Nice Boys - Rose Tattoo

Flyer by Robert Headnoise

'Why do I live in Vegas again? LOL

I climbed back on the horse I rode in on and made the trek to California this past weekend to play a few gigs with Headnoise, the only band I'm officially in. The rest of the bands I play for I'm just filling in... ha ha ha Both gigs were in Long Beach, one at Fern's Cocktails, a cool neighborhood spot that's just getting back going with doing live gigs again, and the other was at the Blacklight District Lounge, where the Water Street Werewolf warned me not to get shocked by the mics there. Like I'm a singer! Pfffttt!! I spent my days in CA at the beach just hanging out grubbing and sitting on the rocks and watching the ships go out to sea and my nights were spent at the bars hanging out with friends and checking out bands. Saw a couple worth mentioning too. Carsex were the sound and essence of The Bronx, back when they were good and not fat and stupid and singing in mariachi uniforms like a bunch of racist asshats. They rocked the fuck out of Fern's. Their sound was brooooootaaaalll and the singer was a crazy eyed maniac who climbed on top of everything and crawled on anything that didn't move. And sometimes he even sang into the mic. ;) I didn't make it to Holè Molè directly across the street after the gig, because I didn't wanna get beat up over some late night tacos. I didn't buy any of the "black" that was being offered by everyone walking around on the streets, tempting as it was, but instead just grabbed a sandwich and chips from a gas station before calling it a night.

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Flyer by Robert Headnoise

​The next night at the Blacklight District Lounge, just down the street from Fern's, I saw 2 bands worth mentioning before I had to split to drive back to NV. Dirty Hammer were the essence of that classic HB Punk sound, a sound perfectly encapsulated by bands like China White, The Simpletones, Vicious Circle, you name it. Such an entertaining band to watch and their songs were stuck in my head for hours after the gig. On the sidewalk in front of the bar the singer of Dirty Hammer told me crazy tales of rare test pressings given to him by bands and legendary backyard gigs that he had no business attending at such a young age... heh heh Until We Die are always good everytime I see them. They always play before or after us, so I never get a chance to take pics but I always listen to them play. They sound like The Bronx too, but with a more creepy crawl metallic Black Flag slant to them. They're loud as fuck with a great guitarist that looks like Cousin It when he's playing on stage... ha ha ha Fun weekend. Thanks to Lorren for the hospitality, Preston for hanging out and not selling me any black, all the Headnoise crew and family, Luis who knew all the crazy Vegas locals like Zack, Godispatrick, and Zaffo... hahaha, the crazy girl I was hanging out with at the beach ("shocking"), and the homeless guy who cleaned my windows while I filled up for the ride home. Among other nuggets of life's wisdom he shared with me, he told me he was once part of Kool Moe Dee's crew back in the days before he got all cracked out and homeless, and remembered Kool Moe Dee playing the Long Beach Arena (I believed him, I think I was there at that gig), and he told me the fall from Grace was quick and to watch my step, or I'd end up like him if I wasn't careful. I tripped out on why he said that to me, at this particular juncture in my life, but it hit hard. Signs if you believe in that sort of thing. I shook his hand and I gave him a few bucks for the effort before making the trek from the sea to the desert to get back Home. I had things to do and people and animals waiting for me...

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