The Real Pat Blair

Here is the Lone Strangers, Live on 105.1 Channel Q’s “The Garage,” with Brandi Power.

Lone Strangers on The Garage

For the sake of size/time, I edited out all of the music and Brandi’s chats with Blue Island Tribe, who were also on the show with us.
Some thoughts on the show: it was a great time. We got there early and had a chance to talk with Brandi for quite awhile before the show started, which helped put everyone at ease on the air. The studio is UNBELIEVABLY small, so between 3 Strangers and about 6 Blue Island Tribers, it was very cozy. And since the BIT guys had been there before, it was a very relaxed atmosphere, with much joking around, both on-air and off. It made for good radio, I think.
Since there is only 1 mic (EV RE-20s for everything, for the nerds out there) on a short stand for the bands to use, it’s almost impossible to talk as a band. We had kind of decided that I would do most of the talking, and, even though I still feel like a mic-hog, I think it probably worked out better that way. Many times, I have heard bands stand 3 feet away from the mic (BAD!) and just sort of shout out answers to questions. That makes for bad radio.
I don’t think I said anything too terribly stupid. Having listened to the tape a couple of times, I am still trying to figure out when I became so incoherent and picked up so many vocal tics (like, um, etc, only mine aren’t quite that bad). Better planned questions (and answers) might have helped some of that, but I think, overall, it went very well, especially when compared to other shows that I have listened to.
At one point, I just sort of took over. You can probably spot it pretty easily - Dan and Scott probably both knew what was happening as soon as it started, I would suspect. I think that it also made for the most entertaining part of the evening. Hopefully everyone that was listening - especially people who don’t know us - felt the same way.
The Strangers really need to get our new material recorded. We spent so much time talking about the Battle of the Bands, but 3 of the four (or five) songs in our set aren’t on CD, which probably made the whole thing more difficult, and also probably gave an inaccurate picture of the band. We’ve started tentative planning already, thinking about something for this Fall, which, if we stay true to form, means that you can expect new music from the Lone Strangers in April of 2008. I’m not trying to be a pessimist, I’m just stating the obvious.
I’m glad that Brandi had seen us twice in the last week, and also really liked the band. If she hadn’t seen us, or had but didn’t like us, that would have been pretty awkward.
Have I mentioned that this was a lot of fun? We’ll do it again, no doubt, and hopefully the whole band will be able to be there. Possibly play some live acoustic stuff. Some new recorded stuff. Take over the station with squirt guns. You know, whatever works.
But, yeah, good times.
Wait, did I already say that?

So, the Strangers were on The Garage tonight on 105.1 Channel Q. It was a blast. I’ll put the whole thing up later, but I wanted to get this posted ASAP. Matt couldn’t be there, so we had some fun at his expense:

Strangers Liner

I just put that on repeat for awhile so I could listen to a few hundred consecutive replays. It doesn’t get old.
Good times, I’m telling you. Good times.

I don’t know how I haven’t mentioned this sooner, but this year’s Cinco de Moustache party is going to be in 1 week at the Bali Satay. If you haven’t already started, get to work on that facial hair.

Cinco de Moustache Tres
(It’s a-maize-ing)
Friday, May 4
Bali Satay House
Show starts 9pm - all ages.

It’s Dead Week here in Ames. At some schools, that means that nothing happens and the students are free to veg, study, and prepare for finals. At ISU, it means that you work so hard that you wish you were dead. A few years ago, GSB passed legislation to get professors to cut the nonsense: paper and test during dead week, final a week later, etc. Of course, there is no enforcement mechanism, so after a year of playing nice, my understanding is that it’s back to business as usual.
So to help everyone deal with the stress, or maybe just to help you enjoy spring-time, I’ve compiled a list of music that’s worth checking out. Most, if not all, comes via stereogum.com, a site which most, if not all, of my readers will find uninteresting, if not unreadable. But, credit where due.

• Party Ben - Every Car You Chase (The Police vs Snow Patrol)
  

  This is amazing. I really dig it. I have listened to it WAAAAY too many times already. You can download the mp3 from stereogum or from Party Ben’s site.

• The Bad Plus - Tom Sawyer
  A jazz trio - piano, drums, bass - covers Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”. Flawlessly. No video for this, but do yourself a favor and download the mp3 from stereogum
  Additionally, the cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” isn’t too shabby either. The Bad Plus’ covers are OK, right up until the free-form jazz jams, at which point they become amazing.

• Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
  

  Former Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell takes Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and turns it into a 6/8 blues scorcher. Not bad, but I personally think that the Lone Strangers dance version is far superior.

Enjoy!

Today is Sunday. The Lone Strangers played at church, and I was supposed to be there at 7:30am. Yesterday I did Rock Sound stuff from 9am to 2pm. Then I did Bali sound from 2pm to 3am. 4 Strangers performances in 4 days (or 6 in the last 9, with a practice in there to boot). In the 4 days, I witnessed 27 different performances from 24 (I think) bands/artists - not including the 12 performances, plus one from Biz Markie, at Wednesday’s Cyclone Idol (I ran sound). After Cyclone Idol, I went to work at the Bali until 2:30am. Battle of the Bands and Bali on Thursday. Battle of the bands and Bali on Friday. And so on. All week long it has been like this. I am fried.
Lest it sound like I’m complaining… well, maybe I am. But don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t do this every day if it would pay the bills.
Today, though, I rest. And smile.

We placed 3rd at the Veishea Battle of the Bands. That makes us 3rd out of 26 groups. Thanks for coming out and rocking with us tonight. Once again, I thought we didn’t play as well as we could have, but we had a GREAT time.
True story: after they announced the 5th (Kedda) and 4th (Rendered) place bands, I turned to Matt and Dan and said, “We didn’t place. Let’s take get out of here.” Honest. Once again, shows what I know.
Mark your calendars: we will be on The Garage on 105.1 Channel Q on at 9pm on Sunday, April 29. The Friday, May 4, is our third annual Cinco de Mustache show at the Bali Satay House. Mustaches are not required, but strongly encouraged.

Well, the Lone Strangers rocked the Veishea Battle of the Bands WildCard. From judge (and Des Moines Juice columnist) Andy Cusack:

The Lone Strangers: These guys were the most professional, tightest act. I would swear they had been together forever when seeing them. Their blend of catchy, smart, well-played pop rock was a treat. The songwriting had good hooks, and it displayed a restraint that exemplified good taste. It made me want to pull out my old Cheap Trick and Squeeze records and listen to them all day. If you hear some recordings of this band, I think it does no justice whatsoever to its live show. Granted, this is the only time I have seen them, but based on this one short set, I don’t really understand why these guys don’t enjoy at least the amount of local celebrity that the Nadas do. Room for improvement: 1) You looked like you were having a great time on stage — get into it just a bit more. Play like it’s the last show you’ll ever play in your life. 2) ?

I am sort of awed and humbled and pleased and horrified by this all at once. That’s high praise from a tough critic. An extra-special thanks to everyone that came to hear us and participate in the rocking. Once again, I think we fed on the crowd energy, and you all pushed us over the brink. I can’t say it enough - THANK YOU!
Also, for what it’s worth, I thought we played a pretty sloppy set, and was fairly convinced we wouldn’t make it. Shows what I know.
Anyway, we hope to redeem the sloppiness by playing on the Main Stage on ISU Central Campus TONIGHT at 11pm!!!.
See you there!

True statements that you never thought you’d hear:

-”Because of my commitment and involvement at church, I got to meet Biz Markie, performer of a top-10 single, and creator of the phrase, ‘Oh, Snap!’”
-”The Lone Strangers are one of my favorite local bands!!!”
-”Dude - Blair got a real job!”

The $75 (I’m guessing) bargain concert of the summer: John Mayer and Ben Folds in Des Moines. Wells Fargo Arena, June 18th.
Can I pay extra for seats that are isolated from the inevitable screaming teenager girls?

Anyone remember that Lone Strangers show back in January? The one with the guy from New York called Paleo? You know, the one that was kind of weird and, after his set, kept coming up and asking if he could sleep on your couch or floor?
Well, he got a big feature in USA Today’s Pop Candy.
Sigh. I laughed.