Day Off -
Sunny/Hot
Woke at 11AM. got cleaned up - all went for breakfast at HoJo's. Dave B. couldn't eat - got close to being sick. He had better be careful. The rest went back to frat. I walked through State Street. Lots of shops. checked 4-5 record stores - ours was not in any. Bought postcards - 6 for a dollar. Back to frat. Watched some TV - MTV - with 'A' - nice girl but moody. Dave R., Joe, and I went with 'N', 'A', and Julie to the beach for an hour or two. Wrote postcards and got some sun. Back to frat - decided to have a BBQ with the $40 dollar grill Julie 'picked up' last night. Rod and Dave R. got dogs, burgers, rolls, beer, tomato, lettuce, slaw and charcoal. Had a great cookout. Listened to tapes and drank beer.
After the previous night's shenanigans, I'm surprised we're awake and drinking beer so soon...
At 9PM Joe, Rod and I went to club. Dave R/ and Dave B. went to see 'Prizzi's Honor' - said it was a great movie. We saw 'The Mess' - OK - singer like Johnny Rotten and Doc from the Crucifucks. 'Mecht Mensch' - good band - good musical ideas. Singer was weird. 'Tar Babies' - just as bad as I remembered them. They had a different lineup - no singer now. They fucked around too much - jammed at our expense - generally boring. Rod and I hated them (Killdozer boys did too). Joe loved them for some reason?!? Couldn't beat the 60 cent beers. Outside (I left for awhile during the Tar Babies set) there were lots of gay men? Found out later - off to the side of the building is a gay club called "Rod's". Weird scene. Rodney and I were approached several times. Left club at 12:45 (closing).
I see here that a Mecht Mensch band member went on to be in the band 'Tortoise'. I think I remember us calling Doc Dart of The Crucifucks to see if we could organize a show in Michigan somewhere. His wife answered and had to call him in from outside where he was flying a kite in a thunderstorm...
Walked home - back at frat we talked for an hour or so with Dave and Dave. We decided Fever is not going to help us so we make the best of it - hope for a better deal and label next record. Mike Morrison is really working hard for us and Jackie is absolutely great. (Dave B. asked Joe and I if she could live with us - fine with us). To bed 2AM.
We ended up sticking with Fever and then eventally signing directly with Enigma/Restless. At the end of this tour, Dave B. Joe and I would be sharing an apartment together with Rich Poor (aka Rich Hoak of 'Brutal Truth' and Deaf American Records) on 44th street in West Philly. We'd end up living there for several years and it was known as "The Cave" (even by the rental agency) as it was the first floor and basement of a row house...not too many windows.
Posted by Dean at July 14, 1985 03:16 PM
The club you saw the bands at must have been the "Club De Wash" on Washington Ave. I believe there was also a hotel in the building (The Hotel Washington).
I played there a few times in the early-mid '90's. The first time we were hanging out before the show, and noticed tons of guys were walking by outside and around to the back of the club - we were pissed they weren't coming in to see us - but only found out upon leaving that the entrance to the gay bar (Rod's) was in the back of the building (appropo, no?).
I heard that the building burned down (what is it with Madison music clubs and fire?) sometime in the '90's, and that they were going to rebuild, but don't know what ever came of it. Cool place though.
