This one's for Corinna and Gig Buddy's everywhere!
Corinna- Mimi Betinis Music Sounds
Best Friends- The Outlets Outlets 7"
Flagrante Delicto- The Upper Crust Delusions Of Grandeur
We Don't Mind The Rave- The Flys Waikki Beach Refugees
Frantic Romantic- Scientists Frantic Romantic
Comes Around- The Well Wishers Comes And Goes
Chart Buster- De Cylinders We Must Pay 7''
Please Stay- Paul Collins' Beat To Beat Or Not To Beat/Long Time Gone
^Best Friend- Foster The People Best Friend
*Best Friend- English Beat Keep the Beat - Very Best of
*Best Friend- The Gangsters The Gangsters
Start Again- Suzy and Los Quattro Faster and Louder!
Takeaway Love- The Resistors e.p. for Jeanie
What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?- The Monkees Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
*My Best Friend- Weezer Make Believe
*My Best Friend- Milkshake Play!
*My Best Friend- Nixon's Head Traps, Buckshot and Pelt
No Way This Could Fail- The Wellingtons End Of The Summer
When Donna Romances- The Scruffs When Donna Romances
Lucy Potato- Teenage Head Teenage Head
>My Best Friend- Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow
*Best Friend- The Krinkles 3 - The Mordorlorff Collection
*Best Friend- Fastball Step Into Light
Colosseums- The New Pornographers Whiteout Conditions
Blue Thing- DM3 West Of Anywhere
Teenage News- The Connection Just For Fun
*Best Friend- The Drums Best Friend
*Best Friend- Legendary Wings Do You See
*My Best Friend's Hot- The Dollyrots Because I'm Awesome
*Best Friend- Dandy Warhols Dandys Rule OK
He's Frank- The Monochrome Set The Independent Singles Collection
He's My Best Friend- Jellyfish Spilt Milk
^Power Pop Peak: #14 US Alt Chart 3/10/14
*SacroSet: Best Friend Songs
>Power Pop Prototype: 1967
The Upper Crust |
I don't go to many rock shows these days because a) there aren't that many bands I want to see and b) those I do aren't popular enough to score a Friday or Saturday so, along with the 100 mile round trip to San Francisco, it makes for a late weeknight. That said, there was NO WAY I was going to miss The Upper Crust's recent show at Bottom of The Hill.
Titanics, Nat and Dave on right |
The Bags, Jim Janota center |
Twenty-two years later all the aforementioned bands are long gone, save for The Upper Crust who recently released their sixth album Delusions Of Grandeur. Back in the 90's I missed my chance to see the band play at the Covered Wagon Saloon in SF so I was very excited to hear they were coming back in May 2017.
I called up my best friend Frank and he was game- we have gone to many shows together over the years. I've known Frank since high school, here's a picture of us from back then. We weren't a band yet but that didn't stop us from having photo sessions- there's no denying we had "a look."
Ted, Jim, Frank, Rick |
When we moved to Boston after high school (me to go to Emerson, Frank to Northeastern) we had a band with our friends Pete and Jim called No Idea that played all the Boston clubs.
Rick, Frank, Pete, Jim |
Frank was my best man when Jaime and I got married on March 14, 1992.
Lance, Rich, Paul, Frank, Rick, Jaime, Mary Beth, Jenny, Sarah, Sue |
Frank's brother Greg was best man but didn't want to do the toast. I was proud to do the honor myself- though I would've appreciated more than five minutes notice.
In the late 90's I wrote a song called "The Warm Up Band Sucks" about a less than stellar experience I had waiting to see The Plimsouls at Bottom of The Hill. I got there early that night because I thought the club would be packed. It wasn't, and I was subjected to not one but two terrible support acts. On the plus side, The Plimsouls were AWESOME, featuring none other than Clem Burke on drums!
Plimsouls with Clem Burke circa 1997 |
The Upper Crust 5/25/17 |
Even after a 20 year build up, The Upper Crust exceeded my expectations. Frank was similarly taken- the songs, the look, the stage banter- they were on fire! It is difficult to describe, the band was very tight yet also seemed to be careening out of control at times especially during Duc D'istortion's sublime solos.
The Duc Lets Loose! |
We Are NOT Amused |
I Want To Be Jackie Kickassis |
As a long time rock show attendee, I pride myself on being able to always spot band wives/girlfriends in the crowd, though at an Upper Crust show it is admittedly not that difficult. You do not want to get caught standing behind these ladies!
The Crustettes |
So it was a great night of rock and roll, made better by the fact that I was able to spend it with my best friend- Thanks Frank!
Click the link below to stream this week's show or to download, right click and "Save Link As:"
ALL KINDSA GIRLS #159
No comments:
Post a Comment