:: Music As Social Agitation Records::

:: Monday, January 17, 2005 ::

we arrived in little rock Are-Kansas around 6pm. it was cold and brisk and the air is wet. we planned on walking the mile or so to the venue and quickly set out. we had about an hour to get there and our firast hurdle was crossing the Arkansas river. this was notable to me since this river, over a thousand miles upstream was the same river me and jonny were traveling along through the Colorado canyon when we hit the rockslide a few years back. the river here, though, is probably twice as wide as even the canyon we were following there. it is a nice bride and little rock I found to be pretty nice looking and seemed to have some money in it. I make the case that it seems to have some liberal character to it, which is a point of contention for most everyone the whole evening. after a struggled walk (it is fucking cold and some of our goods don’t sit well for walking), we make it to Blank Generation, a rather big whole in the wall of a record store and punk mecca in the heart of white-lighted downtown little rock. Sean and Shoni are the owners of the venue and they live in the back and upstairs with their two kids, who were adorable and rather sharp for a couple of half pints. national lampoons Christmas vacation is playing when we arrive but it is soon replaced with pacman. I look through the records, many pretty independent, including a mt gigantic album I almost pick up for five bucks. it is a monday night so there is not much hope for an exceptional crowd and after a while Blair Harris, who is performing that night, shows up with her friend Steven. me and tony order some hot slices, well a whole round pie of them, and about a half hour (prior to pizza arrival) tony sets up and begins the night. the place is rather huge and it seems well-worn with past punk shows and a banged up PA. there is a leak in the 24 foot ceiling that drips throughout the night about ten feet from where we all stood. a handful and some of blairs friends show up before and as tony begins his set. it sounds good in the room after tony’s set Blair sets up with her electric guitar. she has a nice, mellow stage presence which fits her songs which soon pretty much floor me. good stuff in the line of a early cat power or S and other somber songstresses. I quickly conclude that I would love it if she released something on MASA. after Blair plays I set up and try and play a short set. me and tony sell/give away a few cd’s, and people stick around for a bit to chat. our bus was set to leave a few hours later and tony convince Blair and Steven to hang out for a bit. we trek all the way across town just to hang out at an IHOP in their neck of the woods. good times were had, strawberry syrup was consumed, not enough coffee was consumed, coffeepots were destroyed and stories were shared. and then we made our way back to the busstop, having learned that we just spent what could be considered an “exciting little rock experience� with the kids. I really loved the blank generation and Anthony and Randi and talk to them a bit about having MASA goods there in the future. I really want to find the coolest of cool record stores in various towns and only work with one store per city. blank generation would be perfect. um… then we left town for Lexington, Kt. another long bus ride overnight...

:: brs 11:32 PM [+] ::
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