Tomorrow the band is in Northbrook, IL at one of our regular spots in Chicagoland the Landmark Inn. It'll be our last show in Illinois until our April 4 appearance at Erika's father's awesome joint Norton's in Highland Park. Currently, we're working away as a group on many projects for now and the future but soon we head out on our longest tour to date. I suppose if you include the Landmark we're actually doing 15 cities in 17 days. Hell yeah. Here's the skinny:
Milwaukee, WI
Madison, WI
Des Moines, IA
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Tulsa, OK
Memphis, TN
St. Louis, MO
Lousiville, KY
Cincinnati, OH
Dayton, OH
Columbus, OH
Indianapolis, IN
Check out our brand spakin' new website (Nice job Erika!) for a more detailed calendar etc... If you've ever gone to www.joshandtheemptypockets.com before you might need to clear your cache on your web browser.
Stay classy you beautiful internet user you,
Josh
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Schubas
Thanks to friend of the band and superb singer-songwriter Todd Kessler (www.toddkesslermusic.com), we were on the bill for last nights sold out show at Schubas, one of Chicago's finest clubs. Great place, great people and a rockin' show is what happened. Where to start, where to start?
Clearly Tony and I are very busy in this photograph. The food at the Harmony Grill (Schubas restaurant side) is kicking. Really good. I had the mac n' cheese but after seeing Danny's pulled bbq pork sandwich I knew I had gone the wrong direction. Alas. The mac n' cheese was quite tasty though. Schubas has a downstairs green room that looks sort of like a dungeon... in a good way:
Calvin Marty and the Sunken Ships started things out. Check there stuff out. They are pretty mellow but all of em' are good musicians and Calvin has a good voice. I really enjoyed their set. Super nice guys too. We played after Ships. Aside from a few technical difficulties, my guitar's pedal board went out twice (I'm an idiot and should've replaced that power cable already but thankfully Nate is a good dude and went out and bought one today!) and my mic stopped working for about a half a song, I thought it was a pretty cool show. We had some extra artillary in the form of Tony Elfers on lead guitar which rocked pretty damn hard.
Todd played last and released (digitally... you can get it on iTunes) his and Erika's new tune called Golden Bird which is awesome! Go buy it right now.
All in all it was an excellent evening. Thanks very much if you came. We do appreciate it. Otherwise, we'll get ready to hit the road.
Later,
Josh
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
DeJa Vu - Again
Ha. I'm hilarious. This past Saturday we had the pleasure of playing at a fine Lincoln Avenue establishment (DeJa Vu that is) and with a fine Chicago (formerly he belonged to Ohio) guitarist, Tony Elfers. 
Shit is it fun to play with Tony. The dude has chops for sure. He is always majorly prepared and with just a little but of nudging out of his comfort zone you can even get him to improvise a little bit. 
Nate, your nudging is not subtle or helpful. Thanks anyway though, jerk. Saturday was a cool night all in all. DeJa Vu has a weird crowrd. As in, no one ever really shows up until about 1:15am which proved to be completely true this past Sat as well. So we kicked it up a notch at about 1:30 and partied till 4 (counting daylight savings time though so it's really 3... we're lame).
Not sure what I'm up to here. I am focusing hard for sure. Hmmm. Maybe I'm plugging something in. Anyway. All the best to you and rock on if you were there on Saturday night. As they say, if you were there Saturday night and you remember it... well then you probably weren't there.
Peace,
Josh
Shit is it fun to play with Tony. The dude has chops for sure. He is always majorly prepared and with just a little but of nudging out of his comfort zone you can even get him to improvise a little bit. 
Nate, your nudging is not subtle or helpful. Thanks anyway though, jerk. Saturday was a cool night all in all. DeJa Vu has a weird crowrd. As in, no one ever really shows up until about 1:15am which proved to be completely true this past Sat as well. So we kicked it up a notch at about 1:30 and partied till 4 (counting daylight savings time though so it's really 3... we're lame).
Not sure what I'm up to here. I am focusing hard for sure. Hmmm. Maybe I'm plugging something in. Anyway. All the best to you and rock on if you were there on Saturday night. As they say, if you were there Saturday night and you remember it... well then you probably weren't there.Peace,
Josh
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Workin' on the Pocket Rocket: part 1
Friday found me with a handful of cash, a set of ramps, and a dream. It was time to change the fluids in the Rocket, and by hell, I was going to enjoy the good weather. Plus the Pocket's official roadie, Greg, was on hand to take some pictures.
After getting her up on the ramps, and chocking the back tires, it was time to get down to business. I had stopped at the Advanced Auto Parts place just down the street, and the friendly cats working there helped me get all the necessary items to continue on my quest of making the van road-worthy for our trip down to Texas in mid-March. They even rented me a torque wrench when mine wouldn't function.
The oil needed a serious change, since we'd been pushing her through the mountains of PA. Nothing seriously wrong, just the rich black of a engine 
run long and hard. If you're interested, she runs 5w-30 through her, usually of the Castrol High-Mileage or the Valvoline High-Mileage specialty blends. As with all old vehicles, I also add in a small bit of the Marvel Mystery Oil into the crank case.
Here's the various fluids she takes. Of course, we bought a case of oil. Why? She gonna need an oil change when we get back from Texas anyway, so why not have the oil ready? Also, I try and use K&N fliters (sponsorship, K&N?), but this time I had to go with a Fram, since Advanced was out of the K&N filter for the Rocket's massive engine.
Also, the scrapers are for the next bit, lowering the transmission pan, cleaning the pan, replacing the filter, and refilling the transmission fluid. How much fun is that? I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Wiping down the transmission pan
All clean and ready to be reinstalled
"How the hell does this thing go back on?"
"Let's just get this out of the damned way..."
"And now we dance the dance of joy!"
After all was said and done, the transmission pan drop was much easier than the last one I had to do on my old 1980 Chevy Citation, but that's because I had to use gasket sealant, which is just a stone cold drag. Whatever. Anyway, the Pocket Rocket is ready shoot off to Texas, carrying the band members in comfort, safety and (1977) style. Awwww yeah.
Keep an eye here, as I'll be doing a brake inspection on the van on Tuesday, and if we manage to get any shots that won't bore the tears out of you, they'll be posted here with a full tear-down assessment.
Keep up that funk, ya'll.
-Nate on bass
After getting her up on the ramps, and chocking the back tires, it was time to get down to business. I had stopped at the Advanced Auto Parts place just down the street, and the friendly cats working there helped me get all the necessary items to continue on my quest of making the van road-worthy for our trip down to Texas in mid-March. They even rented me a torque wrench when mine wouldn't function.
The oil needed a serious change, since we'd been pushing her through the mountains of PA. Nothing seriously wrong, just the rich black of a engine 
run long and hard. If you're interested, she runs 5w-30 through her, usually of the Castrol High-Mileage or the Valvoline High-Mileage specialty blends. As with all old vehicles, I also add in a small bit of the Marvel Mystery Oil into the crank case.Here's the various fluids she takes. Of course, we bought a case of oil. Why? She gonna need an oil change when we get back from Texas anyway, so why not have the oil ready? Also, I try and use K&N fliters (sponsorship, K&N?), but this time I had to go with a Fram, since Advanced was out of the K&N filter for the Rocket's massive engine.
Also, the scrapers are for the next bit, lowering the transmission pan, cleaning the pan, replacing the filter, and refilling the transmission fluid. How much fun is that? I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Just layin' around
Wiping down the transmission pan
All clean and ready to be reinstalled
"How the hell does this thing go back on?"
"Let's just get this out of the damned way..."
"And now we dance the dance of joy!"
After all was said and done, the transmission pan drop was much easier than the last one I had to do on my old 1980 Chevy Citation, but that's because I had to use gasket sealant, which is just a stone cold drag. Whatever. Anyway, the Pocket Rocket is ready shoot off to Texas, carrying the band members in comfort, safety and (1977) style. Awwww yeah.
Keep an eye here, as I'll be doing a brake inspection on the van on Tuesday, and if we manage to get any shots that won't bore the tears out of you, they'll be posted here with a full tear-down assessment.
Keep up that funk, ya'll.
-Nate on bass
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Someone help Jimmy Fallon
He's drowning. Man overboard. The point is, it's certainly not good. Now, I admit that I was a big Conan fan. But I really have nothing against J Fal (what do you think of that as a nick name?). However, in his new 'late night' context it becomes painfully clear that Jimmy just isn't that charismatic or improvisationally (sp? google can't decide if that's right or wrong... maybe that's not a word... yarg, you get what I mean) gifted. I'm willing to give him at least a full six months. I think a late night talk show is something you really have to ease in to. So I'll try to reserve judgement Fallon. But so far... eh.
Josh
Josh
Monday, March 2, 2009
A Monday Blog
Monday is usually a big work day for the band. We get together with our laptops and try to get a lot of the nitty gritty stuff completed. I guess it's not the most exciting to happen to a rock band but it's our reality. Today I'll document a bit of our "work party" to share. Hooray.
Nate and I worked on compiling venues for about five hours. That was not particularly enjoyable. However, now we never have to look up places to play in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and a host of other cities ever again. I hope.
Erika has ended up being the point-woman on our website. Not sure how that happened but she's now mired in resizing photos and dealing with flash and other scary adobe products (all too expensive to actually purchase... $500... come on). We will have a new awesome website soon though. Hoorah.
Dan was an mail duty all day long. He got posters, fliers and cds together and sent them to all our upcoming venue. He's also the schedule master. Making the itinerary for our next road trip. They seem to each get crazier and this one (to SXSW!) should be no exception.
Also... Happy birthday Erika! I started this post yesterday but now it's March 3 and Erika is 27.
Happy Birthday!
Stay classy,
Josh
Nate and I worked on compiling venues for about five hours. That was not particularly enjoyable. However, now we never have to look up places to play in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and a host of other cities ever again. I hope.
Erika has ended up being the point-woman on our website. Not sure how that happened but she's now mired in resizing photos and dealing with flash and other scary adobe products (all too expensive to actually purchase... $500... come on). We will have a new awesome website soon though. Hoorah.
Dan was an mail duty all day long. He got posters, fliers and cds together and sent them to all our upcoming venue. He's also the schedule master. Making the itinerary for our next road trip. They seem to each get crazier and this one (to SXSW!) should be no exception.
Also... Happy birthday Erika! I started this post yesterday but now it's March 3 and Erika is 27.
Happy Birthday!
Stay classy,
Josh
Sunday, March 1, 2009
What do you lurve about Buddy Holly?
Yesterday the band did a huge Buddy Holly Tribute show in St. Charles Illinois at the Arcada Theatre owned and run by the wonderful Onesti family. The show was total 1959 rock n' roll madness complete with the Big Bopper and Richie Vallence.
All and all it's a pretty tiring ordeal (Nate, Danny and Josh are actually on stage for every moment of the nearly 2 hour, 2 act production) and the show brought to an end a three week run of insanity. Now we've got 5 days to rest until a few more shows and then we head on out for another tour and to play Austin, Texas and South by Southwest.
Keep on rockin' in the free world you saucy minxes you. We'll look forward to Monday (tomorrow I guess... damn time flies) when we find out if any more radio stations are willing to add our humble single to their enemic playlists.Peace out.
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