OK … it’s time for the first-ever installment of the Grim Smiley Show!!! Justin, Mark and myself sat down for a little chat into the microphone to talk about many things … including: our thoughts on moving from Hawaii to Seattle, a list of some of the band names we rejected instead of Grim Smiley, funny stories from our Idaho trip with our buddies Out From Underneath, clips from and the stories behind our new album, our plans to go back to the studio, an announcement that our buddies Pimpbot are coming to Seattle, Mark’s take on his meeting with “The Bills” (Gates and Clinton), the screaming people of Seattle, and lots and lots of other inconsequential stuff!!!

ROCK!!!
=Ben=

ps … we want to hear from you! Contact us here (or leave a comment to this blog) to give us a question to answer or topic to expound upon in our next podcast!!!

 

 Podcast 1 (11-23-2007) [36:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For all you facebookers out there, be sure to make friends with us at our new Facebook profile, which you can find here: facebook.grimsmiley.com.

And don’t forget that you can also find us at www.myspace.com/grimsmiley.

ROCK!

3 years later i’m finally writing my first blog….anyways better late then never, right?  Idaho was a cool gig, kinda seemed like a totally different world when crossing the border from Washington.  When me and Justin were walking through the grocery store we definetely stuck out like a mo fo……woooo these guys like rock music…..stay away kids.

Anyways back to cold Seattle, which u think wouldn’t be cold for me because I grew up in N.Y., but I think Hawaii turned me into a little bitch for lack of a better word.  Wasn’t really too excited about coming home except for seeing my girl…I just really like being out on the road where something different happens everyday, meeting new people and seeing things you’ve never seen before, to me that is priceless.

Looking forward to getting back in the studio to record some new songs and getting back on the road….until next time   shooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooootz

Markey D

Well, we’re back from our little road trip to John’Alley Tavern in Moscow, Idaho. We had a great time rocking out for the VERY FIRST TIME as Grim Smiley. And it was rad to hang with our buddies Out From Underneath!

The whole experience reminded me of our 12-venue tour of the West Coast in October 2006. Long hours on the road, getting in sleep when you can, checking into and out of hotel rooms …

For a band from Hawaii, six hours is a real long drive. You could circle Oahu three times in six hours!

We got up early Saturday, met OFU and helped pack up gear, drove for six hours, got to the hotel, went to the venue, set up, soundchecked, ate, back to hotel to get ready, back to venue, played an hour set, watched OFU, drank a little (some of us more than others), back to hotel to sleep, watched Justin get sick, woke up early, drove for six hours, dropped off Justin and Mark, and eventually drove home and PASSED OUT. Quite a whirlwind weekend! But it ROCKED!!! We are able to shake off some rust and play an amazing set. We can’t wait to finally make our Seattle debut hopefully soon.

Anyway, here are some pictures. Sorry we don’t have any of us actually playing on stage (it’s hard to take pictures of ourselves while playing!).

ROCK!
=Ben=

Mark was the first to fall asleep on the six-hour drive to Idaho …

Justin fell asleep next. I somehow stayed awake, which is good since I was driving …

The crowd poses for a picture …

Justin and the prerequisite Super Drunk Guy (every bar has at least one) harass me after we rocked an hourlong set!

This photo was taken right when the flash went off of Justin and Mark posing for a picture …

Mark, Justin and Bobby Silver, who played the set with us on guitar.

I like my water …

Our buddies Out From Underneath rocked the house!

OFU’s Jamie tells it like it is. Jason rocks out on bass. And to the right is Vertical Dave, who is 7 feet tall!!!

Justin watches Out From Underneath kick some ass

Justin had a little too much to drink … =/

There wasn’t a whole lot to look at on our drive. But we did come across some cool spots.

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Apparently this Dog’s bark is worse than his bite.

Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman was caught on tape deriding one of his sons over his black girlfriend, with the repeated use of the “N-word.”

When his show first came out in 2004, I wasn’t too crazy about it — I’ve never been a fan of the whole reality TV thing. But since moving from Hawaii to Washington in April, I’ve grown to enjoy it — mostly to catch glimpses of home, places I know and have been in Honolulu. One of my favorite scenes was when Dog found some crack-head in the dumpster at the Hideaway, a little-known bar off the fringes of Waikiki that I used to frequent.

I also thought his little lectures after apprehending a suspect were, while maybe a bit self-indulgent, seemingly benevolent. He appeared to be coming from a good place, with relatively altruistic intentions.

And perhaps that is still the case. Using a racial slur doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person. At best, it makes you an obtuse idiot.

I suppose it helps to realize that Chapman is coming from a time and place where language like this was not only tolerated, it was normal. It’s almost reminiscent of the old grandfather who is not quite up to speed on the most politically correct terms to describe minorities, homosexuals and others who haven’t had it easy. But using language like this — albeit during what was thought to be a private moment — is quite simply inexcusable.

What upsets me most about it is that Dog had become somewhat of an ambassador of aloha, representative of Hawaii and all its values. Back home he is — or, should I say, was — beloved. This ugly news is the top story of the day in a place that is starving for attention beyond just being paradise. Sure, there’s racism there, like anywhere, but in the islands, one of the most accepting places on earth, slurs like that aren’t heard very often. I’m saddened by the thought that this incident could change that perception.

I also find it utterly entertaining how the first thing a celebrity will do after putting his foot (or paw) in his mouth is book a spot on the Circuit of Sorry, thinking everything will be OK if you just admit you screwed up. Dog is following in the pathetic footsteps of Mel Gibson, Kramer (Michael Richards) and Don Imus. What, uh, colorful company to be in.

When The Rev. Al Sharpton (usually one of the first stops on the Circuit of Sorry) meets with Dog, perhaps the Eloquent One should cuff Dog and lecture him in the back of an SUV. And maybe offer him “one smoke,” like dog always does with his prey. At a time like this, with a disappointed public looking on, he could probably use one …

=Ben=

Related link:
‘Dog’ on leash after N-word rant

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