Is the Hermosa Summer Concert Series going away?

I'm not sure yet.

This year will be the 5th year that Saint Rocke has produced the Hermosa Beach Summer Concert Series. In our partnership tenure with the City of Hermosa, we've been very proud and passionate about our role as the Executive Producer: give the Community 4 concerts with world class stage, sound, and artistry while balancing the delicate needs of our small beach town community.  Not too many attendees, but book bands that we all love.  Not too many sponsors, but let local businesses thrive on the beach.  Not too many rules, but make sure that everyone is safe, friendly, and courteous.  I personally have been at every single concert since we started to produce them -- and I can tell as a born and bred South Bay resident, that it is one of the most breathtaking things I've ever been a part of...8,000 music loving family, friends, grandparents, kids, associates, and young professionals all enjoying a sunset on Sunday on our beautiful beach listening to great live music. Not one issue, arrest, or problem in 4 years.  And the best part? FREE. Free for the concert goers, and important to note: FREE for the City. We can all be proud of that.

It's True: there are other cities in California that have concert series. But are there other cities that have the level of production & artistry that we have without paying a single cent to the event producer?  I believe not. The reason for this lies in the history of these concerts. They historically were run by the City at an expense ranging between $30,000-70,000 annually. Additionally, the City devoted time & resources to the planning, booking, and execution of these concerts.  The tipping point was in 2008 though, when the City was not only pressed to slash their budget (why does music always go first?), but one of their City-planned events went awry, as the Rebelution concert (which has since reached epic folklore proportions) pushed the boundaries of acceptable community event practice.  At this point, the City discussed cancelling the Concert Series in totality.  Classic case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

As the premiere music venue in the South Bay, Saint Rocke was contacted by the City manager at the time, and I was asked how we might be able to help, and if we were willing to do so.  Having been a supporter and attendee, I wanted the concerts to continue, and so offered our assistance.  But how? Producing the concerts is in our baileywick; Saint Rocke is known for outside production of events and I believed we could pull off better concerts than any company in the South Bay.  But for free? Who would help subsidize the cost? I believed that there were local businesses that thought these concerts were important as well, and that if I created a value proposition for them to reach local customers, they would want to be a partner in the series.  So, and this is important, I took on 100% of the financial risk in order to produce these concerts and continue them. That meant, that if I failed to garner support, Saint Rocke was on the hook to pay for the entire production.  Thankfully, our local businesses like LA Car Guy, Skechers, Dealer.com, Fresh Brothers, The Hermosa Chamber of Commerce, and others, saw the opportunity and we succeeded.  And I believe the last 4 years has been an epic ride of music for the Community.  To date, Saint Rocke & the Sponsors have spent over $225,000 on producing these concerts for free to the public.

As great as this is, it isn't a long term viable solution to ensuring the existence of these concerts over the next 5-10 years.  Saint Rocke is a business, and for us to continue producing these, it has to make economic sense from a long term perspective.  So this year, instead of asking the City to pay us a fee, the new City Manager, Tom Bakaly, and I sat down and spent a considerable amount of time and energy creating a new contract between the City and Saint Rocke which would enable us to commit to producing these concerts through 2018 (for the full report: City Report).  In summary, we asked to produce an additional 2 events in OFF PEAK times (not the summer) that would give the Community more great music, drive hotel, retail, and restaurant business to the city outside of the summer months, and give our Community 2 more events similar to the beach concerts that our sleepy beachtown could be proud of.  Additionally, this contract would enable us to help produce and pay for the New Years Big Band event downtown annually, and continue the level of quality we have created at the Summer Concerts.

I excitedly met with the City Council on Tuesday to approve the contract, but was instead met with some resistance.  Three members of the Council are new, and although I believe they all truly have the best interest of Hermosa in mind, I also believe they do not have the advantage of understanding how important music and these concerts are to all of us in the Community -- and hence the Council did not place any significant value (both financially and culturally) on our role in the Summer concerts in regards to their view of the proposed contract.  To be clear: this is not a debate on bars, operating hours, booze, oil, Coachella in Hermosa, or carbon footprints; we have no desire to create a monstrous event the Community wouldn't love. This is about music, and whether we want it or not in our Community.  I know all of you are busy with your own lives, your jobs, your work, your daily distractions, but if on those Sundays in the summer you come out with your friends and family, sit in your beach chair, throw your shades on, and smile when the headliner comes on, then I'd ask you to help us to be able to continue to do that for you....for FREE. The beach is free, without fences, and will always be -- but it doesn't have to be a beach without music. How can you help if you'd like to?

Read up, be educated on the contract. Ask me ANY questions you want. (asanfy@live.com)

Write your City Council.  Tell them if you support us and that you see the VALUE in Saint Rocke's participation.

Add positivity to the conversation.  Don't be a "what-if" risk assessor. We have enough of these in Hermosa Beach.  If you have concerns, let's discuss and plan around them!

Don't attack our Council Members.  They are volunteers, full of integrity, and they care!  I'm simply asking for you to let them know that Music is important to us. Culture is important.

It's our beach town. Nobody else's.  And our voice is the strongest.  Saint Rocke is proud to be the Executive Producer of these concerts, and will continue doing so only so long as the Community wants us to. Long live music in Hermosa Beach.

Ever Forward,

Allen Sanford

Managing Partner, Saint Rocke

City Council Emails:

mdivirgilio@hermosabch.org  

ptucker@hermosabch.org

nbarragan@hermosabch.org

cpetty@hermosabch.org

 hfangary@hermosabch.org 

BATTLING NYE FOMO

We've heard it so often: people in this town rarely make plans or RSVP anymore. Why? Because there's too much awesome stuff going on at any given time, that no one can commit in advance. It would appear that everyone in southern California suffers from a medical condition jeopardizing social lives across the board: FOMO. ('Fear of Missing Out', to the layperson.) This disease has been prominent in most Los Angeles cities for years, and has recently began impacting the safety of our beloved South Bay bubble. FOMO is estimated to be most rampant during the holiday season, especially on the biggest night of the year: New Years Eve. NYE FOMO is the worst kind there is. (It's actually proven to be fatal in some subsections of Malibu.) The stress of choosing ONE PARTY, when there are SO MANY OPTIONS, can bring upon fits of anxiety that no normal human being can withstand. 

After years of research and development, Saint Rocke possesses the only known cure for NYE FOMO. The prescription? A bitchin' New Years Eve Show with The English Beat.(Dave Wakeling in all his glory: Hit. After hit. After hit.) High-energy live music and a super-fun dance party. Sound perfect? Wait. There's more. The added bonus of this particular NYE show? Each ticket includes OPEN BAR. That's one price for the whole night, Charlie. No worrying about racking up a huge tab and spending January's rent money on booze. (Been there. Drank that.) Go ahead and grab a round for 10 of your closest friends. See a cutie at the bar? Send over a top-shelf, without doing the math in your head. You want VIP options, too? Hang-sies with the band? Done and done, my good friend. Because nothing beats NYE FOMO like knowing you're at the coolest show in town.

Grab NYE TIX (NOW). www.saintrocke.com.

"Join us in the fight against FOMO"

Rocke Block

I'm not supposed to talk about this. 

But I guess I'll tell you the truth. We can be real, right?

Not long ago, I was experiencing what you might call, "writers block". Maybe I should call it 'Rocke Block'. 

I wanted to blog about Saint Rocke. Believe me, at any given moment, I usually have so much to say. I sat in front of my laptop. Typing 'blah blah blah'...hoping something unique and amazing would ensue....But, for at least 2 weeks, I thought to myself: 'I can't spend another minute writing about Saint Rocke. Every single second of my life is consumed by the show'. I was in such an intense groove with marketing and booking and events. I stopped processing the daily activities of my own life. I was always here. Bills were overdue. The sole contents of my fridge was a block of cheese and expired milk. I even paid my rent on the 18th. (Not because I'm irresponsible. I 'conveniently prioritized'). haha  Anyway, it felt like I was always looking ahead to the next big event. My life was quickly becoming less about "Who is KT and what is she doing on any given day" to "So-and-so is playing tonight. Do you need tix? Tables? Bottle? Party? Who's party? Your party? 40 people? Sat? No problem. Meet and greet? Deadline? Holiday? Private event?" 

Non. Stop. All. Day. Long. 

It's my job. It's my passion. It's my world. But hey. Sometimes...it blows. 

See? Told you I'm not supposed to write this stuff. ;)

BUT here's where it gets interesting. The other night, I was feeling so anxious, I had to get out of town. I ventured to the far-off land ofHollywood. I longed to see the bluegrass band I've been obsessed with since high school: Leftover Salmon. (Google them immediately, or we aren't friends. Seriously.) The show was incredible. (Have you ever seen a mandolin player use a slide? Me neither. Leftover blew my freaking mind.) Anywho: I returned to the post-show parking garage shenanigans: still grinning, slightly buzzed, and feeling very chatty. I started talking/smoking with some tie-dyed dudes nearby. We talked about the band, the amazing encore, the next show in San Diego...you know, the usual. 

Soon, the dynamic duo asked me where I lived.

"Hermosa Beach." 

"Cool town! We saw ALO at a RAD club in Hermosa not long ago. It was FUCKING AWESOME."

??? *** !!!!!!!    Wait...what?

My chest puffed out, and I was a proud little peacock.

I said, "That's MY club, bro."

Right then and there: it's all worth it. 

Every headache. Every meeting. Every gamble. Every early morning/ late night combo. Every last minute, on the fly, make-it-work, show must go on, drama-rama that is driving me fucking insane on a daily basis....

Every show. 

It's all fucking worth it.  

And just like that: I was inspired.

(maniacal laugh, maniacal laugh.)

KT

The Grammys

The Grammys are the Superbowl of Music. The Big Leagues. The Real Deal. The Whole Enchilada.

It's hard to be a part of the music industry and not have an opinion on this major event. Not only do I watch, sometimes, I cry. It's like you're seeing someone's wildest dreams come true: LIVE. on national television.

Since I am not a musician myself, I will never understand what it feels like to win music's most coveted prize. BUT I really wanted to know. 

So, I called a Grammy winner: my good friend, John Popper.

"Hey dude. I'm writing a blog about The Grammys, and I need your help. You won a Grammy, right, John?"

"Yup."

"Care to elaborate?

"Too sleepy now. I'll text ya later."

"Dammit John! I'm on a deadline! We all know you're a wordy mother-f*cker. Just tell me about it."

"Okay, okay...So  it was 1995, and the category was 'Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group'. I was sure DMB was gonna win for 'What Would You Say' and since I played on that song, too, I was ready to run up to the stage and cause trouble. I was already out of my seat as they were announcing the winner. When I heard 'Blues Traveler', I was so shocked, I popped my knee out. I couldn't even walk! I hopped up to the stage, and didn't even remember my speech. It was pretty awkward, but awesome at the same time. Awesomely awkward."

"Wow! I didn't know you played on that song too. Geez, showoff."

"I know. I know."

"One question: which was cooler: winning a Grammy or losing your virginity?"

He hung up on me. I guess he really was tired :)

Wow! What a story! I've seen DMB like 15 times, but I can't imagine even meeting Dave or being featured on his most famous song. But beating him for a Grammy?? Surreal. What's cool about John's story is that he not only performed that song, he wrote it. And he pulled from his real life experiences. A lot of artists today are amazing performers, but the list of song writers is usually a long one. I think his song hit home to so many people because it's real. You can feel his pain in every lyric. Genius. Score one for the Grammy committee of 1995. They were on point.

I can't wait to watch what happens this year. Who's heart will be shattered and who'll come out on top. I checked out the nominees and there are some really tough decisions to be made. How do you choose between "Call Me Maybe" and "We Are Young" for the best song??? Both are such breakout hits. It's a doozy!

We are rolling out the red carpet at Saint Rocke, and making a huge deal about it. Gift bags, contests, prizes, bottomless champagne...It's like P Diddy's afterparty: minus the yacht.

See you this Sun. Doors 6PM. Suit up. 

Tribute Band vs Cover Band

Every time we book a tribute band, some people roll their eyes. "A cover band? They're not the real deal. No OG...blah blah blah." They are indignant, almost. 

But there's a big difference between a cover band and a tribute band. The tribute band dials in the little details to reenact legendary performances. The look, the stage moves, the banter between songs...It's all part of the show. Anyone can play a song written by someone else or performed by another artist. They can take it and make it their own style. Put their band's spin on it. But a tribute band pays homage to their favorite performers by perfecting their character. If it can pass the test of the most scrutinizing fans, they are legit.

There are some tribute bands that are so committed to their role, it's as close to the real thing as humanly possible. Thus was the case of Queen Nation, Saturday night.

The performance was pretty epic. Choreographed routines, high energy set. Hit, after hit, after glorious hit. The singer strutted around like he was Freddie Mercury reincarnated. He also played keys and hit those high notes like a pro. I was talking to to a die-hard Queen fan after the show, and he said he was super impressed...in fact, he was damn near tears. I couldn't blame him. The entire club lit up during Bohemian Rhapsody. The encore of "We will Rocke You" was well planned. Not only was every fan clapping, but the entire Saint Rocke staff were all in unison and completely lost in the moment. It was something magical.

So the next time you see a tribute band on our marquee, know this: we only bring the cream of the crop. The best around. The bands that will impress you, and probably make you cry.

Check out these amazing tributes in the near future. Grab tix now. You don't want to miss.

Elite Elvis Tribute Sunday Jan 27

Forty Oz to Freedom Thurs Jan 31

Fan Halen Fri Feb 8

Cash'd Out Feb 22

DSB (Don't Stop Believin) March 22

Which Ones Pink March 23

Who's Bad March 29

Vitalogy April 27

See you at the show.

KT

Reflection

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”

Thank you, Mr. Bueller, you hit the nail on the head. 

As another year turns over and change is in the air, it made me realize just how fast time does fly. It seems like only yesterday, I was selling tickets to Chris Robinson Brotherhood NYE, and getting excited for the upcoming lineup here at The Rocke. 

Then I blinked, and 2012 was over. We were toasting TBS and awkwardly kissing total strangers. I was another year older, ten years wiser, and still extremely good-looking. 

I decided to reflect a bit on the most memorable shows of the year. And why my job totally fucking rules. 

So without further delay, I present to you: 

KT's Top Ten Shows of 2012

10. Steve Kimock 7/25/12

9. J Boog  11/23/12

8. Katchafire 6/20/12

7. Donovon Frankenreiter 6/13/12

6. Ozomotli  9/1/12

5. ROME 11/3/12

4. Particle 10/5/12

3. Chadwick Stokes 2/28/12

2. Reverend Horton Heat 8/15/12

1. Fishbone 8/24/12

Honorable mention: 

1. Howlin Rain

2. Greensky Bluegrass

3. The White Buffalo

4. Infamous Stringdusters

5. Aggrolites

Most interesting artist:

1. Metalachi   

2. Clownvis Presley   

3. Mickey Avalon   

One of the reasons I love what I do, is because I love live music to the very core. It's my heart and soul. Seeing artists I've been a fan of for years and years, perform in this intimate club, right in front of my face...well, there's just nothing better. At every single one of these shows, I was completely enamored by the performance. I was still talking about the show weeks later, and left thinking to myself, "I am the luckiest kid in the world." 

The other reason I love what I do, is because of YOU. The music fans. When I get phone calls about an upcoming show, and you ramble on about how "you follow the artist from city to city", or "have been a fan since you were ten"...That stuff makes my day. It never gets old. I love seeing the faces of people when they're front row, getting their socks rocked off. It's the absolute best.

Music fans are the life blood of this company, and the sole reason I get to do this everyday.

So, I just want to take this time to give one GIANT shout out to every single person who went to a show at Saint Rocke in 2012: 

I love you guys so much. I mean it, from the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU. 

Cheers to a kick ass 2013!!

We'll see you at the next show.

KT

XOXOXO

Are you feelin it?

When I first met my buddy, Dave, we were at Happy Hour at Saint Rocke. I asked him what kind of music he was into.

"Beck".

"Really? That's all you listen to?"

"I like other stuff too. But I really love Beck."

"Have you ever seen him Live?"

"Nope".

"Well, me neither. But I'm sure it's amazing..."

We traded stories about some of the best festivals we'd been to, and it turns out we had similar tastes: iconic jam bands, old school punk, new school electronic...Since then, he's been my concert bro for some pretty epic bands. Every time I have an extra ticket, I call Dave. He's always down. And when word got out that Beck was playing a Hurricane Benefit nearby, Dave knew we had to be there. I didn't even have to ask.

Downtown Los Angeles was buzzing with the presence of some of Hollywood's most well known celebs. When heavy hitters like Will Ferrell and Aziz Ansari are involved, it's a circus. People were laughing, chatting, taking pics, and videotaping every detail with their I-phones.

But when Beck came onstage and played, Lost Cause, everyone just stopped.

I don't think I've ever been more moved by a performance.

And when his set was over, I looked over at Dave. He had the most peaceful smile on his face. I can't even explain it.

He said, "Welp, I can die happy now." I couldn't speak (for fear I'd burst out crying uncontrollably). I wiped the tears off my face, and just nodded. Unbelievable.

 That, my friends, is what live music is supposed to do. Stop whatever the hell you're doing or thinking about, and listen. Listen with your heart.

Whether it be joy, sadness, pain, anguish, fear, or freedom....feel something. Anything.

I mean, fucking feel it.


KT

What's In A Name?

"Who the hell is Fartbarf"

A text I received from my buddy, Robbie, in New Orleans.

My response: "They're fucking sick. 3 dudes in psych ward jumpsuits and gorilla masks...heavy bass, minimal vocals, and a cult-like following....aka the badass new band you'll hear more about soon."

"Shitty name."

"Not even the shittiest band name I've heard this week."

That last part is true. I've definitely heard worse band names than Fartbarf. (I used to manage the band, Stinky Pinky, for god's sake.) Yesterday at a tattoo shop in Maryland, I met a cute punk rocker who gave me some of his CDs. His band name: The Rapists. I cringed when he told me that.

"Actually, we are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Rapists."

OOOOh, that makes it soooo much less offensive!! (The only thing more offensive were his lyrics. I'll spare you the details. But picture GG Allen on meth. Wow.)

You know, I might not LOVE the name Fartbarf, but I respect it. Basically, because they don't give a fuck what I think about their band name. In fact, Fartbarf is unwilling to change, for anyone. They've had some big labels show interest in signing them, only on the condition they consider changing it. Nope. They just shake their head and stand firm. They found a formula that works.

And believe me, it works. They pack the house. I'm super stoked for their next show at SR (Dec 14). If you've never seen them live, you owe it to yourself to experience this phenomenon. It's fucking radical.

Love the name Fartbarf, or hate it...but you'll remember it. And talk about it the next day.

If you ask me, that's what every band name needs to accomplish. Be original. Be memorable. Make people talk.

And, hey, at least it's better then The Rapists.


KT

Good Deeds by Bad Seeds

This weekend I cruised down to the O.C. I had to take NYE flyers to the Tomorrows Bad Seeds crowd at the Observatory. TBS was headlining and I was stoked!

Every room was jam packed. The vibe was on point. I was super impressed with the performances by Simpkin Project, Fortunate Youth, and Seedless. They just keep getting better and better. So awesome. Love those guys! Jah!

But the true stars of the night were Tomorrows Bad Seeds. Not just for their high-energy/versatile set, wild light show, and dynamic stage presence....what set them apart, in my mind, was a tiny incident that happened pre-show....

I overheard a couple fans discussing the band lineup, and I couldn't help but listen. (I like to eavesdrop. People are interesting. Don't judge me.) But their conversation was pretty awesome:

One girl was telling the other of her epic struggle to get into the show that night. She had just enough money to buy a ticket, but forgot about the parking fee. She was stranded outside in the lot, in the boonies...by herself. After calling nearly everyone she could think of, she finally dialed the lead singer of TBS, Moi.

And he dropped everything to go find her, walk her inside, and buy her a ticket.

Dang. That's decent.

Of all the people at that show, he was probably the busiest: getting pulled in a million different directions. Taking pictures, signing autographs, planning the set...He was headlining a fucking theater for crying out loud! But he took the time to trek out in the parking lot and help.

He didn't make a big deal out of it. I'm sure neither one of them knew it would end up in my stupid blog.

But it's the little things mean the most. And no matter what, you can never be too busy for a fan.

I am now even MORE proud that Saint Rocke chose TBS to headline our huge NYE show this year.

Not only are they amazing entertainers who know how to party, but they are down-to-earth and love their fans more than anything.

God bless em. Let's rage.

Love always,

KT

www.saintrocke.com. Grab your tix now or miss our biggest event of the year.

2 words: OPEN. BAR.

Selling Out, or Cashing In?

I've been a Green Day fan since I was 11 years old, and I first heard "Basket Case" on 98 Rock.

I felt instantly connected to the band. They were a welcome distraction during my parents' divorce. They taught me it's okay to be different. To challenge authority. To be a rebel. To be misunderstood.

I bought every album, poster, button, sticker, and t shirt they made. I watched every interview, video, TV special...I wore safety pins all over and I became a devoted member of their fan club. (I still swear by the fact that they named the album, "Insomniac"because of a song I sent them. I have witnesses to prove it.)

They were in my Top Five Favorite Bands Of All Time. Without question. Undisputed.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday, I saw a commercial for the new Twilight movie, with a Green Day ballad on the sound track. I threw up in my mouth.

How could they stoop so low? How could they throw away a lifetime of street cred to become part of such pop culture bullshit? What's next? The cover of Teen Vogue?

 I wanted to cry for them. For their image. For punkrock in general.

Through the years, I've witnessed Green Day's upward mobility and defended them to the bitter end. When critics would bash their blatant commercialism, I'd always say the same thing: "It's not selling out, it's cashing in." Green Day paid their dues a long time ago. They've panhandled and played for peanuts. They've been beaten up outside of punk bars and always had the same "never give a flying fuck" attitude. So if the corporate sponsorships finally start rolling in, let it happen. They deserve it. Their families need a little security, too.

But where do you draw the line? When is enough, enough?

I had to stop myself from lighting my autographed picture on fire. Where was the band I used to know?

I sat in my apartment and listened to the old albums. The lyrics brought back all my teen angst and apathy, and I found myself pretty pissed off.

But suddenly, I wasn't sure if I was mad at them for being associated with something so "lame", or mad at myself for turning my back on my childhood heroes.

Amidst all my self loathing and wonderment, I had what could only be described as a "Eureka" moment.

   Green Day is successful because their target demographic will always be: 11 year olds.

It's those 11 year olds that keep the band alive. They're the ones buying CDs and band merchandise at the mall. (Not 30 somethings with rent and bills and problems). Those kids join the fan club and wear the t shirts and buttons. The 11 year olds memorize every word to every song. They connect with the band and the music at their core. Because at that age: music is your identity. Sometimes, music is your only friend.

If Green Day found a way to reach out to the 11 year old girls of today, the same way they did with the 11 year old girls of 1993, they should be applauded for their timeless efforts. Not accused of going soft.

That soundtrack song can't be described as punkrock, in any way, shape, or form. But it's catchy as fuck, and climbing the charts. (Well played, Billie Joe.)

They totally redeemed themselves and are back in my Top 5.

So what 3 important lessons did I learn from all of this?

1. 90's music is the best  (If you agree, VITALOGY and NEARVANA are here SAT NIGHT!!! Use the promo code: FLANNEL to SAVE $$$)

2. Don't hate. Appreciate.

3. Never ever lose sight of your inner 11 year old. That kid is the coolest.


Love always,

KT

My First Sexton Experience

I was timid. 

Sure, I'd heard a lot of great things, but never knew what to expect.

I've seen videos, but they didn't compare to the real thing.

I heard stories, but feeling it for yourself...well, it's almost indescribable.

It was a venture I won't soon forget.

If you've never heard Martin Sexton, let me tell you, he is an artist that lives up to his name. There is so much emotion in every song. It touches you. (Sometimes in the "no no places".)

It can be slow and moving, yet erratic and powerful. You never know what's next, and you're hanging on every word. Every note. 

Waiting, Anticipating. Totally feelin' it.

He was gentle at first. 

With lighthearted songs like "Happy" and "Grateful", I embraced my inner hippie and pictured myself on a VW bus selling dandelions and LSD at Burning Man. I was on an upward climb of positive energy.

But Martin soon grew very passionate. With his intricate, technical musicianship, it was as if his hands were independent of his body. He kept such a sweet, innocent smile while his hands performed feats of amazement. 

Oh, those hands.

 It was a lot to handle, but never too harsh.

 Just enough. 

The rest of the crowd was as excited as I was. He was interactive and innovative. Captivating. 

We were all singing along, on cue..."Group Sexton?" 

With 200 of my closest music friends, it wasn't exactly intimate. But Martin made me feel like we were the only 2 people in that room.

I will never forget it, and I want more.

Thanks, Martin.

I wonder if he'll call......

That's just, like, your opinion, man

I usually don't ask for autographs or pictures from artists. I'm supposed to give the illusion of cool, at least. But when I love a band, I fucking love a band. So last weekend with Rome, I felt like a fanatic. Sublime is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I think Rome's great. It blows my mind that he started playing with his heroes at such a young age. What a trip, right? Talk about living the dream.

But everyone I meet has an opinion on Rome. Strong opinions on whether the vocalist should ever be replaced if he/she passes away. A friend of mine had the nerve to say that Rome's fame isn't going to last and he'll be "singing in Latin dive bars by the end of next year". (I had 300 screaming fans on Sat who would disagree with that statement, and I was pretty surprised that he had the balls to say it.) We argued for a bit, and he was like, "Brad's the only OG. No one can ever replace him." Yeah, but Brad was also a junkie who put his own needs before the good of the band. Brad was selfish in that respect, so the whole band should have to suffer? The band has to stop making a living because the main dude stopped living?

Should a band die if the singer does? 

I can list more than a few famous bands who replaced singers, and others that chose not to. Sometimes they start side projects with other players but never use the name. While other times, they just throw them right in and hope for the best. For example, I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd live back in 1998. Everyone said, "oh well it's not the REAL Skynyrd. So have a ball with that." Of course it wasn't the real fucking Skynyrd, but I still cried when I heard FREEBIRD Live. It was one of the most epic moments in my concert-going career, and if Skynyrd stopped playing when Ronnie died, I would have never gotten that song. They still tour. Their families are still supported by the music. And I'm 100% sure Ronnie would have wanted it that way.

In my humble opinion, if the band agrees to allow those big shoes to be filled, then the fans should respect their decision and let the music continue.

As one of my other favorite bands once said, "It doesn't really matter, as long as the music goes on."

Everyone has something to say. Post your opinion on our Facebook and I'll hook you up with some tix. We have a rad lineup this weekend with Stepping Feet (Dave Mathews tribute) and Saint Motel (some indie rockers on the rise.) Tell me your thoughts. Get free shit.

Whether or not I agree with you, is irrelevant. I'm still going to assume I'm always right.

Love,

KT

My Big Break?

Saturday I filmed my first commercial. It was a viral video for IROCKE (irocke.com), and believe me, it's going to be radical. It was my first experience with a green screen and we filmed for almost 7 hours. My character was a crazy raver girl with blue hair and a Hello Kitty beanie. I said a lot of brilliant things, but the best line: "put some bass in my face."

I was a natural.

I'm super stoked to see this final project. There's a celeb cameo and some sweet dance moves involved. What's not to love? But I'm more excited about what IROCKE is going to do for the music industry. If you haven't heard about it, you will. The concept is pretty fucking amazing. It's one website where you can see any live show in the entire world. You can search different genres of music and get alerts for when your favorite artists are about to go on stage. One click and then "Bam" you're right there. Watching. Lingering. Lurking. Raging. As if you were front row at the show.

It's probably going to change the world. Waaaaait for it.

Seriously though, If I were you, I'd get my autograph while you still can. Once this commercial thing goes big-time, I might be too "Hollywood" to hang at the Saint Rocke shows anymore. But for now, I'll be around. If you want to reach me this weekend, on Saturday, I'll be stalking ROME.

Party.

KT

Sexy Jesus

I f*cking love Halloween. I love everything about it. The parties, the costumes, the candy. The fact that you don't have to buy presents for anyone, and it's an excuse for people to get wasted and girls to dress extra slutty. (There's rumors of a "Sexy Jesus" coming out to Saint Rocke this year. Whoa. That's some next level shit.) 

I also love how everyone in Hermosa celebrates Halloween for the weekend before Halloween AND on actual Halloween. That's three times the craziness!

Friday, we have the best Johnny Cash tribute in town. They look the part, act the part, and they play forever. The opener for this act is "Clownvis Presley"...I can't explain how RAD this guy is. You have to see it to believe it.

On Saturday, we have our second annual Halloween Rager with Hoist The Colors. These loveable irish punkers will stop at nothing to keep you folks entertained. I won't give away their costume idea, but trust me: it's amazing.

On actual Halloween, we have some of the heaviest hard rockers in town from the band Eyelash Factory. They are teaming up with local metalheads and giving us: Hard Rocke Halloween: a show so bitchin: it's scary.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to rage my face off. 

Grab tix now while you still can...If you dare: www.saintrocke.com 

Muuuhahahahahahahahaha  maniacal laugh maniacal laugh

KT

The Loops

I'll never forget when I saw Mitch Hedberg's standup comedy LIVE at the Wiltern 7 years ago (R.I.P.) Everyone kept finishing his jokes out loud, and eventually, he got irritated and said, "Damn, I need some new material." So he walked over to a spiral notebook and started reading through it. Totally ignoring the audience. He smoked a pipe, drank a cocktail...after a few (long) minutes, he returned to the microphone.

"The Belt, or the Belt Loops....Who's the real hero? (we were silent) Take THAT motherf*ckers."

Whoa. Not only did I laugh, but my mind was blown. I did take that, Mitch. In fact, I take it everywhere I go.

In life, there are Belts and there are belt Loops.

The "belts" always make their appearance known. When you attend a big event, there's always a select few belts in the spotlight. The red carpet celebs. The high profile athletes. The f*cking Kardashians, everywhere you turn.

The belts are easy to identify in my line of work, too. They're on the stage, getting the screams and applause. They're in the greenroom, when everyone is trying to take pictures or grab an autograph. The belts are the ones people pay to see. The belts are the stars.

But where would they be without the "Loops"?

The Loops are the stage crew: showing up early, lugging equipment, setting up/breaking down, and dealing with bullshit of epic proportions.

The Loops are the sound engineers: making anyone sound better than they actually do.

The Loops are the lighting guy: forcing you dance more than you ever thought possible.

The Loops are the bartenders, servers, security, and hostesses who make sure everything is perfect for the belt and the belt fans.

The Loops are the bookers, the managers, the planners, the list-makers.

The Loops are the behind-the-scenes brains of the whole operation.

Without Loops, the belts would just hang around, without any attention, unable to perform. Without Loops, the belt would never get the credit it deserves.

So when you're at Saint Rocke this weekend, dancing your ass off to Mansions on the Moon, or seeing the legendary Leon Russell, please acknowledge The Loops.

Buy the sound men a shot. Shake the manager's hand. Tip your servers and bartenders well. Give the hostess a smile as you leave.

If you enjoy your time here: TELL A LOOP! The Loops don't do their looping to get rich and famous! They do it for the sole feeling of knowing fans appreciate it.

Your great time is the one thing that Loops care about most.

So the answer to you Mr. Hedberg, is: The Loops. They're the real hero.


KT