Hollywood. February 7, 2004. The Troubadour
February 09, 2005 12:20 PM
Hollywood FEBRUARY 7, 2005 Troubadour
Ok. I figured it out. If you'll allow, I want to officially appoint you guys as the photographers of Eisley live shows. You're doing a better job than i am anyway (those crappy screen clips take me forever to produce). And besides, I simply can't find the time to do it - with out endangering my very human bean.
HEY! Eisley's record is actually out. It's out of the bag. It's on the streets. And that's boggling my bean. Or maybe it's 'cuz I'm drinking a 5-shot venti latte because the Starbucks guy loaded it up, moved it down the line where a Starbucks lady lloaded it up with the 3 more shots (the original 3 I'd asked for). So... the effect seems to be that I'm cracking more jokes that nobody gets. So...I can't recommend this.
THE TROUBADOUR SHOW
Sold out show. Amazing evening. It felt like a mini-premier. Room Noises went on sale. (100 at the show) Friends/fans were there, the Launch.com team was there, The Director's club people were there (video), management was there, tons of WB peeps were there... good times.
My rating is very high. In fact... Austin fans are probably going to gore me with their giant cow horns - but I have to rate the Troubadour 8.9 because the crowd bellowed 'n' screamed 'n' whistled at eardrum-blasting levels after almost every song.
I'm not saying the show was as tight as Austin's, but that even decreases the odds for a LA victory; in fact, the two singing sisters couldn't hear themselves in the monitors - which lead to occasional stray pitches. And there were lots of little goofs; chalk it up to pressure - Hollywood is the toughest for the band - I suppose because WB, who are their biggest fans, comes out in droves to hear them. oh well. Don't cry for me Austin. You heard the best show to date.
The enthusiasm of the band and the crowd really covered any small problems with sound. It was a wonderful crescendo leading up to a surprise finale'. You know, at the Troub', you sorta have to do the encore thing. I think it's just the way it works best there.... those stairs leading up to the loft where you can see the band behind the glass, etc. Whatever. They broke their grid and planned a few songs in case anybody wanted more:
"Sea King" is Blake's fav' - I think I told you guys that. Since day one, he insisted they play that song - at least in sound check. At the Troubadour, he got his wish - and then some - by replacing Weston as drummer for the catchy, old school, tune. There was great euphoria in the house. I was laughing the whole was through the song.
Blake said it was his most cherished, favorite moment of the tour. He's a very decent drummer actually but said he was almost nauseous while waiting backstage for his debut drumming moment. It was definitely a defining moment in the Winter West tour.
I had my worst moment. The moment I realized that the battery to my video cam was dead - and my charger was left at the hotel. That sucked. That was hard to get over. Alas, the Troubadour show, on the eve of their cd release is only recorded in my mind...
Anyway, the set ended with a lovely performance by Stacy of her new hit (with me) tune: "Just Like We Do". I hope some of you are listening to the record. You might get to hear it on one of the later shows on this tour. Anyway, the song brought great closure to the show. Everyone seemed to really, really love it. (i heard it on every breath as the mob made their way over to the merch booth: "oh my gosh... I love that song", etc.)
Thanks - all you crazy Californians for tipping the Texas scales Westward. You know, we're all "in the West". One big Western bunch of rugged individualists. ye ha and all of that - little doggies.
This copy is being written while on the road - leaving LA toward San Fran. Now we're in a San Fran Hotel and I gotta head 'em up and move 'em out. bd
POMONA, CA. February.05.2005. The Glass House
February 06, 2005 05:34 AM
POMANA FEBRUARY 5, 2005 The Glass House
Tonight was very significant... for many reasons. Do you see that I'm on
line? How can this be? I have a story to tell. But I'm too sleepy to even
keep my eyes open.
I'll come back in the morning to finish the teaser. nite.
____________________________________
The Glass House Show
I know it wasn't on Eisley's merit alone, so don't think I'm attempting to
claim that crowd as a trophy for our fire place mantle; perhaps the merit
lies on the fact that all three bands enjoyed a fresh esthetic overlap. But
moreover, I think it's time to celebrate the fact that we're witnessing the
slow decay of genre-specific music class. After all, there's something
beautiful about music, no matter who you've sold out to.
But on a side note, and I'm sure it's already been enscribed somewhere
within the pale blue frosted cake walls, LA Weekly says this about Eisley's
show tomorrow night:
________________________________________
"Damn, this is so (insert ƒ expletive) gorgeous; Eisley's recently released
full-length debut, Room Noises –an in-their-own-world soundtrack for four
small-town, teenage Texas siblings and their similarly youthful neighbor
- shudders and shimmers with opaque adolescent anguish, anticipation,
wonder and terror. Defined by the glassy, almost detached vocals of
Sherri DuPree and the harmonized tints of sisters Stacy and Chauntelle.
Eisley favor deliberate tempos, losing their hypnotic pulse during their
few forays into pacier places. Sherri's Sunday-afternoon-journal entries-
an intriguing shuffle of plain talk and bizarre metaphor - are animated by
uncluttered melodies, melancholic keys, arpeggiated guitar and bulbously
functional rhythm section. Eislhey's cliff-top musings on love, loss and
longing-somewhere between Coldplay's understated melodrama and the
Like's coy come-ons, flecked with country pangs 'n' twangs - offer a
current of un-colored authenticity amid stained seas of contemporary
musical contrivance. (Paul Rogers)
__________________________________
I really wish I could meet Paul... in hopes the one small crumb could fall
from his eloquent table of depth. Did you see the last calendar blurb he
wrote in the rag? Omg, it was extaroidinary.
(shakes head like cartoon with those flibbering noises and reaches for
another gulp of triple latte from Prescilla's gourmet coffee from just down
the street here in Burbank or wherever Lake Talupa is near that fine,
fine, Bob's Big Boy down the street from the Dubbya-B).
Last night was the first indication I had - no, like it completely caught me
off guard - that the distinct possibility existed that Eisley could actually
turn out to be a favored band among many other loved bands... rivaling
the likes of their peers that tower above like grasshoppers in ladybug land.
Last night, I had been making trips back and forth from our van to the
venue, grabbing sound scan sheets; wups i forgot the set lists... "oh wait,
i need to grab a fresh Hi-8 to shoot tonight's show... crap, what did i do
with the power-chord to my Sony?... Kim needs more shirts, where's that
funky light that shines up on the merch?" ... but on one such occasion, I
walked right past the long line of rock patrons in time to see about 15
people hold their Eisley tour posters up while other willing enthusiasts
snapped digital images of the non-essential exhibit. I only hope that
nobody saw my gaulkish, buffonish smile as paused to witness this
cherishing moment. How retarded.
It was at that moment that something clicked in my very, very dull
celeboidious, grey hunk: maybe enough people are going to love eisley's
unique music and they'll break out of this quagmire of uncertainty;
maybe there can be an end to this disquieting concern that they just
don't fit in... or that there will never be more than a few hundred
show up to hear their live music... Or, perhaps am I just a little late in
getting a clue? Has the enormity of my work-load dimmed the bulb in my
skulleous gourde of goo? Yes perhaps, but I speak these words with caution.
Despite the band's insistence that they sounded terrible and had a below average performance; despite the fact that they felt their musicianship and vocal performances were disastrous, I was euphoric as I captured video from my hidden place in the balcony. I wasn't so connected to their insecurities or feelings of failure, though I note that it wasn't one of their best shows. I really enjoyed their set and... you guys were wildly enthusiastic. - ALL NIGHT; i heard about the spontaneous outburst of clapter as the band emerged for signing.
It was an amazing night - and now I think I really want to move to Pomona. What a quaint, cool, picturesque lil' metropolis - with cool people; and a club that is run so well - it rivals the Fillmore experience; no wonder - it's owned by Golden Voice - who owns and runs Coachella.
Speaking of Coachella - how 'bout it, huh? I'm still shocked and thankful that Eisley is on the bill. (silent scream)
Anyway, whoever all of you beautiful people were that came last night... whichever bands you were fans of... thank you so much for coming to
support the small, burgeoning head-liner. It was, as we say all too often -
amazing.
btw. I have a new rating system. I rate states, regions, towns, venues based on whether or not they "get" Eisley. Right now, the Southern part of California is charting on my point system. Next to Austin (ok, Texas), you're score is 7.8. Texas, with Houston/Austin as major contributing factors is at a solid 8. At the end of the tour, I'll turn in my city scores... and I might grade on the bell curve. Stay tuned. and, remind me because I'll probably forget this random bit of bogus.
My Apple G-4
Speaking of "silent scream", my emotions are charting seismic activity never-before seen. The brittle-white psyche-synapse of my dubious cortex is raging with flutterous, luminous fleurons; readings of waves that peak into the 8db neuro-distortion realm are poking my skull like fiber-porcu-pins. Thought it's the morning after... my dim wits are registering lumens that exceed Edison's brightest ideas.
Short story:
Darin and Christine of DCmusic (eisley's manager and supporting office manager) arrived at The Glass House around 9:30pm - just about when Blake and his Elected few took the stage. We would pay homage to the Sub-Pop side project of Rilo - also managed by DCM and enjoy the indie-folkness of it all.
But Kim broke in on our moment - whispering to me - "Darin has a new
box of the cd's and wants to show them to the band... we need to go in
the dressing room and sorta make it happen..." Agreeable Boid motioned
for the small team to comply and we zipped around side-stage and made
contact with those Eisley's, who had closed themselves of in the
luxurious, artistic entry room adjoining the dressing room - preparing
themselves for the rehearsed occasion.
Once the doors closed, I pondered why this should be a highlight - seeing how the band had already signed 2500 copies of the cd insert. Perhaps Darin didn't know they'd seen anything. I'd sheepishly support the fanfare and band's acting skills in showing awe and appreciation of management's role in everything that was happening.
Sherri was video-taping; hmm... I that meant we were really gonna do
this up right. The box of CD's were open on the coffee table. Awkward
moments; milling about... let's get this over with :-] That's when Weston
moved into my periphial - with gangleous arms stretched forward bearing
a thin, wide silvery tray as an offering... to me. His peculiar grin was
new to me. What was happening here?
I looked at him and said... "what..." (at least i think that's what I said) I can't remember much after that. I must have said, "what is that?" I didn't reach for the goods. I turned around to find out if the reality of anything I was experiencing might be backed or reinforced by the candor or expression of anyone else in the room. Sherri was video-taping me; what the $##%!? (happy expletives).
I couldn't act. I felt speechless. They were presenting me with a 17" g4 powerbook. It made NO sense whatsoever. I had worked so hard and depended so much on my friends to help resolve my oh-so-serious dilemma (reference whacked out 2002 model g4 15" Titanium monitor due to apparent, self-installation) I couldn't resolve my current reality with this new invasive, wondrous reality. I think I said something like..."this can't be; I haven't conceived of this... I haven't predicted this... or, this wasn't supposed to happen for years."
Basically, Kim/Band called management and said, "boyd is about to crater with stress. He's trying to tour manage and keep up with his web/graphic responsibilities... we're appealing to you guys for help." This g4 is the outcome. Dave Holmes gave up this - his own mac, instantly and said the band could just pay it back when finances were available. I feel humbled and loved...and less under stress. I would have been happy with the temp solution (external monitor), but this is gravy. This is something wonderful and I never saw it coming.
Unfortunately for me, the band is insisting that I post the video clip of this event; I am saying I will to get them off my back, but...you know, I'm just really not going to have the time. (tsk. tsk)
So...without belaboring or over-dramatizing this event, I am now able to move forward and I hope to catch up before the tour is over. Thanks for bearing with me and for being so supportive over the years. The only reason I was able to fix my previous monitor after smashing it (the storm, the winds, the mammoth tree falling in our back yard) was because you guys rose up and made a way. I will never forget that. And, we will now fix the screen and Eisley will have a bad-boy machine finally to compose, produce in garage band as well as power their midi with samples for keyboards, organs, and misc. sounds they need to complete their live show.
thank you. have a great week. Hope to see some of you at the Troubadour on Monday night. I heard a rumor that advanced tickets either have sold out the show or would certainly sell out the show. bd
pics WILL be added.
SAN DIEGO. February 04, 2005. The Epicenter
February 05, 2005 12:55 PM
San Diego FEBRUARY 4, 2005 Epicenter
You guys know this... Eisley isn't big. They're a young band that's been around since 1998. In perspective, Eisley is so small that they aren't yet selling out 500 capacity venues across the country. Eisley is a band that has a handful of ep's floating out there and, as of today... has no full length record in the market place.
I don't know if this will ever change and frankly, I don't know how important it is, but I can tell you that everyone on this small team was overwhelmed at the response from you San Diego-ians last night. I think it might go down as the biggest shocker of this tour.
The last time Eisley headlined (Soma), there might have been, what, 65 people? I can't remember really. The Epicenter might now have technically sold out, but the 475 of you crammed in that youth center seemed staggering to me. We honestly were braced for a let down.
And, in support of my thesis for this short spew of words - that's not a big number...and yet, it was exciting. We saw so many familiar faces, got to hang out with so many friends. And... we got to go eat at Denny's afterward! So... you see how simple our lives are, now; how easlily impressed we are.
The sound, we're told, isn't so great at the Epicenter, but the vibe made up for it; truth, Robbie fought "the sound" issues all night... no effects, low ceiling, no acoustics...whatever. Who cares. You deal with it and are thankful to be on tour. (period) The House of Blues folks have promoted every show so far and I think they're amazing. (plus they love the band)
My monitor looks like a flickering neon sign in a snow storm. I'm receiving a solution today by Fed. Hope to be back in the tour journal saddle by early in the morning. We're still in San Diego but will soon pack to make the short trek to Pomona for tonight's show at the Glass House. Looking forward to that.
I just wanted to say thank you to the wonderful bunch of people that came out last night to hear the sicko's lil' gig. Sherri was running fever; Stacy also took a dive for the worse... we're frustrated; trying to shake this junk. Thought we'd be over it by now. grrrrrr... Debut album release shows while ill. That's insane. But... the show must go on. I hope they're better today. The girl's room is still out cold.
So, in conclusion... after years and years of playing, doing 100's and 100's of shows, several National tours, Eisley is perhaps poised to gain some momentum through the long awaited release of their first record. It's exciting and scary. It's humbling and awesome.
I'm sure Tuesday will come and go with no big fan fare.... there won't be any big "first week sales" reports, nothing will change, life will go on... and whatever happens, at least they'll have made their mark, no matter how big or how small in the marketplace...and in the lives of you guys, who have been the foundation for their support. If I've said it too many times, I don't care: Thankyou - you crazy forum fans/friends, who have loved them unconditionally, who have protected them like friends, who have made the Laughing City a cool town to visit, to live in...
I know some of you will come in and out of our lives... some of you may get frustrated or bored over time; that's ok. Whoever is here will define the culture. I hope the spirit of this place, the anazing culture of music lovers will maintain... will be preserved for the duration of Eisley's moment on planet earth.
onward.