Adam and I went out on Saturday to the bars. So of course at some point the conversation moved to the band.
Originally, we were just planning on going to Courtside for a pitcher of Dos Equis. Well that is the worst bar that I've ever been in. They were out of both Dos Equis and Coors, so we both got pints of Bud Light and then got the hell out.
So we went to Casa Neuva, which is much more our vibe. I had a hard cider, and he had a Blue Moon. We sat at the bar, and he asked me what I thought the major weak point of the band is. I immediately responded that they for the most part lacked energy on stage. For instance, at the Baker show it would have been better if they had invited the audience up to the stage, instead of letting them sit down.
He agreed and reiterated that he would like it if the band could sound more diverse musically.
We had another round: two Pyramid Apricot Ales, which were quite good. We then started discussing the finer points of guitar design. I am a neophyte and prefer the look of a Gibson SG. Adam prefers the Les Paul because it was designed by a guitarist to be played.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Videos from the Baker Show
These are videos from the show at New Baker Theater. I took them, so I apologize that they're a little shaky. The band made a recording of the show, so I'll have a link up as soon as the band gets the recording to me.
Farewell Collision
Cigarettes and Shooters
To the Broken Man
Farewell Collision
Cigarettes and Shooters
To the Broken Man
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Show at Baker Theater Reivew
The Wife and Kids had an eight song set at the New Baker Theater tonight. It was a pretty energetic show; too bad they only played to about 20 of their friends. The first two songs -Simple and Honest and Farewell Collision- were a little quiet, but by the end of the set with To the Broken Man. I made videos of Farewell Collision, To the Broken Man, and Cigarettes and Shooters, so I hope to have those videos embedded into the blog soon.
It's really interesting watching the band play. It takes them as long to get to the venue and set up, as it does for them to play their set, and often the only people there are the band's friends. I don't know how they do it, but they press on writing their own music and finding shows to play.
After the show, the band, except Chad, came back to the apartment to celebrate. They were talking about what they would do if they get signed, which they realize will never, ever happen. All of them would buy various guitars. They also wish that they could vary their sound a little bit to be a little bit different.
What I can't get over is how the band works itself out. They don't always get along with each other. Chad likes to talk on the phone while drumming; practices never start on time, but they bring all of that together to play for their friends as shows.
It's really interesting watching the band play. It takes them as long to get to the venue and set up, as it does for them to play their set, and often the only people there are the band's friends. I don't know how they do it, but they press on writing their own music and finding shows to play.
After the show, the band, except Chad, came back to the apartment to celebrate. They were talking about what they would do if they get signed, which they realize will never, ever happen. All of them would buy various guitars. They also wish that they could vary their sound a little bit to be a little bit different.
What I can't get over is how the band works itself out. They don't always get along with each other. Chad likes to talk on the phone while drumming; practices never start on time, but they bring all of that together to play for their friends as shows.
In case the slide show fails to load here is a link that will make it open in a separate window.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
New Baker Theater Show
The band didn't practice today for the show tomorrow at New Baker Theater. Chad wasn't able to come over.
Adam is writing yet another new song. He is quite prolific.
Adam is writing yet another new song. He is quite prolific.
A Wire update
The show at The Wire may not have gone as well as tWaK would have hoped. They left some equipment there overnight, and now they're missing an AC adaptor and a guitar stand was completely broken. According to TR, that's $30-$40 in damage.
But things go on. They have a show on Thursday at 9p.m. at New Baker Theater. It's part of an open mic night, and they're playing with three other bands. As usual, they don't know who those bands are yet. I'll update this as soon as I find out. I will also be there taking pictures again.
They have one new song, but it's still being worked out. Adam wrote it. I don't even know if there is a title yet.
*Edit* According to TR's comment, the song is called A Campaign for Literate Dog Food. Adam and I discussed it, and the name comes from an inside joke between him and his girlfriend Emmy. She has a T-Shirt that says, "Out side of a dog a book is a man's best friend, inside of a dog it's hard to read."
But things go on. They have a show on Thursday at 9p.m. at New Baker Theater. It's part of an open mic night, and they're playing with three other bands. As usual, they don't know who those bands are yet. I'll update this as soon as I find out. I will also be there taking pictures again.
They have one new song, but it's still being worked out. Adam wrote it. I don't even know if there is a title yet.
*Edit* According to TR's comment, the song is called A Campaign for Literate Dog Food. Adam and I discussed it, and the name comes from an inside joke between him and his girlfriend Emmy. She has a T-Shirt that says, "Out side of a dog a book is a man's best friend, inside of a dog it's hard to read."
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Well Blogger is being a little weird and not letting me edit the previous post. The thing I wanted to add was that my only criticism of the show was that early on there was a lack of energy coming from the band, but the audience really wasn't feeding them any energy so it is hard to blame them for this.
A Show at the Wire
The show tonight came together nicely. When I arrived tensions were still stressed, but by the time St. Jude was lit, the band was ready to rock.
The Wire is a very interesting place. I think it's a converted basement with exposed pipes and a concrete floor. It is run by some hippies who were holding the show in benefit of Mexican protesters who were arrested.
Sadly, the vibe of the show really didn't come up until the last four songs. The show was mostly made up of friends of the band who just stood there listening to the music, but during the last four songs a group of hippies started moshing near the band. It brought the energy of the entire crowd up, and people really started getting into the music. All of the songs were really on target tonight, and I think it might be tWaK's best live performance to date. I hope they can keep it up at their next show on Thursday.
After the show, the band left and Turning Pages came on. I left with the band, so I can't comment on how Turning Pages faired. As Coert smoked a cigarette after the show many people from the audience commented on how good the show was tonight. After that everyone went their separate ways. Chad stayed; TR and his girlfriend Darcy went to see a band at Casa; Adam went with his girlfriend Emmy, and Coert went with his girlfriend Sarah.
I just realized that I haven't introduced the band yet. Coert is the bassist and generally the lead singer (He is in the first photo of the slideshow). Chad is the drummer. TR plays guitar (in these pictures he is wearing a polo shirt), and Adam also plays guitar (he is wearing the black button-up shirt).
The Wire is a very interesting place. I think it's a converted basement with exposed pipes and a concrete floor. It is run by some hippies who were holding the show in benefit of Mexican protesters who were arrested.
Sadly, the vibe of the show really didn't come up until the last four songs. The show was mostly made up of friends of the band who just stood there listening to the music, but during the last four songs a group of hippies started moshing near the band. It brought the energy of the entire crowd up, and people really started getting into the music. All of the songs were really on target tonight, and I think it might be tWaK's best live performance to date. I hope they can keep it up at their next show on Thursday.
After the show, the band left and Turning Pages came on. I left with the band, so I can't comment on how Turning Pages faired. As Coert smoked a cigarette after the show many people from the audience commented on how good the show was tonight. After that everyone went their separate ways. Chad stayed; TR and his girlfriend Darcy went to see a band at Casa; Adam went with his girlfriend Emmy, and Coert went with his girlfriend Sarah.
I just realized that I haven't introduced the band yet. Coert is the bassist and generally the lead singer (He is in the first photo of the slideshow). Chad is the drummer. TR plays guitar (in these pictures he is wearing a polo shirt), and Adam also plays guitar (he is wearing the black button-up shirt).
In case the slide show fails to load here is a link that will make it open in a separate window.
Abandon all hope ye who enter here
It is an hour and a half before the show and 20 minutes before they leave for the wire. The vibe is that of cautious pessimism. TWaK just learned that the other band (Turning Pages) just picked up a bassist today and have never played with their drummer.
TR and Chad are visibly shaken. Chad has done one shot already and is too nervous to sit down for anything longer than a few minutes. He's being neurotic and won't stop talking. TR is always nervous before shows and is keeping his feelings inside.
Adam has forgotten the lyrics to Cigarettes and Shooters and is playing guitar to learn the song.
Coert is sitting with Sarah (his girlfriend) holding her hand. She is cuddled to him, and he seems by far the least nervous. He's watching They Shoot Horses Don't They. He's looking for the cigarette that he will smoke after the show. He's mentioned it three times now.
I never knew that you could fit so many amps into a Ford Contour. Ford of Europe would be proud. 5 amps packed into a euro-sedan is a feat.
St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, will be burning proudly on stage as the band plays. A symbol of the band that accompanies them to all of their shows. An ironic symbol of the band's faith in themselves.
The band is leaving now to play their third show- their second in front of a live audience.
TR and Chad are visibly shaken. Chad has done one shot already and is too nervous to sit down for anything longer than a few minutes. He's being neurotic and won't stop talking. TR is always nervous before shows and is keeping his feelings inside.
Adam has forgotten the lyrics to Cigarettes and Shooters and is playing guitar to learn the song.
Coert is sitting with Sarah (his girlfriend) holding her hand. She is cuddled to him, and he seems by far the least nervous. He's watching They Shoot Horses Don't They. He's looking for the cigarette that he will smoke after the show. He's mentioned it three times now.
I never knew that you could fit so many amps into a Ford Contour. Ford of Europe would be proud. 5 amps packed into a euro-sedan is a feat.
St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, will be burning proudly on stage as the band plays. A symbol of the band that accompanies them to all of their shows. An ironic symbol of the band's faith in themselves.
The band is leaving now to play their third show- their second in front of a live audience.
Practice before The Wire
The Wife and Kids are practicing now for the show at The Wire tonight. The list of bands has shrunk to two- TWaK and Turning pages. Turning pages have never played with their drummer, so it could be really, hilariously bad. TWaK's set list could be as many as 13 songs or as few as four depending on the show's vibe. The band also isn't exactly sure where they are playing at the Wire. It could be in a room the size of my bedroom, which is about 10X12. The band's vibe is generally good. They all want a good show, but no one really cares about the other bands that are playing. This practice is one of the best I've heard recently. There is more energy, and the elements of the band have come together. I'll have pictures of the show up either sometime tonight or tomorrow afternoon.
Just listened to practice except for the first two songs. The only weak song in the set was My Letter to God. I couldn't hear any of his vocals, but the band seems ready for a show.
"I will never, ever play a flying V guitar," Adam Caudhill
Just listened to practice except for the first two songs. The only weak song in the set was My Letter to God. I couldn't hear any of his vocals, but the band seems ready for a show.
"I will never, ever play a flying V guitar," Adam Caudhill
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Welcome to the Project
Welcome to this little project of mine. For Journalism 314 I will be following The Wife and Kids. I live with them; I love them, but I don't always like them. So the experiment is follow this band around. I will be sitting in on practices, band meetings, watching them book gigs and play shows. I want to provide the truest account I can of this band this quarter. Over time I will fill this blog with pictures, videos and songs from the band. This site is not a band promotion. If they screw up or do something stupid, you will know about it. Since I live with them, expect a few posts a week on the happenings within the band. I will always try to remain fair and balanced, but I know my opinion will seep into things sooner or later. Thanks for reading, and please check back often.
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