Recently, I had the double-edged pleasure-sword of hosting the fabulous
Evaporators on the middle-northern California leg of their recent tour of
Western USA as well as my group, The Pattern getting to gig with them at
two of the four bay area shows. The gang rolled into town Thursday for a
show in San Francisco at Stinky's Peepshow which I had the fortune of
attending. Then it was back to my apartment for some video games and late
night chips and cheese. The next day a neighbor told me she had a bedroom
in the front of the building and didn't appreciate me making noise late at
night on the porch. I replied I didn't hang out on the porch late at night,
to which she retorted, "well there was people here last night and I think
they were yours!"
The next night, The Evaporators played the excellent Portlite bar in
downtown Oakland. A tiny little place with an excellent and eccentric
promoter, Emmett and highly expensive drinks. Sadly I touched Nardwuar
during the set and had to miss a song washing his scent off my hands and
wrist.
Next was a grand Saturday when I lassoed some Evaporators for a trip down
to the suburbs south of Oakland where we dined on pizza at a great classic
tradition, the pizza'n'pipes palace. This particular one was called Ye Olde
Pizza Jointe and had been run by the same family since 1953. Inside are
wooden tables and benches, napkins for plates, pitchers of beer and pop,
and incedible pipe-organ ambiance. The organist sadly wasn't playing that
day so we couldn't make the requisit requests of, "the theme from 2001! The
theme from Pink Panther! The theme from Star Wars! The Long and Winding
Road!" The pizza'n'pipes phenomenon is a favorite of my youth and few
places still keep the flame alive. I was shocked and overjoyed that the
Evaps had never had such an experience and that I could give it to them!
The Pattern gigged with The Evaporators that night at Gilman Street and
what fun it was. The Goblins - the spooky band that follows the Evaporators
around and forces promoters to let them play - also amazed and frightened
one and all. Afterwards we again retired to cheese and chips at my
apartment then some sleep.
Sunday was our final day together and The Pattern again was set to
rocknroll with the Evaporators. We drove up to Davis just northeast of the
SF bay area and found a great Spring barbeque in the rain that wanted our
bands to gig with greats like Corpse Fuck Corpse and Anal Mucus! There was
free food, a keg and loads of people trampolining in the rain. Also there
was Jess Hilliard ex-Hi-Fives! He and I examined Nardwuar's back hair for
dandruff and all the bands played to enthusiastic tens of people in a
cramped living room!
Afterwards, The Pattern bid our adieu to the Evaporators and there were
hugs and tears all around. We drove home to the bay area for a night of
rest after such an action packed weekend and the Evaporators continued on
their ragged journey to rock'n'roll supremacy. One day at a time, sweet
music machine....
