A couple of years ago during a tour of the west coast, i ran into this band at a show we were doing. They were this low level touring band, like us, whom werent making any money...their name escapes me now. I remember sitting out in front of the venue giving them directions up I-5 to PDX. they were all in such good spirits for someone whom was about to make that shitty run (its a really long one).. As i asked why they were so stoked, they explained that they had just won something rediculous like $2000 or so at a card table outside of L.A. The rest of their tour was financially set by that one endeavour. I never had the guts to throw it out on the line like that in some random casino, and i have had the opportunity in the past. I think they were from Minneapolis...somewhere in the midwest. Yeah, fuck it.

THE ARSENAL

I have fielded many questions about the sounds we produce. This is how it happens:

*Yamaha RX8 (circa 1988.. good luck finding one) "stock"
*Yamaha RX8 w/ 25 way drum destruction (yes, DESTRUCTION) patchbay...custom manual circuit bending board w/ modded start/stop foot switch. finally.
*Ibanez "Lo-Fi" pedal (early 90`s)
*Boss EQ..mid `80`s..seriously distressed due to multiple stompings. hissss. magic.
*Boss DD2 (a favorite around the apartment)
*5 channel Behringer mixing board (best value out there today)
*1200 watt CROWN power amp ("you really need it THIS loud"?-sales rep.)
*JBL 2/15" Cab w/ Horn "stock" (your bands drummer uses this as a monitor when you dont play the "sleazy" club and/or basement show..ours is louder though,its our monitor)

*1975 Fender Twin Reverb (silver faced...autographed by BUDDY GUY)"stock"
*1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom (black...you know, like the horse)..slippery mods we wont get into here...want to deal/trade on a Travis Bean? hit me up. this shreds.
*Electro-Harmonix "POG" (best xmas ever)
*`80s BOSS "Heavy Metal" distortion (this works best when the battery is almost dead, and used sparingly)
*BOSS DD2 (who can travel w an echoplex on this budget?)

*`90s HUGHES-KETTNER 100W guitar amp head (the one that glows)
* L8 `60`s silver faced fender 2/12" guitar speaker cab in which we installed something really fucking sweet.
* BOSS DD3 (the "ugly duckling" of the group)
*1969 Gibson SG (S: Satans G: Guitar)

*(2) Shure 55SSH series 2 vocal microphones (re-issue) ISO original in PERFECT working condition.
*Electro-Harmonix HOLIER GRAIL (pretty much the only way we can communicate w satan)
*BOSS DD2

*2006 Tabby Cat "Wednesday"
*2000`s Black Cat "Chaz" (again, both items feline) under the vintage/used category whose virtue true.
*Tattered 2004 Rand Mcnally road map (mapquest will burn your gas fast, friends)
*2007 Motel 6/Best Western/Super8/Econolodge/Comfort Inn road/location guide U.S.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Cody Utzman

NXNE

We went to Toronto.. got to the venue just in time to play our set, went and slept for a few hours, then we drove home. approx 1000 miles. we were there for approx 10 hours. fuck hell yeah. this is a touring band people!

Jarred Gibson

Our friend Jarred took this photo last WED @ Cakeshop. He told us he has to go back to Canada due to some Visa/Work permit stuff. Though temporarily, he will be missed.

We shared Christmas dinner together last year here in our little brooklyn apt. I watched him tackle the singer from This Moment in Black History, during their `o7 CMJ performance as he filmed the whole thing.

Jarred is one of the amazingly talented and genuinely nice people we have met since we have moved here....altogether making this little corner of the world a little easier to call home. Thanks buddy.