.six.

Dan and Joe's House - 5.14.10

Northford, CT

w/ Spraynard, Swear Jar, Escalators, and Book Slave

i realized that i haven't been putting the locations of these shows at the top of the entries, so THERE IT IS WORLD!

Spraynard was supposed to be playing 4 shows this weekend with Paramedic, but a few complications with them having grown up jobs lead to Saturday and Sunday falling through and them not being able to play Thursday (Connecticut). despite our feeling of bum towards the situation, we decided to play the CT show anyways since the kid setting up the show (Mitch) is a great guy and we knew the show would be a great time.

this was also a fairly nice change of pace from Spraynard's usual show pre-gaming. we usually find ourselves rushed on time, just getting off work, and mad at each other for no particular reason. while the petty anger still found its way into our packing up equipment ritual, it quickly subsided as we decided to go to plymouth meeting whole foods. we didn't need to be in CT until 5, and it was only about noon, so it was nice to sit around and eat lunch at whole foods. i scarfed down vegan general tso's and vegetarian dumplings and found myself pissed off that they weren't selling vegan cornbread that day. then, on our way out, they brought out a fresh batch of said cornbread. i took two for the road after quickly yelling to mark about my joyous discovery.

the drive to CT was fairly arduous (due to duh big apple's traffic). though once we got there it was nothing but good vibes. Mitch greeted us with big hugs and funny stories about living in California. Mitch also got Mark and I vegan general tso's from a Chinese place down the street. Mark and I both eat vegan general tso's a lot... all the time. after reuniting with long last buddy Andy from The Flaming Tsunamis, Dan and Joe (the two kids who lived at the house) informed us the first band was starting.

that first band was called Escalators. they hopped on the show due to Paramedic dropping off. they were a two piece noise-ish band who had members of Dead Uncles. i really liked these guys. i'm always thrown back by two pieces who manage to sound like a thirteen piece. the guitarist had like a strange bass amp/guitar amp combination which sounded really full. their set was also only about 10 minutes... MY KINDA BAND!!! they were also super big sweethearts, i hope to see them again super soon.

the second band was Swear Jar. Swear Jar is Mitch's band. Swear Jar is totally amazing as well. i saw them not too long ago in Philly with Pink Coffins, but the PA kind of sucked at that show so i couldn't hear the vocals. but this time around you could hear them perfectly. the vocals are the best part of that band, so i'm glad i heard them this time around. Swear Jar sounds like if Jawbreaker and Delay had a baby. yeah. a baby with a mohawk. all of the kids in Swear Jar are angels, but i must say that Chris is perhaps one of the funniest people i've ever met. he broke a light bulb later that night... what an idiot.

the third band was Spraynard. i had a lot of fun playing this show. there weren't that many kids in attendance, but i personally think those shows are usually more of a personal experience for everyone there, so i love that kind of situation. while i was fighting off puking up all the general tso's in my system, it was a great time. once again, totally don't remember our set... we should start writing that down i guess?

the last band was Book Slave. this was Dan and Joe's band. i hope if Dan and Joe ever read this they don't get offended by what i am about to say, but i'll preface it with saying it is in no way meant in ill form. upon meeting both Dan and Joe (brothers), i got the vibe that they had very awkward personalities. not in a bad way at all, but just a wee bit socially awkward. now, any punk kid who does his studying at shows should know that socially awkward kids always write the best music. this couldn't have been more true with Book Slave. super fast and frantic mathy angry shit. screaming vocals and flailing bodies. sooo good. i love these kind of bands. it is just the two of them as well... both playing guitar. it was that kind of set you just bob your head to as you try and follow the notes. then when it gets to one part that is apparently killer, you get an uncontrollable smirk of psyched-ness on your face. i got their tape. i have yet to listen to it yet since i left it in someone's car, but i'm stoked either way.

as bummed as we were that we couldn't stick around and hang out, the show ended at 9 and it just made way more sense to avoid the NYC traffic for the next day. we said our goodbyes and made it home within like 3 quick hours. Connecticut one-offs rule.

pictures will all be coming soon. i forgot my digital camera for this show so dos bought me a disposable one on the way. YAY!


stay sweaty!