So right in-between a couple of Exhumed tours, the boys in the bags had a coupla gigs lined up. One lined up for like more than a year. The now infamous C.Y. Fest. It was supposed to be a great fest, a great pay out, and if you don’t know what happened, look it up. It’s too much for me to go into but bad people got into bad things and near every band, including us, dropped out. But lo came a savior, and their name was the Subhumans, who generously let us join their pick up bill at the 1720 in Los Angeles! So, we repacked our bags for Los Angeles.
That was an amazing gig. Totally sold out. Line around the block. And we know some people on staff who hooked us up with amazing home made salsa! The crowd was bananas, but one guy was a rotten apple.
This dick head gets on stage during our first song and just nabs the set list in order to TEAR IT UP. We hadn’t played a show together in months and months and this was a new set with a special scripted show and this dick head… I just couldn’t. I turned around and realized what he was doing and tried to stop him and he wriggled away. I was so pissed. I was gonna be totally lost in front of this sold out crowd.
So, I’m watching from the stage. It’s a thing I do. I watch you. I see what’s happening. I fight people who do bad things in the audience. And I’m watching this guy while we continue playing, seeing where he’s going next. Everyone is oblivious and thinking the bag head fighting with the Mexican wrestler was some kind of bit.
The asshole comes BACK on stage to grab another set list to tear up ANOTHER set list. I don’t have video of this, but he gets up there, I’m trying to tear the list out of his hand, give up, headlock him from behind and drag him to the side of the stage. I yell for security of the din of the music, again, people still think it’s a bit. I finally pantomime well enough “86 THIS GUY” with my hands while holding him and people finally get it and kick him out.
I yell to our bud Scotty from Tankcrimes between songs that we need a set list post haste. He runs back, but Ben’s friend Carrie, who is a lighting technician and stage hand pro, understood what happened and was already copying down our set list from the one the monsters have backstage for cues. What an angel.
So, the show goes well, and other than a thumb I jammed into the fucker while holding him that hurt for like 3 months, I’m no worse for wear. But if I EVER see that asshole again… and oh look, I have a show at 1720 in October. Come on asshole… just try again. This time I’m ready for you.
Anyway, Subhumans were lovely people and KILLED it. I also quite enjoyed MDC and Naked Aggression’s sets. What a gig.
We followed that show up with one at historic 924 Gilman, which we had not been to in awhile. It was fun. I love that place. I don’t like having to set up a backstage every time we play there, but the shows are wild and I always get in a good stage dive.
And that was the minor detour before the rest of the Long and Grinding Road with Exhumed was set to continue.