Harmonicas, Gigs, and Recordings

Since the last post, Short Punks has been busy adding gear and writing songs. In a recent commute home from work we stopped at Brian's favorite guitar shop, Midwest Buy and Sell, and brought home a beautiful new Gretsch, which is featured on the new CD due out in the spring. You can read about that at the other blog.

And after the addition of the new guitar, we also asked Bob Kessler, a great harmonica player, to join us a featured artist at gigs and on the new CD. Our first couple of shows together at Phyllis' Musical Inn and The Bottom Lounge (see pic) went great. Bob brought some new energy and great sound to the Short Punks set and we're looking forward to releasing next CD. So, check back here for updates.

The Feet

If you've never seen us play live then you've never seen one of the more unusual elements of Brian's set-up when he plays. Aside from the two amps (Peavey and Crate), aside from the pedal board with the boutique pedals, and aside from the two Reverend guitars, Brian also brings his own little blue rug to play on and he plays barefoot.

I began to realize this was unusual when I would get our digital camera back from people who I would ask to take pics for us at shows. Invariably there would be several shots of Brian's feet, naked as the day he was born, on his blue rug.

The bare feet have become so commonplace for us that we don't even notice it anymore. But others notice because here is a guy, shredding on his guitar, playing barefoot on a blue rug.

"Why is that so strange?" Brian asked one night after a show.
"Because the last time anyone did that it was 1967."
"Oh yeah." He eats a spoonful of cereal. "No wait. The guy In Living Color sang barefoot."
"Who's going to remember that?"

And so here's Brian's feet next his pedal board. Why the bare feet?
"I want to feel like I'm in my living room."
It's true. On stage he looks exactly as he does when he's in our living room. He sits on the floor in front of the TV, an amp next to him, the pedal board in front of him and he plays.
"See? It's just like when I'm at home."
So, this is probably why we're not cool. If you see us in a club, we act like we're at home. We're not 'rock stars' -- we're people who should be playing music at home but we're playing outside.

In Chalk

Both of us write with chalk all the time. We're teachers. Chalk is an occupational hazard. Five days a week, Brian and I come home with white, chalky patches on our clothes. Some days I see a whole hand print of chalk on his pants from where he rested his own hand. Meanwhile, I've spent whole afternoons with a white smudge mark on my chin. A woman in a store once pointed it out to me when I was waiting to check out.
"You have something on your face," she said.
"Oh God..." I said. Then I when I saw the white residue on my hands, I added "I'm a teacher," and smiled weakly.

But on Saturday, for the first time in years, I was happy to see chalk.

So, here it is everyone, Short Punks (minus "the Love") in chalk.

Rockin' Phyllis' Musical Inn

The Friday night show was a three-band night at Phyllis Musical Inn on Division. Our old friend Sam Saunders booked us to open for his band, the Sam Saunders Machine, and an Indiana band called Factor Four (http://www.myspace.com/factorfourf4).

Factor Four was a real welcome surprise for the Chicago scene. A blend of punk and post-punk, they are reminiscent of Wire, Joy Division, early Cure, and Black Flag. It was a mutual admiration night with the Short Punks diggin' the music of Factor Four. We were impressed by the tambourine player -- "reminds me of the Byrds," Brian said later. They play extensively in Indiana so if you're in the Midwest, definitely check them out.

In the meantime, here's some pics of SPiL, Factor 4, and The Sam Saunders Machine.


Chuck of Factor 4 leading the band with Chris on drums, James on guitar, and Shelly on a mean tambourine.





Sam Saunders tears it up with Dara on bass and Rich on drums.

At the end of the Short Punks set we were surprised by the entrance of 10-15 bar crawlers in 1980's workout regalia. Feel the burn, everyone.

For those of you who haven't seen SPiL live, here's shot of Brian's foot -- he plays barefoot.











Thanks to Sam Saunders for the great pics!