April 27th @ Trash Bar

Probably one of the best feelings in the world is to be able to spend an entire day with all of your favorite people in the world. My Mom and Dad called first thing in the morning, then some old friends I haven't talked to in a while. I spent all afternoon being girly with Saysha- we got pedicures and lunch and bought outfits, (she is the best girlfriend ever,) then back home to get ready. Well, after Saysha and I broke into her apartment because she forgot her keys. That was awesome. We're going to become professional criminals. Two sides of the same evil coin indeed.

We all met at the bar early- of course! It was my birthday! Chris and I played pool, everyone else hung out, got to chat and drink and have a generally relaxing evening. Social Hero and Black Taxi were there first- they went on before us and were awesome. Poor Social Hero singer man lost his voice and Black Taxi man ripped his pants. What a night!

Now, you don't know this probably, but we've been looking forward to this show since we booked it back in March. First, it was my birthday so it was guaranteed to just be fun, second it was our first local show with Ryan (who is awesome,) and third it had been almost 5 months since we played a show at home and we missed everybody. We've been practicing like mad, working on new songs, new recordings, new tricks to keep all of you happy and entertained. And we had also decided that this was going to be our best show ever. Or yet, as it were. What do you guys think? Did we do OK? :)

We pulled out the classics first- "Without You", "This Happens"- can I just tell you, the fact that you guys know the words to that song makes me so happy. Watching everybody sing it is the coolest thing I've ever seen. Seriously. Do you like the new intro to "Don't Look Back"? (Our beloved Ice Scream Song?) Floor tom, it's all about the floor tom. Go Ryan GO!

We played "Six Degrees" for Chris Neal- it's his favorite song and (again) he came all the way from Boston, so I thought we'd throw that in there. Plus we haven't played it in a while, and frankly, I missed it.

That was our first performance of "Who We Are" with a special interpretive dance number we made up the day before. The deal was I wasn't supposed to be able to see any of the rest of the band because I would just laugh the whole time. Success! I didn't crack up once! I did however, run out of breath several times, but that's ok. It's to be expected. I can't wait to watch the video to see what they were doing. I love my band. :)

We also played "Half Here" for the first time in front of a New York audience- that was the third (and at that time best) song I had ever written. I once played it at a party when I lived in LA and made someone cry. That was probably one of the nicest compliments I've ever gotten. (That and that time I played "Gone" at Matchless with Christian in my short lived Great Bellied Sea band in which I drummed and sang one acoustic song. I said, "this is the saddest song I've ever written," and the bar went completely dead silent to listen and the bartender at the end said, "that was the saddest song I've ever heard." Apparrently they were projecting a motorcycle crash in slow motion on the screen behind me. Totally by accident, but absolutely perfect. Go figure.)

We tried to rock it out for you there at the end- when did the lights go off? During Who We Are? That was funny. :) The sound and lighting guy at Trash Bar is awesome and did some cool spotlight thing and was going all crazy there for a bit- that RULED. I had no idea how much fun stage lighting at shows can be. I wanna play Trash Bar ALL the time.

I can't tell you how much it means to me to see all of you guys out there enjoying our music- dancing and smiling and having a good time in general, and thank you to all the people who said how much they loved it afterwards- I take these things very seriously and it means the world to me when you guys really enjoy yourselves. Joe, Collin, Rowen, everybody- thank you. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I can't say it enough. I'm so grateful to all of you and to my band.

We've got another show coming up at Mo' Pitkins with "The Quick Flings," our good friends Mark (from Tim) and Linda's (of Strictly Platonic fame) band. It promises to be yet another fun filled night.

Until next time...

Set List:
-Without You
-This Happens
-Falling Stars
-Don't Look Back (Ice Scream Song)
-Six Degrees
-Who We Are (special interpretive dance version)
-Half Here
-Consider Me Gone
-Try So Hard
-Guiltless
-Stuck In My Head

Stewart show at Trash Bar TONIGHT!!!

When:
Friday Apr 27, 2007
ALL FUCKING NIGHT

Where:
The Trash Bar
256 Grand St. between Driggs and Roebling
Brooklyn, NY 11211
View Map

It's my birthday and we're throwing a party at The Trash Bar in Williamsburg. Please come, it will be so much fun. :) I can't even tell you. :)

With:
8 - Gravehaven
9 - Madison Ambush
10- Social Hero
11- Black Taxi
12- Stewart

Cost : $7

Followed by Rock & Roll Karaoke with DJ Flimflam! Hope to see you all there!!!

Love,
Stewart

For more info, please visit their website:
www.thetrashbar.com

April 8th @ The Poison Room

The day we'd all been waiting for...

The Poison Room is such a nice room, I think. High ceilings, big stage, comfy sofas and chairs, nice sound system, and TVs playing "White Chicks" and old episodes of "Batman" with Adam West. Sweet. We got there early enough that we all napped in the car on and off for 3 hours or so. (Special thanks to the Hyatt for giving us the code to their clean and spacious bathrooms- for anyone who wants to know it's "5, 3" for the girls' room and "1, 4" for the boys'.)

Everything went so smoothly- load in, set up, getting "dolled up," we ended up having lots of time to kill on the couches taking pictures and laughing about everything under the sun. It had been a long 3 days at that point and, as with any long car ride, we had built up enough personal jokes and we were sleep deprived enough that laughing was easy.

Chicks Rockfest rules. I was really impressed, actually, not only are the staff the nicest people- they were really organized, had their shit really together, and it was just a fun time. There were plenty of people helping and all the music lovers who came to see the show(s) seemed to really enjoy it. It kind-of inspired me to try to do something similar whereever I end up. (We'll see.)

We were on second, after The Trojan Rabbit (a female fronted Cincinnati based band, all of whom are super sweet,) who had the unpleasant job of warming up the crowd. As I said- going on first is tough. And these guys did a great job. We danced even though it was cold and we were tired. We like dancing. We know how to have fun. Good music helps too.

Now, this blog is going to get a little personal, which I try not to do, but for this I will make an exception. Being in a band is really hard for me. Or at least, being the front man in a band is really hard for me. It challenges me to confront a lot of deep seated stuff that goes on in my head and it's a constant battle, so much so that I wonder sometimes why I bother, why I do it, why I force myself to try when I never seem to get it right. When I feel incompetent and incapable.

Last night was different.

This was the first show I've ever, ever ever ever, done where I've not only felt completely comfortable and completely at ease on stage, I also felt like I managed to tap into my favorite part of me- my heart. The part that loves everyone and everything and makes everyone laugh and dance and sing and smile and just feel so warm and good inside. It's the person I wish I could be all the time if it weren't for all of my personal baggage, all of my fears and insecurities and shortcomings. It's the person I am and I know I can be, I just don't sometimes because nobody's perfect.

But on that stage in front of all you beautiful smiling and dancing people, I became that person again, and I have to thank you. You and my wonderful band. There aren't many people in this world that you can spend three and a half days straight with without wanting to kill each other by the end, or at the very least without feeling awkward or stressed or strained. My band is as close to me as my family. What is it that Guitar Hero says? "A band is the dysfunctional family you choose." Saysha, John and Ryan are all beautiful, deep, and magnificant souls and I am the luckiest person in the world to have found them.

As I said before, best show ever.

Set List:
-Without You
-This Happens
-Don't Look Back (I Scream Song)
-Never Again
-Try So Hard
-Half Here
-Not That Bad
-Consider Me Gone
-Guiltless
-Stuck In My Head

Easter Sunday

Best show ever.

April 7th @ The Smiling Moose

Music on, stuck in traffic, talking about nothing and everything, we were laughing SO much in the car. I was feeling really relaxed about everything. So much so that I completely lost track of time and we ended up having to take our food from Cracker Barrel to go for fear that we would miss our sound check/load in time. (Shout out to Chris from Cracker Barrel who dealt very patiently with our tired and groggy out of state asses. We ordered, then asked someone else to ask Chris our server if we could please have that order to go instead. Chris comes back and finds us saying, "Ok, I've just been made aware of the siutation-" Go Chris!)

No worries it turned out- we got there in plenty of time. Showed up at Tommy's house, were greeted with smiles, hugs and Indian food. Changed, ate, off to the club to load in, and then started to get settled.

This place had a sick jukebox! Ryan, Saysha and John were all crowded around it and must have put on at least an hour's worth of songs. Good thing as we were kind-of waiting around till 11 to go on. It was fine- I actually prefer not being rushed about things, it makes me less nervous. South Side is a very chill, community type feeling, part of Pittsburgh. Everyone there was watching the hockey game until the music started.

Ah... the music.

We haven't played a show in a long time. Four months. To the day. And we've never played a show with Ryan before. So picture this- first show with new drummer, first show in several months, and first show out of town ever. :) It felt good being back on stage. We were a little stiff at first, but warmed up quickly and all in all everything went really well. Great sound, great people, great vibe. I even sang Who We Are for our 5 minute sound check.

It's hard being the opening band, especially if you're from out of town, but fortunately I have the bestest big brother in the world and he managed to convince about 8 people to come down and join the party. They were dancing the whole time- thank you so much guys! You have NO idea how much that keeps us going- we feed off of it. And just to be up there and see so many people who we don't know, have never met before, and have no reason to care, dancing and having a good time- that's really special I think and it means the world to me.

Afterwards everyone was so nice- they said we sounded really original and (this I wasn't expecting) people were really happy to see girls on stage. Really? I forget sometimes how much of a bubble New York can be in this great country of ours'. I guess it's easy to take things for granted. Like female musicians who rock and make nosie and scream while playing their guitars.

After us were Five O'Clock Charlie. Sick fucking band! I love these guys! Super tight, super fast - after our set we were so motored up to party we were ripping up the dance floor. Then our new friends The Dream Intended came on, (who were not only nice enough to let us use their gear, they also helped us set it up and were just really excellent people in general- thanks Jeff!!! You're the best! *grin*) and put on a great fucking show! We were a little tired from Five O'Clock Charlie, but by the time The Dream Intended started- I knew that this night was going to be one of those nights you remember for the rest of your life. Where you're with your friends and your family and the people you love, doing the things that make you happy. As I've said a million times before- music will be the savior of us all.

Thank you everybody for coming out and making Pittsburgh fun for us!!! It was definitely a night to remember.

Set List:
-Without You
-This Happens
-Don't Look Back (I Scream Song)
-Never Again
-Try So Hard
-Half Here
-Not That Bad
-Consider Me Gone
-Guiltless
-Stuck In My Head