Today Planet X played it's first show of the new century at The Boardwalk in Orangevale. (Yeah yeah, I know the new century doesn't technically start until 2001 - but I don't care)

We we're the second band up and only had a 45 min set, so we cut quite a few songs. The only new songs we performed were "Go" and "Not Like U". I really would have liked to do our newest song "Harden my Heart", but there just wasn't time.

As usual (for the Boardwalk) it was an interesting gig, but by now we're pretty used to "interesting". (Interesting = lots of weird technical glitches). The keyboards became unplugged in the middle "The Hero-Inn", which turned pretty comical as I tried to sing and trouble shoot the wiring at the same time. (Not to worry, I could probably do a term paper and sing at the same time after all these gigs...) Darryl broke a string during "Pay Your Dues" and had to perform one of his now lightening quick guitar changes. The onstage sound mix was pretty bass and drum heavy, but we're used to that too.

Thanks to my trusty Wrigley's Spearmint Gum, I had no voice problems. (Thank you, Patty Labelle and Dave Grohl for that particular inspiration). Some of the other bands playing with us we're essentially Speed/Death Metal, so that influenced me to sing a little heavier than I might normally. We played hard, but we still had our melodic edge to distinguish us, especially during the harmonies in the Chorus of "Bridges". As I've said before, we've gotten some feedback that we should go for a more Grind-core sound, but IMO nearly everyone (at least - most Metal bands in this town), are already doing that. Either that or Pop/Punk. Why be redundant? We're us and it's going to stay that way. We just do our thing, roll with the punches and keep on Rockin'.

A couple guys from the audience came up close and checked out the new black-light paintings on our guitar cabs and bass drums heads. I heard them say... "Man, that's Hella tight". Which is Sacramentan for "cool".

Overall the crowd was lighter than our Boardwalk last show, which makes sense because we didn't advertise too much this time due to the holidays. Even so, there was talk that 98 Rock put on a commercial advertising the gig, mentioned our name and even played a snippet of "Pay your dues" in the background of the commercial. Maybe now that we've been nominated in four categories of their "Real Sac Rock" Contest (Best Bassist, Best Guitarist, Best Band Name & Hardest Working Band), they finally know who we are?

Hmm...could be.

All in all...it was all good.

Special shout-outs to our pal Jack, Mark from Sedona (Guitar), and Rod from Dementia (Bass) for coming out to see us. Also thanks to Lance (the original "Twist of Fate" vocalist) and Kathy (one of the singers who had auditioned to replace Lance prior to my arrival) for checking us out. I don't care what the others guys say, both of you two are cool in my book.

Ok, ok...they didn't really say anything that bad.

Honest.

Really.

Cross my heart and hope to lip-sync a Brittany Spears song. (A fate far worse than death - IMO) :)

Cya.

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