Last The Hundred Arms show?

So my band, The Hundred Arms are going to be playing our last show with our Guitarist Eric on Monday night the 20th!! Could even end up last show ever, who knows. Red Handed is a killer Punk Hardcore band from the East Bay. Check them out at: Red Handed

Show is at the Boing House, an Anarchist Community House. Cost is donations only. We will be playing early so be there at 7:00

More info:
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Boing House (608 S 500 E, SLC, UT 84102)
Bands: The Hundred Arms, Red Handed & one other I don't know the name of

Is it the venue, bands or just the kids?

What a switch from the previous post. I found out the day of that an old friends band was coming through that night. Decided to head out. Got to the show what I thought was in good time, but the band I wanted to see, Only Crime, was just finishing up. Talk about a band with some pedigree. But was anyone there? Not really and those were there just to see the headlining band.

Side note here: I have respected Russ, singer/songwriter of Only Crime, Good Riddance and also a member of various other projects. The first time Good Riddance came to town, I got to interview him for a local music zine. As dorky as it is that interview changed my life. Most people blame the lady for my change, but it was really that interview and being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Over the years, I stayed in touch with Russ and Chuck and was able to call them friends. Even so much as my friend Brett and I went and visited them in Santa Cruz for one of their Record release shows. With that I will say, Russ isn't the easiest person to understand or get along with, but to me he has always stayed true to himself and to his beliefs. Not something I can say for countless others.

Back to the night: Well after Only Crime's set, I sat down with Russ for a few and we talked. Mostly about how the scene has changed so much and how different the US is versus Europe or even Canada. I have to admit, that I don't know how he and Only Crime keeps doing it. I am their age, if not younger and I am so over the bullshit. What happened to all ages shows, people not too cool to have a good time, or have a good time without having the excuse that they were drunk. But i guess that is how it is now. It is an image. That is why I need to not be late next time with True folks like Russ and Only Crime come back through.

Movie not out yet, but check out the trailer:


Also check out Russ's solo stuff at Russrankin.com

So with so much negativity, we need to end this with a killer top 5:
1. BC Skate Crew! Thanks for getting me back out there.
2. Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska! I know I know, but it is sounding so good right now.
3. Fact that we haven't hit 100 degrees yet!
4. Bike Rides with Dom.
5. Huntsville 4th of July fireworks! No other fireworks show compares.

Bonus one: The Real Salt Lake 4th after game fireworks using Pink Houses. Go listen to the song and the lyrics so you too can see the amazingness of this!

Getting Biz Nasty!

I know, cheesy title. I have always laughed when people type that they are behind on their blog, but alas, I know what they are talking about. With not much happening in the music world, I have been trying to make myself look like a fool by skating again. I have always done it, but only a handful of times per year. If you are young and decent at skating, do lose it. It is harder to get back later on.

Anyway, saw Big Business, which was a while back now, and they were amazing! I have to say the addition of the guitar player really adds so much more to this band. Last time I saw them was only a bass and drums. I posted a stream of the new album awhile back and those songs are even better live! That might be that going to this show reminded me a bit of when I was young going to shows.

When you start going to shows in a small town then you get an eclectic mix of people. Then over the years and when we started driving down to the "Big City" to see shows it seemed like only punks would go to punk shows, metalheads to metal shows and so forth. Big Business's music attracts everyone and most of them like me aren't the cool kids of anything. Loved it. In my current work I have to deal with so much cool this, cool that. One of the few things that keeps my head in check is still going to shows. Thanks for a good night!

What is Pandaheap?

I wasn't really sure what this blog was going to be before I started it. I thought I would have a con-glom of all the things I am into; Bikes, Boards, Music & Food. Its funny how the only thing I really have cared to write about is music. Thought hard about why this is the case. My only answer is that over the last 20 years of going to shows and seeing some of the most amazing (and worst) bands ever, I don't have any journal or writings of any of it. I don't remember all the bands I have seen, where and when. Worst of it all, I can't even remember all the amazing bands that I have been more than fortunate to share the stage with.

See, I was a short fat awkward kid, that feel in love with Skateboarding. My brother had a little yellow banana board that I would ride up and down the sidewalk and steps in front of my house. Later on, I got my first real skateboard, a Powell Peralta with Indy trucks and Cross Bones wheels! Thing was amazing. I loved it. Then about 4 months after I got it, it was stolen out of my garage. It took me over a year to save up for a second board. By that time all my friends were so far past me, then add that fact that I was not an athletic kid. I still loved to skate, but the desire to push myself and such had slipped away.

Today, I still love skateboarding so much, but since that time I have never really been able to actually be good. Probably a mental thing, but what I replaced skateboarding with was music. I loved music as much as skateboarding and I struggled at it as much or more, but I didn't have that mental block. Older syblings introduced me to a hand full of good bands and skateboarding opened up the world of music.

I still remember my first show. Not concert not live music, but show. It was Knowun and What about Mary in a small veterans hall. That changed me. I don't want to even think how much money I have spent on music. All those dollars on records, tapes, CDs, equipment, recording, merch and touring. IT has all been worth it. Like I said, I still love skateboarding, but music is my thing.

Long story short, I wanted to start keeping track of the shows I go to. The bands that get me excited today. Overtime I am sure I will start posting about some past history, that is if my brain can remember it. Here is the first of I hope many Pandaheap Top Fives right now:

1. Ad's Art - I know am I biased, but it is amazing. Here is my favorite:

2. Big Business' new album Mind the Drift. Listen to it here: MINDTHEDRIFT Seriously amazing. Post on them soon
3. Fast & Furious - I don't care. Its not like I love it because it is serisouly awesome.
4. Pie Take-out's new vegan menu. The Cheese Pull-a-parts are legit.
5. Clark E. Clark! Hellz Yeah! Hot new Hip-Hop Group! Just wait you will see!

Daniel Higgs

What can I say about this person. To be honest it seems that he is shrouded with mystery. From Reptile House to Lungfish and now his solo career. I never saw Lungfish, which I totally regret. I don't feel so bad now that I got to see Daniel. So amazing live. Pretty much playing a banjo or a squeezebox and then he sang. It is inspiring to here someone still so passionate after so many years. As a friend described seeing him live as, "Its like he was there to teach us". There are days I regret spending so much of time focused on music, but then I go to shows like this and I realize I spent to little time.

There is a great piece on him at this blog: Burning Down the Dreams of Forever: Daniel Higgs
There are some great downloads available.

Tim Barry

Back when I was 16 years old I heard of this band Avail. Didn't know much about them for a couple years. Thats what happens when you live in a small town. Well, as soon as I heard them, I was floored. Their live show was even better. After the first time I saw them I never missed their show, except once. Which I still regret.

Tim Barry, the singer of Avail is now another fucking guy with an acoustic guitar. The thing is he is different. Just like Avail was different from all the other fast punk hardcore bands. I have seen him play for a 5 people in a alley and 400 jackass people in a bar. The other night I almost didn't go see him when he was in town. So glad I went. I told him that I have to seem him play at least once a year or I lose track of whats important. He reminds me of the 18 year old kid who had all these ideas and dreams. Cheesy as it is, it gives me a kick not to give up. I just have to say thanks to him. For keeping me sane. Check him out


Tim Barry - "Prosser's Gabriel" from TCSG on Vimeo.

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