Tonight was another night of rock. This time with a bizarre twist. I had every intention of seeing Cadillac Blindside each time they have come to town. Each time something came up where I either: couldn't go, or I would arrive after they played (thanks Amber!) or they cancelled. So when I actually *saw* the members walking around a packed Sapphire I had a little sigh of relief there would be rock.

[ Pictured: Wes's band ]

Opening was my friend Wes's punk rock band. I don't remember what they were called. I think it was their first show. It was all right.

The rest of the night was like a No Idea Records showcase. Jacksonville's Twelve Hour Turn exploded through about seven or eight songs. I don't know how those guys can remember their songs. Their songwriting is complex with a million things going on at once.

Cadillac Blindside went next and they did not disappoint. The vocals were dead on and their drummer is amazing. I was hoping for more older stuff but the new is good, too. 'Read The Book, Seen The Movie' has some good songs on it. As luck would have it, the battery on the camera died so I have no pictures after 12 Hour Turn. I swear I can't win....

[ Pictured: 12 Hour Turn ]

Then things got a little wacky. The night, in addition to being a rock show, was some kind of wakeboard/surfing benefit for this guy CC, who is (from what I was told) a pretty popular wakeboarder. Evidently, he was in some kind of accident and part of the door money was going for his surgery. So all these surfer guys got onstage, talking in surf accents (you know what I mean) and trying to throw out T-shirts to the punk kids. As you could guess they weren't taking and they didn't. I kept looking around and thinking to myself "this isn't happening". The lights went down and a promo video for some surf company was shown. It was too much. I went outside and the line into Sapphire looked like the line for Tabu; they weren't rock kids by far. I was thinking about leaving because I'm not a Small Brown Bike fan. I did stay and I'm glad I did because the show got even more out of hand.

Eventually the zaniness wore down and Small Brown Bike took the stage. I admit they aren't my thing but they were all right. People were crowd surfed to the back back and back to the stage. Somewhere during the set the guy CC was wheeled up onstage. It was obvious he had been drinking. He grabbed a microphone and he was speaking fluent drunkenese, cursing and swearing at the crowd. He kept at it everytime a song ended. The band acted like it was cool but you could tell they were getting agitated at what he was doing.

The momentum of the show went down to zero. At one point CC pulled out ten dollar bills and began throwing them into the crowd. Is it bizarre or is it just me that at your benefit show you give the money to just anyone? As far as I could tell the audience threw it all back. But no to avail he's get it off the stage and throw it right back. I don't know, call me crazy, but that's pretty crazy. I really don't know how to feel about the night. Ask Owen. I did get the SBB/Cursive split 7". You need to get that one.

Earlier in the evening I saw Dave Mason play down at the Church Street Market. It was crazy patriotic down there.

[ Pictured: Dave Mason ]