Notes from the smoking patio
Stolen cars, brushes with the TJ law, and more
If you're "MySpace friends" with Goodbye Blue Monday, or any number of other local San Diego bands, you might have seen the bulletin the band posted early last week. The message included vocalist Matt Mournian's pleas about his girlfriend's stolen car. "Inside that [car] was every piece of musical gear I own. Everything. Literally... I feel so sick... what could I have done to deserve this?"
Bulletins and blogs reposted the message, and the response was huge; friends and fans offered financial help, instruments and equipment. Someone offered Mournian a guitar that had sat unused for two years. "I got over 45 personal messages from people," said Mournian, who was also dealing at the time with a close family member's life--threatening illness. "You don't even know your art affects people till something like this happens and people reach out."
Days later, Mournian found out the car had been recovered. The vehicle was stolen from Logan Heights and abandoned--with all the equipment
inside--somewhere in San Ysidro, where it was impounded for having a long--expired registration tag. "We had to pay $1,000 to get the car out of impound, and the ignition was broken [by the car thieves], but everything was left inside the vehicle. I wanted to ask questions, but at that point, you just count your losses and stop asking."
Mournian also got news that his family member's condition had improved. "It was really emotional," Mournian said. "It was the worst and best 48 hours of my life."
In related news, rumors of Goodbye Blue Monday's breakup are false. "We are definitely still together, just saving up songs for a special comeback," said Mournian, who is also playing with Emily Neveu in Calico Horse. MS/goodbyebluemonday, MS/theclock workarmy.
Turn that cop car around
It was also a lucky week for Di Nigunim, the 10--piece band that falls somewhere between Eastern European traditional music and punk rock. The group was playing a night at Bar Tentaculo in Tijuana when they learned firsthand about the laws of Mexico.
"We're pretty poor, so we tend to pre--drink before shows," said Gabe Kreb, one of two accordionists in the band. "A couple of us were drinking beers on the sidewalk when a Mexican cop came up to us and told us it was illegal to drink outside the bar."
They were allowed to pour out their drinks and go back inside without incident. But later, Kreb explained, two members who didn't know about the earlier encounter made the same mistake. This time, the cop searched their bags and found a pipe containing pot resin. The two were cuffed and stuffed in a squad car and were headed to every gringo's nightmare--Mexican jail.
In the U.S., you'd send a lawyer or at least a friend in a collared shirt down to the police station. In Tijuana, official procedure is a more fluid concept. And, apparently, rock bands have some clout.
"Some friends in another band are kind of a big deal in TJ. So somehow they made a call, [and] the patrol car taking the two turned around and brought the guys back to the club and released them," Kreb said. They were even dropped off in time to play their set as scheduled. MS/dernigunim.
Notes from the smoking patio
The Muslims and The Vultures recently canceled plans to tour the West Coast in October. "We booked the tour spontaneously and late," said Muslims guitarist Matty McCoughlin. "As the dates got closer, it just didn't really make sense financially. Also, unfortunately, there was, uh, well, I guess an ‘incident' between one of The Vultures and one of our members' girlfriends, like, a week--and--a--half before the first date. It was weird. I know him and know he's not a bad guy, but alcohol does weird things to people." McCoughlin declined further comment on the incident but was confident that the bands will reschedule the tour. MS/themuslims, MS/officialvultures.
The Prayers are on a new compilation CD released by Manimal Vinyl called Through the Wilderness. Proceeds benefit Madonna's Malawi Foundation, which supports children in Malawi who are orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Prayers' cover of "Cherish" sits among 15 other Madge covers by artists like Lavender Diamond and Giant Drag. Prayers vocalist--guitarist Brandon Welchez said the bands' inclusion was a bit of a bro deal: "I've known the guy at the label since I was 13 or 14. He worked at a record store and turned me on to a lot of the music of my youth." The Prayers will head to the U.K. this month for three dates in Manchester and five shows in London. MS/thefuckingprayers, www.manimalvinyl.com.
Bulletins and blogs reposted the message, and the response was huge; friends and fans offered financial help, instruments and equipment. Someone offered Mournian a guitar that had sat unused for two years. "I got over 45 personal messages from people," said Mournian, who was also dealing at the time with a close family member's life--threatening illness. "You don't even know your art affects people till something like this happens and people reach out."
Days later, Mournian found out the car had been recovered. The vehicle was stolen from Logan Heights and abandoned--with all the equipment
inside--somewhere in San Ysidro, where it was impounded for having a long--expired registration tag. "We had to pay $1,000 to get the car out of impound, and the ignition was broken [by the car thieves], but everything was left inside the vehicle. I wanted to ask questions, but at that point, you just count your losses and stop asking."
Mournian also got news that his family member's condition had improved. "It was really emotional," Mournian said. "It was the worst and best 48 hours of my life."
In related news, rumors of Goodbye Blue Monday's breakup are false. "We are definitely still together, just saving up songs for a special comeback," said Mournian, who is also playing with Emily Neveu in Calico Horse. MS/goodbyebluemonday, MS/theclock workarmy.
Turn that cop car around
It was also a lucky week for Di Nigunim, the 10--piece band that falls somewhere between Eastern European traditional music and punk rock. The group was playing a night at Bar Tentaculo in Tijuana when they learned firsthand about the laws of Mexico.
"We're pretty poor, so we tend to pre--drink before shows," said Gabe Kreb, one of two accordionists in the band. "A couple of us were drinking beers on the sidewalk when a Mexican cop came up to us and told us it was illegal to drink outside the bar."
They were allowed to pour out their drinks and go back inside without incident. But later, Kreb explained, two members who didn't know about the earlier encounter made the same mistake. This time, the cop searched their bags and found a pipe containing pot resin. The two were cuffed and stuffed in a squad car and were headed to every gringo's nightmare--Mexican jail.
In the U.S., you'd send a lawyer or at least a friend in a collared shirt down to the police station. In Tijuana, official procedure is a more fluid concept. And, apparently, rock bands have some clout.
"Some friends in another band are kind of a big deal in TJ. So somehow they made a call, [and] the patrol car taking the two turned around and brought the guys back to the club and released them," Kreb said. They were even dropped off in time to play their set as scheduled. MS/dernigunim.
Notes from the smoking patio
The Muslims and The Vultures recently canceled plans to tour the West Coast in October. "We booked the tour spontaneously and late," said Muslims guitarist Matty McCoughlin. "As the dates got closer, it just didn't really make sense financially. Also, unfortunately, there was, uh, well, I guess an ‘incident' between one of The Vultures and one of our members' girlfriends, like, a week--and--a--half before the first date. It was weird. I know him and know he's not a bad guy, but alcohol does weird things to people." McCoughlin declined further comment on the incident but was confident that the bands will reschedule the tour. MS/themuslims, MS/officialvultures.
The Prayers are on a new compilation CD released by Manimal Vinyl called Through the Wilderness. Proceeds benefit Madonna's Malawi Foundation, which supports children in Malawi who are orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Prayers' cover of "Cherish" sits among 15 other Madge covers by artists like Lavender Diamond and Giant Drag. Prayers vocalist--guitarist Brandon Welchez said the bands' inclusion was a bit of a bro deal: "I've known the guy at the label since I was 13 or 14. He worked at a record store and turned me on to a lot of the music of my youth." The Prayers will head to the U.K. this month for three dates in Manchester and five shows in London. MS/thefuckingprayers, www.manimalvinyl.com.
Published: 10/09/2007
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