I spent the better part of last week crafting a stellar tee shirt and trying to get it printed. The problem was not time management, getting too stoned(which I did anyway), or drinking(which I did non of), it was ABC NO RIO. Instead of reveling in being a Hipster in Hipsterburg and paying $6 for dixie cups of beer at McCarren Park Pool, I went to ABC to print shirts after sitting inside all morning and doing art work. Of course contrary to the flyer that clearly states they are open Sundays, they were not. "Fine, whatever man", I said to myself, "I'm gonna walk home". So I did, across the bridge, up Shredford Avenue, all the way to Greenpoint, with my giant screen, and art work. Here is a tip for you attention getters out there, forget wild attire, neon pants, or giant sun glasses, just walk around with a ghost image on a silk screen, you'll get more looks than a girl wearing shear tee shirt with a nipple showing. "It's ok, I'll go to ABC on Wednesday", well of course the volunteer does not show up Wednesday either. Patience running low. I show up at 6:30 the following day and there was a line out the door to get screens made up. I waited 4 hours, but I did have a fresh screen that only cost me $5, and about 9 hours of my life. Did I mention that on Tuesday I carried 6 dozen tee shirts to my house from Union Square. Do you have any idea how many tee shirts 6 dozen is? Oy Vey.
It's ok, I have to remind myself of that. I am way satisfied right now. Despite the bullshit that comes up In a daily routine, it is all worth it. Once you have your merch table set up at a shit hole in Worcester, Mass. and you are a few beers in, LIFE IS PERFECT. At least for me it is. Vermefug was pumped too. They had merch and they didn't have to commit hours of their lives to getting it done. I could have just handed the shirts off and kept a low profile in New York, but after getting the screen made, and printing shirts till 1 am, I had the itch. The itch to climb on a bus in Chinatown, arrive in Boston 6 hours later, get lost on the Boston T, arrive in Brookline around 9:30, only to arrive at the Wheelchair(Worcester) around 11:15, and the show hadn't even started yet. Yeah, that itch.
Ahh the Wheelchair. This place holds a very special place in my heart. Now before you rush to judge(I'm talking to you local Worcester dude), let me explain. the WC is a lofted warehouse that is rented for $800 a month. It is loaded with skate ramps, pipes, couches, and graffiti. It's sole purpose, if any, is to facilitate skaters, punks, drinkers and drug addicts. It falls under very little if any jurisdiction. Maybe I like it so much because New York just does not have one to call it's own. And if it did/does every fair weather, cocaine addled, free beer seeking punk/hipster/scum bag/idiot would ruin it immediately. Or Vice magazine would show up and trash it in an online blog. Now I don't want to be accused of talking shit on the Internet, so let me make my self clear right now, I am talking shit. The old lady that runs the Wheelchair ripped the touring bands off. Somehow $250 went missing from the door. I suggested first checking her Vagina, then maybe her nose. But hold on, I am getting ahead of my self.
Cross Examination(The epic party dudes or whatever) played with Vermefug and Razormaze(Bitch'n 80's style metal from Boston). Let me say this about Cross Examination, I have not seen them before, but have followed them for years through Myspace, and friends of mine who have played with them. They are in my mind one of those national touring bands you can't wait to have play your town.(ie: Annihilation Time, Municipal Waste, ANS, and I guess if you are from Texas, Vermefug)They were very solid, as a touring band should be. Good crowd reaction, but I wonder why they played first? Vermefug had a really good show, complete with air horn, strobe light and fog machine. I think they got the crowd really amped. The crowd would have torn the place apart if CE closed the show. Instead Cross Examination had no issues with tearing the place apart when they did not get paid. I remember being loaded outside the WC when I had this weird "Dazed and Confused" moment. I walked through all the groups of people talking, and everyone was a buzz about how the bands were not going to get paid. I heard a shriek from the inside,
"WHERE'S THE MONEY!",
"I don't know, it's gone"
"FIND IT!"
It was at this moment when an unidentified member of CE tried throwing a couch down a concrete ramp. It was more of a spectacle than an attempt to actually get money from the old lady who runs the WC. I didn't think they would beat it out of her, every one was just pissed they were getting stiffed. They must have sold some merch at least. I mean they got $15 from me. The first star of the night was Mr. John Shirley. He paid The Fug and CE $40 out of his own pocket. Our second star, this guy...
I guess he tours with CE and video tapes them, that's right, VHS recorder, ala Marty McFly or Clark Grizzwald. Had the total late 80's early 90's party duder thing going on. He's like the old dudes I see at car shows with life size replica Elvis Presley mannequins in their 1959 Chrysler 300 convertibles. Totally dedicated to a particular style of an era. Rock on VHS Party Dude! Our third star goes to Ginn. Thank you for facilitating a great place to party and do what you want, despite the fact you ripped off my friends. Special thanks to Sam, Alex and Razormaze for driving, putting us up, and putting up with a little late night cleaning. Ask Nate, or Adam for the details.
