My Birthday Weekend Part 1
DJ Eric Ill & Kiper
The Cat Club
The Substitutes
Whisky A Go-Go
Hollywood, CA
June 1, 2007
Ramblins and Pixs by Lucky
(SugarBuzz Birhtday Boy)
Over the top and in style is the way I decided to ring in the anniversary of my entrance into existence. My actual birthday is June 5, but “the birthday weekend” has become a tradition. And I was going to make this one count. So after a grueling day at the mundane day job I went lickity split to the mansion on the hill to shed the working man attire and prepare for night one.
I was in a hurray to get the hell to the Sunset Strip as none other than Eric Ill and Kiper were scheduled to hit the stage at 9:30pm sharp and I needed to make a stop or two first.
Had to get some supplies. So I put pedal to the metal and headed into the heart of my sin city.
As soon as I ditched the Nitro, I was off on foot to encounter friendly faces. First stop, The Rainbow Bar and Grill. Dinner or Bar? I chose bar. Sweet Pea was holding court in the kitchen, so I stopped in and it sure was good to see that fucker. We go way back. Love ya man! After a few quick “what the fuck’s up Lucky?” I headed down to The Cat Club.
I like The Cat Club. It is run by old friends that always comp my every move. The weekend started off good. And it was going to get a whole lot better.
Now if you are a regular to the strip scene, then more than likely you know DJ Eric ILL. And a whole lot of you made it to the show. For a band that went on at 9:00pm, I think they drew the best out of any opener I have seen in ions. The Cat Club will surely want to rebook em.
The astounding set was ignited by some incredible sounds via Ill’s laptop. The volume maxed, the heart started to race and the blood flowed. Gimme some red. Joining Eric on stage were the man know only to me as Curtis bearing an axe to grind and Kiper your not so everyday blonde vixen next door.
Causing a stir, “Sugar Girl” a bona fide smash pulsated our entire beings. Kiper is hot, no doubt about that, with the sweet sexy vocals and the bad girl scant. Curtis guitar style is honed slop head, a nice personal stamp.
Electronic Ill started the slither slew with “Suburban Snake”. Winding through the urban decadence of decay, survival reigns supreme as the tits and ass shake command is heralded. The sweat breaks. Too many cigarettes and booze take toll. Fuzz to Blur.
“Wasted On You” was next. On the now classic Ill demo, this track is just acoustic guitar, vocals and tambourine. Tonight, acoustic was swapped to electric highlighted by vocal. The tambourine was amiss. After the thump of the previous packages, this kind of threw the crowd. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great song, I just feel in this arena Ill should have pumped some beat.
But the lull didn’t last as “Burning Up” brought it back big. Another hip dance track, The Cat Club will never be the same. A modern meld of sonic assault and electric kit, combined with continual combustion, the fire raged within our souls. Quench it.
Closing the way too fucking short set was the latest favorite, “Starve Me” a taunting tease of flaunt. Home is where the heart is, but it’s not with you fucker is the synopsis within.
Love from the packed club ensued and then my ears were consoled with the silent ringing within. Medication time gentlemen, medication time.
OK now what, some time to fill before the next stop at The Whisky. Dinner or bar? How about the loft! Memories of white.
Feeling a bit like Gumby, I headed back down the strip to the scared rock hall known as The Whisky a Go-Go with many a friend and new friend in tow, we were on freak parade and must have been quite a sight, even for Hollyweird. The entire conglomeration made our grand entrance. Thanks for the comp Brit.
Some crazy ass over the top speed/thrash band was on stage and the pit was in full gear. We all had a blast watching this mountain of a dude just annihilating the competition. Thanks for the laughs man.
The wait was but a nanosecond and the boys from San Francisco, know as The Substitutes were ready to rock.
Let me educate, among all the great talent in The Substitutes, the man on bass and lead vocals is none other than Brit, maniacal madman in, you got it, Blackboard Jungle. In fact, have I ever seen really seen this guy sober and with his pants on. (Hey, disclaimer time, Brit has a tendency to get drunk and flop his dick around when reuniting with Blackboard Jungle.)
This is the first time I have seen The Substitutes and wow, let me tell you, fucking powerhouse. Close to a classic rock categorization, this band likes their pie humble, their hats foggy and they sure put in some blood sweat and tears.
Brit has this big bold heavy bluesy vox style that totally took me by surprise, as the band declared all bets off with “First Thing I Want”. Yeah it’s “the last thing I need” but give me more. The band dug in like ticks on a dog with the monstrous guitar tone of tones via Joel and Mike.
Numbed by the entire sensation so far, I started counting my change with the onset of “Money” and visited the 101 within the confines of “Hardcore California”, which is a way of life I have been accustom to. Brit was committed to “staying focused” and that was a lesson for me to learn. Swirls aplenty.
The alluring “Flower” with the cryptic message and subtle nuances had us a sway. The females gyrate and the males salivate. Tasty.
Oh no, don’t say it’s so, “God is Cocaine” was up as the Zeppelin like intro notified us so. Killer references that pertained to my world like the west is the best and Uncle Charlie triggered recognition. Let me tell you from experience, it’s Satan.
We got a dose of something new in the being of “Light It Up”, and I would if not restrained due to California law. Oh wait, when did that ever stop me? “Light It Up” was a good sign that the songwriting talents of these bad boys are way in tune.
Seems there may have been a tune or two more, but I seem intent on concluding with the hard hitting, soul searching “Taken A Lifetime.” Hard work does pay off and earning it heightens the appreciation. Grab you by the balls with sweet hooks and some fucking killer pounding by Paul Roybat, this song shakes.
The Substitutes were done, but I my friends was just getting started. Seems the cell had been ringing off the hook, Chris and Princess had descended at The Bow and required my presence for some birthday toasts. Yeah the party was just getting going. Thrown on the mean streets around 2am, I jumped in the Nitro and headed back to the mansion on the hill with caution. Remember, there is danger at the end of town.
Come Back Tomorrow for the link to Lucky's Birthday Weekend part 2. (Killingbird, Vains Of Jenna, Blackboard Jungle)