Equaleyes

Truckee > Healdsberg (81608)

jesse — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:51:06 +0000

I awoke to the sun creeping over the treeline, and turned to watch guiltily as it shocked Jeff into regretful consciousness next to me on the tarp. I washed the dust out of my mouth and walked down the lane to see the resevoir I’d missed last night pulling in under darkness. It reminded me of the reservoir I grew up frequenting, Rimrock, where I first rode a dirtbike (sprained wrist), once shit myself (chili feed, no spare pants), first brought a girl up camping (turned down), and once watched two of my friends hand-paddle out to an island, steadily sinking on account of the hundred beers or so they’d stocked their cheap raft with. We made some gay-cowboy coffee (campstove instant made in an empty soupcan, but then smuthered with fu-fu flavored coffeemate), packed up, swam in the res a bit, and hit the road towards the second day and first gig of the tour. We drove through Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa wine country, the omens gaining clarity, starting with another, a redder ‘Moose’ sign peeking out of the bushes inexplicably. We sampled the culminations of these regions at a few of the tasting in Healdsberg, which are ubiquitous. There was an incredible 8-piece cover band (horn section, two female vocalists) playing in the town’s central square, doing plenty of justice to some of my favorite old funk tunes– cougars with pipes, damn. A couple was exhibiting a series of their paintings– a kind of Russian modernism with small squares– at the cafe before we set up, and it offered an interesting window into Bay Area are and wine culture while eating my meatloaf sandwich. The boys played the closest thing to an acoustic set that they do, and even off on the electric trance jams until the end when a MILF-pack tore through the place, air-humping in ecstasy and criticizing the music simultaneously. Afterward we drank some very good syrahs, cabs, and pinot noirs, packed up and drove to San Francisco to Tom’s friend Allison’s place. There we ate the best baked mac n cheese I’ve ever had, sticky buns, and I slept in a Very Soft Bed (a treat somewheres along the lines of a ribeye to a man that’s dated a vegan for five months).

Quote of the Day: "Are you guys in a band, oh my God! Wait, I have a sticker phobia, I’ll totally puke if I touch your guitar case."
–excitable small girl

by Jesse Shell

First Day Of West Coast Tour (81508) Boise > Truckee

jesse — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:06:21 +0000

The Fam meets for a farewell breakfast at Goldy’s, overloading two tables and the staff. We head south towards Jordan Valley, W-Muck, Reno, and whatever else, Williams Sr. and Jr. leading the way in the Tahoe, and the rest, the fouler of us in the van. First stop was just before Caldwell to unload: they sure pride themselves on their rich cuisine at Goldy’s. Second stop was about six minutes after that when Will called to tell us we were no longer following them and were already lost, deep in a dizzying stretch of track housing. Next stop was in the Nevadan desert where I absentmindedly peed on the brand new trailer-crank-handle. We purchased a band camera for the first time in a year or so and somehow a pair of testicles crawled their way out the bottom of a pair of short-shorts and onto the new camera. It was 101* in Winnamucca and they were making highschool kids do push-ups on the blacktop. We watched the Reno lights flash, the In & Out Burger beckon us, and the moon rise over the ridges climbing up to Tahoe. After a brief survey of downtown Truckee, wherer we scoped the Bar of America where Frame Of Mind used to play, and met a pair of kickball victors with whom we shared mutual friends, we began the search for a campsite in a very popular mountain town on a friday evening. Several dead-ends later we settled into a spot on a reservoir at the edge of town and began preparing five cans of soup for six dudes over the fire and grilled cheese over a Coleman. Jeff and Bill played the blues by lantern-light, Bill on harp, and then I layed out my new $10 sleepingbag above a tarp and under the stars and full moon, and even though the bastard wouldn’t zip up, I was wholly content.

Quote of the Day: "……and then her Dad walked in."

by Jesse Shell

Cascade Fair (8608)

jesse — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:13:19 +0000

The crew amassed at the Crosby’s, and after a week of practice and prep Mr. Tom Borda climbed in the van for the first time as Equaleyes bass player. We made a pitstop in Horeshoe Bend to comfort our friend Ashley, who was following in her car, convinced her brakes were on the brink of failure. Fortunately, everyone arrived at the Cascade Fair safely, that is until the chivalrous Cascade cop violated Jessa’s and Kaylie’s rights and cited them for Jessa’s drinking a sip of beer (one for consumption, one for contributing). He then threatened trespassing charges and jail time if they didn’t "excuse themselves from the premises". That aside, the fair was full of fun foods– BBQ pork sandwiches!, smoked turkey legs!– cowboy-horse communication, stoked Cascade teens, Dan the Fan’s exuberance, Tom’s impressive debut, Jyl’s behind the back hula-hooping, nice Chinese vendors, a new funk tune, and adorable little Crosby cousins thrilled at the prospect of jumping around a giant inflated castle. After the show we packed the trailer to the gills and headed for Brother Doug’s house for goulash, shots of tequila, a display of Doug’s service piece and hollow-pointed shells, and tiramisu. After a rejuvenating soak in the TC hotsprings with many shooting stars overhead, we crashed at the cabin in Donnelly @ 4:20.
Quote of the Day: A- "We should have a moustache-loincloth party."
B- "It would be so offputingly arousing."

by Jesse Shell

The Reef (80208)

jesse — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:08:12 +0000

First show using our new robot-head lights, which work wonderfully and are spicy. Pilot Joel flew in from Wyoming with a friend just for the night and came to the show. Sandpoint Trav, Zabriel, and Brian made a stop at the Reef on their Tour de Suprises: they drove, kids in tow, from SP to Monroe Hotsprings in northern UT a few days prior to suprise the Shook Twins on their birthday, then made it to Boise just in time for the show, only to be thwarted at the door on account of Brian’s lost wallet/id. No problem for Brian: with stellar poise he promptly flagged down a policeman and had him verify for the bouncer his age via in-car computation. The bouncer was so impressed he not only let Brian in but gave him back his cover charge, essentially buying him the first round, which was especially meaningful on account of the lost wallet. Oh, and my aunt, uncle, and cousins from Yakima also showed up unannounced; they couldn’t stay for the show but it was comforting to see their faces. It was an emotional night onstage; untapped resources were found and the jams were incredible. After the show, as usual, we observed the 6th & Main madness– this time it was a guy running from the cops and up the Reef stairs, only to be pulled out roughly by six officers a moment later. Then it was onto the Pie Hole for more interest (now a passerby admitting to SP Brian she had never been with a "whiteboy"– which reminded me of the last time I was at the P. Hole and a guy at the next table drunkenly outlined his entire sexual career, which was extensive, for anyone within 30ft or so) Earlier today Kendra, Ty, Brittany, Anina, and I floated the Boise River atop two wimpy rafts tied together, one of which was filled with dill flavored sunflower seeds most the float. It was the first Boise float of the summer and it was glorious. There were tons of friendly floaters and not a single sniper-cop with binoculars in a tree.

Quote of the Day: "Sorry, it’s my birthday."
– said surprisingly calmly and collectedly by a guy in front of Grainey’s with his pants around his knees puking

by Jesse Shell

Grand Jean (728, 29, 3008)

jesse — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:01:54 +0000

Sometime a couple generations ago my friend Melissa’s family built a cabin outside the fledging town of Grand Jean. A generation later the cabin was fit with propane powered appliances and remains unelectrical. This summer Melissa has stayed there proudly as one of the seven or so residents of Grand Jean proper, working in several faculties at the lodge there. She invited us to stay for a couple days, and we divided our time between campfire jams and soaks in the nearby hotsprings. There were awesome shooting stars each night, the first one of the week was enormous, and it’s tail hung sizzling forever. The second day Melissa and Brian were in Stanley on a supply run and ran into the Freepeoples (who played the festival a couple nights prior) and invited them up to the cabin to stay. They arrived a bit later with great energy, a battery-powered bass amp, and a bag full of percussive toys, and, collectively, a few decades worth of stories about being professional musicians in the Bay area and SoCal. We jammed around the fire, cooked ears of corns and breasts of chickens over the fire, circled up in the darkness of the driveway and played hand drums while Melissa spun fire– channeling Polynesian ancestry magnificently– and even got to try out a couple new spinning-toys she just got. Lots of soaking, a couple trips to the lodge for burgers and huckleberry shakes, and a stop at Kirkham Hotsprings on the drive back for one last earth-warmed shower to wash the mountain off us before returning to the city.

by Jesse Shell

Salmon River Rafting (72708)

jesse — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:55:18 +0000

Caleb is good at not sleeping. Caleb is great at making sure others don’t sleep more than a few hours. It felt like I’d slept for all of 21 minutes, but apparently it was long enough to miss the chance to take a ride in Joel’s light plane. Luckily Hawk and Will didn’t make that mistake and flew right into the S.Teeth, pulling crazy manuevers like buzzing cars and skidding the plane’s tires on the river; Will even made his first solo landing! We grubbed pizza and headed to the White Clouds Rafting Co. to float the day stretch of the Salmon River with the other bands that played the festival. I wasn’t sure what to expect with that many musicians from all across the country at the same place and time without instruments in their hands, but was soon comforted when clothing was shed and crowd surfing ensued on the bus ride to the put-in. On the water piracy ruled: attacks were carried out with stealth or intimidation to steal another boats beer or whiskey. We stopped to jump off an old steel bridge momentarily before promptly resuming vicious rounds of paddle-splash fights. Back in Stanley we devoured a mexican buffet that was provided for the spent paddlers, then we drove down to Grand Jean on the western slopes of the Sawtooths to stay and hotspring at our friend Melissa’s cabin.

by Jesse Shell

Brundage > Stanley; Sawtooth Music Festival (72608)

jesse — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:48:36 +0000

Wake up early, cold and curled in only last nights suit coat in the brudange parking lot. Will and I try to round up the troops; I was able to find a bleary eyed Jeff while Will harrassed a stranger in some tent, convinced it was Patrick. Busted it to Stanley, I awoke from a nap to the Sawtooths screaming through the windows. We arrived at the festival just after noon and as our good friends Heads Like This from the Falls of Twin were going on. I’d missed their last several shows in the City of Trees so it was awesome to catch their set– they are certainly kickin’ ass, and Luke is a superhero. They made mimosas for everyone before they went on. After a quick change-over the boys played a short but very fast-paced set to a suprisingly good-sized hot afternoon dance crowd. It seemed as though word of the cd release show had travelled quickly. The feel of the festival was very friendly, the staff and volunteers were all helpful and smiling, and the dancers could look past the players to the incredible peaks of the Sawtooths visible directly behind the stage. Seth Brown and the Crew came up for the festival and hilarity broke out quickly. Jeremiah James and Elephant Revival played the evening slots and wooed the growing crowd with rowdy honesty and whispering sweetness, respectively. Will parent’s brought up their RV castle and set up shop proper (there was even a bowl of cherries). A couple spots down from the merch booth there was a fairy hula-hoop jungle juggle little kid smile tu-tu with stripped socks booth that I enjoyed passing many times. Free Peoples from the Bay Area played the first night spot and brought hip jazz coolness with fun, intensity, and much experience to the Idaho mountains. Their drummer played with his kit instead of on it, almost like he was confidently seducing her one part at a time. During the last act Jeff, Kendra, Patrick, I, and our desert whiskey fairy from Moab friend who appeared, headed down the hill to the Kasino Club to see Jeremiah James’s even rowdier latenight set. The place was busting at the seams and we bounced the two step and maybe even doe-si-doed a bit. Then it was down to the other stanley bar to catch the end of Djiin’s latenight set. Elephant Revival-Bonnie sat in on her bogglingly amazing washboard. Then we met Seth and Caleb unexpectedly at the crossroads, piled in his truck, and barelled along down to their campsite where we stayed up to all silly absurd hours.

Quote of the Day: not suitable for public reproduction, but come ask me, it’s hilarious.

by Jesse Shell

Boise > Brundage Resort (72508)

jesse — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:35:13 +0000

With the rush of last night’s spectacle still in our blood, we set out for the Brundage Jam, stopping en route for Subway naturally. With Patrick the Poet and Amanda the Panda in tow we arrived to the sight of a huge stage and killer lighting and sound equipment. There were vendors set up all along the back perimeter of the terraced amphitheater. The weather was perfect. Our friends R. Dub from the City of Salt were up before us and played great. The Crosby’s brought up their new van-RV with two giant sandwiches, the lone Crosby sister Jennifer, and Jeff’s brother Mike from Seattle in it. The turnout was modest but those who came danced hard; definitely locals throwing down in the hills. The show was hot like garbage with a killer light show, but ended on a bit of a sour (read: cock-blocked) note when the production company pulled the plug as the boys were going into an encore. Scheduling, scheduling, blah, scheduling…. Afterward we set up some tents by an angry pitbull (reminiscent of the time I set up a tent under a coconut tree in Costa Rica), watched some drunk people by a fire, crammed eight people into a two person tent for a session, and then dispersed like bats to nest for the night.

Quote of the Day: "Hey, I know you!, no wait I don’t……Wait, yes I do! What? I really don’t know you? Oh. Damn."

by Jesse Shell

CD Release Party @ Knitting Factory (72408)

jesse — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:53:55 +0000

The Big Day. With hopes in the clouds and butterflies in the belly we met at Bardenay for a drink/pre-game rally. Then it was load in and setup on the big stage without any other bands’ gear backlined! After a couple hours of sound checking, lighting design, recording prep, eye make-up layering, and merch set-up, it was time to open the doors to the fans awaiting out front. After some hilarious backstage banter with Marcus Eaton– he has a career in comedy if he ever hurts his hands– he went on to start things off. The crowd grew steadily and Marcus played masterfully: quicker than ever and just about beyond comprehension, smooth, strong vocals, and a seemingly more latin style, and that tasty-ass percussive strum-looping. Next up was emcee Captain Happy (Jesse Bastian) in full happiest-superhero-ever garb. He did one of his amazing spoken-word pieces and worked the crowd up with his trademark exuberance. By the time we went on the place was packed and everyone was high with expectation. The boys tore into a searing set, focussing on tracks from the album but playing a few newer tunes too. The crowd was incredibly reponsive: screaming inbetween songs, generally freaking out, and singing along, much of which was caught on film by our two roving cinematographers. With the killer audio recording (Thank You Jeremy Swain!) and footage we got we hope to post some sweet video sections online, or maybe eventually put together a full DVD. We sold well over a hundred albums during the show, every last pair of Equaleyes booty shorts (which our sexy female fans gladly modeled around the venue, to the dismay of security personnel), and distributed a lot of other new clothing items. Apparently some guy tried to get into the show with a prison i.d., was rejected, bit the door guy, and was taken down violently and away by several cops. However confusing a thing like violence may seem at an Equaleyes show, it reminded me of a night in Moscow when Jeff went into the first verse of one of the sweeter love songs and a fight broke out between two dudes on the floor. All in all, the most successful and touching night of our careers (especially after working on the album for 18 months) and I can’t thank everyone who was a part of that enough.

by Jesse Shell

Telluride > Moab (Friday the Thirteenth)

jesse — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:12:41 +0000

Awake at Eich and Misty’s on the floor of their home theater, complete with projection screen, theater seating, projection booth, and track lighting. His full name is Ernest P. Eich IV and he is a freelance film maker and knows Hoony from when ol’ Hoonhout used to play rock n roll there. Their apartment is upstairs from the first bank Butch Cassidy ever robbed. They report hauntings. We ventured into the bustling streets of friday morning T-Ride nestled between unfathomable peaks and The Bluest Skies, and stumbled across the first farmer’s market of the season. I smelled and tasted things people grew and made, then we took the gondola (ganj-dola) to the top of the ski hill for free– it’s considered public transportation there. At the top we scoped terrifying ski runs, I found 35 cents, and we filled ourselves with Rocky Monsters on this last Colorado afternoon of the tour. We made one last stop with Matt (former V.O.R. drummer) at Bridalveil Falls, the tallest falls in CO. At the brink of the falls sits a white two-story house. In addition to the living area, in the basement, resides a hydroelectric system utilizing the falls to generate power. The guy got a 99-year lease from the mining company at $1/ year, moved his family up for a time, ferrying supplies up the cliff with a series of cables and baskets. Now he just sells the surplus energy to the town. Enroute to Moab I threw a watermelon out the window and a mileage marker sliced it in two like a Hatori Hanzo. At the show I met an aussie named Grog who possessed an incredible talent for spinning while bush-whistling. Afterward we had a soak outside the hotel, then walked across town, snuck into a bed N breakfast, and swam and soaked some more.

Quote of the Day: "Will, there’s a cat in your soup."

by Jesse Shell

Equaleyes

Truckee > Healdsberg (8*16*08)

First Day Of West Coast Tour (8*15*08) Boise > Truckee

Cascade Fair (8*6*08)

The Reef (8*02*08)

Grand Jean (7*28, 29, 30*08)

Salmon River Rafting (7*27*08)

Brundage > Stanley; Sawtooth Music Festival (7*26*08)

Boise > Brundage Resort (7*25*08)

CD Release Party @ Knitting Factory (7*24*08)

Telluride > Moab (Friday the Thirteenth)

Truckee > Healdsberg (81608)

First Day Of West Coast Tour (81508) Boise > Truckee

Cascade Fair (8608)

The Reef (80208)

Grand Jean (728, 29, 3008)

Salmon River Rafting (72708)

Brundage > Stanley; Sawtooth Music Festival (72608)

Boise > Brundage Resort (72508)

CD Release Party @ Knitting Factory (72408)