Show Date: April 30, 2009 - The Final's Meltdown

This show was by far the greatest/most fun/best show I've ever played in my life for any band that I have ever been in. Hands down.

So we organized a little college-themed party at the Jet Lounge. Since it was in the midst of finals we called it the final's meltdown, just a way for everyone to take a break from the pressure of the semester and had some really fun talented bands lined up: us, Empty Vessel, Make Your Escape and The Hidden Images (Las Imagenes Ocultas). We promoted like a beast and got out in access of 3,000 fliers. The only problem - The Rockets had extended their playoff series and were now playing a home game.

The Jet Lounge is right next to Reliant Arena and since they don't 'own' their parking lot, not only is parking in the entire area packed but they charge $20 - $30. It was a heart breaker because not only was it nearly impossible for us to find parking as we were loading in, I had friend after friend txt me and tell me that they couldn't stay because parking was insane.

We still had some diehards come thru and I still gonna refund them their parking fees cause that still doesn't sit right with me. But after my initial disappointment, I looked around and saw we still had a nice intimate group, let's just have a great time and I proceeded to get tanked.

What happened next I still have people come up to me and talk about. Some people who I don't even remember being there because the night quickly became a hectic blur of pandemonium. JB from Empty Vessel played a nice acoustic set which lead into The Hidden Images. These boys are awesome, if you haven't checked them out yet, make that a priority. Then the rowdy boys of Make Your Escape brought down the house and we were headlining.

The little I do remember involved lifting Rick on my shoulders unawares while he was in the middle of a guitar solo, hanging upside from the rafters for a song, and steadily feeding my band mates a steady stream of Lone Star while they played. I remember feeling how the whole set felt like it blended into one big long song. It was definitely a huge blast.

Show Date: April 17, 2009 - Gary's

The legendary Gary's Spot.

For those of you who don't know Gary's Spot, have you seen those roadhouse movies where the rock bars always have bands blasting, girls dancing on the bars, bartenders blowing flames and lighting the bar on fire, Harley motorcycles, booze, women, pool, debauchery; fun?

Well if you want to go to a place like that in real life then go to Gary's Spot. This place is up there with the top 3 bars I've ever been to in my life. (Saints & Sinners on Venice in LA would be another one.)

So we get there, and usually they only soundcheck the headliners, and we were opening, but since we were the only band there for soundcheck we got to get our levels set and A BIG PLUS, got to have Gabe's kit set up so we wouldn't have to worry about it later. I love the look on sound guys' faces when they try to figure out how they're gonna mic Gabe's drums. You can see the clogs in their mind slowly turning.

Now I had something very very special planned for this show, but because of rain and a few other mishaps I wasn't able to do it. I won't say what it is because I definitely will be pulling it out for a later show, but I will say this - it's special.

We were playing with Seven Perfect and Crimson Envy. Now Crimson Envy is a professional playing band, it's what they do for a living. Their biggest money earner is as a cover band, and they have this phat RV that they travel in. Now I was focused on keeping a clear head because we were playing a new song Mercucio's Revenge that night that's very difficult and I wasn't 100% solid on it. But I'm up there in CE's RV, they have a flatscreen, were watching 'No Country For Old Men,' 24 case of beer and they ask me if I want one.

Well, here's my mistake, I said, 'Man, I'm from Texas, I'll never turn down a free beer.'

I was just trying to be cute and one beer wasn't gonna hurt me, but as I slammed it down because it was like 5 mins to show time, I look up and he's passing me another one. And as I start to tell him, 'I can't, man, gotta get ready -" I hear the chorus of voices as everyone in the RV is saying, 'But you're from Texas, but you're from Texas.' I hit the stage a ruddy mess.

Somehow we got thru that one, but it wasn't pretty. Gabe and Jay couldn't hear Rick, I couldn't hear Jay and nobody could hear me. Mercucio's Revenge was an unmitigated disaster and Rick was still having problems with his guitar cutting out. But as our set spiraled more and more into the bowels of stinkiness, I got more and more daring, if you will. Gary's stage has a walkout (like what you see runway models strutting on) and at the end of the walkout is a stripper's pole. I'm telling you, Gary's is the best. I made that pole my personal friend and pulled off moves I'd only seen in movies. Not those kind of movies!!! Come on now.

When we got to 'Village of Seraphs' I was doing trigonometry calculations. Now with the group of ppl at the front of the stage if I could just clear 6ft I'd be over them and could run amok in the bar. Why not, I ran track and had drank alot of courage juice up to that point. So I dropped the mic, ran a dash and launched myself over the top of the crowd. I made it without knocking anybody out and finished the song climbing all over ppl and singing in their ears.

Rick was in a foul mood, because bad shows can bring you down, but I had fun.

But we did stink that night.

Show Date: April 04, 2009 - Fitz

This was an awesome show. It's one of those shows where you still have show high for like 3 days after. When we pulled up for load in I saw this guy sitting outside that looked hella familiar to me, and I'm like, man, where do I know you from and he's like I play with The Vettes. The Vettes!!! My absolute favorite band out of New Orleans, which is coincidentally my hometown. So already I'm amped cuz I don't get uber excited to too many bands but The Vettes is one of them.


We get everything setup, we were in the downstairs lounge and were actually playing with other more progressive bands for once, Harem Festival and A Perfect Flame. Which is kinda cool, but we are a more aggressive prog band that we feel we can fit in on any type of bill. I just pray we don't get our asses kicked when we play that metal show in San Antonio.

We had a late slot so I really had the chance to run around and soak in as much live music as possible. The Vettes' set was super. The only hiccup was when my friend JP screamed out to Rachel Vette, the lead singer, for her to take off her clothes. I mean, it seems even when they're in Houston, New Orleans is never too far away. She handled him gracefully telling him basically no, and I leaned over and told him see all those guys glaring at him from the stage? Those are her brothers. I guess that is the advantage of being in an all sibling band. JP seemed to sober up a little after that.

By the time we hit the stage, we had a slamming crowd, which is great because any band feeds off the energy of the audience and we basically launched into pure pandemonium. Somehow between writhing on the floor, climbing on amps, powerchugging beers between verses, jumping into the crowd, falling off stage and getting drinks poured all over ourselves we actually managed to play some songs.

The only hitch was at points Rick's guitar kept cutting out. So it's our final song 'Means to an End' which has Rick wrap up the set with this hip guitar solo and BAM!!! right when he hits his solo his guitar cuts out. Somehow I managed to powerslide over without wasting a single drop of beer, hold his guitar cord steady in the jack so he was back live and feed him a beer all without him missing a single note. I still tear up just thinking about it.

After the set we just hung with friends and shared love. When outta the blue these dudes, who I had actually got a beer for earlier, snatched Rosie outta Gabe's hands and took off with her. Man, Gabe and Rick had to chase these dudes down 3 blocks. When they caught up with them hiding under a car, a fight almost ensued before they got Rosie back. I was waiting on the curb, damn near inconsolable. When Rick and Gman finally came round the corner with Rosie in their hands it was like the clouds had parted. I could breath again.


Just then Rachel Vette was walking out and we talked for a bit. I had her sign Rosie. It was a righteous night.

Show Date: March 29, 2009 - Sunday Rumble

We played Rocbar's Sunday Rumble. Wrestle Mania was coming into town the next week so they were throwing a wrestling themed party. We were told to load in from the back and got lost in this labyrinthine maze in Rocbar's underground structure trying to load in all our gear. After about an hour we found our way and found that it would have been more prudent to just load our gear up from the front elevator. Live and Learn.

I was in full wrestling regalia. Rosie had on her Nacho Libre wrestling face mask. All was good with the world. I was looking so outlandish that people kept coming up to me for autographs. I was getting a little peeved people were mistaking me for John Cena though because I'm a wayyyy better actor.

Show Date: March 02, 2009 - St. Arnold's Invitational

Thanks to an amazing friend we were able to throw a little partay at St. Arnold's Brewery. We invited all our peeps and peeps of peeps. A dream Asleep came down, Pam and J-dawg was in the house. We gave out a lot of free stuff and drank premium St. Arnold's beer.

FYI - it's not a good idea to ask the tap lady to mix a few of their vintages together. She didn't find that funny. They take their beer seriously.

Show Date: Febuary 13, 2009 - Rosie Palm

This was the first show Rosie came to. For those of you who don't know Rosie, she is a degenerate drunk, addict & whore. But I love her. She was so barred out that I had to strap her to my back during the show and afterward we had everybody sign her. She was out cold.

We were opening that nite, but we were late for sound check and because it can take Gabe up to 40 minutes to set up his massive drumkit we only had time to play 20 mins of a 45 min set. Still we had a ball. It's not too often I get to play a set with a blowup doll strapped to my back.

Soulbound, My Own I were on after us and Saturate was headlining. Now when Saturate took the stage their lead singer proceeded to state that they don't need to rely on gimmicks. That they're all about the music, which was a direct shot at me and Rosie. I kind of respect the balls it took to do that with me looking directly at him, but what didn't make sense is I made it a point for me and her to stick around and support their band especially since on one else was there.

It's funny to me because Gabe, Jay and Rick are amazing musicians, and I say that with all the modesty I can muster. They are the best as far as top musicians in Houston. It's just that we LOVE to have FUN. Period. End of story. And would never want to be on stage, taking ourselves too seriously, insulting someone who made a point to stay for your set so at least one person could hear you play. I cannot overemphasize enough that there was nobody there for their show.

Looks like we won't be doing anymore shows with them Saturate boys.

Show Date: January 16, 2009 - Hell on Heels Tour

So Gabe booked us a little shindig at Fitz as support for the Hell on Heels Tour that was coming thru town. So basically we were opening for Nico Vega (Myspace Records) who I was listening to before they blew when I was living back in LA, Semi Precious Weapons and Von Iva who was recently in the Jim Carrey movie 'Yes, Man'.

We played a low key show for this one and kept our mania under wraps. No blowup dolls, no hanging upside down from the ceiling, no Ricky bleeding all over his guitar, but we still had a righteous good time.

Ricky cornered the guitar player of Nico Vega and expounded how great he thought he was. I think the guy was a little intimidated. You know, by that time, Rick had a few beers in him and even I thought it was a little stalkerish but hey, no harm no foul. I think what impressed Rick the most was that this guy had the most massive pedal board even I had ever seen.

At that time Semi Precious Weapons had just released their debut album and they had these little SPW necklaces with every CD. So I had picked me up a copy and was wearing their necklace at the show. So I see Justin the lead singer over by the water cooler and I corner him. And I think at first he thought I was gonna kick his ass, but I just wanted to show him I had their necklace on. He broke out in a big smile and smacked me on the ass.

Okay, I added that ass smacking part.

--Dre