We’re all really pumped for Saturday’s show at Valparaiso University! We may need a ride back to Chicago ’cause we will most likely get our van towed/broked/set ablaze while we’re there! To learn more about our vanography and the Mystical Redenbacher Apparition, click here for an interview we did with WVUR 95.1 FM Valpo to promote this weekend’s show, opening for Relient K.
Come hang out with us and eat pizza and red vines.
Killing everyone time waiting for our set right now. This place is like the foot soldiers’ lair minus the Shredder and child labor.
Thanks to those who made it out to Metro for our Rind release show. It was our debut at Metro, and that place is just awesome. Seriously. Seeeeerioussly.
The night was going great - even after we left and went back to my apartment for the after party, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves: Pabst flowed like water, some guy fell asleep with sliced ham and antlers on his head. What more could one ask for? But then, just as party was about to peak, Monty (The monster of Montauk) showed up, uninvited and unannounced.
And he drank way too much.
He drank so much that he passed out on the beach, and we didn’t hear anything else about him until he washed up on shore in Mantauk and made the headlines yesterday. Typical Monty!
wasted
We were pretty sure after we played the Lager House back in February, but now we have no doubts: The Sapiens like Detroit. A lot. Also, the surrounding neighborhoods of Detroit – Ferndale, for example, where the Magic Bag is located. We like those too.
Whenever we come around, the people we meet are nice. Cool, even. We made some new friends on Saturday night, so thanks to those who came over to say hi. Thanks also to Beggars, Freer, and Oscillating Fan Club, as well as our friends in Millions of Brazillians and Detroit Crunkstar for making Detroit a fun scene that we’re happy to call our second home.
-C
P.S. Proof that Saturday was a good night:
Beggars
(Photo courtesy of Mike Milo/Deep Cutz)
Tomorrow night we play Magic Bag in Ferndale, MI. This is a show we’ve really been looking forward to, not only because we’re sharing the stage with some talented and successful Detroitians (Detroitamatrons?), but also because Magic Bag is, so I gather, one of these big, historical theater type of places that every musician wants to play.
I’ve never been, so I went to their website to see if they had any pictures of the place. They don’t. They do, however, have a short list of notables who have played there, including: Los Lobos, Burning Spear, and Sleepy LaBeef.
Sleepy LaBeef. Best name ever? I had never heard of him, but apparently he’s a rather large fella, a rockabilly guitarist who’s shared bills with the likes of Elvis and Roy Orbison. Not bad. He also claims to be a major influence on The Beatles and The Boss. Now he’s in his late 60’s, playing 200 shows a year and, according to his bio, with “such energy that people a third of his age are annihilated…” Whoa!
So that’s Sleepy’s story, or at least a completely abbreviated version of it. When The Sapiens take the stage at Magic Bag tomorrow, hopefully we’ll make Sleepy LaBeef proud and annihilate at least a few people.
-Charlie
So, continuing with the retro, I’m finally releasing all of our pics from the ill-fated Kansas tour from last summer. It was hot, it was cramped. We had a “new” van and it died within 10 days. Yep. When it finally died, Veller said it sounded like there was a bag of spoons in the engine. C’est la vie.
The “New” van
The Love Nest
On the road. It’s hot in there. No AC.
The 6th chair. Without it, we’d be fucked.
Veller pre-showing it, in front of The Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS
The sink that Evan “showered” in. Upstairs at The Bottleneck.
Dr. Bashful in The Bottleneck Green Room
Some unknown rest stop (aka our hotel room)
Matt’s definitely a morning person.
Drying the sweat from last night’s show.
Veller and Sears looking tough
Charlie, 8am, pre-coffee, pissed.
Charlie, 9am, post-coffee, still pissed.
The Keeper of The Toothpicks
Veller, upon learning that the van hath died.
We found this butterfly still switching in the grill of the van after we broke down. We we’re not sure which was sadder, the butterfly maiming, or the fact that we would not be able to get home.
Evan attempting to save the van
Charlie, also doing his part to save the van.
Evan still trying to save the van.
Evan giving up and pushing the van.
It was so hot that we couldn’t touch the actual metal.
Pushing the van 2 miles.
This is the dude who fed us that night.
We ended up being saved by Gracie Lou who rented a van at O’Hare and drove it 200 miles south to come and rescue us. We had to leave Veller and Russ behind because they wouldn’t fit. Good times.
