DIARY OF MADMEN:
(Kevin, who does this whole website thing, wanted music-related jibberish, so this is the closest I could come. I really don't expect anyone to care.)
Catching up: Little Billy Catfish and the Sodapops was a two-piece band until Astro Poppy left to spend more time with his other band, the Muzzies. Billy immediately contacted Chad Hardwick (Nevada Death Band) and "Diamond" Dan Allaire. Not mentioned below (before this thing was started) are show opening for Wally Pleasant; a show which also featured the Pee Chees, Murder City Devils and Young Pioneers, plus a Struggle Unit house basement show--and the first show with the new lineup at Sudsy Malone's with the Coin Collectors and Jason from the Hairy Patt Band. Now, you are caught up to date with the revamped, rewritten and renewed Little Billy Catfish Trio (heretofore referred to as "LBC3").
October 11:
A
bachelor party In the outskirts of Indiana. This show was frustrating for
several reasons: We didn't know until the last moment if it would actually
happen, if there would be power, etc. It did go on, just without the expected
kegs of beer and strippers. We filled a few hours with noisy bluesish-type
jams, and a few AC/DC covers that seemed to go over ok.
October 17:
Mac's
Bar Hot Like Vegas, Teenage Frames, LBC3 Lansing, MI I'd been to Mac's
before to play with the Sodapops but Chad and Dan hadn't. I seem to always
have a good time there. Actually, the only bad time I'd had at a show in
MI was some club in downtown Detroit. Norm (who puts on the shows for Etch
Zine (check it out) is a pretty nice guy, letting me come back with the
new band. We played with the Teenage Frames from Chicago, who were punkish
and mostly fashionable, and the headliners were some locals called Hot
Like Vegas or something. They sounded like half Afghan Whigs influence
(I thought that only was noticeable in Cincinnati), and equal parts Seaweed
and Stone Temple Pilots. The next day we got to check out some cool record
stores (Funhouse) and music stores (Boss Guitars). Arlo Pickens entertained
us all weekend.
October 23:
WAIF
88.3 radio Cincinnati After an on-air interview, we set up in studio B,
where Chad played guitar quietly, Dan used brushes and I played a plastic
air organ thing that Arlo had given me the weekend before. The song was
made up on the spot, called "The WAIF Pledge Drive." We were real funny,
Chad's brother said that he almost crapped his pants. Alas, we have no
recording of the event.
October 24:
Buzz
Coffeeshop Bantam Rooster, LBC3 and Las Luchadores Damn. This one got cancelled,
'cause one of the Rooster guys was sick. Little billy Catfish and the Sodapops
(the L.B.C. incarnation before the Trio) was a two man band so I was really
eager to check them out. Oh well. Their CD is rad, though.
October 25:
Art
Attacks Newport, KY One of the funnest show we'd done for a while, despite
sound not being as awesome as it could've been. Lots more happened, in
terms of showmanship and visual rockin' and rollin', than what was actually
recorded (I think on this website there's pictures and sound clips). An
art festival with lots of bands.
October 31:
Top
Cat's Impotent Sea Snakes, LBC3, Fudgie and FuFu, Love America Cincinnati
The Impotent Sea Snakes, they kicked every ass in the building. I'm too
tired to describe everything they did, so let me just say it was like seeing
Kiss, (the makeup years) all over again. Since they were on tour with Motorhead
and W.A.S.P., that mean we're only two degrees away from stardom.
Nov. 1:
A
party Mad Orange Fools, Salvador Deli, Fudgie and FuFu, Love America, Moth
Our practice space in Lockland, OH Let's see, we played with Mad Orange
Fools, Salvador Deli (from Dayton), Fudgie and Fufu, Love America and Moth.
Ages 8-80 were at this party so it was kinda weird, but packed. We went
over pretty well and a lot of our friends came out (Arlo and friends from
MI, and the Muzzies/Coin Collectors/Eeyore gang from Dayton). We were pressed
for time so we didn't get to do a lot of songs. What a blurry mess, this
whole weekend. I think I got sick twice (not throwing up, just exhausted)
and we had a few new songs-one song sounds like classic New York Dolls,
so my throat hurts after singing it and we also debuted a cover of Donovan's
"Season of the Witch" for Halloween weekend.
Nov. 7:
Top
Cat's Deary Me Records "The Sound of Cincinnati" This was a release show
for Deary Me Records' Cincinnati Music Vol. III compilation, on which Little
Billy Catfish and the Sodapops had a song, "Brand New Pair of Sideburns".
The sound set up wasn't the best, but we did "My Baby is a Lady" and "In-a
Godda-Da-Vida". During the latter, I talked Diamond Dan into doing a drum
solo and everyone clapped along. As I said onstage, it's nice that after
so many years of "paying our dues" we're finally part of "the scene". No
really, if you know us at all, we're extremely happy to be part of it all.
Like being in a frat (though I'm guessing at that). Actually this show
was lots of fun, I got to see some great bands for the first time (Fugue)
re-acquaint myself with some of my favorite local bands (Fairmont Girls,
Clifford Nevernew, Ditchweed) and be very impressed by bands I had seen
before, but still rocked insanely awesome: the Pariahs, Middle Fingers,
Wolverton Bros., Moth. The CD, all sarcasm asid, is a pretty good compilation.
But, why wasn't Oxboard Drain, Filthy McNasty, Fudgie and Fufu, Mad Orange
Fools, Pincusion, Spodie, Nethereye, etc. etc. offered a slot? It seems
like the samplers tend to be designed for the "hip" indie-rocker crowd.
Oh well, if I can make it onto a "scene" sampler, anyone can.
Nov. 13:
Canal
St. Tavern Dayton LBC3, Fudgie and Fufu, Orgy Gone Rumble This was my first
time playing at Canal St., but overall, it was a good experience. A lot
of our friends from Dayton came to see us, and a few people that complimented
me said that friends of theirs had told them to check us out. Wow. We made
more than enough for gas, there was a good crowd and fellow Cincinnatians
Fudgie and Fufu played, so in my book it was a great show. Headliners and
Dayton citizens (who I had gone to high school with) Orgy Gone Rumble played
pretty well, with a quirkyjerky rhythmic scream.
Nov. 20:
Top
Cat's Something Happens, LBC I did this show for some quick cash for my
pocket--and for the beer. Since their contract required and opening act,
I was called about three hours before the show to do an acoustic set. Great
deal for me, but I'd never heard of Something Happens. Turns out, they've
been around for about ten years, they're from Ireland and sound like a
rockin' U2. I played "Plastic Jesus" from Cool Hand Luke (which Arlo
had taught me on his banjo) and the band jumped up and played along. It
was great. Then, they called me up to help 'em finish their encore with
an even more rockin' version of the same song, that prompted the bartender
to ask when we'd be leaving to tour together. Quite possibly, the funnest
show I've ever done in my life. And I though the Stones were the only boys
across the pond with rhythm. I guess I've got a place to crash if I ever
get to Ireland.
Nov. 21:
Stevie
Ray's House of Wax The Common, LBC3 Muncie, IN We played with a band called
the Common who make their own zine (a band zine) who had great harmonies
and were pretty good pop. We were a last minute fill-in because friends
7 Speed Vortex couldn't make the show, so we loaded up the cars and arrived
only an hour or so late. We played for the ten people who hung around to
see a band they'd never heard of (no one knew our name, even, until we
told them while setting up). We still played a pretty good set and definately
will come back there again. The promoter wanted us the next weekend to
do a show with Detroit's the Deans but, very unfortunately, we couldn't
do the show. A very cool record store, too.
Nov. 9:
Practive
space show Muzzies, LBC3, Coin Collectors Miamisburg, OH This Dayton-area
show was the least fun show that I think, in my six year history of playing
shows, I've ever done. Or at least it would be in the running for the award
of "Most no fun show". It was suprising to see that most people there,
instead of being Daytonians, were Cincinnati folk. The PA sucked really,
really bad, in fact it was worthless. The Muzzies played first, they rocked
like beheaded chickens, as always, and the Coin Collectors (albeit minus
their drummer) still were funny enough to cheer me up after playing. Andreas
from the Coin Collectors even did a ten minute freestyle rap while we were
gettin set up. But, I was using Gretta Smak's (from the Muzzies) guitar
and amp, which feeded back the instant I'd stop playing something. There
was definately a black cloud hanging over the evening. I think I'm gonna
make another Little Billy Catfish songbook, too.