Ache

I ache.

Six gigs in four days, followed by a Crucial Bar-B-Que will do that to a fella.

Oh yeah, six gigs. Right after I posted my previous blog, I got a call to fill-in with Down 2 Earth Friday evening at The Vernon Inn. So, I played from 7-10 in Vernon, then zipped down to Boonton to play with CHUMP. The Vernon gig was pretty cool. We played outside, (thank God I brought my ultra-rad JNCO hoodie), which I always kinda dig, except for the frozen hands bit. We were set up near the Tiki Bar, in a big backyard sort of thing. There were plenty of hicks in attendance, and they wanted to hear some heavy tunes, so we played "Killing In The Name..." which I sang/rapped/screamed/whatever. I was nifty screaming "Fuck you- I won't do what you tell me!" and hearing it reverberate through the trees, and probably into the windows of the neighbors. Fuck those neighbors. Fuck them in their stupid assholes.

Two sets and five beers later, I had to jet. Fun drive to Boonton down Rt. 515 (or whatever it was, I don't recall), "straightenin' the curves and flattenin' the hills," half drunk and damn near killing myself several times. There are some awesome roads in Vernon. Awesome in that "you may very well die on this road if you do not slow down" kind of way.

I got to Boonton around 10:45 or so and set up my crap. There was a good crowd, and fun was had by all. Especially me. I lost my fucking mind. Really. I just, I don't know...lost it. As soon as we started playing I couldn't keep myself from jumping around like a retard. Perhaps it had something to do with drinking five beers on an empty stomach, driving like a madman, and then downing two more beers and two shots of Wild Turkey right before the first set. Perhaps I am actually a bit unhinged as of late. I don't know. I was goofing around, flailing about, cracking up the crowd and the band, and generally making an ass out of myself. It was big fun, and quite a workout. Good times.

Then, Char made me drink vodka. Ick. Char, I know you're reading this...NO MORE VODKA! Better yet, next time, I'll drink vodka if you drink bourbon. Deal? I thought not. No, I didn't puke or anything, but I did get really drunk. Really drunk. So drunk that the next day I had no idea why I woke up with a huge, purple bruise on my hip. It turns out (and I kinda remember it) that Kristen and I had gotten into a friendly rumble at The BAG, and pretty much kicked each other's asses. She's a pretty tough broad. She's got, like, Retard Strength, or something.

Anyway, I felt like seven kinds of ass Saturday morning. Too bad for me, I had to go play a wedding in Oakland. That was fun. My pal, Sherry, was there with a friend, and since neither of us knew anyone at the reception we hung out between sets, drank, and made quiet mockery of everyone there. The gig was fun, if uneventful. Whatever, it paid well, and wedding cake is always delicious.

I got out of there around 9pm and headed (speeding in the pouring rain- I have recently rediscovered the Joy of Driving Too Fast) to Belleville for the CHUMP gig. It was pretty much a standard issue gig, no surprises, no hassles, got paid.

So, after six gigs in four days it was time to relax. For me, that meant getting hammered and playing Football at Bob's house Sunday afternoon. He had some folks over, and we ate food (I eat food!), drank, smoked, tossed around the ol' pigskin, and even played a little Hackysack (yes, I own an old-school, leather hack from my Deadhead days of yore). We caught a good buzz and watched The Sopranos, then it was off to The BAG. Kelly was working, and that's always a good time.

By Monday I was shot to Hell. My hands hurt from gigging, my arm (and my shitty knee) was sore from football, and my hip bruise was turning a lovely shade of green. I actually stayed in that night, enjoyed some Leafy Greens, and read a million comic books. Very nice.

Last night was The BAG again, then Johnnie's Tavern. Johnnie's is cool because they have The Black Crowes album "Lions" in the jukebox. I left my copy of Lions at a friends house a few years ago, and never got it back. So, I always put in some Crowes and some Rush (Moving Pictures-yes!) when I'm there. The bartender are all cool at Johnnie's, and the Bar Pies are tasty. And I'm loving the smoking ban! Fuck all you filthy smokers, take it outside. Ya bastids. I love that I can come home from a bar and not smell like a bag of crap. Also, my bass and amp no longer stink after gigs. It's the best birthday present I ever got.

Speaking of my birthday, Bob (and Kim) got me a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed as a gift! They are now on my (very short) list of people I don't hate. Rare Breed is 108.2 proof, though, and I fear for my safety when I get around to opening it. It's gonna be Trouble...