Category Archives: Bands

2022-2023 Doings

I am glad that there’s a lot to share from the past ~2 years since my last post, and the good news is that the gap was mostly due to the fact that I have just been really, really busy. For one thing I’m a working stiff, with a couple of (mostly grown-up) kids and commitments that keep me pointed in a certain direction; despite that, whenever my friends ask me if I’m playing any music these days, the answer is that I always have something on the stove.

This is largely because I have friends who are insanely prolific songwriters, and I’m fortunate enough to be considered a worthy collaborator, or at least skilled enough to do their material justice onstage, or in the studio, or both. I’m also extremely lucky to have a partner who supports these activities, shares my interest, and likes hearing about the process (or participating therein — love and bless you to the end of time, Jacki!).

Debased

I went out and joined another tribute band. This time it’s tributizing the Pixies, with Debased, and three lovely people that I am glad to call my friends and bandmates: Nikki Arias (“Nikk Deal”), Bill Leigh (“White Francis”) and Rian Robinson (“Crackity Jones” — I’m “Surfer Rosso”).

We play out about once a month, which is kind of perfect for me when it comes to scratching that itch. I love making this kind of noise. It’s been a lot of fun. People come to the shows, and we invoke the sacred buzzsaws.

Even the kids like this stuff.

Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands

I look away and suddenly 10 years have passed since I first started playing with Sean O’Brien. Talk about songwriting machines: For a decade now I have been able to count on Sean to kindly, and annually, dish almost an album’s worth of material my way to record. It’s like the harvest: the sun hits a certain angle, and it’s probably time for me to do some tracking for SOB.

In 2022 Sean invited me and some friends to come with him to Boxer Lodge, in Anguin, CA to record some country and rock & roll music for his zillionth album, The Program Is Morally Good. This was my first deep dive into playing country (maybe “Americana” is more accurate, but still), which was a blast. (Edit: This is finally in release for streaming as of Jan 1 2024, see below)

This was followed rather quickly by Sean’s discovery of yet another trove of songs he wrote long ago, and needed an assist in getting the tunes from cassette tape to guide track. Unsurprisingly, the songs are terrific, and have been coming together over 2023. Meanwhile, here are the releases that I have so far been involved with (with at least two one more full-length albums coming soon):

On all tracks except 5; solos on 1-4, 6
On tracks 1-4, 6-10, 12
On tracks 1, 3, 4, 8, 10
On both tracks
Single
On tracks 1, 2, 7, 10, 11

I love being involved with the Dirty Hands because the material is great, and Sean always manages to rope in a super high level of talent with his projects. The current core Dirty Hands include Kevin Thomas White on bass and Ihor Pacholuk on drums; and it’s pretty cool to be on the same tracks as them, along with a who’s who of local and far-flung heroes including Dave Zirbel, Dave Wenger, Chris Von Sneidern, Greg Lisher, Prairie Prince, Kenny Aronoff, Robert John Tucker, Rick Munoz, Matt Boudreau, and probably others.

Seal Party

More recently my friends in Seal Party have been kind enough to invite me into their fold, which has been amazing and a distinct honor for me. Seal Party’s album debut last year was ridiculously solid — from the songwriting to the performances, production, and across the board.

A recent instrumental remix from Seal Party, with crazy amazing visual treatments

With that, bandleaders and co-writers Kevin Seal and Chris McGrew earned a reputation as sort of a modernized “Steely Dan” with a varied roster of top-shelf players on every song, including some sh*t-hot guitar players like my old buddy Jon Axtell (from Psychefunkapus and a cascade of other seasonings ever since), Sonny Climes, Isaiah Sharkey, Ben Misterka, Nolan Cook, Tomas Salcedo, and others. This is appropriate because the material is challenging, and playing a set of this stuff allows a player to flex in a lot of different ways.

A nice bit from a show at the Starry Plough this summer

One more unexpected milestone for me and the band: on August 26, 2023, Seal Party was pleased and honored to support The Headhunters for a show at the Guild Theater in Menlo Park; and I was pleased and honored to be on the gig.

Seal Party has also invited me to join them for the writing and recording of their followup album. So all of this is extremely satisfying, and it’s really nice to be involved in the creative process like this again, a sweet bonus after a long spell in the wilderness.

So I’m thrilled to be joining Kevin (vocals/keys), Chris (drums), Spencer Murray (bass) and Liam Wesley Craddock (percussion/misc) for this next venture.

Seriously, the first record is awesome and I was a fan from the moment the first single was released.

Engine 88 at Riot Fest 2017

We’ll be opening the Sunday show, September 17, 2017. We hit at noon, Chicago time. Blink and you’ll miss it. Also, a live webcast is planned, details forthcoming. Our first show in almost exactly 11 years.

PS. No webcast. But the festival was kind enough to livecast Drowning. Thanks Riot Fest!

Engine 88, Haight St. Fair, 1995

Evidence has been revealed that proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Engine 88 actually existed and made noise. I don’t know the poster of these videos, but I am thankful to them because, aside from the very crunchy-sounding video of the 2006 reunion show, I had been completely unaware of any motion-picture leftovers of good ol’ Engine. Here’s a link to the playlist. 6 songs, embedded below.

The songs include Pelican, Funny Car, Istanbul, Mangoes, Ballerina and GTO. Istanbul and Ballerina’s presence is interesting because this is right before the release of Clean Your Room… we’d apparently already moved on to our next set of songs before we’d even given the first round a proper tour.

Good stuff.

Shows, Autumn 2013

For my own records, a retroactive list of shows from this Fall. Makes this slow Winter seem less idle.

  • October 4: ZZ Topless, Starry Plough, Berkeley, with Cat People and Physical Graffiti
  • October 5: ZZ Topless at Oaktoberfest in Oakland’s Dimond District
  • October 11: Curtis Bumpy at Jupiter, Berkeley
  • October 20: Curtis Bumpy at Bernal Heights Fiesta on the Hill, San Francisco
  • October 26: Curtis Bumpy at Sonoma Raceway, private function
  • November 17: A Secret Rose, Craneway Pavilion in Richmond

Also, on 11/8 I had the honor of sitting in with Will Bernard and his Motherbug reunion at Jupiter. Which was great fun and also pretty funny, because the Motherbug rhythm section was Keith McArthur and Jan Jackson, along with Josh Jones and a keyboardist whose name currently escapes me (sorry, he was great). Also present were Scott Jensen and David Agretelis. And Jerry Kennedy. And Omega Rae. Basically, Curtis Bumpy. For a few songs it was a bit like Will was sitting in at his own gig. Of course, Will melted faces in due fashion. Special thanks to Len Patterson for letting me use his rig.

Will Bernard and MotherBumpy

Will Bernard and MotherBumpy

Summer shows, June-August

Usually summer is a slow time for a part-timer such as myself. Strangely, I seem to be semi-busy with gigs this summer so far. Catching up:

  • ZZ Topless hit Pine St. Bar & Grill on June 22, benefiting the Tri-Valley Roller Derby Girl Association. That was a hoot.
  • Curtis Bumpy played in Corte Madera at Minke Park’s Piccolo Pavilion on July 14 as part of the summer concert series there.
  • Thursday night, July 18, ZZ Topless will play with the Blackout Cowboys at Peri’s in Fairfax.
  • Friday night, July 19, Curtis Bumpy hits the Jupiter stage once again for good vibes and greasy grooves.
  • Saturday August 24, ZZ Topless brings the noise to 50 Mason in San Francisco.
  • Saturday August 31, ZZ Topless will break much sweat for the Vacaville Art, Wine & Brew Festival at 12:30.

March 2013 ZZ Topless/Curtis Bumpy shows

This blog is more of a record for myself than much of a promotional outlet… which is fine, I guess, so here’s what I forgot to mention.

  • ZZ Topless strutted down to Gilroy for an intimate performance at the 9 Lives, appropriately with Cat People. 9 Lives was a great venue, by the way. March 8.
  • Curtis Bumpy closed out Michael Parayno’s bon voyage party at his excellent speakeasy/party pad, Birdland Jazzista Social Club on the night of March 15. We were in the 1AM-3AM slot, and had a total blast. Ag had a race the next day so he was represented by Henry Hung on trumpet, who we hope to work with again. Some video of the event can be found on a playlist of mine on YouTube. Here’s a piece of it.

Fun with ZZ Topless, 1/31/13 @ 50 Mason

Never really officially rolled this out, but I’ve been playing with this fun ZZ Top tribute thing called ZZ Topless. Had a really fun time playing at the East Bay Rats’ clubhouse/birthday party for a Rat friend (11/3/2012). It was like being a 19-yr old rocker kid again. Electric Sister played after we did, and were everything you could hope for in a hard rock/metal band. Have to check them out again soon.

Anyway, we’re playing at 50 Mason in SF Thurs, Jan. 31. Was supposed to be with Cat People, a Bowie tribute thing, but a death in the family has forced them to cancel; not sure if there will be a replacement band. Trouble with Monkeys opens.

ZZ Topless
Trouble with Monkeys
Thursday January 31, 2013
50 Mason Social House
50 Mason St., SF CA 94102