Friday, March 28, 2014

O'Brien's On Saturday

Saturday May 29th
O'Brien's Pub, 2941 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405
9:30-close. Free. 21+. Full Band.

photo by Tailstar.com

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

You can't win 'em all...

During a set break at our show on Saturday a couple of our band members were standing out front of the bar and some dude driving by yelled "Fag!" at them.
Then not more than 2 minutes later as we're strapping on our instruments for the next set, a girl who was walking out with her boyfriend turned to us and said "You guys suck!"
All we could do was laugh and play even harder. With still more conviction and an even bigger chip on our collective shoulder. And maybe somewhere in the back of our minds feel a twinge of self-doubt &/or anger. But nevermind all that.
During the next set break some dude who had extremely bad breath and claimed to be the original bass player for MGMT came up to the stage and started giving our bass player tips on how to play. I found him later and got in his face a bit, asking what he does now. He said his life is miserable and that he made many wrong choices and now he works on video games for kindergartners. He also said that he thought there were a couple of elements of the band that were really great and there were some others that were "take it or leave it." Fuck that guy and his miserable life and his stank ass breath.
It's not the easiest thing in the world to drive to a different city, set up a PA from scratch and play original music for 4 hours, laying your heart down on the line. You leave yourself vulnerable.
But it can be very rewarding. It's my favorite thing to do really.
Anyway, we kind of just laughed all of that stuff off, but there was still that literal and proverbial bad taste in our mouths.
Our keyboard player, Jonny, said it best, "I'd much rather actually be gay or really suck, than be the person who yells those things at people." And of course I'd much rather be gay than actually suck. Ok, who are we fooling. I am gay!
But I am not some kinda spiritual zen kinda dude. I am patient and try to be loving while at the same time somewhat living in the real world.
But that kind of negativity can affect you a bit, regardless.
After the bar closed we took our first load of gear out to The Van only to find that someone had drawn an enormous cock on the back window.
We had a good hearty laugh over it.
It was the icing on the cake at the end of a rough night.
But oh yeah, then I had to still drive home. And as we went, I watched the big white moon, so close almost as if it were dangling, like the light of a chandelier, over the swirling waves of the Pacific Ocean. I had to stop on the PCH 3 times just to take in the view and hear the waves relentlessly and violently smashing on the sand. And there was so much peace in that.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

The Van, my girl : Basement Tavern Friday : Ventura Saturday

Friday March 20th
Basement Tavern from 9pm-close
2640 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405
Full Band.
21+
Free!


Saturday March 22nd
The Tavern, 211 E Santa Clara St. Ventura, CA 93006
8-close. Free!


 


Ol' Bessie, The Van, my girl.

I just got her out of the shop. So I took her out tonight. I ran her through her paces. She did good. She did real good.

We went out, just me & her. Up through the Sepulveda Pass to the 101 North. Lilted and lurched through a bit of traffic. Then smooth sailing. I wanted to really test her out. Get her ready for the boys this weekend through to the busier Summer travel months.

So I took her up in to the canyons and hills of Malibu. We were flyin'. She was ridin' smooth as ever. Like a dream.

Up Kanan Road. Riding like the wind.

& not even until we're on the way down does the same warning light turn on that's been coming on for 4 months on & off through countless phone calls, trips to the mechanic and thousands of dollars later. I turn the music off.

And I smell the heat coming off her. Real bad.

So I put her in neutral the rest of the way down the hill.

Headed South on PCH goin' 35MPH. 20 below the limit.
Cops, Ferrari's & drunks passing by with no bother.

Even though she was running real hot, I pushed to her limit out to our old favorite spot right on the beach there in Malibu. I could hear the waves crashing.

I had a couple tacos stowed away in case we got stuck. So I cozied up inside her and we had a little picnic.

And finally I look up and I see the most surreal enormous gorgeous moon just barely rising up over the city and dancing intricate choreography on the ocean. Glowing a big luscious orange until settling on a sublime yellow. And we enjoy our tacos, me & Ol' Bess. Relishing the moment.

She's cooled down by now so I drive us straight to the mechanic & leave 'em a note to take good care of her. And lemme know if we can salvage her.

As I'm waiting at the mechanic for the cab to come, a bum on her bike is riding in circles around us.
She asks me if I have any money. And I said no.
And then she asked if I was in that movie. And I said what movie. Then I looked down the street and saw there was a big movie filming. And I said no. But she didn't believe me. And she said what's your name? And I said paul. And she said paul what? And I said Paul Iamnotfamous. And she laughed and said I like that Paul. It's nice to meet you. And I said nice to meet you too, what's your name. And she said Delicious-- Delicious Iwish. And we stood there and laughed and we bumped fists. And then she rode her bike around in more circles. I hugged ole Bessie girl I once knew and am hoping for the best for her tomorrow. Ol' Bessie, Delicious Iwish and all of us.
Love,
Paul Iamnotfamous


Paul Chesne Band's Fan Box