Our trip to Big Bear, Ca

We needed a break from the grind. A refreshing visit to nature far from the neon lights, draining work days, and flashing electronic screens.
I planned a trip to Big Bear Lake. A short three and a half hour drive away from our bustling city, away from our jobs, our band, our television and computers.
We got in late Friday evening and didn't really get to see more than the cabin we were staying in. However bright and early Saturday morning we woke to the wonderful scent of pine trees and this view.

We brought the dogs along with us.  This being the longest road trip either had been on they were pleasantly surprised when they saw the view as well.

We took the dogs to the lake where they reveled in the beautiful waters and garnered attention from all who watched. 

After the lake time we headed to some stables to go horseback riding. Hayden had told me prior to the planning that he wanted to try a new adventure and do something he had never done before.

He was nervous at first with the horse being much larger in person than he imagined. However once on the horse and riding steady he enjoyed it. 

After our ride we drove back to the cabin and relaxed for the rest of the night.
The drive home on Sunday was also beautiful and relaxing. The kids all chilled in the back resting together.

It was a grand adventure and we all had a great time away from the grind.

Weekend Redux: Last minute road trip to Hollywood

Friday about 1pm I was informed that we would be playing the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood with Wayne Static on Saturday. The four of us were stoked. We rushed around to get our shit ready and hit the road at 6am Saturday morning.
I booked us rooms at an awesome hotel called The Grafton on Sunset. The rooms were beautiful and the staff was extremely accommodating.

We had some drama with a girl that was [thisclose] to getting throat-punched but instead of getting arrested I opted for leaving and enjoying my night in Hollywood. We went to go prepare for the show at the venue and left her drama ass at the hotel.

We walked around the Sunset strip. The weather was an amazing 70+ degrees while Vegas was a very cold 50 something.

The Whisky was packed and we had an awesome show. The crowd showed us lots of love and we were placed in an awesome spot on the bill. The Defiled played after us and Wayne Static was after them. They used some of our gear as you can see below.

Overall the trip was a good one and we had a blast. We made some new friends/fans and got to enjoy the Cali weather for the weekend.

Bittersweet

Photos by Mozzchopz Music Photography

The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind of hard work and hard rock for my band and I.  A few weeks ago our guitar player Rob had to step down from his position in the band and we had to try to find someone quickly to replace him. Well I guess we didn't HAVE to try quickly, we wanted to since we had shows lined up and we didn't want to have to cancel them. Cancelling shows is awkward. 

We found a good replacement in Brian Jackson whom we wrote about on facebook. 

We've been working him in and he's doing an amazing job so far.  We have been practicing more than usual and actually utilizing the beautiful rehearsal studio.

Saturday was Rob's final show with us. We played with Hemlock again but this time they were celebrating their 20 year anniversary. The show was awesome and the club was packed. A perfect farewell for Rob. 

Rob was guitar player number six for .bipolar. and honestly I'm getting tired of the two year curse we seem to have.  

Being the front-woman/manager it's frustrating when a member has to walk away due to life priorities, chooses to dump us with a dear Brian and Charlie letter that we find in our studio along with the absence of their gear, or just flat out disappears with no note or inkling as to why.We lose unrecorded songs, quality band photos, and sometimes a good friend/brother. Sometimes it feels like all my hard work, blood, sweat and tears are in three other people's hands. Being the independent person I am having my fate in someone else's hands is not easy for me to cope with. 

Rob did some great things with us and his departure is bittersweet. We wish him the best and hope he's able to return to music in his own capacity soon.

In the meanwhile we're excited for the new things on the horizon.

Vacation Redux: Florida and Key Largo

Last week we traveled across the country to visit my mom and step-dad in Florida.

They had planned a wonderful trip to Key Largo for all of us. We knew it would be nice, but didn't expect the sheer tropical beauty we would experience there. We stopped at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to have lunch and snorkel off the beach. Brian and I snorkeled a cool early Spanish shipwreck and saw so many different types of fish.

This was the view for our lunch.

It was crowded and we were getting overheated so we then headed to the hotel to cool off before dinner.
The hotel overlooked the ocean.

We went to dinner at the Islamorada Fish Company. They had beautiful white sand docks and a little harbor area where they feed large Tarpon fish and nurse sharks. We enjoyed watching the fish and the view right before sunset.

 The next day we visited the Bass Pro Shop which had Ernest Hemingway's boat on display.

 This was inside the cabin along with his old typewriter. 

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.- Ernest Hemingway

We then headed back two hours to their house where my mom made amazing Blackberry Mojitos from scratch.
Hayden wanted to go fishing after we relaxed a bit so my parents set us up on their boat at the dock and we caught and released a bunch of catfish.

Hayden was surprised we caught one right away. Everything was fun until Brian got stabbed in the palm by one of their barbs. Salt water catfish have venom on the barbs and he had an instant reaction to it. We soaked his hand in hot water per the WebMD suggestion and then put baking soda paste on it until the pain went away.
We spent the next day on the boat in the inter-coastal and Hayden discovered the awesomeness of SNORKELING. Last week he wouldn't put his face in the water at all. Now with a mask and a snorkel he's addicted.

That's him looking at barracuda and collecting shells. He did this for hours and had so much fun. Grandma and Grandpa sent him home with his very own flippers and snorkel set. He's planning on snorkeling around our pool.
Overall we had a great trip and came home a little burnt and a little tan.
It went by quick and we'll miss grandma and grandpa.

Dillinger Road Trip Plan

Our best friends Heather and Steve just moved to Las Vegas from Southern California in March.
Heather and I have a shared affinity for The Dillinger Escape Plan among other awesome things in common. Hell we've been friends for eight years and our boys were born only two days apart.

We found out a couple months ago that Dillinger was on tour but sadly not coming to Las Vegas. However, they had a show in a small venue in Anaheim. I quickly planned a road trip for us all to enjoy this anomaly.

We drove down Sunday, a day early to enjoy some sun on the beach. Our little family has done a few road trips since I got my car in September and we just love traveling together.

We had breakfast in Huntington Beach and spent most the day walking around enjoying the perfect weather and watching a surf competition. Hayden collected shells while Brian and I enjoyed the sand between our toes.

We returned to our hotel room late that evening and got to enjoy the entire half hour of Disneyland's amazing fireworks. It was a perfect ending to a great day!

The next day we had planned on going to Hollywood to flyer for our Roxy show next month but we got some sad news that made us just want to spend the rest of the day together as a family before the show that night.

We pulled our strength together and hooked up with Heather and Steve to get to the show.

The venue was very small and totally worth the drive. Steve found us a perfect spot right next to the stage but not in the middle of the pit. The first band Royal Thunder was good, the second band The Faceless did not disappoint, but The Dillinger Escape Plan is so freaking amazing I cannot properly describe them with words so just imagine me talking with my hands, doom hands.

They literally beat up the crowd with their brutal music and energy on stage. They played mostly all the songs I feel are their best, and then some off the new album. Seriously EVERY metal, post hardcore, metal core or whatever band genre is super cool and hard right now needs to watch this band and take lessons on how to put on a show.

On the last song of their set they welcomed everyone to join them on stage. Brian jumped on stage and ended up protecting the bass player from getting mauled by the carnivorous fans sweating and jumping and screaming uncontrollably. One of the carnivorous fans was trying to get the set list off the bass player's speaker cab and Brian watched as the bass player pulled it off crumpled it into a ball and shoved it into the guy's mouth then pushed his face out of the way.

The show was literally the best I have ever seen and a once in a lifetime experience.

Weekend Redux: Shows and Drums

This Saturday we supported our friends 3d6 who played at the Beauty Bar with Nerf Herder. We had a blast. I spent most my night dancing with my best friend Petrina. Below are some amazing photos taken by our friend Calvin Boyken.

Nerf Herder

3d6

Brandy, Dave, Me, Brian and Petrina

Last night Brian, Hayden and I went to see Recycled Percussion at The Quad (formerly the Imperial Palace)

It was amazing and we all LOVED it. 

Before the show started Hayden and Brian got to band on pots and pans with drumsticks. 

Brian was asked to go up on stage during the show. He wore a monkey mask along with other volunteers and did a hilarious skit. Hayden and I laughed so hard our cheeks hurt.

Overall the show was amazing. The group is highly talented and we had such a great experience. 

I highly recommend it. Just be careful The Quad is still under heavy construction and it's easy to get lost in there. 

Weekend Redux: Orgy, Windy bad news and Mini Grand Prix

Friday night we played a show with some great local bands Revolve, Bravo Delta and national bands Davey Suicide, Vampires Everywhere and Orgy.
The show was amazing.
I know I use the words AMAZING and AWESOME quite a bit, and I should probably grow my vocabulary but until then deal with it.
It was the largest crowd we've played to in Las Vegas.
The response was great and the other bands dug us too.

One of the other band members came to talk to me and at first put on a front being kind of douchey with me.  We chatted a bit more and when he found out we were originally from Sacramento he stated that he was as well and listed off a few bands he had been in. One of them we had played with quite a few times. After he realized he remembered me and the band the douche switch turned off.



Saturday we lazed around most the day recovering from the late night before.
Then after our friend Matt headed back on the road home to Sacramento we headed downtown for Vegas Streats to see our friends in Nothing With Numbers. Here are some pics from our little trip.

It was super windy and Hayden was really tired so we didn't get to stay long.
We drove around trying to find somewhere to sit down to eat and opted for a place near our house. While waiting for the server I checked the Facebook on my phone and read the devastating news of Chi Cheng's death. We held hands and talked about for a bit, but both of us were too sad and depressed to really do much else. 

We went home and watched Life of Pi.

Sunday we woke up early to get ready for a birthday party at the Mini Grand Prix. That place was so much fun and the perfect place to drown our sorrows in activities. We drove the karts and played some games with good company.

Weekend Redux: California Dreaming

This past weekend we went on a vacation to Southern California. Originally this week was supposed to be spent in Florida with my mom and stepdad. But my mom's dad, my grandpa passed away last Tuesday.
My mom had to cancel to our plans to tend to some sad details in Northern California.

With time off I figured we could switch gears and go to a Pacific beach instead. We had a few friends we could visit and the forecast was sunny.

We left early Saturday morning and drove straight to Whittier to meet up with our friend Heather and her son (Hayden's BFF Julian). We spent the day hanging out with them at the park then went to our hotel in Long Beach for a while before catching dinner. Sunday we spent the day with Brian's long time friend Damon and his girlfriend Claudia in Santa Monica. We walked down the beach to the pier. Hayden rode the carousel and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
When we returned to our hotel later that night I was sunburned and the hotel's wonderful heated pool was calling my name.

Monday we got to attend a going away party for Heather and Steve who are moving to VEGAS! We're beyond stoked and felt a little guilty hanging with their Cali friends who are sad to see them go.
Here are some wonderful pictures from our trip!