Hello from the East Coast! I'm here in NYC, checkin' out the scene and causing as much trouble as one little girl can in a city of 6 million. Between concerts, plays, and hitting up cute band members for drinks and promo CD's, things are going fairly well. If any of you are out here, come on down to the Village Underground on Saturday, May 10 and check out Butch Walker's acoustic set. We went on Wednesday and it was fairly amazing, so we'll be there again - this time armed with a camera! And also, check out this band: Billionaire Boys Club; they're a little young music-wise but on their way up, and were cool enough to get me and my girls drunk on Wednesday AND get us home safely. Double thumbs up.

Byrd Blasts Bush --- Senator Robert Byrd calls bullshit on Bush's ridiculous "Top Gun" photo op publicity stunt. Read it here. Here's a great quote from Byrd's comments,
"...American blood has been shed on foreign soil in defense of the President's policies. This is not some made-for-TV backdrop for a campaign commercial. This is real life, and real lives have been lost. To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the President to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech. "

Get The Money Out Of Politics --- The Democrats are launching a new soft-money campaign that will undermine the electoral process. Read this depressing shit, here, from the Washington Post. So much for all that hype about getting money out of politics. Remember when we armed the Afghans so they could fight the Russians? One side was corrupt but held a material advantage, so we helped the opposing corrupt side gain parity. In one sense, the Democrats need the money to combat the money the GOP raises from gun-nuts, religious zealots, and anti-choice fascists. Of course, the GOP says they need to combat the money the Dems raise from Commie trade unions, gay rights orgs, and all the rest. Our two-party system is completely bankrupt. The two parties are too large to adequately represent variant viewpoints and are too mammoth to adapt, to reflect progress, and to hold any real hope of achieving democracy. I know you know, it just makes me feel better to vent.

Halliburton Already Running Iraqi Oil Fields --- Halliburton lied. The US Army lied. Bush lied. None of that is news, nothing to get upset about. Being fed a line of lies these days is so commonplace reporters can't even muster any ire to write about it. Just in case you care, here's an article from The Guardian that shows we (The People, remember the Declaration Of Independence, that silly thing?) were bullshitted again. Halliburton was only supposed to be "fighting Iraqi oilwell fires" and instead was given a contract in clear violation of the mantra "the oil belongs to the Iraqi people." Sure, the oil we don't steal belongs to them. Is everyone a goddamn liar and thief? At least Rep. Henry Waxman is diligent enough to ferret out the truth from these shady sons-of-bitches like Halliburton. Is Waxman the only one who cares?

Big Oil, Condi Rice, Ethics --- An article from The Economist, here, details why the Bush Gang is so compromised in its ethics, short-sighted in its foreign policy, and hell-bent on lining the pockets of oil professionals with even more billions of dollars. Condi Rice was on the board of Chevron Texaco, Andrew Card was the biggest oil lobbyist in Washington, and Dick Cheney was lead pimp for Halliburton. Is it any wonder these people act like they're insane? With tens of millions of dollars flowing into their Swiss bank accounts, no wonder they just don't give a fuck about the common man, 500,000 jobs being lost, stagnation, lack of health care, the environment, and everything else a sane human gives a shit about.

Pete Townshend Off The Hook --- Pete will be allowed to hang around the kiddie pool again, now that police have concluded The Who's gunslinger did not actually possess any childporn, although he did access kiddie porn websites in violation of the law. Read a snap from NME, here. Sounds like Pete got off...er, I mean, got lucky. Now the 57 year old pervert had better write that fuckin' book he was "doing research for" or else risk winding up looking a complete twat!

Sure Is A Super Drag --- Superdrag just announced they are splitting up. Sam Powers precipitated the breakup by leaving the band after four years to spend time with his wife, family, and friends. John Davis said there is no new Superdrag album in the works although a collected album of rarities and b-sides will hopefully be ready by year's end. He also hinted a solo album might be in the works. Superdrag were a great band, hope you got to see them play.

The Signal Hill Transmission --- at the Viper Room.

Saturday, May 10th @ 8:00 p.m.
The Viper Room
8852 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA

Doors open at 8:00 p.m. We will take the stage shortly thereafter.

Tickets are $12.00 at the door

http://www.thesignalhilltransmission.com/

Some upcoming shows you don't want to miss:

• THE DAYS END - May 7 - Silverlake Lounge
• REXAQUARIUM - May 11 - Derby
• MIKE STINSON - May 14 - Silverlake Lounge
• AMY CORREIA - May 15 - Derby (note date change)
• KIP BOARDMAN - May 15 - Derby (note date change)
• ALEXI MURDOCH - May 15 - Silverlake Lounge
• THE SONS - May 16 - Derby
• DAVE GLEASON'S WASTED DAYS - May 16 - Derby
• MAIMOU - May 19 - Silverlake Lounge (rescheduled from the 18th)
• STERLING (Chicago) - May 19 - Silverlake Lounge
• NEKO CASE - May 20 - Derby
• LISA MARR EXPERIMENT - May 20 - Derby
• THE SHARP EASE - May 21 - Silverlake Lounge w/ MUMMY THE PEEP SHOW
• 8 BIT - May 21 - Silverlake Lounge w/ MUMMY THE PEEP SHOW
• JOHN S. HALL (from King Missile) - May 22 - Derby
• EVENING - May 23 - Derby
• THE NATURAL HISTORY - May 26 - Silverlake Lounge
• RAYON - May 27 Derby
• TARMAC - May 27 - Derby
• REX AQUARIUM - May 29 - Silverlake Lounge w/ SIN ROPAS
• THE SONS - May 29 with SIN ROPAS
• KIP BOARDMAN - June 10 - Derby (rescheduled from May 8)
• WISKEY BISCUIT - June 11 - Silverlake Lounge
• RATTLESNAKES - June 19 - Silverlake Lounge
• DOLOUR - July 3 - Silverlake Lounge
• TRACHTENBURG FAMILY SLIDESHOW PLAYERS (Venue Change) - July 16 - Derby
• HYPATIA LAKE (Seattle) - July 31 - Silverlake Lounge

LA sensations Campfire Girls kickin' it chilly-chill:

campfire girls acoustic performance
@ hotel cafe 1623 1/2 n. cahuenga blvd, hollywood
tuesday, may 6th 10pm

also performing:
scott thomas