ok, so to clarify.. I didn't work this show.. technically. But, close enough.
My very very good friend Gabriel called me a couple weeks back to let me know he had a show in town. I don't get to see Gabe much, since the VNV Tour. He's been in town a few times, but I had a tour so I've missed a couple of his visits.. boo.
But..! Gabe has two dates in the next couple months! Birthday present to me! Hang time with a bff.. woo!
So, I'll start a couple days back, I got the pleasure of picking him up from LAX.. yep. His hotel was a good 30 miles away.. so that was fun. A quick trip to Oinkster, hereafter referred to as "The Oinky Place", to meet up with Dink (Dink-dink-dink, da-dink-dink-dink, Dink-el-odeon! Dink is bald!) and a couple other members of the band. This is where I first meet Virus, aka Andre, of Dope fame. Very nice guy, uber sweet, funny hair. Plays an amazingly beautiful DBZ guitar.. (Basically, Dean left Dean guitars and made a new company.. weird, right? whatever..)
I also meet Murv, for the first time. Murv is.. this is not politically incorrect people, he claimed it.. the token black guy. Rad dude, BIG 'fro, and.. the kicker? He's allergic to watermelon (duh-dun-ching!!!) (insert politically incorrect joke about black guys and watermelon here.. I won't do it, but I'm sure you can think of one!) Also meet Murv's gf, very sweet gal..
Quick dinner, then home to bed.. nothing exciting here.
Next day, I luck out to get to go to dinner with RevJohn, of Das Bunker, Gabriel, and a guy named Pancake. Well.. kinda. Pfankuchenn.. basically translating to Pancake, from German. We enjoy some Gyu-kaku, which is japanese bbq.. rad!
Last day before the tour officially starts.. so day negative one.. I get to drive the boys to the practice studio/lockout.. this is where i find the blow up doll, hide a vibe teddy bear, 6 foot tall penis, Jesus gave me a beer (yeah, no water into wine bs, more like pocket lint into beer! woo!) I also meet Ape, the merch guy, who is a cool dude, and obsessed with penguins.. random, right? Also met Jesus.. yes, ladies and gentlemen I MET JESUS! He's an interesting guy. Nuff said. Well.. lemme put it this way.. he won't remember your name after meeting you. Even after meeting you 5 times.
I also got to hang out with Carl, aka Zoog of Angelspit. RAD australian guy.. and I Mia, the new singer..
(The accents are overwhelming, two of the are Belgian, Zoog is australian, Virus is from New Yoooaak, Gabes from Boston (Paak yo caa at the aaaihhpooaat), and Dink from Philly.. among the others. HAH!)
Finally, show day. I got VIP, which USUALLY means.. groupie. Hah. not in my case.
I showed up way early and managed to get in to help Angelspit set up merch.. the main chick JUST got off the flight from London.. crazy.
So.. it's apparently really hectic, as this is the first day of tour and only one of the non-og members has ever toured with this band, and only the bass tech has as far as crew. OH BOY.
Club Nokia is really nice, the security are very nice, one of the bartenders pours a good drink.. hahaha.. and the crew are rad. The PM and stage crew were HILARIOUS to talk to. I would KILL to work a real venue like this...professional, yet relaxed.
After a very loud soundcheck, we get to hang out for a bit. Mia is running around looking like Lady Gwar-Ga... yes... kind of like Lady Gaga and a dude from Gwar had a child.. its very interesting. Jesus shows up wearing more eyeshadow than me, and some black lipstick.
Ape is at merch with his pink plaid-argyle netbook.. yes, i am uber jealous. it matches my car interior!!!
Gabe and I get a chance to grab some dinner, Lawrys is pretty effin awesome.. we even scored free mac n cheese! F Ya!
RevJohn shows up, which is always a good time! HAPPY BIRTHDAY REVJOHN!
So the show goes off without any real hitches.. Radical G rocks his spock ears and rocks out on his.. umm..laptop and mixer.. Angelspit does a good set, though I'm not sure it was mixed right at FOH.. the guitar was more overwhelming than the tracks and keys, which isnt correct, as far as electronic stuff goes.. oh well. Still entertaining.
They have two giant X's of light bars lighting up the stage, which looked pretty cool. Zoog has an interesting stage outfit, and having two perdy girls on either side helps!
LOA takes the stage.. Oh Boy..I laugh at Gabe who is perched behind the drum riser.. He really can't see anything but the back of Kirk.
I'm on stage right, with Jesus, trying to help him see when Praga disconnects cables.. every couple minutes. Dink is opposite me, not seeming to notice the craziness going on behind him. Girls take the stage every couple songs.. Well.. they looked good from far far in front of house.. eesh.
Mia brings out the confetti poppers, a large Rabbit vibrator, and three GIANT beach balls, making for a very entertaining show.
The crowd seems to dig the catchy-kitschy 90's electro.. featuring such lyrics as "show me your pussy, give it to me. i wanna see your pussy, show it to me.." yep. Not to mention the 8 girls or so bouncing around the stage in tiny outfits.
post-show, I do my best to help load up, and load out.. I get to sit and enjoy a corona.. (hey, it was free, whaddya want..)
Finally, I walk the three blocks in the sprinkles out to my car, parked in some ghetto lot by LA Live.. yep. I head back to the bus, give the boys all g'night and good tour hugs, give Dink his proper goodbye shoulder massage, and head home..
All in all, a very exciting show.. hah!
5 am.. time to go to bed to get as much rest for this weekend, when I have a Faster Pussycat show in Hollyweird to actually work..
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