L.A. 7:57am

I think I can honestly say this is the first time in like 6 months where I can just sit down and write a random blog. I've accepted the fact that not every moment of my life is going to be recapped on here for the time being. Hopefully, you will accept this also. Deal with it.

Right now, I'm crashed out on the 12th floor of the Sunset Towers. This is the quickest trip to LA since the infamous "Yes, he knows you just flew to LA for this one meeting, but it's cancelled, however he will still have dinner with you tonight" trip (that's for the book, that one). 7:55am flight to LA on Wed, fly back 3pm Friday. All meetings taken and done in less thn 24 hrs. So I've stolen a bit of a rest last night and this morning, before I fly out. Thanks to a mixup of some kind, your hero has been rolling in a Mercedes C300 all week, talk about rock star. Anyway, quick jaunt. Just squeezing in a lil social time last night with Vik/Emmy, which saw us end up at Cabrea where the beloved owner, and her 3 year old were in the house. Heroes Welcome. They have this gnocci thing which might be the new thing. Stay tuned.

Knowing I was going to crash in this morning, I prepped with the breakfast of champions by buying it and leaving it in the room. Observe (and don't tell Irene, fucker):



I'm really enjoying the new Oasis album a lot. Danny doesn't like it, which is driving a wedge between us. Anyway, in 6 months, he'll pull an Ash and love it, especially after seeing it live.

Speaking of live, the night before I left, we went to see MBV at Roseland and my teeth are still shaking from the sheer sonic madness. They spent 300 grand (FACT) on gear for this tour and when I say gear I mean "weapons designed to hurt you". I never wear earplugs at gigs, cause I'm silly and eventually deaf like that, but for a gig where they HAND that shit out, it's obvious why. It hurt. and it was the best kind of hurt cause they were sick awesome. It was a clusterfuck, but worth it even when I had to get up at 430am the next morning to come here.

Anyway, usually I would stay through the day and travel on Saturday, but I really feel like I'm lagging behind on the music. We need to get this album done and soon, cause we truly are close, and lil spurts here in there at the studio are not going to get shit done. There's a lot of new stuff we need to get into, including our work with Sparrow, Peka, etc. Also, there was a fire, but that's a whole other thing and everyone is safe. I hear its rainy as fuck back home, so who knows, you might get more random blog entries.

Now, it's off to bkfst with Kyle. SW geek summit time!

F

Irene Belated Crew Birthday Celebration at Heathers (DRUNK portion)

Bonus Drunk Affectionate Beat:



Pic (C) JESS AUNT OF ZO

Irene Belated Crew Birthday Celebration at Peasant (SOBER portion)

Bonus Tipsy Beat:

NEPHEW: ROCK

2 Lessons in and already reading music and playing some riffs. Nice one.

Shortly.

F

LINKS!

Irene and I hopped a train a few Sundays ago to visit the Links and their awesome kids, LUCY (who LOVVVVVVVES Irene) and the new baby, MIMI, who is awesome and really laid back. We had an awesome day with them. We ate like champs and the vibe was just awesome. It was tough to leave, especially when Lucy didn't want her new BFF, Irene, to go. But we'll be seeing them again VERY soon!!











I love this one...

"WE KEEEL THE BATMAN"

More from SF

Hello from New York. It's that day today, so hug em if you got em. Life's good kids, don't forget that. In a week where I'm playing Star Wars games, seeing Oasis (THIS DIDN"T HAPPEN), Paul Weller, and Goldfrapp (THIS DID HAPPEN)



It was Irene's birthday last week, so we took a quick trip to San Francisco so she could see the Krugers and also meet her new baby cousin Farrah, or as her father (quite a fan of the footie) calls her, F.C. It was a great albeit short trip. Happily, we got to see Jenni and Skott as well, though way too brief as well, though Skout the dog is the awesome. However, our trifecta of friends and family (Krugers, Cousins, Jennis) was reached and can't complain about that.




SF is awesome. I just get such a good vibe from the town. It feels great, it looks great, and I am always comfortable and happy there. I recently said to a friend that if my business was in San Fran and not LA, I'd have moved to LA. His response was "then it wouldn't be San Fran." Good point. Anyhow, most importantly, Irene had her birthday wish of celebrating with the kids and getting her Aunite on. She took them to school, bathed them, fed them, the whole thing. We ate well, had a picnic with the kids, grabbed some Dim Sum and of course, the In and out Burger was had upon landing. We flew the Virgin America again, right now my fave airline.



Anyhow, did you catch the ENTOURAGE premiere? Fucking weak as shit. I hope this show goes somewhere VERY quick or thats another show off the fucking list. God!

Last night, G, B, and I grabbed a bite at the Osteria and then took it to the Nokia to see Weller with full band for the first time in our lives. We'd seen him acoustical a few times, but never the full rock experionce. It was one of those rare gigs when we were the youngest in the crowd, were able to get close to the stage while still being comfortable, and enjoy the rock as it was meant to be. Weller in a nutshell, is fucking awesome and despite 30 years plus in the business, shuns nostalgia in favour of rocking the fuck out with a crisp and tight awesome band, the glue of which is Steve Craddock of Ocean Colour Scene who is quite simply the dogs bollocks. He's insanely good and a perfect foil for Weller, who is energetic, charismatic, and plays effortlessly like the superstar he is. Yes, he snuck and acoustic set in there as well and then brought out Kelley Jones from Stereophonics to jam out some Jam, including G's beloved Eaton Rifles. Sick awesome. A real treat. Now bring on the Gallaghers tomorrow (THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN)



Anyway, in even better news, we got us a new LINK. Baby Mimi, seen here with her awesome sister Lucy:



Awesome and wisely a link GIRL. Phew! Hopefully we will meet them very very soon!

OK, back to the world of MOG. Talk soon.

F

"I am a believer in Hypefactor but if you fuckers don't finish the album soon, I'm gonna have to go manage The Dossier"

On A Holiday Weekend...

Let me tell you, this was a good surprise that I didn't see coming at all. Irene, with an assist from B organized a MOGpac birthday reunion at the place I only know as "The Beer Garden Where I Fucked With The Singer/Douche From The Bravery". Helping the surprise was the hangover I had from the night before after Irene took me to a sweet Sushi epic meal, complete with Kurosawa love, and then pints with the lads and the returning SK. See here as these long lost girlfriends reunite at my nephews fave bar:



I was close to fading, but Lurch, in what could have been the last inning, somehow pulled a coup by presenting my ass with a bag of Bacon Crisps straight from the UK. This was, as Lurch called it, The Ultimate Second Wind and led to the Avy Kruger inspired new Bacon Dance. Observe, kids:



So I thought that was fun, from what I recall and then Irene dragged my hungover ass to Brooklyn for brunch with her girls, whom she hadn't seen in awhile. I was slightly confused but not at all suspicious when we were joined by Lurch, Priya, SK and Kate. Danny was trying to no show cause he too was hungover, but Lurch got kinda unusually nasty with the gutterball, calling him a "fucking asshole" for not coming to brunch. He grabbed a train fast. Anyway, we ate outdoors, which didn't help cause I felt like shit. Here is your hero with Lynell trying to survive:



So then after this brunch, my stomach turning like an out of control tie fighter, we walked. Now I was thinking I was joining the girls on a shopping trip and but lo and behold, we walked into "The Beer Garden Where I Fucked With The Singer/Douche From The Bravery" to find members of the crew lying in wait! SURPRISE. And then the fun beings. Here are some scenes from the day:









Now, we all know Jessica is a talented young lady. An Artist. While normally known for making nachos, who fucking KNEW that she was the cupcake goddess. ALL HAIL THIS WOMAN cause she made the best cupcakes ever. No joke. I ate ONE and my stomach was healed. Wait till the Zo gets on these. EVERYONE rocked these bad boys:



Again, all hail this cupcake genius, seen here with the cute organizer:



Irene even got JIM VIDAL to show up for this:



...and he promptly started a new bromance with Matt...who is seen here with the other elder statesmen of MOG, flashing the gang signs:



So we rocked out for hours and hours with only two upper level MOGpackers missing. One was camping (read: lucid dreaming in the woods), the other was fishing, but again, surprise of surprises, look who showed up straight off the fucking plane to honour his older sibling:



This Kidd got the POP of pops. Like really. I'm talking Hogan wins the belt at MSG in 1983 kind of pop. From the entire Beer Garden. Not just us. He will never receive this much love in his life.

It was truly a surprising, enjoyable and well planned event organized by this cutie:


"YAY! SUCCESS!"

So we drank (and did Will Arnett impersonations) for a total of 9 hours straight and boy did we get tired:



Well maybe HE was tired, cause a small group of REAL mens, me, G, Brandt, Matt and Lurch TOOK IT to Don Hills to check out the debut of the Dossier, featuring my all time fave vocalist Peter Saintface (or is he now Peter Dossier?) Anyhow, any opportunity to see them onstage is one I will gladly take, even 9 hours of German beer It only made me love Peter more. I love hearing that voice and they are off to what should be the start of a fun and entertaining new band. I look forward to the album!

And then. Sleep. Lots. Woke up a wreck. Ate shit Chinese food with Irene. She went to work and I dragged my ass to the studio to record vocals for the new Peka record. Hopefully Damien will like them. You might too. It's all quite French and I love it for that reason. Realizing I was useless beyond a certain point, I dragged my ass BACK home to watch sport and then pass the fuck out. We're off to SF this week...

Thank you Irene, love of my life,for booking this eventful weekend. And to the MOGpac and crew who showed up, you flatter me and I appreciate you all making the effort.

Just look at the happiness on the faces of your birthday mens:



In a bit.

F