Ghost
of the Robot
April 20-21, 2002
14 Below - Santa
Monica, CA
Hi Everybody,
I finally had a chance to sit down and get my pics straight from 14 Below and can finally post my full report. Please feel free to ask any questions you can think of...
This was my second trip to LA to see James at 14 Below. This time, I took a two day trip from Massachusetts to LA and traveled by myself. However, it was much easier meeting other fans than the last time when I went with my sister. I guess I just looked lonely so people wanted to talk to me (lol)! I also wanted to stay for Sunday but wasn't able to change my plane tickets.
I was hoping that the line up would go more smoothly this time since Scott had posted instructions. There would be a preshow happy hour and no lining up until 7:00. Unfortunately, the security person arrived an hour late so there was a major bad time with the line up. Actually, you couldn't even call it a line...just people coming towards the door from all directions. The room seemed just as crowded as the last show even though Scott said they sold 25% less tickets. Oh, well. It was still worth all the perspiration, heat, etc. We all got real friendly!
Anyway, James started out by introducing Charlie DeMars who is the guitar player/"real musician" in the band. James seemed to have significant respect for Charlie's musical skills. The new drummer and bassist weren't there.
James started off by singing "All Apologies" by Nirvana and then advised it would be his only cover tune for the evening. This is when he first started spouting his new Charlie-isms. A lot of his discussion was Charlie says this and Charlie says that. It was actually pretty cute because he was trying to get across that he is part of a band now and Charlie is part of that band. Anyway, James said that Charlie told him if you do more than two covers, you suck. And then he said "oops" in reference to the fact that he usually does all covers and only two of his own songs. This show was the total opposite with only one cover, some of his own songs including Angel and Goodbye, and then two of Charlie's songs which were actually really good. James also said that his guitar playing is getting better and he has his own new electric guitar.
Although he didn't do very much banter with the audience, you could tell he was just really giddy with excitement over the whole experience. He seems to get so much joy out of performing music for a crowd. He really tried to bring Charlie into the experience and worked on getting him to banter with the audience as well. He also said something about "Charlie, next thing you know you'll have a bunch of websites dedicated to you." Well, soon there will be a http://www.charliedemars.com Watch for it on a computer screen near you! Also, Zero from the http://www.jamesmarsters.com website is working with Charlie on a Ghost of the Robot website. Not sure of the url yet because the obvious url has already been taken. I'm sure we will all find out soon enough.
Anyway, the big news is that they are recording an album during the first week of May and hope to be able to start selling it sometime in June. I'm sure Zero will post the ordering information as soon as it is ready.
Check out the pictures and let me know what you think. I used my digital camera for the first time so it took me a while to get up to speed with how to use and how to zoom. Most of my original James pictures seem kind of far away (I was only about five rows from the stage) but if you want some real good photos, check out the James w/Common Rotation folder. Everybody headed out to line up for autographs after GotR performance but I really wanted to see Adam Busch and Common Rotation so I decided to stay inside and line up later. I ended up right next to the stage at the exact place where James would soon come out to sing "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" with Common Rotation and got my best pictures of the night. Come to find out, James didn't sign autographs that night anyway so good thing I decided to stay.
Also, quick notes on the rest of the evening:
Common Rotation
(http://www.commonrotation.com)
This band was so totally cool. Lots of funky lyrics and kind of reminded me
of Bare Naked Ladies. Adam had a real stage presence and was off the wall. I
hope 14 Below posts some video because pictures just don't do the performance
justice. Warren on screen actually squicks me out but Adam live in concert became
super attractive - I guess I'm just a sucker for a rock star! Anyway, band members
are: Adam Busch-singer, Eric Kufs-singer/songwriter/guitarist, Professor Ken
Beck-percussion, and Geoff Gilkes-bass. [Edited 7/10/04 to add that I found
out shortly after the show that the line up was different for the show then
the information that had been available on the Common Rotation Website. Adam
and Eric were definitely there but the other members of the line-up may have
been different.] Eric was great too. A real talent. You can buy CD's at their
website or on Amazon.com. You should really check them out because they were
excellent. Also, for those of you who can't make it to LA, there next event
is in New York:
Friday, June
7th
Lion's Den
214 Sullivan Street
New York, NY
11:30pm
Tickets: $10
212.477.2872
**Headlining a Full Show**
**ALL AGES**
(They kind of remind me of my favorite band - The Sound Kings. Hear them
here: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/50/jack_baywatch.html)
Urban Family
Dog (http://www.urbanfamilydog.com)
Really good band. Lots of funky beats and a talented lead singer.
Four Star
Mary (http://www.fourstarmary.com)
What can I say. Cool enough for Oz, cool enough for me.
Best to all,
Teep