48hrs of Punk in Chicago and St. Louis
spy...@ibm.net
The following occured on 5/19 and 5/20. It involves a trip to Chicago to see D.O.A. and back to St. Louis on Monday
to see Penelope Houston. It will include the story of the trip there and back, and other things that happened along
the way.
05/19. Sunday.
Woke up about 9 a.m., my girlfriend gave me a blowjob, and got in the shower. (sorry had to throw that in.)
While she was in the shower, I checked out the weather channel, to see what to expect for the drive up.
It basically said that the entire midwest was experiencing record highs. That it was going to be hot. They also
said the winds would be 20-40 miles an hour, with gusts upto 60. It also looked like thunderstorms later that
evening in Chicago. She got out of the shower, I got in. She went to make some sandwiches for the trip up.
I got out, packed a cooler full of beer, and we were off. Got onto I-55, right here in Soulard where we live, and
was in Illinois in seconds. The trip was pretty dull, but the wind kept it interesting. It was blowing so hard, and
we had the sunroof and windows open. Sometimes a gust would hit me in the side of the head, that felt like a slap
to the face. We brought along, Jeff Dahl's "Ultra Under," D.O.A. "Bloodied but Unbowed," X first 3 albums, Iggy,
Devo "Are we not Men," Subhumans "Incorrect Thoughts," D.I.Y. "UK Pop 1," and "New York Scene," and a few
other tapes. So we were rolling down the road, with the music blasting, and a few beers to enjoy.
There is absolutely nothing between here and Chicago, except a few sights. Somewhere before you get to Springfield,
there is a place called "Punkies Palace." Its a really big, old brick house, right off the highway. Its got some bizzare
ornaments in the front, including a giant old Ferris Wheel. A strange sight in the middle of nowhere, apperently it is
an antique store. Somewhere after Springfield, with the wind going so hard, we encountered Dust Storms.
You would see dust blowing off of the farms from a few miles away. And it obscured the highway real bad.
You couldn't see anything throught it. But once you started driving through it, it wasn't as bad as it looked.
Somewhere around Normal, there is another giant old house, kinda in the middle of nothing. Looks abandoned,
but there are some new barns next to it. Then near Joliet is a monsterous green building, no idea what it
is, but it is bigger than a football stadium. You then come to the Mobil oil refinary, and a BASF Polymer plant. I wasn't
sure it was okay to breath anywhere near them. Probably inhaled enough chemicals to kill a lab rat. Thats it till we
found a hotel in Willowbrook. Once we got there, I noticed that my one arm and knees were sunburnt to a nice lobster red.
They hurt pretty bad.
The first hotel we went to, a Budgetel, was full of people in the lobby. Half were speaking German, the other Oriental.
The receptionist tried to be of help but had her hands full. She basically said we should checkout one of the other
hotels. We went across the street to another place, something owned by the Marriott. No cars in the parking lot, no
people in the lobby. I asked the guy behind the counter, "How much is a single for the night?" He said "Do you have
AAA?" I said, "No." He said "No.... You do have AAA?" I said, "Oh, yeah." He replied, "Great, that will be $42 for
the night." We asked for a map of Chicago since we had absolutely no idea where D.O.A. was playing. All I knew was
that it was near Fullerton and California. The guy says, "Just go down 55, and take a left onto California. You'll have
to go a few miles to get to Fullerton." We then went upto the room. I went back down to the gas station to get some
beer, and a good map of Chicago. The lady at the gas station said, they didn't have beer, but there was a liquor store
about a 1/2 mile away. So I go to this place called DiCarlos Liqour. Man, I was in heaven this place was huge, and
had every beer you can imagine. Samuel Adams Triple Bock, Blackened Voodoo, all of it. So I bought some Budwieser
and split. Went back to the Hotel and crashed for about an hour, before we decided to find the place, and get some
dinner.
We head down 55 to California, and get off. We are instantly in the worse neighborhood I have ever seen. I live in
the city, and at 6' 4" and 225. I don't get intimadated easily. But I was thinking, we were in trouble. We keep
heading down Calif. past a maximum security prison, some burnt out buildings, etc. Then the road dead-ends.
We take a right and hit Western. Go upto Fullerton and take a right. The area is getting worse. Then we spot the
Fireside Bowl, where they are playing. We pull up right in front of their van. I see Brian in the van, and say "Hey
Brian, Steve from St. Louis, we just drove up to see you play." He says "No shit, your crazy..." I reply "Well you
weren't playing there this tour so we came here." We go into the joint to see if we need tickets or anything, and
run into Joey. I'm like "Hey hows it going?" He says "What are you doing here?" I go "Man, we came to see you. Do
we need to get tickets?" He says "I'll just put you on the guest list." "Cool we're going to get some dinner, wanna go?"
He says "Nah, they just brought us a bunch of food. We go on about 9. There are 3 bands before us, and a rockabilly
show afterwards with 4 more bands." I look around the place, and realize it is a rat infested hell-hole. Its a bowling
alley, with the lanes roped off. There is a little stage off to the side, and room for about 10 people across, and about
40 deep. Really small. Looks like it hasn't been used in a decade. I'm thinking holy-shit, we drove up here for this.
We head out for dinner, knowing that we will be able to get in at 9, without a problem. Take Fullerton down to
Lincoln Park and eat at Emilio's Tapas. Incredible spanish style meals. Order small portions of a dozen different
things. Really execellent food. Have a few State Street Amber Ales, a local microbrew that was pretty good. Head back
to the hell-hole, and into the bar for a few more beers. There are rockabilly "elvis-style 'do's" everywhere, and a
few punks. D.O.A starts, and launches into "We're DOA...," Then "New Age," and something off the new "Black Spot"
album. I don't remember everything the played, they did "General Strike" which is a favorite, a few off the new album,
and some old classics. I was standing on a plastic bench off to the side a little, the pit, got a little intense a few
times. I thought the bench we were standing on was going to collapse. Joey, then comes out in a preachers coat, with
a burning cross, and does "This train is bound for glory..." Wild. He then puts on a hockey mask and starts up a chain
saw. Does a solo on the chainsaw for one of the songs. They finish up, a couple of encores, the place is sweaty, and
having a good time. They go off-stage, and some guy with a giant standup bass goes on. I walk over to the band
say "Great show, I'll buy the beer." "Okay, let us cool off, and get out of these sweaty clothes." We head to the bar,
and start talking to some guy that just moved there from Anaheim. Seems pretty cool. The band comes into the bar, we
get beers all around. Talked and drank for a few hours. The rockabilly bands are playing, and are pretty good. My girlfriend
goes to the bathroom, where she refused to actually sit on the toliet, it was that scummy. Its about midnight. D.O.A
promises to play St. Louis next tour, and we split. It was an incredible show, and well worth the drive. Next time I
hope they play another joint. If you ever think of going to the Fireside Bowl, you better make sure its worth it.
Back home when we were trying to find out where the place was, we went to see Agent Orange, and found out they
just played there. We asked how it was, and Mike says "Your in for a treat." We now know what he meant.
Its early so we decide to hit another bar. We go to the Hard Rock and its closed. I say "I know a really good blues
bar..." But we can't find it. So we decide to head back to the hotel. Get lost a couple of times, then we are back on
track. Stop for breakfast at the Dennys next to the hotel, then off to bed. Get up about 9 again, and it looks cloudy
out. I think great its going to pour, but at least my arm won't get anymore cooked. We stop at the liqour store, load
up on Bud, and some State Street. The trip back is pretty dull, at least no dust storms. The sun comes back out
around Springfield. No rain, I hate driving in the rain.
Get back to the apt. in St. Louis around 3:30 p.m. Fall down and sleep for about 3 hours, due to exhaustion. Get up
and make some dinner. Shower and get ready for the Penelope Houston show at the Links Club. Not really knowing what
to expect. I loved the Avengers, and had heard she had gone Folk.
Got to the Links club about 9 p.m. The opening band is "We Like Girls." A guy on drums, a guy on guitar, and a
female singer/guitarist. She was very talented, good voice, attractive. But I'm under the impression that she named
the band. They were really good in a "we're music school students watch us play jazz progressions" kinda way.
We played pool while they were on. Had a pretty good time playing pool until this guy puts his money on the table.
I have to play him. He cocked his head like a dog, when they kinda lean it to one side with that "what?" look.
He then describes every bounce the cue ball will take before putting his ball in the hole. "It'll hit this side, then go
over here, hit this point, then the 14 ball will go into this pocket." Damn, it does it. He has some sorta instant
geometric read of the table, and makes some incredible shots. I lose, and don't play any more cause Penelope is
coming on.
I still don't know what to expect, but she has a zither, a flute, and a mandolin on stage. Yipes. But actually
she turns out some good, folkie, rootsy, music. Her voice is very good. She is much better at this than someone like
Natalie Marchant. Kinda Tori Amos. My girlfriend is digging it, and is the first to clap after every song. The show ends
and she wants to buy a CD. She says "I'll go over and ask her which CD she thinks is best..." Next thing I know they
have struck up a conversation. After about a 1/2 hour I walk up, and we talk a little. We tell her we just got back from
Chicago where we saw D.O.A. Penelopes like "Wow, they're still together? We use to play with them all the time." We
kinda give her an update as to what they have been upto lately. She is a very nice person, and fun to talk to. And for
those curious, oh yeah she is still hot.
We head home and are in bed around 2 a.m. after some Taco Bell. Slept till noon the next day.
Moral of the story: Some things change, some stay the same. But you should enjoy everthing for what it is.
/*************************************************/
/* Steve Pyatt | Sick Boy - In his faded blue jeans */
/* spy...@ibm.net | Sick Boy - Black leather jacket scene */
/*************************************************/
Joanie
I thought this was gonna have the meaningful lyrics or at least refer
to the song "Joe Lies" from Say Anything. What a great movie.
Joanie
Steve aka Satch
Joanie wrote:
>I thought this was gonna have the meaningful lyrics or at least refer
>to the song "Joe Lies" from Say Anything. What a great movie.
Notice that the main guy was wearing a Clash T-shirt through the movie?
I liked the movie but found one thing too unrealistic. The party scene
has one guy being the key master and everyody has to give him their keys
and if they get drunk he won't give them back. Has anyone been to a
party with a key master? The writers were trying to make the kids seem
responsible. Key masters don't exist.
Satch
SteveSatch
Joe now takes back his mistaken claim that I posted private e-mail to this
group. He didn't lie. I guess he just misunderstood the situation.
Satch
A Halliwell
SteveSatch (steve...@aol.com) wrote:
: Joe now takes back his mistaken claim that I posted private e-mail to this
: group. He didn't lie. I guess he just misunderstood the situation.
: Satch
I hear you've finally decided to stop trolling.
Congratulations.
(I may even say Welcome to alt.punk in a while....)
--
______________________________________________________________________________
| |What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack in |
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|Andrew Halliwell |Consider how lucky you are that life has been good |
|Principal subjects in:-|to you so far... |
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Steve aka Satch
>I hear you've finally decided to stop trolling.
The way you and Aya put it it sounds like I made a decision on my own to
stop being mean. Joe and I decided to stop fighting. This is a two way
street here. I was not doing it own my own. That being said, yes I did
agree to stop fighting.
Satch---------------------------------------------------------
Mohawk revenge