Shit's getting good || Dirty Pillows/Trashkannon || Caravan Series

Last Friday night at the Caravan was a real treat.  The two bands that played there really blew down the sweaty doors with raw power and energy.  It was real fun to watch.  My buddy Jeff wanted to help me celebrate a major victory.  What else better way to do it than ride down to the Caravan on a beautiful friday night in San Jose, Ca and wash down some cold, cold beverages and enjoy a true show....all for the low, low price of free.

Dirty Pillows opened up the set.  I saw these guys a few years back and I had been meaning to catch them again.  I loved their raw, energetic sound.  Still, you could tell that they were fresh out of the gates and needed some time to gel.  They have gelled.  They sounded very confident.  And in a two piece band the one thing that you cannot lack is confidence.  Unfortunately I only caught the last three or four tunes but they were all great.  Their closer "Happy Trails" was torn to bits by them two...with an incredble breakdown and the end.  It did exactly what you want a breakdown to down...leave the kids for wanting more.  I will definitely look forward to an entire set set time I see these guys.

Then Trashkannon comes on.  I thought I had seen them in the past, but if I did I must of been out of my head or something.  This group is a powerhouse of music and it is heading straight for the jugular.  The great thing is they were missing two players that night too.  Usually there is a different musician on bass and an additional guitarist.  For the night the rhythm section was held down by two members of the Whiskey Avengers. These guys are real musicians.  The powerhouse call and response vocals put on by the singer and bass player were great.  They busted out some great punk rock cracks like calling the dude in the front row with a long beard a Gillbillie.  But the main force was the package of music they brought with them.  They definitely had a packed Caravan, rocking and a rolling through their setlist that comprised of what I believe was some originals and some covers.  I happened to capture two covers.  One of the best is their
spoof of the Weezer tune "Beverly Hills" except with a home town twist changing the lyrics Naglee Park and all the shenanigans that go on in that part of town.  There is a great sampling of it down below in the video section along with a great rendition of the 4 Non Blondes song, "What's Up".
Most of all, I would place a high recommendation on paying money to see either local band.  They are really, really getting good.  Fun night!

Trashkannon sings "Nagalee Park"
Trashkannon sings "What's Up"
Dirty Pillows sing "Happy Trails"

Sometimes it is just hard to Rally || February 3, 2012 || Caravan Series

Friday night can be tough.  Especially as you age, which is inevitable in all of us.  Weeks drag, winter nights are dark and cold...listen to me?  I am bitching and I live in California.  Shit, I think it was in the 70s here yesterday.  After work I had 20 minutes on the couch with feet up in the air listening to tunes.  I was ready to roll.

I also find it hard to bitch with the Caravan being a less than ten minute car ride doorstep to doorstep.  Still, it is so much easier for one to sit on the couch and plug into god knows what electronic gadget, than get your ass off the couch and go out.  So, along with myself, I applaud all you people who went out on Friday night.  I applaud you all the more for making it down to the Caravan and listening to the music of The Pinks, Bibles & Hand Grenades and Them Slack Jawed Sons of Bitches.  I apologize for some who had to wait in line and missed some of the set.  Especially on a Friday night.  Warm days always help.  Rainy nights tend to hinder.  Either way, hopefully you can all make it down some other night to join in on the fun of live original musicians that tend to be local day-job yokels.  Here is a little taste of last night: