SSW, Mr Roberts, 9/5/2013

w/ Meat Faucet and Dirty Nigel & the Strap Ons.

We played so freaking late. Lots of beer was drunken unfortunately. There was no rehearsal. I have the muscle memory still, even after a year of nearly no rehearsals...but my endurance is completely gone. The performance was completely adequate, though each time we play without rehearsals things get marginally worse. A small but supportive crowd. We took home $60, which seems like way more than we were likely owed, but I think the bartender likes us. Had new heads on the kit...but I played with ear plugs in so I really have no idea how they sounded.

Setlist
Part Time Punks
Bosocobel Breakout
Mr Suit
Teenaged Kicks
We Are the One
Political Song for MJ
New Rose
Helicopter (nearly forgot how to play this AGAIN)
Dance 4x
One Track Mind
Too Drunk to Fuck
I Am a Cliche
Suspect Device
You Drive Me Ape
Warsaw
I've Been So Mad Lately
Fucked Up and Wasted

SSW, GTMW, 8/10/2013

SSW played GTMW for the second year running. I brought my homemade "mini-kit"...for future reference noting in detail here:
-floor tom tuned loose
-wood floor tom stand
-my cheapest bass pedal
-my lightest hi hat stand and the scimitar hats
-my lightest snare stand and the all silver snare
-HH splash on an adapter arm connected to hh stand
-tambo on my super-duper adapter connected to hh stand (played it on only one song...don't bring next time)
-small rug
-used rods for everything except Stooges medley with shaker egg
-my lightest throne
-put everything on my cart. Floor tom in case, snare in case (with all cymbals and throne top), stands in blue bag, sticks and music in a small bag that fit inside blue bag. Also brought a tarp that I used to reserve space for friends (no rain thankfully). Took cart apart for cab ride. Cab was able to get me to top of hill for drop off and pick up was easy just down the hill. Cart worked like a charm. Perfect.
-5 bottles of water...wasn't enough (by my count I drank 144+ ounces of water over course of day and still felt like shit)
-hat, sunglasses, rain coat...brought sunscreen but didn't use it and that was a mistake (got a little burn on my face and I think this was a significant contributor to feeling like shit). Wore my black Keen's, blue jean shorts, and my Brigadoon t-shirt.
-Took a cab...$14 plus tip to gig, $1 plus tip away

CJ also played two very short sets. I brought my acoustic bass for this purpose and it was inaudible in the drone of people. Next year leave bass at home.  Note that a not insignificant number of people stopped to listen to the Pixies tunes (though most people ignored our 70s punk sets). Recall telling at least 4 people who CJ was and when our next show was.  I am forever amazed at this phenomenon.

Two different drunk guys asked it they could play my kit. This was new.

Best beer of day was "Rabbit" something or other brewery (I think it was 5 Rabbit Cerveceria and I think I had their
"hUitzi: Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale. O.G.: 1.07. IBU: 22.0. ABV: 8.7. A refreshing and
elegant Belgian-style, strong golden ale brewed with hibiscus blossoms, Roman
chamomile, pickled ginger, Thai palm sugar, and local Chicago honey"
RS had their "5 grass: Style: American Pale Ale" I think he also liked it.)

Was not actually hung over next day...but did feel like total shit all Sat night.

SSW setlist to come.

SSW, 5/23/2013 Wisco

Crap I nearly forgot. SSW played a show. It was nearly this exact show but with a couple of adjustments to the setlist. Most of the other details were the same...except that ED brought a green bulb to plug into the audience-blinding light fixture. Other fun fact...we had not played together since that other show.

I did not drink all day. I played fine. We were fine. Maybe we should never rehearse again.

There was an enthusiastic drunk fellow who had been there a month ago and was there again. Both times not to see us...both times shit himself over our setlist...both times wanted to have a full blown conversation with us mid-show multiple times. Deja vu.

There was nearly no audience at all other than that except for KS's soon-to-be wife and Homie. Someone played a cover of a Blondie tune (Dreaming I believe it was, which JG debated with me if we'd done...yes J, I had to learn that fucking tom song) on the juke and we (5 of 6 members of Peroxide present) all rejoiced.

Setlist to come (probably not)

SSW, The Wisco, 4/13/2013

Played with ye olde Madison band El Donk.

The lights were weird...one blazing white light pointed at the audience or near total darkness were the choices. We played great. Really it is shocking how well we are playing with nearly no rehearsals. It is like we are fucking professionals or something. An assortment of our usual suspects stopped by. The WORT crowd sure are good fans to have.  Even Educational Davis graced us with his presence. I noticed him there during "Helicopter" and it made me try harder.

I drank. All afternoon. It was unfortunate. It was not a factor in my performance as I'd sobered up by then but did give me a hell of a headache during the gig (thought that could have also been the lights). And well, it was, once again, just dumb. I think I am actually making progress even though sometimes it doesn't seem that way.

We did "I've Been So Mad Lately" and turned the reverb up on the PA so there was this ridiculous delay that had the effect of adding a couple of "fucks" for each one I said. It was ridiculous. Also, I think Justin's mic cable is on its way out (memo to self).

Had a nice moment with my bass player when JG counted off a song on the off-beats instead of on the beats like he's supposed to. We both noticed. We looked at each other. We made it work. We rock.

I sure do like using my shitty kit for gigs. So light. So easy to carry. And I don't worry about it getting banged around or whatever. I even let people help me carry it. The Sonor is great...but so heavy and so nice looking and...well I just prefer gigging the shitty black Pulse. Really does it matter?  If TD is gonna play at a nice place with a PA and stage and all that...I'll go the extra mile and bring the nice one. But for your average shitty bar gig...give me care-free ease.

Setlist to come.

SSW, Mr Roberts, 3/28/2013

We played with Compact Duo and The Part Time Bums.

It was your typical nobody there Distortion Thursday gig at Mr. Roberts. A handful of SSW loyal friends came by after the Thurston Moore show ended and that was nice. A couple of drunken regulars stuck it out too.  We went on around 12:30 and played for about an hour.  I used my stripped down black kit with my crappy cymbals and was totally happy with it except that I really should take the towel out of my floor tom.  Setup and transport was easy breezy. 

I wasn't feeling like playing much, but I played well. Overall we sounded surprisingly good in general given how ill-prepared we were, but I supposed we had weekly rehearsals for almost 4 years before essentially stopping them all together 6 months ago. Some things I played different than normal because we haven't rehearsed much since September (when our last show was) and I don't practice these songs on my own anymore. But doing things differently wasn't bad, interesting in some spots. I was playing a different setup than I've mostly been playing lately, so there were also on-the-fly rearrangements, which are probably good for my brain sometimes. I probably should do some pad exercises to get back my fast single-stroke roll, but I don't use it for much and it'll always be there if I wanna get it back, so meh.

I was feeling pretty cough-y but managed to sing pretty okay. RS lost his voice towards the end which isn't surprising since he was sick and we sang Pixies last night acoustic without mics for three hours.

I didn't drink all day and have 10 days of that behind me now. It's been a pretty recovery-heavy week and I actually had a pretty personally significant visit to the local Shambahala Center last night before the gig. So we'll see how that goes. But it was nice to be able to load out of my car to my house at 2am last night and get everything put away instead of artificially passing out...and to be able to get real sleep once I layed down...and I was pretty happy when the alarm rang this morning at 6:30am that I didn't have a hangover. I ate a good dinner last night and added a walnut burger from the Harmony on top of it at 10pm to combat the staying up late bought of heartburn that I seem to get lately if I don't eat something (and which ruined my night at TD cd release party).  The bartender at the Harmony remembered me in a "long time no see" kind of way and it made me realize that I don't think I've set foot in that place for almost 6 years now...after having been a regular once a week drunk there for 3 preceeding that. She's either got a good memory or I was a real asshole back then. Probably both.

Setlist to come.

SSW, HNS, 9/20/2012

We played the patio at HNS for happy hour. Cement Pond opened. Later on, the Melvins played inside. There was an article in the paper and everything.

We had the grumpiest of the HN sound guys, but he was better this time, maybe because I had a Sonor kit instead of a Gretsch. Still when I approached him to tell him what our setup was and that I needed a drum vocal mic and RS needed a mic for his small amp he said "Where do you think you are?" like I thought I was the queen or was asking too much. It is hard for me to tell if this is just his sense of humor or what. After the show he informed us that our vocals were clipping throughout. Again I ask...why wouldn't you tell us this as soon as you noticed it so we could correct instead of waiting until afterwards and complaining. I don't get it.

For the record and future reference, the patio PA is 6 channels with no monitors. Normally they'd be able to handle us having 6 mics, but the Melvins had commondeered most of the sound equipment. We were perhaps a little loud as Cathy could hear us from her house. I could hear nothing but my drums and KS's bass...I couldn't hear any vocals...which led me to lose my place a few times, but not badly. Dropped three sticks on I've Been So Mad...not sure why.

The show went ok. I played pretty well. JG and RS couldn't hear their guitars at all which was a factor. We aren't show ready with Mr DNA and I've Been So Mad...both have complicated counting patterns and we just aren't getting them naturally. We should practice them or jettison. I got 2 tacos from Brass Ring for dinner. I had 3 beers before the show, 1 during, and 3 after. And about 4 or 5 waters. I had not intended to drink at all...but I got bored waiting for people to show up and then one thing led to another. But I didn't get drunk at all. For future reference I got there at 4:45pm to set up drums for a 6pm show. The sound guy and opening band did not arrive until around 5:30pm. So don't rush next time.

My kit sounded great and I got several compliments on it from multiple people...including from Cement Pond's drummer, who is a minor local celebrity (formerly of Killdozer) and who said it was nicer than any kit he has ever owned. Someone else asked me if I paid thousands for it...nope...$450 with cases.

It was just a little chilly, but pleasant out. There was a small but serviceable crowd. The Melvins ran people outside during their sound check, so that probably helped us...that and it being the last week of summer.

Amusing side observation: I got there early so I got to see the Melvins load in. They arrived in a Sprinter van and unloaded all of their own stuff. I think it was just the 3 of them plus a merch guy. There might have been one other person, I'm not sure. Anyway...it is just interesting to witness the evolution/devolution of rock stars.  I mentioned this to JG and he said "see we really are all in this together." I'm not sure that's true...but what IS true is that there's less distance between seasoned pros with a following and new upstart bands than ever before.  And any upstart band that wants to really just needs to get dedicated...put in the time.  That means time booking, time promoting, and time touring.

And there's the rub. I think I'd be willing to put in the time, but I have a feeling that most folks that I play with are in a weekend warrior situation...they are more than willing to put in the time playing and perfecting the music...but putting the time in on the business and travel end just isn't either what they want to do or are able to do because of other obligations. In the end I'm probably ok with that...I'm not going to push for it...because I think it is a zero sum gain.  "Making it big" is an illusion these days. All anyone can hope for is to make a living...and probably a slim living at that. This has probably always really been the case...but there used to be that "get signed and make it big" dream. That's gone. You make your own way. It was true then even if the dream was out there...but now it is REALLY true. Cause in the end you could be the Melvins or KeD...but you are still getting in a van, driving around, carrying your shit around, and getting paid probably badly.  All the same...I would like to do a tour...even just for a week...just once to see what it is like.

Setlist:

1. Boscobel
2. Teenaged Kicks
3. We Are the One
4. Political Song
5. One Track Mind
6. Helicopter
7. No Lip
8. Mr DNA
9. Dance 4X
10. Hate and War
11. I Hate the Rich
12. New Rose
13. Too Drunk
14. I Am a Cliché
15. You Drive Me Ape
16. Suspect Device
17. I’ve Been So Mad Lately
18. Fucked Up & Wasted

SSW, Mr Roberts, 9/6/2012

A last minute add-on with some guy names Tim B and the Cutouts. We played second. Mr. Roberts had a new PA that wasn't set up right and it took us half the show to resolve in any kind of way. It was my first show with the new kit, which is heavier and has more components than I'm used to having to set up, which is a bummer. But it sounds good. I couldn't really hear the kick drum...but I don't know if this is because of the way I had it muffled or because the sound in general was all fucked up. It is possible that the maple doesn't cut through as much...more low end, less cut. I skipped using the bags and all was well, really only need to be careful of the bass drum hoops, which could get scratched from laying on ground (especially concrete).

I played ok. I had things set up a bit wrong so kept catching stick on underside of cymbals and had to crank my arm weird to hit the ride, but I worked it out as the set went along. We probably weren't ready to play I've Been So Mad and Mr DNA out, but we made it through. I had one beer right before going on and that's all. The guy in the Cutouts managed to break the two lowest bass strings on a single song...that was something new. Don't know if or how much we were paid.

1. BOSCOBEL BREAKOUT
2. TEENAGE KICKS
3. WE ARE THE ONE
4. POLITICAL SONG FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TO SING
5. ONE TRACK MIND
6. HELICOPTER
7. NO FUN/I WANNA BE YOUR DOG
8. DANCE 4X TO THE RADIO
9. HATE AND WAR
10. NEW ROSE
11. WARSAW
12. TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS PLEASE (cut for time)
13. TOO DRUNK TO FUCK
14. I AM A cliché
15. SUSPECT DEVICE
16. I'VE BEEN SO MAD LATELY
17. FUCKED UP AND WASTED (cut for time)
18. MR. DNA

Upcoming Shows and Other Things

Posted in order to clear my head:

• Aug 11: SSW at Great Taste
• Aug 27: first ska rehearsal
• Aug 31: CJ at Mickey's
• Sept 15: FW at Nautigal
• Sept 20: SSE at High Noon
• Sept 22: TD at Frequency
• Sept 23: TD at Mirimar in Milwaukee
• Oct 27 (I think): CJ at Mickey's (as Love and Rockets)

SSW, Froth House, 6/14/2012

Two perspectives for no good reason

We played a totally unplugged show at Froth House.  Traded sets with Jim Schwall and surprise guests Mother Banjo.  I had some concerns about this show going in which I won't go into details about here, but all ended up to be unfounded. We unexpectedly played outside in a sandpit...but my carpet and a borrowed carpet made it bearable. The weather was pleasant and the acoustics not too bad. The mosquintos stayed away until the last song we played. We were asked to come back in the fall.

A surprising number of GRC/LRC gals showed up in support and I suddenly realized that this is a whole new market of fans to be cultivated. It helps that it was an early free show. We didn't sound great and we didn't sound terrible. I was unhappy with the tuning of my snare, but I tweaked it and felt ok after a while. I also just did way more rim clicks. CT told me the bass drum was too loud so I pulled that back second set too. I forgot the words to Hate and War, which was bound to happen eventually. Gotta write that one down. I curse the day I recommended that song in the first place. RS started one song in the wrong key and JG's guitar strap broke mid song and he had to play most of the second set sitting down.  I had bought an acoustic/electric bass just for this show (and an imaginary future Pixies acoustic show) but KS ended up using an upright instead and it sounded great. Someone said they loved my singing and someone said they loved my "drum playing style" which is funny because #1 I was just screaming and #2 I wasn't playing my regular style AT ALL.

Witnessing the affair may have turned CT around to trying the acoustic Pixies set. So maybe that acoustic bass I bought won't go to waste afterall.

Somewhere along the line here I've fallen off the wagon and been run over by the horse and cart and so there were drinks last night. But it didn't affect my performance I don't think. But that's just lucky and needs to not be a trend.

We were paid $35 total plus one sandwich and one beer per band member. More than I expected.

Setlist:
SET ONE
1. PART TIME PUNKS
2. BOSCOBEL BREAKOUT
3. TEENAGE KICKS
4. WE ARE THE ONE
5. POLITICAL SONG FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TO SING
6. ONE TRACK MIND
7. THIS SIDE OF PARADISE
8. HELICOPTER
9. NO FUN/I WANNA BE YOUR DOG

SET TWO
1. DANCE 4X TO THE RADIO
2. HATE AND WAR
3. NEW ROSE
4. WARSAW
5. THE WAY I LOVE YOU
6. TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS PLEASE
7. TOO DRUNK TO FUCK
8. I AM A cliché
9. SUSPECT DEVICE
10. WASTED (skipped this song on the fly)
11. FUCKED UP AND WASTED

SSW, 420 Party, 4/20/2012

We played an acoustic set at a party at JG's house. It was mellow. One of my wire brushes exploded at the end of Political Song and nearly poked my eye out. I was thristy and didn't have enough water handy. I was in charge of putting the set order together and totally failed. The pacing was terrible. But it didn't matter.

Setlist:
Dance to the Radio
Hate and War
The Way I Love You
Part Time Punks
Helicopter
Political Song for MJ
New Rose
Teenaged Kicks
This Side of Paradise
Suspect Device
Warsaw
Two Pints
I Am A Cliché
We Are the Ones
No Fun/I Wanna Be Your Dog
One Track Mind (cut for time & to save RS's voice)
Too Drunk To Fuck
Wasted
Fucked Up & Wasted

Two, two, two gigs in one

Not really. But two in one weekend.

TD and SSW seem to be stalled on the gig front whist CJ soliders on playing out roughly monthly.

On the books at present
Fri, April 20: SSW at private party(unplugged)
Sun, April 22: CJ at HNS for benefit
Sat, May 5: CJ at Mr R
Thurs, June 14: SSW at Froth (unplugged)

The last three weeks of May are out as RS and I are traveling. The week of July 4th as well. So thinking things might be a little quiet this summer on the gig front. But we'll see. Still no final conformation on Halloween...but seems like we're leaning that way. I suspect it'll happen without us ever actually proactively deciding to do it.

Meanwhile...it's not like TD is supposed to be releasing an album or anything. But procrastination is the name of the game there too. And given the current atmosphere in some folks' lives I suppose that isn't surprising. At least we're writing new songs.

Acoustic Drums

SSW tried playing acoustic last night for the first time. It went surprisingly well. No vocal mics...the only amplification was a very quiet bass amp uses with a fretless bass for KS.

I stripped my kit down to snare, hi hat, splash, and bass drum. Added chimes, tamborine, cowbell (didn't use it), baby bongos, egg shaker, and maracas. The maracas didn't work so well so I'll probably ditch them and the cowbell may be unneccessary. I tried playing with brushes, hot rods, and 7A sticks. In general it seemed best to cross stick as much as possible...or play on the edges of the snare to get that hi quiet Carribean sound. The splash was really jarring...so I think it needs to be used less often than I normally crash. I really had to pull back on the sticks and it threw my balance off...which made my bass drum unsteady. I was planned to play a 16" bass at the show...but I think I'll use the 22". It helps keep things grounded and isn't overwhelmingly loud (though more prominent than usual). The boys made out like using brushes was no big deal and the way to go. But this really isn't brush music and I don't really know how to use brushes. They worked really well on one song only...Too Drunk to Fuck...which I converted to a train shuffle with brushes. I think I'll go with hot rods mostly used quietly and cross sticked as much as I can get away with. I might buy a thinner pair to get even quieter too. Note to self...egg shaker worked great on Stooges medley.

Overall...play less and more simply. Drop the complicated bass patterns. Drop most crash/splashes. Simple.

SSW, 1/19/2012, Mr. Roberts

Played another Distortion Thursday at Mr. Roberts with Futebol and Brian Maiden. The Treejasons were supposed to also make their debut, but the show started late, I'd wager that Brian Maiden ran long...and well suddenly we found ourselves at 1:30am playing our last song and the bartender shutting down the show. Whoops. Though I don't feel like the show going short was our fault. Usually we are the ones who get screwed in such a situation, so it was nice at least that it wasn't the case this time.

Futebol I THINK is a novelty act. It really isn't clear. I think you'd either love them or hate them. It was like watching two Nick Murphys perform in the middle of their worst drunk EVER. That's all I can think to compare it to. Brian Maiden was fucking great. I don't know Iron Maiden, but it seemed like they nailed it. Very well performed and the audience loved them.

It was a good crowd. I'd encouraged JG to book bands that we'd never played with...and maybe some newish bands. For your first gig every friend you have comes out to watch. It's a great way to build an audience...by catching folks while they buy their buddies a beer after their first gig. It's a theory I'm operating under at the moment anyway...and it did seem to pan out last night, though I don't know for sure who the people were there for.

We didn't take the stage until well after midnight. I was awake, but was coughing alot. Probably a combo of the zero degree air outside and the poorly filtered heated air inside. Seems to have resolved this morning. I managed to get my vocals out well between coughing fits. My playing was really good for the first several songs, but I got fatigued quickly...especially my right foot. Also, as always, the stage at Mr. Roberts is 1,000 degrees. I really felt sick by the end of the show...a little like puking. By the Suspect Device I wasn't really able to get my bass doubles out very well and switched to "two beats" (bass on 1 and 3)...which is ironically what we are studying in my Berklee class this week. I also thought about Berklee because my practice setup since Blondie is different than my show setup...so I have to reorchestrate on the fly. I think that's actually good for my brain, though it kind of defeats the purpose of learning parts a certain way.

I punked out on the 2nd drum "solo" on Everybody's Happy. Just played it straight. Unless you really know the song you'd never notice and it keeps the beat better. I'd like to get back to playing it the right way (it's simple and is just a matter of independence issues), but I also kind of let it go. I'm working on doing that more often.

Had to loan out some mics and cables as per usual, but since we were there to the end of the show it didn't really matter.

I didn't drink at all (and have only drank on two nights since early November in general) and had a large late lunch of Chinese food. Brought two of my own (disposable) water bottles up on stage (stashed them in my cymbal bag)...I think that is a good practice for the future, screw trying to get water from the bartender. Forgot to bring cough drops and that was a mistake. Thought I had them in my bag but didn't. I felt pretty well rested and alert before the show started.

Setlist:
Everybody's Happy Nowadays (R)
Hate & War (D)
I Hate Rich (J)
Mr Suit (R)
Helicopter (D)
Fable (J)
I Am a Cliché (D)
New Rose ®
You Drive Me Ape (J)
Teenaged Kicks (D)
One Track Mind ®
Too Drunk (J)
Suspect Device ®
Two Pints ®
That’s How I Escaped (J)
Warsaw (D)
We Are the Ones (R)
Fucked Up (J)

SSW, Mickey's, 12/9/2011

Opened for Damidol and SirNoSir!

I borrowed a kit from SirNoSir's drummer...it was a nice 4 piece Gretsch...but the hardware kind of sucked. He had the left cymbal stand also supporting the "rack" tom and that made it really hard to adjust. And then that cymbal stand wouldn't hold solid so my splash kept moving and I had to tighten and adjust between every song. I brought my snare, throne, pedal, and cymbals. The cymbal stands on the right worked ok except they were reverse what I'm used to (the way I USED to play before Halloween, so I was able to adjust but it was still weird). It took forever to adjust the kit and as a result we got started way late. I was crammed against the wall in the center of the room. I was pretty distracted by the problems with the hardware and such, so really didn't have the energy to get nervous. I was sober and think that was good. The whole "increased headspace" effect of being sober more often and playing in rehearsal and out sober more often is just multiplying as time goes along. Two Pints, Too Drunk, and Suspect Device were stupid too fast and I'm not sure if that was my fault or not. I don't start any of these songs...so seems like it wouldn't be my fault...though I might have sped up too much too soon on Two Pints. I think I played well considering the circumstances...and don't feel too responsible for the mistakes that I DID make...it was circumstance not lack of ability or prep. I sang a greater number of songs at this show, in comparison to everyone else, than I ever had. Not my idea...but I suspect this will become more the case in the future...it just feels like the way that the wind is blowing.

Setlist:
Hate & War (D)
I Hate Rich (J)
Mr Suit (R)
Helicopter (D)
You Stupid Fucking Liberals (J)
I Am a Cliché (D)
New Rose (R)
You Drive Me Ape (J)
Teenaged Kicks (D)
One Track Mind (R)
Too Drunk (J)
Suspect Device (R)
Two Pints (R)
Warsaw (D)
We Are the Ones (R)
Fucked Up (J)

UPDATE: Gigs to Date

Here's the updated gig-ography. I've included all dates scheduled through the end of 2011 as well.

Seven Stone Weaklings
2011
12/9 Mickey's
6/16 WORT
4/14 Mr Roberts
3/10 Mr Roberts
2/13 Harmony
1/8 Crystal Corner Bar

2010
12/11 WYOU Fundraiser
11/5 Wisco
10/7 Mr. Roberts
8/17 Frequency
7/25 High Noon Saloon
4/24 Frequency
3/30 High Noon Saloon
2/25 Great Dane
2/14 Harmony Bar
1/22 Mickey's
1/8 Frequency

2009
12/19 High Noon
12/12 Mickey's
9/6 Slackfest private party
July Private party at my house (first show with RS)
5/14 Frequency
4/4 Glass Nickel


The Drain
2011
11/10 WORT
11/9 High Noon
9/22 Great Dane
8/26 The Wisco
7/9 Legend's
6/14 The Wisco
4/4 High Noon
2/25 Beaver Dam Best Western,
2/3 Great Dane

2010
12/31 Mickey's
11/4 Great Dane

Note: TD played many years of shows before I joined them.

Crackity Jones
2011
12/16 Frequency
12/15 Mr Roberts
10/28 High Noon as The Flaming Lips
9/9 Mickey's
5/27 Mr Roberts
5/21 Inferno
4/16 Mickey's
3/21 High Noon Saloon

2010
12/4 High Noon Saloon
10/30 Mickey's
8/28 Mickey's
8/4 Frequency
7/8 Great Dane
6/4 Mickey's
5/19 High Noon Saloon
4/24 Frequency

Other Bands
10/28 Peroxide at High Noon
10/1 Peroxide at Ladies Rock Camp at Madison Music Foundry
See also here for older, now defunct bands.

SSW, 6/16/2011, WORT

We played for Psychoacoustics' pledge drive. They posted our set list on Facebook and people could call in and request that we play songs. They set us up in the WORT vinyl library with 40,000 records surrounding us and a very nice sound engineer. The setup was weird...vocals were monitored via headsets and the rest was just live to the room. Very diorientating. My drums sounded weird (note here that my drums sounded weird the next night too...but I tried tuning them at home on Saturday and everything seemed great. I think the carpeted nature of my house produces a warmer sound than in other kinds of settings. Very hard to compensate for. It's worth saying that the drums sounded fine on the recording of the WORT gig).

I had plenty of sleep and ate well. Had three beers before the show, none during, and four after. This after a full week of nothing to drink at all. My playing was okay. The band had not rehearsed in three weeks and some of these tunes we haven't played very often over the last many months. I found myself forgetting some parts. Strangely my body would take over and play the right rhythm, but not always on the correct drums or with the correct sticking. Most of these songs I don't "practice" on my own anymore unless they are giving me trouble. So it is interesting to see what my brain does with things that I have played for a long time and know well, but that I'm not actively working on. It gives me a glimpse of the future of CJ and the 50-something songs that I have memorized for that band, but can't possibly actively practice every week anymore.

There is a recording of this show...but I'm having trouble extracting it from I-tunes. It will live online only for a week, so I'm not posting the link here. Hopefully I can back fill with the recording later. Note that songs with no curse words were played 9:30-10:00pm and those with curses 10:00-10:30pm.

Incendentally they made their pledge goal and brought in $666.

Setlist. Ah the setlist. We didn't have one. But here's what I THINK we ended up playing:
Helicopter
New Rose
Two Pints of Lager
Don't Give Me No Lip Child
I Hate the Rich
Teenaged Kicks
Boscobel Breakout
Suspect Device
Fucked Up and Wasted
Too Drunk to Fuck
I Am a Cliche
We Are the Ones

SSW, 6/16/2011, WORT

We're playing live on the radio tonight for a WORT fundraiser.

Tracks you can request along with your pledge:

9:30-10 NO FCC VIOLATIONS
1. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES: PART TIME PUNKS...
2. THE CLASH: HATE & WAR
3. THE DILS: I HATE THE RICH
4. THE DAMNED: NEW ROSE
5. MISSION OF BURMA: THAT'S HOW I ESCAPED MY CERTAIN FATE
6. THE UNDERTONES: TEENAGE KICKS
7. XTC: HELICOPTER
8. THE AVENGERS: WE ARE THE ONE
9. THE SEX PISTOLS: DON'T GIVE ME NO LIP CHILD
10. SHAM 69: BOSCOBEL BREAKOUT
11. X-RAY SPEX: I AM A CLICHE
12. M.O.T.O.: DANCE (4X) TO THE RADIO
13. JOY DIVISION: WARSAW
14. THE MINUTEMEN: POLITICAL SONG FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TO SING
15. THE BUZZCOCKS: EVERYBODY'S HAPPY NOWADAYS
16. THE HEARTBREAKERS: ONE TRACK MIND
17. SPLODGENESSABOUNDS: TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS PLEASE
18. CIRCLE JERKS: FABLE

10-10:30 [plenty of fuck the fcc violations]
19. WIRE: MR. SUIT
20. STIFF LITTLE FINGERS: SUSPECT DEVICE
21. THE DICKIES: YOU DRIVE ME APE (YOU BIG GORILLA)
22. PETER & THE TEST TUBE BABIES: MANIAC
23. THE DEAD KENNEDYS: TOO DRUNK TOO FUCK
24. ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE: FUCKED UP AND WASTED

Not listed here is Starman...shit we know 25 songs!

SSW Gigs to Date

This one is harder because some shows predate this blog...

2011
4/14 Mr Roberts
3/10 Mr Roberts
2/13 Harmony
1/8 Crystal Corner Bar

2010
12/11 WYOU Fundraiser
11/5 Wisco
10/7 Mr. Roberts
8/17 Frequency
7/25 High Noon Saloon
4/24 Frequency
3/30 High Noon Saloon
2/25 Great Dane
2/14 Harmony Bar
1/22 Mickey's
1/8 Frequency

2009
12/19 High Noon
12/12 Mickey's
9/6 Slackfest private party
July Private party at my house (first show with RS)
5/14 Frequency
4/4 Glass Nickel

SSW, Mr Roberts, 4/14/2011

We were a last minute add with Pop Suicide. They wanted us to fill as much time as possible.

The show was a comedy of errors. Two mic stands broke. Kenny's bass amp wasn't working properly. Both Rick AND Jim broke strings. On more than one occasion at least one of us was in the wrong key. For a few songs I realized as we started that we hadn't played them in weeks or months. No one but a handful of our dedicated fans (read FRIENDS) attended. They still paid us the $150 guarantee ($75 per band) but warned that we needed to bring a crowd next time. Of course, with less than a week's notice about a show, that's hard to do. Especially for a Thursday show.

I had three beers...one before, one during, and one after. And I drake coffee and 32 ounces of water. Ate a huge pasta dinner. Had decent sleep. I'd say it was pretty sober drumming and not terrible. Mostly I just hadn't played some of the songs for a long time. We also debuted 3 tunes that weren't really ready for prime time but went fine. I recorded the show...not our best performance. Rough start...middle was decent...got sloppy as we hit the home stretch again.

After the show I was accosted by a persistent drunken Moroccan man. First he really wanted to know all about my drums (which are about as "not special" as a drum kit can get and still be playable in a professional situation) and then he wanted to tell me what a great player I was over and over. And then he wouldn't go away. He wanted to talk to me, but wanted me to drop everything I was doing and stare straight into his eyes...but I needed to load out. He seemed unwilling to talk while I packed up...and it created an akward situation. After load out I tried to talk to him, but it became apparent that he was quite drunk AND had some language barriers. He was very passionate about whatever it was that he was saying and really, really wanted me to respond...but he was basically mumbling jibberish. No idea what that was about. I couldn't tell if he was hitting on me...was just really into the drums...or what. I suspect he was in that "when women drum it is so cool and sexy and they are awesome" thing. The drummer that played in the opening band had way better chops than me and he didn't seem interested in that guy at all.

I always find it suspect when people are overly enthusiastic about what a great drummer I am. I think that I am a reliable drummer and do a decent job in a beginning-intermediate kind of way. I don't have tons of chops and I don't have tons of finesse. I have a limited pallette of skills. I have a good amount of experience playing in a group situation and I am good at listenting to my bandmates and reacting appropriately. I try to serve the music and not show off. I practice and I learn my parts and I show up to rehearsal and, unless you are one of those people who hate me (and there are those people in the world) I'm easy to get along with in a band. I promote my shows and even book them as needed. I buy beer for the band. I have my own equipment and transportation and rehearsal space. I pull my weight.

I am not, however, awesome. And when someone tells me I am awesome I think it says more about them than me. They either
1) are a guy that has a hang up about female rockers
2) are a woman who wishes they could be a rocker but is afraid to try
and usually are also drunk.

Setlist:
1. PART TIME PUNKS
2. HATE & WAR
3. I HATE THE RICH
4. NEW ROSE
5. THAT'S HOW I ESCAPED MY CERTAIN FATE
6. TEENAGE KICKS
7. MR. SUIT
8. HELICOPTER
9. WE ARE THE ONE
10. DON'T GIVE ME NO LIP CHILD
[we took a break here to change 2 broken strings]
11. BOSCOBEL BREAKOUT
12. I AM A CLICHE
13. DANCE (4X) TO THE RADIO
14. SUSPECT DEVICE
15. YOU DRIVE ME APE (YOU BIG GORILLA)
16. WARSAW
17. POLITICAL SONG FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TO SING
18. EVERYBODY'S HAPPY NOWADAYS
19. MANIAC
20. ONE TRACK MIND
21. TOO DRUNK TOO FUCK
22. TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS PLEASE
23. FUCKED UP AND WASTED

SSW, 3/10/11, Mr Roberts

We were a last minute add. I was a little sloppy, but not terrible. Dropped sticks alot. Broke a stick too. Someone from audience said we were "tight" which was a very inaccurate assessment.

Setlist
1. HATE & WAR
2. I HATE THE RICH
3. NEW ROSE
4. DANCE (4X) TO THE RADIO
5. TEENAGE KICKS
6. MR. SUIT
7. HELICOPTER
8. WE ARE THE ONE
9. DON'T GIVE ME NO LIP CHILD
10. BOSCOBEL BREAKOUT
11. THAT'S HOW I ESCAPED MY CERTAIN FATE
12. SUSPECT DEVICE
13. TOO DRUNK TO FUCK
14. WARSAW
15. POLITICAL SONG FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TO SING
16. MANIAC
17. TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS PLEASE
18. FUCKED UP AND WASTED