Heat & Serahtonic August 31, 1997.
The first show...August 31, 1997. I knew we had to have my friends, Heat, play the first show. I loved watching Michael, Ben, Chris, & Dave play. I will never forget all the drunken bootie shaking that accompanied their shows. This was pretty early on in their short lived existence and if I remember correctly it was a pretty small turnout. Ironically, even though they got some backlash from some of the locals - success by bands like The Rapture, !!!, shit -even the Strokes shows that Heat was around 5 years ahead of the learning curve.
Don't remember much from the Serahtonic set...they were a band that was very dedicated to the British sounds of the time & their singer was nice enough to play the show.
Nylon Coated Cats & Tristeza September 13, 1997
The second show...
The Nylon Coated Cats...I have no idea how we booked these guys. I think it's because they shared the same practice space with Heat (along with Three Mile Pilot...I do believe Dave is very sorry for fucking up their drum set) The ironic thing was that I ended up working with their singer, Ero - at Gelato Vero - another coffee shop (it was the '90s). Really nice guy, who introduced me to the greatness that is Dead Moon - unfortunately I can't remember a thing about their set.
This was meant to be one of Tristeza's first shows - but it fell through. Maybe it's because I butchered their name on the flyer. Cool flyer though!!
GoGoGo Airheart & the Antenna September 27, 1997
Whatever happened to Mike Cole?
Whatever happened to Ward Valley?
Three Day Eyes October 11, 1997
Definitely my favorite flyer that we made - one of the few known shots of Spanish Tony Sanchez from the time- Keith's dealer that I was obsessed with. Anyways...the Three Day Eyes show was epic in the sense that Chad, the singer, was truly trying to create an event...no other bands, "pure power", & he began one of San Diego's most heated & least known about rivalries. The feud between Heat & the Eyes began around this time (largely fueled on by my own gossip) & revolved around Chad & Michael Z's long-standing dislike for each other. The two bands were soon to play together at the Casbah where the tension spilled in to both bands sets. It made for a fun night!
Kill Holiday, Tristeza October 25, 1997
Easily our biggest show...even though hindsight will show that the Black Heart show was actually the biggest but...Anyways - we finally had Tristeza (still couldn't spell their name) in one of their first shows & they brought along Kill Holiday, who had a very dedicated & large following. Estimates of the crowd range around 100+ & for our tiny college coffee shop - there was a strong need for crowd control. It was one of those shows that many folks I would later meet in life would claim to have attended.
Ironically, it was the first show that neither Ryan nor I had to work (officially) so we spendtthe bulk of the beginning of the show at Aztec Arcade getting our game & trash talk on playing NBA Jams. "He's on fire!"
A very interesting night...ironically while we were stoked to host a show with such a large crowd I will always remember the night for two reasons - one was the dude - selling Unbroken tapes - that was so wasted that he was throwing up on the patio & being held up by anyone that happened to be around him. It ended up that he was actually a member of Unbroken & had fallen really hard from his straight edge ways. Unfortunately, he killed himself soon after that night. The other reason (& less somber) reason I remember that night was the fact it cemented our negative reputation in San Diego's Golden Hill scene. I'm sure they had some genuine complaints about the shambles Ryan & I ran (from Aztec Arcade) but I have a feeling it was the awkward senerio I watched played out when a large group of some of SDSU's infamous "frat boys" surrounded Tristeza's van & began to verbally harass our future stars. I felt real bad watching this play out...but was in no position to take on 20 of SDSU's finest (?). Let's just say my visions of our location helping us actually severely hindered our prospect of pulling in good bands. That & the fact we couldn't pay anyone.
I must add that I do remember how cool Luis & Jimmy were to deal with & even though things didn't work out that night I was stoked to see the success they had. Both of them have been super cool to me when I bumped into them after my move to the Bay Area.
Physics, Sluts of Oxford November 15, 1997
A turning point show in a few ways...firstly, the Sluts would go on to play a few shows & garnish the most press (Daily Aztec write-up) & leave their spit mark on Espresso Roma's artwork, & with regards to Physics...the show would create a relationship that would lead to our finest moment when Jason from Physics told me about a Three Mile Pilot side project that was willing to play Roma.
Ilya from Sluts of Oxford was very committed to getting a show at Roma - showing up on several occasions while I was working to set up a gig. He would suck me into some random conversation about scene politics & was very pervasive about why the Sluts should make their debut at Espresso Roma. I finally agreed & was about to be introduced to the Sluts singer - the infamous Rory Cunt. I first saw Rory in action when he physically attacked Hans from Dura Delinquent at the Che Cafe in the middle of Dura's "set". Hans had been critical of the San Diego scene & the grumblings were pervasive all night at a show where the VSS opened (brought a band) & Heat were pushed back in the setlist to let Dura Deilinquent play- Dura was Heat's guest band & the best goddamn band to play rock n' roll music in the 90s - ....The VSS got their set out of they way & the crowd was a buzz waiting for Dura Delinquent. Dura knew that they had targets on their backs & basically decided to fuck with the audience instead. No "songs" were played...Phil & Nick (now leading the magic that is Sugar & Gold) riffed together while Hans created chaos - swinging from the rafters, charging into the crowd, & eventually being tackled by a lunatic from the audience. That lunatic ended up being Rory Cunt...
Rory had been in a rawkus band called Viscious Ginks & was now leading the Sluts of Oxford. His only request when we met was that we included Andrew Loog Oldham in our flyer for the show. He was the first person to acknowledge the pervasive theme in our flyers - that being the greatness of the Rolling Stones. We wanted it to be a subtle reference (that turned less so) that only true Stones fans would pick up on. Enter Rory...after a conversation about the coolness that was Andrew Loog - I was convinced to meet the request.
Musically, the performance by Physic was the one I remember & most impressed with. Easily one of the most talented & far out bands from the music scene that was San Diego in the late 90s.
Spazboy, Channel 44 November 22, 1997
Not a lineup to be proud of. The only joy I took in this show was the flyer - a photo of Mick Jagger & Robert Fraser being arrested was symbolic of the disgrace Ryan & I felt having Spazboy (a pop-punk band ala Blink 182) playing Roma. Ryan worked at Off the Record with the Spazboy singer (along with Chad from 3Day Eyes). The Spazboy response to Three Day Eye's night of "Pure Power" was "Pure Rock". Ryan was being nice letting them play - I was embarrassed.
GoGoGo Airheart, the Antenna, & Indy Pink December 6, 1997
Oooohh...three bands...we were thinking big! Let's see - Indy Pink had a couple of dedicated customers in the band & ironically were one of the few bands to receive coverage in the Daily Aztec after playing at Roma. Go figure! The Antenna featured Ryan - who I planned all these shows with- so they basically became the house band in many forms - Riververb, Riverboat Queen, Muscleman Jr., & of course the Antenna. The Antenna featured Mike Cole, Ryan Smith, & John Martin on guitars along with Adam Gray on drums. While their challenging sound required patience...there were moments in their set that were very cool. Even though Adam's drumming only received half-hearted compliments that night.
GoGoGo was a huge favorite with most of the Roma staff & they were nice enough to play several times over the years. They were still early in their existence & it was before they really took off locally. I will always be thankful for their willingness to play a show- any show...it was refreshing.
Heat, Los Cincos, Gamelonion LX Cruiseship January 9, 1998
The boys from Heat had moved to San Francisco a few months back & this was their first of two shows back in San Diego. Later that weekend they opened an epic show at the Casbah for Unwound & a band that became my new favorite band in one night - the Tight Bros From Way Back When. Ryan & I were among the few that watched the Tight Bro's set & they brought the rock like few bands did back in 1998...still among the best bands I ever saw live...when they said get down...you got doooowwwn! I saw them a few more times over the years & they never disappointed.
Anyways...Los Cincos never showed up....I was pretty bummed about that - I really liked their album & was excited to have they play. I never actually talked to anyone in Los Cincos but the Cruiseship's main man said he was buddies with them & ensured me they would play if we let the Gamelonian LX Cruisehip play...I remember NOTHING about this band. I don't think they ever played again...& left no lasting impression.
Anyways...Heat's return to Roma was quite an event...bringing in a pretty big crowd that were looking for a good time...I was actually a little annoyed because I had to police Johnny Cigarettes a few times while he tried to stroll in with a 40 oz. A far cry from the Soul Junk crowd. As always Heat played with an urgency that produced an edgy, stylish energy...I will always remember this show for the entertaining exchange between Rory Cunt from Sluts of Oxford & Ben from Heat. Rory began to heckle Ben while the band played...Ben rebutted with a swift kick towards the Cunt's face....Rory shot back by spitting in Ben's direction - the phlegm missed Ben & splatted on the artwork on the wall. Once again I had to play security & pull Rory away....you could always count for some excitement from a Heat show & I loved it!
The Autumns, Muscleman Jr. January 17, 1998
Oh damn! Our first non-San Diego band! This show ended up being our most stressful & most shambolic. Things were going really well with our little free showcase of local bands when the New Year approached & I received a call from the Autumns management. The Autumns were a band from Los Angeles that was trying to recreate the greatness that was Ok Computer - at least that was my take. I was blown away on a few fronts...one a band with a manager wanted to play (I was a little confused by this) & how the hell did a band from LA hear about us!! Now these factors made me feel like I couldn't fuck this one up....who knows maybe this will lead to other out of town bands rolling through...well we scheduled the show & the Autumns' A&R team got involved sending in band posters & free CDs. The only problem was that I couldn't find anyone to open the show! My little black book was running out of contacts so I banked on getting Serahtonic to play because they were sorta in the same ballpark - musically with The Autumns. Well that fell through & no one else was biting on the gig. I promised the manager an opening band - shit, I even had to sign a contract promising sound checks & merchandising sales. Ryan, was sensing my stress & offered the services of the Antenna. Then after a band meeting - it was decided that this farcical night deserved something grander then the Antenna...so Muscleman, Jr. was born. Mike, John, Adam, & Ryan decided to shed the restraints of their other-selves & decided to showcase their balls out - Led Zeppelin influenced Muscleman, Jr. Additionally, they promised to turn those AMPS up to 11 for this special occasion.
Well, the night finally rolled around & the Autumns showed up promptly for "sound check" & began to sense that they didn't have much pull in San Diego & that the crowd may not get any bigger then 10...so they asked to play first - probably so they could play for their friends & get back on the road ASAP...Their set was very polished but derivative. Muscleman, Jr. then took the stage....& went on to become the only band to ever have the police called in to shut things down. An epic outing, indeed!
Three Day Eyes, Sluts of Oxford January 24, 1998
The Sluts were back for more along with Three Day Eyes. I actually had grown to really like the music of Three Day Eyes & it's a shame that like other great bands from the day they just sort of disappeared. Where was MySpace - when you needed it?
I think that this was one of those nights when a mysterious third band showed up to open for the Sluts. If I remember correctly it was a real annoying high school band along with all their little punk rock classmates. It was the first time that I really felt old & out of touch (first of many times) & I was only 22. It was ironic that Rick, the Three Day's drummer, was like 45 years old (& super roxy) & he was playing with a bunch of teenagers.
Lukus Miles & GoGoGo Airheart February 7, 1998
Luke was one of coolest folks I ever met in San Diego - he worked at Roma, played with Last of the Juanitas (at some point), & had a real bitch'n pad above Scolari's Office. I don't think he made it to the show that night. I would love to know where he is today.
Thankfully GoGoGo saved the day & actually spent most of their set swapping instruments & creating a really cool vibe that night.
The Black Heart Procession, Physics February 21, 1998
This was our finest moment. We have to thank Jason from Physics for suggesting Black Heart & setting it all up. Having these two bands play was beyond what Ryan & I had ever expected. Black Heart was early in their existence, their album had just been released & I believe that this was among their first shows. Mario was still on drums & there was an genuine excitement about the music they were creating. The crowd was truly appreciative of their efforts as I vividly remember folks lining up to help them with their gear & to express their praises towards Pall, Toby, & Mario. As corny as it sounds their performance was one of those special moments that I'll never forget.
Soul Junk, KCR Free*Stars April 4, 1998
I came to discover this night that San Diego's Alternative Christian Rock scene included the nicest, happiest group of kids ever. Everyone was so goddamn pleasant I actually felt obligated to buy a CD from Soul Junk out of gratitude. I never thought I'd buy an album from a band who's lyrics came mostly from the Bible, but they were pretty damn good that night. Of course the singer, Glen, was also the catalyst behind Truman's Water - on of the more respected bands to come out of San Diego back in the 90s.
As a KCR alumnist - I used those connections with Jim & the iconic Dave Stampone to set up this surprisingly delightful night.
The Black Heart Procession, Dura Delinquent, Heat April 19, 1998
This actually should have the sub-title "An Espresso Roma Production" as it was my first (& only) foray into putting on shows outside of our college coffee house. The original lineup & location ended up changing - Black Heart replaced GoGoGo Airheart & some warehouse in downtown San Diego replaced the Velvet. This was a dream lineup in my mind featuring my three favorite bands of that time (or any time, really) & the show happened to fall on my 22nd birthday! The celebrations have deluded my memories of the night but I do remember that San Diego legend Marshall Shuster was back in town from New York (it was his birthday as well)...my mind has blanked on all three performances but I do recall that when it was all over we descended upon the Alibi afterwards & took that place over (yet again). Definitely one of the (many) best nights ever from those days...only if I could remember more of it...
The Antenna & KCR Free*Stars May 9, 1998
You could always rely on the Antenna!
Did the Free*Stars play that night? I'm going to have to investigate that one because I can't remember shit from that show.