- Arms of Love - the Munson arrangement of the Robyn Hitchcock song, played in G with C cross-harp.
- Dear Prudence - pretty faithful version of the Beatles' original, with a few changes to make it work better on solo acoustic. Guitar was plugged in for this show, and sounded particularly good on this song.
- It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Eva Cassidy arrangement of the Paul Anka song, again played in G with C cross-harp.
- Girl #134 - the Matthew Munson original, but with an unauthorized bridge snuck in there while the author wasn't looking. I fell into the trap I always do with no drummer, and played it a too slow a tempo.
Showing posts with label Shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shows. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Swamptooth Live - 26 October, 2011
Third appearance in four weeks a Old Torrance Coffee & Tea. This time with Don Varner in attendance, though not playing.
Swamptooth Live Again
Swamptooth, Live, Again
Old Torrance Coffee & Tea
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Songs performed:
I launched straight into "It Hurts Me Too" with no introduction. I explained it as an Elmore James song. Did it in C, with a G harmonica, played cross-harp. I was very happy with this one, having learned it a few days earlier and practiced quite a bit. I did the whole show "unplugged," that is with only a single microphone for amplification. I had a bad experience with my guitar plugged in the previous time, and didn't want to risk it.
"Big Tin Truck" was my own song, but played like the Black and Blue High Desert Mystery arrangement. Well, without the band. What I mean is that I sang the Munson words in the bridge. I dedicated this song to Wayne Davis, the resident truck driver and country singer, but he wasn't there to hear it. He had the flu or something.
"The Dark End of the Street" I introduced as a Motown song turned country, which I had just learned this week. However I was called out on it, because it was in actuality a stealth Gram Parsons cover, a fact I readily confirmed. For some reason, my voice is well suited to this one. I took another turn on my G harmonica, for the third song in a row.
"Billy" was the most fun. They asked me to do another song, and I said OK, I had one, an "old west number" but it really needed percussion. A guy called Eddie G was summoned to the stage. While he tracked down his box (actually a flamenco percussion instrument called a cajon), I started the long instrumental lead in to the song. Eddie was like, "is this it?" thinking I might just be warming up, but I just nodded and he started playing. The percussion really added a lot, and we nestled right into a groove that could have just gone on and on. Things were cool until I started to sing the first verse "There's guns across the river aimin atcha," and then the crowd really came alive as they recognized the song, much to my surprise, cheering, and Mike Munoz (the "house" musician) grabbed his guitar and joined us to do the acoustic lead. The song lasted at least five or six minutes, probably longer, as I stretched to remember all the different verses from three different recordings on the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid soundtrack. But rather than get stale, "Billy" continued to steadily build in excitement right up to the end. It wasn't perfect, as I dropped the beat once, and also stepped on Mike's guitar solo by breaking in to early for the "Guitars will play your grand finale" verse, but these faults were hardly noticeable. (I realized afterward I had the words wrong, it is supposed to be "gypsy queens," not "guitars.") We got such a response that I knew I had to leave the stage, 'cause I couldn't follow it.
The owner of the place sent me out a coffee, high praise indeed for this venue. I overheard him say, "I know what soundtrack I am going to listen to tonight!" Cool, I must have struck a nerve with that one.
Later on, a guy named Richard closed his set with Donovan's "Catch the Wind." Galvanized, I went on for a second time and did "Sand and Foam," which I pulled off very convincingly, but with less response than I would have hoped for. Then somebody asked if I knew a song called "Geraldine." This was a request that I never thought I'd get, and I didn't waste it. I had to fish for my capo, but then I launched straight into it. It must have seemed like I knew every obscure folk song from the sixties. However, my version of "The Ballad of Geraldine" was not totally pure, veering slightly into "Boots of Spanish Leather" as my fingers took on a will of their own. Not bad though. Afterwards I talked to the guy who requested it; his name turned out to be Neil; he is a young blues harmonica player. He had never been able to find anyone who could play that song until then.
This was a really fun show, and I was very glad I did it, especially because I almost flaked at several points leading up to it. Matt took me to task afterward for not inviting him, but in reality, I wasn't sure I would actually play, even while I was sitting there five minutes beforehand. I made sure to invite Matt to the next one.
Old Torrance Coffee & Tea
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Songs performed:
- It Hurts Me Too
- Big Tin Truck
- The Dark End of the Street
- Billy (with Mike Munoz on lead acoustic and backing vocal, and Eddie G on percussion)
- Sand and Foam
- The Ballad of Geraldine
I launched straight into "It Hurts Me Too" with no introduction. I explained it as an Elmore James song. Did it in C, with a G harmonica, played cross-harp. I was very happy with this one, having learned it a few days earlier and practiced quite a bit. I did the whole show "unplugged," that is with only a single microphone for amplification. I had a bad experience with my guitar plugged in the previous time, and didn't want to risk it.
"Big Tin Truck" was my own song, but played like the Black and Blue High Desert Mystery arrangement. Well, without the band. What I mean is that I sang the Munson words in the bridge. I dedicated this song to Wayne Davis, the resident truck driver and country singer, but he wasn't there to hear it. He had the flu or something.
"The Dark End of the Street" I introduced as a Motown song turned country, which I had just learned this week. However I was called out on it, because it was in actuality a stealth Gram Parsons cover, a fact I readily confirmed. For some reason, my voice is well suited to this one. I took another turn on my G harmonica, for the third song in a row.
 |
| Mike M. and Eddie G, backing band for "Billy." |
The owner of the place sent me out a coffee, high praise indeed for this venue. I overheard him say, "I know what soundtrack I am going to listen to tonight!" Cool, I must have struck a nerve with that one.
Later on, a guy named Richard closed his set with Donovan's "Catch the Wind." Galvanized, I went on for a second time and did "Sand and Foam," which I pulled off very convincingly, but with less response than I would have hoped for. Then somebody asked if I knew a song called "Geraldine." This was a request that I never thought I'd get, and I didn't waste it. I had to fish for my capo, but then I launched straight into it. It must have seemed like I knew every obscure folk song from the sixties. However, my version of "The Ballad of Geraldine" was not totally pure, veering slightly into "Boots of Spanish Leather" as my fingers took on a will of their own. Not bad though. Afterwards I talked to the guy who requested it; his name turned out to be Neil; he is a young blues harmonica player. He had never been able to find anyone who could play that song until then.
This was a really fun show, and I was very glad I did it, especially because I almost flaked at several points leading up to it. Matt took me to task afterward for not inviting him, but in reality, I wasn't sure I would actually play, even while I was sitting there five minutes beforehand. I made sure to invite Matt to the next one.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Swamptooth Live!
After years of dorking around, the mysterious musical entity called "Swamptooth" finally took the stage on 9/28/2011 at Old Torrance Coffee &
Tea, to perform a handful of acoustic songs, open-mic style. On this occasion - its public debut -
the "band" was reduced to just the absolute core lineup: me, and my guitar!
It was a warm autumn night, and the crowd was maybe 15-20 local
characters, split evenly between youngsters and fogies. Everyone was
laid back, attentive, and friendly, so the music got a good reception.
Songs performed:
This was my first public musical performance in several years. So, yeah, I was a bit nervous beforehand. But having done it, I don't know why I waited so long. It was quite fun to do, and turned out pretty good!
I think Matt would dig it here; OTC&T would be a perfect whistle stop for Black & Blue, and is totally in spec for a Swamptooth extended testing ground. So I would DEFINITELY like to play here again.
 |
| Standing in for "Swamptooth" in this photo is a blues guitar player named Jesse, who borrowed my Martin for a few songs of his own, 'cause his own guitar was pretty awful. |
Songs performed:
- Moonshine Blues
- Blackbird
- Miller's Cave
- Hurricane Days
- Sing Me Back Home
- Blackbird (encore/request)
This was my first public musical performance in several years. So, yeah, I was a bit nervous beforehand. But having done it, I don't know why I waited so long. It was quite fun to do, and turned out pretty good!
I think Matt would dig it here; OTC&T would be a perfect whistle stop for Black & Blue, and is totally in spec for a Swamptooth extended testing ground. So I would DEFINITELY like to play here again.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Stickmen, Beamed Straight Into Yer Head
Last night in a dream, March 2, 2011, The Stickmen, sharing a large bill with several other bands, took the stage to perform their songs to a stadium full of enthusiastic listeners. Victor Allen, Matt Munson, Don Varner, and Bill Fischer joined forces musically for a well-received set, playing their familiar material with little sign of internal dissension, or of the passage of time. Remarkable, due to the 11 years that have passed since they last shared a stage.
It was not clear whether the band appeared as "The Stickmen," by which they are often known, or as "My New Invention," which was the band's official appellation during the later period of their active career.
It was a good show, as reported by the anonymous fan who was the only witness to the event. She should know, having been in the audience at dozens of the band's classic concerts, including the band's very earliest.
Apparently it was one of those persistently lucid dreams that make extensive use of real elements, and whose details leave a haunting sense of versimilitude.
It was not clear whether the band appeared as "The Stickmen," by which they are often known, or as "My New Invention," which was the band's official appellation during the later period of their active career.
It was a good show, as reported by the anonymous fan who was the only witness to the event. She should know, having been in the audience at dozens of the band's classic concerts, including the band's very earliest.
Apparently it was one of those persistently lucid dreams that make extensive use of real elements, and whose details leave a haunting sense of versimilitude.
Friday, June 11, 2010
High Desert Mystery - On The Road?
Now that High Desert Mystery is headed toward sequencing and release, Matt and I have started to explore our options for taking the material “on the road.” As usual, the foundational discussions occurred at the Carl’s Jr. on Pacific Coast Highway Torrance Airport
We settled into the window booth with the usual low-octane biomass at our disposal accompanied by ranch dressing, and swapped our respective Black & Blue takes on getting back to playing live. For me, returning to the stage to present strong, soulful performances to an audience is something I have been eager to do for a long time, and Matt, too, has felt the urge to get in front of a crowd with his guitar. In fact, not long ago he was actively prepping for a few solo gigs in Ohio
So how would we approach things, given the impetus of the High Desert Mystery CD?
At a high level, we both agree that if it comes down to a choice, we are more interested in making an entertaining show than in any promotional agenda, but we would obviously try to emphasize the overlap between the two.
Matt has taken to heart a lesson learnt from his past coffee-house experience: that audiences appreciate hearing songs that are familiar to them. Back in the Stickmen/My New Invention days, I had a rule of thumb that “cover” songs should optimally be about 1/3 of the set, but now I agree with Matt that 50% or even higher is probably more like it – especially since we are starting over, without the active fan base we had built up with our old band.
So we have to be geared toward winning over first time listeners. The goal should be that at the end of the evening, you enjoyed the show enough to take home our CD at very low cost or maybe free, because what we really want is for you to hear our recordings. For the rest of the universe, the CD will be available dirt cheap on the web from CD Baby. And also, when you listen to the CD, it should ideally bear some resemblance to what you heard and liked at the show. So the show can’t be all covers, because the CD is all original songs.
Note the contrast with the My New Invention commercial model, which was: put on a show that caters to the existing fans in the audience, with the hope that other strangers in the audience will be won over instantly and purchase our CD on the spot at full price – which was the only way to obtain a copy, due to total lack of distribution (apart from one store in Fullerton). This business model failed; CD sales just didn’t become reality at our shows.
(This was despite turning in some pretty darn solid performances. The band was at its peak, but we found ourselves out of college and playing to empty bars on weeknights. Ah, memory lane. Now I can’t believe we felt even slightly old back then. Why did we stop?)
The next big question for Black and Blue is how to present our music in a way that serves both the High Desert Mystery material, and the realities of the venues we are likely to play. In particular, our forthcoming CD is a full-band rock and roll album, but our “Black and Blue” lineup is just Matt and me. We did the album by doubling up on instrumental duties – Matt playing the drums throughout and me doing a lot of guitar and bass overdubs – but obviously that won’t work on stage.
So the two obvious options are (1) to switch to the traditional Black and Blue acoustic duo format, optimized for the coffee houses, and adapt the songs accordingly, OR (2) to recruit some musicians to present a rock-and-roll show at the more roadhouse-like venues. The latter option has tempted me for a long time. With my old band(s) defunct, I have been tempted to “get back on the road” as Swamptooth, somehow constituted as a rock and roll outfit. Black and Blue might accomplish the same thing, but as it turns out, Matt is leaning more strongly toward the pared-down coffee-house format, mostly out of reluctance to roll the dice with new band members.
Okay, the rock-and-roll route appeals to me in many ways, but I can relate to Matt’s reservations about the compromises and teething pains that go along with growing a new band. It takes a big investment of life force to parse out all the band members’ agendas, musical tastes and personality issues, and make it all work. My own idiosyncrasies are enough as it is. So whose favorite songs do you end up playing? You might say that Matt prefers, as Don Varner once famously quipped, to “play what I want.”
Still, I have a hard time letting go of the band approach, because there is an itch that only rock and roll can scratch. I also have found that what you gain from a good band is much more than you lose.
Bottom line though, both options hold plenty of appeal, and I can’t see regretting either choice.
Fun conversation over a burger and fries. But then as now, it’s time to get back to work on the CD!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Classic Stickmen Live Dates and the Graveyard of Lost Gigs
BEFORE DON VARNER - THE EARLY TURGID PERIOD
12.31.91 Grinnell New Year’s, Lake Forest (Cancelled)
3.1992 Betty Oyskin Opening (Cancelled)
4.1992 Apples, Brentwood (Never booked)
5.13.92 Bill and Sarah at Frankel Dorm, Scripps College
5.1992 Black and Blue Lawn Recital, Laguna Hills
5.1992 Comic Quest, El Toro (Cancelled)
5.1992 Victor and Rich on KUCI
6.20.92 Fathers’ Day, Laguna Hills
6.1992 Beach Party (with Ben George)
6.30.92 Garage Performance, Mission Viejo
DON VARNER JOINS - THE CLASSIC PERIOD
8.1992 The Allens' Kitchen, Mission Viejo
9.1992 The Arboretum, Laguna Hills
9.1992 Sap-Aid, Scripps College, Claremont (Event fell through)
10.31.92 Halloween Show, Mission Viejo
11.1992 Thanksgiving Jam, The Little Theater, Mission Viejo HS (Rescheduled to 12.5.1992)
12.5.92 The Post-Thanksgiving Jam, Laguna Hills
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Mission Viejo
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Mission Viejo
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Laguna Hills
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Laguna Hills
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Lake Forest
12.31.92 Janet’s New Year’s, Laguna Hills (Collapsed)
MATT MUNSON LEAVES/RICH AMTOWER JOINS - THE TURBULENT PERIOD
3.26.93 Post Warming Hut show Jam (Don and Some Girl), Irvine
3.27.93 Comeback Concert, Mission Viejo
4.4.93 1st Annual Asphalt Rodeo, Claremont (Cancelled)
4.13.93 Bill and Sarah at The Grove House, Pitzer College (Cancelled)
4.21.93 Earth Day, Cal State Fullerton (Cancelled)
4.27.93 Bill and Sarah at The Grove House, Pitzer College (Cancelled)
5.4.93 Bill and Sarah at The Grove House, Pitzer College
5.21.93 Lunchtime Show, The Quad, UC Irvine (Cancelled)
5.29.93 Springfair, Laguna Hills
6.4.93 Battle of the Bands, El Toro High School (Cancelled)
6.6.93 Jennifer Allen Wedding, Irvine (Cancelled)
6.1993 OC All-Star Jam, UC Irvine - Matt and Don with The Warming Hut
THE CLAREMONT PERIOD - CLASSIC STICKMEN REUNION
7.31.93 The Boiler Room, Harvey Mudd College (as Imperial Probe Droid)
8.5.93 The Fischers' Den, Laguna Hills (as Imperial Probe Droid)
8.22.93 Concertina, Mission Viejo (Victor and Rich as Tower)
8.28.93 The Muddhole, Harvey Mudd College (as The Stickmen, minus Victor)
8/9.1993 Live Sessions at the Dynamics Lab, Harvey Mudd College
9.3.93 The Muddhole, Harvey Mudd College (as The Stickmen, minus Victor)
10.1.93 The Fischers' Patio, Laguna Hills (Classic Stickmen reunited)
11.11.93 Live at Carl's Suite, Atwood Dorm, Harvey Mudd College
11.13.93 Kohoutek Music Festival, Pitzer College (Not booked)
11.93 Café Espresso Yourself (Not booked)
12.31.93 Grinnell New Year’s Party (Cancelled)
2.26.94 2nd Annual Asphalt Rodeo, Claremont
3.4.94 The Wash, Pomona College, Claremont
3.4.94 The Muddhole, Harvey Mudd College
3.25.94 Clark V Dorm, Pomona College
4.29.94 Grace Dorm, Scripps College, Claremont (Collapsed)
5.14.94 The Wash, Pomona College
5.14.94 Atwood Dorm, Harvey Mudd College
5.18.94 Todd Hansen's Birthday Party, Hollywood (Cancelled)
7.4.94 Street Show, Mission Viejo (Cancelled)
7.18.94 Allen Studios, Mission Viejo
8.5.94 The Fischers' Den, Laguna Hills
8.12.94 The Wash, Pomona College
9.1994 The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano (Never booked)
9.1994 The Balboa, Isla Vista (Cancelled)
10.29.94 Halloween, Mission Viejo
10.31.94 Halloween, Mission Viejo
11.26.94 Borders, West Hollywood
THE LOST WEEKEND - MATT MUNSON WALKABOUT/DON VARNER MOONLIGHTING
1.6.95 The Leaving at Marco Forster JHS, San Juan Capistrano
2.22.95 Moral Pride at The Youth Center
4.15.95 All Star Jam, The Youth Center, San Juan Capistrano (Cancelled)
5.6.95 The Leaving Farewell Show
7.29.95 Black and Blue at the Balboa, Isla Vista
8.9.95 Black and Blue at Joe’s Deck Party, Isla Vista (Cancelled)
8.12.95 Black and Blue at LHHS Class of ’90 Reunion (Cancelled)
THE SECOND REUNION - YOUTH CENTER PERIOD
9.2.95 The Youth Center, San Juan Capistrano
9.95 Opening for Van Halen/Hootie and the Blowfish at LA Coliseum (Collapsed)
9.95 Willamette University, Oregon (Never booked)
9.95 Seattle, Washington (Never booked)
10.20.95 Sesame Tree Apartment, Goleta
11.23.95 Thankgiving In Style, The Youth Center, San Juan Capistrano
12.20.95 Signmasters, Laguna Hills
12.30.95 Zybul New Year’s, Mission Viejo
12.31.95 Riley New Year’s, Lake Forest
12.31.95 Grinnell New Year’s, Lake Forest
1.13.96 Sesame Tree Apartment, Goleta
1.20.96 The Living Room, Goleta (Rescheduled)
2.2.96 House Party, San Diego State University
3.2.96 The Living Room, Goleta (With Chromosome Tea, VLA, Kinder Ficker)
3.10.1996 Borders Live Demo Acoustic Set, Laguna Hills
3.1996 The Bistro, Willamette, Oregon (Never booked)
5.18.96 Black and Blue Lawn Recital Re-enactment, Laguna Hills
6.1996 Matt Munson at Diedrich’s Coffee House (Cancelled)
6.19.96 Don Varner and One Element at The Coach House, San Clemente
7.4.96 Independence Day, Laguna Hills (Cancelled)
8.31.96 One Element at The Coach House, with Foghat
8.20.96 Ed-a-Palooza, Mission Viejo
9/10.1996 One Element (featuring Don) at The Galaxy, with Great White (Cancelled)
9/10.1996 One Element (featuring Don) at The Galaxy, with Yngwie Malmsteen
10.12.96 Maya’s Place, San Juan Capistrano, with Dr. Awkward (Rescheduled)
10.19.96 Maya’s Place, San Juan Capistrano, with Dr. Awkward (Cancelled)
10.31.96 Halloween Show, Cliff House, Santa Barbara (Cancelled)
MATT MUNSON SOLO - SLAVE TO THE GROUNDS
11.9.96 Matt Munson at Diedrich’s, Mission Viejo, with Bill
11.19.96 (The Last Band On Earth) Paintball War (Cancelled)
11.16.96 Matt Munson at Haute Caffe, Rancho Santa Margarita
12.14.96 Matt Munson at Voxel Christmas Pary, Irvine
12.28.96 Matt Munson at Diedrich’s, Mission Viejo
12.1996 The Last Band on Earth at Cal State Fullerton (Cancelled)
6.1997 The Last Band On Earth Lifeguards Show, Huntington Beach (Event cancelled)
7.1997 Matt Munson in Concert
THE MY NEW INVENTION PERIOD - THIRD REUNION AND CD RELEASE CONCERTS
12.27.97 Tea Time, Mission Viejo (as The Last Band on Earth)
3.28.98 LollapAzusa, Azusa Pacific University (last show as The Stickmen)
7.11.98 Live Bands In The House Recording Session, Santa Fe Springs
9.1998 UCSB Student Radio (Never booked)
9.1998 Isla Vista Brewing Company (Fell through)
10.1998 Kansas City, Missouri (Cancelled)
10.30.98 Fibertron Halloween Party, La Mirada
10.31.98 Scores, Fullerton (Cancelled)
11.20.98 Scores, Fullerton (Cancelled)
11.25.98 Sports Page Lounge, Lake Forest
11/12.1998 Las Vegas, Nevada (Collapsed)
12.1.98 Anthill Pub, UC Irvine
12.16.98 Sports Page Lounge, Lake Forest
12.1998 Airshow Christmas Party, Irvine (Collapsed)
12.1998 Bennett Lientz Christmas Party (Collapsed)
1998-9 The Rock Spot TV Show, Santa Barbara (Never booked)
1.27.99 Sports Page Lounge, Lake Forest
2.5.99 Anthill Pub, UC Irvine
2.1999 Anthill Pub, UC Irvine (Rescheduled)
3.1.99 Unplugged at the Anthill Pub, UC Irvine
1998-9 University Center, Santa Barbara (Never booked)
5.1.99 LollapAzusa ’99, Azusa Pacific University
5.22.99 Extravaganza, UC Santa Barbara Harder Stadium (Never booked)
May/June 1999 St. John the Baptist Convent, Baldwin Park (Cancelled)
FINAL MY NEW INVENTION DATES AND POST-BREAKUP CONCERTS
7.4.99 Independence Day, Laguna Hills
10.1999 The Mercury Lounge, Goleta (Never booked)
1.2000 Lunchtime Show, Quad, UC Irvine (last concert by the full band)
8/9.2000 Santa Monica Pier, with Men at Work (Cancelled)
10.5.2000 Los Angeles Chiropractic College
3.17.2001 My New Invention's Last Ride at Tru Rehearsals, Santa Fe Springs
9.7.2002 Ten Dollar Helmet at the Walteria Block Party, Torrance
9.25.2002 Acoustic Armageddon with Bill at Starbucks, Mission Viejo
11.6.2002 Acoustic Armageddon with Bill at Starbucks, Mission Viejo
12.31.91 Grinnell New Year’s, Lake Forest (Cancelled)
3.1992 Betty Oyskin Opening (Cancelled)
4.1992 Apples, Brentwood (Never booked)
5.13.92 Bill and Sarah at Frankel Dorm, Scripps College
5.1992 Black and Blue Lawn Recital, Laguna Hills
5.1992 Comic Quest, El Toro (Cancelled)
5.1992 Victor and Rich on KUCI
6.20.92 Fathers’ Day, Laguna Hills
6.1992 Beach Party (with Ben George)
6.30.92 Garage Performance, Mission Viejo
DON VARNER JOINS - THE CLASSIC PERIOD
8.1992 The Allens' Kitchen, Mission Viejo
9.1992 The Arboretum, Laguna Hills
9.1992 Sap-Aid, Scripps College, Claremont (Event fell through)
10.31.92 Halloween Show, Mission Viejo
11.1992 Thanksgiving Jam, The Little Theater, Mission Viejo HS (Rescheduled to 12.5.1992)
12.5.92 The Post-Thanksgiving Jam, Laguna Hills
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Mission Viejo
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Mission Viejo
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Laguna Hills
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Laguna Hills
12.25.92 Roving Acoustic Reunion, Lake Forest
12.31.92 Janet’s New Year’s, Laguna Hills (Collapsed)
MATT MUNSON LEAVES/RICH AMTOWER JOINS - THE TURBULENT PERIOD
3.26.93 Post Warming Hut show Jam (Don and Some Girl), Irvine
3.27.93 Comeback Concert, Mission Viejo
4.4.93 1st Annual Asphalt Rodeo, Claremont (Cancelled)
4.13.93 Bill and Sarah at The Grove House, Pitzer College (Cancelled)
4.21.93 Earth Day, Cal State Fullerton (Cancelled)
4.27.93 Bill and Sarah at The Grove House, Pitzer College (Cancelled)
5.4.93 Bill and Sarah at The Grove House, Pitzer College
5.21.93 Lunchtime Show, The Quad, UC Irvine (Cancelled)
5.29.93 Springfair, Laguna Hills
6.4.93 Battle of the Bands, El Toro High School (Cancelled)
6.6.93 Jennifer Allen Wedding, Irvine (Cancelled)
6.1993 OC All-Star Jam, UC Irvine - Matt and Don with The Warming Hut
THE CLAREMONT PERIOD - CLASSIC STICKMEN REUNION
7.31.93 The Boiler Room, Harvey Mudd College (as Imperial Probe Droid)
8.5.93 The Fischers' Den, Laguna Hills (as Imperial Probe Droid)
8.22.93 Concertina, Mission Viejo (Victor and Rich as Tower)
8.28.93 The Muddhole, Harvey Mudd College (as The Stickmen, minus Victor)
8/9.1993 Live Sessions at the Dynamics Lab, Harvey Mudd College
9.3.93 The Muddhole, Harvey Mudd College (as The Stickmen, minus Victor)
10.1.93 The Fischers' Patio, Laguna Hills (Classic Stickmen reunited)
11.11.93 Live at Carl's Suite, Atwood Dorm, Harvey Mudd College
11.13.93 Kohoutek Music Festival, Pitzer College (Not booked)
11.93 Café Espresso Yourself (Not booked)
12.31.93 Grinnell New Year’s Party (Cancelled)
2.26.94 2nd Annual Asphalt Rodeo, Claremont
3.4.94 The Wash, Pomona College, Claremont
3.4.94 The Muddhole, Harvey Mudd College
3.25.94 Clark V Dorm, Pomona College
4.29.94 Grace Dorm, Scripps College, Claremont (Collapsed)
5.14.94 The Wash, Pomona College
5.14.94 Atwood Dorm, Harvey Mudd College
5.18.94 Todd Hansen's Birthday Party, Hollywood (Cancelled)
7.4.94 Street Show, Mission Viejo (Cancelled)
7.18.94 Allen Studios, Mission Viejo
8.5.94 The Fischers' Den, Laguna Hills
8.12.94 The Wash, Pomona College
9.1994 The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano (Never booked)
9.1994 The Balboa, Isla Vista (Cancelled)
10.29.94 Halloween, Mission Viejo
10.31.94 Halloween, Mission Viejo
11.26.94 Borders, West Hollywood
THE LOST WEEKEND - MATT MUNSON WALKABOUT/DON VARNER MOONLIGHTING
1.6.95 The Leaving at Marco Forster JHS, San Juan Capistrano
2.22.95 Moral Pride at The Youth Center
4.15.95 All Star Jam, The Youth Center, San Juan Capistrano (Cancelled)
5.6.95 The Leaving Farewell Show
7.29.95 Black and Blue at the Balboa, Isla Vista
8.9.95 Black and Blue at Joe’s Deck Party, Isla Vista (Cancelled)
8.12.95 Black and Blue at LHHS Class of ’90 Reunion (Cancelled)
THE SECOND REUNION - YOUTH CENTER PERIOD
9.2.95 The Youth Center, San Juan Capistrano
9.95 Opening for Van Halen/Hootie and the Blowfish at LA Coliseum (Collapsed)
9.95 Willamette University, Oregon (Never booked)
9.95 Seattle, Washington (Never booked)
10.20.95 Sesame Tree Apartment, Goleta
11.23.95 Thankgiving In Style, The Youth Center, San Juan Capistrano
12.20.95 Signmasters, Laguna Hills
12.30.95 Zybul New Year’s, Mission Viejo
12.31.95 Riley New Year’s, Lake Forest
12.31.95 Grinnell New Year’s, Lake Forest
1.13.96 Sesame Tree Apartment, Goleta
1.20.96 The Living Room, Goleta (Rescheduled)
2.2.96 House Party, San Diego State University
3.2.96 The Living Room, Goleta (With Chromosome Tea, VLA, Kinder Ficker)
3.10.1996 Borders Live Demo Acoustic Set, Laguna Hills
3.1996 The Bistro, Willamette, Oregon (Never booked)
5.18.96 Black and Blue Lawn Recital Re-enactment, Laguna Hills
6.1996 Matt Munson at Diedrich’s Coffee House (Cancelled)
6.19.96 Don Varner and One Element at The Coach House, San Clemente
7.4.96 Independence Day, Laguna Hills (Cancelled)
8.31.96 One Element at The Coach House, with Foghat
8.20.96 Ed-a-Palooza, Mission Viejo
9/10.1996 One Element (featuring Don) at The Galaxy, with Great White (Cancelled)
9/10.1996 One Element (featuring Don) at The Galaxy, with Yngwie Malmsteen
10.12.96 Maya’s Place, San Juan Capistrano, with Dr. Awkward (Rescheduled)
10.19.96 Maya’s Place, San Juan Capistrano, with Dr. Awkward (Cancelled)
10.31.96 Halloween Show, Cliff House, Santa Barbara (Cancelled)
MATT MUNSON SOLO - SLAVE TO THE GROUNDS
11.9.96 Matt Munson at Diedrich’s, Mission Viejo, with Bill
11.19.96 (The Last Band On Earth) Paintball War (Cancelled)
11.16.96 Matt Munson at Haute Caffe, Rancho Santa Margarita
12.14.96 Matt Munson at Voxel Christmas Pary, Irvine
12.28.96 Matt Munson at Diedrich’s, Mission Viejo
12.1996 The Last Band on Earth at Cal State Fullerton (Cancelled)
6.1997 The Last Band On Earth Lifeguards Show, Huntington Beach (Event cancelled)
7.1997 Matt Munson in Concert
THE MY NEW INVENTION PERIOD - THIRD REUNION AND CD RELEASE CONCERTS
12.27.97 Tea Time, Mission Viejo (as The Last Band on Earth)
3.28.98 LollapAzusa, Azusa Pacific University (last show as The Stickmen)
7.11.98 Live Bands In The House Recording Session, Santa Fe Springs
9.1998 UCSB Student Radio (Never booked)
9.1998 Isla Vista Brewing Company (Fell through)
10.1998 Kansas City, Missouri (Cancelled)
10.30.98 Fibertron Halloween Party, La Mirada
10.31.98 Scores, Fullerton (Cancelled)
11.20.98 Scores, Fullerton (Cancelled)
11.25.98 Sports Page Lounge, Lake Forest
11/12.1998 Las Vegas, Nevada (Collapsed)
12.1.98 Anthill Pub, UC Irvine
12.16.98 Sports Page Lounge, Lake Forest
12.1998 Airshow Christmas Party, Irvine (Collapsed)
12.1998 Bennett Lientz Christmas Party (Collapsed)
1998-9 The Rock Spot TV Show, Santa Barbara (Never booked)
1.27.99 Sports Page Lounge, Lake Forest
2.5.99 Anthill Pub, UC Irvine
2.1999 Anthill Pub, UC Irvine (Rescheduled)
3.1.99 Unplugged at the Anthill Pub, UC Irvine
1998-9 University Center, Santa Barbara (Never booked)
5.1.99 LollapAzusa ’99, Azusa Pacific University
5.22.99 Extravaganza, UC Santa Barbara Harder Stadium (Never booked)
May/June 1999 St. John the Baptist Convent, Baldwin Park (Cancelled)
FINAL MY NEW INVENTION DATES AND POST-BREAKUP CONCERTS
7.4.99 Independence Day, Laguna Hills
10.1999 The Mercury Lounge, Goleta (Never booked)
1.2000 Lunchtime Show, Quad, UC Irvine (last concert by the full band)
8/9.2000 Santa Monica Pier, with Men at Work (Cancelled)
10.5.2000 Los Angeles Chiropractic College
3.17.2001 My New Invention's Last Ride at Tru Rehearsals, Santa Fe Springs
9.7.2002 Ten Dollar Helmet at the Walteria Block Party, Torrance
9.25.2002 Acoustic Armageddon with Bill at Starbucks, Mission Viejo
11.6.2002 Acoustic Armageddon with Bill at Starbucks, Mission Viejo
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Anarchy Plus Fifteen
15-year anniversary of the Great Halloween Disaster of 1994. Actually, we played two shows: one on October 29 (the worst live rock-and-roll train wreck I have ever known), and another on Halloween proper, which actually went OK, but nobody remembers that.
The best part, of course, was the seven-foot glowing sarcophagus that rose up out of the fog after the first song, and opened to reveal Matt, microphone in hand, dressed as Batman. Matt appeared only on the video monitor at the beginning of the concert, singing live via closed-circuit TV on our opening number "Evil Under the Ground."
The video monitor content then switched over to "Yitch-Vision," which was my big contribution to the atmospherics. It was mostly footage of nuclear tests and scenes from "Carrie" synchronized to our signature song "Spontaneous Human Combustion."
All of this trickery was executed by Rich Amtower, who was mixing the show and also joined us briefly on keyboards (much to his disadvantage)! I took the stage dressed as Zorro, but for some reason added a bright, battery powered light inside my mouth, which produced a strange effect when I sang, but did nothing for my guitar playing.
Vic, resplendent in horns and red paint, played a bass guitar heavily modified to appear as a giant skull, spinal column, and pelvis. Don, lacking an actual costume, steadily emitted articles of clothing from behind the drums into the audience between songs, with the inevitable end result. Meaning Janet broke up with him when she saw the videotape.
I came into possession of the sarcophagus - created by Victor especially for the show - when Vic's parents moved to Montana. Amazingly, the sarcophagus was still in their garage. It is now in my garage, and I will never be browbeaten into disposing of it. An amazing, glowing, cumbersome artifact of an unforgettable, nay, unforgivable night.
The best part, of course, was the seven-foot glowing sarcophagus that rose up out of the fog after the first song, and opened to reveal Matt, microphone in hand, dressed as Batman. Matt appeared only on the video monitor at the beginning of the concert, singing live via closed-circuit TV on our opening number "Evil Under the Ground."
The video monitor content then switched over to "Yitch-Vision," which was my big contribution to the atmospherics. It was mostly footage of nuclear tests and scenes from "Carrie" synchronized to our signature song "Spontaneous Human Combustion."
All of this trickery was executed by Rich Amtower, who was mixing the show and also joined us briefly on keyboards (much to his disadvantage)! I took the stage dressed as Zorro, but for some reason added a bright, battery powered light inside my mouth, which produced a strange effect when I sang, but did nothing for my guitar playing.
Vic, resplendent in horns and red paint, played a bass guitar heavily modified to appear as a giant skull, spinal column, and pelvis. Don, lacking an actual costume, steadily emitted articles of clothing from behind the drums into the audience between songs, with the inevitable end result. Meaning Janet broke up with him when she saw the videotape.
I came into possession of the sarcophagus - created by Victor especially for the show - when Vic's parents moved to Montana. Amazingly, the sarcophagus was still in their garage. It is now in my garage, and I will never be browbeaten into disposing of it. An amazing, glowing, cumbersome artifact of an unforgettable, nay, unforgivable night.
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