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GREAT GIRLS BLOUSE West Coast Tours Blog
This story of our May 2008 trip to Southern California:
On Friday, May 16 we headed out of town for a long weekend tour to Los Angeles and Long Beach. But first a gig stop in Soquel, CA. The Ugly Mug coffee house was a daylight hours and alcohal free gig...in other words, a true challenge. Lisa Miller opened with a set cut short by her voice strained from touring. We played for an hour to an intimate crowd with intense sunlight at our backs and sweating glasses of iced coffee at our fronts. We gladly ended the night with a 4-song encore so Victor Film Dude could capture us on video. Thanks to Victor for that and to Jordan for booking and doing sound.
Saturday the 17 found us atwe Long Beach GLBT Pride festival. Another 100 degree day filled with margaritas and rum drinks in the sun at the largest Pride in the US. Somewhat tamer than the oversexed Minneapolis pride crows we were used to. Thanks to old college friend Amy Zimiti for coming all the way down to see us and bringing her man Miko to photo. Sandra B followed us on the stage. Thanks Sandra for getting us on the bill.
Sunday the 18 were planned on signing up at the famous Canter's Kibitz Room open mic, but first we had some time to kill. So we walked down Hollywood Blvd in the wrong directions for hours in extreme heat. What's that old Missing Persons song, "Walking in LA. Nobody walks in LA"? I now know what they mean. Cousin Sarah bought us amazing corned beef and knishes at Canters then we headed to the bar to sign up. We got on the list among the bizarre Lost Angeles talent and make enough impression on the Saturday night booking guy to be offered a real gig. Will we make that trek soon again? Only the GLBT gods and heavy metal hairdo ghosts can know for sure.
On Monday, May 19 we planned on signing up to play Kulack's Woodshed Open Mic in Los Angeles. But first we headed to the beach to battle waves in Santa Monica. The drive back from the beach gave a muni rider free peep show at a stop light as Amy de-sanded her swim bottoms. I looked up at the smiling bus face mouthing the words, "That's hot" as he waved his hand as to fan himself. Next to Kulack's Woodshed: a well attended open mic with a professional film crew live streaming on the web and will burn you a DVD for a fee. A tiny storefront filled with 60's originals, LA regulars, small yippy dogs, caged birds and assorted reptiles. Again, it was hot, we played a tune and got great feedback and crowd response.
Tuesday was the drive back home to SF. I really learned to appreciate the SF youth culture and talent. Oh, and did I mention the weather?
On Wednesday, May 21 we were back in San Francisco playing our favorite venue, the Hotel Utah. The main booking folk at Hotel Utah approached JJ Schultz to put one gig each month together for the open mic-ers. And we were chosen to be on the first bill, along with Nutarah, Not An Airplane and Kelly McFarling. It turned out to be a great show, and although we had way too many drinks to hit every note correctly, our fans said it was our best performance ever. Amy bit my shoulder and dropped to her knees onstage. I remained fairly stoic, focussing on my legendary finger work. Our old friend from Minneapolis Eugene Kim showed up to pick our brains. Thanks to JJ Schultz for asking us to play.
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...so begins the saga of our West Coast Tour August 2006, our second tour taking us out of the Midwest. We arrived in Sacramento on Tuesday, August 1.
Our first gig was in RENO, NV at THE ZEPHYR LOUNGE for Wednesday, August 2. We were the only act to take the stage that night at this dark venue forgotten between adult superstores and the glitzy blinking lights of casinos.
On Thursday, August 3 we played THE G STREET PUB in DAVIS, CA, about a half hour outside Sacramento. Davis is a cute little college town and we opened the night to a meat market college crowd. We slowly won over the audience and by the last few songs we were basking in cheers. Thanks to the 2 German scientists for watching every minute of our set. We played with glam bands Tokyo Decadence and girl rockers The Flairs.
Our gig for Friday fell through so we took the opportunity to go sight seeing in San Francisco. I believe I ate the best meal of my life at Piazza Pellegini in Little Italy. We went to The Precidio base, Baker Beach, Haight Street, drove both under and on the Golden Gate Bridge.
On Saturday, August 5 we were set to play THE PLOUGH & STARS in SAN FRANCISCO. We were a bit nervous that the crowd was expecting Irish music but it turned out to be a great gig. We took the stage for 2 full hours in front of a very warm crowd. Amy's highschool contemporary Sarah Tesch and her Uncle Mark Barnett were both at the show. Thanks to Uncle Mark for letting us crash.
From Uncle Mark's place in Martinez we headed out to a the little town of BROOKDALE located in the SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. It was a treacherous drive through no shouldered winding uphill roads surrounded by vineyards. It was Sunday, August 6 and we played at the BROOKDALE LODGE. Food, drinks and a room for the night were on the house. We played unfiltered that night, that is to say, with no soundman, no PA, no amplification of any kind. Just us, as physically acoustic as possible, in the little lounge bar with bikers and locals out for a drink. Mudslide Mike Devitt watched us the entire time and scolded us for missing all the scenery. Dennis the bar tender took care of our thirst needs.
From the Santa Cruz Mountains we headed out for an 8 hour drive all the way South to SAN DIEGO to play at the 710 CLUB, formerly BLIND MELONS. We were the featured artists for Laura Keubel's open mic night on Monday, August 7. The crowd was very warm and I lent my bass to Tim Sharp and Pete Johanson from Swing Designs. This was our best gig to date.
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During our time in Southern California we stayed with my Couzin Sarah, her husband Robin, and their 2 teenagers Ben and Olivia. Thanks to the Russin family. Amy finnaly got to swim in the ocean (we live in MN you know) and it was great. We fought the waves at the Santa Monica state beach. We drove all the way down the Sunset Strip through Beverly Hills and then got a real corned beef sandwich on rye in LA's Fairfax hood.
On Tuesday, August 8 we played at 14 BELOW in SANTA MONICA. It was another dark venue and we opened the night. Thanks to the dude from MANO A MANO for buying us wine and whisky.
Wednesday, August 9 was our big gig at the VIPER ROOM in LOS ANGELES. We were scheduled to play the acoustic showcase in the basement, NOISE IN THE BASEMENT as they call it. This gig gave us everything we wanted and expected from LA, the glamour, the pressure, the parking, the expensive drinks, the doorman with modern hair holding a clipboard and guarding a velvet rope. This gig was the reason we came to California, and it was worth it. In the words of Drew, who booked us that night and did sound, we "killed that room". And one of the Viper Room's owners, Sugarman, insisted on buying a CD and getting us a bottle of wine from the bar to celebrate. Thanks again to Drew, and also to Sarah and Sunbie for coming out to see us. Extra thanks to Sunbie for the great photos of us on stage at the Viper Room.
The next morning we headed back up north to Hayward. We took the stage for a little over an hour at THE BISTRO on Thursday, August 10. The crowd loved us and this was our best night for CD sales. French band, LOST IN MONTREAL, and LA rockers, MATCLI played as well. Thanks to those guys for bringing the PA and helping us fill 3 hours of stage time.
Friday, August 11 was our big gig opening for NEVADA BACKWARDS and THE REFINERY at MARILYN'S ON K in SACRAMENTO. Thanks to Brian Balentine from Nevada Backwards for getting us the gig. Thanks to Phillip from Sacramento's 88.9 for coming to check us out and adding us to Saturday nights play list.
Our next big Saturday night gig was August, 12 at THE DIVIDED SKY in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. Another great gig of us doing 2 hour long sets. Thanks to Brian the owner for the great food and drink. Thanks to Mick from Nevada Backwards for helping us promote the show. And thanks to THE COYS for checking out my bass skills.
Next we headed into hell's traffic to make the early gig at CONCORD'S BOURBON STREET BAR for a Sunday, August 13 all ages matinee. We opened for under-age thrashers ONE LOUDER.
Our 12th and final gig was a last minute add onto MILL VALLEY's SWEETWATER club's world famous and longest running open mic night for Monday, August 14. We agreed to play 2 songs but the crowd, by sheer force of cheer, forced our MC and host, Austin DeLune, to let us play an encore. Definitely one of our best gigs and a great final show before our return home to the little apple.
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