A show preview by Bill Frost which appeared in the April 25, 2002 issue (Vol. 18 No. 48) of the Salt Lake City Weekly…

Played at Modified with Chicago Underground Duo, Orton Socket and Central Falls

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)

Played at the Casbah with Bartender’s Bible and Central Falls opening

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)

Walking on the pier.  Photo by Jim Becker

Hey!!  We’re in L.A.  I re-read what I wrote before and I can’t believe I admitted I’m an Audiogalaxy addict!!!  I have a big fucking mouth.

Tour’s going great, except I caught a cold.  Seems like I never get sick when I’m at home, just on tour.  The guys are telling me I’m snoring like a buzzsaw and coughing and sputtering all night… they all have earplugs but I still feel guilty for being the loud one every night.

Read the rest of this entry »

Played at Spaceland with Central Falls and Sarah Dougher opening

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)

Played at the Capitol Garage with Central Falls and Forever Goldrush opening

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)

Played at the Bottom of the Hill with The Court and Spark and Central Falls opening

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)

Read the rest of this entry »

A show preview by John Payne which appeared in the April 19-25, 2002 issue of L.A. Weekly. It’s previewing the show at Spaceland on Sunday the 21st.

* Actually, Rian Murphy produced the album; Steve Albini engineered it.

NOW we’re in Medford, OR in a Motel 6.  We had a driving day today, and tomorrow is San Francisco.  Or rather, "today" since it’s frickin’ 4:30 in the morning!!  Sure is nice to get a motel room though.  I would be asleep right now but I’m doing laundry downstairs; it’s almost ready.  We have to get up at 9:30 in order to make the 5:30 load-in at the Bottom of the Hill.  Of course I can get more sleep in the van on the way there, but then who’s gonna DJ???

Read the rest of this entry »

We’re in Seattle staying at the home of a friend of Jim’s.  None of my pals/guestlisters came to the show last night; I actually asked FROM the stage if anybody had a place for us to crash here!!  Well, you do what you gotta do.  Anyway, last night was a great show and so was the night before in Portland.  I’m realizing that my dream of daily tour-blogging is going to be impossible to keep up.  Because it’s 24-hour mayhem when I’m on tour.  We’re always doing something, and if we’re not doing something, we should be.

Read the rest of this entry »

Played at Graceland with Carissa’s Wierd and Central Falls opening

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)

A very good article/interview by my friend Linda Ray which appeared in the April 18-24, 2002 edition of Tucson Weekly: Chicago Style: The Fruit Bats, Edith Frost and The Chicago Underground Duo offer a taste from the Windy City.

In-studio performance and interview on KEXP in Seattle, Washington.  The show is archived over here, but I refuse to listen.  I’m… scared.  I had really bad cottonmouth, I remember that much!

Played at the Blackbird with Central Falls and Sarah Dougher opening

My band: Jim Becker (guitar, violin, keyboards), Ryan Hembrey (electric bass, backing vocals), Adam Vida (drums)