Thursday, July 3, 2014

Nevada punk band Vampirates mistaken for Pride-bombing terrorists.

This is hilarious and awesome. Vampirates are a public service punk rock band from Reno Nevada currently on a full US/EUROPE and triple EP release DIY TOUR.

More info on the band can be found at Vampirates.org

Nevada punk band mistaken for Pride-bombing terrorists


"Tens of thousands descended on St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District Sunday afternoon for the city’s annual LGBT Pride street festival. Despite the celebratory vibe, St. Pete police had something more nefarious on their radar: Pride-bombin’, hate-mongerin’, bushy beard-growin’ Middle Eastern terrorists.
Or so they thought.
At around 1 p.m. on June 29, St. Pete police responded to a complaint about four suspicious individuals at the apartment of local promoter Kat Lynes, who lives on the 800 block of 16th Avenue South and books bands at venues like Fubar and The Local 662.
According to the police report, neighbor Keith Coleman noticed two male and two female 20somethings he’d never seen in the neighborhood before at Lynes’ apartment. They were packing up a blue and grey van with Nevada license plates. One of the men, he told police, had a “full bushy beard,” and both had “Middle Eastern appearances.” They were carrying heavy black and red backpacks, and cardboard boxes marked with red X’s that had the word “explosives” on them, according to Coleman.
And when Coleman tried to chat with them as they loaded their van, they simply smiled at him without saying a word, says the police report.
That’s when Coleman began thinking about the Boston Marathon bombers and worrying about the safety of those attending the Pride festival, said Yolanda Fernandez, police spokesperson. So he called the cops.
Police spoke with Lynes and searched her apartment, leaving her with a mess that took hours to clean up.
As for those so-called “Middle Eastern” terrorists, Reno-based punk band The Vampirates had played a gig at Fubar the night before and crashed at Lynes’ apartment afterwards. Police arrived at the apartment on Sunday not long after they'd left for their next gig in Gainesville that night. The responding officers looked “confused” when she told them she wasn’t harboring terrorists, just musicians.
The backpacks they carried were crammed with clothing and other essentials for living on the road during a tour, Lynes explained to them.
Also, the boxes didn’t say explosives. They had “phonographic records” written on them and contained the band’s latest 7” vinyl release, “Pizza, Beer,” said David Masud, The Vampirates’ drummer. And he knows they weren’t very chatty with Coleman, but they’d had a long night and were focused on getting back on the road.
“Apparently he’s never talked to a person with a hangover before,” he said.
Coleman’s suspicions and the police search were “pretty ridiculous,” Masud added. “We’re pretty alternative-looking people, but we’re not terrorists.”
But police were right to respond the way they did, said department spokesperson Fernandez. “It’s better to be safe than sorry in these circumstances.” CL could not reach Coleman for comment.
Musad said many of the attendees at their Fubar gig had gone to the Saturday evening St. Pete Pride Parade first. And one of the girls helping the band pack up their van as Coleman looked on wore rainbow-colored bracelets in support of gay pride.
Still, a long-running joke in the band has been that one day bassist Pat Mayfield would be mistaken for a terrorist because of his beard.
“I guess that day was Sunday,” Masud said.
Masud, whose father is Pakistani, said he looks “more like a white guy” than Middle Eastern. But the van is registered in his name. So when police looked up the plate number and saw his name, he assumes that set off red flags for them.
“This is just about people being more scared of each other than they should be,” he said.

The Vampirates posted this picture of their merch table at their June 29 Gainesville gig to Facebook with the caption: "Contrary to popular belief, this merch is not actually a pipe bomb."

The Vampirates had another incident with St. Petersburg police when they last played at Fubar in March 2013, Musad said.
A fan they met at the show offered to let them crash at his place. Police surrounded them, guns out and pointed at them, while they stood outside the apartment smoking, he said.
“They thought we were trying to steal our own tour van,” he said, and didn’t believe them until Masud unlocked the door with his key.
“It’s that age-old dilemma of security versus privacy,” he added.
And despite these run-ins with police, the band has no hard feelings against the city.
“It’s really cool,” Masud said. “We really like that area. And Kat put on a great show for us.”" - Tiffany Razzano


Vampirates upcoming tour dates:
7/2/2014 - Baton Rouge - LA - Hound Dogs
7/3/2014 - Houston - TX - White Swan
7/4/2014 - San Antonio - TX - Zombies
7/5/2014 - Austin - TX - Unicornicopia House
7/6/2014 - Ft. Worth - TX - The Cellar
7/7/2014 - Lubbock - TX - Depot Obar
7/8/2014 - Albuquerque - NM - The Warzone
7/9/2014 - Flagstaff - AZ - C-Street
7/10/2014 - Las Vegas - NV - Double Down
7/11/2014 - San Diego - CA - Help?
7/12/2014 - Los Angeles - CA - Cobalt Cafe
7/13/2014 - Santa Cruz - CA - The Catalyst Atrium
7/14/2014 - Oakland - CA - Eli's Mile High Club
7/15/2014 - Chico - CA - Help?
7/16/2014 - Portland - OR - House Show
7/17/2014 - Portland - OR - Help?
7/18/2014 - Seattle - WA - 2 Bit Saloon
7/19/2014 - Eugene - OR - Black Forest
7/20/2014 - Ashland - OR - Club 66
7/21/2014 - Reno - NV - Ground Zero
7/26/2014 - Reno - NV - Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor

Monday, June 30, 2014

Vampirates, No Brainer, Falcon A, Teraton, & Miss Roach @ Eli's Mile High Club Monday 7/14/14

Monday 7/14/14

Public Service Punk Rock
Reno

"Then the Vampirates played and proceeded to absolutely beat the shit out of each other and simultaneously amaze and confuse the audience with the ferocity of the music and the barroom brawl vibe they have with each other. Bass player loses his strap and takes a knee mid-song so as to finish playing. Singer sees this and proceeds to barrel right into him with his shoulder and then, just in case that wasn't enough, kicks him while he's trying to play. Guitar player sees it and any rational person would go stop this violent mayhem with his band mates. Does he stop it? No, he runs and jumps right into them with the same abandon one would when one cannon balls into a pool. Only this isn't a pool. It's people and they're in your band." - Ryan Stark

Punk Rock
Sonoma County

We are a new punk band from Sonoma County
we like to play fast loud and to have a good time! 
New tunes and shows up soon!

Punk Rock
Oakland

Currently, Falcon A! has undergone a slight line-up which fell into place in early/mid 2012. Keeping consistent were Estebo Guitar/Lead vocals, and Yah Weh Bass/Vocals. Taking over for Hernesto on Guitar/vocals now is Mark the Shark adding his unique guitar licks elevating the complexity of our new and old material with his years of experience and know how. Taking over for Brodie on Drums/Backup vocals now is Donny, currently being on drums consistently since joining the band, bringing with him his hardcore backings and experience in the music scene.

Doom Metal
Santa Cruz

Teraton is a three member doom metal band from Santa Cruz Ca.
All three of Teraton's members were brought up in the Santa Cruz Skate/Surf music scene playing in bands in the early 90's, through high school, and continuing on today. Kevin Lemon (Bass) spent time playing bass for the Expendables' in the early years and left to pursue a career in music recording, engineering and production eventually engineering an album for ex Sleep members legendary band Om . He is our "man of action" getting the recordings done and has helped out many bands in and out of town and is ready to record your band! Just look up slow roasted recordings. J.T. (Drums) has smashed the drums in many different genre's of music through his life and is currently hitting the skins in three different groups in Santa Cruz. Besides Teraton, J.T. is in the legendary local die hard skate punk band Cantoker as well as keeping the beat for local folk rock group The Stash Brownstone Band. K.C. (Vocals/Guitar) spent time singing for the local punk band Jetlag throughout the 90's putting out a split E.P. with the Lonely Kings on Sessions Records. He moved to Portland Oregon to play guitar for DEADMANDISCO but they fell apart and he moved back and met up with the two other Teraton members and that's where the thunder began.
We are a doom metal band that started back in the end of 2006 and were formed over a shared love of heavy metal and beer. We are back and will be playing shows again this summer. We are working on a 7" record so I will keep you posted. Metal!! Yeeeaaarrrrggghh!!

Miss Roach
Ukulele/Accordion
Oakland

Picked up an accordion in 2010 when she convinced all her friends to go "Irish Caroling". She co-leads the weekly musical community meetup Jerk Church in Oakland. A veteran of the punk and theatre scenes, Roachie's just here for the cookies. She also sometimes plays banjolele.

Eli's Mile High Club
3629 Martin Luther King Jr Way Oakland

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Free Artist Showcase Featuring Lexi Yarbrough w/ live dj sets @ The Blue Lagoon Tuesday 7/1/14

Tuesday 7/1/14

~~LIVE ART~~

Lexi Yarbrough
Lexi Yarbrough is a multifaceted artist residing in the Bay Area. Lexi's main focus is tattoo artistry while keeping busy with commissioned paintings and clothing in her spare time.

~~LIVE DJ SETS~~

FREE!

Support your local Tattoo artist and show off your Tattoos! 
Stay tuned for more info!

$4 drink specials all night!

The Blue Lagoon
932 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz

RSVP ON FACEBOOK