My Ears Are Still Ringing - and My Mind is Still Reeling From Thursday's Gris Gris Set

I've spent much of today (now yesterday) riding one form of public transportation to another. I'm quite tired at this point, and I am up a little bit later than usual this evening. I was able to complete the rest of my Christmas shopping today, and also did the first interview with Tina for the video podcast series. When not shopping (most of which occurred at Amoeba), I've been playing vinyl again. Mainly, I wanted to hear the new Kelley Stoltz 7" which I picked up last week, but I also wanted to listen to the first Gris Gris record - which I only had on vinyl. I think I may start buying vinyl again - and listening to music that way.

Last Thursday was the annual holiday party for our mentors Birdman Records. It was great to catch up with David and Mathew again and also to hear live sets from Brian Glaze and the Night Shift, Apache, Lou Lou & the Guitarfish, and Howlin Rain. The high point was the unannounced performance from the Gris Gris who, according to their MySpace, are "not a band anymore." After the brilliant set they performed that night, I am seriously hoping they reconsider. I'll be posting a show review over at the Bay Bridged next week with a little video that I shot, as well. Their set was absolutely one of the most phenomenal things I've seen in a long time. It had me digging back to their old records, as well as to Greg Ashley's first band, the Mirrors. In fact, Birdman has been reissuing some of the Mirror's albums over the course of the past year, and they are pretty much just as good as those from the Gris Gris. Both bands reflect a real exciting collision of avant garde/noise rock tendencies with influences from fifties rhythm and blues, sixties psychedelia and Nashville twang.

A couple weeks back, I attended this fabulous "Chrismukkah" party sponsored by Socializ, as David from Birdman was kind enough to invite me. I spent a good deal of my time in conversation with this very nice band from Australia, who are currently called Rebel, but that is going to change. I haven't heard their music, as they were in San Francisco recording their debut, however I am quite excited to having met them.

Though I am trying to stay active, it seems as though much of the industry shuts down around the holidays, though there is still a great deal I am attempting to put in place as we approach 2008. No rest for me.