Saturday, January 29, 2011

White Wedding In 3-D

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Our friend Richard created White Wedding's First 3-D video.

White Wedding - Fontana's 1/29/11 New York City

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Another Great 80s Themed Party and the crowd were with us right from the start. As a rule I try never to start playing the drums while someone is talking/standing right in front of me since it's probably a lot ruder than just talking over somebody (in the least certainly much louder) but the way Fontana's had it setup is that the party would begin upstairs and the "Live Band" would be performing downstairs at ten. As the Interested and Interesting crowd entered I could hear lots of excited conversation of the "Expectant" type of which I had to interrupt to begin our set But!!! We did have a job to do and for Bueller's sake The Show Must Go On which it did and We All Had A Blast !!!

Fortunately and thankfully we have exceeded the crowd's expectations Time After Time (incidentally our opening number tonight) so I can only walk away proud of our accomplishments and tonight was no exception with air guitarists (wielding the balloon kind) gleefully buzzing the stage (on and off) rocking out to their favorite tunes, This was a Great crowd and energy fed off of energy.

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The photographer (in this photo) with the flash going off quite likely has a photo of me taking the pic from the stage with my flash going off just the same which makes it all freakytrippykool.

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We asked if he would jam with us tonight but Michael said he wasnt there to be a star.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sabian AAXplosion Crash Cymbal Inquiry

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To Customer Service Department

I am a loyal user of your quality cymbal products and a drummer for 29 years. Just recently I cracked an AAX X-plosion Crash Cymbal during a performance, my surprise lies in the fact that the cymbal in question is just over two years old. The cymbal is stored in a heavy duty cymbal bag and is handled carefully, I use them on the average of just twice a week equalling 200-300 hours over the course of two years, this has never happened before and I feel that the damage is premature especially for a high end AAX crash. My cymbal attack is medium and I am not a heavy player, I also use a medium gauge drumstick (pro mark 747). For such a highly reputable company I am hoping that you can help me replace this cymbal. I have shows booked and would appreciate a prompt reply.

Thanks Very Much
- Frank Genalo
(genalof@aol.com)

And the courteous and timely reply. (they replied the next morning)

Hi Frank,

Thank you for playing SABIAN.

I'm afraid that due to the fact that the cymbal is over 2 years old, I can't replace it under warranty. In order to be fair and consistant to all of our customers our 2 year policy is strictly enforced. We do, however, offer repair services for certain types of problems. If you could tell me the location and lenght of the crack, there may be something we can do to help you.

Cheers

Kevin

Customer Service
Sabian LTD
www.sabian.com

White Wedding - Brooklyn Bowl 1/31/11 Cancelled

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I had the time of my life just the same.

In a letter to our booking agent.

Hi Chris,


I'm really really sorry but Umphrey's McGee are playing at the Bowl on
01/31 (it isn't announced yet) and they are bringing in a semi, the
production is intense. We were really hoping to have the 80s Bowl as
scheduled but after talking with the production team it just isn't
possible so we are going to have to bump the last 80s Bowl. We will
still pay the band and I give you my word I will find a spot for them
(ideally a better night) to make up the gig as well.

Can you please let the band know?

Thanks again, it was a great residency and we look forward to having them back.

Best,
Will

Monday, January 24, 2011

White Wedding - Brooklyn Bowl 1/24/11 Brooklyn, New York

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I made a conscious effort tonight to "Rock Out" onstage a bit more as far as body language and thankfully didnt hurt myself or anyone around me. The band played great and we are becoming a well oiled machine firing on all cylinders. Our friend Sean from security helped Spicoli with the backing vocals on Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name" and the crowd was enjoying themselves as you can see briefly in the "Welcome to the Jungle" video posted below.

Probably our best show yet at the Bowl and we pulled out a lot of the songs that we havent performed in some time without incident. I have become so familiar with the green room that I noticed the installation of a smoke detector that wasnt there a week prior and for variety changed up the beverage choices of which tonight's was a Margarita, several glasses of wine (surprisingly of the boxed kind) and of course some Delicious Brooklyn Bowl Pale Ale.

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Our friend & fan Steve who has been to so many of our shows over the years.

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

White Wedding - Private Party - Rodeo Bar 1/22/11 New York City

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One of the funnest and gratifying shows I have ever experienced due to a very receptive 80s crowd who really dressed the part. It looked like an infinite sea of dancers from my admittedly myopic vantage point. Spicoli had me cracking up a record number of times this evening and the entire band played a tight set with crowd pleaser after crowd pleaser pleasing the crowd.

There were a couple of White Wedding first's tonight, for one we did a Crazy Thing and played a song that we have NEVER Played Together EVER live onstage at a decent paying "private party" show (The Promise by When In Rome which was requested a few days gig-prior) that went over Big, and for another first (due to time constraints) the club turned off the microphones right after we finished our announced last number (Dont Stop Believing) but before our encore (what would have been Fight For Your Right) leaving the crowd Really Wanting more and going off to speak to the manager and sound engineer to no avail.

This was also the gig where I tried on a more exotically fashionable 80s pair of shades (non-prescription) which handicapped my view of the drumkit and fellow band members considerably and due to the glasses closer proximity to my face turned my eyelids into sweat factories and even worse than dropping a stick no drummer drumming or even anyone at all wants sweat in his/her eyes, This was a science experiment in convection proving that you can indeed be Blinded By Science.

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Meanwhile Back in the States ....

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Famished after the gig I seeked out a Gyro Cart for some Gyro Over Rice (Lamb & Rice as it is now called) with White Sauce and Hot Sauce which I had a few forkfuls of on the glamorous & aromatic 34th street D platform taking the remainder of foodage home. Either I havent had Gyro and Rice for some time (and I havent), I Was Starving (I was) or this particular cart knew how to make it really well (probably a combination of all three) but this was some Extremely Tasty Gyro & Rice.

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Sweethook/Baby Daddy - R Bar 1/21/11 New York City

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Sweethook played a solid set at the R Bar and so did Baby Daddy who gracefully supported us. I came to the realization of the comfort zone of which I am drumming in since my gigs have been so plentiful this month, a comfort zone that can slip away all too easily if I stop playing regularly. Nice crowd came down to support us and I thank Michael (Baby Daddy) for letting me use his Cymbals.

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Scott got stuck getting to the gig, Fortunately it was right in front of the bar.

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Baby Daddy at the R Bar.

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Sweethook as taken with a Mobile Device in year 2011.

Friday, January 21, 2011

200th Posting - Amber, Keeper of the Biscuit

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Fast Food Asian Nation lll - BK Stuffed Steakhouse

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Well, They got the Poblano Sauce right but for a BK Steakhouse Burger the Patty was a little paltry (see below) and my first impression was an overdone burger by the hue of it but she tasted fine. The Jalapeno's were very apparent from the first bite but these are of the mild sort to suit the man on the street, I could not detect any Cheese per se' but there was a saltiness to it.

Underwhelming to say the least especially after getting all worked up seeing the TV ad the night before.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

White Wedding - Brooklyn Bowl 1/17/11 Brooklyn, New York

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Most of this performance was an Audience Request show (which JUSTKINDAHAPPENED and to no bandmember's dismay) but to our delight after looking at the "secret ballot" Request Board from the attendees we gleaned that the band does perform about ninety five percent of the material asked with remaining tunes/artists in the 80s spandex pipeline. The crowd was up and dancing once again and the shows are going Great at this coolest of coolest of venues.

Never have I met a kinder and more down to earth staff as at Williamsburg Brooklyn's Brooklyn Bowl. They Really make you feel at home and comfortable just by being cool people in a "Be Yourself" Employee Protocol Type Thingy (Well I hope that I'm guessing right) Theres an in-residence KINKS fan as well who spins the records of which I have Absolutely NO Qualms or piercing arrow's about (he/she even played Queen - Staying Power the other week, HOW FREAKIN' ODD)

Two More shows here this month, Life's A Joy.

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Airborne.

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Doc Brown

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Amadeus

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Diamond Dave

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Animal - Vic Firth Timpani Mallets (foreground)

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Thanks Very Much to Jamie, Richard and Steve for recording these moments for their photographic art and the posterity of these times.

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Bowler Anna Jumped onstage and then off of it in Total Stagedive Glory, She IS Awesome and landed on her two feet as well so no need to worry action fans.

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Saturday, January 15, 2011

White Wedding - Bally Bunion 1/15/11 Brooklyn, New York - Sabian AAX X-Plosion Crash Cymbal Cracks Onstage.

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Due to the recent frequency of our shows the high pressure gigs are becoming low pressure gigs and the low pressure gigs are becoming no pressure gigs so it was quite a bit of fun to return to the Bally Bunion for some Bay Ridge Brooklyn entertainment as only Bay Ridge Brooklyn can provide, Namely I had a nice time watching the crowd dance as we played away three sets into the night being entertained as we entertained, Always A Good Thing.

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The DW snare drum sounded absolutely cracking tonight, Speaking of cracking so did my "not so old" Sabian AAX 14" X-Plosion Crash Cymbal !!! well a little crack on the leading edge but the fat lady has already sang her last 80s aria. When I first purchased my Sabian AAX set I exclaimed "Cymbals For Life!!!" I now duly eat my words less than a thousand hours later, What Gives??? ,...... these were only played maybe 400-500 hours!!!

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My Sabian cymbal (foreground) when it was brand new just two years and four months ago (B.B. King's 10/17/08)

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Cracked Sabian AAX 14" X-Plosion Crash (It happened onstage during Love Shack) (Bally Bunion 1/15/11)

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The Bally Bunion Burger which always comes with Cheese and Bacon is Juicy and Delicious.

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With our fans Lorie and Marlene.

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White Wedding/Bally Bunion mainstay Clay won the trivia contest this time around and after all of the kinetic energy that he has entertained us with I am glad that he did.



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Friday, January 14, 2011

Stubborness In Food - Dim Sum In A Blanket

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Why stubborn do you ask ? Well,.... It was nearly 3 a.m. and I could have just munched on the re-heated Dem Sum that sat before me but the thought lingered in my head to wrap it in a biscuit and call it Genius or at least something that may never have been performed in the culinary trade or for that matter any trade at all so I JUST HADDA!!!

Dim Sum - (halved facing inwards out) as per my recipe.
In A Blanket - Pouched In Pastry (which is more that most of you Effers can say, I Mean Errr, LOVE YOU ALL)

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The WITH Broccoli Roll (served WITH Broccoli)

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The Classic Hot Dog "Pig In A Blanket" Roll (served With Classic Hot Dog).

Yes Virginia, The Aliens Exist.
They are in the grooves of an old residents record...

mmmm,...........