Alright folks, it’s time to put your liver to good use this Saturday!



If you folks haven’t heard, this past weekend Retox Lounge got robbed. Being a dive bar in the outskirts of the Dog Patch, the loss is a huge blow to the business. So, they’re looking to try and cover their losses by throwing an all-day event this coming Saturday.

For those who don’t know, Retox Lounge was home to The Haight Street Hop before the switch. If it weren’t for the Haight Street Hop being thrown at this badass venue, I wouldn’t have known about the place, nor would I have actually gone to the Hop!

They’re gonna be throwing an all-day BBQ, where they’ll be raffling off some prizes. And if you got a band, they’re looking for some bands to play last minute. The drinks are cheap, the girls are hot, and the food is delicious! If that weren’t a reason to go, I don’t know what is! Well, I guess me being there is a good reason!

So come on down folks and let’s kick a few back for a good cause!

With a whole mess of events around, it’s easy to keep busy, especially on the weekends. Even though a whole lot of folks expected snow, the weather was pretty nice out. Of course a whole lot was done this past weekend!

Santos from Wild Records was in town. Apparently, they had a rough time on the drive up. But that didn’t stop them from putting on a wild performance. No pun intended.

The night kicked off with some crazy good food from Broken Record. This place has been haunting me for over a year. I went there with a long-lost friend, but didn’t stay long enough to eat. And ever since I’ve been fighting my brain to remember the name. Luckily, Kiya had this place in mind for dinner. And the pulled pork sandwich was destroyed.

Off to The Knockout we go. And promoters, I can never say this enough… Find a spot with parking! I know the parking around Retox seemed shitty. Worried about your cars and what not… But guess what… It’s probably the safest place I’ve been to! I’ve seen more crack heads around there during the day, than at night. So please, take it into consideration, eh?

Anyways…

Ended up meeting up with Tanoa and his lady and Hamm-Jobs were had!

Candid shot of Mrs. Tanoa & Mrs. Self Edge

But someone had to turn away, since they “didn’t do their hair.” But now all we see is the hair!

Time for the rockabilly crowd to flow in…

A whole mess of folks.

Along with some other folks as well.

After a couple of Hamm-Jobs (too easy for a giggity) it was time for some Santos!

They ended up playing a little late and by the looks of it, they had themselves a relatively decent amount to drink. It was evident, since before he finished the first song, he broke out in a crazy sweat! Of course, he did put a whole lot of energy into his performance.

And as you would expect it, the ladies flooded to the front of the stage.

Is that Kiyas head?

Yup.

Caught me taking a couple of pics.

Dead center of the crowd. I’m pretty sure you’re too tall for that! I think there were a few shorties behind ya.

Before he ruined the hair with the movin’.

And yes, he has good hair.

At the end, he put on one hell of a show. From kicking off his loafer into the crowd, tearing a hole in his pants, to havin’ the fellas dancing and the ladies keeping a safe distance, he got the crowd goin’.

After the show, it was homeward bound. But not without some nerdin’ out about rockabilly! Kiya was sharing some insight about some of the slang used today, that had originated by the rockabilly greats of yesteryear. And since we couldn’t figure out what songs one of the phrases came from, Google was very much so needed.

Very much in fact, his command center.

And the song has yet to have been remembered.

The next day, Retox was having their first annual chili cook off. Hell. Yeah. But first, it was time to get gas…

You know… When you have to pull up to the pump, behind someone, and said person already leaves, it sucks. You wish you would’ve known they were leaving, so you could roll into that spot. Then as you’re pumping (giggity) someone pulls into that spot. If they’re backing up, you’re kind of sketched out. BUT… Most people are assholes… This lady included…

SERIOUSLY???

You know what sucked about this? Not just the fact that she did that… But… I WAS READY TO LEAVE. You’ve got to be fuckin kidding me. I even told her that I was ready to leave, she could’ve backed out for a second. Nope… Piss me off, you end up on the internet. Oh well!

CHILI TIME!!!

If I had known how much food was gonna be there, I wouldn’t have eaten breakfast. Even though it was a delicious Vietnamese sandwich, there was a whole lot of food at Retox!

A whole lot of cooking was going on and I was just getting hungrier and hungrier.

As soon as the chili was ready, people were mob’n!

Hungry people are hungry!

Very. Hungry.

There were 9 pots of chili. And for whatever reason, two bottles of beer in the toilet…

Mmmmm

Mmmmmx2

Chili. Aka. Toilet Wreckers.

MORE PULLED PORK??? FUCK YEAH!

While this one had the pulled-fuckin-pork, it didn’t get my vote. But I did get a 2nd serving of it!

And whats a cook off without some deep-fried food??? More like deep-fried everything.

Deep-Fried Pickles

While I’m not in any way a fan of pickles (I’ll strip any burger of any pickle,) deep-fried pickles are the jam. ESPECIALLY AT HOOTERS.

Next up… HELL ON EARTH…

Can you guess what this is?

This might as well have been deep-fried bacon grease. Or deep-fried butter. This thing, WORKED ME.

Give up?

It’s a deep-fried frozen White Castle Burger. My first time ever trying White Castle and it had to be deep-fried. Fuckin wild, eh?

This thing. Was GREASY! You thought my hair was greasy… Nope.

You know how you bite into a cream filled donut and the cream gushes out? This did the same thing. Minus the cream, add in the grease. I held onto the last bite for about 10 minutes and my hand had so much grease leak onto it, I could’ve greased up a 3 foot baking dish… Yeah, A LOT OF FUCKIN GREASE. So… Talk about bein’ a greaser… In a little too much more of a literal a sense…

While this was one busy weekend, next weekend is no different. With the new Haight Street Hop starting up this Friday, to an all day event on Sunday, there’s a whole lot of shit to do. And guess what, it’s all gonna be a blast!

So don’t forget to come on out and get some fuckin pulled pork!

Till the next time…

Stay Greasy. Even if that means deep-frying everything…

You gotta expect some rebel rousin’, from someone called The Rebel Rouser!



HIPSTERBILLIES!


And if you haven’t read a few of my posts and Twitter by now, you’re in for a treat.

Now… The other day I made a post about What’s Wrong With Rockabilly Today… And last nights little ordeal, sort of solidified that.

My lady, friend, and his lady friend head over to Retox Lounge for Rockabilly Fridays. And one thing I love about rockabilly events, is that there aren’t any pretentious hipsters, doing 80’s flash dance bullshit to Etta James and Buddy Holly. It’s just the people who love rockabilly, swingin’ and line dancing and having themselves a ball.

But guess what, this is San Francisco, so hipsters are unavoidable.  

I see a couple of broads come in. Typical lolita, pin up curls and a flower in her hair. The other, with her V-cut bangs and red checkered shirt, and the ever-so not popular septum piercing. From the start, I knew these girls, weren’t just there to swing dance.

When I’m out, I’m usually calm and collected. Having myself a good time, with the people I came out with. Meeting new people as the night calms down. That’s just me. I don’t dance, I don’t do shots, I sit back and enjoy. 

My lady was at the bar getting a new drink, while the broad with the septum piercing happens to do a little Wanda shake (where she’s against the car sucking on a lollipop,) while sipping on her drink. Right there, I knew this chick wasn’t gonna leave me be. I look at my friends and lady and tell them what just happened.

Not too long after, her and her friend come up, and she introduces herself to me. Of course, with my group around, she starts to introduce herself to them as well. Realistically, she wanted to get-to-know-me. As they’re standing there not talking to us, I leave that awkward situation and get myself a beer, and kick back with my buddy.

The two join our ladies, as we kick back in the corner. Not too long after, septum girl comes stomping over.

As she enters my personal space, she frantically tells me how my lady wants to dance with me. And tries to force me to dance with her. As she pulls my arm, I keep insisting that my lady wants to dance with the “professionals of the night” first, to get back into the groove. Which was true. Plus, I JUST DON’T DANCE! After she calls me a bitch a few times, I go into pyramid mode and freeze up. Meaning, I just sat there frozen, looking deeply into the wall, as she keeps on rambling and mumbling. 

And as typical hipsters do, she goes back to the group and speaks her mind. She calls me a bitch and what not, for wearing a leather jacket. Now… That’s where the whole “What’s Wrong With Rockabilly” comes to play!

Since when, did a pompadour and leather jacket mean you have to know how to swing dance? Since when did it mean you have to dance? What is this shit? This isn’t Grease, lady! Just because John Travolta won the dance competition with Cha-Cha DeGregorio, doesn’t mean I’m a Danny Zuko myself! There ain’t any dance numbers going on, over here. (Except, I did think it would be funny to randomly do a flash mob, Grease number in public! Who doesn’t love a good ol’ Summer Nights performance?)

This broad keeps going off back and forth how hard it is to find a cute greaser guy. Wait, what? Greaser guy? Greasers and rockabilly swing dancing does not equal one and the same! See what I mean? This shit has gotten so watered down, that people think everything and everyone is the same! And it clearly isn’t! 

The movie American Graffiti, somewhat expressed just that! When Richard Dreyfuss character, Curt, told Paul Le  Mat’s character, John, that he was going to the Freshman Hop, he showed his distaste for it! 
Now, I’m not saying I don’t enjoy watching other people swing and hop… but there isn’t a rule book that said “THY GREASERS SHALL SWING DANCE!” First of all, it’s a preference. Second, Greaser does not equal Rockabilly!

Killing me here folks!

The only connection I see between greasers and rockabillies, is the era. That is IT.

The attire is completely different!

I mean, nowadays, people are mixing everything up. Pompadours and Quiffs, while wearing Hollywood high waisted trousers with Bucks and wallet chains. It’s almost like a half ass aborted Teddy Boy, greaser mobster baby.

I’m not saying anyone in the “mainstream scene” dresses that way. But if you’ve looked around, you know exactly what I mean. I’m just putting it out there for everyone else to read.

Well, I think that’s all I’ve got in me right now.

Aside from this broad, I had myself a ball. The night was great. Talking with the owner of Retox Lounge, Scott, was hilarious. Just cracking jokes the whole night. For a recap of that night, check out my blog for more pictures.

Until then, Pomp Hard.