That's right, Ross and the Rifles are playing they're first gig today! Pictures and footage to come!

So that was...intense. I still have a post-gig adrenaline boner. Mylestock 20 oh 9 was a success, more or less.

The set:
1. Crushcrushcrush (Paramore)
2. Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses)
3. Dream On (Aerosmith)
4. Maria (Blondie)
5. Happy Birthday/Rockin' In The Free World (Traditional/Neil Young)

So, being our first gig, and a backyard birthday party, the whole thing was really informal and fun. Even when we TOTALLY fucked up 'Dream On' (to the point where the drummer stopped playing), we finished up and made jokes about it. Besides that, the biggest problems appeared to be my amp volume, which was unusually quiet.

I must be the first to give huge props to my bandmates. Our singer Cassy has been violently ill all week and has practiced with us as a band exactly once. She did great, and she's got such a good attitude and presence. Her twin brother Dyllon (the SLF's own Zizzaria), our bass player, is an incredible player and blew me away as always. Terence, our drummer, was hitting some sweet beats when he wasn't reaching through our stage curtain at the food table, and Dustin, rhythm guitarist and least accomplished musician of the group, stood up to the challenge and rocked the house.

Photos as soon as our photog gets them done.

My Marshall MG100DFX blew on me a few weeks before the show, so I had to go out and purchase and emergency Line 6 Spider III 75 watt, and I'm glad I did. I'm gonna get the Marshall fixed and mount it in my homemade cab for live shows. Guitar-wise, I played a Typhoon Les Paul copy (Eb), a Peavey JL-1 (Eb with capo), and an Ernie Ball MusicMan (E), as you'll see below. I finished the rig of with a Dunlop CryBaby.

So, without further ado, here is the master-photog skills of Ms. Kyla Dove (if you recall my solo album photo shoot, you've seen her work before). Pictures are from practice and the gig.


Dyllon (you may know him as Zizzaria) on bass and Dustin on rhythm guitar

Terence on drums and Dyllon

Yours truly on lead guitar and Terence.

Dyllon and Dustin tuning, our friend Emily in the background.

Dyllon's girlfriend Alyssa and me.

Terence keepin' the beat.

Dyllon and our friend Kayla in the background.

Dyllon, Dustin, and Alyssa.

Dustin raging against the machine, Emily and Alyssa in the background.

Dyllon, Dustin, Terence's little brother Lance, and me.

Terence rocking the suburbs.

A fantastic shot of me.

An amazing shot of Dyllon.

AND THE GIG!

My first pre-show stage!

Me and our most lovely lead singer Cassy, Dyllon's twin sister.

Cassy and me.

Cassy looking fierce.

This is us sucking major balls during 'Dream On'. I was smiling because I was so happy and excited that even that couldn't bring me down. And check out that reflection.

Dustin and Dyllon, who need to move around more!

Some more 'Dream On'

Us trying to bring the song back together haha.

Me, Terence, Dustin, and Dyllon.

Terence feeling embarassed.

Cassy actually singing a line or two haha.

Dustin and Dyllon.

The lovely Cassy.

Wah-wah-wah.

One final shot.


So there ya have it! Ross and the Rifles' first gig!