Off the Hook!

Ah, so me and Matt went to a party in Oakland last night. It was an underground rave called "Off the Hook" It was in this tiny little warehouse with two rooms, each with a DJ spinning. By far I liked the music in the back room best. Lots of hardcore, a little happy, some drum and base, tiny bit of breakbeat, mostly hardcore all night, it was the best. I danced my ass off most of the night and met some cool people. Had a blast. Also I've got pics from our adventure into San Francisco the day before, but I think thats another update.

Media Blitz:
View from the back of the main room.

Can't Stop Raving!(click for bigger)


Defiance, Ohio - Anxious and Worrying, Long Beach, CA


_ntrpe

Cyriak animation, Moo!

Funny/surreal animation about the curious interactions of cows and off-world visitors." Cows are always getting themselves abducted by UFOs, thats just the plain truth. Some of them even look forward to it, filthy beasts that they are."

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Backpost

Posting from my Uncle Pete's house in Novato, CA. We're waiting on Pete to get here with the moving truck so we can help take some of his stuff to the storage place. He's moving out pretty soon. Today is our day off just sitting around and being lazy. Might go to Berkeley later and see if I can't find someone to hit up my tattoo. Gonna grab some munch.

Here's a couple posts written on the road:

===
Tues. Jan. 8th
1:43pm PST

So here we are, driving again. Jamming out to some classic rock. Making the 6 hour drive from L.A. to San Fran. The final show of the tour was last night, and boy was it badass. The best set so far was at The Glass House record store in Pomona, but all the shows have been freaking awesome. I'll put up a few more videos when we get an internet connection. My Youtube will be inundated with Defiance, Ohio.
Opening before Vena Cava last night was The Max Levine Ensemble, and they really rocked it too. Was really cool to see them, probably won't for a long time. Got to wish a few memebers of Defiance well and good luck in Australia before we left.
I've never done anything like following a band before, and this has got to be one of the best trips ever so far. I'm loving being freewheeling in California, even though gas is a bitch. I don't know what our plans for tonight are, we should be reaching the bay area around 7-8. There's an MSI video shoot in Sacramento tomorrow we might go to, its in the air. We're driving up the 5, through some beautiful hills. Just came into a badass valley. The rain finally let up yesterday and we're hoping it'll stay away until we're gone.
Defiance, Ohio's newest CD: The Fear, The Fear, The Fear is freaking awesome. I first listened to it, and despite sounding a little bland I liked it. But after having seen most of the songs live, it takes on a whole new life. Some of the songs were way better live, but the CD is still awesome. It's FREE on their website, so you don't have any excuse not to check it out.
I've spent alot of time thinking about what I'm doing when I get back to San Antonio. I'm pretty sure I'll still have my job, so thats a slight comfort. Not that I ever really like having a job. I really want to travel more, hop a train or two, just live it up. Bloomington is calling my name ever louder and louder, so I think I need to go check it out. I'm looking forward to the national Rainbow Gathering in July, I've got a bit of experience under my belt and I hope I can get a big group of friends to come make a camp. I really can't wait to get back to my friends in countdown city and regale them with awesome tales of my wondrous journey. And I happen to know a few pretty ladies who are awaiting my return for some nunsy time. Hopefully things will go right with one of them. I only had one relationship this past year, and it was barely two months and not very serious on my part. But I'm looking and I think I may have found a girl worth my time and trust. But thats an unfolding story that waits for another day.

Here's to everyone on the road, here's to friends at home, here's to family and here's to love.
Until next time.

:: 10:55pm PST ::

I'm awaiting a 4 patty burger from In-N-Out, we're a little north of San Jose, heading up to Novato. We didn't make it into San Fran today, we got rained on most of the drive which slowed us down a bit. We hung out with Matt's cousin in San Jose and had a chill night. I got presents for friends back in SAtown, so it was a good day all around. As long as you count 8+ hours in the car good. Ok, so i didn't get on, I'll have to post this later. Everyone be safe out there.

_ntrpe

P.S. Did you Know, according to Animal Planet: "Orangutangs are the new Meerkats."

Media Overflow

Deadliest Tree Ever!! (click for bigger)

This Bike is A Pipe Bomb (click for bigger)

Condition 11:11 with great "seats"

Road Signs Always Look Better over your Shoulder!

Posting this from L.A. Heading to Long Beach tonight for the last show. We're on the guest list tonight so that should be rad. Then we travel on. The shows have all been badass so far. A house show, An Art Gallery show, one on UCLA campus, and a record store. The show tonight is at a Warehouse, so it should be dope. I'm gonna tackle the day and update more later.
Safe travels y'all

_ntrpe

On the road

Photo from 1st morning on the road, in Phoenix. Jan 2nd. (Click for Bigger)

Friday Jan 4th, 4:02 PM PST
CA-37 Just outside Novato, CA

So here I am stuck in traffic in California. We're on the road to San Luis Obispo, about 250mi down the coast. We got here late tuesday night and crashed out at Matt's uncles house in Patterson, just south of Oakland. On Wedensday we went to visit his grandma then went to Berekly to wander around. Wandering around on Telegraph was great, we ate this great cafe where I enjoyed a delicous Hummus sandwhich and Matt had some vegetarian chilli. We went to one of the most badass record shops I'd ever been to, it was a bit overwhelming. All the glass was amazing, even the simplest water pipe on display put everything in San Antonio and most of Austin. We got turned away from the local pharmacy and given some sage advice about the area from the doorman. While walking down Telegraph we actually passed by Mike from defiance, it was pretty crazy. The show that night was at The Purple House on Genoa St. It was a pretty righteous community punk house that collectively ran a grocery. We got there to see some of Vena Cava who play most of the other shows with defiance and tbiapb. The guitarist had the most awesome handlebar mustache I'd ever seen. After that defiance started setting up and I squeezed into the front room to get as close as I could. They were pretty much playing on a couple palletes in the corner of this small room, the chandelier was barely a foot above my head. But the set was awesome and everybody loved it. After that This Bike is a Pipe Bomb played a badass set as well. I got a chance to talk to Mike and Will from defiance so it was really cool to meet them and talk to em a bit. I only talked to this one other cat in Arkansas so I still look forward to talking to him again as well. After the show we beat feet to my uncle Pete's in Novato. We got there just as the weather was turning ugly. It seems we're here and doing all our main traveling during the worst storm to hit the coast for a few years. Here's hoping it won't effect next weeks planned camping outing too much. I'm worried we might not make the show, so I'm gonna hop off the 'puter now.

_ntrpe

Side note: We did make the show, 1 or 2 songs into TBiaPB's set then Defiance played. Was a great show, I'll have some photos up a lil later. Mike even called us out on traveling with them, it was badass.