119 Gallery@Lowell, Mass. Show Recap

We had such an amazing time playing such an amazing place last night. The 119 Gallery is an art gallery in Lowell, Massachusetts, run by two fantastic people, Angie and Mike. On certain weekend nights the art is moved to safe places and the gallery is converted into a music space. This was our second time playing there, and both times we have been, the positive energy flowing through this place has been just astonishing. Everyone we met and played with both times have been just wonderful.

Local punk rockers Stale Fish opened the show and played a great set. They are an all-female 3-piece that really knows how to have a good time on stage, and how to involve the audience in what they're doing. After them, Mike, one of the co-managers of 119 Gallery, took the stage in one of his bands, Big Fat Family. They're two guys, one on vocals/guitar up front and one on drums. They played half the set with Mike on drums and then switched places and played the rest of the set that way. They were really great, as well - Mike told us they've been playing together for quite a while, and it shows in the great songs and cool chemistry between the two of them.

Then it was our turn and it felt like one of our best sets ever. Right from the start, Jagged Cross helped set the tone, the crowd was really into us, and everyone in the place seemed to be having an awesome time. Spin Cycle, Binge and Motherfucker also seemed to really get the crowd going. We felt damn good when it was all over.

The full set list:

1. Jagged Cross
2. Make the Escape
3. Nuclear Palin
4. Spin Cycle
5. Better Lives
6. Night Scales
7. Alien Homeland
8. Binge
9. Transparent
10. Motherfucker

After we were done, a local band from Bellerica, Mass., Wednesday Night Militia played a totally rockin set. We met them and shared the stage with them the first time we played 119 Gallery, and we asked them to play with us this time if they were able to. They graciously agreed and we're so glad they did. We enjoyed them the first time we saw them, but Dan and I agreed they were even better and more powerful this time around. They're also just a great bunch of people, like all the bands we played with last night, who were great to chat with before and after the show.

Special thanks to everyone in Stale Fish, Big Fat Family, and Wednesday Night Militia; to Angie, Mike and 119 Gallery for being such an amazing place to play and for having us back; for all the people who showed up to watch us, including Jen and Leann who were so nice to chat with; and as always to our good friends and superfans Theresa and John, who not only came out to see us play but put us up again at their apartment and bought us dinner after the show.

Now it's time for all our New York fans to get psyched for our CD release show at Lit Lounge on Thursday, November 12. The line-up is a crazily awesome group of bands: Ex Wife, who recently played with Screaming Females at Mercury Lounge and played a totally sick set, will open the show at 9; Dead Stars, an incredible band we've played with many times before, will follow them at 9:45; ourselves, ready to rock NYC never before, will take the stage at 10:30; and a terrific new band we just met recently, Ben Franklin, will close it out at 11:30. Plus, our new CD, Hammer Meets Fire, will be available for the first time. How cool is that?

Geno's@Portland Maine Show Recap

We played Geno's at Congress Street in Portland, Maine last night and had a great time. I, Barbarian, a local thrash-punk band, opened mightily and played a great set. Then we took the stage and unleashed rock insanity.

We're especially grateful to our former college roommate Dave who showed up and our former college radio colleague Jason from the old WMEB days who also came out to see us.

Speaking of college, as luck would have it our old college friend Ben Meiklejohn, who we had not seen since we graduated, turned up fronting the band that played after us, Hoboe. They were absolutley fantastic and truly unique and original. Ben alternates betwen playing guitar/singing and playing an oboe with a wireless mic, hooked through some electronic effects. It was really awesome.

Our set list for those that are interested:

1. Jagged Cross
2. Make the Escape
3. Nuclear Palin
4. Spin Cycle
5. Better Lives
6. Night Scales
7. Binge
8. Transparent
9. Motherfucker

After the show we scarfed down a late-night dinner at the Portland Denny's. Then we hopped back in the rental SUV (thanks again, AVIS!) and drove down to our friends' place in Watertown, Massachusetts. We're staying with our pals and Victor Bravo superfans John and Theresa, who always put us up, feed us and give us great support and conversation whenever we come to play Beantown and the surrounding area. Big thanks to them once again.

Tonight we return to a venue we truly fell in love with the first time we played it, back in April of this year. It's 119 Gallery in Lowell, Massachusetts. We're told an all-female punk band, Stale Fish, is opening, and a great band we met last time we played there, Wednesday Night Militia, will be taking the stage after we're done. We're really excited and looking forward to rocking Lowell again tonight.