Empty Pockets Tour Day 3: Welcome to Rochester ( or Thank Heaven for BBQ)

Ahh, day three started so very early in Rochester, NY, as Erika awoke at 5 a.m. to begin prepping for our appearance on ABC's Rochester affiliate, Channel 13 - WHAM. [ link ] As she turned off the shower, the handle broke off in her hand, and we were left with a shower running at 5 a.m. and three more Pockets to clean. Thankfully, the night manager at the La Quinta in was very kind about it and let us into an adjacent room so we could cleanse ourselves for the morning news.

The bathtub where it all began.
This was after the maintenance guy took it apart.

Everyone at WHAM was very nice, and we'd like to thank you very much for having us in the studio. It was a blast! We'll be sure to stop on by when next we find ourselves in Rochester, thanks so much.

After doing our thang at WHAM, we headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep. About an hour into our rest, we received a call from the hotel owner, telling us we needed to pay for the broken shower and vacate his hotel immediately. After some well placed yelling from Josh, it all escalated until the police were called, and came to escort us out of our room. As soon as we told the office the story, he laughed and said "Welcome to Rochester."

Our friendly Gates Police officer

A new fan? Sweet!

The hotel of our discontent

All the excitement over little old us made everybody hungry, so we headed on over to the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for some old-fashioned New York BBQ. It was incredibly delicious, and we had a great time eating slow-cooked meats, drinking delicious beers, and enjoying the company of the fine people of Rochester, NY.

Ah, Rochester.

Deliciousness, served hot.

I'll have what he's having!

I really dig the bow-tie and tattoo look.
Pretty hip.

We decided to swing by the local Guitar Center to pick up a few things and blow some time at the shopping center. Always a lot of fun, fo show!

Ahh, look at all the pretties!

Danny took a few phone calls...

... and Josh bought Nate a doll.

After all the fun, we headed over to Johnny's Irish Pub to rock the night away [ link ]. Johnny's is has the authentic Irish pub feel to it from the moment you walk in the door. Try the food, it's delicious and hand-made, with love. We even got to meet Johnny! We had a great time talking about Rochester, the Pub, the music scene, and all of life's little intricacies. Oh, and yea, we did rocketh the halls of Rochester that day.

After our show, we moved our butts down the road into NJ so we could be close to our radio meeting the next day with WMJC Nassau/Suffolk. We drove and drove and drove, and we drove a little bit more. We found a Best Western that fit the bill, and lay our weary heads down to rest, with the days events still swirling through our heads. Woof. Whatta day.

Empty Pockets Tour Day 2: Buffalo by Day (or In Space, No One Can Hear You Shuffle)

Wednesday morning found us busting butt out of our hotel room in Cleavland and shuffling off to Buffalo, New York, a favorite city of ours. We had so much too do, but we managed to find a little leisure time to relax and enjoy.

After arriving in fair Buffalo, we visited the fine folks over at WTSS Star 102.5 for a bit, bringing them rock and roll and Bocce Club pizza [ link ]. Who doesn't like those two things? Nobody, that's who. A local cafe was grilling hamburgers and hotdogs outside, so we brought our pizza and radio meeting to the people, and entertained the whole lot. It's what we do, after all.

Whatcha got there, Dan?

Josh and Erika rock the Star

A small crowd of WTSS employees gathered around

Brian of WTSS Star 102.5, and the Empty Pockets kick it, old school.

We even got a chance to stop by WJYE in Buffalo, and visit our buddy, Chuck Stevens. We got to sit and chat for a bit, and it's always good to see Chuck when we roll through town. Of course, we just had to get a picture.

Chuck and the Empty Pockets

After our awesome radio meetings, we decided to head on over and check out the Niagara Falls, from the American side of course. The Empty Pockets had a lot of fun, storming the falls and enjoying the thundering majesty of millions of gallons of water rushing out of Danny's ears (or the falls, I'm not sure which.)

On our way to the Falls

Check it out! Water!

The Maid of the Mist sure does get close to those Falls!

Erika lectures the boys on rail safety

Don't cross the streams!

Now that's BRISK, baby!

After a lovely foray to the Falls, the Empty Pockets headed to our favorite Buffalo venue, the Sportsmen's Club [ link ], where we rocked the night away with some awesome people, as always. Thanks to Dwayne and Kenny for having us in, we always have such a great time, and we always leave with a sad smile upon our faces, waiting for the day we can return and rock Buffalo once more.

The Sportsmen's, a rockin' good joint.

Driving our way to Rochester that evening was a trip, but we hit it and hit it well. That evening found us wiped in our beds once more, but feeling good after a wonderful day in Buffalo.

Rock the world,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Empty Pockets Tour Day 1: Detroit Rock City Reference ( or That Title's Been Done!)

Howdy Pocketeers,

It's time for the Pockets to hit the road and take the rocking to the East Coast, via Detroit, Buffalo, Rochester, Brooklyn, Binky and Anthony's wedding in Manhattan, and a final trip into Cleavland. Like any good trip, it all started in our 1977 Millenium-Falcon-in-atmo, the Pocket Rocket.

Dan and Erika rousing number from "Mary Poppins"

We played a show on Tuesday night at The Modern Exchange [venue link]in Southgate, MI. Our performance was in-between the Dylan-esque acoustic stylings of Kenny and the tight and heavy local group, Universelings. The club itself is an awesome mix of live-music venue, small cafe and vintage clothing store, with all sorts of goodies to put the tingle in your kringle, son.

Hanging out backstage at The Modern Exchange

Our man Kenny rocks it with the Pockets

Adam Spero drove from Cleavland to kick it

After the gig, we hung out for a bit and chatted it up, but we eventually had to blow our way out to Cleavland. We had to be in Buffalo the next day at noon for a meeting with the fine folks over at WTSS Star 102.5, so we decided to cut the morning driving in half by driving to Cleavland before sleeping, and then making for Buffalo the next morning. A fine plan it was, and it ended at the Radisson hotel in Cleavland, Ohio at some ungodly hour in the morning.

Danny and Nate try to get the lowest sleep number possible. We've achieved 25!

Everyone had a great time playing with their sleep number bedsPretty soon, the sandman came for all the Pockets, and knocked us all on over to dreamland for awhile, where we dreamt of crazy rock shows, madcap adventures, and spending all our per-weekum on sweet leather suits.

Tour Updates to come as we finally get a chance to transfer photos and blog about the whole, nutso deal.

Keep that funk alive,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

No Sleep Till Brooklyn ( or Backroom Interview: Pockets Style)

Our buddy Kori from WNBC in New York just sent us a link to the video feature that her and Liman shot on our last trip out to NYC. It takes place in the backroom of Freddy's, a favorite Brooklyn stop of the Empty Pockets, and we absolutely love it.
Take a peek!

Nice job, everybody! Thanks to WNBC for doing the piece, which is now running in taxi-cabs and subways throughout the city, and thanks so much to Kori and Liman for being awesome folks and making the piece super sweet. You both rock, and we need to take some time to hang and grab some pizza again.

Rock, rock on,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

J&tEP Newsletter #2!

Josh and the Empty Pockets Newsletter #2

Josh and the Empty Pockets - Live at Reggie's!
Josh and the Empty Pockets rock the hometown at one of Chicago's premiere rock clubs, Reggie's Music Joint. [venue link] Join the Pockets as we rock the Chi on May 15 before hitting the road again. We won't be in Chicago for very long, so you should really stop on out and enjoy! Doors open at 8:30, The Pockets rock the joint at 10:45, cover is $8. The night also includes Oso Close and Band Called Catch. Come for the great music and enjoy Reggie's delicious food. I recommend the wings and the hummus. Let's rock, Chicago!



Double Door Tickets on sale now!
Tickets are already on sale for Friday, July 17, as Josh and the Empty Pockets come screaming into Chicago's very own Double Door. [ venue link ] Come party with the Pockets as they rock the Double Door into submission. Tickets are available at the Double Door, or online at Ticketmaster. [ Ticketmaster ] Hey, Rock Pass holders: You can save $2 on tickets with your Rock Pass. Who doesn't love discounted rocking?



Pockets on the Road
The Pockets hit the road on May 19th for the East Coast. We're making stops at The Modern Exchange in Detroit, MI [ venue link ]; the Sportsman's Tavern in Buffalo, NY (Yeah, Dwayne!) [ venue link ]; Johnny's Irish Pub in Rochester, NY [ venue link ]; Freddy's Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn, NY [ venue link ]; amongst others. Keep your eyes on the blog, Myspace, Facebook and website for more information about upcoming dates and tours in your neck of the woods.




Keep on funkin', ya'll
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Before the contest even began, she spotted the Pocket Rocekt!

While on I-90, coming into the lovely city that is Chicago, the Pocket Rocket stopped. Don't ask me why. I have no idea. The motor just stopped running.
I was on the phone with my father to get Mr. Kim's, our trusty family mechanic, number, when Rachel called. I had no idea why she'd call and she hardly ever does but I wasn't about to put my father on hold as the Pocket Rocket was in need of help to chat with my pal, Rachel.

When I got the information and passed it along to Josh I called Rachel back.
"What's wrong with the van?" Rachel said.
"How'd you know..." I paused and said, "Did you pass us?"
"Yeah."

I was so surprised that she was five cars in front of us, but who wouldn't be? I grabbed my camera and told her to stick her arm out the window.
"That's going on the blog," I said and she laughed.



Eventually we were next to her and I took so more. Pretty good smile for driving in the city. Also, Rachel, you should be wearing a headset. That's illegal.


So I guess she is the first Spot the Rocket winner before the contest even begins! I hope she'll take a signed photo or a sock... or something. I don't have much to give her. Perhaps an Empty Pocket poem.

Don't just sit around, hop in the car and look for a large rust red broken down van. Maybe you can win spot the rocket too.

Cheers,
Danny R

Mothers Listen Over Time

We were at Cracker Barrel, in IN on our way back from NY, when my mother called.
"Ahoy hoy," I said.
"Danny?" my mother asked since I had been answering my phone either ahoy hoy or cello for four years now and thought it might be someone else.
"Yes Mom?" I yammered.
"I have a question for you. Who wrote Leaving Jackson?"
"That was Josh and myself," I am very proud of that song.
"Oh, I thought it was Johnny Cash."
"Ha, nope. It was me."
"Well, I wanted to know because now it's my favorite song and I've been playing it repeatedly."
It made me happy that my mother has been enjoying the song. Even though when I first showed it to her she didn't seem to care one way or another. It just goes to show you mothers listen but sometimes it takes longer for them to process. Now I am going to remind her about the Batman toy I always wanted.

By Danny R