly band from England and Texas. Their singer, Mark, has been fronting this band forever… I remember seeing them about 14 years ago in Dallas. Their drummer for this tour, Scottie, used to be in rockabilly band, Kim Lenz and her Jaguars, many years ago. The band sounded really good, and was a lot of fun to watch. There was a sparse turnout on this particular Wednesday night, which was unfortunate. I really enjoyed seeing them again, and hope they tour again. I love their psychobilly version of ‘Tainted Love.’ www.phantomrockers.com
At the beginning of November, a new movie about Joe Strummer came out, called ‘The Future is Unwritten,’ which was directed by Julien Temple, who did Sex Pistols’ ‘The Filth and the Fury’ and ‘The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.’ This movie was awesome. I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed this the best of Julien Temple’s films that I’ve seen, and it showed a more personal side of Joe Strummer, which was absent from other films about him and The Clash. All Strummer and Clash fans should go and see it. You can see and hear a lot on the official website. joestrummerthemovie.com
On November 30th, I went to see my friend’s band, The Lustkillers at Grant and Green. My buddy Adam fronts the band, and also plays with the Black Halos and Lords of the New Church. He’s a very talented fellow, and I love his music. They put on a great show. Another really talented, promising new SF band, Absinthe Boy opened the show. Their singer, Darryl has been a friend of mine a long time, and has been in many bands over the years, but this one is the first one I really connect with. I’ll be seeing and updating you about them sometime in the future I’m sure. (They have an awesome logo too, which you can see on their page.) myspace.com/lustkillers – myspace.com/absintheboysf
On December 7th, I went to see, and FINALLY got to meet THE CULT! I wrote about seeing them in my last update, and they have been one of my favorite bands since I was 14 years old. I feel like this band has been the soundtrack for my life, and I’ve always wanted to meet Ian Astbury. Unfortunately, meeting him was anti-climactic and really disappointing. The show was really good, and of course I would recommend seeing them to anyone who likes good rock music. That’s a given.
My experience meeting them went like this. I got a backstage pass, and was told to wait in a line on some stairs with everyone else. We were yelled at, kind of like kids in line at an amusement park or something. Everyone could go up to this table where the band would sign your poster, then you had to wait in the line again and get a photo taken.
It was my turn to approach the table and I passed right by the 2 newer members of the band, and I went directly to Ian and Billy Duffy (singer and guitarist, original members who ARE The Cult). They said, “What about them?” They were referring to the way I passed the 2 other guys and didn’t ask for autographs from them. I said, “I’ve been waiting 20 years to meet the 2 of you.” I told them my name, got my poster signed, tried to ask a few questions, but was shuffled off out of the way and told to go in line.
I was really kind of upset that I didn’t get a minute to ask questions or anything, but I understand the whole rock star meet-and-greet process and that they may be over meeting their long-time fans. Maybe they had a long night, a bad one, were in bad moods, or they don’t like blonde girls… who knows? All I do know, is that being in a room with them made me feel like the teenage girl who has worshipped them forever, and my soul felt truly crushed when I didn’t get to converse. I was really upset by it, however silly or irrational that might have been.
I left the room to try to calm down for a few minutes and then I was the last to get a photo taken. I was standing next to Ian, and I said, “Please, could I get one with just you and I?” And he said, “No,” and walked off into a room and shut the door. I was crushed all over again. I actually ended up crying. I don’t know why I was so emotional, but I was very upset by the whole thing. It may have been better for me not to have tried to meet them, and to have just stayed on the other side of things. Some say it’s better not to meet your heroes, and now I understand why. www.thecult.us
On December 18th, I went to see local female-fronted band, The White Barons at the Knockout. They are a really awesome band. The singer, Miss Eva Von Slut, also does burlesque and fronts all girl psychobilly band, Thee Merry Widows, as well as the re-united band, The Insaints. She has an awesome voice, and I love this band. My favorite song is called ‘Champagne and Cocaine,’ which you can hear on their page, myspace.com/whitebarons.
On December 27th, I went to see Conflict at Slims. I hadn’t heard their music in years, and was skeptical about how the show would be, since seeing older bands can often be disappointing. They were so much better than I could have imagined. I didn’t remember many songs, but they sounded really awesome. I’m so glad I went to see them, and if you’re a fan of old punk, check them out again. www.conflict-uk.com
Okay, readers, I have crammed in and glossed over 3 months worth of my goings on in San Francisco. I promise to have more to share next time. On December 29th, I’m going to see The Psychedelic Furs, which I’m looking forward to, as I’ve never seen them live. For New Years Eve, I’m going to Mezzanine to see a band called BLAQK AUDIO. “BLAQK AUDIO IS THE ELECTRONIC SIDE ENDEAVOR OF AFI’S DAVEY HAVOK AND JADE PUGET, IT CARRIES ALL THE BOMBAST OF EARLY BLACK FLAG WITH THE HOOKS OF DEPECHE MODE AND DANCE GROOVES OF NILE RODGERS.” I’m also looking forward to some upcoming shows: the Circle Jerks are coming in January, and Siouxsie is coming in February. Until then,
Best of luck to all in 2008!
XXXOOO Alisha Amnesia
Definitively worth it! Very cool website.