Day 44
Sunday April 13th
I woke up this morning at the ripe ole' hour of 7am. I packed everything up and headed back to the car only to find a pleasant surprise. Someone had left me a Starbucks on the trunk of my car, and it was still warm! The note next to it said, "Hope you had a great night, it was nice to meet you! (big heart) love, your secret hips admirer." The coffee hit the spot, the note certainly perked me up. And with one last dip in the ocean I was down the road and back to VTA.
**I wanted to take a sec to write a quick note to all the chill folks at the Belly Up & the Knitting Factory. All of you that let me jump in front of you to bang out these photos, it is definately appreciated and I am very thankful. A very special heart felt thanks to the fine young ladies w/ the sparkling smiles in the front row the last night at the Belly Up.. the place was super packed & crowded to the hilt but you all volunteered your spots right up front to me for a few pics. That was super cool and I totally am in your debt. If I stepped on any toes (literally or figuratively)
or got in anyone's view I certainly apologize.
Day 43
Saturday April 12th
Mother Hips w/ Jackie Green at the Belly Up, Solana Beach, Calif. 2008.
Sunday April 13th
I woke up this morning at the ripe ole' hour of 7am. I packed everything up and headed back to the car only to find a pleasant surprise. Someone had left me a Starbucks on the trunk of my car, and it was still warm! The note next to it said, "Hope you had a great night, it was nice to meet you! (big heart) love, your secret hips admirer." The coffee hit the spot, the note certainly perked me up. And with one last dip in the ocean I was down the road and back to VTA.
**I wanted to take a sec to write a quick note to all the chill folks at the Belly Up & the Knitting Factory. All of you that let me jump in front of you to bang out these photos, it is definately appreciated and I am very thankful. A very special heart felt thanks to the fine young ladies w/ the sparkling smiles in the front row the last night at the Belly Up.. the place was super packed & crowded to the hilt but you all volunteered your spots right up front to me for a few pics. That was super cool and I totally am in your debt. If I stepped on any toes (literally or figuratively)
or got in anyone's view I certainly apologize.
Day 43
Saturday April 12th
Mother Hips w/ Jackie Green at the Belly Up, Solana Beach, Calif. 2008.
I slept surprisingly well on the patio of a construction zone. Even though the sun had been up for an hour or so, I had picked a spot that was in shade until early afternoon. One of my biggest pet peeves is trying to sleep but the sun keeps drilling into your head. No worries about that this weekend. I slowly, very slowly got up to start the day just after 7. I was pretty impressed with myself truth be told. When I made it back out to the parking lot I was blown away by how many people were out and about. The place was crazy with people running and biking and generally being in shape. It was sickening! If I wanted to see beautiful people all fit and trim being active this early in the morn I would have slept at a gym. I was no longer impressed with myself for being up and about at this hour. Instead I did a sit up and three jumping jacks and felt a little better. I woulda broken out some pimp yoga but I forgot my organic vegan hemp mat at home and I never do yoga without.
Kidding aside, I really did plan on being active all day but it turned out to be so bloody hot. I drove up into the hills (if you call them hills, they are honestly about as high as golf bunkers). I found the trail head easy enough and with a bottle of water I headed out. I made it about 3 miles, and that was probably a very liberal interpretation of "mile." I had sweet coming off me like a cow pissing on a flat rock and I was wheezing like a stuck pig. I couldn't quite seem to get out of the way of my own belly. Never in a hurry I turned around and headed back to the shade of the car. A quick rubdown w/ baby wipes to get the red dirt dust out of every crack and crevasse and it was nap time. I found a quaint little parking spot under a huge tree that provide a nice breezy shade and konked out. It was great, I love my naps something fierce!
I caught a quick lunch at the Tidewater Tavern, a favorite of mine. It is an airy little dive bar that is cheap, not too friendly, and has a crazy cast of locals that filter in and out all day. They are right off the main highway through town though parking can be a pain. After stuffing myself with fish tacos and iced coffee I was ready for another nap. But I didn't. I drove down to Cardiff and found a spot to leave the car just behind Swami's. I bounced over to the bluffs above Sea Cliff. I found a nice shaded spot under a palm tree almost overlooking the ocean and took a seat. I spent the afternoon finishing this stupid letter and just watching the 50+ surfers all fighting to catch the next shoulder high slow roller. It was pretty funny watching some of these chaps. When i was sufficiently covered in sand and sweet (and more importantly finished this behemoth of a letter) I hike down the cliffs and walked along the beach over to the cove in Solana. The cliff faces at sunset are totally majestic!
Kidding aside, I really did plan on being active all day but it turned out to be so bloody hot. I drove up into the hills (if you call them hills, they are honestly about as high as golf bunkers). I found the trail head easy enough and with a bottle of water I headed out. I made it about 3 miles, and that was probably a very liberal interpretation of "mile." I had sweet coming off me like a cow pissing on a flat rock and I was wheezing like a stuck pig. I couldn't quite seem to get out of the way of my own belly. Never in a hurry I turned around and headed back to the shade of the car. A quick rubdown w/ baby wipes to get the red dirt dust out of every crack and crevasse and it was nap time. I found a quaint little parking spot under a huge tree that provide a nice breezy shade and konked out. It was great, I love my naps something fierce!
I caught a quick lunch at the Tidewater Tavern, a favorite of mine. It is an airy little dive bar that is cheap, not too friendly, and has a crazy cast of locals that filter in and out all day. They are right off the main highway through town though parking can be a pain. After stuffing myself with fish tacos and iced coffee I was ready for another nap. But I didn't. I drove down to Cardiff and found a spot to leave the car just behind Swami's. I bounced over to the bluffs above Sea Cliff. I found a nice shaded spot under a palm tree almost overlooking the ocean and took a seat. I spent the afternoon finishing this stupid letter and just watching the 50+ surfers all fighting to catch the next shoulder high slow roller. It was pretty funny watching some of these chaps. When i was sufficiently covered in sand and sweet (and more importantly finished this behemoth of a letter) I hike down the cliffs and walked along the beach over to the cove in Solana. The cliff faces at sunset are totally majestic!
Chillaxing at the cove.
The Lineup.
Golden Hour at the bluffs.By the time I made it back to Cardiff-by-the-Sea (is there any other Cardiff? like Cardiff- just-across-from-the-Bakersfield-Dennys-in-the-middle -of-no-where?) it was dark and I was jonesing for the last night at the Belly Up to get under way. I flew back to down town Solana and found my trusty unmarked parking spot-- it is the only spot that doesn't have a sign saying ti is for cafe use only, quite the find which ensures I do not have to worry about being hassled in the morning. Mabel's was looking as good as ever. Within a few minutes the Dana Point Gang had pulled up and the party was in full swing. Bottles of Sierra and Negro Modelo sin limon and chocolate mushrooms were passing around the parking lot. Vans full of greasy hippies parked next to SUVs full of polo-wearing aging hipsters. Laughter mingled with the smoke from baby back j's and curled up into the tungsten evening. Everyone had a smile, even if they didn't have a ticket.
The Dana Point Gang gearing up at Casa Mabel's before the show.After smoking & joking in the parking lot w/ assorted strangers we all collectively turned toe and headed into the show. I don't even know where to begin or how to describe what came next. Jackie Greene opened up and promptly blew the doors off the joint and the toupee off the dude in the front row and the trousers off the lass in the back row! There were sweaty rocking bodies just piled on top of each jammed around the stage for rows and rows and rows. Dancing rocking fans were doing shots hanging from the rafters and swinging on the chandeliers to the thumping bass lines and waltzing with the ghosts of Jimmy & Jerry and Woody & Kerouac. Actually that may be an exaggeration, I don't remember the Belly Up having chandeliers.
The darkness was piercingly bright! It was intense! Jackie may not live in a dream or live on the moon or drink martinis in the afternoon, but that night everyone jamming to his tunes were most certainly doing all three though not necessarily in that order. I didn't think it could get any louder or the crowd more intensely keyed in-- we were like a single animal bopping and weaving along to every beat, every grimace, ever gyration of the guitar. Then the Prince of Americana went on and busted out Ball and Chain and sure enough it got louder and even more intense. We were all wild animals devouring every bar every lyric -- with every taste leaving us eager for more. It was brilliant indeed!
The darkness was piercingly bright! It was intense! Jackie may not live in a dream or live on the moon or drink martinis in the afternoon, but that night everyone jamming to his tunes were most certainly doing all three though not necessarily in that order. I didn't think it could get any louder or the crowd more intensely keyed in-- we were like a single animal bopping and weaving along to every beat, every grimace, ever gyration of the guitar. Then the Prince of Americana went on and busted out Ball and Chain and sure enough it got louder and even more intense. We were all wild animals devouring every bar every lyric -- with every taste leaving us eager for more. It was brilliant indeed!
Jackie Motha Frakin Greene down on the corner lookin' like a foreigner!
The Prince of Americana giving up the ghost like a ball and chain!Oh yah and the Hips played too. Opening up with Jackie on keys w/ a rip-roaring old fashioned Esmerelda they started out sprinting and never let off the gas the rest of the night. By the end of the night I was covered with exhausted elation, along with the assorted mixed beverage that half the crowd insisted on periodically showering me with. It was a frakin stellar display of old Hips & new Hips.
Not to be out done, Tim strutting his stuff w/ the Mo'Hips.
Ohhh here she comes, white head phones in her ears...!
One last tune before calling it a night, packing it in, and hitting the road.Day 42
Friday April 11th
Mother Hips w/ New Monsoon at the Belly Up, Solana Beach, Calif. 2008.
It was a long drive but we made it into town w/o a problem even though I forgot my map on my desk. I kinda played it by ear and it was a straight shot down the 5. Funny story that has nothing to do w/ anything: while driving down after work my phone starts a tingling. I didn't recognize the number so i was a little hesitant to pick it up. I am super against phones & driving. then again I hate this electronic leash we all call a cell phone in the first place and usually just ignore. I am not sure why I picked up, but I did. And lo and behold it was my first job offer in practically 6 weeks. January and February things were sketchy, but at least interview requests were trickling. Since March 1 I haven't heard a peep, that is until my cellie started a jingling. So I pick up and this voice is like yah we dug your writing samples and want to learn more and see if you are a fit. Of course my mind goes blank, I don't remember the job lead at all. i mean seriously, in the last 6 weeks I have sent out probably two dozen resumes to places all over the world for writing positions, production, post-production, pre-production, photog, coffee whore, etc., etc., etc.
So I was like well refresh my memory, what exactly is the job you are calling about? And the faceless voice squawking in my ear gives me the low down-- growing production firm in the valley, looking for a writer, some solo work, some collaborative work, some PR writing as well every now and again, good pay, some benies, flexible hours. It definately peaked my interest so I ask more about the company. The voice becomes excited, well she says, we are one of the fastest growing production companies in SoCal and one of the most respected names in the adult entertainment genre. Errrrrrrrrrrrrgh...!, slam on the brakes, drop the phone into my coffee cup, back the bus up. Did you say...? Nawwww, really? I wasn't sure what surprised me most-- that I was getting a call for a job in porn or that porn movies had writers! I politely declined although i did take her name and number just in case. You never know right!
Back to the Hips,
So I was like well refresh my memory, what exactly is the job you are calling about? And the faceless voice squawking in my ear gives me the low down-- growing production firm in the valley, looking for a writer, some solo work, some collaborative work, some PR writing as well every now and again, good pay, some benies, flexible hours. It definately peaked my interest so I ask more about the company. The voice becomes excited, well she says, we are one of the fastest growing production companies in SoCal and one of the most respected names in the adult entertainment genre. Errrrrrrrrrrrrgh...!, slam on the brakes, drop the phone into my coffee cup, back the bus up. Did you say...? Nawwww, really? I wasn't sure what surprised me most-- that I was getting a call for a job in porn or that porn movies had writers! I politely declined although i did take her name and number just in case. You never know right!
Back to the Hips,
There's some boys I know... that play that rock & roll (from L to R: Paul, Greg, Tim)
I think I need a small vacation,... Some place where I can’t hear a sound.
I can't sleep, with my head on fire Walkin' around like I'm some kind of woman.
I drink a little beer in a tavern Sing a little bit of these working man blues...
She comes from sunny Santa Barbara...
Take a sad song and make it better...Day 41
Thursday April 10th
Mother Hips w/ New Monsoon at the Knitting Factory, West Hollywood, Calif. 2008.
If you wanna read this re-post from The Grotto, you gotta high lite it w/ ye cursor. Yah it was one of those nights...!
I always feel guilty when the Hips come to LA, they are playing right in my backyard but it is such a pain to get down to Hollywood on a week night. Besides I am not really a big fan of the town in the first place. But I sucked it up and ventured south, and man what a show! It was stellar to hear KC Southern> Whiskey on a SB at the top of the night. Colonize and Poison Oak were tack on to end the night-- with just the right amount of cosmic noodling to put stars in everyone's eyes.
To top it all off, what a bloody eclectic crowd. I mean seriously only a Hips show in LaLaLand would have pink mohawks dancing next to hippy chicks w/ hairy pits dancing next to graying pranksters in tie-dyes dancing next to fake blonds w/plastic lips on iPhones dancing next to confederate rebels with 14 inch beards drinking PBR dancing next to a gaggle of photographing paparazzi dancing next to a dude in a Blue Turtle Seduction t-shirt dancing next to an emo-head in a Ramones t-shirt! It was a rad. I can't wait for the rest of the weekend & the Belly Up. On on...
The professor Paul Hoaglin wailing on the bass.
The philosopher Greg Loiacono rocking the guitar.
The maestro Tim Bluhm on vocals.
Chuck's Chucks.
Screw that 90's unplugged fad, these boys are totally electric, plugged in, tuned out, and cranking it nightly to 11!
Poison Oak noodling...
One more time, pink mohawk-- Hmmmm, note to self, I think there is a song in here somewhere...*Sorry John Hofer (on Drums) not much I can do with a wide angle lens to get a decent shot of your ugly mug. Next time amigo, next time--
strike a pose, vogue or whatever dude its all you.
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