Yesterday, Chris and I went on our weekly trail ride. On the surface, this is a very easy thing to say; but then, it is also easy to say "the bomb exploded" or "the car went over the cliff" - simple phrases that, beneath their simplicity, conceal chaos, energy, confusion, and the certainty that someone is gonna shed some blood somewhere along the way...
We started out in high spirits. This was our fourth ride, and we were feeling confident in our knowledge of the trail and our growing capability on our bikes. I was wearing aquasox this time out; no blown sandals for me, and no hours of squishing in soggy shoes after fording Barton Creek. An unorthodox strategy to be sure, but it worked well. Our plan was to bike all the way to the Hill of Life, about 7 miles from the Spyglass trailhead, and then head back, stopping to cool off in the creek at one of the many spots that are available on the trail. A good plan, with concrete goals that would stretch us enough to let us know that we had been working.
The first kink in the plan showed up about 100m down the trail: part of my portside pedal fell off after hitting a rock. Now, I have probably one of the oldest and cheapest bikes on the trail, but it's doing the job until I can afford a new one... however, I have been fighting this crappy pedal problem since we started riding something other than asphalt. I really think that the people that designed this bike had no intention of it ever seeing a rock bigger than the end of your little finger. However, I was determined to press on and not let my crappy ride screw up the day... so, after testing the pedal to ensure I could ride with one piece missing, we pressed on.
From that point, the ride went pretty smoothly; the decision to wear the aquasox (Chris was wearing his also) proved to be fairly sound after we had forded the creek a couple of times, and we made record time to Loop 360, where we had had to turn back last week due to a blown sandal. We also met some cool people on the trail that gave us pointers on which trails to take, since we had never been that far before. There is one point along the trail that, if you take one branch, you are required to walk along a cliff face, carrying your bike in one hand while holding a chain in the other... which didn't sound like a lot of fun to us, but hey, that's why they call it "mountain" biking, right? Heh.
Fortunately for us, before we came to that point, we encountered Dennis, who has been biking these trails for years. He showed us where to cross the creek and avoid the cliffs, plus giving a couple of neophyte riders plenty of tips... then, he led us on the trail to Twin Falls, showing us that there are some really skillful and helpful people out on the trails - in fact, I have not found anyone on the trails, hiking or riding, that was not friendly and helpful - if only everyone could catch on to that vibe :) Dennis continued on from there to Twin Falls, while we pressed on to Sculpture Falls and the Hill of Life beyond.
It was about here that the second kink in the plan showed up: I had planned to bring some energy bars to give me a boost on the trail, and keep me from becoming fatigued too soon. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to write a note to that effect... with me, if it's not written down, it doesn't exist. I realized the error when I started thinking it would be a good time for some energy... and then I remembered that we hadn't stopped to pick anything up on the way. Oh, fun. I was still feeling ok, starting to get a bit tired, but nothing bad. Yet. Onward and upward!
In fairly short order, we reached the intersection at which, had we been feeling brave and macho, would have led us right up the Hill of Life - a long climb that will test the endurance and will of any who would venture onto her slope... but not, for us, today. We turned back and started making plans for our victory lunch... a bit prematurely, as it turned out. I started really feeling the burn, and was finding it hard to focus on the trail. Parts of the trail that were taken easily on the outbound leg were causing me some problems now. All signs were pointing to system failure before we could make it back to the Jeep.
This is where having a buddy is essential to any endeavour such as this. Chris was a great source of encouragement, giving me the will to push farther than I ever would have alone. He also kept tabs on how I was doing physically, whether I was gonna fall or not... we rested often, and I'm very glad he was so patient :) Every time I had to carry my bike over rocks (some that I had confidently ridden over on the outbound leg) was harder than the last. At one point, I was going downhill and a rock diverted my front wheel - and I found that I could no longer control the bike. A few seconds later, I found myself upside down (literally) on the side of the trail, with my bike somewhere behind me (it's all kind of fuzzy) and my right hand and knee hurting like hell. Fortunately, Chris was behind me and helped me up, got my bike, and after a brief rest we were on our way again. We made it to a place where we could get in the creek, and we jumped in to cool off; I cleaned up the best I could and just let the cool water restore some energy to me. It also helped with some of the soreness from the fall. Once we were out of the water, we got back on the trail and I was actually able to ride some rough spots without carrying the bike - but this didn't last very long, and then we came to a fork in the trail - left to continue the trail, right to the Loop 360 trailhead.
At this point, I was really feeling the fatigue, and to top it all off, my camelbak was empty... so, we made the decision that I would climb out at the Loop 360 trailhead, Chris would continue on to Spyglass and recover the Jeep, and then he would come pick me up. I was very bummed that I wasn't going to make it back to the trailhead, but I knew that if I continued down the trail, then I would more than likely have another spill... and possibly a broken bone. I had reached my limit. But at the same time, I had ridden farther than I had ever done on the trails, and I knew that I had given my total effort, and left it all on the trail... so I felt good about that. As Chris took off down the trail, I rode the entire way up the trail to the trailhead... one last effort to cap the day :) Once at the top, I found a picnic table, unloaded my gear and parked my bike, then got comfy and took a cat nap... some time later, Chris called me to find out where I was located; in short order he found me and we started to load my stuff.
Once we got my bike and gear loaded, it was off to Pluckers for a well-earned victory dinner! Let me tell you, beer and buffalo chicken sandwiches have never tasted so good! After dinner, we hit Dairy Queen for a bit of ice cream and then Chris dropped me off at my place... no Saturday night beer drinking for us that night! After a shower, I went in to the bedroom and crashed around 7pm... and woke up Sunday morning at 0730, some 12 hours later! I can't remember the last time I slept that long.
It was the hardest ride I have ever done in my life, I had two pretty hairy spills, and I know Chris was wondering if I would ever come out for another ride - but I had more fun yesterday than I showed; I just had no energy to express it :) I'm an outdoors kinda guy and I have been spending too much time inside (and it shows) but I am determined to get my lazy ass in gear and get in shape -even if it kills me (or not)!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Weekend Report
This weekend, Chris and I tried the right-hand side of the Barton Creek Greenbelt trail (as you come from Spyglass/Barton Skyway)... you remember, the one we had all the problems with when we started this whole biking thing? Well, we are a bit more experienced now, a bit more in shape, and with some trail intel gathered from various sources, we had a much better time! We made it all the way to Loop 360 before we had to turn back due to a blowout... not a tire, unfortunately; we were both prepared for that - I blew out my hiking sandal on my right foot! They were pretty old and well used, so it was not really a surprise, just damned inconvenient (to say the least). I did a quick wrap job with my trusty bandanna and back we went... once we got back to the trailhead, we went past it and headed for the creek, to cool off and relax a bit. Then it was back to the Jeep and off to chow - this time we hit Brooklyn Heights Pizza at Parmer / Avery Ranch Road... it's run by a couple of friends of ours, and they really make an awesome pie! It's a slick little place that has a bar, indoor dining, patio, and takeout window, so no matter what, you can find a way to get your fill - they even have pizza by the slice for the lunch crowd!
After lunch, we got cleaned up and went out to Ted and Tisa's new place for the housewarming party, with a case of our Pale Ale in the back of the Jeep... we had a great time out there! Ted can cook like nobody's business, and there was plenty of beer - the Pale Ale was a great hit, and I got to talk homebrew shoptalk with Ted's parents... there was a Cinco de Mayo pinata, horseshoes, and lots of time to just chill. They have 5 beautiful acres near Wimberly, out where it's quiet and if the clouds weren't so thick, you could see millions of stars... reminded me of growing up :)
Today was yardwork day, first one in about a week since it's been raining so much - my yard looked like a jungle... I just can't afford to pay someone to do it for me, or believe me I would - I believe that my character is probably just about set in stone now, so there's no real benefit for me to do the lawn myself, right?
After lunch, we got cleaned up and went out to Ted and Tisa's new place for the housewarming party, with a case of our Pale Ale in the back of the Jeep... we had a great time out there! Ted can cook like nobody's business, and there was plenty of beer - the Pale Ale was a great hit, and I got to talk homebrew shoptalk with Ted's parents... there was a Cinco de Mayo pinata, horseshoes, and lots of time to just chill. They have 5 beautiful acres near Wimberly, out where it's quiet and if the clouds weren't so thick, you could see millions of stars... reminded me of growing up :)
Today was yardwork day, first one in about a week since it's been raining so much - my yard looked like a jungle... I just can't afford to pay someone to do it for me, or believe me I would - I believe that my character is probably just about set in stone now, so there's no real benefit for me to do the lawn myself, right?
Friday, May 04, 2007
Sixth Street has been Humiliated!
We had a great show at the Troubador Saloon last night - thanks to all our loyal fans for coming out and making it a great time! The stage seemed a bit empty since 'Zilla is in rehab right now, but we still turned out one of our best shows ever... and, to the unknown person that gave us a $5 tip, rest assured that your donation will go to the most noble of causes; 'Zilla 2.0
And, if you didn't stick around for The Whoremoans, you missed one helluva show - kick ass wall-shaking rock and roll, culminated by The Humiliators' Todd and Kozy joining Ben and crew onstage for Seek and Destroy to close the set - these guys have the Godzilla Seal of Approval!
Before the show, we stopped by the Flamingo Cantina to catch Red Line Riot... Kevin, Brandon and Dug were serving up plenty of Rock Goodness (TM) in the Hendrix tradition - the perfect way to get ready for a night of rock! Then, after they were done at the Flamingo, they came by the Troubador to catch part of our show - those guys rule...
Keep your eye on the website for upcoming gigs!
And, if you didn't stick around for The Whoremoans, you missed one helluva show - kick ass wall-shaking rock and roll, culminated by The Humiliators' Todd and Kozy joining Ben and crew onstage for Seek and Destroy to close the set - these guys have the Godzilla Seal of Approval!
Before the show, we stopped by the Flamingo Cantina to catch Red Line Riot... Kevin, Brandon and Dug were serving up plenty of Rock Goodness (TM) in the Hendrix tradition - the perfect way to get ready for a night of rock! Then, after they were done at the Flamingo, they came by the Troubador to catch part of our show - those guys rule...
Keep your eye on the website for upcoming gigs!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Storms are cool!
As the thunderstorms moved through the area tonight, I was over at Chris's house... we were knocking back some homebrew, chatting and watching the concert of light and sound - freakin' awesome! Thunderstorms, for some goofy reason, are so relaxing for me... of course, so are three of the beers that Chris and I made - they've got a bit o' kick to them :) rack time....
Monday, April 30, 2007
Godzilla 0 Moshpit 1; Wedding on the Lake; Mountain Bikes Redeux plus More!
Godzilla is dead.
Last Thursday's gig at Room 710 was simply smashing - literally! It was an awesome show, we had some of Collin and Tierney's wedding guests show up and we had Steve... Our Wildest Fan (tm) who, after a number of PBR's and other unknown influences, wound up crashing into Godzilla during a particularly energetic mosh. As the saying goes, though - we can rebuild him; we have the technology... better, stronger, more bad-ass than ever! Look for Godzilla 2.0 coming to a Humiliators show soon! He probably won't be with us at Troubador's on Sixth Street (this coming Thursday at 11p) because the stage is kinda small, but don't worry, he will return! Be sure to come out and lift a glass for 'Zilla! After we are finished, stick around for The Whoremoans - we met them at our last gig at the Red Eyed Fly, and they can rock!
Friday was spent working from home (due to a big dog & pony show at the office) and then Chris came over with some brew... and his brand-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler! Yes, you heard correctly, the Mustang GT has been traded for a Jeep - and a good trade it was, judging by the way Chris can't stop smiling :) He's really a Jeep guy anyway, more so than a Mustang guy... and it was probably only a matter of time before he became better acquainted with Local Law Enforcement. After we finished the beer, it was off to the rack, because Saturday would bring....
Mountain Bike Crash Derby II
Saturday morning Chris picked me up at 10a and we headed for the Barton Creek trail head. We made a couple of stops along the way, then finally we pulled into our parking spot and unloaded the bikes. Once we hit the trail, we took the left hand side and rode to Zilker Park, then along the Town Lake trail to Lamar Boulevard, and then back towards the trail head, retracing our steps. At some point, Chris had the questionable notion to let me lead for a bit; everything was cool for a while, then I missed a turn... not a problem, right? We love to explore the path less travelled. Onward I pedalled, then came to a concrete drainage ditch, many of which cross the trail at various points. However, in a fit of total brainlessness, I was way out over my handlebars when my front wheel hit the other side of the canal; this caused the wheel to stop in compliance with Newton's First Law of Motion:
An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by a net force.
As I flew over the handlebars, Newton's Second Law of Motion immediately popped into my head.
Force equals mass multiplied by acceleration
Since I have quite a bit of mass, and I was travelling at a good clip when I stopped, a bit of quick math gave me the inescapable conclusion that this was gonna hurt. (Most of you probably figured that out without the math.) Knowing that Newton's Third Law of Motion states that,
To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction,
I was minutely comforted by the fact that my impact had moved the planet in its orbit by some zillionth of a millimeter... It's nice to know you can have an effect on the world :)
I picked up myself and my bike, made sure nothing on the bike was severely damaged, and then took a look at the damage to my right leg - nothing more than road rash. Dirt and blood are a badge of honor - if you aren't crashing, you aren't riding :) Rinse off, tied a bandanna to stem the worst of the bleeding and off we went, on the correct trail this time, and made it back to the truck in due course, whereupon I promptly dropped my sunglasses down the storm drain, which totally made the day complete. Total distance, 9 miles - a big improvement over last weekend! I even felt much better this week, despite the pain in my right hand and the blood running down my right leg... next week we are going back down the right trail, and see what we can find... maybe I need full body armor this time...
After heading to Moe's for burritos (such a deceptively simple statement), Chris dropped me back off at my place, just in time to take a shower, cool off for 15 min, and then get dressed and hit the road again for the main event...
The Logan/Wayne Wedding
Our drummer, Collin, tied the knot with his best girl, Tierney in a wedding on Town Lake... (courtesy of Lonestar River Boats)! It was without doubt the coolest wedding I have ever attended - and after the important bit was done, we all went to the main deck where there was lots of home brew beer, cider, mead, root beer, and assorted other goodies; a food table that was packed with all manner of good stuff; and, of course, the wedding cake... and the champagne for the toast... we had the best party on the lake! There was lots of time for everyone to mingle and kick back and enjoy the evening... Collin's sisters Jennifer and Jessica and I hung out on the lower deck - we had an awesome time, and just before we docked, the captain took us to the Congress Bridge to watch the bats leave for their evening feed... All in all, a pretty cool evening!
Once we got back to the shore and got the boat unloaded, it was off to the Broken Spoke for some good old-fashioned Country-Western Music and cold beers for all... I met Tierney's sister Courtney and her boyfriend Travis... Collin and Tierney showed up a little later and it was a great time, until at last, it was time for the newlyweds to make themselves scarce and the party broke up, as, alas, all parties must eventually do... so, after goodbyes were said and everyone got on their way home safely, I found my way back to Round Rock and crashed... got up about 0830 on Sunday, got online to check email, and found Chris online.
Batteries, BBQ and Beer
I found out that he was headed to San Marcos to the Black & Decker Outlet for a replacement battery for his cordless drill - this sounded like a most manly quest, so I decided to accompany him... after suitable preparations, he stopped by the house in the new Jeep and off we went. It was an awesome day for driving around, except for the high concentration of Amateur Drivers on the roads. We made good time to the mall, and I was able to replace the shades I dropped down the storm drain farther up the page :) After the target of the quest was secured, we drove north in search of sustenance, of a type that would sate a manly appetite... the only logical choice was The Salt Lick - more BBQ than you can deal with in one sitting, and as long as you keep eating it, they keep bringing it! A heroic effort was made, and we retired from the field of honor secure in the knowledge that we gave as good as we got :)
We then took a leisurely drive through the Hill Country, stopping at REI so Chris could buy some new sandals, then we went back to Round Rock for some beer to finish the weekend out... and we had some surprise guests! Jennifer and Jessica came up to retrieve Jessica's camera which she had left in my truck the night before (I found it while retrieving my wallet before we left for San Marcos)... Jessica is an Amateur Radio operator as well, so Chris gave her a tour of his station, and Jennifer was adopted by Dakota (Chris's hyperactive Alaskan Husky/Shepherd mix)... they stayed for a couple of beers and some socializing, then the girls set out for home and Chris and I started working out how to install his VHF rig in the Jeep. That didn't last long, however, before we quickly decided that more beer was needed... so, we retired to the back porch, finished off the beer, and put the cap on one of the best weekends I have had in a long, long time!
Last Thursday's gig at Room 710 was simply smashing - literally! It was an awesome show, we had some of Collin and Tierney's wedding guests show up and we had Steve... Our Wildest Fan (tm) who, after a number of PBR's and other unknown influences, wound up crashing into Godzilla during a particularly energetic mosh. As the saying goes, though - we can rebuild him; we have the technology... better, stronger, more bad-ass than ever! Look for Godzilla 2.0 coming to a Humiliators show soon! He probably won't be with us at Troubador's on Sixth Street (this coming Thursday at 11p) because the stage is kinda small, but don't worry, he will return! Be sure to come out and lift a glass for 'Zilla! After we are finished, stick around for The Whoremoans - we met them at our last gig at the Red Eyed Fly, and they can rock!
Friday was spent working from home (due to a big dog & pony show at the office) and then Chris came over with some brew... and his brand-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler! Yes, you heard correctly, the Mustang GT has been traded for a Jeep - and a good trade it was, judging by the way Chris can't stop smiling :) He's really a Jeep guy anyway, more so than a Mustang guy... and it was probably only a matter of time before he became better acquainted with Local Law Enforcement. After we finished the beer, it was off to the rack, because Saturday would bring....
Mountain Bike Crash Derby II
Saturday morning Chris picked me up at 10a and we headed for the Barton Creek trail head. We made a couple of stops along the way, then finally we pulled into our parking spot and unloaded the bikes. Once we hit the trail, we took the left hand side and rode to Zilker Park, then along the Town Lake trail to Lamar Boulevard, and then back towards the trail head, retracing our steps. At some point, Chris had the questionable notion to let me lead for a bit; everything was cool for a while, then I missed a turn... not a problem, right? We love to explore the path less travelled. Onward I pedalled, then came to a concrete drainage ditch, many of which cross the trail at various points. However, in a fit of total brainlessness, I was way out over my handlebars when my front wheel hit the other side of the canal; this caused the wheel to stop in compliance with Newton's First Law of Motion:
An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by a net force.
As I flew over the handlebars, Newton's Second Law of Motion immediately popped into my head.
Force equals mass multiplied by acceleration
Since I have quite a bit of mass, and I was travelling at a good clip when I stopped, a bit of quick math gave me the inescapable conclusion that this was gonna hurt. (Most of you probably figured that out without the math.) Knowing that Newton's Third Law of Motion states that,
To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction,
I was minutely comforted by the fact that my impact had moved the planet in its orbit by some zillionth of a millimeter... It's nice to know you can have an effect on the world :)
I picked up myself and my bike, made sure nothing on the bike was severely damaged, and then took a look at the damage to my right leg - nothing more than road rash. Dirt and blood are a badge of honor - if you aren't crashing, you aren't riding :) Rinse off, tied a bandanna to stem the worst of the bleeding and off we went, on the correct trail this time, and made it back to the truck in due course, whereupon I promptly dropped my sunglasses down the storm drain, which totally made the day complete. Total distance, 9 miles - a big improvement over last weekend! I even felt much better this week, despite the pain in my right hand and the blood running down my right leg... next week we are going back down the right trail, and see what we can find... maybe I need full body armor this time...
After heading to Moe's for burritos (such a deceptively simple statement), Chris dropped me back off at my place, just in time to take a shower, cool off for 15 min, and then get dressed and hit the road again for the main event...
The Logan/Wayne Wedding
Our drummer, Collin, tied the knot with his best girl, Tierney in a wedding on Town Lake... (courtesy of Lonestar River Boats)! It was without doubt the coolest wedding I have ever attended - and after the important bit was done, we all went to the main deck where there was lots of home brew beer, cider, mead, root beer, and assorted other goodies; a food table that was packed with all manner of good stuff; and, of course, the wedding cake... and the champagne for the toast... we had the best party on the lake! There was lots of time for everyone to mingle and kick back and enjoy the evening... Collin's sisters Jennifer and Jessica and I hung out on the lower deck - we had an awesome time, and just before we docked, the captain took us to the Congress Bridge to watch the bats leave for their evening feed... All in all, a pretty cool evening!
Once we got back to the shore and got the boat unloaded, it was off to the Broken Spoke for some good old-fashioned Country-Western Music and cold beers for all... I met Tierney's sister Courtney and her boyfriend Travis... Collin and Tierney showed up a little later and it was a great time, until at last, it was time for the newlyweds to make themselves scarce and the party broke up, as, alas, all parties must eventually do... so, after goodbyes were said and everyone got on their way home safely, I found my way back to Round Rock and crashed... got up about 0830 on Sunday, got online to check email, and found Chris online.
Batteries, BBQ and Beer
I found out that he was headed to San Marcos to the Black & Decker Outlet for a replacement battery for his cordless drill - this sounded like a most manly quest, so I decided to accompany him... after suitable preparations, he stopped by the house in the new Jeep and off we went. It was an awesome day for driving around, except for the high concentration of Amateur Drivers on the roads. We made good time to the mall, and I was able to replace the shades I dropped down the storm drain farther up the page :) After the target of the quest was secured, we drove north in search of sustenance, of a type that would sate a manly appetite... the only logical choice was The Salt Lick - more BBQ than you can deal with in one sitting, and as long as you keep eating it, they keep bringing it! A heroic effort was made, and we retired from the field of honor secure in the knowledge that we gave as good as we got :)
We then took a leisurely drive through the Hill Country, stopping at REI so Chris could buy some new sandals, then we went back to Round Rock for some beer to finish the weekend out... and we had some surprise guests! Jennifer and Jessica came up to retrieve Jessica's camera which she had left in my truck the night before (I found it while retrieving my wallet before we left for San Marcos)... Jessica is an Amateur Radio operator as well, so Chris gave her a tour of his station, and Jennifer was adopted by Dakota (Chris's hyperactive Alaskan Husky/Shepherd mix)... they stayed for a couple of beers and some socializing, then the girls set out for home and Chris and I started working out how to install his VHF rig in the Jeep. That didn't last long, however, before we quickly decided that more beer was needed... so, we retired to the back porch, finished off the beer, and put the cap on one of the best weekends I have had in a long, long time!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Humiliators at 710 Club Tonight!!
Join The Humiliators as we continue our conquest of the Red River District! We take the stage at Room 710 (710 Red River) tonight at 11pm - we've got a new tune, plus plenty of the ass-kickin' rock you know you can't get enough of... get off your keisters and ROCK!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
bachelor party, mountain bikes and home brew - oh, my!
Rockin' the Bachelor Party
Weekends come and are as quickly gone, but the weekend just past (20-22 April) will go down in the Big Book of Weekends as one to remember! Friday was a day of rest and relaxation in preparation for the days ahead - I took a vacation day and slept till noon... then, after doing the needful, met with the rest of The Humiliators for Collin's Last Night of Freedom. Todd volunteered to DD and he piloted the 'Burb as we made the rounds... first up was brews at Opal Divine's; they were jam-packed and service was tough, but they had some good music cookin, and there were a lot of homebrew folks in for a convention so we got some IPA from one of them... (redacted) ...then we slipped over to Momo's about midnight, where Steamroller played till 0200! These guys are just freakin' awesome! There was a pretty good crowd there, and the room was definitely rocking... as the song says, "There ain't no party like a Steamroller party!"
After everyone was dropped back at their houses, I headed for Round Rock and made it into the sack about 4am, which set the stage for...
Bike Trail from Hell
Saturday morning (barely - try 1145) found me dragging my ass out of the sack and into the shower... Chris and I were going trail riding. He has a brand-new bike, I have my +10yr-old bike, and we have decided that we are getting in shape... so it's probably no surprise that, after partying all night (like the Rock Star I am), I wasn't feeling particularly energetic. This plus the fact that, after a week without cigarettes, I fell off the wagon for one night (drinking and smokes seem to go together) and I was definitely feeling the effects - which is more incentive to stay off of them, oddly enough. The shower did a pretty good job of waking me up, and a pot of coffee and breakfast got me the rest of the way... loaded up the bike and met Chris at his place, transferred the bike to his truck and off we went. We made a quick stop at REI to pick up some gear, then off to Barton Creek...
Now, I haven't been on a bike in waaaaay too long... I'm talking maybe, 5 years? Also, most of the riding I've done is of the urban type - streets, paved/gravel bike trails, back yards, alleys, that kind of thing. So, when Chris told me we were going to ride on the Barton Creek trail system, I was expecting something similar to the trail system in Tulsa - nice wide paths, some nice grades but mostly a good way to get from Broken Arrow to Sand Springs via Downtown Tulsa, without having to hassle with automotive traffic. Not that I am afraid of dirt, rocks, etc. but I was rather expecting a more gradual re-introduction to the joys of human-powered transportation.
I forgot that Chris doesn't do gradual.
We arrived at the trailhead, parked, got the bikes out and geared up... I figured by the looks of things that we weren't going to be cruising on a paved trail, but that was cool... there was a nice steep grade going down to the trail, and once there, we headed right... and then the fun began. The trail was fairly smooth for about a hundred meters, but then it got really narrow, and lots of rocks - some as big as a grapefruit, loose, buried, you name it, and all looking like they want to turn my bike's wheels into a big metal taco... I was bouncing all over the place - no suspension on my bike (it's old, remember?) so all the shocks were transmitted right through the frame... occasionally I would hear some pretty hairy "POP"s from my tires as they skated off of some rock outcropping... and to top it all off, we were having to walk the bikes a lot more than I was expecting to portage around the larger obstacles; I remember thinking, "well, here's another fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Stanley". It didn't take very long before I started to get somewhat synced up with the bike, and actually started having a bit of fun! We still weren't getting much riding done, however... so we decided to cross the creek at one point to find better trails. Remember how I said Chris doesn't do gradual? He decided to ride across Barton Creek (which is flowing rather nicely), and ended up going for a swim with his bike :) Actually it looked rather refreshing, but I contented myself with portaging across... we had a good laugh about it and pressed on. The trail on the other side of the creek was better, and eventually we wound up back at the creek, headed back toward the trailhead. This is the point where my right contact decided to fold up and pop out... I just love putting those things back while in the field :-/
Once that crisis was over, we portaged the creek again and headed back to the trailhead, then past it to the trail that goes up to Zilker Park... much nicer! still some rocky spots and another nice steep grade, but all told, a vast improvement! We made pretty good time although there were a lot more people on this side of the trail, both pedestrian and bicycle, so we had to watch for traffic a bit more. At some point during all this (memory is kinda foggy) I got my front wheel wedged in a crevice and almost went over the front bars... except that i caught them right in the gut, knocking the air out of me and giving us an unplanned rest stop. Once I recovered, we rode outbound for a little more then my body started really complaining about the amount of abuse it was taking... not that we were really pushing, but remember, this is the first ride in like forever! Chris is in much better shape than me, and he was zipping ahead of me and then waiting for me to catch up... good thing he's patient :) I ended up walking the bike up both grades on the way back to the trailhead, but he took them on the bike (someday that'll be me). Once we made it back to the truck, Chris informed me that we had ridden 3.22 miles (funny, seemed a lot more). I actually felt a lot better then, although I am sure most of it had to do with the "runner's high" I was experiencing - hadn't worked out that hard in a while!
On our way to Pluckers for some well-earned chow, we decided that this was going to be a weekly event... stay tuned for more!
Ambrosia of the Gods
Once we had a chance to clean up a bit and get into some dry clothes, we went over to Chris's house to break open a couple of bottles of the Pale Ale that we brewed up a few weeks back... this was the "Quality Control" phase :) Chris put the QC bottles in the fridge and we enjoyed some Guinness while Chris introduced me to Squad Leader, an old Avalon Hill strategy game (think Age of Empires with boards and counters)... after explaining the rules and playing a turn, we broke out the beer.
Drumroll......
Success! It is a very good beer - clear, nice color, good aroma; we were afraid it would be under-hopped, but it seems to be just right; the carbonation was a bit low, but that was to be expected since they were only bottled a week ago - next week will be better! A very drinkable beer that could have been poured from any tap in town... w00t! Now, it is my turn, and I think I have settled on a Brown Ale (think Newcastle) for my first foray into homebrew... it will definitely be fun; I just hope mine comes out this good... but whatever happens, it will be beer!
Weekends come and are as quickly gone, but the weekend just past (20-22 April) will go down in the Big Book of Weekends as one to remember! Friday was a day of rest and relaxation in preparation for the days ahead - I took a vacation day and slept till noon... then, after doing the needful, met with the rest of The Humiliators for Collin's Last Night of Freedom. Todd volunteered to DD and he piloted the 'Burb as we made the rounds... first up was brews at Opal Divine's; they were jam-packed and service was tough, but they had some good music cookin, and there were a lot of homebrew folks in for a convention so we got some IPA from one of them... (redacted) ...then we slipped over to Momo's about midnight, where Steamroller played till 0200! These guys are just freakin' awesome! There was a pretty good crowd there, and the room was definitely rocking... as the song says, "There ain't no party like a Steamroller party!"
After everyone was dropped back at their houses, I headed for Round Rock and made it into the sack about 4am, which set the stage for...
Bike Trail from Hell
Saturday morning (barely - try 1145) found me dragging my ass out of the sack and into the shower... Chris and I were going trail riding. He has a brand-new bike, I have my +10yr-old bike, and we have decided that we are getting in shape... so it's probably no surprise that, after partying all night (like the Rock Star I am), I wasn't feeling particularly energetic. This plus the fact that, after a week without cigarettes, I fell off the wagon for one night (drinking and smokes seem to go together) and I was definitely feeling the effects - which is more incentive to stay off of them, oddly enough. The shower did a pretty good job of waking me up, and a pot of coffee and breakfast got me the rest of the way... loaded up the bike and met Chris at his place, transferred the bike to his truck and off we went. We made a quick stop at REI to pick up some gear, then off to Barton Creek...
Now, I haven't been on a bike in waaaaay too long... I'm talking maybe, 5 years? Also, most of the riding I've done is of the urban type - streets, paved/gravel bike trails, back yards, alleys, that kind of thing. So, when Chris told me we were going to ride on the Barton Creek trail system, I was expecting something similar to the trail system in Tulsa - nice wide paths, some nice grades but mostly a good way to get from Broken Arrow to Sand Springs via Downtown Tulsa, without having to hassle with automotive traffic. Not that I am afraid of dirt, rocks, etc. but I was rather expecting a more gradual re-introduction to the joys of human-powered transportation.
I forgot that Chris doesn't do gradual.
We arrived at the trailhead, parked, got the bikes out and geared up... I figured by the looks of things that we weren't going to be cruising on a paved trail, but that was cool... there was a nice steep grade going down to the trail, and once there, we headed right... and then the fun began. The trail was fairly smooth for about a hundred meters, but then it got really narrow, and lots of rocks - some as big as a grapefruit, loose, buried, you name it, and all looking like they want to turn my bike's wheels into a big metal taco... I was bouncing all over the place - no suspension on my bike (it's old, remember?) so all the shocks were transmitted right through the frame... occasionally I would hear some pretty hairy "POP"s from my tires as they skated off of some rock outcropping... and to top it all off, we were having to walk the bikes a lot more than I was expecting to portage around the larger obstacles; I remember thinking, "well, here's another fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Stanley". It didn't take very long before I started to get somewhat synced up with the bike, and actually started having a bit of fun! We still weren't getting much riding done, however... so we decided to cross the creek at one point to find better trails. Remember how I said Chris doesn't do gradual? He decided to ride across Barton Creek (which is flowing rather nicely), and ended up going for a swim with his bike :) Actually it looked rather refreshing, but I contented myself with portaging across... we had a good laugh about it and pressed on. The trail on the other side of the creek was better, and eventually we wound up back at the creek, headed back toward the trailhead. This is the point where my right contact decided to fold up and pop out... I just love putting those things back while in the field :-/
Once that crisis was over, we portaged the creek again and headed back to the trailhead, then past it to the trail that goes up to Zilker Park... much nicer! still some rocky spots and another nice steep grade, but all told, a vast improvement! We made pretty good time although there were a lot more people on this side of the trail, both pedestrian and bicycle, so we had to watch for traffic a bit more. At some point during all this (memory is kinda foggy) I got my front wheel wedged in a crevice and almost went over the front bars... except that i caught them right in the gut, knocking the air out of me and giving us an unplanned rest stop. Once I recovered, we rode outbound for a little more then my body started really complaining about the amount of abuse it was taking... not that we were really pushing, but remember, this is the first ride in like forever! Chris is in much better shape than me, and he was zipping ahead of me and then waiting for me to catch up... good thing he's patient :) I ended up walking the bike up both grades on the way back to the trailhead, but he took them on the bike (someday that'll be me). Once we made it back to the truck, Chris informed me that we had ridden 3.22 miles (funny, seemed a lot more). I actually felt a lot better then, although I am sure most of it had to do with the "runner's high" I was experiencing - hadn't worked out that hard in a while!
On our way to Pluckers for some well-earned chow, we decided that this was going to be a weekly event... stay tuned for more!
Ambrosia of the Gods
Once we had a chance to clean up a bit and get into some dry clothes, we went over to Chris's house to break open a couple of bottles of the Pale Ale that we brewed up a few weeks back... this was the "Quality Control" phase :) Chris put the QC bottles in the fridge and we enjoyed some Guinness while Chris introduced me to Squad Leader, an old Avalon Hill strategy game (think Age of Empires with boards and counters)... after explaining the rules and playing a turn, we broke out the beer.
Drumroll......
Success! It is a very good beer - clear, nice color, good aroma; we were afraid it would be under-hopped, but it seems to be just right; the carbonation was a bit low, but that was to be expected since they were only bottled a week ago - next week will be better! A very drinkable beer that could have been poured from any tap in town... w00t! Now, it is my turn, and I think I have settled on a Brown Ale (think Newcastle) for my first foray into homebrew... it will definitely be fun; I just hope mine comes out this good... but whatever happens, it will be beer!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Spring + The Humiliators = ROCK
We are slightly more than halfway through April now, with spring showers, cool temperatures, blooming flowers and green foliage abounding... along with the inevitable rising pollen count. Tax Day is behind us now, for good or ill, and the days are getting longer and longer as we move toward the Summer Solstice, regardless of the artificial boundaries that we try foolishly to place on the diurnal cycle (can't we just pick one time scheme and leave it alone!)... my yard is desperately trying to make up for months of dormancy, and the trees and hedges are doing their best to engulf the house... and all the rain means I have not been able to mow the lawn yet. Nice.
I love this time of year, even though it means yard work and such, because it also means it's time to go camping and bike riding! I am looking forward to this year because my best bud Chris just bought a mountain bike, so I have someone to ride with! Maybe I can finally get my butt out of the house and on the bike... I got it all tuned up, and even though it's at least 10 years old it's still serviceable; it'd be nice to have the suspension and disc brakes that the newer bikes have, but whatever - in the end it has two wheels, pedals and brakes - not much else is needed :)
Chris and I have also started brewing beer! He is an old hand at homebrew, but I have never been involved on the supply side of the equation (focusing mainly on demand), so this is a great chance to learn how it's done, and become More Environmentally Conscious(TM) by consuming what we are producing (whatever!)... We bottled two cases last Saturday; this weekend is the first taste test, and we should be starting a new batch soon - it will be my first batch of beer, so we will see how it goes!
Check out the pix from our gig at the Red Eyed Fly on Sunday - Marc did a fantastic job, as always! We really enjoy playing the Fly - the sound system is awesome, there's plenty of room on stage, and lots of room on the floor for our fans! We had a blast! Kozy was back, 'Fredo and Kay were resplendent in their Official Humiliators Gear, panties were thrown - everything our fans have come to expect from Godzilla's Favorite Band! Following us was one bad-ass band, The Whoremoans; holee cats, they can rock! You can catch both The Humiliators and The Whoremoans at the Troubador Saloon on Sixth Street, Thursday, 3 May 2007 - The Humiliators at 11p, and The Whoremoans at 1230a... it's gonna be a bad-ass show! This will be our Sixth Street cherry-poppin' gig, so come out and help us do it in style! Then, on Friday 25 May 2007, The Humiliators are taking it on the road to San Antonio! We will be at Jiggers (click for map) at 9pm, taking the ROCK to San Antonio... we are planning a caravan, so if you are interested (of course you are interested!) contact one of the band members and get on board!
The Humiliators aren't the only band out there tearing up the stage - I had the chance to catch Red Line Riot at Momo's on Friday the 13th, and I just have to say, holee cats those guys are phenomenal! If you haven't seen these guys, you have no idea what you are missing! They lay down serious Hendrix-inspired rock goodness, and when they pulled out "Manic Depression"... probably the closest thing to hearing Jimi on stage you can get these days. Then, after their set was over, Starchild took the stage, and they served up a big plate of rock and funk that had everyone groovin! The bass player was just freakin' TIGHT, and on a fretless to boot... sweet! If you are looking for some good music this weekend, check out Steamroller @ Momo's, 11p on Friday 20 May 2007 - these guys have been rockin' Austin for a long time, and it's always a good time when they take the stage! You might even be able to catch some familiar faces in the crowd... just sayin.
More news as it rolls in - it's spring ya know, so things are starting to perk up... you never know what might happen :)
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Yay, me next!
If you missed The Humiliators at the Red Eyed Fly on Wednesday 28 March, hang your head in shame... it was a kick-ass rock show, even with half of the Axes of Evil away on a family emergency. We had an awesome turnout, and the booking agent was really impressed - so impressed, in fact, that we have been invited back to the Fly on Sunday, 15 April @ 8pm - this is your chance to redeem yourself and claim your spot among the True Rock Believers!
However, between now and the 15th, you have two chances to catch Godzilla's Favorite Rock Band; Wednesday, 4 April we will be playing our sophomore show at Trophy's Bar on South Congress @ 10.30pm, and Thursday, 12 April we will rock the Tiki Stage at Headhunters Club (720 Red River) @ 11pm - Looney, Sergio, Houston and the rest of the crew at HH always take care of us and know how to ROCK!
However, between now and the 15th, you have two chances to catch Godzilla's Favorite Rock Band; Wednesday, 4 April we will be playing our sophomore show at Trophy's Bar on South Congress @ 10.30pm, and Thursday, 12 April we will rock the Tiki Stage at Headhunters Club (720 Red River) @ 11pm - Looney, Sergio, Houston and the rest of the crew at HH always take care of us and know how to ROCK!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
studio updates and other news
The Humiliators were in the studio last Sunday, putting some of our new stuff on CD - we have six tracks that should be making it to the final master... there are *rough* cuts on the site right now. We have gigs coming up Wednesday 4 March @ Headhunters and Wednesday 28 March @ Red Eyed Fly... don't miss any of the rock goodness! You can also show your support by going to our CafePress Store - nothing says "I am superior" like Humiliators Gear! Go over there right now and check out the wide selection of goodies... or Godzilla will find your house and you don't want that, do you?
Of course you don't.
Of course you don't.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Band news and warmer weather
It's been a busy time for The Humiliators - we had three gigs last week; Wednesday night was our debut at Trophys Bar on South Congress, as well as the debut of "Godzilla - King of the Monsters", who made his ominous presence felt onstage breathing smoke (no fire - we're not Great White) and commanding all present to rock during his epic theme, "King Of The Monsters"! Dave "Humiliated" everyone by showing up and rocking the house after being released from the hospital only the day before... our faithful groupies were in the house, tossing panties and declaring their undying love for us... Happy Valentine's Day, ladies!
Thursday night found us at one of our favorite hangouts, HeadHunters, in the heart of the Red River District. Looney, Sergio and the crew definitely know how to take care of a band! Despite the cold snap (about 40°F) we kept the back patio hot by putting on one of our best shows yet... if you weren't there, check out these pics and resolve to never, ever again miss another show! You'll also see the King of the Monsters in all his Technicolor, smoke-billowing glory!
Sunday was the cap of the mini-tour, as we played for 12,000 runners in the AT&T Austin Marathon... and if you thought Thursday night was cold - it was about 35°F (give or take a degree or so) when we set up at 0530 on Sunday morning at Congress and Riverside! Even with extensive preparations for the conditions, we could barely feel our fingers after our set was done! We really had a blast though - and the runners seemed to really appreciate our attempts to keep them "Burnin' Down the Highway"... not so much the poor guy we woke up with our 0630 sound check - sorry, man! Todd (our vocalist) has participated in this event in previous years, so he well knows the value of having great music to spur you on as you tackle a 13 or 26 mile run (crazy bastards, if you ask me!). Kudos to everyone who ran, rode, walked, played or otherwise supported the event!
We are going into the studio on 4 March to record some new material, and we are hitting the pavement for more gigs - keep an eye on thehumiliators.com for news and gig dates - you can also click here to get on our mailing list, so you will never miss being "Humiliated" again!
I think we have finally managed to make it to warmer weather - it was almost 80°F today, and hardly a cloud in sight! We may see another cold snap, but if so it won't be bad or very long in duration... to which I say, "about damn time"! I am past ready for outdoor activities that don't involve dressing in layers - I know, I have turned into a cold-weather wuss... so be it!
Check back here for more news as it happens - back to you, Bob...
Thursday night found us at one of our favorite hangouts, HeadHunters, in the heart of the Red River District. Looney, Sergio and the crew definitely know how to take care of a band! Despite the cold snap (about 40°F) we kept the back patio hot by putting on one of our best shows yet... if you weren't there, check out these pics and resolve to never, ever again miss another show! You'll also see the King of the Monsters in all his Technicolor, smoke-billowing glory!
Sunday was the cap of the mini-tour, as we played for 12,000 runners in the AT&T Austin Marathon... and if you thought Thursday night was cold - it was about 35°F (give or take a degree or so) when we set up at 0530 on Sunday morning at Congress and Riverside! Even with extensive preparations for the conditions, we could barely feel our fingers after our set was done! We really had a blast though - and the runners seemed to really appreciate our attempts to keep them "Burnin' Down the Highway"... not so much the poor guy we woke up with our 0630 sound check - sorry, man! Todd (our vocalist) has participated in this event in previous years, so he well knows the value of having great music to spur you on as you tackle a 13 or 26 mile run (crazy bastards, if you ask me!). Kudos to everyone who ran, rode, walked, played or otherwise supported the event!
We are going into the studio on 4 March to record some new material, and we are hitting the pavement for more gigs - keep an eye on thehumiliators.com for news and gig dates - you can also click here to get on our mailing list, so you will never miss being "Humiliated" again!
I think we have finally managed to make it to warmer weather - it was almost 80°F today, and hardly a cloud in sight! We may see another cold snap, but if so it won't be bad or very long in duration... to which I say, "about damn time"! I am past ready for outdoor activities that don't involve dressing in layers - I know, I have turned into a cold-weather wuss... so be it!
Check back here for more news as it happens - back to you, Bob...
Thursday, February 08, 2007
less than a week to go...
Make sure you clear your calendar next week - you'll have three chances to catch The Humiliators in action! Bring your significant other to Trohpys Bar on Valentines Day for a dose of Rock-n-Roll Love... Then come out to HeadHunters on Thursday and chill on the back patio while Godzilla roars his approval... and if that's not enough rock to satisfy you, wake up early Sunday with The Humiliators at the AT&T Marathon - we are playing the half-mile marker, providing inspiration to the runners and keeping warm with fiery Rock! Head over to www.thehumiliators.com for the complete calendar, times and info... see ya there!
Friday, January 12, 2007
The Humiliators @ Trophys on Wed 17 Jan 07
So what if it's a school night? Who cares if you gotta work on Thursday morning? We all have day jobs... so suck it up and show the love for The Humiliators as they kick off their '07 tour! The music starts at 10p, and so far it looks as if we are the third act, so that probably means we will take the stage around midnight... prepare to be Humiliated! It's a free show so you have absolutely no excuse not to be there!
Trophys Myspace
Trophys Myspace
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
upcoming gigs for The Humiliators
Hey, all you faithful Humiliators! We've managed to land a couple of gigs - Thursday, 21 Dec 2006 @ Headhunters (708 Red River) and Wednesday, 17 Jan 2007 at Trophy's (2008 S. Congress) - scoot over to The Humiliators MySpace for more info and showtimes - see ya there!!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Fall Camping Trip 2006 Pics are up
Head over to to check out some of the pics from our trip to SW Oklahoma... you can see more here, at my brother's Flickr page - look for the set labeled "Birthday Weekend"
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Toddfest pix and upcoming gigs...
Go check out The Humiliators Myspace; Michelle has linked the slideshow she put together from Toddfest 06... over 90 pics that will either remind you of the good times you had that night, fill in some blank spots from that night ;) or make you insanely jealous that you couldn't be there... but take heart - The Humiliators will be joining forces with the Killer Crocs of Uganda at RedRum on Thursday, September 14... so if you missed out, or simply can't get enough rock-n-roll, come out and Support Your Local Bands (tm)!!!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
... and the rock gods smiled...
ho-lee-freakin'-cats! What a weekend! The party out at Jim's place was awesome, and not only because it didn't rain this year - lots of folks were there, and our set went really well! There was some guy in the pool that was headbangin' like mad - rock on, dude! :) It was freakin' hot out there - good thing the pool was handy, but after the show I was soaked and whipped... big thanks to Jim and Joyce for having us out and keeping us fed and watered ;) After a few bottles of water and a double-and-a-half of Glenfiddich, I felt much better, so I got into the truck and headed home... made it home and got in bed by 0130 - 18 hours to ToddFest. Around ten-ish, I woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb... wait, stop. ;) The girls left for lunch and shopping, I grabbed a late lunch after doing a bit of laundry and then tried to chill for a few hours until it was time to leave... easier said than done, though... I wasn't so much nervous as ready to get started!
I went early to get a good parking space, and found one right in front of the fence for easy loading... Another huge shout out and lots of love to Vince and the gang at The Velvet Spade - except I don't think it's The Velvet Spade anymore, just never asked what the new name is gonna be; whatever it is, those guys rock! You have to go check this place out - it is definitely one of my favorite watering holes in town! So, after clear skies the night before, it had been raining off and on throughout the day so it looked like we were gonna have to play inside (very crowded), but in the end we decided to play outside and the rock gods smiled! No rain, lots and lots of people, and more than enough rock to go around!
First up was The Killer Crocs of Uganda with a killer set, then an interlude with Fire K8 on the rooftop, and Miss Maulie vamping her way across the stage... w00t! :) Then The Humiliators took the stage, and let me tell you - I was nervous... but I knew if I could hit those first notes it'd be cool from there on. I have to say, we freakin' rocked! All the work and practice paid off in full last night, and it was freakin' awesome! After another sizzling interlude with Fire K8 and Miss Maulie (I'll never look at martini's the same way again :) ), Austin's Loudest Band, Steamroller, took the stage... all I can say is, holee cats... those guys are awesome! The crowd was right up on the stage, there was random moshing going on, it was loud and we were loving it! They took us right up to the stroke of 0200, when it was over and everyone had to load up and leave... of course you never just leave ;) so it was about 0315 before I finally got the truck pointed north... and, after spending 40 minutes in the line at Whataburger (apparently they only staff two people max at that time) I crashed out about 0440. Big props again to the guys at the Velvet Spade, Killer Crocs, Steamroller, my homies in The Humiliators, Miss Maulie, Fire K8, and a big Happy Birthday to Todd, the whole reason for ToddFest in the first place, and to his wife Michelle for doing such an awesome job organizing such a big event... we really packed the Spade!
So now, it looks like we are going to work on a couple of new originals, and maybe get a gig or two in the coming months... keep an eye on our site for more info!
I went early to get a good parking space, and found one right in front of the fence for easy loading... Another huge shout out and lots of love to Vince and the gang at The Velvet Spade - except I don't think it's The Velvet Spade anymore, just never asked what the new name is gonna be; whatever it is, those guys rock! You have to go check this place out - it is definitely one of my favorite watering holes in town! So, after clear skies the night before, it had been raining off and on throughout the day so it looked like we were gonna have to play inside (very crowded), but in the end we decided to play outside and the rock gods smiled! No rain, lots and lots of people, and more than enough rock to go around!
First up was The Killer Crocs of Uganda with a killer set, then an interlude with Fire K8 on the rooftop, and Miss Maulie vamping her way across the stage... w00t! :) Then The Humiliators took the stage, and let me tell you - I was nervous... but I knew if I could hit those first notes it'd be cool from there on. I have to say, we freakin' rocked! All the work and practice paid off in full last night, and it was freakin' awesome! After another sizzling interlude with Fire K8 and Miss Maulie (I'll never look at martini's the same way again :) ), Austin's Loudest Band, Steamroller, took the stage... all I can say is, holee cats... those guys are awesome! The crowd was right up on the stage, there was random moshing going on, it was loud and we were loving it! They took us right up to the stroke of 0200, when it was over and everyone had to load up and leave... of course you never just leave ;) so it was about 0315 before I finally got the truck pointed north... and, after spending 40 minutes in the line at Whataburger (apparently they only staff two people max at that time) I crashed out about 0440. Big props again to the guys at the Velvet Spade, Killer Crocs, Steamroller, my homies in The Humiliators, Miss Maulie, Fire K8, and a big Happy Birthday to Todd, the whole reason for ToddFest in the first place, and to his wife Michelle for doing such an awesome job organizing such a big event... we really packed the Spade!
So now, it looks like we are going to work on a couple of new originals, and maybe get a gig or two in the coming months... keep an eye on our site for more info!
Monday, July 17, 2006
counting down to party time...
Holy cats, only 4 days left till the Big Party Weekend! We have been rehearsing like mad for the last week, with only one more scheduled before the weekend... it is gonna be *awesome*! It's gonna be tough to make it to Friday at the office :) good thing I took Friday off - it'll make the week that much shorter!
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