Off to a good start...

I really can't remember a year that has shown so much promise. It's a bit deceiving as most of the good things that are happening to me were set in motion long ago. But that does emphasize the fact that instant gratification is generally fleeting. But enough with the dimestore philosophy, let me elaborate. I played my first gig ever a couple of weeks ago at the Bar of Soap and I'm a little surprised I haven't blabbed about it sooner. It might have something to do with the fact that I didn't freak out like I thought I would. That's not to say it wasn't exciting, or that I wasn't nervous but it went well without any major flubs and people seemed to dig it. We (Saddle Tramp) did get asked to open again next month by Donny Ray Ford, so I take that as a good sign.

I was the first one there, and I'm not big on going to clubs, or bars by myself but I have spent more than my share of time at this notorious Dallas dive so I was pretty comfortable. I should have brought some laundry. (For those of you that might be unaware, the BOS is a bar/venue/laundromat that used to book really great bands and they are starting to again.) It's the place where people like The Reverend Horton Heat cut their teeth back in the dark ages, so even though I couldn't care less about him now it's still a pretty cool factoid in my book. Some of the best shows I've ever seen have been at this festering, watering hole, including: Gasoline (Japanese, soul-inspired garagepunk), The Briefs, The Riverboat Gamblers, The Marked Men, The Deadites, The Deadly Snakes, and a slew of others. I missed some great ones there too, like: The Spits, The Epoxies, and The Mooney Suzuki when they still seemed relevant. If I never play another gig at least I can say I played this one.

There have been a whole bunch of great lesser-known local bands that have played there over the years as well including (but not limited to): The Loco Gringos, The Potatoes, Stickmen with Rayguns, The Necrotonz, The Kickz, Power Squid (Austin), and many more I should probably remember. Speaking of criminally overlooked bands, I'm going to Austin to see the legendary Austin band Poison 13 in that wonderful town this weekend. They were just another great band featuring modern-day renaissance man Tim Kerr of The Big Boys, Lord High Fixers, and even Bad Mutha Goose fame among others. Tim is Austin punk, and soul incarnate and a real inspiration. From the beginning the Big Boys (R.I.P. Randy "Biscuit" Turner) sought to break down the wall between audience and peformer encouraging extreme examples of audience participation and a "We're the band/You're the band" attitude. They would end every show by yelling, "Now go start your own band!" at the sweat-drenched crowd. Poison 13 was a departure musically from the punk-funk of the Big Boys, and they couldn't have been more different than the other punk bands of the time with their slower pace and obvious blues influence. With covers ranging from Willie Dixon, to The Troggs, and The Animals they created the template for the many garage, and few mis-labled "grunge" bands to come. They obviously influenced a young man named Mark Arm, who would go on to form Mudhoney, and later play with Tim in The Monkeywrench. Keep in mind that this was the mid-eighties, not exactly a hot time for the currently en-vogue garage rock sound. They play a reunion show about every six years and this is the first one I've been able to attend so I'm stoked. The Austin premiere of Pot Zombies is earlier the same night, so I might try to swing by there too.

...I also bought my first decent guitar; a Fender Telecaster, but I won't get all guitar geek on you about it. However, I am extra twangy now!