June 15: A Show!

Squeaky at 12:15

That's right, Squeaky graces the stage at Double Down Live on June 15. Which is a Friday. We are joined by a reunited Loyal Frisby, Waylon Thornton & the Heavy Hands, and Andy Blaire.

Stream or Download Squeaky Album

Did you ever hear our self-titled album from 2007? No? Click on the thingy.

Squeaky

Shows!

We are emerging from our rock cocoon. Two, maybe three shows are in the offing for spring/summer.


Where? When? 


Friday, May 4, at Double Down Live, we'll be playing with Five Eight. You've never heard of Five Eight? What are you, deaf? Blind? Live under a rock? They've been featured on NPR. They've been a band for 20 years. And they quite literally embody the essence of what it is like to be a rock band. We've played with Five Eight a few times, usually at the old Covered Dish. They are cool cats, Mike plays every show like it's his last, and it never is. I've never seen a band that could hold a crowd by playing un-amplified like them. Mike used to walk into the middle of the Dish and, with no microphone, just sing "Weirdo" at the top of his lungs. And you could hear a pin drop. So come see them, ok?


Friday, June 15, we'll be playing with another long-time, reunited band, Loyal Frisby. We've played with Loyal a few times, like back in 2000 or 2001 or thereabouts. At the old Florida Theatre, at the Covered Dish, at Market Street. I'm excited to see what the lineup is, they've had quite a few dudes in the band. LF is a riveting live band, come see them even if you hate us.


We're hoping for an April show, will let you know as soon as we get that ironed out.


Strangely, I was going through some old flyers, and I found a flyer I was making for a show with both Loyal Frisby and Five Eight at the Market Street pub. I think I remember that show, and it ruled.

3-Man Guitarmy

We consciously decided last night to have a small, quiet, guitar-centric practice. The idea was to work on stuff that we usually can't work on in the context of a regular practice.

Of course, it was probably louder than usual due to Mower's knobbling with a Bassman head that he may or may not buy (he should).

But we made good progress on 3-guitar versions of Centrifuge, Kevin Spacey, and, um... maybe that's all we did. Really? Oh, wait, Armadillo.

Hiccups? Yup, I got 'em. They lasted all the way home.

Green Lotus Strat Copy with Duct Tape

Dig the Mulder Sticker

Approaching Alien Lifeform

Working on New Songs

Great practice last night, all of us were there, and we were firing on all cylinders. Except for me. We started playing Francis, and like 4 times, I started it wrong. The notes were correct, but I was playing it half time of what it should have been. Lots of looks going my way at that point. Duh.

Work is progressing on two (maybe three) new songs. There's Fearless, which is arranged and done, just lacking verse vocals. Then there's "Classic Squeaky Song," which sounds like, well, a classic Squeaky song. Mostly because of Steven and I both using our old E flat B flat G tunings. While mush-mouthing sound-lyrics, I think I blurted out "frozen margarita" a few times. Not sure what's up with that. We also improvised a song that started with this weird pulsing organ (heh heh) thing, which also turned into a "song" with "parts." We'll see what happens with that. It sounds pretty cool.

We didn't talk about the greatest American rock band issue much last night, except to say that it probably wasn't Minor Threat. And we did listen to a few tracks from the new Van Halen album, which was released on International Ray Valla Day, Feb. 7. I really miss Michael Anthony's vocals on the songs I heard—triple-tracked Dave is a little tedious.

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

With Mower out of town, Karlo vomiting, who knows what'll happen tonight.

Photos

You're probably sick of hearing about this goddam show, and you may have already seen a link to these photos of PhaceBuhk, but here they are. Thanks a ton, Missi. You know we love blurry photos of dudes rocking.

And the PopCanon shots are really good. It was really like that.

Squeaky 10/15/11 Photos by Missi

PopCanon 10/15/11 Photos by Missi

Some Further Thoughts on Saturday's Show

I've already blurted out a lot of things about this past weekend's show with PopCanon, so what follows is only for folks who actually care a lot about either band or what it feels like to be in a band. So, read on, if you dare.

First of all, did it really happen? Back at work at my desk on Monday, it was like a distant memory already, and that just Blows. That little magical dreamworld where my only responsibilities are moving equipment and rocking disappeared so quickly. Real world, with things like "what am I going to cook for dinner" and "I have a meeting to go to" returned all too quickly. I got an email from Ned first thing Monday morning that said, "Dude, did that really happen? It seems like weeks ago and I'm still tired." Yup. 

It was really, remarkably easy to slip into a world where all these friends, rock compatriots still lived in Gainesville, and it seemed totally normal that we played a show together at a club and it was exhilarating and tiring and all of those things, but it still seemed like we could do it again in a couple of weeks. But we can't.

Second of all, the songs. I have to be honest, I have not listened to PopCanon records much in the intervening 10 years, probably because I'd rather see them live, where you really get the whole picture. And probably because it would just make me sad. So, when PC was rocking it out, it was like a wash of familiar, wonderful songs, like transmissions from a former life's radio station. It felt good to not remember every element of every song, because it allowed me to still be surprised by the music. Since becoming a father, my memory banks are increasingly filled with other things, so my annoying inability to remember things was actually helping me enjoy great song after great song.

Third of all, the musicianship. Being a guitar player/musician who operates more like a goofy archaeologist, finding peculiar things in my own playing and dusting them off into riffs and/or songs, I completely admire people who can hear things in their heads and just play them. Or can read music. Or can transpose guitar parts into piano parts on the fly. It was an amazing honor watching the PopCanon folks just completely rule their instruments. Their collective depth of understanding of music is unparalleled in Gainesville bands, that much is sure.

• Ned's largesse of guitar and stature was as impressive as ever. Ned plays big and knows how to play to a room.
• David's intellectual multitasking and effortless guitar weirdness was wonderful to behold again. 
• The slightly quizzical and amused look on Murphy's face belied his absolutely All Killer & No Filler bass playing. 
• Robby's drumset weirdness was apallingly wonderful—he makes making it look easy look even easier, if you know what I mean. 
• Don—while much can be said of his clothing and antics at PC shows, it cannot be overstated that the guy can fucking play his horn. His neck is doing that Dizzy Gillespie thing where it expands perceptibly when he blows. He's on another plane when he's playing, it's obvious.
• I told Alyson that she and Don are collectively like Flavor Flav—the hype men and comic foils for Ned and David (who in this metaphor, would collectively by Chuck D). And I think that's true. Alyson is great to watch, she stalks the stage with, by turns, comedy and drama. She has a quiet confidence when she plays which is awesome.

Fourth of all, time.

I started going to PopCanon shows when they were the Semantics, and through all the changes in their lineup and all the changes in Squeaky's lineup, there was/is a consistent fun in seeing them play. Now, ten years after their last show, so much has changed in their lives, and so much has changed in mine. I wasn't a parent last time I saw them play. My entire understanding of time has changed. My everything has changed. But what hasn't changed is my love of music, and that's why it was a joy to let PC wash over me, reminding me of what is the same in the midst of everything's difference.

Two Photos

The view from onstage\

Danny and shiny, unbroken cymbals

Squeaky Loves PopCanon

There is much to say about the awesome weekend of rock that has sadly passed, but one of my favorite things was the dinner party/impromptu concert at the Rockter's house. 


Some photos from that night: