Saturday

Saturday started with a walk to the High Desert Market for a tasty and filling breakfast. There was not much happening in the morning. We went to the Grassy Park and listened to Ben Anderson for a moment and did a little shopping.

At 11:00 we walked to the Badassery and stood on the sidewalk to listened to Gnarwhal Jrz. They were having problems with the mic so there was no vocals. They played a few instrumentals, but it wasn’t that interesting.

On our way the the Badassery, we had heard something interesting at Poco so we walked back. We listened to the rest of the The PJ Bidwell Band. He reminded me of Charlie Wagner.

From Poco we walked to the Silver King. It was now a little before noon. I stopped in the bar and got a Bloody Mary. I joined Karla out on the patio for Tariff-By-the-Sea. There was a woman playing stand up bass and a guy on drums, both wore captains hats. The woman was the person who started Sidepony. They played a couple songs and then she switched to guitar. She had a good voice, but the songs were not anything special.

We left the Silver King and went to the Old Bisbee Brewery. It was busy outside for Sean Whalen & the Benson Highway Band. We found a place to stand for a while and then we moved to a table. They were country rock and reminded me a little of Lucero. Maybe just because the lead singer looked a little like Ben. All the sets at the brewery are double length, so I knew we were not going to stay for the whole set.

I convinced Karla to return to the Silver King. Smooth Hands had already begun, and it was hot on the patio as people sought shade. I sat in the sun briefly until a shaded chair opened up. Smooth Hands were a lot of fun. We saw them last year and they did not have their regular drummer. Their set last year was a little sleepy. Their set this year was a lot more lively. Some fun power pop with catchy hooks.

It was now about 2:00 and I was thinking about tacos. We walked down to Taqueria Outlaw to see how busy they were. The wait was about an hour and we put our name on the list.

We went next door to B-Active because we could hear something going on. We listened a little to St. Pop. They are a two piece with a drummer and a singer with a little stringed instrument. It looked like the strings and neck of a violin, but it was up on a stand and he played it with a slide, like a lap steel. We didn’t stay long.

We headed back toward the gulch and we went to the Courtyard where Amelia Doll was performing. There was a big crowd and we found a place to stand in the back. We had only heard a song and half when the taqueria called me. They had two spots and the bar.

We walked back to Taqueria Outlaw and took our spots at the bar. We got some drinks and ordered carnitas tacos and baby nachos with chicken. The spicy margarita Karla got was really good. We were done with our drinks before our food came so we got another round. The tacos were delicious and the nachos are fantastic. I do not normally order nachos at a restaurant, but I make an exception for Taqueria Outlaw. Their smallest size is enough to share.

We took a break at the hotel and then walked to Gene’s. The Pübes were playing, an all non-male punk band that had a lot of energy and were fun.

Moonlight Beach Club was playing at 5:00 at Carly’s. Frankie said he liked them so we went to check them out. We got a spot at the bar and I got a Dragoon IPA and Karla got a tasty red sangria. Moonlight Beach Club started and we were not too impressed. It was kinda bluesy and had some crotch rock wankery. We were both thinking about leaving and we saw Frankie and Chad. We made some room at the bar and we got another round. MBC settled down a little and they played some good rock and roll. It was great to see Chad and talk with him and Frankie. We stayed and talked after the band was done. Frankie and Chad left and Karla and we stayed until Beaver Creek started at 6:00. We stayed for most of their set and they were not bad.

We went to St. Elmo to catch some of the Nova Babies. They were pretty good but I don’t remember much.

Then we went to the Copper Queen for Big Dick. Everyone had been saying they are great. I saw on one of their fliers that they are a Little Richard tribute band. I was pretty crowded at the Copper Queen. We were not expecting a female lead singer. It was not our thing and we did not stay long.

We walked to B-Active and Mike and Charlie were playing as Moonflower Mirage. Mike was playing drums and Charlie was playing guitar, trumpet and singing. She was laying down a lot of loops. At one point she got a hula hoop and played trumpet while she hula hooped.

When Moonflower Mirage was done, it was about 8:00. We went across to the Bisbee Social Club. The Lolly Bombs were playing and we wanted to see them at least once. We found a place to hang out on the music side. Their sound was bad so it was hard to enjoy their set.

After the Lolly Bombs, we must have gone to the Copper Queen for Fat Grey Cat. We were disappointed. I thought they would be more punk rock, but it was not.

At this point I was feeling the effects of the day and I wanted something to eat. Karla agreed that I needed something. So I went to the Brewery and found a spot at the bar. I got a beer and brat and some chips. Karla may have went to the hotel or to check out another show. She joined me a the brewery before I was done with my brat.

A little after 10:00 we went across the gulch to Genes to see some of the Whisky Lickers. Still no washboard, but there was a good crowd and a lot of fun.

We made one more stop at Carly’s for Vertigo. I was disappointed again. Not as puck rock as I wanted. We did not make it to the end of their set.
We were back to the Hotel around 11:30 and I was soon asleep

Sunday

I was not moving too quickly Sunday morning. I worked on my list of what we did the day before.
We got ready and walked to Earl’s. We both got breakfast burritos with turkey sausage. They were good but not as big as the day before at the High Desert Market.

A little before 10:00 we walked to the Bisbee Grand. They had tables and chairs set up and it was about half full. 20 Ft Neon Jesus started Sunday service a little after 10:00. He did some preaching but not a lot and it was not as good or funny as last year. So he did some songs and that was fun. The Grand filled up with a good sized crowd. He did some Christmas songs and they started having some mic problems. He took a break to fix it and Karla and I used that opportunity to leave.

We got to the Copper Queen right around 11:00. Roger! was setting up. We took some spots on a couch near the stage. We like Roger! and they played some good rock and roll. Some loud guitars and some start-stop rhythms. When they were done, I bought a t-shirt, and took a free CD and some free stickers.

We were not sure what to do next and as we waited at the bar, I Am Hologram started playing. We saw him on Thursday, but it was solo. Sunday he had a band with drums, bass and harmonica. It sounded better than the solo. There was some yelling, but it went better with the band. Also, the harmonica player was really good.

We decided to leave and we walked around Bisbee main street and stopped in a couple shops. Karla suggested Patisserie Jacqui. Great idea. When we got there, the line was pretty small. Karla got a passion fruit cheesecake and I got a Nutella chocolate chip cookie. We sat on their small patio to eat. Both were delicious and very filling.

We headed back and stopped at the Bisbee Grand and listened to the last song of Plum. A girl group that was a little punk but also too poppy.

We headed towards Carly’s but we noticed Bitchin Pickens was open so we went in there.
Then to Carly’s at 2:00. We listened to King Summer. Kinda emo rock. The lead singer’s voice was a little nasally and a little annoying. He also had a small device on his mic stand that he kept fiddling with. I do not know what it did. Maybe adjusted his reverb, and there was a lot of that. We stayed long enough for Karla to have a white sangria and I had a hazy little thing.

That was it. There was more music, but there was not anything else we had to see. So we headed back to our place in Sierra Vista.

It was another fun Sidepony Express Music Festival and we are looking forward to going back next year.