ThunderWeb V1.0
Sunday 3rd August 2003 - San Diego
Escondido
We After we left Gnat's T-shirt printing facility, wherever the Hell that was, we rumbled down the I-5 for an hour or so to Escondido, just north of San Diego, to casa del Davey. We would have two nights in the same place; luxury!
We arrived at some godawful hour in the middle of the night, in varying states of liquored-upness Davey showed us to the lower ground floor room where we would be crashing. There were plenty of blankets, pillows and quilts, and we could sleep on mattresses, sofas, or generally, wherever we fell. But, we still had beer in the fridge. It was decided that we would go outside, take the night air, drink some beer and generally chill out for, you know, half an hour or so, before hitting the sack.
I decided that my bladder needed emptying, before I refilled it, so I headed off to the toilet. As I stepped on the bottom step of the staircase, I noticed a small black thing scurrying, just to the left of my foot. Now, had I been wearing shoes, I wouldn't have minded as much, but I'd just got socks on and, like a big girl, I screamed and jumped back.
Now, I know what you're thinking; 'What a girly pooftah!' But, check out the picture on the right; that is what made me jump.When I cried like Nancy Kerrigan, Davey came over to see what was making me scream and attract dogs from all over Southern California. He disappeared briefly, returning with some pest-killing stuff in a big, squirty widgy, and gave the little sucker a couple of good, long blasts, until it stopped twitching.
"That's a Black Widow," announced Greg.
"Yeah, that's a Black Widow all right," agreed Davey matter-of-factly. "But, it's a dead Black Widow now," he pointed out.
Well, that was all right then. Let's just say, I wasn't about to sleep on the floor again, anytime soon. I took the picture after it was dealt with!
We After we left Gnat's T-shirt printing facility, wherever the Hell that was, we rumbled down the I-5 for an hour or so to Escondido, just north of San Diego, to casa del Davey. We would have two nights in the same place; luxury!
We arrived at some godawful hour in the middle of the night, in varying states of liquored-upness Davey showed us to the lower ground floor room where we would be crashing. There were plenty of blankets, pillows and quilts, and we could sleep on mattresses, sofas, or generally, wherever we fell. But, we still had beer in the fridge. It was decided that we would go outside, take the night air, drink some beer and generally chill out for, you know, half an hour or so, before hitting the sack.
I decided that my bladder needed emptying, before I refilled it, so I headed off to the toilet. As I stepped on the bottom step of the staircase, I noticed a small black thing scurrying, just to the left of my foot. Now, had I been wearing shoes, I wouldn't have minded as much, but I'd just got socks on and, like a big girl, I screamed and jumped back.
Now, I know what you're thinking; 'What a girly pooftah!' But, check out the picture on the right; that is what made me jump.When I cried like Nancy Kerrigan, Davey came over to see what was making me scream and attract dogs from all over Southern California. He disappeared briefly, returning with some pest-killing stuff in a big, squirty widgy, and gave the little sucker a couple of good, long blasts, until it stopped twitching.
"That's a Black Widow," announced Greg.
"Yeah, that's a Black Widow all right," agreed Davey matter-of-factly. "But, it's a dead Black Widow now," he pointed out.
Well, that was all right then. Let's just say, I wasn't about to sleep on the floor again, anytime soon. I took the picture after it was dealt with!
The view from Davey's yard
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
We drank until we ran out of beer, then we went to bed. Oh, it was about 7AM. Chig, as usual, the lightweight of the party, had gone to bed first. Snotty had been next, then Kev, leaving me Ush and Davey to drink all that beer - so it wouldn't go off, you understand - we were performing a public service...
Later that morning - I woke up after only about two hours - I went for a shower and de-scuzzed myself and felt [almost] human again. No-one else was awake, so I went for a walk around, took the pictures you see here and phoned home. By this time, I think I had probably made enough noise to wake the dead and I heard some rumblings. Soon enough everyone was up and Davey was off to the store to buy food for a big old feed.
I felt like doing something useful, so I helped out in the kitchen duties. We drank Tetley tea whilst preparing a Pantagruelian repast of extreme quality and variety; very civilised. The menu featured:
We drank until we ran out of beer, then we went to bed. Oh, it was about 7AM. Chig, as usual, the lightweight of the party, had gone to bed first. Snotty had been next, then Kev, leaving me Ush and Davey to drink all that beer - so it wouldn't go off, you understand - we were performing a public service...
Later that morning - I woke up after only about two hours - I went for a shower and de-scuzzed myself and felt [almost] human again. No-one else was awake, so I went for a walk around, took the pictures you see here and phoned home. By this time, I think I had probably made enough noise to wake the dead and I heard some rumblings. Soon enough everyone was up and Davey was off to the store to buy food for a big old feed.
I felt like doing something useful, so I helped out in the kitchen duties. We drank Tetley tea whilst preparing a Pantagruelian repast of extreme quality and variety; very civilised. The menu featured:
- Mexican rice
- Fresh Guacamole
- Refried beans.
- Chorizo and eggs à la Thunder
- Freshly made Salsa
- Tortillas
The NOT Skate Park gig
We left for the gig at 7.30. It was only quarter of an hour away, so there was no hurry. Oh, and it wasn't at the Skate Park. We'd heard that the Skate Park had actually been closed down and the gig had been relocated to some sterile leisure centre-looking complex - hardly ideal for a punk gig!
The dibble were out in full force and were running around scaring the young girls for all they were worth, being unnecessarily heavy with the kids. So ridiculous was the security that they were corralling people OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, into areas that had been designated 'smoking' and 'non smoking'. In the open! Can you believe it? So you could smoke on that bit of sidewalk, but not on that one. At one point, I actually got moved along because I was standing on a smoking designated area and not smoking! Political Correctness gone mad.
We left for the gig at 7.30. It was only quarter of an hour away, so there was no hurry. Oh, and it wasn't at the Skate Park. We'd heard that the Skate Park had actually been closed down and the gig had been relocated to some sterile leisure centre-looking complex - hardly ideal for a punk gig!
The dibble were out in full force and were running around scaring the young girls for all they were worth, being unnecessarily heavy with the kids. So ridiculous was the security that they were corralling people OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, into areas that had been designated 'smoking' and 'non smoking'. In the open! Can you believe it? So you could smoke on that bit of sidewalk, but not on that one. At one point, I actually got moved along because I was standing on a smoking designated area and not smoking! Political Correctness gone mad.
Due to the relocation of the gig at the last minute, and no-one telling the kids, there was a low turn out. We discovered later, that many had turned up at the Skate Park, but by the time they made it across town, it was too late. San Diego was FUBB and that was a shame, because it could have been a really good show. The venue was shite. The ceiling was only about two feet above your head and there were these tossy exposed RSJs, which did nothing for the sound.
The handful of kids who did make it, had a great show. All-Out Attak are a bunch of young punks from LA, who love what they do and they do it well. There is plenty of high-energy pith and vinegar there and a load of talent too. They perform well and I hope they do well.
The Street Brats made the best of a bad deal and performed a respectable show, as they usually do.
The handful of kids who did make it, had a great show. All-Out Attak are a bunch of young punks from LA, who love what they do and they do it well. There is plenty of high-energy pith and vinegar there and a load of talent too. They perform well and I hope they do well.
The Street Brats made the best of a bad deal and performed a respectable show, as they usually do.
The Skeptix, I felt, were a little bit lacklustre in this venue. They were disappointed to have come this far and be dicked around by a promoter who couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. This could be the only chance The Skeptix ever have to play San Diego, or the kids here ever get, to see The Skeptix original lineup. But because some suit-full of fuck-all, who is just out to screw the kids of $15 per head, doesn't give a monkey's about the music, or the kids, loads of fans miss out. It could have been just as good as LA, but the promoter could make the effort. San Diego punks need to rip him a new asshole!
Oh, and to the promoter in Phoenix, reread the last paragraph and substitute 'Phoenix' for 'San Diego'.
Oh, and to the promoter in Phoenix, reread the last paragraph and substitute 'Phoenix' for 'San Diego'.
Tosser!
Mocking the afflicted Pt I
After the gig, I was with Ush and Vanessa from All-Out Attak, special guests and the local support band for the two LA gigs and this one in San Diego. Ush asked me to take a picture of him and Vanessa. I tell you, Ush can be as dumb as a rock at times...
Take #1
ME: Ush, you ready?
USH: Just take the fuckin' picture!
ME: OK [click/flash]
USH: Oi! I wasn't ready, take another one.
ME: Tosser!
After the gig, I was with Ush and Vanessa from All-Out Attak, special guests and the local support band for the two LA gigs and this one in San Diego. Ush asked me to take a picture of him and Vanessa. I tell you, Ush can be as dumb as a rock at times...
Take #1
ME: Ush, you ready?
USH: Just take the fuckin' picture!
ME: OK [click/flash]
USH: Oi! I wasn't ready, take another one.
ME: Tosser!
Tosser!
Take #2
ME: You ready this time?
USH: Yeah.
ME: You're sure you're ready, this time?
USH: For fuck's sake, take the picture!
ME: Right, I'm going to take the picture now...[wait for smile] [click/flash] Tosser!
ME: You ready this time?
USH: Yeah.
ME: You're sure you're ready, this time?
USH: For fuck's sake, take the picture!
ME: Right, I'm going to take the picture now...[wait for smile] [click/flash] Tosser!
Would you buy a used car from this man?
Mocking the afflicted Pt II
After the gig, it was back to Davey's and drink was the order of the day. Lots of it. It didn't matter what it was, as long as it contained alcohol. I have to confess, I was a very bad boy and drank anything and everything in the house.
Chig, the lamer, had gone to bed hours earlier and we decided, with our finest drunken reasoning, that 4AM was the perfect time to carrying the sleeping drummer, mattress and all and float it in the swimming pool. And you know what? We almost made it too! The door wasn't quite wide enough and we couldn't get the mattress through, without folding it, which awoke the girly tosser. So, laughing like drains we dropped our quarry and returned to drinking.
After the gig, it was back to Davey's and drink was the order of the day. Lots of it. It didn't matter what it was, as long as it contained alcohol. I have to confess, I was a very bad boy and drank anything and everything in the house.
Chig, the lamer, had gone to bed hours earlier and we decided, with our finest drunken reasoning, that 4AM was the perfect time to carrying the sleeping drummer, mattress and all and float it in the swimming pool. And you know what? We almost made it too! The door wasn't quite wide enough and we couldn't get the mattress through, without folding it, which awoke the girly tosser. So, laughing like drains we dropped our quarry and returned to drinking.
Mocking the afflicted Pt III
After the beer ran out, (even Davey's private stash - Sorry, man!) in response to my cries of "Whisky!" Davey handed me a bottle of Pocheen, which I began to imbibe with alacrity. The others, fearing for their safety, or a repeat of Baltimore, opened a bottle of red wine that they had 'found'. Then, we went back to Chig. We couldn't let him win. So, as the others dropped their pants, well, pictures sometimes say too much, don't you think?
Drunk as we were, we all realised that there was more to an evening's entertainment than mooning a sleeping drummer; especially when the singer was upstairs, sleeping like a drunken baby. So, off we stumbled, giggling and shushing each other, loudly.
Ush tries to evolve an opposable thumb, whilst Davey looks on, awestruck at the Englishman's ineptitude.
After the beer ran out, (even Davey's private stash - Sorry, man!) in response to my cries of "Whisky!" Davey handed me a bottle of Pocheen, which I began to imbibe with alacrity. The others, fearing for their safety, or a repeat of Baltimore, opened a bottle of red wine that they had 'found'. Then, we went back to Chig. We couldn't let him win. So, as the others dropped their pants, well, pictures sometimes say too much, don't you think?
Drunk as we were, we all realised that there was more to an evening's entertainment than mooning a sleeping drummer; especially when the singer was upstairs, sleeping like a drunken baby. So, off we stumbled, giggling and shushing each other, loudly.
Ush tries to evolve an opposable thumb, whilst Davey looks on, awestruck at the Englishman's ineptitude.
Mocking the afflicted Pt IV
We found our mark. Surprising, really, given the incredible level of inebriation we had achieved. I did actually take quite a few more pictures than the ones you see, but so many had the lens cap on, or dangling in front of the lens, or close-ups of my thumb, that it's quite astonishing that there are any at all to commemorate this momentous occasion. Sorry Paul!
We found our mark. Surprising, really, given the incredible level of inebriation we had achieved. I did actually take quite a few more pictures than the ones you see, but so many had the lens cap on, or dangling in front of the lens, or close-ups of my thumb, that it's quite astonishing that there are any at all to commemorate this momentous occasion. Sorry Paul!
New additions...
Ah, yes. You remember Greg and Natasha, from Sacto?
Well, they were now joining us for the rest of the tour. I don't know how this came about, but, it did. So, if I mention either of them in the following days, you'll know who I'm talking about.
Click here for the next bit
Ah, yes. You remember Greg and Natasha, from Sacto?
Well, they were now joining us for the rest of the tour. I don't know how this came about, but, it did. So, if I mention either of them in the following days, you'll know who I'm talking about.
Click here for the next bit
