at work before noon...the day after...

well, what can someone say about last night?

highlights:

*three bands played for a whole lotta people.

*there were two instances of crunge-like jam outs.

*charlie ended up dancing nearly naked during the diabolic octopus set.

father, son, & holy smokes! played a great set. we weren't so sure it was going to go well, but ended up really happy with it. i'm counting that as our first real show. trent sang along to skulls pretty well. i also attempted to stay sober at least until we were done with our set. it worked out pretty well. i fuckin' love playing basements. got beer spilt on me. kids danced a lot.

potential caskets were tight as usual. i noticed trent pulled off the, "this is our last song..." trick. to make this trick work for you, here's what you do. you say, "this is our last song!" of course - then - and this is the trick of it...you play four songs. since you don't really pause for more than 30 seconds between them, and don't introduce them as new songs - YOU REALLY ONLY PLAY ONE SONG!

i'm actually a proponent of that method. the caskets did this at a mainstreet books show the other night. because my boss wanted to close and i told trent, "hey, man, make this your 'last song...'"

they're really f'n good. the new songs are awesome and best banter line of the night goes to, "we have a new 7" coming out in april on a label out of florida, it sounds like this..."

then they started to play.

jim cherry, of severed head records, put out the potential caskets full length a little while ago and was really pimping them last night. it was really funny to see his proud papa smile while they played and kids sang along.

stop the presses.

to talk a minute about diabolic octopus.

sure, the name is dorky. what name isn't? 'the beatles?'

maybe, just maybe, 'bag fulla dicks' isn't a dork name. MAYBE.

ok, get past the name. they're so tight. and when they're not THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. i was all mashed up last night trying to tell their drummer jimmy about what i saw when they were off on a part. i'm thinking i came off as a) stupid or b) an ass. i was TRYING to say i loved watching the fumble and recovery. they're tight. holy shit!

and their new songs are amazing too. and everyone dances and they're just damn fun. it's so awesome to watch that many people dance.

their legend will grow. that's for damn sure. they've got a new shirt coming out that i'm excited to see. they had a whole bunch of people make drawings and then they plastered 'em all together. all these drawings of octopi and walrus-eye and shit. it's probably amazing. i drew "cthulu." in case you were wondering that's the ultimate evil: cthulu.

i think they're playing tonight, actually. so - HEY! - if anyone is actually reading this - you can catch them tonight. speaking of which, the cthulu might actually be there too - so - it's probably in your soul's best interest.

i hope the p.a. is alright. (that's a side note)

i went to bed at about 5 in the mornin'. that's when the party started to dwindle.

jaz played a show in fargo yesterday. she called when she was leaving (the night had only barely gotten started)...and made it back in time to party. fargo is about four hours away. that's a good time.

when i woke up at around 8:30, yeah - i was a bit hung over. but i got to it. the world won't wait sometimes. i had to work (i'm there right now) at 11:30, and wanted to start making food for the potluck tonight. that's gonna be awesome fun!

anyhow, when i woke up i found alex tucked in fetal position in the bathroom on the floor. the lights were on and the door was closed. charlie, wade, and matty b. were passed out in the living room. lights were on everywhere and trace elements of the party showcased themselves proudly, as if to say: come again, soon!

downsides? i don't know that there were any. no police. no drama. just good times.

i wish atom's rite, the crooked gospel, and semistranded had played. that sounds like a good lineup though, doesn't it?

hmm...the gears are grinding already...

for tonight i'm making spaghetti and tofu balls and collard green burritos.

what a great night!

p.s. sara and shawn are working on new issues of their zine!

shawn's is called, 'gratuitous violets.'

isn't that awesome?

signing off,
billy batson