Qweens

Well, after much neglect it seems time to bump golf & porno from the top spot. A lot has been going on which, after looking I realize, I didn't do much photographing. The biggest news is I'm moving (yes, again). This time just a few blocks away to live w/friends as opposed to randoms. Matt, Sean & I will be living in a sweet duplex on Ave C. It was described in one of the ads as "the ultimate pleasuredome". I guess we should host some sweet gay 80s disco parties or something. Anyway, in the midst of all that I was doing a few shows with Queens of the Stone Age. Holy shit balls do they rock. It was a treat to be involved if only for a minute. I would've liked to have stayed on but other rock commitments meant it wasn't to be so. I went from there to the start of another run with Ween. This one in the midwest. I'll be missing their next run on the west coast (which Mickey gives me constant shit about) to do some work in the studio with Albert for his next record. I'll be back with the Weens for an east coast run in November and hopefully running around the world with them next year. They truly are one of the baddest things happening in rock right now. Their new record "La Cucaracha" is an instant classic. Go buy that shit. The shows have been solid to amazing and I honestly think that "My Own Bare Hands" live is the most perfect chunk of man-rock I've ever witnessed. And I just came from 3 shows with Josh Homme & Co. The only downside of this run has been consistantly shitty weather and hotels. If I met Mr. Holiday Inn tomorrow I'd...well, I'd offer him a stern dressing down. In my mind (no need to be rude).
On the upside I have been able to watch some of the Red Sox games, including game 7 of the LCS and tonights blowout game 1 of the World Series. Good shit.
Anyway, now I'm in Cleveland. House of Blues tomorrow. Here's some pics...

Aragon Ballroom, Chicago...

View of the El tracks from inside the Aragon...

The sun shines on the Aragon...

Gener shoots the light...

Just before doors...

Ween go big...

Queens Heart Weens...

Mickey, Claude & Dave jam in the basement of a tattoo parlor in Columbus...

Golf & Porno

Record company executives today, she said, "want clones ... They don't love music. They love golf and porno." -Joni Mitchell

The Best Laid Plans...

I'm back in NYC after a week in California. I was supposed to stay longer but I've always been one for changing plans. I landed in SF and spent the first couple nights in the city. As usual when in SF, great meals were on the books, the first being dinner & sake at Tsunami w/Val & LM. The next day I had lunch with Marjorie at the Slanted Door. This is one of those overly popular, overly hyped spots that I'm usually skeptical of, but we had an amazing meal and everything the people around us ordered looked equally great. It's in a gorgeous spot in the Ferry Building with views of the Bay Bridge. The next day I started at my old favorite neighborhood breakfast spot, Crepes On Cole, where they make the greatest god-damned french toast in the known universe. Mmmmm....

After a couple days I set off in Jimmy's camper van to Hendy Woods, a campground & redwood grove in the Anderson Valley area of Mendocino County. This is one of my favorite places and Chad & Erin came up for the weekend. I stayed another night after they went home and had a very relaxing bit of solitude in the big trees. I was going to keep heading north for a few more days but the trusty vanagon's clutch dissolved and I instead had to limp it back to Fairfax w/very limited shifting abilities. Luckily Lucas was in town with some time off and he came and got me and I ended up staying with him and Lexi for a few days. We had some good times, heading to Limantour beach and eating & drinking various goodies. I spent a day hungover from Sake on their couch watching baseball (Go Sawks!) and just generally taking up space. I didn't intend to encroach on them for 3 days, but hey, that's what friends are for right? Oh, aye. I had planned on staying in Oakland at Marjorie's for the weekend and seeing some music in the park, but home beckoned and the promise of some short-notice work with Queens of the Stonge Age made me decide to go home early, and so I was off. It's like summer in NY. Highs in the upper 80s and humid. Global warming indeed.

I saw this woman brushing her teeth on Market St...

Me in a big tree...

Lucas doing Tai-Chi on the bluff...

Chad at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company...

I loves me a good campfire...

L & L testing the waters...