2016...

“What should we do today?” - Me

We started the year off waking up in Anaheim at Disneyland, me with a slight headache, Jamie with a slight caffeine deficiency. We had spent the night before at Disneyland frolicing like 4 year olds one last time in 2015…but not before splitting a bottle of champagne in our hotel room first…and by splitting I mean she has a glass and I drank the rest…towards the end…straight from the bottle.

We got up - sort of - I found us coffees and a plate of cheap hotel pancakes and we were off to re-enter Disneyland for the first time in 2016, technically the second time in 2016, but who’s counting. We bounced back and forth between the 2 parks and that’s when I received a call. Over the last few months Jamie and I have been looking for an adventure mobile. Something we can cruise in, party in and make memories. The problem was, we are broke, so trying to find something within the $0 to $10 category that wasn’t a used Power-Wheel was becoming an issue. 

See my Instagram for a short video about this ride...@MattBates

Luckily for us, I am a Craigslist guru and have been told I should write a book or open an consulting agency about how to used Craigslist effectively. After searching through, negotiating and losing all hope we found a real diamond in the rough. One of those posts that is almost too good to be true, but we put in an offer 2 days earlier and they accepted. Boom. Win. I got off the phone and we left Disney as fast as we could to go meet up with them before they changed their minds.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present, Big Red...

Americans...#BigRed...

This has been one of the biggest impulse buys and most unplanned thing I have even done, which is not my style, but this thing is too good, we had to jump on it. This year is even more about just jumping, taking risks and continuing to focus on what makes us happy. This van might look like a silly old van no one wants but to us, this is our coast cruiser, the party machine and something that will be worth the story. (Plus, for what we bought it for, we can sell it and make a profit *Thumbs Up*).

Not a bad start to the new year, a day at Disney, cocktails with some great folks and a new addition to the fleet. 

2016, you are shaping up...

-YourFriendMatt

This one is on us...Part 2...

And...I'm drunk...

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to play drums on the Santa Monica Pier. This was definitely on my bucket list and I checked it off. The added bonus to the night was that Bud Light happened to be in the bar and picked up my tab, then bought my girlfriend and I's beers all night. Then they filmed me responding to whatever they asked me. Safe to say that I am drunk in the video above but I think they planned that...

This video is available on the Bud Light website...my mom is probably so proud...

-YourFriendMatt

Summer Film Series...

Over the next few weeks I will be posting some of the short films I have been lucky enough to work on. Making these were some of the best times of my life. It blows my mind how lucky I am that I work with so many talented people who let me call them my friends.

This was filmed shortly after I moved to Los Angeles. My buddy Chris called me to tell me he was in Las Vegas and had an idea. One bus fare, a few cocktails, lost footage, a red sports car and a totaled Ford Explorer later...and we had this. 

Enjoy!

-YourFriendMatt

Yep, she's dead...

"Well, shit." As I turned the key and the engine sputtered. Then died.

It was a great night. A fantastic night. I achieved another goal. I checked something off my bucket list. I have played two different House of Blues locations. Once at the House of Blues in Atlantic City playing with Run DMC (yeah, seriously. I have pictures to prove it) and now playing the House of Blues in Los Angeles (where I met Blues Brother himself, Dan Aykroyd. I don't have pictures to prove it. Just believe me).

Most people think being in a band must be glamours. But actually unless you are friggin' Coldplay you are driving for more than half the time and getting made fun of by security when no one is around. And broke, almost always, but for some reason I keep coming back for more. The show was over and everyone had left. Sweaty and tired we loaded out our gear through a half-ass service elevator with each trip, which should have been a few moments at most, taking about 15 minutes. 

After what felt like forever we were finally done and I was tried. We said our goodbyes and ran to get in my car to drive home. Whipping my keys out as fast as possible I jumped in the drivers seat and turned the ignition. Nothing. The sound of you car not starting, that almost-going-to-start-clicking noise, made me feel like the car was laughing at me. "Oh, you wanna go home? Well, I guess you shouldn't have left the headlights on the entire time you were loading out your gear! Moron! Ha-Ha!" My car whispered to be as the clicking played on. "Fuck you, car!" I yelled back as Jamie turned from the passenger seat to asked who I was talking too. "Uh, nobody." Having been caught talking to an intimate object but still turned back to the engine to flip it off.

Luckily one of the other bands that night was loading out and their girl singer/bass player was a mechanic. Sure? Why not. The security laugh at me as I accidentally touch the positive and negative ends of the jumper cables while sparks flew and I jumped (and screamed like a little girl).

Huge thanks to Jason at PopCultureRenegades for jumping me and our new friend, bass player mechanic girl!

The dumb things I do with my Apple Watch…

I recently received my Apple Watch in the mail and I am already in love with it. Judge away. I tried to explain to a friend how important my tech is to me and he elegantly looked to the sky paraphrasing the Rifelman’s Creed, “This is my watch. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” Then he gave a salute. Insanity aside, I feel this accurately depicts how I feel about my tech. I know, I know, everyone is wondering why you need it or what the hell these things actually do. I guess I am an early adopter. I have been using it as a fitness tracker, which is something I never thought I would do. I have also replied to messages, viewed emails and stayed up-to-date with news all by raising my wrist. I don't even know where my phone is right now, I am doing everything from my arm. Apple Watch is pretty friggin' awesome. But, besides all the formal things you can do with it. What about some of those informal things you can do with it? Well, here you go, these are some of the informal things I do with my watch. 

New vehicle to send phallic drawings.

Dick pics for days...

What is the first thing I did when I turned on my watch? Send a penis drawing to anyone I could. I don’t care, I know I am not a kid anymore, but dick and fart jokes will never get old. Period.

Taking calls in the shower.

Gotta take this..

Why not? It’s 2015, why shouldn’t I be able to take a phone call or respond to a text while exfoliating my face? This is one of the weirdest things I am getting used to. Sure, you don’t have to take your watch in the shower, but I figured screw it, I am.

Running my metronome.

And it stayed on my wrist...

This is actually pretty productive. I mean, sending a phallus to your friends for fun is great too. I recently played with my friends in Lost Sons at the House of Blues in LA (and met Dan Aykroyd!). I play to a metronome in my in-ear monitors to create a consistent set. I ran the entire show from my wrist, changing tempos with my metronome app, cleverly named Metronome from my wrist. Green sports band and everything.

As more and more of these hit the market and more and more apps hit the Watch App store I am sure we will see even more weird shit people are doing with their wearable tech. I am an app junkie and always looking for new ones. Evidently there is a spin-the-bottle watch app, another watch app to track your moles, along with a Whack-a-Mole app (your choice), and even a Magic 8 Ball watch app. Here's to the future, if you need me, you can call me...in the shower.

Will today be a good day?....Thanks Magic 8 Ball...

-YouFriendMatt

Stopped by my buddy Steve's house...

"Do those signs say no trespassing?" I whispered. "Well, I mean, it can't be trespassing if I am just walking down the street right?"

A few years ago I hated technology, couldn't stand it. (Honestly, still not the biggest fan). The thought of typing on a keyboard and the frustration that comes when your computer isn't doing exactly what you want it to do in 10 seconds was enough for me to stay completely away from them. I had a dumb phone and I thought the internet was an evil place, mainly because I didn't understand it. And I was right...the internet can be an evil, dark, weird, scary place if you look in the wrong spots, you weirdo's. That all sort of changed when I got my first iPhone a few years back. The ease of use and craftsmanship that came went into every feature, button and app hooked me. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid and became a part of the worldwide cult.

Last weekend Jamie and I went up to San Francisco to visit with some friends and venture around a new city we haven't explored. We took he scenic route up the Pacific Coast Highway along the golden pacific coast on our way. It added about 3 hours to our trip so on our way back we decided to take the direct route back to Los Angeles. One scenic drive, and 8 hours in a car accompanied by our small dog, is enough for any road trip. Typically when we are driving around America, especially in a new city, we will do some research to see if there are any off-the-beaten-track attractions for us to check out. When we were driving through Cupertino on our way home, we used the RoadTrippers app to see if there was anything around that we could check out quickly for fun and get back on the road. "Steve Jobs Childhood Home" was the first thing that populated and it was .05 miles from us on the highway. So, we pulled over to check it out. 

I guess they had just wrapped up filming for the latest Jobs' movie because the small town was still in a buzz, but there were not cameras or film crews to be seen. As we pulled onto the neighborhood street I couldn't help but think "This is just a regular neighborhood." I guess when things seem bigger than life you expect them to be this grand experience. But, all the world's most famous people, leaders or your role models...are just that, people. They all came from some neighborhood somewhere.

We did a quick drive-by of the house and there we signs all over the street and front yard stating the house is under "surveillance" and "no photo please." Pfft. I can't help it if I take a photo from the street and your house happens to be in the background. We quickly jumped out of the car, ran down the street, got into position, snapped the photo and ran away like we had just played ding-dong-ditch (that game you play as a kid ringing someones doorbell, running away as fast as possible and then hiding behind something to see if they answer the door, such fun). Jamie took a bunch of great pictures and obviously in this day and age where instant gratification is a must we reviewed them while sitting in the car before we took off from this quiet neighborhood.

I love traveling and I love my phone. I use this technology to stay in touch with my family across the country. It's friggin' awesome.

Remember, when there is a sign that says don't take photos, pretend like you didn't see it.

Stallions...Have a One Track Mind...

It's officially summer. I don't know about you but when summer hits I want nothing more than the sun, the beach and some flawless, poppy jams. Luckily, I did not have too look to far to discover the new single "Still Chasing" by rock foursome Stallions. "Still Chasing" is a sample from what we can expect from the bands new EP due out in July, One Track Mind. "Still Chasing" opens up with a effortlessly, upbeat tempo and leads to an undeniable chorus that gets stuck in your head until you are screaming it over and over again. We had a chance to catch up with Stallions recently to see what is going on.

YFM: Your new EP One Track Mind took a year and half to finish, what was different from this writing process than prior releases?

Stallions: This was the first album that we all wrote the music together. One of us would come to practice with a riff or idea and then we would expand on it as a group. We would record a quick demo of that song and Andrew would write lyrics and a melody to it.  After getting the principle tracks done for the album Shane and I [Steve] spent a ton of time programming drums and writing keyboard parts for the songs. 

YFM: Any plans to hit the road to support One Track Mind? 

Stallions: We are hoping to build enough buzz to make touring a viable option. We already have a tour bus! 

YFM: What can we expect from Stallions in the next year?

Stallions: We will be recording another music video in the next couple months for "Five More Steps." One of the other songs from One Track Mind. We would love to be able to make this our careers.

Give the new track "Still Chasing" a listen and look for Stallions in a town near you soon. One Track Mind will not disappoint. The musicianship, the voice and the good summer vibes are all accounted for and ready to take over your summer speakers. Stallions are here. Check them out now!

For Stallions info click here!

Scenic Route...

 "Where in the hell are we and who owns all these cows?"

This weekend Jamie and I took the scenic route up to San Francisco to visit with some friends. We love road trips and we ecstatic that we had extra time to take the long way up the coast. We cruised up the PCH for hours past countless forgotten beach towns and cattel farms. It's amazing how many cows there are wondering the golden hills of California. Honestly, who the hell do they belong too? 

When we finally ran out of gas, which always seems to happen happens when you are about 80 miles from the nearest gas station, we found King City.  We didn't getting to spend much time there but we were able to find this actual general store and meandered the dusty aisles for souvenirs. This was a true truck stop but we had the sense this was the kind of town that the Disney/Pixar movie Cars was based on. The owner was elated that we were there, showed us around, petted our dog and even threw in a free frisbee with our purchases.

What was your last road trip? 

Record Store Day at The Record Parlour...

Want to dig through crates of quality vintage records? Find music you grew up with? Discover music you never knew existed and discuss it with other music enthusiasts? The Record Parlour on Selma Avenue in the heart of Hollywood is a one-stop shop for all things music. They specialize in hunting down vinyl records, cassettes, old school turntables, and band memorabilia creating a culture of community that the neighborhood desperately needs. Attracting everyone who has a passion for the music, with over 20,000 vinyl records, vintage stereo gear and music memorabilia, the Record Parlour is quickly becoming a staple hang out for the surrounding hipster youth.

Since it opened, almost two years ago by owner Chris Honetschlaeger and manager/partner Chadwick Hemus, the store has been building a name for itself by hosting exciting in-store showcases, pop-up performance gigs, album playbacks and DJ sets to entire live performances recorded and transferred directly to vinyl onsite. Honetschlaeger has a background in vintage equipment and Hemu’s pedigree is as a vinyl curator for the original Amoeba (San Francisco)—which ensures that the sound and quality are outstanding.

Rooms and rooms and rooms filled and organized with albums...

For Record Store Day on Saturday, April 18 The Record Parlour hosted a series of events and live performances kicking off the celebration with the debut vinyl collection from the estate of philanthropist Marshall Howard. The heavily curated collection features extremely rare original finds—including Jazz, R&B, Classic Rock, Soul, Blues, Exotica and Folk. Bands that performed included Isaac Rother & The Phantoms, Lee Bob and The Truth and Big Jay McNeely & Rob Stone: Chicago Blues; and there was a book signing of Record Store Book: Fifty Legendary and Iconic Places to Discover New and Used Vinyl by author Mike E. Spitz and photographer Rebecca Villaneda.

We had a chance to sit down with Honetschlaeger to see what makes The Record Parlour tick.

M2M: How long have you been serving the community?

Honetschlaeger: We opened August 2013, so a little over a year and half. It took me four months to build. It was all offices before. I basically knocked out all the walls to keep the space open. The idea was this building has so much history being an old print shop in the 20’s. If you look around Hollywood these buildings are going away with all the development going on. We just basically came in here and reconfigured the whole joint.

M2M: What makes The Record Parlour different from other record stores?

Honetschlaeger: I don’t think we’re a record store at all. We’re a record / lifestyle store. I am not offended by the record store [title] but I just think we are bigger than that and here’s why, the three P’s: Purchase, Perform and Produce. That’s the vision here. We go past the one-dimensional place to purchase music. The second “P” stands for “place to perform music.” We built a stage and an incredible sound system. We have had little bands and big bands play here and they tell us it sounds amazing. It sounds amazing because we make it amazing. Venues operate 24/7. If a speaker goes out they can’t get to it for two weeks. I have a tech on staff, so if something goes out, it’s fixed immediately. Also, we don’t stack bands. There is only one band per night, except for today, which is special because of Record Store Day. One band per night gives the band time to hang out and sell their merchandise. If you have ever been a musician it can be pretty hectic to be rushed around. The third “P,” which we started rolling out in January, stands for “a place to produce music.’ So downstairs, right below us, is going to be our control room. So literally you come play, cut a record on our record lave, perform it that day and sell your records. Again, Purchase, Perform, Produce.

M2M: What is on your personal turntable right now?

Honetschlaeger: Well I have a five year-old daughter so nothing is ever on my turntable. I don’t know if you have kids, but it will get destroyed. [laughs] But what was on my turntable was, well like to tinker with DJ’ing. I am sort of good at it, not that I am a scratchy turntable-ist but I know how to put songs that are BPM (beats per minute) related together and that’s hard because you’re tying into the vibe of the song, or to the break of a song, or the bridge of a song. Nowadays with all these DJ’s I have to say it’s pretty easy. I mean everything is BPM or beat tracker. Back in the day all we had was vinyl. Everyone who comes here spins records. I’m talking about real records and that’s really, really hard, especially if you’re not tapping them out or matching BPM’s. But what’s on my turntable? As of right now. Rick James.

Honetschlaeger’s passion for detail and love for music is what makes The Record Parlour an undeniable epicenter. The rustic feel of open space, brick walls and exposed wood beams give the space character that is accentuated by its enthusiastically helpful staff. Whether you want to find that KISS album you had in your teen years, acquire a first pressing of Changes by David Bowie or catch a concert of local The Record Parlour is a must.

The Record Parlour owners hard at work...

THE RECORD PARLOUR is located in Cahuenga Corridor: 6408 Selma Avenue: Hollywood, CA 90028. www.therecordparlour.com

Fraudulent Charges...

"I am not saying it was you, but someone spent $100 on condoms, stool softener and nail polish at Walgreens Mr. Bates." - Bank Customer Service. 

I am a victim of fraudulent charges...for the second time in my life. I am told it happens to the best of us. Whoever said that is a dickhead though. Fraud blows. The last time this happened the bank froze my account and we set up a covert operation. I had to call from a specific number when I was at a local ATM. They could then unfreeze my account for 90 seconds so I could get some money to last me until they sent me a new card. I felt like a secret agent. Like we are about to sneak into a Swiss bank account and take them for everything they got. Then I looked at my bank statement and reality set back in.

I currently have no access to my money and I can't say that my customer service has been that stellar either. When they say they work banker's hours they weren't kidding. I wish I worked Monday through Friday 9-5. Conveniently, my fraud happened on a weekend, but don't worry, they will be working on getting my money back in a few business days...starting Monday. “Do you have any checks that you can use until we get you your new card?” My banks customer service agent asks over the phone. “Are you kidding me? It’s 2015. Who the hell even knows how to write a check? Can we just expedite me a new card and we can be done with this?” I reply. “Yes, Mr. Bates, for an additional $15 we can expedite the card and you should have it sometime early next week.” I am stunned. Yep. That sounds about right. Sure, why not. Let's do that.

Honestly though, after I got over the shock and anger of this situation, it has not been that bad. As I am currently write this I have a $1 bill in my pocket, which Jamie gave me, and have been coming up with inventive ways to pays for things. I say we bring back the bartering days. "I don't know, what do you say? I give you this nice pen in exchange for that bag of chips?" But I don't think that guy at 7-11 was amused by my offer. Apps have really helped. The Starbucks App has been great. I reload my gold card with them using my PayPal account so I have been living off a healthy diet of vanilla coffee and scones. Did you know they have a new Mini Frappuccino? What will they come up with next?

Anyone else ever go through this?

I Got Peed On...

“Oh, man. My bad. At least you know he is hydrated.” - Some Dad 

Returning from a lunch break, I hit the restroom to relieve myself before getting back to work. Standing at the urinal doing my business another group of individuals wander into the bathroom. A dad and I assumed his children from the sounds. Using proper guy-code-restroom-edicate I didn’t turn around to check it all out. You never turn around. Just keep your eyes on your business. My urinal was next to one of the stalls. As I was looking down, I saw little sneakers in my peripheral vision from the stall next to me. I assumed routine dad bathroom business as he needed to help his son. Except this time I didn't see a pair adult size sneakers slide into my peripheral. "No big deal." I thought. 

A second later, I thought I was bleeding. I felt a hot streak across ankle and foot. I looked down to make sure I was okay. At this point, I am still going. As Lloydd Christmas said "I can't stop once I've started. It stings!" After further inspection of my foot, it seems there was a clear liquid on it. And then another hot streak...and another. I guess this kid was just pretending he was a front yard sprinkler swaying and pissing wherever he wanted. I froze. I didn't know what to do. I have never been peed on before. I got out a subtle "Uh? Stop! Please. Don't pee on me!" trying to zip up, back up and see where the hell this kids dad was.

It turns out the dad was in the other stall, helping his other son and trusted his 2-year-old to aim on his own. He came out of the stall as I looked at him. Not knowing what else to do I pointed at my pee-covered foot. "Oh, man. You peed on yourself?" was the dad's first response. I thought to myself, "If I had peed on myself why the hell would I tell you?" This is a weird day. I told him it was not my pee and he responded with an inquisitive "You sure?" I just stared at him in disbelief trying to hold back my confusion and displeasure of having someone I don't knows pee on me, I pointed to the bathroom floor where it looked like someone spilled a glass of water. "Oh, man." He said...again. This guys temperate was that of a high 16-year-old drop out. "Well, at least you know he is hydrated!" And gave a little chuckle. 

He offered to clean my foot and this is when I chose to leave the bathroom. I don't know if I could have handled the weirdness of a kid I don't know peeing on me and a guy I don't know washing my foot in a public bathroom. Does this kind of stuff ever happened to you?

Moving forward I will probably just wait to use the handicap accessible stalls from now on.

-YourFriendMatt

The Gitas Album Review...

The latest album release, Garland, from Orange County natives, The Gitas, is a perfect blend of old-school rock with new-school hipster appeal. Introductory track “Brand New Life” opens with a heartbeat as the soothing vocals of singer/guitarist Sasha Chemerov leads us to a catchy chorus and we get an ‘easy feeling everything is great.’ The impressive trio blends a fuzzy sound of rock with an elegant splash of Seattle grunge. The big production is impressive considering the band consists of three members. Drummer Brittany Maccarello holds her own providing a steady backbone while offering listeners tastefully executed and seemingly effortless drum fills. Bass player Sal Ramazzini locks in and holds down the booming low-end sprinkled with precise runs that fill your headphones. The Gitas offer the perfect amount of dirty alt-rock and SXSW charm every KROQ artist has missed the mark on. They set themselves apart from the over polished cookie-cutter rock tunes spinning on national radio stations.

Garland flows from the intro track to a slow but steadily paced “Black Crows.” This is your new whiskey drinking jam at the end of the working week. The hypnotizing lyrics make you want to break from the stress of the week and soar with happiness. An eerie bridge leads us right back into the chorus and we can’t help shouting along. The single from Garland “Mood for Love” displays Sasha’s more raspy vocal talent in the vein of Kurt Cobain but the smooth accented falsetto sets the song apart. This is noticeably the most upbeat track on the album and displays the bands more Pop-oriented side. “Precious Day” is a heavy rock track that does not quit. From beginning to end the energy takes hold of you and the vocals erupt. Huge hard-hitting drums and gain turned up to 11—the band sounds like they will jump through your speakers to get their message across. Sasha’s vocal cords nearly rip apart by the time we get out of the heavy half-timed riff-laden bridge to the song’s end. Do yourself a favor and check out their new album Garland today.

Keep up to date with The Gitas here: www.thegitas.com

The Start of SoFar Sounds...

Driving up Mulholland Drive to a beautiful home perched up in the hills between Sherman Oaks and Bel Air we could sense we were in for an interesting night. After all, we were about to attend to a secret show in the Hollywood hills. How hip is that? My sister and I climbed up a steep driveway and walked into the living room, set up with a grand piano in front of floor-to-ceiling windows leading to a breathtaking view of the city below. We enjoyed stripped-down, close-up performances by Robbie Boyd (http://www.robbie-boyd.com/), Only You (http://www.myonlyyou.com/), and The Dead Ships (http://www.thedeadships.com/). It was an amazing evening with an amazing session - Sofar definitely holds themselves to a higher standard. 

Photography: Zane Roessell @ zrofoto.com

So how did this amazing global secret show circuit come to be? We caught up with Monina Castillo, who manages L.A. PR for the organization. She gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the history behind Sofar (which stands for “Songs from a room”) and how the all volunteer staff make the magic happen. 

Sofar Sounds was born in London in 2009 by Rafe Offer, David J. Alexander and Rocky Start. These gents were tired of talented artists being underappreciated in the typical loud, rowdy, drunken bar scene. “They wanted to create an alternative option - an atmosphere where people would truly listen and give respect to the music that was being played,” Monina told us. “What resulted was a unique experience and an intimate connection for both music lovers and artists alike.” Six years later, Sofar Sounds is in over 80+ cities across the world, and they’re still growing. 

The Sofar Sounds crew sources their artists by keeping in tune with their local music scene, taking submissions from artists interested in playing, and getting referrals from other Sofar cities. If bands submit themselves, Sofar’s team of global reviewers takes a listen, and if the whole team loves them, they’re invited to perform at a Sofar show. How’s that for quality control?

This all-volunteer community relies on the generosity of hosts around the world to open their homes and businesses to Sofar Sound’s bands and guests. Each location is different for every session but typically, per the Sofar Sounds M.O., they are in living rooms to keep an intimate vibe. Though sometimes the sessions can take place in other unique settings; Sofar Sounds LA have also had their shows in a Pilates studio, furniture store, art gallery and work/space lofts.

Sofar Sounds is a collaborative community and happy to just share this amazing music with viewers like you, but they could always use some help! Head over to their site to volunteer your time and talent to their events worldwide, offer to host a show in your space, or ask them to check out your music for an opportunity to play one of their shows. If you’d rather just sit back and enjoy the tunes, please consider leaving a donation of good-ole-cash money. 

Record Store Day 2015...

The last man in line...Happy Record Store Day!

"Holy crap. This sucks." I am the last man in line at Amoeba Records in Hollywood. What the hell was I thinking?" I went through this last year and it took me four hours to get through the line. I didn't get half the records I wanted. "This year will be different." I told myself. "I will get up early or sleep out the night before!" Over and over again. 

Waking up at 9:00am on Record Store Day I figured I'd be screwed. And I was. I rounded the corner after parking about a mile away and then I saw it. The mother of all lines filled with vinyl junkies waiting to get their fix. The one good thing that Amoeba does on Record Store Day is keep a list of all the releases on a white board out front of the shop. This allows them to cross things off as they sell out of them...and when Brand New releases a vinyl press of their "break out" album and it’s limited to 1,500 world wide...chances are I'm not getting it when I'm standing in line 3 miles away. 

I stood around for a few minutes chatting with a few of my fellow slackers who slept in before I decided to wander up to the front of the store to see what was already sold out. What do I care if I lose my spot in line. As I expected...every release I wanted was sold out. I heard people in the front of the line saying they had been camped out since 7pm...the day earlier. Watching happy folks walk away from Amoeba toting their prize record purchases just adds insult to injury. These people were the smart ones…or crazy ones…who slept out all night. Bastards.

So. I left. Broken. Beaten. And bummed. 

I gave it one last-ditch effort and decided to hit one more record store before I went home with my tail between my legs. Record Surplus on Santa Monica, less than 2 miles from my house, had ALL the releases I wanted and NO LINE. The record gods shined down on me after all. This place is an oasis. I couldn't believe it. This is truly a neighborhood record shop and I will be shopping there before I cross the 10 any day. It just goes to show…if you sleep in…you win.

California Screamin'

"Man, that noise did not sound good." I thought to myself right before my coaster came to a screeching halt.

Yesterday Jamie and I went to Disneyland. If you follow my Instagram (@MattBates) this probably comes as no surprise. We are first time annual pass-holders and since we purchased the passes we have already be to Disneyland 12 times...in 10 weeks. That's roughly about $2,000 if we would have purchased regular tickets every time instead of getting annual passes...I think we're getting our money's worth.

We grabbed a beer as we walked through the park after eating a quick burrito dinner. I am getting good at reading the crowds of zombie-like, fatigued out-of-state vacationers trying to cram in as much as the park can offer on their yearly vacation. We strolled passed California Screamin'. Although it looked packed and would take an hour to get on the ride; it was just the crowd traffic around the area. The real wait time to get on the ride was only 10 minutes. This is very unusual for a Saturday where ride lines can take up to an hour and a half. I turned to Jamie excitedly, "We have to get on! You almost done your beer!" As it turned out she didn't want to get on a roller coaster 15 minutes after eating a burrito...followed up by a beer. I could see her point, but I have an iron stomach. She encouraged me to go my as a solo rider and we would meet up after. Taking advantage of the opportunity I kissed her forehead, downed my beer and ran off like a 5-year-old flailing my limbs around jumping for joy.

I quickly got through the line and when the cast member asked me how many were in my party so he could get me on the ride I told him I was a single rider. I also told him I would be willing to wait until the next ride went if I could sit in the front which he didn't mind. The ride I was suppose to be on shot off and I was next to sit front seat for this roller coaster. The coaster pulled in and the riders filed off. I shot Jamie a quick text before stepping on the ride to let her know I was about to go if she wanted to see me off. My phone back in my pocket I stepped on the ride, pulled down the safety bar and waited to be launched.

The ride released and we moved forward. California Screamin' stops right around the first corner so you can see the first incline you'll be flung over. This also gives you family members a good photo opportunity. Jamie stood looking over as I waved or gave her a thumbs up for the front row. The countdown started and I heard an awful metal screeching sound followed by a booming thud. Not normal. And not what you want to hear right before your roller coaster takes off. "Okay Screamers! Ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!" Echoed over the sound system as our coaster stayed stationary. I looked over to Jamie and shrugged. "Okay Screamers! Ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!" Again over the sound system and nothing. I started to look around as if I was being punked. "Okay Screamers! Ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!" Nothing again but more horrible metal grinding sounds. On-lookers stared at us on the ride as we all tried to play it off like we weren't kind of scared in a Final Destination kind of way. This was starting to worry me but we all remained in good spirits. The suspense was started in the build. In my head I started to think what if this thing really is broke? How the hell are we going to get out of here? I mean, I am sure we will be fine right? This is Disney. They know what they are doing? Right? Besides, I am kind of like Macgyver, I can fix this. 

Although it was probably a routine maintenance problem for Disneyland it scared the crap out of me. We probably only sat for a few moments before the ride finally released but it felt like an eternity. I did enjoy the ride when it took off and will continue to go on it...repeatedly. But if I am being honest, I held on for dear life this time around. Even still, through a brief moment of uncertainty...you can't pass up giving the camera on the coaster a goofy face if you know where it is.

Kid behind me was not as pumped as I was...

Ever get stuck on a ride at an amusement park?

-YourFriendMatt

Cat Cork EP Review...

With a fluid sound and effortless lyrics, the new self-titled EP release from Australian musician Cat Cork starts with a simplistically relatable bang. Tranquilizing vocals on the introductory track, “Dreaming My Life Away,” whisper effortless lyrics that all listeners can connect with. Reminiscent of the stripped down album, Nebraska by Springsteen, a simple bell keeps the tempo as the rustic guitar plays along with the melodic chorus. As the last refrain hits, the straightforward instruments take over and the epilogue plays on.

“Let It All Go!” takes over from here with its straightforward message. Cat Cork pulls all the stops, letting the listener dive in and be submerged in sea of familiarity. Feelings expressed and honest words bridge gaps missing in most of the cookie-cutter folk being shoveled through your radio speakers—Cork’s music is, well…it’s a breath of fresh air. Engaging questions layered in the verses are answered in the song’s chorus. A tasteful piano presence leads to a surprising element of complexity as the EP bleeds into “Wandering Rocks.” A mix of mandolin and acoustic guitar complement each other as stoic dual vocals collide.

“Hold On” warms up when arpeggiati notes unite with a chugging chord chorus. All instruments build towards a multi-vocal layer, filling headphones with a full and beautiful choir. A fade leads to the stories eerie ending of piano, percussive, instrumental bliss. A quick listen or a repeat play of this EP does not disappoint. It is not a far stretch from earlier work of Cork but leaves fans satisfied and craving more.

Editor’s Note: Worth a listen: “Never Want to Wake Up”

Office Hours...

"What in the world could you be doing in there for that long!" She said for the umpteenth time nearly kicking down the door. "I gotta pee so bad I'm going to explode!" I respond with a calm and simple "I do some of my best thinking in here.”

It has become my favorite room in the house. A spot where I can go to be alone with my thoughts. Enjoy a cup of coffee. Depending on the time of day I may even finish a beer. This is a place where I can skim through various social media outlets, catch up on my library book or even come up with the idea to write this very post -- I may have even written half of it while in here.

The bathroom is my office. And during Office Hours I get some of my best work done. Getting zen in the bathroom is a part of my routine and I look forward to it. Every morning I budget time before my hectic commute — a bike ride lining beach — to take care of business (if you know what I mean) but to also reply to emails, send birthday wishes, play Words with Friends against my uncles, pay bills wirelessly and plot my day.

Since we have opposite schedules my Office Hours usually are not an issue for us. Jamie doesn't have to get up for another hour after I have already left for work. On a rare weekend we are both off is usually when it creates a disturbance. Moving forward with our life together we will eventually have to have at least 2 offices. I do respect that she has to go in there, but I do give fair warning before I enter.  “You may not see me for a while.” I pause like a sergeant going into battle. I look up to the sky for dramatic effect as I secure my iPad under my arm. Sleep dust crusted in the corner of my eyes and my hair sticking up in every direction from my glorious slumber, “This one might be hell. Burritos last night. A black coffee and Raisen Bran. What was I thinking?" Pausing to bite my lower lip pretending I'm about to cry for more dramatic effect. "And I have to come up with a 80 point word against Uncle Phil. I love you. Wish me luck.” I kiss her head as she scoffs in disgust. “You are so gross.” Waving me off, “I love you too.” As the door closes and I am at peace.

List of (some) Accomplishments during Office Hours:

• YourFriendMatt.com was created here.
• Making countless and accurate grocery lists.
• Applying to college.
• Canceling cable.
• Viewing and Completing Season 3 of Breaking Bad.
• Paying bills, trading stocks and chats with my financial advisor.
• Planning birthdays and family functions.
• Nearly every call I have had with any customer service agent...ever. 
• Obligatory crossword puzzles.

Need I say more? Don't act like you aren't viewing this from a Facebook post on your toilet right now.

-YourFriendMatt

Dear Boy Review...

With an infectious on-stage presence, Dear Boy is making some serious moves in the California alt-rock scene.

The project that would eventually become Dear Boy came about in London when Scarlet Grey members Ben Grey and Keith Cooper started a new writing venture. It was intended to be the next step in Scarlet Grey’s musical progression, but engendered something completely different. Knowing that this new batch of songs couldn’t go on with the same band, Ben and Keith brought on Austin Hayman and Nils Bue, and Dear Boy was born. They released the five songs from London on their debut EP and the rest is history in the making. While their latest songs are a collaborative product from all four members, it still follows the path that Keith and Ben had started in London.

To be honest, when I first heard the name “Dear Boy”, I pictured a crop of cute indie chicks smoothly serenading their ex-lovers – what I discovered instead was a paradoxical stream of melodic yet energetic beats with hints of pop-punk and indie rock with some new flavor sprinkled on top. So where did the name come from? The names credit actually goes to a British gal who waited on a homesick half-band in creative limbo. During their London trip, Keith and Ben were out to eat on Thanksgiving. As you (hopefully) know, Thanksgiving isn’t really a “thing” in London, unless you come across some Yankee ex-pats. The waitress referred to them as “dear boys” and something about the name got into their blood and it was clear that this was the name for their next chapter.

2015 is shaping up to be a great year for these dear boys. They have already played a slew of shows, having kicked off March with a few dates in Orange County. Mid-March will see them venturing to the first of what is sure to be a spree of festivals for them this year with SXSW in Austin. This will be their second year playing the SX circuit, but with a few more gigs on their schedule. I caught up with Austin Hayman at Dear Boy’s Bardot gig a few weeks back. “We have a really crazy week at SX - we’re playing a whole bunch of shows, that’s going to be really fun!”

When asked if a record deal is on the horizon for 2015, Austin let me know that while they’ve had some good talks, they haven’t made a decision yet. “You have to be really selective about who you want to work with, especially with your first album because it can really make or break you.”

One of Dear Boy’s undeniable strengths is their ability to connect with their fans – both on stage and off. Sure, Ben Grey has mastered control of his brooding musician hair flip, to a point where it seems almost choreographed with the rest of the show. But they also definitely engage the audience in the show while on stage, making sure to wave at those fans that are in the crowd night after night. After the show it’s hard to pin any of them down, not because they’re busy with the after party or rushing to sneak out the back, but because they actually stop and talk to their fans. “One of the things we’re the most proud of is the community we’ve helped create amidst the congestion of LA,” shared Ben. “We’re all in this together and it’d be impossible to forget the people who have helped take us this far. We've been incredibly lucky.”

Find the latest updates on Dear Boy at http://www.dearboyofficial.com/

Damn you, Hootie...

 "Holy Crap! This song is awful." I state but no matter of the volume she doesn't hear me. My girlfriend loves country music.

I am forever doomed to listen to twanging guitars and lyrics about red dirt roads. I guess it's not all bad. The older stuff seems to hit a lot harder than the crap Nashville is cranking out now. A lyric from a song I heard the other day went something along the lines of "Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit." Now, I am not a song writing master but holy hell that was the best that song-writing team could do? They have to have what, a billion dollars? The worst part is no matter how much I hate the song it always gets stuck in my head, or hers, all night. And we always only know one line from the song so we repeat it over and over again! I guess that team did do it right, bastards. Even Hootie - of The Blowfish fame - is getting in on the action. That's right. Hootie is a country singer. Yes, I know his name is Darius. But I feel I'm not alone when I say he will be Hootie to everyone until the end of time.

Regardless, there is just something about this woman. I love her. So, she can listen to the country station and dance with the frozen peas and roasted chicken we just bought for dinner. I am sure she puts up with enough of my crap daily. I thought the video attached was too good not to share. This is one of her new favorite jams and when we hear it this is her reaction. There will never be a shortage of new country songs on the radio. She will continue to fall in love with them but every time she does something like this I fall more in love with her. Even if the song is crap.

Damn you, Hootie!

-YourFriendMatt

The American Public...Part 2...Mr. Prick

"Uh! I don't know how that got there!" He said frantically as he tried to hit any button that would close the x-rated open web-browser that read "Grandpa's Christmas Cookie.”

Author Side-note: Ew. 

I use to do freelance tech support for a small law firm. It was the best job ever, but I was working through school so anything with a paycheck seemed good enough for me. One day while making the rounds at the office one of the partners flagged me down. He was a real prick. Never said hello to me, always cut me off, especially when I was explaining things to him. He even asked me to leave the room while I was fixing his computer because “The Big Boys were talking.” He then laughed at me as I left the room with his colleagues. Once again, I can't say this enough, this guy is a prick.

"What the hell is a cloud anyway!" As his boney pointer finger digs into my chest. I ask him how I can help him and he proceeds to tell me how nobody can fix his problems. "No shit." I thought to myself. “All I need is for this-to-talk-to-this and then you can leave.” As he slams his tablet next to his desktop computer. “You got that? Are you paying attention?” Almost cutting himself off, then scoffs. I start looking through his preferences, settings, etc asking standard questions “Sir, do you know your password?” Turning to look at him. He shoots me a look like I have just murdered his family. “How? How the fuck am I suppose to remember a password, you dumb shit?” Oh, I forgot. I am a complete dickhead. It's my fault you can't remember the same password you use everyday to get into your email. My bad. This is when I notice the porn open...but hidden behind another application. And, not just any porn. The title of this erotically graphic adult adventure is 'Grandpa's Christmas Cookie.'

This prick goes on to tell me my millennial generation is a bunch of "dumb-asses" and have no respect. He then tells me I need to "get my shit together" and stop "dicking around" when he has so much work to do. Clearly, I am not the one dicking around here and I know how to push this porn, Grandpa's Christmas Cookie, to the front lobby TV. I double-click while he continues yelling at me and before you know it two tan, barely-legal spread legs topped with a Santa hat are being broadcast to the entire office. Nothing is more priceless than watching someone, especially such a fucking prick, scramble to make their dirty porn go away. He pokes the monitor - which is NOT a touch screen - presses delete and finally just shakes the monitor to make it stop. The entire office was blasted with sex as he works any combination of keys to make it all go away. I love when people forget that their desktop computer monitor isn't a touch screen.

Needless to say I didn't last long there and Mr. Prick never talked to me again. It is my hope that he learned his lesson...but probably not. People like him never do. Regardless, I think we can all agree on two things. Porn is great when you don't get caught watching it...and that guy is a prick.

-YourFriendMatt

Enjoy this post? Check out The American Public Part One here!