Forgive my absence, readers, but this last week has been truly nuts. First off: Four nights straight of Built to Spill that ranged from ok (Wednesday) to genius (Friday). Every night was packed to the gills and hot as Slim's is one of the worst ventilated spots in SF and each night ended with a 15 minute jammed out version of "Broken Chairs." I was really surprised by the amount of politics that Doug Martsch has added to the show. There was a short film, I believe by Calvin Johnson, dealing with the heavy handedness that the government shows eco "terrorism". The film I didn't care for too much but the searing guitars that were the musical accompaniment were certainly to my liking. While I had promised to deliver a set list I just felt like a real idiot trying to write in a dark, packed room. So what? I fibbed...However, I will tell you that BTS began every night with a stripped down version of "Car", played my favorite BTS love song "Else" two of the nights, the bass player broke a string on Saturday forcing Doug to play "Twin Falls Idaho" and NO "Carry the Zero."
Being over 5'9" sucks at shows. I am about 6'2" and every time that I try to get a little closer to the stage I have to deal with the moans of disagreement from the little people behind me. I usually try to hang back and allow these munchkins their view line but with BTS I just have to get up there...Sorry to anybody that I stood in front of but, don't blame me, blame your parents (and their parents, etc.)
After the show on Saturday, my buddies Bailey (who also went to all four shows), Robi, his girl Mani and I tried to get a drink. Here is how it went: Nihon, at 14th and Folsom was closed at 12:30. Cool place but what the hell are they doing closing at such an early hour on a Saturday? Next we walked to the Hush Hush on 14th and Guerrero and it was a full swing butch lesbian party (it was Pride weekend in SF). I have no problem with lesbians of any kind but we just didn't feel like the Hush Hush was the place for us on that given night. Finally we make it to Elixir on 16th and Guerrero and the tail end of some office party was in effect. Drunken sorority girls from San Mateo and THE WORST BARTENDER I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. This bald, fat guy who kept showing the crack of his fat ass every time he bent down was terrible. I have been a bar keep for about 9 years and I usually give service people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they're short a person. Maybe they're trying to change a keg, etc. This guy at Elixir just kept talking to some floosie at one end of the bar ignoring me, the tons of dirty glassware and everybody else in the spot. I was determined to wait there with my money out and not approach this slob but Robi finally went down and told the guy, "Hey, this dude down here has been waiting for a drink for a while." Fat bald guy comes over and gives me a mad dog look and gruffly asks, "What do you need?" In the past if I ever was caught in a position where I gave shitty service because I was talking to a friend or messing with the jukebox I'd always apologize and not give an attitude. So, there is the story of my crew being snake bit looking for a drink on Saturday....all I wanted was to get Shane McGowan-styled...
I may have some really big news soon so keep posted....
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