Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Home Sweet used to be Home

I was born and raised in Golden, CO. The fact that we got to stay at my families house while playing in Denver was everything a boy could hope for. We were fortunate to be a part of "Denver Joes" January Residency at Benders Tavern. We played the big room and he played the bar room. I can see why this 60year old drunken cowboy draws so well with such classics as "Get Your Faggot Boyfriend Out of My Bar". Lets just say Denver Joe was a decent guitar player and I think that was about all he was good at......he did give us a joint at the end of the night so that too I guess.

I finally found myself getting to sleep in. Our second day off of the entire tour was spent here and it was worth the wait. Good food, good friends and a great family. If you are ever in Downtown Denver go to Sputniks and sample the sweet potatoe fries. I think we ordered 5 orders total that night.

Andy
Local Natives






Traveling Dancers in Lincoln




We played at Box Awesome in Lincoln, NB. Perhaps the worst name of a venue that we visited but it was shaped liked a box and there were some pretty awesome people, so screw it.

I found out two things while playing in Lincoln. Tony from Voxhaul Broadcast wants to set up a "Pube Trim" barber shop(chair pictured above) and that traveling dancers from Canada who perform in the Broadway version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels make more money in 6 months then I did all year.

Andy
Local Natives

The Punk Bass tone in Omaha


It was cold, the town was empty and it was Omaha. Bright Eyes was crying in the corner and 311 dropped in to say “Chill!”. Yet somehow the bar we played was filled with free shots of whiskey and bunch of nice music people.

Francesca was an angel sent down to us to not only literally punch us in the stomachs but to house us all as well. Her house also contained quite the duo of a hanging witch demon from hell flying toward a two month old Xmas tree.

Andy
Local Natives





Local Natives at Daytrotter


We have all been fans of Daytrotter and I think it's safe to say that after our visit to Rock Island(Daytrotter) we are now friends. Us, The Union Line and Voxhaul Broadcast were all lucky enough to record a 4 song session and play a show that night at Daytrotter. Mike the sound man trudged through three bands, twelve songs and ten hours straight without so much a raised eyebrow or a sigh of frustration. I admire this mans skill and patience.

Local Natives recorded four songs total. World News and Cards and Quarters were both done with more of an "acoustic" feel to them and from the clips we heard they were sounding like butter on a baby butt biscuit. After talking with Sean, there are tentative plans to release the songs in March....but no guarantees.

Thank you to Sean, Phil, Mike and the rest of the Daytrotter family. We truly had a great time and I’m sure we’ll see you soon.

Andy
Local Natives














Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Charlie Brown in Chi Town

So let me explain what happened in Chicago. We had pizza and then we had a horrible set. These things happen...they shouldn't....but somehow a bad set can creep up on you like a bad basket of garlic cheese hot wings. Tempos were a little quick and mic stands were crippled, but somehow we made it. We will be back Chicago... we will be back and when we come we are bringing the fires of hell with us! In a good way though:)

Andy
Local Natives




We didn't get ripped off in Detroit!

In Detroit it was cold.....really f*cking cold! The town seemed to have fallen to sleep by 930pm and we had no where stay. One of the bartenders was nice enough to offer her humble abode to us. That was of course until her raging bull Mother tore through the bar biting off ears and stomping people with her hoov hands. Oh and her husband was quoting as saying "How much more of this California fairy music are you gonna play!?" Maybe next time Detroit. For now I'll take my chances in the Metro Lodge down the street.

Andy
Local Natives






In Detroit it was cold.....really f*cking cold! The town seemed to have fallen to sleep by 930pm and we had no where stay. One of the bartenders was nice enough to offer her humble abode to us. That was of course until her raging bull Mother tore through the bar biting off ears and stomping people with her hoov hands. Oh and her husband was quoting as saying "How much more of this California fairy music are you gonna play!?" Maybe next time Detroit. For now I'll take my chances in the Metro Lodge down the street.

Andy
Local Natives

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Where the hell is that violin from?



Sometimes in our mad pursuit to get you(the people) the best, most up to date news on what we(Local Natives) have been up to, we have failed to let you in on a little four string wonder who is a part of Local Natives. Enter Amanda Violin.

Amanda Violin is a radical tubular girl with a dump truck of talent to play violin tucked under her chin. She's a babelicious babe who's smile and stage presence can make a grown man cry....and that's a good thing. If any of you have gotten a chance to listen to our new album then its obvious to hear that her playing is just as much a part of our sound as anyone else in the band.

Among her busy schedule, Amanda was able to come out and join us in NY and I think she's making her way to Vegas as well. Back at home she is a regular part of our set so if you're craving those beautiful strings and you missed em this tour, then get on git to LA to catch a home town show!

Amanda if your reading this(as I'm freezing my ass off in Chicago)thank you for everything and I'll see you at the craps table. I'll be the one up to my neck in hundred dollar bills and surrounded by the "Can Can" girls from the Flamingo:)

Andy
Local Natives

Thursday, January 15, 2009

DC is Arlington. Arlington is DC






Two places, two separate good nights and yet somehow in my head I keep feeling like DC is Arlington and Arlington is DC.

Arlington faced us with our biggest challenge thus far this winter tour: If we could finish the keg of Raven Berry Ale then we could drink anything we wanted for the remainder of the night. Done and done! Maybe thats why I left my laptop there and had to wake up early and drive all the way back to venue to grab my laptop and have a cup of coffee with the lads who worked there. Thank you to Julia.

The rumors about DC were true. Beautiful on the outside and crawling with the smartest bum population in America on the inside. (Young homeless man)"for seventy cents you can own your own cd of me Mr. International which includes 70min of unrehearsed rap and hip hop straight from DC! Support local artists....come on man.....can I just bum a cigarette then?" Thanks again to CJ for helping us out.

Andy
Local Natives

Locals Natives took to the NYC streets!


Twas my not my first time in NYC but twas my first time playing in the big city. We had two full days and two full nights. One in the Lower East Side and the other in Brooklyn. For being known as such a "Stubborn Bitch" of a city, we were actually welcomed with big fuzzy warm open arms.

Our first afternoon was spent lallygagging on the "undeveloped" 7th floor of a radio station building in downtown NYC. Three hours of waiting for Voxhaul Broadcast to finish up a radio interview turned out to be an on the spot rehearsal. The open, unused room served perfect for 100% natural re verb. Fast forward to about 10pm at Pianos. Despite the ugly Pianos thumb print back drop, the sound, crowd and general feeling was great. The rest of night was recalled in late night pizza street fights, red go-go dancers and watches with lighters built inside them.


I can now see why the few friends I do have in NYC all live in Brooklyn. Brooklyn served me the best slice of "NY" pizza I have ever had and I am chicago style guy so that's saying a lot. Local Natives had a slightly earlier show in the backroom of Public Assembly which didn't seem to hurt surprisingly. Oh and if you are ever at Public Assembly watch out for the giant never ending pit at the front entrance. Rumor has it that giant rabid slugs live at the bottom.
The night concluded at a bar down the street called The Levee. We hung out with Bon Iver and a killer game of Jenga.

Andy
Local Natives