Pupusas, papas, and Melvins

Went back for breakfast at that pupuseria on Vine with Martin C. This time, his cousin Mario came along. Mart has a 7-month-old daughter and Mario has a 5-week-old little boy. I'm right in the middle with 5-months-old Eloise, so I guess we had a lot to talk about.


Right after finishing my breakfast burrito ($3.99 and huge) and massive coffee (.99 with ongoing refills), I suggested we stop chatting and walk to Amoeba during this infreqent chance to stop being daddies and be dudes for a while... Fortunate, because flyers revealed that The Melvins will be playing a free show there on Wednesday. The 6:30 in-store kicks off their tour in support of the loud and legendary band's new album.


I remember the first time I saw King Buzzo, Dale Crover, and Joe Preston in concert. It was at Jabberjaw on a night sandwiched between Nirvana shows at the Palace (one was a Rock for Choice show with L7, Sister Double Happiness, and Hole hosted by Alex "Bill S. Preston Esq." Winter). At the first Nirvana show, Kurt suggested that everyone go to see The Melvins the next night because they were the greatest band in the world--even better than his band--or something to that extent. I was going to attend the show anyway, and it was amazingly slow, heavy Sabbath-influnced metal played in the wee hours of a rainy night. The tiny, packed club was dripping with sweat on the walls. I could feel my leg hairs vibrate, and almost passed out a few times because it was so late and I was so fatigued. What a show. I think this was 1991 or 1992. They were way ahead of their time, and are still rocking and relevant.

The Amoeba gig will be a lot different than the Jabberjaw show--besides the changed lineup, it'll be air conditioned, wide open, and during daylight--but I'm going to try to attend it. Best of all, the show is early enough that I can get home in time to read a bedtime story to Eloise!