Rob the Fiddler

I forgot how much I missed LA radio. I suppose its always streaming, but
KCRW is the best station ever to listen to on the radio at 2am driving on an LA freeway. There is another station called indie 103. Its like the Jack station in Dallas, but less AOR and more punk. There is little sense to be made of the playlist. They could play Elvis Costello followed by PIL, then Black Sabbath followed by the cure. Good times.

Dad got out some liquor from his China trip. I think its made from Snake Penis or something. Tasted like the ass instead.

Google translates its description as follows:
Three snake liquor San She Chiew

The poison
snake of three types (the hub * mamushi * lump and others) even in the
world which soaks in three flower liquor the fearful strong medicine
liquor. Your this liquor which even neuralgia is effective, the ?? ? it
solves in tongue.

Made it out to Orange County in one piece. I’m out here until Dec 30. Nothing to do but sit around and relax with my parents. That and frantically encode hundreds of CDs from my parents and brothers CD libraries. Good Times. One thing I dont miss is the traffic. What a mess. I fought it a bit to get a few things. Every year I go and visit the downtown Fullerton area. Every year go to Black Hole Records. Every year I see the same Phantom Rockers LP that has Snakebite on it. Turns out Snakebite doesnt have it!!!! So…I guess one Christmas gift picked out.

While I was there, I sat at a Starbucks to read the OC Weekly to get a handle of the weeks events. Interesting paper. Like the Observer. So the plan for the evening was to see David Allen Coe with my little brother and the Skatanic Rednecks. I figured I would read what they had to say. OC put it in the form of an obituary. Strange…considering current events in the metal world…Dimebag and all.

Met my bro at a place called Johnnys Saloon. Hard to describe, but there were LOTS of cash tributes and HUNDREDS of Jack bottles lining the wall. Lots of neu-punks (for lack of a better term) hanging out. Ok, so there
are lots of tattoo’d folks in Dallas….so many that I stopped noticing anyless
less than a neck, face or knuckle tat. Still….EVERYBODY was stupid-inked
out here. Kinda defeats the purpose of trying to stick out. I was telling a friend that if you REALLY wanted to stick out in this world, you should do something like learn the accordian….. WELL …and take it everywhere. You can only see so many misfits tats before you dont notice….but a guy with an accordian straped on playing randomly…say while in Hot Topic or at Renos.

I challenge ya!!

Ok…anyway…non-conformist conformity aside, the bar was fun. Good Jukebox, stiff drinks. So we all met up and headed for the DAC show at Galaxy Theater. Strange Venue….its in the middle of an industrial park….but the place was nice. DAC hit the stage after Shooter Jennings. He had a few words to say about the article in OC weekly. After hearing his perspective, Ill admit…it was in bad taste. Show was good. Several fights broke out, but security was quick.

Tonight I get to see the Skatanic Rednecks in action. Should be interesting.

So its come to my attention that I have not been updating this sucker for a while.

You can blame Myspace for that. Man, that website is the worst for sucking up spare web surfing minutes. Well, its been fun too. in the course of 6 months, I have probably met 50 or so people in Dallas. Really fun folks too.

Ok, so its also the ULTIMATE band promotion tool.

Speaking of bands, we finished the saga that was Trainwreck last week. It was probably a ways coming. Not at all bad. It probibly opens more opportunites for everybody. Jd had the following to say.

It is with sadness but heartfelt resignation that I have to report that December will bring our final show as Trainwreck. This band has enabled the formation of some truly wonderful relationships, amongst members of the band - past and present - as well as with you, our friends. We’ve met so many great people along the way who have helped us in so many ways, inspired us, entertained us with incredible music, made us laugh, made us drunk, made us sober, made us better people. There are way too many to mention. You know who you are. But to try to name just a few… thanks to Lois and the staff at Adairs, Richard and the folks at the BarleyHouse, Cindy, Mike S., Chad, Brian and the guys at Woody’s, Gary and KBEC, KNON, Danny and everyone at The Ticket, Bruce and the crew at KHYI, NTNMF, Dale Brock, Chris McCullum for pics, Amanda (for the website and album design!), MarketNet for site hosting, Rob Hansen, Mo, Jake, Dave Mitchell, Speedtrucker, Beaver, all the folks in Wichita Falls, Stebby, Trae, Travis, Heath T., David Z., Dean Markley for the strings, anyone who’s ever booked us or come out to see us, and most importantly, thanks to our families and loved ones for putting up with all that comes with us musicians.

Its been a fun ride…and JD is still playing. In fact, we will be at Standard and Pours on Friday. Come on out!!!

Hey Folks. This Sunday (Aug 15th) the Derailers are playing at Love and War for Shiner Sunday. Shiner Sunday is from 4-6. Im throwing a preshow party beforehand (1:30 - 2 perhaps). Folks that want to grab a table should do it like at 3. Folks into the concept of General Admission (like me) will leave at 4 to 4:30. Here are the details.

added Deannas pics

Hey there folks. So it looks like I have not put up anything in months. Folks are getting worried. Im doing well…..been playing a LOT and working a lot, and I got caught up in the incredible timewaster that is Myspace.

Probibly the neatest things that have happened since the last month was an article in the Observer touting the Sues as a must see. YES!!!!! Susan has started writing a few months ago and has already submitted some good reading.

I think I had about 10 gigs in the past 3 weeks. Last Friday I did 3 Gigs in one day. Yep, raked in 10’s of dollars. Started out with the Taste of Dallas with Craig Boyd. Followed by Boys Named Sue at Allgood then Trainwreck at Adairs. Plus I did the sound equipment.

The Weekend before that I played with Craig in Forney for the Fourth of July. Craig Said that it was put on by KSCS or the Twister….but I think those guys were busy so it was hosted by the third sister station….Radio Disney.

We preceeded an act that the calendar billed as “Radio Disney Performing Artist”. This turned out to be Nikki Cleary (I was hoping for Hillary Duff)

She seemed to be popular with the 4 yo to 13 yo set. There were 50 or 60 little girls between the ages of 6 to 16 that just couldn’t wait for us to get off the stage. (Sigh)

Then I raced to Dallas for the fireworks. Seems that you can light fireworks from the service road at the county border. It was a battle zone. Imagine 300 people lighting fireworks on the side of a major interstate….both sides. Do the math….half that crap will land on the freeway….and Im pretty sure some folks were aiming for cars because I got hit by a bottle rocket. Rather than deal with that, I had to catch the show at Lakewood. Snakebite was working the show and there were cute girls at Lakewood theater with a seat open for me.

Slick is on Tour for the next few weeks…so I get some time off.
Upcoming Gigs:

Thursday @ Standard and Pours with Mark Midland
Friday-Sat @ Woodward, OK Rodeo with Mo Robson…I dont know the details…probibly best that way.
Aug 1 - Poor Davids Pub w/ Mark Midland
Aug 6 - Dada with BNS

Oh…and I have some Pics coming up….gotta get them all figured out.

And visit www.texasgigs.com….now.