Mr. Big

J autographing a kids I-Pod  after the Dino show in Osaka.It's now a J-Pod, according to it's owner. The guys are very popular in Japan. Left today, back in New York. I miss Japan already.

Oh Well

Dinosaur at O-East in Tokyo. These two shows were great. O-East is a real good club. The PA is first class and the room itself sounds good. The Japanese fans are very enthusiastic which always makes for a good show. I could probably sell the set lists, everybody seems to want one.

Takeshi, Michio and Enju from the Boris camp came to the show. It was cool seeing them. I just wish they were on the bill as well.

Smokin'

Japan! It is permitted to smoke in bars and restaurants but apparently not on the street. These signs appear up and down one of the main streets in Nagoya. Weird.

Ate breakfast at McDonalds this morning. Quite different from New York. Comfortable armchairs and a baseball game on the TV. I sat there for 45 minutes, can't last 45 seconds at Mickey D anywhere else.

Dinosaur played at Club Quattro in Nagoya last night. It's a real good club. The sound system has lots of juice. The band was great as always. All the gear is rented here and it's good quality stuff, unlike some other places. Japan is just a cool.

Two shows in Tokyo, Wednesday and Thursday. J is a big star here. Kids stop him continually on the street and ask for autographs. Rock on dude.

Rising Sons

Just arrived in Osaka for the Dinosaur Jr week long Japanese tour. Flew over with J,took us 26 hours door to hotel. I slept for most of the flight which was a miracle. Japan rules. Had a production meeting with the Japanese crew. The stage manager is Sasha, an old school dude who knew what I meant when I said Dino sets up like Grand Funk Railroad. He had full specs for all the clubs we are playing. I don't remember getting that before. Hoping that Boris will come the the Tokyo shows.

Calling Occupants...

This is Murph, drummer for Dinosaur Jr. A truly unique and great drummer.  He thinks we are all descendants of space aliens and has a theory to back it up. He may be right, I don't know. I do know that Dunkin' Donuts coffee is now better than Starbucks coffee.  For a fever vision of what Murph might have become had he not met J and Lou, go to :    

   http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1005/1005_01.asp   

First for the Best

Patch bay at Mercury Lounge. Hard to see I know but my camera sucks. I wish every club had this rack. It's just really good. Midas pre amps, Drawmer gates and comps,  4 DBX 160x, Focusrite stereo comp. I worked there last night, filling in for Kevin the regular guy. It's a pleasure working there as is working at any of the Bowery Presents venues. They are a sound engineers dream. Lots of thought and care goes into the PA and the rooms. No wonder they get all the good shows in New York.

The Ace

The one and only Fast Eddie from Motorhead and Fastway. This was taken last summer at a concert in Hyde Park. Eddie had gotten Fastway back together for a few shows. He was the only original member but hey that's all you need. They sounded great.

After the Fastway set J Mascis and I were walking around and ended up by Eddie's dressing room. J is a big fan. We asked his manager if he would mind talking to us. Eddie came out, seemed a bit oblivious and asked if we were there to see Aerosmith, also on the bill that day. I blurted out "No Fast Eddie we're here to see you"(we were there, I guess, because we got in free, didn't know Fastway was playing). Well, sometimes flattery will get you somewhere. Eddie brightened up and we had a great chat. He and J talked about guitars and pedals and amps. I gossiped with him about Dave, the original Fastway singer who I know from his current band Flogging Molly. It was a nice moment. Fast Eddie rules!