Civet? Civette? Playing Possum?

Hey Guys! I am posting this here just to let everyone know I am BLOGGING again- but over at a wordpress site! www.vivabandita.wordpress.com

OR YOU can just go to my Clothing Store Viva Bandita & find the link to Bloggage there!

Thanks for all the support!

xo

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(Me @ Smelvis Records in Wilmington 2002/3)

I get asked a lot where the band name came from...I've said many, many things over the years in various interviews....but really it just came down to me, a dictionary & a long list of possible "BAND" names when I was in 8th grade. It wouldn't be until 10th grade (98') that my name would actually get moving on a band to play with. I can remember sitting in my (moms) living room going over the longest list ever....maybe 20 or 30 possible names....and that one just had a certain "something to it"....I honestly don't remember any of the others on the list aside from (DON'T laugh!) - Playing Possum. Yeah...that's right....can you imagine ....."Playing Possum World Tour"! Yeah, I'm glad in the end I settled on something that I just stumbled across in the dictionary. However in the middle of the EMO years everyone was going through I was sad I didn't have a longer name like "He Who Eats The Civet Wins The Prize" or something like that. Ha ha....And there has ALWAYS been discrepancies on how the hell you pronounce the name? It isn't at all pronounced like the French word it is, instead it is very Americanized. Imagine how a 14 year old would pronounce it and it stuck! 

I didn't have any money when I started the band (duh, 14 here!) so I sent myself a "poor mans copywrite" that I had read about....it is still sealed in it's cute little envelope saying I own the rights to the band name. I later had help from lawyers and actual LEGAL people at the various labels we were on help me get all my ducks in order. Boy was I glad I didn't have to contest the name considering I tattooed it on my back at 18....man would that have been a BIG cover up! I'm kidding! HA HA.

Anyway....I just wanted to SHARE where I really got the name. From the good ol' dictionary.....and like many things in my life, it just found me. That's fate!

xo

Liza

Back to Black

Just a girl & her Gibson...

I am happy to report we are home & made it through tour! While it was pretty short (about a three week run...it hit the spot!) We had a great time & there's something about playing music that truly feels like nothing else in the world!  This time around things were waaaaaay different in a good way! We left Suz  at home (she was in school at the time) &  even played a new song "Ride". On this run I got to hit the road with my fiance.  I'm very lucky in the fact that I fell in love with my best friend who I make music with anyway! I always had issues in the past of feeling like I was leaving that other person to do what I loved & that was soooo hard on my relationships. I know now that it's NOT really a relationship when you only see someone 5 months out of the year because you both are touring. That's just a hot mess. No one wants to be the one left at home. I also think people are lying to themselves if they don't admit that the temptation on the road and the combination of not being able to connect with your significant other doesn't make eveyone fall. I watched it with my own eyes. I've done it myself.  I've seen good people get lonely and it's just not fair to themselves or the person at home. That said I'm on the road with my person;  knowing what I know now I wouldn't tour solo if I was in a relationship I wanted to keep.

Christian working on some "Blue Steel"

This last year off the road went by fast.  I launched Viva Bandita....I got engaged (yay!)....I lived a little and did some non band traveling...I wasn't broke for once! I don't care what anyone says, without sounding like too much of a pessimist, being in a band is HARD. You make money if you are lucky, but there's not like Lady Gaga money coming in if you know what I mean! A friend and I were talking the other day about how people used to say all the time "oh they sold out" or something to that effect when a band started making money. I really thought that stigma was dead, but the other day I heard a Spinnerette song being used on a Cadillac commercial & I looked it up on google (as with everything) ha ha...anyway someone was like "oh that sucks, such a sellout move...etc." It's stupid....because people who work normal jobs for a living are allowed to make money off WHAT THEY DO, but an artist can't be paid for their work they do or they are selling out?! How is that fair? Now I don't feel like we were ever giving such a big opportuniy that we got labeled as sellouts I really feel for bands that work their whole lives to just make money doing what they love & then be hated by the original pack of diehard true fans that should be sharing in their success!

"Get in the VAN!" While having time off allowed me to renew my love for music, I would be lying if I said I missed being in the van! Am I too old to be in the van? Ha ha kidding! I'm still really young, but I did get to live in a double decker bus last summer & it's hard to pile into the regular ol' van. We pimped the van out put some nice bunks in it....What I really do miss is all the fans and excitement, but we moved so fast for so many years that I never got a chance to focus on myself! I feel I've found a pretty good balance now & I'm even working on some new music stuff....I've been blogging a little on the Viva site & a little bit here...writing feels almost as good as making music does! I'm so optimistic right now it's almost sick ha ha...Glad I have ppl to share it with & an audience that continues to grow with me as I go on 14 years of CIVET! xo

THIS scrzya (crazy) bitch ha ha...

AP - Sexism in Punk

A small part of this ran in the feature below, but I wanted to share the rest!

http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/do_you_feel_like_a_man_ben_weasel_incident_opens_discussion_about_sexism_in/

-What do you think the incident with Ben Weasel tells us about sexism in both punk rock and music in general?

Unfortunately, I think this shows us that sexism is still alive and well in the world today. It also tells us that the lines between what behavior is appropriate and what is not, have been severely blurred. A few decades ago hitting a woman was so insanely taboo there wouldn't be any discussion about it. The fact that there's even been discussion on boards and social networking sites about that girl "deserving" it because she was in the audience, is insane. I wasn't there to see the incident firsthand, but my experience fronting an all girl band for over 10 years has taught me a lot about sexism in music and the need to respect everyone regardless of what you do for a living! Times have definitely changed, but integrity never goes out of style.

-Is sexism still an issue in the punk scene today and how is it manifesting itself beyond the Ben incident?

I've done a lot of interviews where this question comes up and honestly the amount of sexism I've experienced is pretty rare and far between. There have been a few times where people have spoke down to me or tried to take advantage of me as an artist, but I've always just seen that as an opportunity to right the wrong. Since I fronted all female band for over 10 years I became good at stopping sexism in its tracks and actually helping said person realize why what they were doing wrong. I guess standing up for myself was my own personal way of creating change.

-Is there a difference in the way bands treat their male and female fans? Is this specific to any genre?

There will always be those bands that talk shit and call their fans out, but that is what the fans of certain come to expect. Some fans are actually fans of bands BECAUSE of this particular reason such as Guttermouth (who we have toured with and were totally respectful!)... Or if you want to think back to GG Allen times, that's another example. The difference between this and the Ben incident is that a lot of that "stage" abuse is just for show. It appears that Ben just snapped and forgot he was the singer of a band and a person that has to answer for his actions. At the end of the day it is never acceptable to hit a woman and really it shouldn't be acceptable for anyone to hit anyone. Period.

-Are the doors open for women to both be in punk bands and to work in the music industry outside of bands? Is there any resistance from their male counterparts?

There are more women in punk music today than ever before! Whether it be working in the industry or being in an actual band I believe that these women are gaining respect by doing what they love. There doesn't seem to be very much resistance at all. People will only treat you how you allow them to treat you and I believe that a lot of the women in the industry don't take sexism or bullshit lightly. This in turn sets a great example for women not in bands, etc!

-What does a female musician have to endure in order to survive in the punk scene today? Is there anything positive that comes from it?

Female musicians have to develop a thick skin in order to be in the game to begin with. Punk rock is by nature rough and dangerous and I've found that you really have to back your shit up if you want to play punk rock. Pay your dues, respect all other bands, play well and do what you love...I think any female musicians playing punk rock helps the cause! The more the merrier!

-What should we take away from the incident with Ben and how can we use that to change things for the better?

I really, truly think that at the end of the day this should be an eye opener to people to really just treat each other with respect. Male or female. And musicians shouldn't take advantage of their position or think they can get away with certain behavior because they are who they are. On the opposite side however buying a ticket to a show doesn't warrant verbally abusing the band, it just doesn't give someone the right to assault you. We have made so much progress, let's not set ourselves back or set a bad example by letting this kind of behavior slide!

Feminism is the dirtiest word I know.

There's a time and a place for everything in life. Tonight is the night a show in Poland of all places has forced me to really come clean with myself. I don't really like to touch on feminist stuff because I used to feel that it's a personal issue and I do enough as it is supporting fellow female bands (and fronting my own!). There are such negative things associated with speaking your mind as a woman in rock. God forbid you are volatile like Courtney Love or borderline "too in love with the females" like smarter than most, Kathleen Hanna. That's right, I'm coming out and saying it, that there is an unspoken rule as a girl in music not to take too much of a stand. Uh, on anything. That's why most women in bands say "oh, we don't like to be seen as a girl band" or "gender doesn't matter in music"…That's such bullshit. It's sad because all this is to me is a cop out. You are too scared to be seen for what you are that you downplay it in hopes that it will go away. It's not going away!
Tonight what happened in Poland was destined to happen eventually. There's still a lot of wrong in the world that needs to be righted. I'm telling this story in hopes that the next time you see something wrong, you act on it, like I did, regardless of who you are. Female, male…in a band…working at the burger joint…we are all the same. I generally don't like to call myself a feminist and at the end of the day I love men just as much as the next chick, but things are not equal and I witnessed that at this show. I might be changing my title. Tonight in Poland we played an amazing show with the Adicts. I experienced firsthand the kind of discrimination I've been saying in interviews for years that I didn't really believe existed anymore. We tour, we play with guy bands. We are well respected. We're not hoes. We are positive role models for young women. Nothing we do suggests that we want anything other than your friendship and loyalty as a fan. Tonight we took the stage to a really really great crowd and 2 songs in I got to see that the double standard is alive & well in Poland apparently. There was a guy photog that tried to jump up on stage and actually stick his camera up my skirt. Like I wasn't even a real person or maybe like I was a stripper at a strip club?! Now, I need to note that I'm pretty tough and I brush off things that aren't a big deal, but there was a lot riding on this moment. There were so many little girls in the crowd…..more than I've seen at a show in a while. They were all cute and civetafied. I couldn't possibly stand down something like this. I did the only thing my instincts told me to do…Stand up for myself! I got some help from our road crew to grab him….but he gave some excuse and they let him go. I just wasn't really satisfied with that at all, and at the risk of looking like Courtney Love in the 90's I put my guitar down and let my sister take the next song. I climbed off stage and confronted the cowering bastard who was now in the back of the room….the details from here on out were not very important….I demanded the camera or it to be deleted. All in all it wasn't about the photo at all, cause everyone knows there's pics of me out there where you can see my shorts….yes everyone….I ALWAYS wear boy shorts under my skirt, so even when you think you saw something, it's shorts…congrats. It wasn't about the photo at all. It was about the fact that this person thought it was OK to violate someone's personal space and objectify them like that. What if that had been your mother or your sister onstage, how would you feel? Think about the rage my brother probably felt seeing that? If it was one of your own it would be a whole other story right? The majority of men I come across are pretty enlightened…they encourage their women to really live their lives, and there's a certain amount of respect there. Now I don't know if homeboy does this all the time or whaaatever, but it doesn't happen on my watch. I truly felt that in that moment, that if I didn't stand up for myself in front of all these women AND MEN who have respect for me, all would be lost. Everything I've worked for from day one….stolen, by someone who hadn't been taught how to treat women right. Blows my mind. I found that when I got in the crowd and in this persons face I wasn't "lowering myself" but I was standing up for everyone in that room. I was met by a lot of fans who grabbed him and got in his face as well. That support was resounding. It really struck a cord with me. Security took him outside and at the end of the show a woman came up and gave me a roll of film. That's right…a woman handed me the film.    
I went back onstage and played my little heart out, which is what I do every night. I played for all the little girls in the audience who had to witness that. I played it for the Polish men who were embarrassed that one of their favorite bands would come to their country and be disrespected like that. I played it for my future daughter….and my grandchildren and everyone who knows the truth…that just because we aren't living in the 50's anymore, doesn't mean that housewife mentality is gone. We just don't talk about it even though we should! You can't keep me in the kitchen, and you sure as hell can't keep me off the road.

Lost in Translation

Travel Day

“It’s a long, long way from Houston baby” or rather it’s just a long long way from where I was last year…. I’ve got back in the swing of running things with the band (with a little bit of help of course this time around!) We just finished that record & can’t wait to share it in October. Til then I’m excited to be back on the road as we head out to Europe again…I love it over there (Even though I gotta admit, there’s some thing about coming home to Long Beach that is really the best feeling in the world) Hopefully I’ll be able to see more and do more this time around…last time we came over here it was really cold and we were on tour with the street dogs. I’m starting to get used to the different countries…like Germany to me is similar to the us, but a little more hard around the edges…my favorite is Sweden….I wish we were going to Stockholm this time around, but I’ll take Oslo...lots of festivals too. I don’t think I’ve played any fests in Europe yet, so this should be very interesting…totally excited, but a little homesick. This time around we’re bringing out my little brother to tech… should be an experience since I think he’s really used to having lots of things done for him etc….today I was like “you’re hungry? Well go get some food” ha ha….he’s young, but I really think this experience will change him for the better…..maybe he’ll even get the itch like me and Suzi…the one that keeps you wanting to travel and keeps your best feelings when you check into a hotel & check your bags…it’s a different kind of person that thrives on being in a new place everyday….it’s a good way to live….never get boring!

Prague or Praha - Mini Vacation

We hung out in Prague at our drivers house. It was good to be back in a city we were familiar with and it’s always cool to be able to locate the h & m or know how to ride the train….we have knowledge of both of these! We’ve stayed at our driver Mdogs house before….it’s this really cool flat on the 5th floor and his parents are never home! We ate our fav potato pancakes at this little pub. Its always a shock coming back to Europe and remembering that people still smoke indoors….I always feel kinda lucky that no one in my band are smokers….that’s the worst…Jacq and I went with
Mdog to the Mighty Sounds Bar & felt totally local…

The second day in Prague was the best because it straight up felt like summer camp. We went to this lake, which isn’t really a lake, it’s a mined out old rock area that filled up naturally with water….it’s only about a few hundred feet, not very big…but its super murky and goes down so deep no one knows,…there’s fish., And who knows what else….lake monster? We jumped off the cliff into the water. That was one of the most thrilling jumps of all time….once was enough though! Played some vollyball (yes! Vollyball!) and remembered what a competitive jock I am….ha ha…It was here that I experienced the best cider of my life…hands down THE BEST! I am a cider conosuier as people who know me know and it was fucking incredible…and on top of that, the selection was HUGE!!! Enough vacation…lets get some shows going!

Had an AMAZING run at Mighty Sounds...the photos speak for themselves...there's some shows where the vibe is just there...the vibe was TOTALLY there....the response to our new stuff has been amazing...I'm really really happy right now...We got to catch up with our homies in H20, sans a few of the guys for these festivals....it's always nice to see people you've toured with when you are a million miles away from home...ok maybe not a million....but a lot! Same goes with the Serengeti fest....good to catch up with some members of Flogging Molly & hang out with our new drinking buddies Valiant Thor....where's the hard liquor?! Great show sans some technical difficulties...and it's not everyday we get to open for GWAR!!!!




Munich-

This show was awesome…Sweaty, real….rock n’ roll….the ghost in our room that night was super NOT awesome. The fact that some people knew about it, and didn’t share…super NOT awesome! I would have slept in the van for sure over this…IT was strange because I had this gut feeling not to go up to the club flat. I actually didn’t even make it up there until 40 min after we played. When I realized I was the only one up I got a little creeped out and laid down only to hear door opening and closing & scratching on the wall….horrible stuff….

But the show was good! Ha ha….and Pernod from Big Cheese came out to the show to bring us some magazines…he gave us the cover, which I’m sure will help out the shows….we were totally stoked on the turnout last night…..it’s starting to not even feel like an hour long set at this point….

I need to change my guitar strings when we get to the next venue for sure…..3 shows and one super sweaty one is too much….gotta make sure we don’t have any malfunctions….

Thanks to everyone who came out to Munich….you guys were rad even though we were in a sauna…Sometimes that’s the best though!

Writing & guest starring....

Lisa Johnson & I doing what we do!!!!



We've been home for a while....writing, writing, demoing and now, just now finally everything fell into place. There's something about a record that just can't be forced. I've never felt like a song is something you yourself create. It's like it has a mind of it's own...some are better than others (for the record, everything on out new record IS AWESOME) So the story goes something like this...We did some ghetto recording sesh at AMP in North Hollywood before we left on the Street Dogs tour. It was ok....then we came back and took some time to really live and grow and work on our songwriting...We've heard that from everyone! You think that people in the business push "LIVE SHOWS"...no, you're wrong....truth be told the live show is the fun part, the REALITY is that good songs make your career...slow, fast, dance, doesn't matter as long as it is good. Think about all the bands you've gone to see where you can't wait to hear them play that one hit! Now if, in theory you work really hard to build your fan base and have lots of these jems people can't wait to hear, well that my dear translates into an actual career! You can put out a record every year and people will buy it, but if you hold off and put out some serious quality, it's like currency...like GOLD!!!! So Civet girls spent the holidays doing holiday stuff and NAMM in January....then the light went off...and it went off so fast and so bright I still can't even wrap my head around it. We started writing some of the best stuff that's ever gone through this band. And we wrote together! And shit got crazy....I'm glad it did because all I really wanted to do this time around is write the record I knew that I was capable of writing. Something true and something hard....Not a sellout record. Just pure civet! Suz and I figured out our (Dare I say it?) FORMULA for our perfect songwriting process! This is great because I feel like because we are sisters and have that unique bond we are able to push each other harder than an outside person would be able to do....

We are in the studio as I write (ok....not AS I WRITE, but last week and tomorrow ;) Our official demos turned out so well we decided to just pave our own way, and as reviews of the material started coming in there's no doubt in my mind we made the right decision. Somtimes it's really hard to be strong and stand up and take responsibility for things and be a big girl. I really truly feel like this record is going to make a lot of people really really happy (ourselves included)and it's a lesson to stand up for what you believe in and above all just go with your gut feeling about stuff!!!!! You don't need someone to hold your hand and tell you what to do, you know what to do!

Ok....now that I hope everyone is super excited about the record and I got to get out my 2 cents on it, it comes out October!!!!! Hope you guys continue with your love and support we've come to depend on, ha ha xo

In other REALLY COOL NEWS (!) I did a song on the William Control Record (NOIR)...it's just a chorus thing, but I was excited to have the opportunity to work on something of his since I really respect him as a musician. That record comes out JUNE 8th and the hot and talented Lisa "i won't hang out until suz is 21" Johnson shot all the art for it! Pick it up!!!

I'm gunna go back to blogging a lot more, i feel like now that i'm almost done writing the record I've got a lot to say and no where to channel it! AHHHH! ha ha....don't be scared....it's all good....so does that mean that the record is just the musical expression of the blog? hmmmmm.....food for thought....

The biggest little city in the world!

Ah a weekend of shows in small towns…sometimes these are the most rewarding runs! Playing for the starved masses last weekend was not only totally fun, but it was a much needed rock n’ roll ego stroke for me and the girls. It was a definite TURKEY... which is our code word for three really great shows in a row…hey if it’s good for bowling, it’s good for us!

First up was Stockton, where we played for Middah, who I kept calling Mike….i don’t know why I do this, but once I get things in my head its just really hard to get them out. The worst part is that I know him…I’ve known him for years! He came out to our first ever Stockton show where we played the American Legion Hall with The Generators and the Forgotten. The show was rad, the relationship drama on tour with me at the time SUCKED! There is nothing worse than trying to do a job and having a bf get in your way (let me clarify we are speaking EX) It’s hard to do shows with significant others because everything is magnified by a zillion…. So there we were, back in Stockton….about three hours early. This is the phenomenon in rock n’ roll that we like to refer to as “hurry up and wait”. This happens all the time, it will never change…..so we checked out sketchy Stockton as they checked out us….we went to MOO Burger and Roxie got the “NO MOO” love it! We hung out in the Plea For Peace and it started to rain! EWWW! Rain on tour = not your friend! We played with a whole bunch of cool bands…definitely rockin’ their own vibes….The MexiVandals (not their name, but def the band) opened and it was good….then Asiago (btw my fav bagel at starbees) graced us with some serious pipes and songwriting that we promptly told them they would be stupid not to take it to Tooth and Nail and make some serious x-ian rock cash! The Black Horde played too…..Now we played with them at The Blackwater Café last time we came through town and I swear they sounded like the BRONX. This time around, not so much….more “metal or die” style….Skateshoes, the singer (whose house Civet has crashed at in the past) was actually wearing a priest suit! We were up! It was an awesome show with a really really great pit as well as some tough as nails little kids and the pretty made up chicks….it’s always funny to me to see how different all our fans are….We played a great show and I almost lost my teeth to the mic…



Round 2 was amazing! We made a not so hot decision that I paid for later to brave the I70 to avoid snow….mmmm, not so much…hit the snow…needed the chains…took me like 4 hours of zombie like driving to make it over the mountain….We almost got stuck in the chain off area when our chains got wrapped around the wheel well…it was like 20 degrees, snowing and all the girls were sleeping…. I didn’t want to wake them up so I got the Fed Ex guy to help me. Had to put my tail between my legs when he said he had offered to help me put them on and I had shot him down! Why does all this stuff happen to me? I’m bound to be put in a situation where I’m humbled if I don’t watch myself. It never fails…It also helps me to be a better person on a daily basis. Note to self – take help when it’s offered the first time!


We rolled into The Nugget and decided to camp out here…this was a great casino with our number one prereq, a starbees! I also got sucked into some serious gambling while there….that never happens to me, but I really felt like this one machine kept paying off (NOT!)! We loaded in to vixens and reunited with our homie Chapin to celebrate his new ownership of vixens! This man is the ultimate enabler….he doesn’t drink, but when he starts handing everyone shots you sure feel like he does!!! We passed on a soundcheck….now this is always a dilemma ….but all of my friends in bands will agree that great soundcheck = shitty show and vice versa….so why even go there? Last nights’ show was on, we know and love vixens sound system and we knew the fans were gunna be there…we went for it!!! No check and off to a great interview with friend and uber fan Chris Payne at KR-something Reno….that was easy….the only thing I ever worry about in group interviews is us sounding kinda snobby or maybe even a little stupid…it’s just that when we are all together shit gets real funny really fast..and after a zillion of these interviews that, let’s face it…all ask the same shit, you kinda sound like a robot occasionally…..So for the record, we’re really smart, and NOT assholes…..just easily amused.
Show was off the hook at Vixens that night and Youth Brigade n’ 7 Seconds, MIsfritz played awesome as well….the pineapple vodka just tasted like just pineapple and definitely snuck up on us!!! I was (kinda) the last man standing as the girls had to rescue mission Rox and left me at the club…..my conversations consisted of this (and this is how you KNOW I was a goner) – medical marijuana curing cancer, the REAL meaning of being a punk rocker, and reintroducing myself to a guy I’ve known for years, just didn’t recognize…..duh! So finally someone came to get me (cause you KNOW civet girls to NOT walk to the hotel alone)… I had a run in with a “poison” apple and missed a few calls from the bf and was smart enough to pass out in the hotel bed on my stomach (JUST IN CASE!), although I was kinda naked at least I was safe about it!
The morning met me with a, yeah… you guessed it, wicked hangover…We hung out with Chapins’ baby and hot wife Jo for a while, then some serious Olive Garden to nurse our hangovers….the big joke at the OG was that everyone in the lobby was “going to dinner” and we were sitting there not talking, just playing on our phones and not speaking a single word to each other…I wanted to stand up and explain to all these fine people that we are on tour and we’re more than ok with silence….and that when you are with someone for days you just coexist….especially in a band setting…ask anyone! Totally not weird fine people of Reno!


Truckee was cute…small….reminded me of one of the tiny venues we played on the Guttermouth Tour in CA a zillion years ago…..lots of super slippery ice and no one to help load….live in a dive show….love it!!! The turnout was great, but the downside was that most people who were at the show the night before were there….how is this bad you ask? Uh, because they already bought the merch! We played with the super rad and stand up hilarious Saddle Tramps…We played pretty much the same set, still slightly under the weather, but it was super fun! I was so in the swing of playing shows that I wanted to keep going!! We left and hauled ass back to LA….3 days was great, but can we do some 3 weekers now?!

My Love Affair w/ Fender! (NAMM 2010)

This was our second year at NAMM…it feels really good when you play something big one year and everyone loves you enough to invite you back the next year…not that we aren’t lovable like that ha ha! We played for Fender/Gretsch which is basically the same company with one having more classic old school vibe and feel and the other one being the typical rock guitar…Now don’t get me wrong, I‘m a Gibson girl, but a fender strat WAS my first real guitar…I remember wanting one really really bad because Courtney Love played them. I started off with a Squire (Fenders' more moderately priced child) and later moved on to a real Fender. My first guitar was black and I remember having a Cramps sticker on it and a pic of Courtney Love (of course!) I played a set of two shows/back to back nights at some club in Westminster that isn’t even around anymore…with this ridiculous wanna be Kiss copy band called FiFi Larue…the shows were good, unfortunately some jerk stole my guitar when I made the mistake of not packing it in the van (at this point we’re talking mini van, not uh, van van…) My second fender went the same way…she was gorgeous, baby blue and managed to sound amazing although I was still playing out of a shot to shit Rickenbacker amp… I remember playing the 3rd or 4th annual Mad Monster Party that we used to play every year at the knitting factory… Someone stole it from the back room along with my coffin case. That sucked… and to this day I am a straight up Nazi about someone watching the gear at all times… I always just brushed off the loss of the guitar, cause after all it’s just stuff… but I’m SURE at this point in my life if I lost the Gibson I would surely lose my shit.
NAMM, oh yeah! NAMM! So Fender put us up in the Double Tree the night before so we didn’t have to deal with the NIGHTMARE that is parking at NAMM… Now if you haven’t been to NAMM it would surely blow your mind… even for the mild gear head it’s overwhelming… all the new guitars, psuesdo-rock celebs everywhere! One out of three people looks like they came from a time machine set to the 80’s… Mick Mars was there, Yngwie Malmsteen, Strung Out played, Kerry King, Slash, etc, etc...
We played the Fender stage which is inside and set up like an auditorium…it was cool, but honestly like the vibe wasn’t there… we were rocking and a lot of these people were trade show old people mixed in with our crowd… See namm is weird because you CAN'T buy tickets, so fans CAN'T get in… so when you see a whole bunch of people singing along, which thank God there were, then that means that your fans also work for companies… extra cool! So our set was good… there we’re a ton of cameras and the video looks pretty sick as do some of the photos, but truly my favorite set was the second one, down on the motherfucking floor super punk rock style. This was where we played last year, on the floor at the Kim Falcon booth…There’s just something about playing right there that has super good vibes… I was able to jump into the crowd and really “ACT OUT” I like that… that’s when I really feel it and am stoked… Chris Pontius loved it, and you know we love him! Other pseudo big fan moment was Dhani Harrison (George Harrison’s son) watching from the side of the fender stage and telling us how much he loved it when we got done… BTW he rolled up in a bullet proof escalade. Just sayin. So we played and it was great, both sets….it was only like 3:30 by that point and I was exhausted as I’m sure all the other girls were too… we walked around shaking hands and kissing babies and later after watching Strung Out’s set we headed off to a delicious sushi dinner with the Strung Out dudes, Michael Shultz (the homie) Billy the fender marketing genius and a few others… Sushi was cool, but I couldn’t wait to get some sleep and go round 2 as a spectator at nmamm the next day!
I rocked out on the Malcom Young model Gretsch which actually sounded pretty sick after I let a super tech friend rewire the sob to run hotter...I shot some stuff for Altitude TV which is now REVOLVER TV(more on this in a bit!) and the day was pretty packed, but in a good way!
The rumors were true! Rancid actually came out and played the Gretsch floor stage on Saturday… It was nothing less that phenomenal…it was good to be a punk rocker that day…I really really felt proud…it was one of those moments that really make me feel proud to do what I do and be a part of this hellcat family. I actually got teary eyed! And I wasn’t too big shot to sing along with all the other fans, cause this was real! I later ran into Corey Parks (Nashville pussy/Chelsea girls) who was there promoting her new cabinet line (super sick and white!) It’s funny because everyone is there promoting SOMETHING! It was good to see all these people (Tim, Corey, Michael) who believed in the band and gave us their love and support… that’s why we are where we are… we give them mad props and love! Viva Namm 2010!

New SONG posted I co-wrote w/ Elvis Cortez from Left Alone!

Yes, that's right....this song was about 10+ years in the making....he's always been a good friend of mine, even though we've gone long spells without talking over the years....this is probably the ONLY person in my life who was around in the beginning of civet (circa 1999) and is around now...ha ha.....so enjoy!!!!


Go check out his myspace
http://www.myspace.com/elviscortez
and support your music scene!!!



Oh and while I'm at it....I've decided after a lot of thinking to make my FACEBOOK open to the public....and actually announce it....I just feel that I get a lot more personal on that page and do constant updates and I would like my fans to have access to that...I mean....why not? You guys make this band and my projects what they are and I'm eternally grateful!!!! Just remember to behave!!! ha ha!!! Come find me!


Give me some lovin' feedback on that NEW song!!!!

"it's only been a couple months"

So much has changed in my life it's crazy, but I feel like as a person I've stayed the same....people close to me are all getting engaged/married and having babies and a part of me is screaming "I'M NOT READY TO GET OLD AND STOP LIVING"...not that I think that getting old = babies or is entirely BAD....but I really love my touring life, and my band life and drinking and hanging out and to a certain extent just my independence....I feel like I'm at a point in my life where career-wise I'm on fire and it's just getting better and better everyday, I've got a great new (which might actually be old!) outlook on the band and I feel full of energy, in control, etc.....but all around me there it is...the fucking babies, the "say yes to the dress" episodes, all the people close to me getting engaged....it's scary...Like tonight, suz and I went to Target to get me a Xmas tree and we run into Tatum, who is just gorgeous, but she's also suzi's age and has like a 4 year old....holy shit! like, when do you live? how do you pay for that? i would hate to have a child and not be able to buy him/her/it everything it needs and wants (to a certain extent)....I don't know...lots of crazy stuff to think about lately and I'm not really sure where I fit in...I'm a girl...i wanna get married, it's in my blood....but so is rock and roll.....soooooooo I guess it doesn't matter cause it's not my decision anyway! Boy does that take a lot of the pressure off!!! Yay for tradition!

Wild in Glasgow...Tonight!

Manchester, England….
You guessed it…just how they said the crowds suck here…they kinda did…or maybe it was the spice girls costumes we came out in, uh cause we didn’t give a fuck. I’m still feeling very much a girlfriend on this tour, but I feel like the more space I give myself the better I feel about everything in general…I am a real legit moving person, with a career and a history and lots of things…. Dont' get me wrong, i'm with someone for the first time in a long time, but vibing with another person while being really close space invaders everyday is kinda tough. I feel like I’m getting better. Dealing with my issues a little bit more, I need to make sure I’m not being crazy about nothing….Liza, for the record, totally gets crazy about NOTHING sometimes…ha ha…but honestly…that’s what makes you great, being slightly eccentric.

Nothing to see here

The tour itself has being going GREAT!! I’m definitely feeling the northern euro vibe like Sweden, Norway etc. a lot more than all the countries I’ve visited in the last few months….It’s crisp and everyone is really really good looking ha ha…oh and Belgium…..LOVED Belgium…I finally got to meet (and shoot with!) the one and only Cindy Frey who is not only talented and super cool, but beautiful…I’ll have some of those pics soon….I went to Vaudville 79 the store Tommy X owns…see I think they just hide all the super cool people in Belgium….He hooked us up with some clothes (that I proudly wore onstage) and his gf was at the show as well…It was cool to meet him outside of the whole US Bombs /Ex shadow….It felt good.






I’ve been drinking heavily (what’s new?!) and just having a good time in general…like I said earlier I definitely feel like this has been a trip where I’m wearing several different hats….Our merch girl bailed on the tour, so we’ve been handling all that, then I’m in the band (duh!) ha ha…I feel sooooo busy!!!! And truth be told when I’m not rocking out or hanging out I’m trying to sleep as much as humanly possible….I love love love my sleep….
Tonight we’re in Glasgow Scotland, which totally reminds me of my dad cause my family is Scottish
Is this real life? Am I really on tour in Europe for the 2nd time in like 4 months…and with my band who I love love love!? Damn!!!

Ain't no money in rock n' roll

Euro Update #1

Back in Europe…back on tour with the st dogs….shows have been really good…really really good, except for the first night, where apologies to our Berlin fans we totally shot ourselves in the foot by overpricing our tshirts….duh…ha ha….We had a wild drinking night in Stockholm followed by a equally wild night in Finland drinking again. It’s really hard to not drink around our tour and label mates, they are definitely seasoned drinkers….we definitely can’t go out at all without things getting exciting, whether it’s a bar fight or old flames, we just can’t seem to keep the drama under control….We just made the cover of our first magazine in Europe….SUE magazine and to add more fuel to the fire our magazine in all it’s glory was at the bar we chose to drown our sorrows in whilst in Finland….The thing about drinking is your perception of things totally gets skewed depending on how much you’ve had to drink….I’m always right when I’m drunk….unfortunately everyone else is too ha ha…my night was just a big rowdy messy mess of alcohol and civet/stdogs shirts…..sometimes after a night such as this it’s good cause it puts me in check…I want nothing more to go crawl back to the rock n’ roll love I came from, put all my time and effort into something that I know won’t ever disappoint me, and if it happens to, it’s never personal….it’s rock n’ roll….I want to write…I want to break away for a second and get back to the basics that feel really good..I wouldn’t be out here touring and dealing with all the bullshit if the pure act of playing and being one with an audience every night wasn’t so intoxicating. It’s never about the money or the love or the crazy hangouts, it’s always about the music and I just have to not forget that….Sweden, here I come, a little worse for the wear, but ready to rock n’ roll…..

Bardot or bust!

Here's my blog that ran on my good friend steph's site!!!!
*****************


Now, I'm super psyched to bring you today's guest blogger who went to extra effort to get me her really amazing ballad while she and her kick-ass band were on tour with Social Distortion....I'm talkin' bout the one and only LIZA GRAVES OF CIVET!


If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know how much I adore Liza and Civet. I haven't been this into a band since I discovered the likes of Social D, Rancid, Hole, and Nirvana back when I was like 13.


If you haven't been following my blog, well here is the lowdown on Liza:


Liza Graves sings (and plays guitar!) for the femme fatale band Civet (check them out here!) And when she's not out touring/recording and generally trying to change the way women are perceived in music she does a bit of blogging/ modeling/ musical collaborating/ creating/ running her indie label (callgirl records)! She also is a VJ on Altitude TV which you can check out at www.rockonaltitude.com

Lastly, I cannot recommend Liza's blog enough. If you ever wanted to know what life is like for a real rock 'n' roller, you must start reading http://lizagraves.blogspot.com/. She's not a name-dropper or a kiss-ass, she just tells it like it is.... As she is about to do in this ballad.


The Ballad of Big Sister: Liza Graves


I am many things in my life… a rock n’ roller, a writer, a lover, a vj, an occasional dealer of weed (in the great state of CA where it’s legal), but most important, I am a big sister. In the grand scheme of things I have an even greater job and that’s shaping the lives of two growing human beings! I like to a think I had a hand in who they have become and I will be there to always take them through the tough times. If I’m lucky my little brother will be there to walk me down the aisle…..er, someday…not soon!

My little brother Joe is 15 and smarter than me (or so he thinks!)…he’s one of those kids that just was given what he wanted all his life…he’s gunna get older and land some girlfriend/wife/significant other to take care of him all the way, I can feel it…my job is to teach him to love and respect women. I like to think he respects his sisters….He’s had a bit of a bad upbringing, bit it’s not unfixable. For a 15 yr old he’s got his head on pretty straight! He totally doesn’t think I’m cool at all…There’s plenty of kids who would love to be able to say their big sisters play in a rock band, oh but not my brother….he’s into other things, like that Screamo/Hardcore stuff…Our convos go something like this “Joe! I just landed a Social Distortion tour, do you wanna come see us?” Joe, “Naw, that’s cool man….when are you gunna play with Saosin?” I swear he likes bands I’ve never even heard of which makes me feel either a) really old or b) really uncool….ha ha….

On warped tour recently I was able to introduce him to the toothless singer of that band “The Devil Wears Prada” who I didn’t even really know at all….I had my ALL ACCESS pass and this desire to impress my brother, so I made it work….I think he thought I was pretty cool after that (for like a day!) Someday, I tell myself, someday I will do something that bridges the little generation gap we’ve got going on. I’d love to get him on the road to tech for us, but I don’t think that would ever really work out. I mean, would you really want to tech for your two older sisters?

Did I tell you my brother is cool? He is, he’s one of those eternally cool kids, not the socially awkward ones, I look at him and just think, “how come YOU get to go through high school that cool and we were totally suffering as awkward ugly ducklings?” Someone definitely hogged the “suave” gene in our family!!! I wanted to include my brother in my tale because he doesn’t get enough attention from us, we are always on the road…I recently got to hang out with him in Seattle at my grandmas and he flew through Stephanie’s new book…which also focuses on a sister/brother relationship. Joe, am I cool yet?

My partner in crime aka my sister aka Suzi Homewrecker, on the other hand, I like to think I was actually responsible for turning out…She was doing great in school and was in a mock “sorority” as well as an active member of the cheerleading team….typical wannabe all american girl (in high school you’re never who you want to be)…I put a stop to that real fast!!! As early as 14 I would have her sit in for a song or two at civet shows….she still was blond, but I had all intentions of handing her a bottle of black hair dye, a guitar and an official spot in my band as soon as she was old enough. “Old enough” came sooner rather than later, she was officially drafted at 15.….just 15! I meet kids now in bands as young as 17 and I just can’t even wrap my head around someone that age being able to tour….It’s mind blowing and I have no idea how she did it…The period she entered the band in was crazy too….We weren’t just playing backyards anymore, we were starting to actually get somewhere….Suz and I had just schmoozed our way onto a coveted spot at DISASTER RECORDS (Duane Peters’ label) and had started feverishly writing. My sister and I pretty much single handedly penned the Massacre album…granted she was still a little young and inexperienced to be writing great epic rock songs, she definitely was my sounding board. I can remember sitting in my room being the bossy older sis, “Suz, play this!” so that I could write my solo over it. I’ve always written better with someone around, and my sister seems to have that magic something to get the good stuff really flowing. I’ve always felt like that though, not soley in music. Suzi has always brought out the best in me, the crazy fearless side….I like that when I’m around her I feel like I’m 20, not 25...she keeps me young….ha ha….

Suz and I have been though the ringer together and I’m proud to call her my best friend….There was even a time when my bad rock n’ roll influence actually started to sent her down the “road to ruin“. It was about 3 yrs ago, we were on the road with my sisters boyfriends band the Breakdowns (now the Strangers). She’s gunna kill me for telling this one, but I think it illustrates a really big point….that no matter who you are, or where you are, family comes first. We were all feeling a little cocky, it was our first tour in a while, we were getting in a little bit of late night “boy trouble” at a Motel 6 in Sacto….We had played a great show and split off into our separate groups at the hotel. I started feeling like something was seriously, seriously wrong…Like, I just knew…I jumped out of bed (one I probably shouldn’t have been in anyway) and ran to find my sister at the party room in the Motel 6.….Sure enough, there she was, my little 17 yr old partner in crime doing lines of coke with some serious bad influences. I was livid….more than livid I guess I was just scared. Being scared makes you do some seriously fucked shit….I grabbed her out of the room and pretty much pummeled her…I couldn’t stop screaming….Everyone said it wasn’t a big deal, but you know what? I knew better. I knew deep down that if I didn’t make sure she knew that this wasn’t ok NOW, it would happen again. I was fully responsible. I brought her into music. I put her in this life so early….and granted I set a really different rock standard of no drugs and no sleeze, it was still my fault that she was around those people at the Motel 6 at age 17… That night I had to make the choice of my sister, or my music….and all I could think was, “I don’t want to do this without her” …So after I gained control of myself enough to stop throwing punches at her and her bf (sorry Dave Stucken!) I told everyone we were leaving and threw her “good time” having ass in the van. We drove straight home without stopping…I knew that that in itself was a statement. That I would NOT put something like the band in front of her, that nothing was more important in my life than family and a cancelled tour was just one of the sacrifices I was willing to make to make sure she turned out alright in life. It worked. She doesn’t do drugs and although she pretty much grew up with the opportunity to be a big bad rock n’ roll kid, she’s totally got a good head on her shoulders. She’s respectful, she’s driven and she is one of the most amazing people I know…Granted we still argue about things like who the best Beatle was or whether a Fender or Marshall head gets better sound, for the most part it’s smooth sailing…and the best part of all of this is, I get to tour with my sister/ best friend…


Balance is the ultimate struggle in my life….I have to balance my relationships with my career….my rock career with my day to day job, my ego with my down home personality, my “Ms. Liza Graves” with “Just Liza“, my family life with my road life. In the end its definitely my family that keep me grounded. I like to give my sister and brother credit for keeping me grounded, reminding me that at the end of the day there’s nothing like family, that’s for life yo!


Today's Contest:
Really, there could only be one prize I could offer to go with that blog entry and that would be a copy of my book, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. I wrote that book because I dreamed of the day a ballsy woman would rule the world of rock. Liza and the ladies of Civet are exactly those kind of women. Not to mention the book is about family loyalty, whether it be the family that you are born into or the family you form from your friends.


So leave a comment to enter. Tell us about your sibilings or if you're an only child, friends or cousins who are like siblings, and the influence they have on you.

ballad of a life worth cyberstalking

I did a guest "ballad" for my good friend and AMAZING author Stephanie Kuehnert to help celebrate her NEW book "Ballads of Suburbia"!!! It will be posted tomorrow, come by, show some support and comment away!!! I love to hear from everyone whether it's on my blog er, or on myspace or at shows!!!! xowww.myspace.com/theblacknotebooks

Tonight we are playing the LAST show of the tour that never ends....we are in New Mexico at the Atomic Cantina.....tomorrow morning I'm flying out to TX for a little much needed vacation....Things are getting a little sketchy in my personal life, so I just want to say that I really love everyone that I am close to....I'm really good at being strong and doing what I believe in and I BELIEVE IN THIS. I believe in being loved and sharing your life with someone who "gets" you.... If you've had your chance and you've been cut from my life, please just move on, it will be better for everyone...no need to get all crazy stalker on me please.....

Also my facebook is private....i'm not really a facebook fan so i rarely go on there, there's like 10 friends.....serious!!!! Come see me on myspace or twitter or on my BLOG cause that's where it really gets juicy!!!! I'm the most boring facebook person EVER!

ps. I will be back on http://www.rockonaltitude.com/ in about a week and a half.....see ya there!!! I've got a ton of new pics to put up as well...shows have been amazing, but i'm ready to get home and recharge a bit!!!!Love you guys!!! Thanks for all the SWEET tour memories!!!

"Still Alive"

This is Matt Steinke...I not so secretly hate him...we met a million years ago when I was trying to date Tim from Sugarcult (not something I'm proud of ) I am however, proud to call him my tech friend...er, when he's on the good stuff!

We are reaching the end of our Social D tour...I'm sooooo fucking thankful to be where I'm at...I'm gunna be truthful and admit that I'm a little bit fried right now, ha ha...I mean, I've been out here for about a month and a half and I'm NOT tired, just so deep into tour I'm sure my "come down" is gunna be knarly....I am lucky that I get to do my tour detox in Texas...I'm gunna need a serious vacation to come down from my ultimate "rock" vacation!

I've got some awesome pics from our night out in Edmonton seeing Eagles of Death Metal...I'll be sure to post those in the next one! I got a little bored with the show by show format, so here's what you get, a motherfucking curve ball:

THE GOOD...THE BAD....THE UGLY!

The Good: Best shows had to be the headliner we did at the Distillery in Calgary after our social d show got last minute cancelled (this show was the STUFF OF LEGENDS) we actually got to the next show and people were TALKING about this one!/ The last 4 or 5 shows killed it....including Vermont/ Montreal/ Milwaukee etc....all the shows started getting sooooo good we just called it a "Turkey" er, or after 3 good shows in a row we just decided we won the game! There was a dance invented!

Good = Stalking Dahmer in hidden tunnels and sightings of children playing at the best show of the tour, The super haunted Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee....it was good to come back, although we're convinced we took something away with us....


Nicknames! Liza Smash- the Guz- Suzi Showrecker- Titties Tytell...it just NEVER ended....the boss- wild turkey- etc...etc...."is there something going on here?"

The Bad: Me, chasing my homies in Final Summation out to their van begging to be taken back towards the West Coast with them while giving a big schpeal about why NOT to become a slave to the music industry...ha ha...ahhh! Sorry guys...it had been a LONG day and you are the only band from "back in the day" that NEVER got weird on us when we got successful...props for that! Love you!

Bad would also be my FIRST time at a strip club, in Canada, no doubt....a first with a first I guess...it was scary to say the least, they have different rules out there, like there is full nudity AND alcohol (scary canadian beaver!)....there were also a TON of people from the show there as well, so it was extra mortifying being rock-agnized that night....I was like "I swear this is my first time"...the response to that one was "sure...it's my first time too!" no one believed me and I was being mocked....ugh!

I think that seeing the River City Rebels in Vermont counts as bad, as in Bad ASS....ha ha...there's soooo much history there...Bopper (aka THE RIVER CITY REBELS) and I just had a really great time slagging all the dirty exes and talking about the good ol' days, like the VERY FIRST real tour we did with them and the DP Gunfight out to TX in 05

The Ugly:
Ugly was the casino show, so ugly that I unfairly yelled at my sisters bf DAVE (also in the opening band the Strangers) yelled at him to change her string on the gretsch....to which Craig (social d's tour manager) leaned over to him and said "you better get scared, that's gunna be your sister in law...ha ha" in his ridiculously thick accent.....great I'm the future nightmare sister in law... - the night was saved ONLY by my immense ROULETTE winnings as well as my SWEEP of the BLACK JACK table....

Also ugly was also our tech....getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar and trying to stir up the van by making people question their loyalty and friendships...you know how you stop that? you send that shit home, and that's just what I did...it was fun while it lasted, but not everyone can handle the van with us!

Oh you know what is really really ugly? All of the dumb motherfuckers the are on the civet "rejects" list....lets just say we had a really UGLY listening party and laughed heartily at your expense....Wait? Was this done on garageband?

I'm not gunna name names, but SOMEONE wears a leather jacket with NO SHIRT underneath and needs to be stopped...ha ha....he knows who he is....for shame!!

The ugly also involves Dave from the Strangers trying to fight our friend David from Simple Plan tonight in Montreal....gentlemen, there's plenty of civet to go around...let's not get all barbaric! It was good seeing David, cept he knows THE TRUTH...that Suzi was in the "Shut Up" video....sweet!



GOOD MOTHER FUCKIN' TIMES!!!!!

And this is Lucas.....he chased me down outside of the casino and made me teach him some rock n' roll moves...I have this theory that his dad named him that after an unhealthy Star Wars obsession, regardless, they are both SUPER SWEET....do I look like a mom?

AMP Magazine Blog

I wrote this back in November for AMP MAGAZINE (i think it only published online, but who knows!) Anyway...it's the FIRST TIME I've read it, cause I didn't think it actually went out there, but it's soooo good it makes me cringe and smile all at once...that's the stuff I LOVE, so I thought I'd share!!! There's NO comments allowed...I bet it got pretty knarly....but you know what they say...."well behaved women rarely make history"

The truth of the road….
In about a week we leave for tour again and damn I can’t wait! There’s something about living in a van that really calls to me. I’m not alone either. Being on the road , as long as you are with a band you get along with and the money is alright, can be one of the best feelings in the world. Who wouldn’t want to wake up, eat, hang out, then play to adoring fans? This much attention has it’s downfalls however….I mean really, you’re getting told “yes” and “damn, you are amazing, hot, rocking ________(fill in the blank) every night of the week, that by the time you get back home from tour, your perception of reality is a bit skewed. That might even be an understatement. This is a huge reason why relationships are strained on the road, I really believe it has nothing to do with how many “groupies” are available to you, but the fact that your significant other back home sees you for what you really are, er, a starving (albeit sexy) musician and occasional drunk. But on the road, you are like a superhero, and all that drinking you try to curb at home is encouraged EVERY NIGHT by the free drinks and minimal amount of driving to your hotel (if you even have a hotel, if not, even better, you stumble to the van!) You are surrounded by 24 hr party people (thanks Andrew w.k.) who are celebrating YOU being in their town…..Now if this sounds too good to be true and you’re not in a band, but now thinking you should start a band, STOP right there! The market is over saturated, there is no place for you….go home…It will probably take you 5 years to get to the “touring band” stage….so if you’re gunna get into making music, please get into it for the joy of creating and playing, not to experience the two faced beast that is tour life….Soooo you sleep in a van, you hang out and drink, you “play” every night…..is that all there is too it? Yep…..pretty much, save for the occasional interview or crazy van death story…..You are simultaneously bored and busy at the same time, how is that?….you get to the club at 3pm to load….but in reality you probably don’t load til 6pm...it’s the hurry up and wait game…..slowly you lose touch with your buddies at home…with your boyfriend/girlfriend/dog/mom…. hell, they couldn’t possibly understand the stuff you are experiencing out here. Oh and f.y.i, tour stories don’t translate very well…..what happens on the road stays on the road (aka code of the road)!!!! I’m excited that this time out I don’t have to report back to a boyfriend or any nonsense like that, that’s taxing…All the friends you lose back at home are replaced with other friends in bands who “get you” or fans whose house you crash at while on the road …Ok, so I’m sure you’re thinking “man, I thought she said touring was great?“ ha ha it is I swear, it is the most amazing time of your life… And besides the few drawbacks and hard work (everyone should move equipment, singers who don’t play, that totally includes your little bitch asses too) with a little luck and some great t-shirt designs, and the steady decline of gas you should come home with a little bit of money, a whole lot of new friends all over the country and start the infamous “after tour detox”….aka the come down…damn I love the road!

http://www.ampmagazine.com/index.php/blogs/comments/liza_graves_of_civet/

Live and Let Die

First Social D show
Seattle WA, Showbox SODO

This had to be one of the BEST shows of my fucking career….stellar! We brought that shit!!!! Ha ha…the crowd was amazing, as always, I really really love Seattle…..My grandma lives in Seattle and I’ve spent a lot of time here…there’s something that makes you kinda crazy in the water, but I think that if you don’t stay too long you should be safe! Despite all the shit I’ve heard, Mike Ness is a pretty stand up guy…he came in right off the bat and introduced himself and told us to let him know if we needed anything. The only band that ever rolled THAT legit with us was Dropkick…I’m really big on the band that comes and introduces themselves to the opening band or support band…it’s just respectful…So stay tuned, but Mike Ness is looking pretty stand up guy. It was good to see a lot of our friends on this tour, Suzi’s ex Dave Stucken came out with the opening band the Strangers. Our favorite tech (Alk Trios tech) Matt Steinke is out here and peace has been made, so we are all set! Oh and Jonny Two Bags….last time I saw him I was getting arrested, that’s always fun right? Seattle we love you, and we’ll be back soon!!!!!

Highlights include my mom starting the circle pit & pulling some "highway robbery" on Guitar Center in exchange for tix...love it!


Vancouver aka Vancougar Canada!

Great show even though I was a little under the weather…it was our first time throwing our tech Jared under the bus…we let him flail a little bit and learn his was around our stage plot etc. Sadly it was an “EPIC FAIL” when my guitar strap broke! Yes, again! I will tell you why I think this is: (I have a Gibson Classic that is chambered and I'm convinced there's a pocket where my guitar strap screws in, it eats all of the toothpicks I put in to secure it!!!) I had to run offstage and grab my back up since tech city was no where to be found…other that that the show was stellar. I was a bit tipsy cause my throat has been bothering me and figured a little whiskey/hot water/honey combo might help…and damn did it! My voice was good and my balls were out…ha ha...I was pretty tough cookie last night…I accidentally gave myself a slight rugburn during a rock slide however…debating whether this move is good for my health….Suzi (aka the NEW number 2) did the scariest jump I’ve ever seen from the stage to the baracade, which we had talked about at soundcheck, but it was way too far to make….she uh, totally made it….shocking!!!! Ness was watching from the side of the stage and I’m a bit guilty of snarling at him while we played…I was boozing and not afraid of anyone, even motherfucking Mike Ness…ha ha…Although the border was cool and the venue started off cool and the show was WAY cool….the phrase of the day came to be “Epic Fail” ha ha….fucking Canada…I haven’t decided yet whether or not you have a special place in my heart yet….tonight we shall see!!!!


Border cross 2 was a fucking EPIC FAIL….all I’m gunna say is you catch more flies with honey and I have NO problem with authority…it’s easy if you know how to work people…I can’t handle the negative energy around me right now, just need to get back to the venue for my show STAT!

Me and our Euro Driver MDOG!!!

"Vhat the Hell?!"

Vancougar (Round 2)

This was the first show of my career I’ve ever came close to missing! It was phenomenal….i can’t believe I made it….and well, it rocked….lots of boom boom, swagger swagger at this one! We had to get on a "boat" in order to head over to Victoria...this resulted in us actually filming a mock "I'm on a boat" video....yes, we are that fucking funny on our days off...stay tuned! I have a special appearance as "T Pain", Er, "T Graves" ha ha

Victoria

Just being in this sleepy vacation town made me think of that one man Army song “Victoria” how about “the two of us, we talked to much, can you hear them? Calling your name? I wanted sooo much more, than to be a martyr for, a dying breed”... We played at the “Royal Theatre” which was just that, a theatre….everyone had strictly assigned seats, the upside of playing a theatre, like a legit one, is that the sound is always immaculate! The crowd for this show was sparse, it was so bizarre, I really thought no one was gunna show up by the time social d went on. I even had a bet going with suz as to whether or not he would actually play…I lost, he did! During our soundcheck he came up and busted my balls about dropping a water backwards off my cab last night….spilled all the way down the front of HIS marshall cab…eek….I was like “that never happened, I have no idea what you are talking about”... The techs had came up earlier and said, the Boss (yes! They fucking call him the boss, he’s SOOO cool) requested no more water on the amps…My luck he was watching the whole thing with himself….

the late, great One Man Army...better that way (cd butchers the live show)!

Show was killer!!! Like I said though, the crowd was sparse…it’s hard to judge a show like that, so you just have to go bye how it felt to you. My monitor mix has been phenomenal since Jared our tech has been on the job….I’ve never been so happy with my stage sound! I had NO voice all day, side effect of that nasty cold I made worse by flying home….I did everything all day long, emergency, hot tea, aloe vera juice, listerine, and finally fucking olive juice. Yes, it was REALLY gross, but I had to play the show and I needed a voice for it, so I sucked it up and took a big swig of the thick stuff! Wouldn’t you know it fucking worked! It was super temporary, like 10 min per swig, so yeah, you guessed it; I had to drink several gulps during the course of the set. At one point I looked over at Two Bags on the side of the stage and did the biggest, meanest gulp ever. He looked horrified. Suz says he must love it, but really he’s got to be terrified…after watching me get arrested last Sept and some of my onstage antics, good luck figuring that one out! Ha ha

Tour is getting good, we are starting to get in the swing of this particular tour, I feel at ease like I was missing in Europe…I know everyone (didn’t hurt that I knew a lot of people before the tour) It really feels like home. I was afraid to do this tour, cause Mike Ness is fucking scary, but you know what, there’s something really REAL about him that puts you at ease…like why would I ever be afraid of this guy? He’s a good guy. I think that was the secret to his success, that something of ease that he lends people…

Eurotrashed Pt. 3 (ciao!)

Why Prague!? Why?!!!

I will never again drink another “mushroom” aka a coca cola and red wine drink aka “hoba” ….sounds super dangerous to begin with right? I probably wouldn’t have even started on those if I hadn’t had one too many drinks already! Our day off we stayed at our drivers house, M Dog…who is totally cool and young and we’ll probably take him out on the next run.
Our day was long and sweet, consisted of a ton of H&M shopping, a traditional pub meal…we saw the famous bridge, clock and castle….which was weird because no matter who I asked none of them had a name? Spent too much money…drank way too much booze! We headed over to a pub to hang out with some of M DOG’s friends, who were all really cool and polite even thought Jacq and I were drunk and obnoxious….I don’t remember much after the “mushroom” incident, but I’m lucky to have a sister who did bar rescue at 3 am AND assisted with the most important drunk dial ever…ha ha….it was a good night….so good I wouldn’t repeat it if someone paid me…ugh hangover city here I come!
　
Vienna and our last day in Austria!!!
　
Don’t get me wrong, I had such a great time on this tour, maybe a better time on the headlining shows than on the Dropkick shows, but I just can’t wait to get on that plane and get the fuck back to the states…there’s this weird homesickness I feel….where I can walk into a Starbucks or a B of A or turn on my phone and talk to my mom or my man…these are things I can’t really have over here and I’m disconnected. I’m sure Oct’s euro trip will feel a bit different b/c I will be out here with all the people to love, a little less too miss!!!
　
Vienna show was good!!! There were some very obvious civet people and as always, the opportunity to reach like 3000 of Dropkicks fans…that’s always a treat….there was something about Vienna and the open air theatre that was pure magic…the sound was amazing for an outdoor festival…I was still suffering a bit of a hangover from my run in Prague, but other than that the day was good!!!

RANDOM FANS IN DRESDEN, EUROS AND THEIR BOUNDRIES!

We spent the night in the haunted (supposedly) bunks that are in a building across from the venue….It was crazy!!! There was an all night party going on downstairs….like just cause the show was over didn’t mean people had to leave! They played some of the best rock n’ roll music I’ve ever heard…they were even rockin’ Sahara Hotnights “Rock-a-way Beach" cover! We left the windows open cause it was a million degrees and read all the graffiti in the bunks…the best was the “ACO loves cocks” one…ha ha!!! Lots of exes on those walls…the strangest part was when a couple came in and asked Elia and I if they could use the table….we were like “wtf? Are they gunna have sex?” but no... they straight up did lines of speed of the table in front of us poor terrified American girls….goes without saying that we immediately moved the “speed” table off in front of the door to barricade ourselves in! The rest of the night was uneventful except for a crazy nightmare about a “zombie hostel in Vienna” ha ha…As I was falling asleep, just as I thought things couldn’t get any more magical fucking Distillers’ “LA girl” came echoing through the hostel windows….”That bitch”, I thought !
　
Oh Austria my love… Round/show number two you definitely have to be my fav show of the Dropkick run! All around good time had by all and even though I wasn’t drinking cause I think I’ve got a little cold, I sure felt drunk most of the night….usually we have good shows and it seems like the parting show is always fucking stellar…like we really feel the need to show what we’ve got as we are walking out the door..ha ha…not that DKM haven’t seen the good, the bad and the ugly, oh and what we are now! But you always want to play your best. We did well tonight….my “Dirty Glass” run was awesome, er, that is until Ken Casey choked me out from behind…I really hope some video of that surfaces….oh shit! Speaking of video, jacq showed us that new video but THE DEAD WEATHER…pretty fucking impressed….it’s funny cause I thought that they were called “The Dead Mothers” and I thought, "Damn that’s a SICK name!!!" Anyway, it truly seems like everything Mr. White touches turns to gold, AND damn can someone buy me sweet leather jacket like that girl in the video!!!

IF YOU LOVED ME, YOU'D BUY ME A JACKET SUCH AS THIS
　

　
　
We had a blast hanging out after party style with DKM…like I said all of the guys are really fucking cool, really married and really reserved, so it’s rare that we all get to sit down and talk tour or equipment or life etc…it’s special…even more special was the fact that everyone was ridiculously drunk but me (ugh cold!) plus I swear I still feel hungover from the other night? Grizz was telling me how him and Andy (supreme sound master) were gunna give me an earful when I came offstage in poland like 10 min early, but they were scared when I started screaming at them first….there were NO monitors and Grizz had helped me fix my strap (sabatoge!!!) that broke 3 songs in…I was in KILL MODE….they said they were like, “uh, nevermind, she's obviously way more heated than we are, we’re just gunna let this one go” …lots of fun stuff….it’s always good hanging out with the crew and I got the epic business talk from Ken about where to go next (and a lil bit of antiantiflagging)…I knew it was coming…I know what we’ve got to do to get there……eveyone get scared…we’re really to be that band…..
　
DKM n' CIVET TAKEN OVER THE WORLD　

Travel n’ such!
It was sad saying goodbye to our driver Matayas, other things that were sad include our shitty exchange rate, sleeping at the airpoirt for 7 hrs, oh and of course being picked up by a cousin I hardly remember and getting dumped off at grandmas once we got to seattle….wait, grandmas ruled, but where the fuck were the homemade cookies?!!!!!