Oct 1st, 2003 - El Rio - San Francisco, CA

"VARIETY PACK!" #8

Did Clevergirl decide to secretly gang up on their new keyboard player and make her keyboard not function for about 10 minutes before the set could begin? Or was it just pure coincidence that nearly the exact same thing happened the first night the OTHER keyboardist (Amy O.G.) played HER first show???

Is this a form of HAZING, ladies?

We swear it wasn't our fault. We wanted this night to be smooth. We wanted it all just to fall into place so we could give Amie a proper introduction to our world. We wanted the set to start rolling right away and never look back. But alas, we had some technical difficulties.

Nothing the lad of Andalusia couldn't solve with his magic flick of the wrist. Thank you for saving us, Cameron.

Let's talk about how cool the OTHER bands were, shall we?

Meow Meow and the Meow Meows. Larry from victims family gives the bass to Mary Elizabeth, and sits down to properly fuck up the skins. Excellent drummer! And M.E. on the bass, singing in quite the Devoesque way. Quirky, catchy and super cool to watch.

Andalusia. Jodi hooked us up with these cats. Shoegazer lushness drenched in echo and verb. Listening with your eyes closed makes you wish you were naked and back floating in the womb.

My Uncle the Observational Comic. Always a treat. Always so strange and yet so twistedly funny. You might think that you're the only one who might find this intriguing and hysterical. Then you realize the whole room is enrapt, watching and listening to the gadgetry spectacle. Truisms, pop culture video clips and more. Can't describe, must see.

Griddle. Man, these guys never dissappoint. Just when you think they straddle the prog rock/kitchy fence a little too delicately, BLAMO! They snag you with their musical hooks and you soon see that the reason you are now tapping your foot unwittingly, and why the girls are up front flailing in front of the stage, is cuz these guys are incredible musicians, fun as hell to watch, and for some reason, you just root for them. They're a joy.

Ok, I'd write more, but I'm tired. And I need to rest up for the big Portland tour!!!

Thanks for coming. Thanks Hernan as always. And thanks to the bands for all being super cool to hang with that night.!

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