by hapago

Last week we went up to Louisville and Cincinnati to play some shows and shake the dust off before we go overseas in TWO FUCKING WEEKS! Both of these cities are loads and loads of fun–there’s some strong scenes there that I’m envious of at times. Louisville is home to SHRUDD, one of the fastest, coolest bands in the southeast right now. We showed up to the show late due to work situations, but we made it in time to catch them and their insanely tight, erratic set. We met up with FRUIT LOOOPS as well, and SHEESH what a set. It’s hard to look away from! There’s so much happening all at the same time during one of their sets. When you’re not engrossed by the band, you’re watching the secret agent make his way through the crowd, enlisting people with masks and disguises. At the end of the short weekend stint, Cam got one of the cardboard cutout secret agents to protect the shed in his backyard. FROOOT LOOPS saves the day again. At the Louisville show my glasses were obliterated in front of me like out of a movie. They fell off and someone’s foot came crashing down on them like a judge’s gavel.

Right after the show we drove up to Cincinnati to the Hard Rock Casino, to celebrate Spodee’s birthday. I lost $40 and bowed out instantly. BUT! Blair won some coin and we also met some frat guys with “FRIENDLY BUTT STUFF” plastered on the back of their shirt.

The show in Cincinnati was a lot of fun! We played with THE SERFS, some of Ohio’s best. They are one of my favorite bands I’ve gotten to see multiple times, each time it gets better and better and they continue to push the envelope. Their set swarms on you and demands your attention–you can’t think about anything else while THE SERFS are playing. My friend JOSH and I caught up for a while outside the venue, and we ended up hanging out all night. He told me about the evil corporation 3CDC, a group that goes around gentrifying various Cincinnati neighborhoods under the guise of being a non-profit. The area that we played had 3CDC ads all over the place. It felt like Buy n Large from the Pixar movies.

The next day I set the record on Fix-It Felix Jr. and we gunned it home in time to witness the almighty DEVO at the Mother Church. More on that later!