The Mindless Things - May 22 @ The Knockout

LittleBook: Why did you start a band??
The Mindless Things: We started this band to make rock and roll music and push mostly original songs to people who like that sort of thing. All of us are or have been in other bands too and have been at this for a while.

LB: How did you find each other??
TMT: The bass player, Skeet, and I went to high school together in Las Vegas.We had another friend, Eric Aurandt, who is a fantastic Canadian outlaw and played drums when we started this band last year but he and his wife decided to have a son so he no longer had time for a band. Dusty saw us play at the Knockout one night and liked what he heard so he introduced himself and we played together shortly after that. He's a welcome new friend and great addition to the rock n' roll effort.

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
TMT: The next moment is always the best.

LB: Favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual??
TMT: Some kind of food is a good idea before playing a show, as is a good, stiff shot of whisky.

LB: What do you drink at practice??
TMT: We drink only herbal tea and only while kneeling on the prayer mat. No, usually a few bottles of beer.

LB: What's the hardest thing about being a Band in the Bay Area??
TMT: The same things are hard about being a band here that are hard in any dense city; where to practice without bothering anyone or spending a fortune on studio rent. This is a competitive music town, but if what you're doing is of any value then you aren't doing exactly the same thing ten other local bands are doing anyway.

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next?? TMT: People should know we want to bring the house down and we hope they'll dance to it on occasion too. We have two shows coming a month apart: Annie's Social Club with Knights of the new Crusade and The Teutonics, Fri., April 30th. Then at The Knockout, Sat., May 22nd with The Boars and The Shangorillas. We'd also like to record a real record by the end of this summer and put it out somehow.

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
TMT: The only CDs we have so far are some demos we made in Dusty's garage that we'll be handing out at upcoming shows.

LB: Favorite San Francisco Band or a memorable show??
TMT: I don't know about a favorite. San Francisco has a number of great bands and there are some great bands in Oakland, too. We love The Boars.

LB: Favorite venue to Play??
TMT: Where's the next house party?!





LB: Have you ever played the Knockout before? What do you like about it?
TMT: Yeah, we've played the Knockout three times. We love the Knockout.
We'll be back there in May.

LB: Do any of the members ever take their shirts off at a show or at practice?
TMT: O.K., you caught us. All we actually do is take our shirts off at every opportunity. Is being in a band really about anything else?

LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
TMT: I don't know who's the smelliest? We don't usually get cuddly enough to find out. I think the drummer is usually that guy in any band but I know I'm a runner up. Showering helps prevent that sort of hygiene issue too.

LB: Where do you think live music is heading??
TMT: Live music is and will always be a lot more fun than any recording could ever be. As a trend I think it's headed down a very steady road of sameness; we're not gonna see packed arenas full of teenagers any more but it's not going away either. Just like vinyl records, it keeps tenaciously being important.

LB: How do you feel about people downloading your songs for free , do you offer free downloads??
TMT: People can have a few songs. If nobody ever buys anything, though, then bands don't make money for their work and it means only rich kids will be able to do it because they can afford an expensive hobby. Those kids also have less tough life experience and hence, less to say in songs that doesn't come from their college poetry class. It's hard to try and hoard your material these days, though. In hindsight, record companies, not musicians, made off with most of the big bucks before the internet anyway.

The Reaction - Apr 9th @ SF Eagle

WADE DRIVER- guitar, vocals LIZ BYRNE- bass, vocals PHIL GALANTE - drums

LittleBook: Why did you start a band??
The Reaction: To escape banality and to create a forum for our ideas and thoughts.

LB: How did you find each other??
TR: Liz and Wade have known eachother for many years. Liz used to play in the KIRBY GRIPS and wade was in CORDUROY and they met back then. we found Phil on craigslist. he used to be in the northern soul band, the INCITERS

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
TR: The next thing we do is always the most exciting. We like to keep moving in all directions.

LB: Favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual??
TR: Pot, pot, and more pot.

LB: What do you drink at practice??
TR: Water

LB: What’s the hardest thing about being a Band in the Bay Area??
TR: Getting folks to leave their neighborhood for a show.

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
TR: Expect the unexpected. we are releasing a split 7" with the ARNMEDALITE RIFLES from NY and we're looking for someone to release ART ATTACK, a proposed 10". We are going to record a 90 minute cassette only release of free improvisation.

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
TR: Our full length LP w/CD is on STARCLEANER and is available through them at starcleaner. com, THRILLHOUSE, RAZORCAKE. NO IDEA, AMOEBA, ISSUES and from us at shows. we also have a split 7" with the defunct NEVERENDING PARTY on THRILL HOUSE RECORDS also available at the above.

LB: Favorite San Francisco Band or a memorable show??
TR: DIDIMAO

LB: Favorite venue to Play??
TR: They're all about the same. We just like to play as much as possible.

LB: Are you looking forward to your show at the SF Eagle, It's a great place have you played there before?
TR: We love the SF EAGLE. We've played there once before and had a great time.

LB: SXSW! How did you score that? Have you been to texas before, what do you think it will be like?
TR: Wade grew up in texas. we got in through STARCLEANER. We're on their showcase.

LB: Do any of the members ever take their shirts off at a show or at practice?
TR: No, we're too fat.

LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
TR: Definitely Wade.

LB: Where do you think live music is heading??
TR: I think it's at a stand still. We would like to do more experimental things live. We like for the live experience to be different from the recordings.

LB: How do you feel about people downloading your songs for free , do you offer free downloads??
TR: Downloading is killing the music industry so KEEP DOING IT!

The Grannies - March 20th @ Annie's Social Club

Photo courtesy of www.spirer.com

SPECIAL EDNA-VOCALS / DE-MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

STAGGER G-LEAD GUITAR / NIGHTMARES

GRANIMAL- DRUMS / BEER, POT AND MORE BEER. AND BEER

DROOL CUP - RHYTHM GUITAR / CHEEK SQUEAKIN'

FRAN SCENE - BASS / VOCALS / ANTI-WRINKLE CREAM

LittleBook: This year is the 10th Anniversary of the Grannies, what's new?

Sludge-0: We've been working for the last 6 months on our 6th album, to be called, "Hot Flashes". We tracked 12 songs w/ Brian Hood in Oakland. 9 new originals (one umixed song can be heard on www.myspace.com/thegrannies) and 3 covers (LEATHER NUN, DEAD BOYS, PINK) are slated for the album. The tapes are up in Seattle right now awaiting the hand of god (Jack Endino) to bless them with a mix that will make us thunderationous. The art for the album is being done by Gregg Gordon (who got his start doing the first 2 Ozzfest posters!) @ www.gigart.com. So we're super stoked for this. We will also have organ & violin on this album!

LB: You've got some Shows coming up, and a NW Tour?! 

SO: We are playing March 20th @ Annies Social CLub, it's a benefit for Brian Hood's medical expenses after his hospilization for a removal of a tumor on his heart and lungs. He has no med insurance. MIDNIGHT BOMBERS, FlexXBronco & FRACAS are also on that line-up. We're at the SF Eagle April 23 w/ THREE WEEKS CLEAN & PLASTERED BASTARDS (Pittsburgh, PA). Then we hit the NW for the first time in 4 years; May 1 @ Ash Street Saloon - Portland then May 2 @ The Comet Tavern - Seattle. Both of these shows are with 2 of our favorite new bands; THE FAST TAKERS form Portland & STEEL TIGERS OF DEATH from Seattle.

LB: So you've been getting noticed by some big companies lately.
SO: We got a cease and desist from Jack Daniel's for our t-Shirt & Hoodie design!

www.thegrannies.com
www.myspace.com/thegrannies

March 20th @ ANNIE’S SOCIAL CLUB SAN FRANCISCO
Apr 23rd @ THE EAGLE SAN FRANCISCO
May 1st @ ASH STREET SALOON PORTLAND, Oregon
May 2nd @ THE COMET TAVERN SEATTLE, Washington

Dead Ringers- Mar 20th @ Lipo Lounge - March 29th @ Annies Social Club

Adam Meatball-vocals
Daniel Kelley-guitar
Pete-Bass
Cory Cunningham-drums

LittleBook: Why did you start a band??
Daniel: To get hot chicks!

LB: How did you find each other??
Daniel: That's kind of a complicated and not very interesting story.

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
Daniel: Tough question...probably being interviewed in Boise, Idaho at 5 in the morning after consuming way to much whiskey and blue moon.

LB: Favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual??
Daniel: Definitely Jameson and whatever beer is cheap where we are at.

LB: What do you drink at practice??
Daniel: Tecate!

LB: What's the hardest thing about being a Band in the Bay Area??
Daniel: Staying relevant.

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
Daniel: We lost a member but we are most definitely not breaking up! We've been writing new songs and searching for a 2nd guitar player!!! Also more touring and 10" rock'n'roll masterpiece to come in the not so distant feature!

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
Daniel: We don't have a cd! Vinyl or bust baby!!! you can get our two 7"s through Meaty Beaty Records!!! www.myspace.com/meatybeatyrecords

LB: Favorite San Francisco Band or a memorable show??
Daniel: Frankenstein L.I.V.S., Bomber, La Plebe, Young Offenders, Pleasure Kills, and the Nervous Tics are awesome. Most memorable show as of late was probably getting to pretend to be the Clash at the Joe Strummer memorial show.

LB: Favorite venue to Play??
Daniel: The Knockout!!!

LB: Do any of the members ever take their shirts off at a show or at practice??
Daniel: Cory Cunningham is known to show off his shoulder hair every now and then at practice.

LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
Daniel: hands down Cory Cunningham!

LB: Where do you think live music is heading??
Daniel: In the right direction!

LB: How do you feel about people downloading your songs for free , do you offer free downloads??
Daniel: We think its rad! I guess the idea is that if you like our hot jams maybe you will buy a record!

Mar 20th 8pm @
Li Po Lounge,SF

Mar 29th 8pm @
Annie’s Social Club, SF

Bare Wires - Mar 2nd @ the Elbo Room

Erin Emslie  - Paul Keelan - Matthew Melton

LittleBook: Why did you start a band??
Bare Wires: To write songs about people that I don’t understand.

LB: How did you find each other??
BW: Well I met Erin Emslie at a Time Flys show at Thee Parkside shortly after she got pissed off and knocked the drumset over, and I met Paul at a thrift store.

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
BW: Our first show was actually also at Thee Parkside where we got attacked by some dude that I think was in Stiff Jeans and their band broke up later that night. He knocked over the mic stand on the second song!

LB: Favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual??
BW: Take it up a notch!!!!

LB: What do you drink at practice??
BW: Jameson.

LB: What’s the hardest thing about being a Band in the Bay Area??
BW: Most people are not as Hyphy as they claim to be, and false pretense can be difficult to process…

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
BW: Well, we recently decided to just sort of “give up” musically, so you can count on our records sounding increasingly more and more terrible.

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
BW: Bare Wires - Artificial Clouds LP - was recorded and mixed in Matthew’s bedroom in Oakland, mixed by Jay Reatard in Memphis, and is coming out on "indie" Chicago label Tic Tac Totally in mid 2009. Matt from Tic Tac is also releasing a VHS tape as a companion piece for the colored vinyl release of out LP. It contains weird music videos and other assorted visual nonsense.

LB: Favorite Bay Area Band or a memorable show??
BW: Right now some good local acts are The Fresh and Onlys, Shannon and the clams, Buzzer, Brian Glaze, Photobooth, Brilliant Colors, Ty Segall, Ebonics….

LB: Do any of the members ever take their shirts off at a show or at practice??
BW: Um….

LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
BW: We all smell great!

LB: Where do you think live music is heading??
BW: Nowhere fast.

LB: How do you feel about people downloading your songs for free , do you offer free downloads??
BW: We prefer it when people buy our 7”s and LPs at one of our shows so we can use the money for recreational drugs. No more freebees people! Pay up!!!

Loose Riderz - Feb. 21st @ Benders

Sirens Blair-Guitar & Vox

Teddy Black-Bass & Vox
Jim Greenbeer-Drums
Loose Diaz-Guitar

LittleBook: How did you find each other??
Loose Riderz: We are all Warfield/Filmore stagehands. We are a Warfield/Filmore stagehand band. The original lineup consisted of Sirens, Teddy Black and Leonard Haze (formerly of Y&T). We love Leonard, but it was hard to get the three of us in the same room at the same time. Jimmy Greenbeer then signed on (he rules) and, later, we added John Diaz as a second guitar player.

LB: Why did you start a band??
LR: Loose Riderz was meant to be. Plain and simple. It was never a question of why, but how; how much ass can we kick as a band? And we follow through, as the best stagehand band in the nation. Every song we play depicts a different aspect of our job that is unique to either of these two venues. The voices of the hardest working men and women in show business will finally be heard!

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
LR: Yesterday, because each day we kick more ass than the next.

LB: Favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual??
LR: Picking on John.

LB: What do you drink at practice??
LR: We have the best-stocked fridge in the city. There are always a multitude of different beers to be had.

LB: What's the hardest thing about being a band in the Bay Area??
LR: When you rule like we do, it’s modesty.

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
LR: We’re playing Benders with the Texas Thieves on Feb. 21. Everything else is up in the air. It’s important to check out LooseRiderz.com and the myspace page.

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
LR: Our first demo was produced at Rodent Records by Lance Bass of N’SYNC fame. Don’t laugh, he knows what he’s doing. You can purchase a copy on iTunes or order a copy on the website. The full length will be out soon.

LB: Favorite San Francisco Band or a memorable show??
LR: When the dude from Sugar Ray collaborated with Metallica and Velvet Revolver to butcher (and I mean butcher) a version of “California Uber Alles” by the Dead Kennedys.

LB: Favorite venue to Play??
LR: We prefer arenas. After all, we were created to be an arena-rock band.

LB: Do any of the members ever take their shirts off at a show or at practice??
LR: Greenbeer does. Too bad he’s not a chick.

LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
LR: Teddy Back is, but his BO smells like cotton candy.

LB: Where do you think live music is heading??
LR: Corporate Christmas parties

LB: How do you feel about people downloading your songs for free , do you offer free downloads??
LR: MP3’s suck, so download them all you want. Just don’t claim to be a music lover.

Angry Samoans - Sat. Jan 10th @ Bottom of the Hill

Angry Samoans - Sat. Jan 10th @ Bottom of the Hill

LittleBook: So what's new for the Angry Samoans??

Metal Mike: I live 400 miles away from the band since July 1980, haven't been to a "band practice" in about 18 years (except for one, only, may 1996 to get drummer/bill familiar with a brief 1996-98 "north california" the day before its first unadvertised "warmup gig") (which actually, was him coming up here for a sat afternoon practice with the new people, then straight to an basically-unadvertised public gig the same day).

LB: What do you drink at practice??

Metal Mike: Ask anyone about "band practice" that lives 400+ miles away from the band...and is supposed to be a bandleader (i quit, summer 1980, they couldn't replace me, i was screwed) and you're gonna get a boot up your ass. ya fuckin dumbass.

The Yes Go’s

Photo by: Noiso

LittleBook: Why did you start a band??
The Yes Go’s: DRINK TICKETS.

LB: How did you find each other??
YG: THROUGH A GOTHIC/PUNK MIXUP.

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band, ??

Djuna: OUR MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A KIMO'S SHOW.

Sophie V.:WHEN KNOX (OF THE VIBRATORS) STEPPED OUT ONTO THE BALCONY AT THE OAKLAND METRO AND WATCHED US PLAY "STREETS OF". THEN AFTERWARDS, WE HUNGOUT WITH THE BAND!

LESTER: OUR LAST SHOW. I THINK WE PLAYED OUR BEST YET!

LB: What's the bands favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual ??
YG: FISH AND CHIPS, COCA-COLA, AND AMERICAN SPIRIT CIGARETTES. NO BOOZE UNTIL AFTER WE FINISH OUR SET. THEN IT'S BEER, CUBA LIBRES, SHOTS, ETC.

LB: What do you drink at practice??
YG: COKE

LB: What’s the hardest thing about being a Bay Area Band??
YG: GREAT BAY AREA BANDS ARE A DIME A DOZEN AND THEY ARE ALWAYS PLAYING AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE.

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
DJUNA: WE DON'T REALLY LIKE TO BE CATEGORIZED. WE ARE MORE LIKE POST-POST-PUNK.

Sophie V.: THE YES GO'S ARE A 3-PIECE BAND WITH A FULL SOUND. WE PLAY INTESELY WITH OUR HEARTS. IF WE START TO SOUND A BIT TOO POLISHED, WE SLAP ON SOME RAW GARAGE TO KEEP IT EDGY AND KEEP US FOCUSED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SHOWS, RECORD, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING IN SOME NEW ORGINAL STUFF FROM DJUNA'S VAULT.

LESTER: WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME SEE US!

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
YG: WE JUST FINISHED A CD WITH SONIC GURUS, BART THURBER AND MYLES BOISEN FROM HOUSE OF FAITH IN OAKLAND. TONS OF BANDS HAVE RECORDED THEIR ANALOG CDS THERE. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE. OUR CD IS AVALIBLE AT ALL OF OUR SHOWS ALONG WITH OTHER YES GO'S MERCH. JUST GOTTA COME SEE US IF YOU WANT ONE.

LB: Favorite San Francisco Band or a memorable show??
Djuna: BLUE CHEER, NO ALTERNATIVE, TRICLOPS AT THE HAIGHT STREET FAIR AND ALSO AT AOMEBA RECORDS.

Sophie V.: YEAH THOSE AND ALSO, LUCABRAZZI, SAY BOK GWAI, NEUROTRASH, AND ALL THE OTHERS IN OUR TOP 24 OR SO. THERE WAS A SHOW WHEN SOME GUY IN THE AUDIENCE WAS TRYING TO LICK DJUNA'S TOES WHILE SHE WAS PLAYING AT THE EAGLE...

LESTER: WE PLAYED 2 VENUES IN 1 NIGHT. GOT PAID $0 PLAYING IN FRONT OF 45 PEOPLE & $$$ TO PLAY TO AN EMPTY ROOM. A STRANGE NIGHT INDEED!

LB: Favorite venue to Play??
Djuna: EAGLE TAVERN, OR MAYBE THE STAG IN WOODLAND. (Sophie V.) BOTTOM OF THE HILL, THEE PARKSIDE, ANNIE'S (Lester) KIMO'S, EL RINCON & PISSED-OFF PETES.

LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
YG: THE DRUMMER!

LESTER/THE DRUMMER: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT! BUT I GET BLAMED FOR EVERYTHING ANYWAY...SO, YEAH.

SASSY!!!

Sassy Promo Photo by Firetiki

LittleBook: Why did you start a band??
TRIXIE: Originally to get a boyfriend when i was sixteen...then it just kind of stuck, what's hotter than two beautiful women in matching outfits rockin your ass off? You tell me!

LB: How did you find each other??
TR: Actually through an ad, then we secretly jammed, it's like we were having an affair or something...

LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
TR: When Kitty kicked a fan in the face for knocking into her drums whilst she was playing and spilled her drink! Then he got thrown out!

LB: Favorite pre / post show; food, indulgence or ritual??
TR: Jameson's and Chimays, before, during and after.

LB: What do you drink at practice??
TR: Champers, champag-nee, beer, wine, no water, we're deathly allergic to it!

LB: What’s the hardest thing about being a San Francisco Band??
TR: Playing for a jaded older audience, we love the kids!

LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
TR: We wanna travel the world, working on a new record deal with a few labels and aiming for Euro, Japan and Brazil in 2009.

LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
TR: We were named Amoeba's "Home Grown" band!! Our new cd's called "Get A Grip" on Good Trouble Records, recorded at Center of the Mile studios in SF by Donny Newenhouse. You can get it at all Amoeba stores and interpunk.com

LB: Favorite San Francisco Band or a memorable show??
TR: That's easy...Inferno of Joy, they're so foxy I can't get to sleep at night.

LB: Favorite venue to Play??
TR: Bottom of the Hill, hands down!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.myspace.com/sassytheband