A personal story about playing at the House of Blues...

Here I am at the Outside Lands Festival...
not the HOB of course :)

Ever since I was a young kid, just learning how to play bass and discovering what I liked listening to, the House of Blues on Sunset was always this mysterious presence in my parent's yearly rounds of concerts...a place at which all the top groups performed, but also one that somehow maintained a homely vibe and ambiance. My dad still talks about getting the chance to meet Jimmy Vaughan (Stevie Ray's older brother) just outside the entrance, on the sidewalk of Sunset boulevard. I remember seeing The Roots perform there, and just being in awe of the energy coming off the stage and bouncing around the willing audience.

In the last couple of month's, I've had the opportunity to play this amazing venue as the newest member of Cosmic Suckerpunch, and it has absolutely been a dream come true. I didn't anticipate feeling so accomplished after any one gig, but somehow it just gets to me in a very special way playing in such a cool spot. I know I'm not the only one in the band looking forward to playing there again, but I just know that when we get the opportunity to play on the main stage in the main showroom, whenever that may be, I'm going to put every ounce of energy and emotion I have into that performance, because the venue is just that inspiring for me. Even though we are constantly working to get better as a band and that is definitely happening, I felt like our latest performance at the House of Blues, this past Monday, was our best show in a lot of ways. I can't help but think the venue played a big part in that.

In the Parish Room, where we've played these last two times within the House of Blues, there are relief sculptures of famous musical artists up on the slanted ceilings. When we played "Hey Joe" underneath the relief of Jimi Hendrix, I almost got chills looking up and seeing his face in stone staring down on us...it was an interesting type of energy that urged me to push forward and really play my heart out and do everything possible to honor his legacy. That's the way the whole place makes me feel, a place where good music is propelled to the forefront and held in the highest regard...and it's such a good feeling to join the group of artists who've helped make that reputation possible throughout the years.

-Josh (the new bass player)

Sunday morning rock history

As you might know, I am not only a vinyl collector, but also a Jimi Hendrix fan. So yesterday, when, in a local store with Josh, I found an original vinyl edition of the abum Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi, I couldn't help myself from getting it. So here we are today, the feared Sunday morning of Carmageddon.

Today I need to do some sound experiment with my rig, do some pre-production stuff for the music video we're shooting with the band next week. But first, what a better way to start a Sunday than with a cup of Joe and some good ol' Jimi Hendrix? When listening to him, I am always amazed by two things, 1-that Jimi Hendrix, who learnt how to play guitar, very much self-taught,  and played it in the subway, went to become one of the most incredible guitar player ever, and one of the major influences of modern guitar, who influenced probably every single rock band in the history, (from the Rolling Stones to Cosmic Suckerpunch). 2- that in something like 5 years, (1964-69), the same thing happened to music than what happened to technological evolution at the beginning of the 20th century: a rush of discoveries never seen before, raising the bar to an unforeseen level. All the effects that were invented in the 60's are the same we're using today (most of which were invented by mistakes and experimentations) such as flanger, chorus, large reverb, delay... There is no such thing as new effects invented nowadays, just combinations of those from the 60's that are now called "new effect". But really, back then, they invented everything. As you can see in the picture, even Bijou, our unofficial mascot, is interested in reading the liner notes. I mean who wouldn't? Hendrix, for instance, is one of the dudes that invented distortion, as simple as it is. Imaginary discussion between Hendrix and a dude that never heard of him
"Dude: What's your name?
Hendrix: I am Jimi Hendrix
Dude: What do you do?
Hendrix: Errrr.... I invented distortion...
Now that's thinking outside the box."

Time to get to work,

FabZ

First show as Cosmic Suckerpunch!

Last night, we played our first show, "officially" as Cosmic Suckerpunch, at the House of Blues here in L.A! Taking Back Sunday was playing on the main stage earlier that night. We played in the Foundation Room, a room at Sunset blvd level, but third floor of the venue. It is their smallest room, closer to a living room, but perhaps the one that has the most character, with walls resembling more to an eastern patchwork. Despite our later time slot (midnight), we still managed to draw a cool crowd, and even got some dancing action on the crowd's side! We also performed for the first time the cover "Wish you Were Here", by Pink Floyd, which was very fun to play. Complete success! - Fabien