Gerald would be proud of my committed autograph whoring tonight: I took a page from the ALL handbook and tried for ALL, and eventually, I was rewarded!
It wasn't looking good. The production manager we pestered and the tour manager he pestered on our behalf (who we never directly met) were only able to get Stephen to come out, before the security guards started to really insist we leave. There were lots of guests backstage, we were told, and a lot of pressure to get the guys back across the border. On our way out, we did say hi to Brock Pytel (who I think was getting a shipment of merch for the September 20th LanaLou's show with Scott Reynolds and Greg Norton), but all he could do was suggest that maybe the guys would be hanging around outside afterwards...
I think he actually meant around the front of the venue, but when there was no one there, we actually pushed our luck, Adam and I, braved the alleyway, and LURKED OUTSIDE THE TOUR BUS and waited. Not making a fuss, just... trying for ALL And the Descendents. Why not?
I don't usually do this kinda thing, folks, but I can see how it could become addictive, actually. Then I saw Karl through the window and when he glanced out, I made the universal hand gesture for "sign my rekkids" and to my delight and amazement, he came out! I jibbered at him as he stepped into the alleyway, "You wrote 'Educated Idiot!" I love that song!" And he thanked me and commented, "Not many people do." Karl signed everything he was on (actually he missed one but we got that sorted later).
Karl had mentioned it from the stage, but told us there in the alley about his two years in the Real McKenzies, which I did NOT know about before tonight. It wasn't too long ago, either! (He was in the band briefly in 2007 and then from 2009 to 2010). He was happy to be checking in with his Vancouver peeps. I had no idea about any of this (but I took no notes so I can't really do what he said justice).
We asked Karl if he could get Bill to come out. Bill seemed intent on doing tour-bus things -- but Karl had said, "He'll come out," so we waited patiently. Maybe they would reward our tenacity? But even after we saw him tell Bill, we saw Bill making no moves towards the front of the bus. Hmm.
As we milled about, Adam and I watched a small, very damaged looking rodent scraping its way along the alley, and stepped aside so some of the local DTES-types could plow past. Someone else was going through the trash buckets. We watched Bill moving to and fro inside the tour bus somewhat forlornly and were saying things like, "I don't think he's going to come out." We were minutes away from packing up...
...when motherfucking MILO AUKERMAN HIMSELF came out the back door of the Commodore and headed for the bus, and I called out and he came over. He had stuff draped on one arm, but I held my records steady and proffered a Sharpie. As he signed stuff, somewhat weirdly, he and Adam had a conversation about Jewishness. Milo, for those curious, is not himself Jewish (Adam had thought he was and so asked), but has "great respect for people of the Jewish faith."
It was actually a sweet thing for Milo to say. I think it's a tough time to be a Jew in the world right now. It's probably not anything *I* would have asked him about, but okay! I was more focused on the signatures not gotten (since they were my records), and asked Milo, "Do you think you can get Bill to sign them?"
"I have no idea where he is!"
"Oh, he's on the tour bus. Karl already asked him. I realize he's a bit shy, but now I've got almost everyone... it would mean a lot..."
Milo reflected for a moment. "Actually, if I could bring your records onto the tour bus, you have a better chance."
"Sure!"
So MILO AUKERMAN, running an errand for fans, did just as he suggested and proceeded to get Bill to sign the records inside the tour bus (and got Karl to do the one he missed). We watched it all happening as we stood there, with roadies loading the bus storage, glancing at us occasionally. We smiled back. I already had Chad Price on my Mass Nerder, which means I now have fully signed copies of the Descedents' ALL and ALL's Mass Nerder, and partially signed copies of a few other records (Enjoy, I fear, will only ever have Bill and Milo's signatures on it; hell, I don't even remember who the other guys are on that one!). Scott Reynolds is missing, but I hope to remedy that at LanaLou's next week. I bought my Pummel reissue after I saw Chad, but now I have a great reason to see him again if he comes to town. I assume I'm never going to get Dave Smalley!
People who are reading this and were delighted by tonight's show should realize that there are still tickets for former ALL vocalist Scott Reynolds' upcoming gig as part of the Greg Norton event Sept. 20th at LanaLou's. ALL is basically the Descendents with a different lead singer. Milo was wearing an ALL t-shirt tonight; Stephen and Karl and Bill are all also in ALL. You should "all" read my Scott Reynolds interview (part one of two) and listen to Scott's new album, recorded with Bill. It's great, and while the palette is richer and more creative than you'll see on the average ALL record, it's kind of in the same camp....
And of course, the Descendents were ALSO great tonight! But it was a marvelous treat to have met them (except Bill, but I've met him before and realize he's not much of an easy socializer; neither am I, actually. Don't go changin', Bill -- we love you just like you are).
Nothing to say about the photos below but this is what I got that was half-good, starting with them bringing Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks out to pose for a photo with the audience behind them, which was at the beginning of the night. We whooped, cheered, threw the goats; you might see some familiar faces in the pics. It was the end of the tour, so the energy was really good. The Buzzcocks had also been really enjoyable (and Mattstagraham, too, though I liked the power-poppy one they did near the end the best).
The setlist was almost the same as the previous night up until the end. "Catalina" and "Cheer" were swapped out for "Kabuki Girl" and I think "Hope" and.... I'm not sure what else. Milo threw a few barbs at the Trump regime (even inserted a "fuck Donald Trump" into one lyric, noting in the alley afterwards that people seemed to appreciate that sentiment; he joked about wanting to stay in Canada, at one point, as well). We ate it up. The pit for the Descendents was vibrant and happy and enthusiastic. I tried dancing a bit to "Van," which is the song I was most hoping to hear, but it's actually not all that easy to do!
Anyhow, great night. Thanks to all the bands and the guys who helped with autograph collection. It's kind of hilarious that the person who helped us the most was Milo!
Thanks, Milo!
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