The Velcro Pygmies Diaries

Put- In-Bay, Ohio 2011

2011-07-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

Cameron rocking Boat House

BLOG time people! Long over-due!

Gosh, where to start…

Let’s see… Wednesday morning I packed up all
the essential bags needed to be taken on a PYG trip: suitcase,

Eddins Rocking on

camera bag, laptop, pillow, blanket, etc. I was anticipating another rockin’ road trip, which I’ve taken a thousand times before. Little did I know, this road trip would hit the record books. I started off with a nice trip to Circle K for a 69 cent 44oz. Diet Dew, than made my trip north on I-65. Geesh, 9 am is too early to start a trip for a PYGMIE show, but given the distance, it was an obstacle unable to be passed. I gassed up north of Birmingham, got another Diet Dew, and pressed onward. Around 6:00 I get a call from Angel asking where I was, little did I know that call would change my arrival time. I was 10 miles out of Nashville and had to turn around, the PYGvan was broke down. I was summoned to hit up a McDonald’s for 2 cheeseburgers, 2 fries, and two hambrugers - hold the onions. As I made my way back to downtown Nashville I thought, man, this is going to probably take longer than I thought to get to Ohio… I had no idea! I pull up and notice the guys sitting on the curb, all on phones researching and calling to fix the problem. I hand Angel the bag of food and watch as the PYGS, well, PYG out. It’s getting darker, and there is still no life in the PYGvan. Cam finds a local mechanic, Jeff, to come help us out. Bred took my car to get some food. While there he noticed my tire was low, so he filled it up with air and headed back to the van. After hours of working on the van, and the darkness falling, we have no choice but to rearrange our schedule. Straight drive to Ohio, no hotel stops, two vehicles, and NO sleep! We all piled into the Tahoe and Caliber and headed north once again. It was about 11 pm by this time. We had noticed that the tire was starting to get low again as we drove off so I made a point to let Brad know to stop at a close gas station to double check everything was okay. Not more than 10 miles out of Nashville Cam turns off an exit, as I turn off in the caliber the tire goes completely flat. We coasted into the nearby Hardee’s. Eddins and Brad took the tire off and put the spare on while Cam bambusered the tragedy up on Facebook. It’s times like these you are thankful for good friends who change your tire, and have comedic commentary of the entire event. We set out to find an all night tire shop to fix my flat. A few exits up we pulled over but had no luck, we decided to plug the hole in the tire. We took off again towards Ohio in hopes the tire can hold out another 430 miles… we were wrong! Around 2 am we stopped for gas, wouldn’t you know, the tire is flat again! Brad gets a can of fix-a-flat to help, Cam bambusers the video up on Facebook once again. I was so tired, partly because of the stress, and partly because I was expecting to have been there by now, Eddins willingly took over driving. Around 4:30 am I was awaken to the sound of the rubber rolling around in my wheel well. Time for the spare tire to go BACK on the car. I fell back asleep and woke up just in time to see the nice morning traffic in the Port Clinton, Ohio area. We had made it, only moments away! We jumped parked the Tahoe, loaded up the caliber with suitcases, and jumped on the ferry! As we got off we Brad and Angel got in my car and we headed towards The Boat House, load-in time. The rest of the guys soon followed in a taxi, now for some real work. How those guys were able to put up full stage gear, lights and PA with NO sleep is beyond me! We sat for some solid food, not gas station chips, and the band laid down for some much needed rest. I was excited to see the faces of the doubtful audience members as the band entered the bar that night. As Cam always says, they were thinking “ I would if these guys are gonna suck” well guess what? They’re thinking the same thing about YOU! The Thursday night crowds in Put-In-Bay are more local people than tourists to the island. It was certainly a hit though! People danced and partied the night away. The Sausage, Amber, and Zim showed up, which made the bartenders have to work that much harder to shell out the alcohol J The band HAD to have been exhausted, but they showed no physical signs. After the show, the instant fans took pictures with the band, and I headed to the Sausage/President’s hidden cabin with the Green Bay crew. It may have been the very best bed I’ve ever slept in, or I was JUST that tired. Finally time for some rest, another exciting day tomorrow!

    Friday I woke up, grabbed Angel, and headed down to eat some lunch. It was about 2 pm and we were starving! We headed to find Charlie, Angel’s friend and grab a drink by the pool. We walked around, did some site seeing, then headed to get ready for another night of rock and roll. I got ready then headed to The Boat House. It was getting pretty busy with people already, lots of eager, soon-to-be fans! The guys entered and heads turned wondering who the silly guy with furry boots was. I thought, these people arent gonna know what hit them! Another room filled with fans dancing and singing along followed by a night at the Sausage’s secret hideout, what great fun this trip has been, wonder what tomorrow brings?

    I got up a little early Saturday, well, about noon. The last full day on the island. I got ready and headed out to see what adventures I could get into. I met up with the guys at The Boat House and enjoyed some chicken fingers. We walked around and I decided to do some touristy shopping and maybe hit up the Beer Barrel Saloon for some midday live music. The band was good, but not too many people watching. The guys followed in watching the band, definitely no comparison to a Pygmie show. We headed to the Boat House once more, we had an opening act performing, Pat Dailey… Similar to a Willy Nelson/ Jimmy Buffett situation, no comment there. I headed back to the President’s bunker and planned on typing up this blog, another snag. I had somehow LOST the SD memory card that housed all the photos from the trip so far! I was truly disappointed, there were some GREAT pictures on there. I spent over an hour retracing my steps, but still have not found the card. In the event you find the card, it’d be best not to inform me you’ve viewed it given the incriminating evidence on that card. It’d be punishable by death! Haha. Angel and I hung out for a while, then got ready for the show. I met up with the Sausage, Zim and Amber and we walked the “strip” for a cocktail, then headed to the Boat House. Another packed night! Cam was a little below his normal tally of pictures taken with fans before the show, haha. I used a different SD memory card for the night, still a little upset about the loss of the other one. The show was a HIT! Complete with going through a case of beer and 2 bottles of jager right off the stage! The night went by too fast, and load out was in our future. I jumped on stage and helped Cam tear down the lights and rolled the cables. Then headed back to the secret cabin to sleep fast, the weekend was coming to an end. It’s weird because I was so ready to be home cuddling my fuzzies, but at the same time didn’t want to part ways with the guys.

    I woke up Sunday morning, packed my bags, said goodbye to the Sausage, Zim, and Amber and headed to the band bungalow with Angel. It was around noon and the guys weren’t ready to leave yet so Angel and I toured the island and waited for the rest of the guys to pack. Then me and buddy stopped and got some Dairy Queen ice cream and headed back to the band house. The ferry had a wait of an hour, so the suitcases were piled up in my car and we headed to lunch for our last meal on the island. Tony’s Garage was our destination, and it was very good! Angel and I drove to the ferry while the other guys took a taxi, there was no room for them AND their luggage in my car. We hopped the ferry heading for the Port Clinton Walmart. The spare wouldn’t last another 1,000 miles home. The local walmart did have my tire in stock, so we waited. As you can imagine I felt a little nervous with those guys in a walmart, there’s a lot of things those little guys could get into, haha. They were good for the most part, they bought some food, so they sat quietly. We gassed up and headed south. I believe Angel and I were so tired EVERYTHING was funny to us and we got the giggles on the drive. I guess I should apologize to Eddins for having to sit in the back seat and listen to the nonsense! Angel and I watched the movie Enchanted and sang along as Edds sat and read his nook, he’s such a dork. I was following Cam in the Tahoe when I started noticing that none of the surroundings looked familiar. Apparently, Cam got talking on the phone and missed our exit, we detoured through Lexington. Although it took us out of our way, we did get to see the Lexington castle all lit up at night which was cool. We stopped for gas in the pouring rain and switched drivers, Edds up front with Angel and me in the back. I had hours longer to drive than them so I tried to sleep the best I could. When I woke up we were back to the resting place of the PYGvan, Nashville. We switched up vehicles again. Cam and Brad in the Tahoe bound for Georgia, Chris and Jason in the PYGvan bound for Birmingham, and Angel and I going south towards his place. Angel and I sang our hearts out to goofy songs and made the short trip to his car go by WAY too fast. By 2 am we were in Huntsville, Angel and I parted ways and the last leg of my trip had started. I fueled up, got some snacks to keep me awake, and blared PYGMIE videos all the way home. Finally around 7:30 I made it! A coast to coast drive!
    Its always a hard thing to leave a weekend that was so full of adventure, so full of bonding, so full of fun! You get the best gift in the end, memories. I have said it once, and I’ll say it again, the Pygmies are best guys in the world. They always go beyond any expectation you will have, not just as a rockstar, but as a person as well. I am the luckiest girl I know to have the privilege to see this first hand. Such an extraordinary weekend with such extraordinary people!

Till next time!
KTPH

KTPH is still alive... promise!

2010-05-10T22:51:00.000-07:00

Well, welcome back! It has been so long since I have typed out a blog, after countless hours with the Pygmies I am having trouble figuring out where on Earth to start! I am gonna tell you a little about the guys then blog about recent events that are still fresh in my mind... that way YOU get all the current juicy details of our Pygmies shows!

So... it's been over a month since the last blog... let me tell you my "interactions" with the guys...

For the last several moths I have learned so much about fans, the band and Kate The Pyghead, my observation of the band lifestyle has changed... and has made me grow to respect each member of the band even more. Over the last several years as a "hardcore" Pyghead, I have seen Dep change from a wild rockstar, to a wonderful loving boyfriend and father. Seeing him with Cash and Kristen is amazing, and they are incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful man that takes care of them with such love and devotion! He has grown in the last few years, it is so cool to see the smile on his face when he talks about either one of them. A man in love is not hard to find. They're the ones grinning from ear to ear knowing how lucky they are. That is Dep 100%.

Angel and I have been traveling together the last few months, so I have learned a lot about his past and his hopes for the future. Many people don't know this, but Angel used to be a Smoothie King employee. He also has many funny stories about living with his buddy Bert, from DOWN STROKE, in a one room house.He is quite entertaining on the road. I enjoy the time we've spent together and think it has definitely strengthened our friendship. He has learned to keep his gas station splurges to a minimum which is also nice. I have not recieved a NY Mets fleece blanket in a while, nor a hard carved pen chizzled into a snake. For those of you who don't know, Angel will pick up anything and everything at a truck stop gas station. Anything that will make the cashier say "let me check the price on this, it has been on our shelf for years, here's a towel to dust it off with". I guess there is just never a dull moment with Angel, and I lve him even more for it!

Chris has had a few awesome moments in the last few months. Everything from his first official introduction to my mother, where he later told me... and I quote "Your mom is so sweet, how the hell your mean ass came out of her I will never know" to him calling me up to chat about his family life. My guess is, he was bored. Never the less, I listened and gave him my opinion on the situation. Its funny, Eddins and I have a relationship of insults, and every now and then a moment of kindness thrown in. It works for us. He talks about his dogs like they were his babies, it's quite sweet. He talks about Emily like she is the only thing worth living for in his life, it is a little too sweet for my taste, but he is a good guy, and I respect him for having the balls to be that sensitive. He has been there for me when I need him, even if it is to ask some advice or to drive my NEW car around and tell me what he thinks might be wrong with it. Eddins is a tough guy with a sweet side, what a catch, Emily is a lucky lady.

Cameron has always been my favorite Pygmie. I don't mean that any other way, other than he KNOWS how to make you smile, even when you dont think you have the strength. After hundreds of Waffle House trips I have learned a lot about the man... he has the fastest metabolism I have ever seen. He gets the ALL-STAR at Waffle House which is: Eggs scrambled , grits in a bowl with sugar piled on top, bacon- crispy, toast with honey, and a waffle cooked for at least 12 minutes ( in other words- BLACK) to drink, an un-sweet tea with an extra glass of ice. I can't believe he wears a size 0 in womens. That's right a size ZERO! All women can now send him a nasty email describing their jealously to a man with size zero pants. He has had some crazy jobs, radio host, and even a singing telegram guy. Ask him to show you his "Super Stud" routine... you WON'T be sorry! Recently I brought some new Pygmie virgins to a show, I know, I know, KTPH has friends that HAVEN'T seen the band?! Haha, they had seen pictures and were wanting to stand in front of Dep during the show. A few days later I asked how they liked the performance, they said they thought Dep was hot, but Cameron stole their hearts. I hear this time and time again from fans. Cameron may be the sweetest guy I know, a loving husband to Karey, and a great friend.

Pete is always the quiet Pygmie. Many people see the show and don't realize how much work Pete does. If you think I'm wrong you need to come to a show and stand and watch Pete work his magic. He times every light and sound to perfection at every show. He is the 5th band member "playing" on the stage, he just "plays" from the back of the room. I am happy that Pete has found the love of his life, he deserves the best, and I am glad he found it in Brandy.

Brad has turned into an amazing addition to the Pygmies family. When adding a Pygmie member, I think Cameron's main requirement is sarcasm. Brad fits in perfect. He works so hard for the band. Brad used to be a cop and his intimidation works well on those crazy drunks that cause problems.He is always looking to see what to do for others. He must get that from his beautiful wife, Joany. I am so happy that I've got to get to know them the last few months. Both of them are really sweet.

Last but certainly NOT least, Christeen. He has always been my buddy at shows. We have shared some great times. Everything from riding around in my "Mario Kart" Ford Focus to Waffle Housing and talking about our families. He is the greatest friend. I think his "famous" line is "show me your boobs". He knows he won't get a peek, but I guess he feels better to say things out loud that he is thinking. He has taken care of me when I needed it. In the last few months he has changed... physically! He cut off his beautiful hair. Many people opposed his new do, but I like it. I respect every decision he makes, and as a friend I stand behind him in whatever his choices are in life. He is truly a sweetheart, and is loved by the band and I so much.

Now that I've gone through the band and my "fun" situations and memories, let's move on to this last weekend and the blogging that is LONG over-due!

Unitil next time...
KTPH

Artist Spotlight: Brad Turck

2010-03-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

The Velcro Pygmies have had roadies come and go, but by far the toughest, most bad ASS roadie the band has ever had is... TURCK. Don't let looks fool you, he is really a puppy dog, just ask his beautiful wife! His hard work shows, the Pygmies are lucky to have such a great guy. Let's learn more about the newest addition to the world famous Velcro Pygmies.

Name: Brad James Turck
Birth Date: September 20, 1964
Birth place: Kingston, NY
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Yeah right
Height: 5'11"
Piercings: no
Tattoos: arms and legs
Instruments you play: iphone
Your most overused phrase: "You talkin to me!"

FAVORITES
Food: Chicken marsala
Color: Red
Candy: chocalate covered raisins
Animal: Dog
Drink: Killer buzz
Alcohol: Jager
Song: "Jamies cryin"
Band: Van Halen

THIS OR THAT
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
McDonald's or Burger King? McDonald's
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
Summer or Winter? Summer
Scary movies or funny movie? Funny
Love or Money? Love

YOUR...
Most missed childhood memory: Spendind time with my grandmother
First thought waking up: How to make my wife happier
Goal for this year: Find more ways to make the wife happier
Fears: pissing of the wife

HAVE YOU EVER...
Been beaten up? No
Beaten up someone? Yes
Shoplifted? Yes
Skinny Dipped? Yes
Been arrested? Yes
Went streaking? Yes

RANDOMS
What country do you want to visit? Austraila
Do you like thunderstorms? Yes
Are you a health freak? freak yes health no
Do you smoke? a good cigar once in awhile
Ever been in love? Only to the most amazing woman ever !!
Do you want children? Already have two great girls

LAST THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS:
" What goes around comes around "

Fun Pygmie Video From Texas 2005

2010-02-25T09:17:00.001-08:00

Pygmies in Texas in 05

Velcro Pygmies | MySpace Music Videos

Velcro Pygmies NEW Merchandise STORE!

2010-02-24T21:59:00.000-08:00

Christeen's birthday in Mobile becomes a memorable event... from what he can remember.

2009-12-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 12th the band traveled from Auburn, AL to Soul Kitchen in Mobile, AL. I was excited, the band is finally playing back close to my home and it was Christeen's 22nd birthday! I started the day off by baking some cupcakes for the birthday boy. Then my cousin and I headed to Mobile with cupcakes, presents and cameras in hand. When I arrived at the bar the band was starting to set up the lights for the show. I snacked on some Arby's french fries and watched the "excitement". Some Christeen came down off the ladder and opened his gifts and ate a cupcake. I guess his way of thanking me was saying "what?! no sprinkles?!" cause that's about all he said about it. Haha. The guys went to the hotel to change for the show. I stayed in the bar and mingled with some fans. The show started around midnight, due to the DOWN POOR outside, fans were a little thin in the audience. But, like Cameron always says, it doesn't matter who didn't show up to the show, it mattered who DID show up to the show. I started buying Christeen whiskey shots by his request. With each trip to the bar his laughter grew. He is a funny drunk. He also booed the band more than usual, I'm guessing it was the alcohol talking as well. By the end of the show it was all he could do to stand up straight and not fall over. As the band was tearing things down I went into the bathroom to survey the damage. I don't know why, but Soul Kitchen's bathrooms are some of the WORST bathrooms I have ever seen in a bar. Even before the show they are dirty. This time was no different. There was pools of blood in one of the stalls. I found out later that a young lady, named Alex, had cut her foot on glass during the show. I hope she is okay, there was a ton of blood! The night ended with Christeen trying to put Cameron in a head lock and yelling I'm gonna choke you out and the rain flooding the roads, leaving very little room to drive anywhere. David, Kristi and attempted the drive to the Waffle House... I had to drive down the middle of the road to avoid getting stuck in the flood waters. Another wild night at a Pygmies show, haha.

Pygmies Play a Monday Gig... sure to ruin all plans for Tuesday morning!

2009-12-23T20:59:00.000-08:00

On December 7th the Velcro Pygmies played a show a little out of the ordinary... a Monday night gig in Auburn, AL. Every year, it is the Pygmies job to throw the Auburn students a pre-final party. This year was no exception, Bourbon Street Bar was their next victim....

I drove straight from work to the show with my cousin. It was a 3 hour drive, lucky me. We arrived at the bar and parked around back where the Pygmie's Truck was parked. David, my cousin, and I then walked to the front of the bar. It was only around 10 pm and the band was not there yet. I showed the security guard my I.D. and he said "that'll be $10" I informed him I should be on the VIPygmie list and do not pay to get into shows. It was at this point I had to decide where this was going... was he gonna be the cool guy and say "Oh,cool well go right in." or was he gonna be the power trip security guard and cause me to write about him in the blog... let's just say, he WILL be talked about in this blog. He said he didn't have a list and I had to pay. I called Angel to see where he was so he could walk in with us. While on the phone Angel asked to speak with the guard, the guard refused, saying that even though it said "Angel-Zach Sanders" on my phone, it could be anyone. I wanna know what person would go to THAT much trouble to get into a bar without paying the 10 bucks! Did I mention I was wearing a custom Kate The Pyghead Velcro Pygmies T-shirt and hat?! Ridiculous! So, instead of staying in the bar before the show, I sat outside... where it was cold and raining. Angel finally arrived and walked in with us. I had several glaring eyes on me from the security as I entered the bar. Now I'm not conceited, nor do I think I am better than anyone else, but under most circumstances, my reputation and "fame" proceeds myself. They didn't know who they were dealing with. They must have been using the power trip to make up for some small appendage they have, just saying. The show was great. Jenna bought me a few drinks and in know time I was taking pictures like a crazy person. It surprises me how great they all come out when I do that. lol. It was a short Pygmies show, it only lasted a few hours but it was well worth the trip. I was even able to grab a quick snap shot or two of Christeen... smiling! After the show I hung around and watched the guys tear down the tiny stage. Since they were only playing one show, all the guys drove home right after the show. David and I then took the long drove home. He slept most of the way. About half way home I called up Christeen because I was feeling tired. While we were talking my car decided to slip from 5th gear to 3rd gear...... by itself. The last road trip ever for my beloved Ford Fuckus, lol.

The Pygmies start off December with a big BANG!

2009-12-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, December 3rd, the band was heading to Florence, AL for a night of rock n' roll like no other. I had decided to just go to the shows on Friday and Saturday instead. It would have been a long, long driving weekend if I went to all of them. While sitting in my p.j.'s on Thursday afternoon, I received a text message from Angel. He was asking if I was going to attend the show that night. I informed in about the distance I would have to travel. Fortunately, Angel, Christeen and Cameron are the only guys that can talk me into going to shows that far away... Angel had succeeded on this one. I immediately got dressed, packed, showered and headed towards Florence, AL... a six hour drive :( I arrived in Florence around 7 pm and the band was still setting up at Brinely Bros. The bar was long and narrow, similar to Peach Tree Tavern in Atlanta (for those of you whom have been). The stage was not "Pygmie friendly" Chris's drum set sat behind a support beam... and the stage was so small they had to put some of their case down to stand on to help accommodate their wild rock show. The band headed towards the hotel. Jameson Inn was our home for the night. I sat in the hotel and freshened up. Cameron stopped by the room and gave me some "Official Merchandise" of the Velcro Pygmies. It was a cool hat. It was really cold outside that night! I headed back to the bar with Angel and prepared ourselves for a show! The fans were really into it! The show went very well. The stage held up. The only part that became dangerous was the ceiling fan that hung above Angel's head. Every flip of his guitar had me cringing, just waiting for his next flip to become his last. After the show I headed to Waffle House with Dep. I kept him company while he ordered take-out. A nice, healthy wheat sandwich and a big chocolate milk. I took him back to the hotel, then headed back to the bar to watch the band finish up packing up the equipment. I bet you wonder why on Earth I would go BACK to the bar, after I was already at the hotel. The band's best conversations and memorable moments, happen after the shows. I looked up the Pygmies hater blog and laughed at the newest entry. He had revised the blog he had written about his latest Pygmie show in Texas. Pygmie fans were outraged when our beloved Pyghater was not hating on the Pygmies. It was not near as fun to read a nice blog. He is a Pyghater... he needs to be hating! The fans never hear of people disliking the Pygmies, it's a fresh alternative to all our mushy Pygmie fan world. Ergo, the Pyghater changed his original nice blog, to that of one that was borderline offensive, just the way we like it :) Christeen and I drove back to the hotel. I had just got my car fixed, I think his intention was to break it again. Word to the wise, don't ever let Christeen take your keys and say, "let's see how well they fixed your car"... I nearly lost my life that night, Ford Focus' are not race cars, nor do they drive like one. A quick trip with Cameron, Brad and Christeen to the Florence Waffle House. Yummy. It was followed by another dangerous car ride to the hotel, where I could have used a helmet and a safety harness of some sort. As we got out of the car he handed me my keys, I dropped them. He gave me a funny smirk and told me to pick them up. I was a bit nervous. With a smile like that I knew he was contemplating something. As I reached down for my keys he jumped me like a dog in heat. Well, not as much me, as my face. I had never been "punched" in the face by a penis before, but I guess there's a first for everything. I went back to the hotel, iced my bruised head, and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day of adventures.

Friday I got up late, and only had time to brush my teeth, wash my face and head out the door. I followed Angel to drop off his car. He was going to be my passenger for the trip. It's not like we're friends or anything, but it is a good excuse for riding in the HOV lane. I do the same thing on trips with my dog. Haha. We plugged in his satellite radio and my gps and headed towards Meridian, MS for the bar's GRAND OPENING. As we were driving into Meridian, we noticed some road construction. This was not the first time, and I don't think it'll be the last, that my GPS lead us to the wrong place. We got a hold of Chris, who gave us directions. The bar was awesome! If you have ever been to Rhythm & Brews is Tuscaloosa you'd understand when I say, it was exactly the same... but 10 times bigger. The band set up all the lights while I organized the t-shirts. I then made a nice little table out of the cases, and Christeen set up a light so that I wouldn't be in the dark selling the shirts. I headed to the hotel with Angel along side of me ( i didn't know if there were gonna be any HOV lanes on the way to the hotel, but I wanted to play it safe). At the hotel Angel, Christeen and I played around in the parking lot while Cameron bought the hotel rooms. Angel had bought a sling-shot... very scary. The sling-shot instantly turned Angel and Christeen into 5 year old boys. They were finding random objects to throw in it. Rocks, toys, lighters, and Chik-Fil-A sauce packets ...anything they could get their hands on. I showered in the hotel, changed and drove with Angel to the hotel. As luck would have it, there were no HOV lanes on the way to the hotel, but I felt generous and gave him a ride anyway. It was cold out, I'd hate see to see him get sick because I made him walk to the bar. The bar was starting to rock. The fans were different than the usual Pygmies crowd. These fans stood in anticipation, not knowing what to expect out of this "80's cover-band called The Velcro Pygmies". I positioned myself at the front of the stage. I figured, a Pygmie veteran, like myself, would show these soon-to-be Pygheads how to rock out at a Pygmie show. I love to watch the faces of the crowd when the Pygmies hit that first note... their faces light up in shock! All that power, all that electricity... all that spandex. Haha. The show was a lot of fun. I gained a lesbian lover. Whom declared her homosexuality by grinding up and down on me, nearly knocking me to the floor. Don't worry, I was detained, but Cameron was more than willingly to snap a few candid shots of the sexual harassment. It was then I had decided to go to stand side stage, I felt a tiny bit safer next to Christeen, which isn't saying much, since my head still was hurting from the previous night's dong-beating. After the show I went outside, it was snowing! I was determined to make a snow angel, but my outfit wouldn't permit me from doing so... not enough layers to stay warm. I took Dep to the hotel, then went back to the bar and chatted it up with John Farrell through texting. It's always nice to know that other band guys exist outside the Pygmies, lol. Though I consider Farrell a permanent family member of the band. We headed to Waffle House in Cameron's Yukon. His leather seats made it nearly impossible to get warm... and the defrosters couldn't work hard or fast enough to get the ice off the front windshield to see. He drove off anyway. I thought, here I go again, another night of dangerous travels with the Pygmies. We arrived at Waffle House in one piece, freezing, but in one piece. We got the privilege of Cameron serenading us with original Waffle House songs from the juke box. I did take a video of his rendition of "Special Lady at the Waffle House" but it was on my phone, ask me about seeing it at the next show you attend, you don't want to miss out on this "gift" that Cameron supplies us with during our meal. We all headed back to the hotel. The next day's drive would be a long one, lucky, lucky us!

Saturday, December 6th, I woke up, called Angel, and we packed my car up, headed to Scottsboro, AL. Which is about a 4 hour drive. Driving with Angel is very entertaining. Most of the gas stations we stop at are truck stops, which leaves Angel to wander around in the truck stop while I pump gas. I guess you could call them impulse buys... sling-shots, giant lighters, stuffed animals, pantie hose, fleece NY Mets blankets. Pretty much the stuff that NEVER sells at a gas station, Angel buys, and usually the dust on them proves my statement. It's always a surprise when he gets back in my car. As we were driving down a back road of Alabama, we came across a road block. There were 7 cop cars and 3 women in cuffs... none of which were wearing shoes, socks, nor under garments of any kind. It was like an episode of COPS. I was hoping to see one in a Pygmies shirt. For those of you who haven't heard this story, in the event that you get carried out of your trailer in handcuffs wearing a Pygmie tee on an episode of COPS, the Velcro Pygmies will play at your house for free. So far, no die-hard Pygmie fans have lived up to the challenge. Anyway, back to the blog. After about 20 minutes of watching this all go down, the cops drove off and allowed us to pass through. We arrived at the bar around 5:30 pm. As we pulled up we were a bit skeptical about it. It looked like an abandoned building. Cameron's SUV was there, so we walked in. The inside wasn't much better. Wild Horse is exactly like you'd expect. Random, miss-matched chairs and tables cover the floor, horse shoes, neon beer advertisements, and 70's mirrors decorate the walls, and the smell is similar to that of a roller rink... old shoes. haha The stage was good size. All I cared about was their nice lcd tv's that were mounted on the wall... it was the SEC football Championship, Roll Tide! I ran some errands for the guys, getting coffee, energy drinks, Gatorade, and food, then headed back to watch the end of the Bama game. It was funny, Jason and I were watching the commercials during the game, and our favorite commercial came on, the Geico Pothole commercial. We both cheered in excitement. Christeen, being the dedicated Bama fan he is, ran to the television to see what play got us pumped. He wasn't as amused with the pothole commercial. Haha. As the room started to fill with fans around 8 pm, I looked to see what kind of audience we were dealing with. It was definitely an assortment of different cultures. There were sorority girls, cowboys, "thugs" ,elders, people trying to hard with their look and people not trying hard enough with their look. After showering at the hotel, I drove back to the bar and stood next to Christeen for the show. I felt like I had not spent much time with the little critter and kinda missed his annoyance. Haha. After the show I had found out that there was a stabbing right before the show started! That was a Pygmie first! Apparently, a young man was dancing with a married woman, and the husband was not too happy about it. After the show, I sold some shirts, talked with some fans, and surveyed the parking lot for the blood spatter. I was then summoned by Chris to get the van from across the street and turn the heat on in it. He has some nerve to ask me, but I am too nice, so I summoned Christeen to walk with me to the van, Jason followed like a lost puppy. I drove Jason back to the hotel, stopped by a taco bell, then headed back to the bar. I was sadly informed there would be no Waffle House that night since Cameron and Brad were gonna drive home after the show. I guess Christeen figured that if the "entertainment" wasn't going to attend, then he wouldn't either. Or maybe he is sweet on Brad, I'm not entirely sure. When we headed back to the hotel I passed out. It had been a long weekend, and I was tired.

Sunday I woke up, showered, and headed home. It was a 6 hour drive... there was no use postponing the inevitable.

Until next time
KTPH

Artist Spotlight: Zach "Angel" Sanders

2009-11-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

Angel is the newest musician to The Velcro Pygmies. Having joined the band at the end of 2007, this young guitarist has quickly become a fan favorite (especially with the ladies). One look and listen and you too will be "touched by an Angel"! Here's all you need to know about the band's newest heart throb.

Name: Zachary Dean Sanders
Birth Date: April 27, 1983
Birth place: Huntsville, AL
Eye Color: tomb stone
Hair Color: Not sure anymore
Height: 5'11"
Piercings: ears, nose, labret, nipples
Tattoos: 3 big ones
Instruments you play: guitar, bass, drums, and mandolin
Your most overused phrase: "Oh No!"

FAVORITES
Food: Mexican
Color: black
Candy: Sour Patch Kids
Animal: A muppet
Drink: Sunny D
Alcohol: Whiskey
Song: "Wings of a butterfly" by HIM
Band: HIM

THIS OR THAT
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
McDonald's or Burger King? McDonald's
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
Summer or Winter? Summer
Scary movies or funny movies? both, equally
Love or Money? Love

YOUR...
Most missed childhood memory: My Dad teaching me to ride a bike
First thought waking up: What's that sticking up in the sheets?
Goal for this year: To move
Fears: Hitler and Procreation

HAVE YOU EVER...
Been beaten up? Yes
Beaten up someone? Yes
Shoplifted? Yes
Skinny Dipped? Yes
Been arrested? Yes
Went streaking? Yes

RANDOMS
What country do you want to visit? Italy
Do you like thunderstorms? Yes, I love them!
Are you a health freak? I try to be
Do you smoke? No
Ever been in love? Yes
Do you want children? Yes

LAST THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS:
Life is like crapps, so poop it.

Hanging with the Pygs and Eatin Slop

2009-11-30T20:34:00.000-08:00

I only went to ONE Pygmies show this weekend... I know, I know, only ONE? I have to be able to balance BOTH of my families around the holidays! So, here's what happened...

Normally I'd talk about the show I attended, but since the MOST eventful thing that happened this last weekend was at a show I did NOT attend, I'm gonna share THAT excitement first.

Friday night the band got ready to play their usual Post-Iron Bowl show. They were at the AGR fraternity house. The guys were setting up for the show and Cameron went to get some cinder blocks from outside the covered stage. As he bent down to pick them up, he stepped on a rake. Let's pause for a moment...imagine a cartoon version of Cameron... ok, back to reality. The mean 'ol rake jumped up and hit him directly between the eyes. Now, remember that cartoon Cameron? Imagine the cartoon with little tweetie birds flying around his head. ( I knew I could make you laugh). The rake left a nice shiner on one of his eyes. It looks very rugged. He also woke up Saturday morning with a wonderful headache. All I gotta say is, I wish I had the camera rolling! Only CAMERON would do that. lol

Alright, now, on with the blog... I drove directly after work to the show. It took me over 3 hours, so I got there later than usual... around 9:30 or so. I headed to McDonald's before the show, 10 pc. chicken nuggets were calling my name. I took the nuggets into the bar. ( That sounded weird if you were to read that out of context) The band had already left and were at the hotel getting ready, except for Teen, who was lagging behind and only had one word to say to me as he walked out the front door "boooooo". I have never, and probably will never, understand the importance of "boooooooing" at someone. Webster's dictionary calls it "an exclamation of contempt or disapproval" maybe someday Christeen will explain it to me. I went at the side of the stage to eat my chicken nuggets and check my email on my phone. I also texted John "Gumbo" Farrell to see what he was up to... nothing good, as usual. After an hour or so, Angel showed up to the bar, as well as Debbie and Jack. The party had officially arrived! Haha. For those of you that know Jack "The Pimp" know exactly what I'm talking about! We all stood around and talked about the LACK of fans in the bar. It made me a little worried for a while, but Pygmies fans always pull through. By midnight, the place was filled with eager fans staring at the stage, hoping to get a glimpse of a furry boot, or a converse tennis shoe. The show was AMAZING, as all Supper Club shows are! The lights, fog and entertainment are always something to brag about. There is a reason the band is number one in Auburn, they have certainly earned the title. They rocked until 4 a.m.!!! After the show, the band chatted with fans as the song "Get the F*** outta here" played over the P.A.. It was time to get back to work, tearing the stage down. I love the Supper Club, but it takes SOOOO long for them to tear down the stage there. I guess that's the price you have to pay for a great light show! Joany, Turck's wife, and I headed back to the hotel around 6 am... the band was still working, and we were tired and cold. We watched a little Roseanne on the television and waited for the band to finish up and shower so we could hit up the famous Auburn Waffle House. Brad busted through the hotel door around 7 a.m. We watched the youtube video of the Pygmies that the Supper Club took that night. Cameron was freshly showered and ready for the All-Star combo at La Casa De Waffles. We hung out at the Waffle House and enjoyed the warmth and comfort of "healthy" food. Teen left his sunglasses on the entire time. He said it was because he was tired... I think he thought he looked "cool"... or whatever you would call Teen wearing sunglasses. You can insert whatever adjective you so desire ;) I then drove ALL the way home... I can't believe I made it in one piece. Word to the wise, don't stay up over 30 hours and try to drive... it's not safe.

Until Next weekend!
And remember, help control the pet population- remind Angel to always wear a condom. ( haha, I heard that from Bob Barker on the price is right... it was worded a bit different)

KTPH

Texas Tour Excitement...

2009-11-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

So much happened while in Texas, bare with me, this is gonna be a LONG blog!

It started out Tuesday, November 17th. Around 9:30 pm, Angel arrived at my house to ride with me to Texas. We started our adventure. It was about a seven hour drive, and we had lots of interesting things to talk about, including fun things from our childhood such as: skip-it's, super Nintendo, moon shoes, gak, Are You Afraid Of The Dark?, and Goosebumps books. We also learned the words to many Weird Al songs, It kept us entertained most of the trip. We got to Houston, TX around 4:30 am. and got a hotel room at the Best Western. It was the best Best Western I have ever stayed in! Very nice, clean, great beds, awesome flat screen LCD TV... it even had a couch and work desk! Angel and I both woke up with the intention of heading to the bar around 1 pm. But the nice comfortable beds made that thought nearly impossible. Finally, I gathered my strength, and jumped in the shower. Angel went for a run. I put on some make-up and headed with Angel to Sherlock's bar in Westheimer Sherlock's... it was about 3:30 pm. The band was already setting up and a bit... RV lagged because of the long drive. By 6:00 the band had sound checked and we were ready to eat at Cam's favorite little Texas restaurant, La Madeline. This was Brad and My's first trip to the restaurant. It was great. I then went back to the hotel, refreshed, grabbed Angel and went back to the bar. I wasn't feeling so well. I was dizzy, and had a bad headache. I was kind of upset, since JUST the week before I was sick when I was with the band. I was in for a long, long night. Leigh bought the band song gifts, and I was so excited! The show started, and it was also on WEBCAST! It is always fun when it's on webcast, I love hearing from the fans that were watching online. After the show, I STILL felt bad. Luckily, DEP needed a ride back to the hotel, I hoped the fresh air would help me out. On the way back, DEP yelled at me for pushing myself so hard, he told me to stay at the hotel and relax, there would be plenty of time to hang with the band when I felt better the next day. I listened to him and went to bed back at the Best Western. I hoped sleeping it off would make me feel better in the morning, we had a long drive to Addison the next day.

I woke up Thursday and still had a major headache. Angel and I headed to Walgreens before we left town to get me some BC powder and some Dayquil (not to be taken together, per the Pharmacist in me) We ate lunch at this little sub place called Mikey's Subs. They were great, I got a Turkey Wrap and Angel had a Chicken sub. It was off to Addison, and I was thankful my illness had subsided. We got to Addison and went straight to the club. The band was setting up. Time for another night of La Madeline. Then back to the hotel. This time we were lucky enough to stay in a Hampton Inn for three nights. The hotel was amazing! It was also really close to our wonderful Denny's which is a Texas ritual the Pygmies have for morning meals. The show was great, there were soooo many fans! It was great to see some familiar faces in the audience, including Traci, Jessica, Doug, Brandy, Jeri and many more! The night ended with taking DEP to the hotel, then Denny's with Traci, Teen, Jessica, Brad and Cameron. The hotel bed was great, it was after 6 am when I last looked at the clock, but there was NO check out time in my future, just sleep, sleep, sleep.

Friday I woke up around noon. I wanted to sleep in, but I guess my body was so used to only getting a few hours of sleep it didn't know what to do. I tend to wake up wide awake and ready for the day, whether I'm tired or not. It must be the anticipation of the Pygmies shows. I took Angel to the Sherlock's in Dallas. Which is one of my favorite Sherlock's because of my history there. It was the first Texas Sherlock's I had ever been to. The band set up the show and headed to the hotel to change. It was gonna be a great night, I could tell. After showering and watching a little tv, Angel and I headed to the bar. It was already busy, and Jd and Nick were already selling a ton of shirts. The show was wild. I video taped it from the back of the bar, the lights were absolutely AMAZING! After the show I took DEP back to the hotel, changed then headed back to the bar to watch the guys finish loading out the equipment. We all headed to Denny's afterwards. It was time for some amazing hot chocolate. I headed to bed around 6 am, again.

Saturday was the show in Arlington. I knew it'd be a good night because the Cowboys had a home game the next day. The band set up the show, while I enjoyed some famous Sherlock's food. We then headed to the hotel and changed. I watched JAWS on HBO then headed to the club. I met up with Angel, Brandy, and Jeri and had a couple of Christmas drinks. I believe they were called Snow jobs and Holidaise. Awesome drinks. The show started and Cameron, once again, put me on video camera duty. I was more than happy to help. The view from the back of the bar was amazing. Especially with all the lights and fog. It's truly entertaining. Christeen was so sick he stayed in the RV during the show. When the show ended I called him to let him know it was over. When he came back inside he looked so sick. He tried everything he could to help out but his nausea got the best of him. He gave in and let me take him back to the hotel to rest up. The band NEEDS Christeen, he can't get sick, they depend on him! I walked him to his hotel and let him know to call me if he needed anything. I then headed to my hotel to relax and wait for Cameron to call and let me know they were ready for Denny's. I headed to Denny's with Jessica, Traci, JD, Nick, Cameron and Brad. The hot chocolate was on the menu again that night. Bed time came to early, check out was noon on Sunday, and it was already 6:30 am.

Sunday I woke up to Angel's phone call. He came and got my keys so he could put his bag in my car while I got ready to leave. We headed down to Houston again. It was over a 3 hour drive. The last time I was in Texas the band ended their tour with the show in Clear Lake- Houston, TX. So, for me, it was a sad show, the end of the tour until 2010. While the band set up I uploaded some pictures onto my computer, edited them, and posted a few online. I then ran to the Candlewood Hotel and Suites to get the band hotel rooms. The hotel was so nice. I was roomed with Christeen so he wouldn't get any of the band guys sick. I tried not to let it bother me that Cam roomed the SICK Pygmie with me, hello? I can catch whatever he has just as easily as the other guys! lol. I didn't mind, I'd rather be sick than have them be sick, they have to play! The hotel I went to get Christeen a meal from McDonald's then headed back to the hotel. The room was so cold, something was wrong with the air conditioner. It kept running even though it was colder than 65... I'd say at the warmest 63 degrees! The show was awesome! I stood up front with Leigh and Jessica and rocked out the entire night. After the show I went to Denny's with Brad, Cameron and Christeen. It had been a long week, but Denny's conversation was very interesting. I learned a lot about Cameron. His first job was working as a Singing Telegram. He hated every minute of it. He also worked at TCBY, and was promoted to manager after a couple of days. Apparently, all the other QUALIFIED associates had quit. He also used to build houses and do construction. He is truly a man of many talents. We headed back to the COLD hotel room and went to bed, it would be a long drive home in the morning.

Monday, I woke up, packed my bags and headed towards home with Angel riding shotgun. We stopped a couple of times on the way home to stretch, get gas, and get some food. We arrived at my house around 9:30 pm and Angel jumped in his car. I told him to call me if he were to get tired, he still had 3 hours to go. I hope he never called me, because I went straight to bed, and didn't wake up till Tuesday around eleven. haha

All in all, another amazing, fun week with the band. Texas is one of my favorite places to see the band play. Every Pyghead MUST take a road trip to join in on the fun!

Until next week
KTPH

Long time NO write! Let's get back to BUSINESS!!

2009-11-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've written a blog, mostly because the Pygmies have kept me really busy... well, that's not totally true, but I had to blame someone. Haha, so, here we go again!

Thursday, November 12th, the band headed to Jp's Lounge in Enterprise, AL. It was only a few hours from my house, so I headed out around 3 pm. I had heard many "horror" stories about the bar and was a little anxious on getting there to check it out for myself. I arrived around 6:30 pm. It was a good thing I had GPS or I never would have found the place. It was tucked away in the corner of a shopping center. No sign outside. In fact, the sign that WAS above the bar read "GYMNASTICS & CHEER LEADING" which made me laugh as I looked inside and saw Eddins sitting down on a bar stool, smoking a cigarette. I walked in and looked around. It was a small bar, but clean. They also had some GREAT food, not the typical bar food. They had lasagna, schnitzels, and the usual hamburgers and fries. I enjoyed some bread sticks and lasagna with DEP then headed to Hardees with Cam, Chris, Teen, and Pete to enjoy some fellowship. After that, back to the hotel to freshen up before the wild night. Many, many times before a show I find myself persuading... myself... to wear heels. Every now and then I give in, and attempt to waddle into the bar. I've never been "that" girl. lol. Tonight, I had persuaded my myself to wear them, but quickly changed into flip flops by the end of the first set. The show was great, as usual. During the break I sold many shirts to NEW fans! After the wild show, I took DEP and Angel back to the hotel and headed to Waffle House with Cameron, Brad and Teen. Following breakfast/dinner I hung out with teen for a while as we watched Dark Angel. It was after 7 a.m. and check out was 11. ewww!!!!

Friday I woke up to Angel's phone call. He needed me to take him to the bar to pick up his car. Apparently, his late night escapades and run in with the cops made it hard for him to drive his car to the hotel the night before. I then headed back to the hotel and drove with the band to Po' Folks for lunch. Well, most of the band, it was Cam, Chris, Brad and Teen. It was only a short drive to Clanton, which was our next stop. I headed north west, Pygmie show bound... again. The bar the band was playing at was called Cafe Firenze II. It was kind of hard to find. I actually passed it and had to come back. When I finally got to the bar, I scoped out the cleanliness ( which is one of my pet-peeves) and also checked out the menu, to see how good this "Cafe's" food might be. The bar was so clean, and it looked like new. Young children were allowed in the bar during the day since they served food. It was funny to see the young "Velcro Pyglits" with their parents, not knowing that many years from now, they too would be standing in the front row of a Pygmies show, anticipating the heat of the show lights and the wild rock! The guys set up the show and headed back to the hotel to get ready. I did the same. I didn't feel so good before the show. I'd like to have blamed it on the lack of sleep, but found out later it was much more than lack of sleep. By the end of the show the nausea and fever set in. I tried to ignore it, that's what being a "rock star" is all about, but the later the night got, the worse it became. The show was amazing, despite my sickness. I sat in my car with the heat blasting as the band loaded out. I had every intention of going to Waffle House, but when I got back to the hotel, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until morning. I hoped the sleep helped, but it still was a rough morning. I drove with the band to Cracker Barrel, and tried to enjoy our conversations with Chris, Brad, Cam, Pete, and Teen, but the nausea made it hard. The band and I parted ways, they had a show in Gadsden at Chestnut Station, and I had some work to do back in Daphne. I got home Saturday night and went straight to bed. It had been a rough weekend for me. I blame Christeen... but that's another blog story ;)

Pygmies Texas Tour

2009-11-18T17:00:00.001-08:00

Which Rock N' Roll show will YOU attend?

2009-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

Thursday the guys are heading to Enterprise, AL to Jp's Lounge. From what I have heard, from other bands that have played there, this place will be a nice small bar with a more intimate Pygmie atmosphere. So, if you are looking to get up close and personal with these boys, this show is the place to do it! They also have a disco tech, which should be fun after we get a few drinks in Angel. Come early for dinner. They have some great food and drink specials!

Friday the band heads to Clanton,AL to Cafe Firenze II. Not to be confused with the Cafe Firenze on HWY 280 in Birmingham, this Cafe Firenze is located in CLANTON, AL. They are also open early for lunch and serve great food. They even have raw oysters! You don't want to miss this awesome show! It's only minutes from Montgomery and Birmingham, so there is no excuse for not having a little road trip!

Saturday the band plays at an all-too-familiar bar, Chestnut Station. This place, located in Gadsden, AL, has always been one of the WILDEST Pygmies shows I have ever seen. The stage is set really low, so it makes the Pygmies more accessible to the fans. Maybe that's the reason, or maybe it's the great drink prices and staff. I am not sure, but one thing is for sure, the PygmiesKNOW how to rock this place and it's a must see venue for true Pygheads.

I hope to see you this weekend at the shows!!

KTPH

Three shows, three wild nights...

2009-11-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Last weekend's shows made me PROUD to be a Pyghead, here's what happened...

Thursday I woke up, showered and waited for Dep to arrive at my house and cruise with me to Statesboro, GA to rock out at Retriever's Bar and Grill. Since he now lives in Gulf Shores it made it easy for us to carpool. He got to my house around noon and we headed on our way. Personally, I wanted to leave earlier than noon, but Dep said we'd get there right on time... he was wrong. Statesboro is on Eastern time, we were on central time. It's also a seven hour drive and load in was at 6:30. Needless to say, we arrived in just enough time for them to be DONE setting up. Christeen and I then jumped in my car and ran some errands for the band. We needed batteries of every size, Gatorade, and tape for Chris. While traveling back to the bar I received a call from Angel, asking me to hurry back to the bar to hang out. The band started around eleven. It was a great turn out! There were even a few lucky fans that even got to dance on stage. After the show Cameron and I headed to the parking lot for some barbecue sandwiches. There was a guy that sells them outta a little cart. Cameron ordered 15 sandwiches and we headed back to the bar to enjoy a late night meal while they tore down the equipment. Dep grabbed a bunch of sandwiches and I took him back to the hotel. After returning to the bar, I realized the guys were done and ready to go. Cameron and Brad headed back home, while Christeen, Dep, Chris, Pete and I stayed in Statesboro to rest, it would be a long drive to Tuscaloosa in the morning. I fell asleep around 4 am

I woke up Friday morning around eleven. And decided to get ready and leave. There was no use postponing the inevitable, awful drive. The guys had left earlier than I did. I guess they take less time in the shower. I headed towards Tuscaloosa. The band would be playing at The Jupiter downtown for the pre-game day party. It took FOREVER to find a place to park in Tuscaloosa. I ended up 3 blocks from the bar. I toted my lap top case with me, in case I was missing in really good facebook drama the last few hours from my drive. When I came into the bar I was greeted by a bartender and handed a wristband. Jeremiah was his name. He let me know he wanted me to have a wristband early so I wouldn't put mean things in the blog about how long I had to wait in line before the show. It was very nice of him, and I was grateful. I folded a BUNCH of brand new Alabama Roll Tide Pygmie shirts before the show with Angel. The guys set up the new lights and were ready to roll to the hotel to get ready around 9:30. I stayed in the bar and chatted with Pygmie fans. The crowd started rolling in. It was amazing to watch the venue start to fill with eager fans. There were SO many of them. I was wondering how good the show would be tonight, because it'd be hard for Cameron to top the wild fans that had been drinking all day long. They were very entertaining. After the guys arrived back at the club, Cameron motioned for me to come up to the band room. He handed me the new video camcorder and told me to video tape the show's highlights. I was very excited! I stood in the middle of the venue, next to Pete's sound board to get the best view of the stage, lights, and fans. I have to say, I have seen hundreds of Pygmies shows, but that show was the best light show I have ever seen! Pete is truly talented! If you ever want to watch a real show, watch Pete manually create the light show that you see during a Pygmie concert. It's insane! The band took a short break in the middle of the show to sell shirts and got right back on stage to finish the rock. After the show the band, once again, started putting the equipment into the truck. It's a long, hard job. By 6 am Cameron, Brad, Christeen and I were at the IHOP relaxing and enjoying a meal. By the time we went to bed it was well after 7 am. Luckily, the Ramada hooked us up and let us sleep in!

I woke up Saturday around 2 pm, and headed towards home, tonight's show would be in Mobile, AL, only minutes from my house. I arrived at my house around 6 pm and showered, unpacked, and headed back to Pygmie land with my cousin, David. When we got to Soul Kitchen there was a private party going on. Angel was already there, I was supposed to eat dinner with him, but I was running a little late. I had to buy some more batteries, so I asked if he would want to come with us. We then headed to Walgreens, where my mom is the manager, so I was able to get a good discount. By the time we got back to the bar the guys had shown up and were ready to load in. I watched patiently as they set up the great stage. My sister and her friends waited anxiously at the barricade waiting for the bar to open. Right when the guys finished setting up the lights, the bar opened the doors to the fans, and they all rushed the stage, hoping to get a front row spot for the show. I had suddenly realized how incredibly hungry I was. I grabbed my cousin and Becca, Angel's friend, and we walked downtown to look for something open. We found ourselves at a Greek Sub shop... can't say I have ever eaten there, but we ordered anyway. We ate our food side stage at the bar. The band started around midnight. It was a great show, there was even a young girl that jumped on stage. Christeen, not wanting to let a cigarette go to waste, picked her up with his other arm and carried her off stage. It was pretty funny. The band also had a guest singer. It was Jeremy from the band D.R.E.A.D. who sang EnterSandman, a crowd favorite. The show ended around 3 am and the band tore the stage down for the last night of the week. After the show, the band headed to the nice, Hampton Inn of Downtown. I was flagged down by Daniel, the bar manager, he handed me Eddins cymbals that he had forgotten. So, I drove to the Hampton and waited on Christeen to come down from the room and get the gear. There was no Waffle House, IHOP or Denny's on the menu for the night, everyone was so tired. I drove back home with my cousin around 5:30 am and crashed. Next weekend would be a fun week, I needed to start resting right away.

Rock N' Roll this weekend!!!!!

2009-11-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

The Velcro Pygmies are gonna travel to Statesboro, GA Thursday night for a great rock show. Retriever's Bar and Grill is amazing! They have great food, great drink prices, and they were voted the number one venue for live music and food in Statesboro! They have $1.00 rum and daiquiri's all night long! They also have two for one appetizers and $6.00 meals from 5-7 pm!! It's 18 to party and 21 to drink!!

Friday the band heads to the huge venue in Tuscaloosa,AL The Jupiter. This place is one of my favorite places to see the band. The bar is huge. The Pygmies share the stage with bands such as Derks Bently, Kenny Chesney, Sister Hazel, Cross Canadian Wagweed, and many, many more. On Friday's the bar has 1/2 price appetizers and baskets from 5-8 pm, and$1 Draft beer and $1 Kamikazi shots. It's 19 and up at this bar. I hope to see you there!!!!

Saturday the band heads to Mobile, AL to Soul Kitchen Music Hall. This IS my favorite place the band plays. Probably because it is so close to my house. This bar is located directly downtown in the heart of Mobile's party block, Dauphin Street. The street is covered with bars and nightclubs, but Soul Kitchen is the best place to be! The bar opens around 9:30 and the band starts around 11:00 p.m. You may want to get here early, there is usually quite a long line outside! It's also 18 and up, and requires a membership, which can be purchased for $2. It is well worth it, because the bar stays open later than any other bar on the strip! I hope to see you in the front row rockin!

Halloween with the Pygmies!!

2009-11-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

I was unable to attend the Pygmies show Thursday night at the Warehouse in Clarkville, TN. I did here from many, many fans that it was an amazing time!

Friday I drove to Louisville, KY to see the band. I started driving around 8:00 a.m. and didn't arrive till after 6:00 p.m. needless to say, I was more than ready to be out of the car! I arrived at the bar and immediately started folding Pygmies shirts with Angel. They had gotten a brand new shipment. It took me a couple hours to fold, rubber band, organize, and label all the shirts. I finished just in time to head to the hotel with the guys. Every time they are in Louisville they stay at the Red Roof Inn. This time was no exception. I freshened up then headed to the bar with Angel to enjoy the opening band for the Pygmies. While we were listening to the band we ran across a familiar face in the crowd... Blake!! For those of you new Pygheads, Blake was the original guitarist for the Pygmies!! He had come to see his Velcro Pygmies again! Angel introduced himself with a bit of nervousness. I mean, the ORIGINAL Pygmie guitarist! lol. After chatting for a while with the "Blazeman" we headed to see the karaoke bar in the next room. All I gotta say is, the Pygmies only wish they had that kind of compassion while playing. lol. It was going on 10:30 so I started towards the stage and positioned myself at the front near Angel. The crowd was ready, and so were the Pygmies. There is something about Louisville. No matter what day of the week it is, they know how to party. It was amazing! There were even two young ladies that dressed just like Angel and Dep. They did a great job on their costumes! They even had guitars! After the show the band packed everything up. I helped... well, as much as I could. We then headed to the hotel, it was really late, and we were all tired so instead of going to Waffle House we just hit the sack. It was about 6 a.m.

Saturday, I woke up to a cell phone text message from Chris Eddins. It said, "Time to eat, bitches..." Apparently, that's how he thinks he should talk to a woman. It was only appropriate to respond with "Yeah, yeah, you old whore, I'm getting up" . Chinese food was on the menu for the day. We enjoyed our all-you-can-eat buffet while watching the Indiana University football game on the televisions. Then it was off towards Evansville, IN. Angel rode with me to Indiana. We drove straight to the bar. There was nobody there. The band guys, despite popular belief, drive really slow in their "death van". Because we had some time, Angel and I headed to the local mall. There were children everywhere in costume! It was a lot of fun to see them all dressed up. I'd have to say the cutest I saw in the mall was a little boy in a scarecrow costume. Our fun was up, time to head to the bar and set up for the rock n' roll show. Woody's bar is an easy set-up for the guys, they don't put up many lights. Angel and I decided to find a haunted house in the area and check it out. We found one, but were both WAY to afraid to go in, it was an actual haunted Insane Asylum right downtown Evansville! Instead, we all headed back to the hotel to get ready for the show for the night. I love the Holiday Inn we stay at in Evansville, it is really night, and is a great change to the dangerous, bug infested, dirty hotels we stay in sometimes! Angel and I headed back to the bar early to hear the opening band and to scope out the creative costumes the fans had decided to wear. We saw Paul Stanley, Billy Maze, the Pope, a Ghost Buster, a couple of Bret Michaels, a few pirates, a Michael Jackson, and many girls who dressed as a slutty... everything. I am sorry, maybe it's because I am a girl, but I don't think someone should when a costume contest just because they are wearing little, to nothing, and saying they're Malibu Barbie. Luckily, I was not alone in the decision, and the fans voted the Ghost Buster as the best costume. Cameron picked a young man, dressed as Officer Farva from Super Troopers, to be the "Party Barometer" Unfortunately, he did not last all night... poor guy. Chris Eddins dressed in his Marilyn MANroe costume, Dep was Jack Sparrow, Cameron was a skeleton, and Angel decided taking a shower and getting dressed was enough work for him, no need for a costume, lol. The night ended with a trip with Cam, James, Tanya, and Christeen to the Denny's located across from our hotel. Teen and I fought over ordering the Hooburito ( which I highly recommend) and we chatted about the new Kate-Hater. I headed to bed around 6:30am.

Sunday morning, I woke up, and got my bags packed to make the long journey home. Cam called me and asked me to take him back to the bar to get his s.uv. so he could get on the road. After I got back, I met up with Chris, Dep, and Angel. Christeen was probably still asleep when I left with Angel. Since we were all going the same direction, Angel helped drive back to Dep's house where they had all rendezvoused three days earlier and carpooled together. I dropped Angel off,and drove the rest of the way home. I arrived at my house about 10:00 p.m. and crashed. It had been a long weekend of driving, but it is always well worth it.

Halloween weekend, Pygmie Style!

2009-10-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

Halloween weekend, here we come!

Thursday October 29th the band will be in Clarksville, TN at The Warehouse. The Warehouse is one of the best LIVE music venues in Middle Tennessee. Located in Clarksville,TN, between Fort Campbell and Austin Peay University, The Warehouse has been the stomping ground for many of Tennessee's BEST up and coming rock-n-roll, Metal, Alternative and Blues bands. Bands such as Bombshell Crush, Digby, Spout, Project Jones, August Christopher, Hollowed Soul, Former, Deadsun, Straight Line Stitch, Dean Hall, Mellow Down Easy, Solvi, Plan A, and many others. The Warehouse also brings in National Acts like, 7 Mary 3, Rehab, Tantric, Adema, The Georgia Satilites, The Velcro Pygmies, Quiet Riot, Loverboy, Eddie Money, Superdrag, Hells Bells, Cowboy Mouth, The Honeyrods and the KISS Army. The 400 peeps capacity club is the PERFECT room for local, regional and national touring acts. With two bars, pool, darts, foos-ball, and great DJ's The Crowd always has something to do between bands! The weekends are ALWAYS packed with great established acts rocking the club from 10pm-2am. See you there!

Friday the band heads to one of the Pygmies' hot spots for rock n' roll, Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville, KY. The winner of 18 Best of Louisville Awards including Louisville's magazine's prestigious Best Of The Best Of Louisville! You must be 21 and up to party here. If you're a young lady, bring some sexy underwear to put on the "Big Ass Fan"! It's a Pygmie tradition! See you Friday night on Halloween eve!!

Saturday the band travels to Evansville, IN at Woody's bar for Halloween night! The band will be dressed up, will you? This place is considered the "hardest place to rock in Evansville". The band is set to go on at 11:00 pm. so don't be late! It's also a 21 and up bar, come early! I am guessing this place will be packed for Halloween!!

See you at the shows!!

KTPH

4 Pygmies Shows, what a thrill!!

2009-10-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a blast! Here's what happened...

Wednesday I drove to Birmingham, AL to see the Pygmies at Zen Night Club. I stopped off at Betsy's and we rode together to the bar. The guys were there already setting up a big light show. Zen bar is a neat place, and I swear that bar DOESN'T close! It was around 7:30 and Betsy and I decided to pick up some Krystal's for her for dinner, while on the way I ordered pizza for the band and had it delivered to the bar. Meat lovers, pineapple, and pepperoni were on the menu for the night. When we got back to the bar the band went to leave to change for the show, Zach, Betsy and me had a bit of our own excitement and headed a mile downtown to 5-points. We walked downtown to a couple of tattoo shops. If it's one thing I've learned with this band, what happens with the band... NORMALLY stays within the band. haha. After we got back to the club we met up with some local Pygmie fans, chatted a bit and anticipated the start of the show. The band was supposed to start at 10... but it ended up being midnight before they went on. I guess they were waiting for people to show up... it's a good thing they started when they did, cause if they were gonna be waiting for a crowd... they would've waited allllll night long. The show was fun despite the number of fans. I left directly after the show, they didn't end till 3:30 am or so and I was so tired!

I woke up Thursday to the sound of my cell phone ringing, it was Angel. He wanted to make sure he had the right address to the bar for the show. Rick's Cafe in Starkville, MS. I got up, showered, and headed west to Starkville. It was only a couple of hours from Birmingham, I can do that in my sleep! I arrived in Starkville a little later than the band. They were still setting up the lights. I ordered some chicken tenders from the bar, and talked with Jason about how his week had gone. He had just received a new video camera for his birthday from Cameron. It's amazing to me how excited he was with his new toy. He video taped EVERYTHING! We even reenacted the commercial with the pothole that says "Oh no, your tire's all flat and junk!" This line from the commercial never got old! After I enjoyed some of my dinner (the guys stole most my fries and some of the tenders) I relaxed at the bar with Angel and played some pool waiting for the band to start. I was hoping that the show would have more fans than last time, I think it did... but not by much :( Again, another strike out with the fan numbers! UGH! After the show I headed back to the hotel to change and on the way back to the bar I spotted Dep walking to the hotel in the rain, I offered him a ride... we ended up making a pit stop at the 24hr Wendy's drive-thru for a late night bite. I returned to the bar, grabbed up Cameron, took HIM to the hotel to get his Yukon, then headed back to the bar... again! The night ended with a trip to Huddle House with Cameron, Brad, Teen and John "Gumbo" Farrell on the cell phone. Apparently, Starkville, MS doesn't have a Waffle House. I went to bed at the wonderful Regal Inn around6:30 am.

Friday morning grossed me out. I guess because I was so tired the night before I had not realized how disgusting my hotel room was. Much like the last time we stayed at the "fabulous" Regal Inn, there were 6 locks on my door... but this time only 2 worked, there was no trash can, no hot water, no working toilet, no controller to the T.V. hair in the shower, sink, floor and a rather large toe nail clipping on the floor! EWWWW!!!! I headed out of the hotel, after my COLD shower, and met up with Angel. We ate lunch at McAlister's Deli on the way to our next rendezvous point, Monroe, LA. It was almost a four hour drive. But Angel and my conversation made the time past by slightly quicker. We arrived in Monroe, LA... what a great bar! It was called Hookin' Bull! It was a themed bar... WESTERN! Normally I would not appreciate the western motif at a bar, but this place was GREAT! It had everything from cow skin bar stool covers to a riding bull! They had the neatest disco ball... it was a saddle with the mirrors on it! It cost over $135,000. The bar is also very, very clean. The bartenders really work hard to make this place a fun time, and it shows! The band sent me on a run to get batteries at the local Wal-Mart, then I headed back to watch the rest of the set up. The band left to go to the hotels and Angel and I stayed at the bar and continued our pool match for the second night in a row. After enough alcohol, Angel found it to be a good time to test out the riding bull, don't worry, I recorded a video of the whole event. He didn't fall off, though I wouldn't tell him to quit his... night job ;) The fans started to worry me at first, most of the "fans" in the bar looked like extras in the movie Urban Cowboy. Slowly but surly they started to pile in like cattle, and the band took the stage. It was a great turn out! For some reason, I started feeling really sick the later the night got. I decided to relax side stage in a booth. I almost fell asleep... that tells you how sick I was! After the show I took Dep to Waffle House for some late night fellowship. He got his food to go, and took it back to the hotel to relax. I drove back to the bar to see how far along the band was from being done. They were putting the last cases in the truck. Again, feeling sick, I went outside to get some fresh air. It only made it worse, I tried everything I could to not get sick near the guys... I failed. I didn't realize Christeen and Chris were standing by the van. You would think seeing someone sick and not feeling well would bring out a "Softer" side of Christeen, but it didn't. He DID laugh at me, and let Chris know how funny I looked leaning over the sidewalk. GUYS! UGH! I drove myself to the hotel, Christeen didn't want me to throw up on him in the car. We then headed to Waffle House... this would be twice in one night for me, lol. I didn't eat, in fact, the thought of food made me feel bad. The night didn't get any better back at the hotel. I went to sleep around 7 am, but woke up every hour because of my illness.

My only hope was that Saturday I would wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day... I was wrong. Still sick, I called Cameron to see where they were. The band was eating a nice sit down meal at the local Shoney's, one of Dep's favorites. I picked up Angel and headed there to join them. I ate some fruit and drank some water... that was all I could handle. Angel rode with me to Baton Rouge, LA... Walk On's was our new destination. I stopped half way there and made him drive... the nausea had not subsided and the driving was making it worse. I slept the rest of the way to Baton Rouge. Unfortunately, our time was perfect and horrible at the same time. The LSU home game was one hour till kickoff. Trying to get to the bar took almost an hour. In the mean time, I got sick...again, in my own car, in the passenger seat, while Angel was stuck in traffic... awful!!!! We made it to the bar in time to watch the end of the Alabama game, Roll Tide! Then the guys started to set up in the MASSIVE tent outside. I sat quietly in a chair and tried nursing my headache. Chris took care of me, got me some water, and some Goody's powders. I slowly snapped out of the sickness! Angel and I headed to Quizno's and talked to the band Another Hero. They had been playing in town all weekend. I made a trip to get blow pops and headed back to the bar and waited for the band to start. JD and his son decided to grace us with their presence! For those of you who don't know them, they are the Pygmie guru's for t-shirts and websites! So be ready for some NEW shirts at your next Pygmies show! The show was a SMASH hit! Lots and lots of people! After the show I waited for the guys to break everything down and chatted with John "Gumbo"Farrell on the phone. We had to drive out of town to find a hotel. About 30 miles south we found ourselves at a Days Inn in Hammond, LA. Not a bad stay. I took a long, hot shower, then headed to bed. It was almost morning.

Sunday was surprisingly a lot of fun. Normally I dread the last morning, it's usually me, dragging out of bed, brushing my teeth, and crawling to my car to make the LONG drive home. This time was different, I woke somewhat refreshed... or as refreshed a person can be for only having 4 hours of sleep. I packed my car with my bags and drove to IHOP with the band to enjoy a nice meal before driving home. They had a much longer drive then I did, about 7 hours. I headed home after we ate, and made it back to my place around 4 pm. As I laid down on my couch I day dreamed of the next weekend, and what exciting adventures it would bring. You just never know with these guys!

See you next week!

A lucky four nights with the Pygmies, are you ready?

2009-10-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Wednesday the band will play in Birmingham, AL at Zen Nightclub. Zen has had a bad reputation the last few months. but I'm sure the Pygmies can turn it around. This bar has a really cool atmosphere! It has several lounge areas! It also has some VIP rooms in the back. These rooms I KNOW have been used for more than just mingling! It is a 19 and up bar, and is 10$ at the door. They start late here, probably around midnight, because ZEN doesn't close! Beware of the strict dress-code that is strictly enforced due to security reasons. I hope to see you there!

Thursday, the band heads to Starkville, MS for another show at Rick's Cafe. The last time the guys played here was only a few weeks ago, so the rock n roll should still be fresh in these fans minds when they come back! This bar is 21 and up. They WILL be having a happy hour with Coors Light and Jager bombs! And the lovely Captain Morganettes will be handing out free stuff!!!! You don't want to miss this! Bring all your friends!

Friday the band is gonna be in Monroe, LA at VooDoo. This is a new place for the Pygmies. This is Monroe's newest and most premiere night spot. Located in the old Cooter Bay building right across from the ULM campus and Waterfront Grill! Come out and enjoy the best dance music and the FASTEST service Monroe has to offer!!

Saturday the band will drive south to LSU territory! Baton Rouge's own Walk On's. The band was booked to play Walk On's last year, but a hurricane prevented the show from happening. This time the guys are back and anticipating a long over-due night of rock n' roll in Baton Rouge. The place also serves food, and from what I have heard, its amazing! Saturday night there's a Roast Beff PoBoy special... i have a feeling one, if not all, the guys will be getting there fair share of Walk On's amazing food!

See you at the shows
KTPH

One Night, One Pygmies Show...

2009-10-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this last weekend, I was only able to attend one Pygmies show... here's how it allll went down...

While at work on Friday, I was talking over the boring weekend plans I had... Pygmie-less. The ladies I worked with were shocked that, I, "Kate The Pyghead" would go an entire weekend without seeing the band. I was almost in as much shock as they were. One of the ladies asked why I couldn't see them in Montgomery, since I only live a couple of hours from there. I explained to her that I had to work the next morning, so the only way to go to the show would be to either leave early from the show, or NOT sleep. After she had put the thought in my head I weighed my options and decided, sleep, though important, is over-rated... and it was Dep's birthday, how could I NOT be there. I got off at work at 6:00 p.m. and headed straight to the Montgomery. My brother was gonna visit my Dad for the weekend, so I took him with me to Montgomery, where are plans were to rendezvous at Rock Bottom's to hand my brother off to them. We arrived at Rock Bottom's around 9:00p.m. and the bar was already starting to fill with eager fans. My Dad was running late, so my brother, Charlie, and I headed into the bar to hang out with Angel. Charlie, though a good size kid, is only 13, and does NOT pass off as someone who is of age to be in the bar. The owner let him in, with the conditions that he was not allowed to "drink too much" lol. Around 10:00 p.m. my Dad showed up, said hi to the band, and left with my brother, bound for Bay Minette, AL. The show was great, I love it when the band plays a Rock Bottom's show on a Friday. There was even a proposal on stage. After the show the band packed up the stage. I kept an eye on the time, in order for me to get to work on time I had to leave by 5:30 a.m. We headed to Waffle House around 4:30 a.m., just enough time for me to enjoy Cameron, Betsy, Turck and Christeen's company before making the long drive home. I arrived back at my house at 8:15 a.m., slept for 20 minutes, then changed and headed to work... energy drinks were my only answer to sanity... but it was well worth it!

This next week I'm going to all the shows, so the blog will have many more "exciting" things to read about! See you next week!
ktph

This Week's Rock N' Roll Shows...

2009-10-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

THREE GREAT SHOWS...

Thursday, October 15th, the band will be in Chris Eddins stomping grounds of Augusta, GA. They will be playing at The Country Club: Dance Hall & Saloon. As luck would have it ... The Country Club Dance Hall & Saloon opened on Saint Patrick's Day 2006 and in a short time has set the new standard for entertainment in Augusta. In fact, The Country Club has brought more national Country Stars to Augusta than any other club in recent memory.. and they just keep on coming. Among those partying at The Country Club to date are David Allan Coe, Tracy Lawrence, T Graham Brown, Ty Herndon, Emerson Drive, Shenandoah, The Bellamy Brothers, Rhett Akins, John Anderson, Blackhawk, Rodney Atkins, Jamey Johnson, Zac Brown, Cowboy Troy, Luke Bryan, and many more! Plus The Country Club is MORE than just Country Music… they've proved it with great Rock shows including Theory Of A Deadman, Drowning Pool, Rehab, Days Of The New, Fastball, Static X, and of coarse, the WORLD FAMOUS VELCRO PYGMIES! With its friendly and professional staff, state-of-the-art sound system and lights, and lots of space to party, The Country Club rises above and beyond the expectations of "just another nightclub." The Country Club's dedicated fans voted it "Metro's Best Nightclub!" 3 Years in a Row and “Best Live Music Venue”. Those very fans are the reason The Country Club has become the No. 1 place to party in the CSRA. It's 21 and up. $10.00 at the door or $5.00 in advance. Go ahead, go "Out With Your Boots On"!

Friday, the 16th, the band travels to Rock Bottoms in Montgomery, AL. I have said this once and I'll say it again, GREAT FOOD! If you don't care for the Pygmies, at least come for the food! lol. This place is great. Cameron let me know it's gonna be 19 and up for the show! And the band is gonna go all out with the light equipment! So, this is definitely a party you don't want to miss! It's smoke free too! See you there!

Saturday, October 17th, the band is gonna be in Tuscaloosa, AL, the home of Alabama Crimson Tide Football! Not only is it gonna be a good game day. It's also homecoming! The game starts at 6:45pm, so you have GOT to do your post-show partying at Rhythm & Brews, after the Tide rips the gamecocks a new hole... I know that sounded dirtier than it needed to be... but oh well. This is also a special night for Dep. It is gonna be his birthday! Don't forget to wish him a happy birthday, buy him presents, maybe even bring him a cake. Doors open at 7 pm, and the band will start around 11:30. It's 21 and up! It also ALWAYS gets REALLY hot in the bar, so wear appropriate clothing!!

"Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready to go?"

Wet N' Wild weekend with the Pygmies

2009-10-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy, dreary weekend with the band, here's what happened...

Thursday I woke up and packed for my weekend with the band. I headed out of my house around three o'clock. Jasper Alabama is a long drive. It took me about four and a half hours to get there. On the road I received a text message from Christeen, asking me to pick up some 9 volt batteries and some Johnson's & Johnson's 1/2", waterproof tape for Eddins. A little trivia fact for you, Eddins wears ONLY Johnson's & Johnson's 1/2" waterproof tape while playing... in case you are ever coerced into picking some up for him. After my short trip to Walgreens, I made it to the club to watch the guys set up the lights for the show. O'Malley's is an interesting bar. It is truly a bar for drinking and partying, not for glitz and glamor. As soon as the guys were done setting up we all headed to the hotel and relaxed, anticipating the night's wild adventures. I got back to the bar, in time to watch Angel do some shots with this REALLY tall guy, named Jacob. He was a little scruffy, but all the ladies seemed to love him. The show was great! And the fans at O'Malley's know how to party! The new stripper pole they installed worked wonders for the crazy drunk young ladies to dance upon. Even a few young men had their turn on the pole. After the show was over, the band packed things up, and headed back to the hotel. I texted Christeen to see if a Waffle House meal was in our future... and it was. We were lucky enough to have a nice meal with Brad's beautiful wife, Joany. After we ate, we all headed back to the hotel to sleep for a few hours. Check out was 11... ugh!

Friday I woke up late, so I didn't have time to shower. I hurried down stairs and put my bag in my car, where I met Cameron, who was doing the same. I was not planning on attending the rest of the shows for the weekend, I should've known Cam would change my mind. We ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. It was a great sit down meal with all my boys, I love it! While we were eating Angel and I decided to carpool to the show, since we alllll had to go in the same direction. Lunch discussions included, but weren't limited to: Bret Favre being gay, Vikings changing their uniform to rainbow colors, the gayness of our waiter, Cam and Chris's cold soup, and a saying that can only be summed up as "Let me be your Edward". Unfortunately, legally, that's ALL I can say about that. I followed behind Angel the best I could on the highway (he drives REALLY fast) to Tupelo, MS. Which was where we would rest our head for the night. We dropped Angel's S.U.V. off at the hotel and drove the rest of the way to Oxford, MS. The closer we got to the frat house the more it looked familiar. I have been to soooo many frat houses with the guys, I forget which ones I have, and have not been to. They played at this fraternity last Halloween. The band waited for the weather forecast... it didn't look good. As the band started setting up the rock show, the rain started to come. I was sent on a mission... more like a drink run, needing: 2 red AMPS, 2 green AMPS, 1 gatorade, and 1 pack of marlboro reds in a box. After returning from the 3 gas stations I had to go to find ALL of that stuff, I was sent on another errand for 2 fog machines, blow pops and a mountain dew for Jason. Wal-Mart was my best bet. Wal-Mart came up short, they were out of fog machines. After almost an hour of searching for somewhere that might have a fog machine, I gave up and headed back to the frat. Jason was not thirsty now, but I made him drink it anyway. The show was surprisingly PACKED! The rain could not keep these fans away, and it was COLD too! It would be the first time that Cameron could actually say he got allllll the girls wet at the show (Cam made note of this later and seemed very pleased with himself.) Angel and Dep both had on sweatshirts! The night never cleared up, even as the guys were tearing down the equipment. Which made it very dangerous to push the heavy stuff into the truck. After we were done, we drove back to Tupelo to sleep. I got a call from Christeen, before we hit the sack, a Waffle House was calling his name. An enjoyable warm meal with good friends. I got back to the hotel and took a really hot shower. It was cold out, and I just couldn't seem to shake it! Then I headed to bed, a busy Saturday awaits us.

Saturday I woke up to my phone ringing. It was Cameron. We were all rolling to the Cracker Barrel for a nice lunch. The band met up with some old friends, Matt and Lydia. There is something awesome about Cracker Barrel when it is cold outside, it just gives me a fuzzy warm feeling. Lunch topics for the day included: O.J. guilty? or not guilty?, a hang man match with Angel on his iphone, comments about the pictures and antiques hanging on the walls, and talks on what the band, Rumor Mill, was doing for the weekend. After our great fellowship, we drove to Rick's Cafe in Starkville, MS. The bar was nice and big. I was really excited to see all the fans! While the guys set up the show, I explored the bar, and found lots of pictures of bands that have played at the bar prior to the Pygmies. The Pygmies are sharing a stage once used by David Alan Coe, Snoop Dog, Kenny Chesney, Maroon 5, and many, many more. The "celebrities" that have played before them made me even MORE excited about the fan intake this place can hold! During my exploration, I found as old Pygmie promo photo. The very first Pygmie promo photo ever in circulation. The band took longer to set up than normal because most of the equipment was wet. I was sent on more errands... this time it was for: foot insoles, marlboro reds in a box, gatorade, 2 red AMPS, 2 green AMPS, and some long underwear. Angel accompanied me to Wal-Mart, where he bought some candy, in addition to our random assortment of items. I got back to the bar, they finished set up, and I was sent to CVS while the guys changed for the show. More 9 volt batteries, and some AA batteries were needed. The show started around 11 and the band played their usual, over-the-top rock n' roll. The audience was a little thin, but I hoped it would beef up a bit later in the night. It was homecoming weekend, it had to be a rockin night, right? Wrong! They sold to a whole 109 fans! No matter now many fans came, Cameron sold the few fans that were there. Sometimes it's not quantity, its quality... though BOTH is nice. The band tore down the stage, and disappointingly headed to the hotel. Chris, Jason, and Christeen drove straight home, so Cameron, Brad and I went to eat. While waiting on Cameron in my hotel room, I noticed a few strange things. bullet holes in my ceiling, bloody finger prints on the inside of my lamp shade, one towel, no soap, and 6 locks on the door. Normally the six locks would make me feel more safe... this time, it made me even more worried. The name Royal Inn was quite ironic. We couldn't find a Waffle House in the town, so we settled for Huddle House instead. A good meal never-the-less. Cam and Brad even ordered strawberry shortcake for dessert. We headed back to the hotel and crashed. I made sure to lock ALL six of my locks, and kept my cell phone close by.

Sunday was my day of "rest" where I drove the 4 hours home...and crashed again, this time safely in the comfort of my own home.

Rock N' Roll shows PYGMIE style

2009-10-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

There are three awesome shows this weekend. Which one will YOU attend?

Thursday, October 8th, the Pygmies are gonna be in Jasper, AL at O' Malley's Tavern. This will be the second time the Pygmies have ever played here. Last time was a blast. There were so many fans! Since the Pygmies have played there on June 11th, the bar has now got a stripper pole on the dance floor. This should create an interesting "obstacle" for the intoxicated fans. It should be a great night, just like last time. Karey, Cameron's wife, is planning on having another Passion Party that night. I will make a separate blog JUST for that Party shortly, so keep your eyes peeled!

Friday the band is gonna rock out in Oxford, Mississippi. There was some confusion as to where they were gonna play. As far as I know right now, they are playing at Sigma Phi Fraternity at the university of Mississippi. University of Mississippi students DO know how to party, and frat houses are a lot of fun! This would make a great road trip! I know campuses can be really confusing, so if you have a GPS, here's the address to the fraternity house : 1848 University Circle. I know to see you there!

Saturday the guys are traveling south to Kappa Sig in Starkville, MS. The last frat show in Starkville really surprised me. I was afraid no one would show up, I don't know why, Pygmie's reputation would tell me otherwise. These frat boys were more than hospitable and even offered Cam a place to shower before the show! The band hopes to leave another rock n' roll impression on this school. I have a feeling it'll be done. Again, frat houses are hard to find on campus, so here's the address: 1245 Stone Blvd.

There you have it, this week's shows. I hope to see lots and lots of Pygmie fans!

See you in the front row!

This last weekend was REAL crazy...

2009-10-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

There's was a lot of things that happened this last weekend, so let's start with Thursday and go from there...

On Thursday, I started driving towards the "famous" city of Rome, GA. It's about a 5 hour drive from my house plus they're on eastern time, so I headed out about noon. Unfortunately, about an hour into my drive I stopped off to get gas and realized I left my debit card at home... so i had to drive allllll the way back home, and attempt the drive again! Because I was being irresponsible with my card, I missed Cam wife, Karey's, passion party. Devastated, but never-the-less, excited about the show, I headed straight to the club. I met up with Angel and went to a close by bar to have drinks and eat some mediocre bar food. The show started around 10:30, and was quite an awesome show! Not as many people showed compared to last time, but it was still a rockin time! The audience was very intoxicated, which always makes for an interesting evening. We had more than one woman topless and a "young" lady that decided she wanted to show the band her key chain under her panties. Cam thought this was the perfect photo opportunity. Not sure where the picture went, but my guess is, even if it was in circulation I would LOSE your interest in the blog by putting it up. Cameron did have a wardrobe malfunction, during a song, he knelt down on one knee and ripped the crotch out of his pants. He spent the last few songs carefully hopping around the stage, as to NOT show the audience his goodies. Cameron's wife did grace us with her presence and even got on stage to dance with Christeen. She also gave Chris a nice lap dance. He was very excited. After the show, the band tore down the gear, loaded it in the truck, and Brad, Traci, Jessica, Christeen, and I headed to IHop. It was not my best experience at an IHop, they forgot about my food. So, I got it in a to-go box and ate it back at the hotel... cold. Lights went out around 4:30 am.

Friday, I got up, showered, and checked out of my hotel. The nice lady at the front desk gave me a late check-out so I got to my car around noon. I was putting in the address of the next venue when the gang started to pile out of the hotel and linger around in the parking lot... waiting for Christeen to roll out of bed and join us. Karey showed me the "unique" items from the passion party, and sold several bags full to Angel. Not sure what he plans on doing with a vibrating tongue, but whatever floats his boat. We decided on Red Lobster for lunch. It was amazing. Everyone got the all-you-can-eat shrimp, except for me. I knew I couldn't eat more than one plate anyways. The waitress there was GREAT! Anytime you're in Rome, GA at the Red Lobster ask for Eloise! We then headed towards Athens, GA. It was only a 2 hours drive, but it lasted a lot longer due to the wonderful Atlanta traffic. We arrived at the fraternity and the guys quickly started setting everything up. Cam gave me the task of finding a hotel room. It was the day before the home game, so hotels were expensive and hard to come by. I used Cam's phone and found a Days Inn with 2 rooms left. He took them both. After returning with the hotel room keys Cam, Jason, and Chris left to shower and change for the rock show. Pete, Christeen, Turck and I sat outside on rocking chairs and enjoyed the silence and perfect weather. I love when the guys play in places where the Pygmies are NOT well known. When the band starts, the surprised looks on all their faces is priceless! And their looks carry on throughout the night as Cam talks about things most people don't have the guts to say on stage. We even had a couple that was on a first date, and Cam made them have their first kiss on stage. Poor couple, being forced to kiss in front of all those people! After the show Cameron and Brad drove home, Angel and Pete stayed in the hotels, and Jason, Chris, Christeen, and I drove allllll the way back to Birmingham. I had to stop a couple of times, just to stay awake, but I arrived in Birmingham in one piece. I checked into the Days Inn. Though the hotel was old and the air conditioner made a lot of noise, it didn't stop me from sleeping! I think I went to bed about 6:30 am.

On Saturday, I woke up in the hotel room just in time to watch an awesome Alabama game. I then showered and headed towards the Iron Horse Cafe for some good food. Before eating, I went next door with Angel to get some guitar strings and picks. He is well known over there. lol. I ordered my food and sat down at the table by Angel and I talked about nonsense topics while the rest of the band set up the lighting for the show. They have amazing food at Iron Horse, I got the Iron Horse Burger and fries, I also ordered some spring rolls, because I know how much the guys like them. The guys headed towards the hotel to change around 9 o'clock. So I went to the bar to pay for my food and then i was headed in the same direction. The lady at the bar was not my server, but when I told her I had to pay, she just handed me the receipt. i couldn't figure out how she knew me, then I looked at the receipt... my name was under :"Chick with Angel" in the computer. How nice (sarcasm). I relaxed at the hotel for a half hour or so, then headed to the Horse, where it was already busy with people anticipating their faces being ROCKED off. The show was great, as always, at the Iron Horse! We even had a couple give each other shots of jelled alcohol from syringes... I'm not gonna give away the secret as to how they dispense these shots. You will have to come to the Iron Horse and find out! The show ended earlier than normal, about 1:30 a.m. The fans cleared out and the guys worked fast to tear down the stage. Cameron and Brad drove home after the show. I headed back to the hotel and went to bed about 4 a.m.

All-in-all, a wonderful weekend filled with memories that will last a lifetime! I hope you can experience a weekend like this too!

Until next weekend...