Astra Heights Redux

Humor and Careers in Rock

It's always a riot when you stumble upon an odd mention of the band or odd use of the music. Although this has been live for some time, I was only recently alerted to this home video of a guy's dog with, yep, Astra Heights as the soundtrack!
Astra Heights and the Alsakan Malamute

Tales to Tell

We've been up to creating and hiding, creating and hiding ... and loving it. Dragged out of our shell recently for a Love and Rockets tribute gig, we had a blast recently in Hollyweird. Some interesting cats showed up from Shepard Fairey as a guest DJ all the way to the entire lineup of the Morlocks. That's just scratching the surface. See the Astra video here: YouTube

Rock and Roll

I have toured the US few times and I always seem to see these rocks. We're talkin' somewhere between Madison and Minneapolis. I mean it's all blurry but here are the rocks!

David Lynch Foundation Event Recap

We had some fun at this event. I must admit that the crowd should have been larger but the vibe was great.

The crowd...

Observing some of the auction items.

One of the perks was the free lattes...

And, alas, a brief hello from the master himself ...

Tucson, Denver, School of Rock and Von Astra

One photo I really needed to show was the sunrise THROUGH the windshield ...

Can you say BUG city?

Ok so fast forward (after the synchronized swimming session) we went to the club and set up.

After set up we hastily sought some local cuisine. Chicken Mole Tacos? Ok twist our arms!

The little joint also had some great art

The club PLUSH is very very cool. The staff was great and all bands rocked. James' profile helps drive the point home in this shot ...

After the show we prepared to beat a hasty retreat. We were beyond reluctant. Sometimes you have "been there done that" but this was a night that would have been nice for some laid back socializing etc. We felt all warm and fuzzy with Von Iva...

A special thanks to the Tucson Scene blog for helping advance the show. See:
HERE

Awright so next step was a suicidal drive to Denver. We do NOT recommend this but we had a schedule to stick to and we were unable to get a show in between. The Denver (Boulder actually) gig was a "school of rock" type summer camp called "The Power Chord Academy". It was on the BEAUTIFUL campus at Boulder. We played for a group of about 50 youths in a great auditorium and then did a Q&A session afterwards. They were great. The danced and clapped along to almost every song. Blew our minds. When the Q&A period came, they asked all sorts of questions from what kind of guitar pickups I use to how did Mark get his amazing voice. Why does James play his bass so high? Why do you James? Some of the boys would ask stuff like "What's the CRAZIEST thing that you have done on tour" we promptly replied " Next question?".

After this, they played a set of their own and each ensemble had its own sound. This one was basically Sonic Youth at half speed. Very strange and sort of great. Gotta love it! The tall guy in front is Matt. One of the camp leaders. Great guy from San Diego actually. He is helping them set up.

All of this was an early evening event so we had time to kill and went out for dinner with Aunt Alice and family who proved to be the greatest hosts.

Whew!

Tucson Bound

Leaving San Diego could not be done with style sans some FOOOOD !!!
San Diego Mexican food ( the quick stop places ) has its own unique flavor.
As an SD expat, I have always had a soft spot for it. Mark, James and I as well as an old buddy Dave Ybarra  all feasted.

Here's what the the morning drive to AZ looked like from a rest stop.

Upon arrival to our destination and some sleep, we did what all proper bands do ...
WE WENT SWIMMING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look for the video soon...

San Diego radio and Remy meets Beck

Astra Heights, to advance our San Diego show last night, hit Tim Pyles' show for an interview. Remy accompanied us since he has been doing time as 2nd guitar and keyboards understudy. We need to teach him not to look too directly at the flash in press shots though!

A little later, we ran into Beck. I thought he was a Silverlake hermit? Maybe San Diego is where he goes to not be recognized.

*Photos from camera/phone*

Timothy has left the building.

LEILANI HERE.

As a non-member of the band I  have no business writing about this, maybe.  Maybe one of the guys should write about it.  But none have so I'm going to.

Some of you already know that we have come to see the passing of an era in the life of Astra Heights.  Little brother Timothy has officially decided to remain in the Houston area and pursue a solo career.  He is now an ex-Astra Heights boy.

I have not spoken to him since I heard the news because I am so sad.  I think I better wait a little bit or I'll just end up conveying how much I wish it weren't the case.  When he was first planning his "leave of absence" to Houston, I told him I was mad at him: "You're leaving me!" I said, half kidding, because I have an abandonment complex and because of course what everyone does is all about me. 

"No, Leilani, it's like a month and I'm coming back," he said. 

"You better," I told him.  Now he's not.

But I'm not mad.  The man's gotta do what the man's gotta do.  I get that.  Still, I'm sad. 

In September 2006, my husband and I separated.  In February of 2007, while everything was still fresh, Mark and Timmy needed a place to stay and came to live with me for a little bit at Westgate.  (Westgate is what we call the palatial manor of which I was once the Lady).  I met him once one fine summer day when he was off to play soccer with his brothers, and then he was suddenly my roommate. It was with Timmy and Mark that I had the First Fun: hanging out, laughing, talking, and generally having such a good time that I first realized, "Hey!  I can have fun again.  Right on!"  I have an especially vivid image of sitting back on the couch next to Mark while Timmy regaled us with his perfect blow-by-blow re-enactment of Michael Jackson's video for "Rock with You."  I also remember struggling with a tough bag of potato chips for about 25 minutes, crinkle crankle crinkle crankle, wondering when this noise was ever going to cases, when Timmy aburptly grabbed the bag.  "You need some help with that, Leilani?" he said.  Smarty pants.  He then proceeded to struggle with it for ten minutes of his own.

He'd only been living there for about three days--hardly knew me--when I got a terrible email that just broke me up.  I was crying.  Timmy was the only person in the house.  Timmy plopped right down next to me like he'd known me forever and held me.  I think of that impulse as very typically Timmy.

My daughters call Timmy the Tickle Monster.

Oh the things we're gonna miss.

No more of his cute twisty-shuffling-feet dance, the one that makes him look sometimes very sexy and sometimes like a chicken imitating James Brown.

No more of those death-defying sunglasses at night, on stage.

No more interactive guitar playing.

No more of the things he says to his brothers about Babes on tour that I'm not supposed to hear because I'm a lady.  Old Eagle Eyes.  I go, "Timmy, what did you just tell your brother about that girl?" and he goes, "Oh never you mind, young lady."

Timmy always rallied us for Apples to Apples (or "Apples and Oranges," as, to his mirth, I always used to mis-call it).  Notice we haven't played Apples to Apples in a very long time?

Timmy, if you're happy, then I'm happy for you.  But I'm going to miss you.

Under His Bed

.. A song that we have really been overdue to record is currently in progress. The session today allowed us to revisit some production time with our esteemed friend Brian Irwin who helped with many past Astra recordings. It was good to see him again. Here's a shot of James laying down bass while Phil Jaurigui looks on. Brian is just off screen to the right.

Meanwhile, in the other room, at another point in time, James and Remy spam the chat rooms with talk about Astra Heights...

Remy's bid to join the band has been vetoed due to his intimidating cuteness factor. We are not prepared for this type of competition.

B.

Struggling with Glenn

My buddy Sam Bolle of Agent Orange, Dick Dale, the Neanderthals, FEAR, Todd Handegan, Marisabel Bazan and many many other bands sent me this video.

* The embed code didn't work so here's a link: Glenn Campbell with STP

Here in Astra land we struggle with Glenn (joking of course) and I personally am NOT an STP guy but this is a pretty nice moment I must say.

B