NEWSLETTER: Cursive's Tim Kasher is coming to Santa Rosa! Pizza friends! Hanson & more!
Friends, I hope you find yourselves a lover that knows the direct route to your heart. In my case it's coffee, pizza and beers!
Late Sunday morning, my lady love Claire woke me up with an idea, "That pizza pop-up you've been wanting to check out is at Cooperage downtown. Let's grab some coffee and check it out!"
I had spent the previous night working till nearly 2am at the Crooked Goat ten year anniversary party. You'd think the last thing I'd want to do on my day off would be to drink beer at a busy brewery. You'd be thinking wrong, especially when that pizza pop-up is Gabacool Provisions!
I discovered Gabacool in the most unlikely of places: Driving down the 101. I drove along next to their beautifully hand painted van and just had to know what a "Gabacool Provisions" was and how I could get some. I did a very dumb and illegal move and googled them right there on my phone while barreling down the highway.
I've been digitally following their journey ever since. I've fallen in love with their Black Flag style "Get In The Van" Punk Rock Pizzeria and DIY ethics. You can tell from their digital footprint that what they were making was special. So I had huge expectations and you know what? They were squashed!
The pizza was even BETTER than expected! The Big Tony pepperoni pizza blew us away. Claire gave the pizza a "10 out of 10" rating. I wanted to order more when we was finished. Not to mention the Kegslayer Beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for desert.
After devouring our pizza, I went to pay my regards to the chefs. We follow each other on instagram, but I didn't expect them to know me. Instead as I reached their booth to thank them, I was met with a, "I thought that was you!" from Gabacool co-owner Michele Querin.
I just assumed it was from all the love I send the couple on Instagram that they recognized my ugly mug, but no! It turns out our connections run even deeper!
As Querin introduces me to her life and business partner Jeremy Clemens, we talk about our shared love of punk rock and Clemens lets it slip, "You use to do a podcast right? Mostly Harmless? Yeah man! I used to listen to it!"
🤯
Mostly Harmless was a interview podcast I did from 2012-2017 with a couple of return engagements here and there in the times since. I would usually drink too many beers and engage in Marc Maron style interviews with touring bands, filmmakers and comedians as they passed through Denver. It never had a huge fan base, but it gave me the opportunity to do some incredible things and meet some incredible people.
It still doesn't feel real that the proprietor of my new favorite pizza pop-up would have listened to my little show that could. I still can't wrap my head around it. Maybe I somehow misunderstood him?
Needless to say, Claire and I are now best friends forever with Jeremy and Michelle! Our short excited chat with them as they prepared their next few orders felt like talking to old friends. So much so, that when they mentioned in passing that they're getting ready to move, I damned near offered to help them! Then I remembered that I'm 45 years old and I'm too damned old to help people move.
We wandered back to the car with bellies and hearts full of pizza and beer, I once again told Claire something along the lines of, "I'm happy we're here. Something just feels right about us being in Santa Rosa." She agreed.
I went home and took a nice afternoon nap before heading to SF to catch Off With Their Heads and the almighty Dillinger Four at Bottom Of the Hill. Overall it was a magical Sunday afternoon in the Bay Area. I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be home.
Make sure to follow Gabacool online. Their instagram presence, @Gabacool_provisions is just as great as their food. Claire and I love their weekly movie themed graphics! They also have an email list you can sign up for on their website.
We made tentative plans to sit down with the couple once things settle down for us both and do a proper feature article here on SmartMouth, but maybe in the spirit of things we'll do it as a podcast for old times sakes! Stay tuned for that in the weeks to come!
LONG READS:
Tim Kasher from Cursive is coming to Santa Rosa 8/27 for a special performance & Film Screening!
We talked in depth with the musician and director about his new film, writing music vs writing for film and what brings him to Santa Rosa! All this and more in this month's SmartMouth long read!
Kasher is currently in the middle of a monthslong tour with Who’s Watching. He’s personally bringing the film to theaters across the country. Kasher will be on hand for post-screening Q&A’s and will be performing short, acoustic sets of songs from Cursive and the fictional band from the film Toxic Cock Syndrome.
His tour will bring him through the Bay Area with performances in Santa Rosa at the Roxy Stadium 14 on Thursday August 27 and at the 4-Star in San Francisco on Saturday August 29. Kasher will also be performing (without a film screening) on Friday August 28 in Redding, CA at the Dip.
THIS WEEKEND'S RECOMMENDED EVENTS:
Earlier this week, I spent a couple of days going through most of the local area music venue websites and I added a ton of events to the smartmouthcalendar.com! I still have a few more to go through including Hopmonk & Lost Church, but there's so much cool stuff going on in the next few months!
Please submit any upcoming events for consideration at: https://smartmouthcalendar.com/submissions/
Thursday 8/20 Comedy: Josh Blue – Sebastiani Theatre – Sonoma
Comedian Josh Blue is coming to Sonoma County and a special performance Thursday at the beautiful Sebastiani Theater in Sonoma Proper! Based out of my old stomping grounds of Denver, Colorado, Blue is known for winning NBC's Last Comic Standing Reality TV competition show in 2006! He's been delighting audiences around the world ever since with his dark and twisted comedy about dealing with cerebral palsy, while also working to champion and educate about disabilities.
Friday 8/21: Morris Day and the Time and Sheila E. – Blue Note Summer Sessions: Napa
I want to tell you I know the former Prince collaborators from their co-starring role in the great film PURPLE RAIN, but no. That's not right. My first introduction to the greatest band of all time comes from the Kevin Smith's 2001 film, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK!
Morris Day and The Time will be bringing the Minneapolis Sound to Summer Sessions joined by Grammy-winning percussion icon Sheila E. on August 21. Pure 80s funk royalty on the Napa stage. Tickets run $77.85 – $160.85
Friday 8/21: Hanson – Graton Resort & Casino: Rohnert Park
"Wait! Damian, I thought you said SmartMouth was 'No bullshit!' Hanson is bullshit right?" If you only know Hanson from their 1997 banger "MMMBop," you only know a small part of the story. These three Oklahoma brothers have a catalog of fantastic pop-rock that would fit right at home with the Beach Boys, Lake Street Dive & Ben Folds. If you rolled your eyes at this listing... Look again. These guys are GREAT & fun. 21+ Only.
Friday 8/21: Old Man’s Chair, Casino Black Coffee, Creekside, Strep and Factorie
I think these are a bunch of high school bands and I’m here for it! None of the bands have much, if any, music online to check out. There are very few details about these act, who they are or where they are from. But what I am picking up from these acts is a ton of heart and passion and it feels absolutely infectious. I am always stoked to discover young bands participating in this very old musical tradition.
Squid Pisser + Placeholder, Bog Body & Blivet – Phoenix Theater, Petaluma
As if you couldn't guess, SQUID PISSER is not for the faint of heart! Squid Pisser is a mathcore meets thrash band from the mind of Tommy Meehan. Meehan is also a member of GWAR and Cancer Christ. His music has appeared in Adult Swim's RICK AND MORTY, UNCLE GRANDPA and more. Meehan is also a film editor and has worked on a number of cartoons from WARNER BROTHERS, DISNEY, and CARTOON NETWORK.
For Fans of The Locust, Dillinger Escape Plan (Whom Squid Pisser toured with), and Horse The Band!
AFC Summer Music Fest – Arlene Francis Center, Santa Rosa
From the official event page: "Journey Home, Ivy Stuart’s nonprofit dedicated to helping women escape domestic violence situations. There will be live bands and djs performing all day long, kava, a clothes swap, visuals by Xanadu and arts and crafts."
A damned great day of North Bay rock n roll and community building! All your favorite local area acts are performing and who knows what other surprises might be in store for those in attendance? Highlights include Redwood Chrome, Vista Francisco among the many others.
LOOKING FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS?
WHO EVER SAYS NOTHING HAPPENS IN THE NORTH BAY IS FULL OF SHIT. There's all of this and MORE happening this very weekend and every single weekend!
Make sure you visit SmartMouthCalendar.com! It's an ongoing project to help promote up and coming events. I've been slacking on adding new stuff, so please let me know what I'm missing! What shows and events are you looking forward to in the North Bay? Send them my way and let me know!
SmartMouth707@gmail.com!