MR. T'S BOWL, Highland Park

FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2009

Highland Park. Wow! It's been about 10 years since we've played this joint. It's changed a lot in the last decade. The stage is in a different location. The bar seems bigger and the regulars seem older. But, my man Arlo is still there running the board and is still cool as hell! I forgot how nice Mr. T's really is!

Anyway, I arrived about 10pm and the show hadn't even started yet. I walked in and immediately ran into Martin, Kriistii and Mark who were hanging out near the bar. The rest of the boys were outside talking to the other bands and my dear friend Loren Miyake (Foreign Object). Every band tonight is from out of town. We're the only local band, except for The Stains who I read were playing somewhere else. Chumps!!

Loren and Martin

At 10:30pm the first band finally hit the stage. THE AOK'S from Santa Cruz opened the night with the ska-punk stylings so you know where I was at... Yup, the parking lot sippin' and smokin', staying away from the wretched sounds of those awful horns!!!

Next up were DUN BIN HAD, also from Santa Cruz and also a ska-punk band so once again I was back outside talking with the boys and Joey Rimicci (Kill Detail, Jughead's Revenge, Cellphish, GG Elvis, Black Fag). He and I went to get some grub and refreshments. I feel band for not supporting these out of town bands but I really don't like ska and can not subject myslf to that kind of music.

Lexington, Kentucky punkers K DAVIS & THE HAVE-NOTS were up next and did their thing. No ska whatsoever, which was refreshing to my already bleeding ears. Nice guys too. After their set Arlo said he wanted us to go on so that's what we did... Went off!!

We played a shortened set of about 10 songs ending with Nate's (singer of INFECTED) favorite song off our "Turn Up the Suck!!"" EP, which he'd brought from Kentucky for us to sign. Being a fan of DLP since 1996, Nate said he was very excited about tonight's show and his enthusiasim did show.

Gizz with his silent tribute to Michael Jackson (notice the one glove)

XL rockin' the fiddle

XploStevo hittin' the low notes

"Dirty" Don... just Rokken

After the Lazlo set, INFECTED went up and played their Southern hearts out. I really enjoyed their set. Nate is an amazing frontman and his voice is one that is original. He doesn't try to sound like anyone, which is nice this day in age where you can't tell who's who if you listen to just the singer. I look forward to playing with these guys again someday. Hopefully in their neck of the woods. Thanks guys, for a truly enjoyable evening!!

Nate Dawg and G.Lo hammin' it up for the camera backstage

SURF CITY SALOON, Huntington Beach

SATURDAY, MAY 30 2009

Our first show back in the OC in about a year. XL was moving today and Xplo was at a party before the show so we all showed up after the show was well into the third band. We missed BATTLE FLASK the band I really wanted to see since it was our first show on the same bill. I did get to check out the last bit of ONE BIG LIE's show and thought they were pretty good! I spoke with Philipe (singer of Battle Flask) for a little bit but they all left before we played.

Anyway, we showed up around 11pm, Seedy and Don were already there so we all just hung out. I ran into my old friend Ted and Steve (from Dr. Know) was there with his wife. We chatted for a while in the parking lot as I had borrowed Steve's amp for XL.

Gizz off stage stealing a sip

We were the headliner of the evening. Why? I have no idea! But a lot of people stuck around to see us. Our set time was 12 midnight but XL didn't show up until 12:10am. Within minutes we hit the stage but with low energy. At least that what I thought.

XL rockin' the Surf

Seedy in a rare performance on stage with DLP

XploStevo hittin' the mic

"Dirty" Don Rokken doing what he does best... Rockin'!

Once again we were recorded by Steve Chrome Oxide but I don't think we'll be able to use any of the tracks as I was fumbling through lyrics the entire evening. During the last few songs it seemed everyone was getting tired and some people started leaving so I decided to get off the stage and sat at a table with some folks and just sang to them since they were the most interested. One of the guys sitting at the table started helping with backing vocals, which I thought was amazing since he had never heard of us before.

Gizz at the round table entertaining

All in all it was a cool evening but even better was the cause we were there for. We raised some money for BREAST CANCER ANGELS, which was the whole point of the show!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support! Especially Tony (ALL YOU CAN EAT MUSIC) for setting up the show. He has offered us two shows in Vegas at the end of July as part of the ROLLERCON 2009 after party festivities! Vegas... here we come, baby!!!