Timothy has left the building, June 13 2008

As a non-member of the band I have no business writing about this, maybe. Maybe one of the guys should write about it. But none have so I’m going to.

Some of you already know that we have come to see the passing of an era in the life of Astra Heights. Little brother Timothy has officially decided to remain in the Houston area and pursue a solo career. He is now an ex-Astra Heights boy.

I have not spoken to him since I heard the news because I am so sad. I think I better wait a little bit or I’ll just end up conveying how much I wish it weren’t the case. When he was first planning his “leave of absence” to Houston, I told him I was mad at him: “You’re leaving me!” I said, half kidding, because I have an abandonment complex and because of course what everyone does is all about me.

“No, Leilani, it’s like a month and I’m coming back,” he said.

“You better,” I told him. Now he’s not.

But I’m not mad. The man’s gotta do what the man’s gotta do. I get that. Still, I’m sad.

In September 2006, my husband and I separated. In February of 2007, while everything was still fresh, Mark and Timmy needed a place to stay and came to live with me for a little bit at Westgate. (Westgate is what we call the palatial manor of which I was once the Lady). I met him once one fine summer day when he was off to play soccer with his brothers, and then he was suddenly my roommate. It was with Timmy and Mark that I had the First Fun: hanging out, laughing, talking, and generally having such a good time that I first realized, “Hey! I can have fun again. Right on!” I have an especially vivid image of sitting back on the couch next to Mark while Timmy regaled us with his perfect blow-by-blow re-enactment of Michael Jackson’s video for “Rock with You.” I also remember struggling with a tough bag of potato chips for about 25 minutes, crinkle crankle crinkle crankle, wondering when this noise was ever going to cases, when Timmy aburptly grabbed the bag. “You need some help with that, Leilani?” he said. Smarty pants. He then proceeded to struggle with it for ten minutes of his own.

He’d only been living there for about three days–hardly knew me–when I got a terrible email that just broke me up. I was crying. Timmy was the only person in the house. Timmy plopped right down next to me like he’d known me forever and held me. I think of that impulse as very typically Timmy.

My daughters call Timmy the Tickle Monster.

Oh the things we’re gonna miss.

No more of his cute twisty-shuffling-feet dance, the one that makes him look sometimes very sexy and sometimes like a chicken imitating James Brown.

No more of those death-defying sunglasses at night, on stage.

No more interactive guitar playing.

No more of the things he says to his brothers about Babes on tour that I’m not supposed to hear because I’m a lady. Old Eagle Eyes. I go, “Timmy, what did you just tell your brother about that girl?” and he goes, “Oh never you mind, young lady.”

Timmy always rallied us for Apples to Apples (or “Apples and Oranges,” as, to his mirth, I always used to mis-call it). Notice we haven’t played Apples to Apples in a very long time?

Timmy, if you’re happy, then I’m happy for you. But I’m going to miss you.

Little tidbits from a big night, May 1 2008

LEILANI HERE

This is the Astra Heights blog so of course I’m gonna write about me.

Last night Astra Heights played Musexpo at the House of Blues. People were blown away. After the show, I overheard one man say, “They’re like Queen . . . he’s like Freddie Mercury reincarnated, but better!”

Better than Freddie Mercury? Hell yes!

While Astra was setting up for their show, I overheard another man talking to his girlfriend. He motioned towards Mark’s legs and butt, as Mark was bent over plugging something in.

“I want those jeans so bad,” he said, “I want to rip them right off him.” And with that, he clenched his hand in a mad scientist, mou-ha-ha-ha kind of maneuver.

Another time, towards the end of the evening, I passed the photographer talking to a man in dreds. “You missed Astro Heights?” he asked. “Too bad, man, they blew everybody else away!”

“I keep hearing that,” said Dreds. “Astral Heights?”

“No, man,” the photographer corrected him: “Astro Heights.”

“As in Astro Turf?” asked Dreds, clearly baffled by that final vowel in the second syllable—not an unusual predicament, I am sorry to say. Jonesy played the Astra Heights cover of “Don’t Bring Me Down” today on the radio and then announced, “That was Astral Heights doing their cover of the classic ELO song.”

“Right!” said the photographer.

At that point I remain the silent observer no longer. I was excited they liked the band; I couldn’t just leave them there, for all eternity mistaking our boys for something akin to rolling hills covered in fake grass.

“Actually,” I said, “It’s Astr-AH Heights.”

“Ah,” said the photographer. “That’s better.” Dreds nodded in agreement. “So . . . did you see them?” he asked me.

“Oh yeah, they’re great aren’t they?”

The photographer says to me, “I saw you in front . . . do you know them?”

“Yeah, I blog for them,” I said.

“Awesome!” said photographer. Photographer, if you’re reading, thank you for being so enthusiastic.

Later Dreds walked up to me. “I been watching you,” he tells me, “and I don’t have a line or anything, but”—he gestures towards my white coat—“You got a great look. I really like your look. Your glasses, your coat, your everything.”

Okay, stop. I willingly admit I’m including his comment here in order to show off. Being complemented so fiercely by a complete stranger doesn’t happen every day. Unless you’re a member of Astra Heights, that is. Moreoever, I am never more flattered by anything a new guy puts out than a complement to my style. Don’t tell me I got a great body (which I do, and I’ve had two kids!); don’t tell me I’m pretty or cute (yawn); don’t even glance at my T&A (what little there are of them)—these are acts of God for which I can claim no responsibility. But my style? Well, if they get my style, then we’re onto something.

I crack myself up. Am I cracking you up?

I invited Dreds to the Swinghouse party on Saturday. I’m not on the market, but he was such a nice guy, and it’s going to be one heck of a party. Dreds—whose name is actually Will, a good name—if you’re reading this, thanks for stroking the ego that is otherwise so bruised and battered by those cruel heartless rock stars I hang out with.

As for the cruel and heartless among you—you played the House of Blues! You rocked a full Foundation Room! You set the Musexpo crowd ON FIE-UH! Touch you, you sizzle.

What a night.
TALLY:
Drinks I bought for people: 3

Cigarettes I gave away: 5-6

Mints: None.

Musical instruments I retrieved: 1 (A tambourine. I had to cut through a crowd in the green room to get it, just as AH was about to go on. “Excuse me!” I announced as I made my way, “Emergency tambourine retrieval in progress!” That worked pretty well.)

“Blocks”: 1, unintentional

Drinks bought for me . . . 1 (from Melanie, thank you babe!)

Number of super cute, really nice musicians with great names like “Stevie” (or was it Scottie, Mel?) speaking in brogues from all over Britain and her former colonies: too many to count.

Morales Matriarch’s Birthday, April 28 2008

It is the Morales Matriarch’s Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Theresa!

Unaware that her birthday was coming up, last week I asked Theresa to complete this survey. Now it seems like a good way to celebrate the incredible woman who mothered 4/5 of Astra Heights as well as 7 other children. (Bernard–send me your mama’s number; we gotta get some of this info on you, too.)

Per the usual rules, boys, your mother had only twenty minutes to complete this survey, so go easy on her!

1. Who threw the most wicked tantrums?

I don’t remember wicked, but Joshua threw the funniest.

And please describe said tantrum in one sentence or less.

When Josh would get really angry, he would tear off his pamper, and if he could get the door open, would run outside and tear it off. I guess to make his point! And it was well taken!

2. Who was the quietest baby?

Mark

3. Who was the loudest–as in crying as an infant?

James

And loudest, as in–talking and yelling all the time?

Several share this honor- Kathy, Phillip, Liz, Tim.

4. Who as a youngster required the most spanking?

I take the fifth.

5. Who charmed her/himself out of trouble the most frequently and successfully, and how would s/he do it?

Phillip, he was a natural flirt and would talk with this sly grin on his face and make you laugh. Kathy was a smooth talker and try to talk her way out of things.

6. Who as a baby had the strongest will and/or was the most stubborn?

Marie. Once she made up her mind, that was it! But it served her well, she used it for good purposes.

7. Who as a baby had the wickedest trigger temper?

Sean, (but he was very ill as a child).

8. Who as a baby shared the best?

Several of my children share this honor- Marie, Liz, Kathy and Tim.

9. Who believed in magic (Santa, the tooth fairy, monsters, fairies, Easter bunny, etc.) the longest?

Gee, that’s tough. I don’t know. i think Kathy

10. What were each of the Astra boys like when you took them to their first day of school?

Mark, James, and Josh were very quiet, sad, and cried. Tim, on the other hand, went to his kindergarten teacher, stuck out his hand and shook hers, saying” Hi, I’m Timothy Morales, glad to meet you!” She and I were pleasantly surprized by his attitude.

11. Who as a toddler was the pickiest eater?

Kathy and Joseph

12. Who was the most mischievous?

Really, it’s hard to say, they all got into trouble at one point or another.

13. Who was the bossiest?

Well, just from sheer necessity, Marie had to hold her own. She also had to keep her brothers in line! Then Phillip, Kathy

14. Finally, please share with us a memory of all the little Astra boys at once . . . something they did together, for example.

Well, they were always very creative! They were always drawing, making up plays, little skits or acts, making up games. Their dad and I had bought them little stuffed animals at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, and they made up a little skit with their animals. They had us come up into one of their bedrooms and put it on for us. They held the stuffed animals on the bed (they made it the stage) as they sat behind the bed. It was hilarious- their dialogue, their acting, the voices they made up for their animals, the little songs they had them sing, just everything about it was funny and creative!! They ranged in age from about 10 to 4 years old. I could go on and on! There are a whole lot of these collaborations!

Mark’s mama has spoken, April 25 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK VINCENT MORALES!

In commemoration of Mark’s birthday, Leilani asked Theresa Morales to complete the following survey in 20 minutes or less. Theresa complied. Thank you, Theresa.

1. What three words first come to mind when you think of Mark as a baby?
sweet, smiley, shy

2. Other than hunger and sleepiness, what made Mark as a baby or toddler cry the most?
he never cried, unless for the above.

3. What made him the happiest?
He loved being held and being talked to. He loved being snuggled.

4. What was his first word?
dadda

5. What did he play with a lot as a baby and toddler?
he enjoyed playing with anything, he was such an easy baby!

6. In one or two sentences, please describe his relationship with his older siblings.
As an infant and toddler, he was very much loved by them. He never complained or whined, and their favorite game with him was to roll him over when he was sitting down on the ground, because he would always pop back up with a big smile, as if it was the funniest thing.

7. In one or two sentences, please describe his treatment of the younger siblings.
He was kind, quiet, listened, but always held his own when he was older.

8. What the naughtiest thing as a child–up to age12, let’s say–that Mark ever did?
Gee, I can’t think of anything right off hand. He was just a sweetheart little boy.

9. Please describe a memory of Mark as a toddler that makes your heart swell whenever you think of it.

2 things- the 1st is when his older brother was very ill and caused me much sorrow, yet when I would look at Mark, he would always give me the biggest smile and touch my face with so much love that it would melt away the pain I felt at that moment.

the 2nd- as a little boy one night he came and snuggled very close to me on the sofa, lay his head against my arm, looked into my eyes, and with the sweetest, shyest smile, said to me.”momma, I love you so much, I’m always going to stay with you and I’m never going to leave you. I’m going to marry you when I grow up.” Oh that boy knew how to melt my heart!!!!!!

10. What was he like on his first day of school?
My poor baby was so nervous and even more shy than usual. He didn’t want to let me go. ( and I didn’t either!)

11. Do you remember what went through your mind the first time you saw Mark on this very day, April 25, 31 years ago?
I remember that at his first cry, all I wanted to do was hold my baby and comfort him. As I started to talk to him, all of a sudden he stopped crying, and turned his head towards me, listening very intently. It was an incredible moment, because as I spoke to him, he was very quiet, and one could tell he recognized my voice as one he had heard from inside my womb!!! A wonderful, incredible, sweet, sweet moment!! My baby knew his momma!!!

What would you give Mark for his birthday, April 24 2008

LEILANI HERE

VIRTUAL GIFTS – after all, it’s the thought that counts, right?

Tomorrow is Mark’s birthday.  If you could buy him any gift in the world, what would you give him?

There are two things that popped into my head at the thought of this question.

A new pair of jeans.  And

A new pair of boots.
Happy Birthday Mark.  You are much loved.

Astra Heights on Jonesy’s Jukebox, April 19, 2008

Leilani gives AH another survey, the afternoon of Jonesy’s Jukebox:

What was Jonesy wearing today? (Don’t forget to describe his shoes.)

• Josh: He was wearing flip flops (sandals) with shorts (I think camoflauge) and a t-shirt. He also had a hat with the British flag print on the front.
• Bernard: baseball cap
• James: Blue Shirt, Blue Shorts, Flip Flops
• Tim: he had on a teenage millionaire shirt with him riding a motorcycle on the front, shorts, and sandals
• Mark: i think a t-shirt, jogging shorts and maybe sandals??

2. What were you wearing today?

• Josh: Black boots, black womens’ jeans, brown button shirt
• Bernard: black pants, white shirt
• James: Same blue jeans, same black jacket, same black shoes, different green shirt
• Tim: a grey long sleeve, blue vest, black jeans, and the evil boots
• Mark: I was wearing a blue button down with jeans and my white loafers
  

3. Describe one thing you saw hanging on the wall in the studio or green room.

• Josh: An impressionist drawing of two male police men (or Bobbies? They had the taller hats as if London cops). They were kissing. It was weird/funny.
• Bernard: an old photo of jonesy and billy zoom. pretty classic
• James: Lots of band posters
• Tim: there is a band named TIM…it made me smile
• Mark: tons of band stickers

4. How big was Steve Jones in comparison to you?

• Josh: exceptionally bigger. Not huge but bigger.
• Bernard: massive
• James: He’s a big guy
• Tim: i think we were about the same height
• Mark: he is a barrel chested man, I told him James could have fit inside him.

5. Did you call him Steve or Jonesy?

• Josh: Jonesy
• Bernard: your honor
• James: Jonesy
• Tim: Jonesy…Steve is probably too formal
• Mark: Jonesy

6. Please share with us one thing said by Jonesy or an AH member that made you laugh pretty hard.

• Josh: Mmm, not sure really… It was all pretty moderately cool and fun
  
• Bernard: (blank)
• James: think what made me laugh is us fighting over how to sing “Jonesy’s Jukebox on Indie 103.1″ right before going on air.
• Tim: well he kept purposely messing up our name, which i thought was pretty funny
• Mark:Fleetwood Snack courtesy of Josh

7. What was the name of the other guy in the room, the one who answered the phones for the contest?

• Josh: Kevin. I forgot his DJ name though.
• Bernard: Kevin B – GREAT guy
• James: Steve
• Tim: i never got his name
• Mark: Kevin

8. Describe one moment during which you thought, uh oh, this could go either way.

• Josh: It was in the very beginning. Jonesy wasn’t really talkative. I was sad. But then we got to talking more and it started getting fun and funny.
• Bernard: Never
• James: didn’t really feel that way, Jonesy’s a pretty cool dude so it was really relaxed
• Tim: when he asked us to make a jingle for his show. we could’ve have bombed, but thank God we did pretty well
• Mark: nope…didn’t think that at all.

9. What was your absolute favorite thing about the experience of being on Jonesy’s Jukebox?

• Josh: It was really chill and the songs he was playing were great! We learned a lot of new stuff
• Bernard: Very laid back and talking about stuff like the Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac recordings and soccer.
• James: Listening to the music he plays. He would make some awesome mix cds
• Tim: Meeting Steve Jones.
• Mark: it was dark, we were all sitting with guitars, singing, chatting about cool undiscovered music…it was a dadgum dream

10. Which one of you came off the coolest?

• Josh: No one? Actually maybe Bernard since the ol’ dude knew so much about older music. I love you B. Muah!
• Bernard: I think everyone was cool. Weird question.
  
• James: Jonesy
• Tim: i’m not sure
• Mark: not sure…

11. Which one of you came off as the biggest nerd?

• Josh: Me? I don’t know….
• Bernard: Kevin
• James: Hahaha, Josh
• Tim: not sure
• Mark: bernard probably cause of his veteran knowledge of music

12. Describe your thoughts/reactions when you were told that Leilani Riehle was one of the winners of the contest.

• Josh: Cheater!
• Bernard: We were upset that someone who has never seen Astra Heights live just got edged out of a free ticket. All that aside, I think she would have enjoyed being at the radio show doing some documentin’.
• James: cheater!!!
• Tim: i thought…”is that cheating”
• Mark: i laughed….sneaky little lass

13. Describe your thoughts/feelings/reactions when Joshua shouted out to his girlfriend.

• Josh: What’s the big deal? She’s like a fan and I really appreciate her support.
• Bernard: Good for him. He’s got a good one oh and it’s now official, he’s straight!
• James: My first thought was, “Great now do I have to do the same?”
• Tim: “awww, that’s sweet….gay”
• Mark: whooped!

I’m a winner (or a cheater, depending on who you talk to), April 15 2008

Have you ever been so excited at something that you thought you might pop?

That’s how I felt when Astra Heights was on Jonesy’s Jukebox today.

A certain someone used to say I was nothing if not enthusiastic. Shamelessly, earnestly, embarrassingly (to him) enthusiastic. So after pausing interminably (or so it felt) to give Indie listeners their own shot at good fortune–which seemed only right, given my unfair advantages–I succumbed to the thrill of the moment, picked up the phone, and said the magic number “8″ to the question, “How many brothers, total, in the Morales family?”

Yay! I instantly became the owner of one pair of tickets to see the boys at the Knitting Factory tomorrow night. Plus, the name “Leilani Riehle” became forever linked in radio history with “Astra Heights” and “Steve Jones.” Plus, you never can be sure you’ll get on the guest list and I couldn’t afford to go otherwise.

I’ve NEVER won anything before. I believe in signs and messages from the Lord and “God shots,” so it means something to me that the first time I win a contest it’s an Astra Heights contest.

Yeah, mama, you go, girl. Better yet: Go, Astra Heights, go! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.I’m a

SXSW Survey, April 5 2008

Leilani in an email to Astra Heights: “To recap SXSW. You have fifteen minutes to answer.  Look at the clock.  Go!”

1.  When you reflect upon your state of mind during SXSW, what word first comes to mind?

• James -  “Blurred yet focused”
• Mark – “party.  duh.”
• Bernard – “Blurry. Mostly from the meds I was using to keep my back pain at bay.
• Joshua – “Yikes…”
• Timothy – “insanity”

2.  What were your favorite 5 minutes of all of SXSW?

• James – “Dancing with family and friends at Project Jenny Project Jan”
• Mark  – “standing on bench watching everyone dance to Project Jenny Project Jan”
• Bernard – “Crossing a small bridge near the lake and seeing turtles and fish sunning themselves between shopping carts and old tires.”
• Joshua – “Dancing during the Project Jenny, Project Jan show on our last night in Austin.”
• Timothy – “eating with my family”

3.  What were your least favorite 5 minutes of all of SXSW?

• James – “At the end loading gear on Sunday morning after being completely spent physically and mentally”
• Mark – “walking to hotel room and being stopped at 5am by two lame dudes in lobby.”
• Bernard – “Driving around looking for a place to eat and returning to almost the exact place we started from.”
• Joshua – “Trying to work out having to pick up one of my cymbals that was left at one of the bars we played at.”
• Timothy – “loading and unloading gear”

4.  What was the funniest moment of/made you laugh the hardest at SXSW?

• James – “Way too many to recall”
• Mark – left it blank
• Bernard – “Seeing Gionne roll her eyes.”
• Joshua – “Probably seeing our friends from L.A. who were there wearing cowboy hats and actin’ a fool!”
• Timothy – “hanging out with some of my friends from highschool”

5.  How many hours did you sleep while at SXSW?

• James – “Total around 20”
• Mark – “more like how many minutes”
• Bernard – “Enough actually.”
• Joshua – “Not enough”
• Timothy – “i don’t know of this sleep you speak of”

6.  Which show was your favorite to play and why?

• James – “Definitely the Scoot Inn, it was a little after noon, everybody was tired, there weren’t many people except for the people working the bar, but the energy within the band felt so awesome and we sounded exceptionally good.”
• Mark – “VIMBY, no pressure, no big crowd, just us like we are in rehearsal.”
• Bernard – “Our proper showcase at Lambert’s was solid.”
• Joshua – “Our official SXSW showcase at Lambert’s BBQ. It was crowded and I was amazingly relaxed and ready to go.”
• Timothy – “my favorite show was our showcase at Lambert’s BBQ, because they had these amazing blues musicians rocking out upstairs”

7.  What did you miss the most while you were on the road?

• James – “I’m going to be sweet here and say I missed my significant other.  It was truly a memorable experience and it would have been great for her to have been a part of it.”
• Mark – “my kid-robot, Remy.”
• Bernard – ““Sanity”
• Joshua – “My girlfriend and family”
• Timothy – “i missed that beautiful california weather, but i found ways to compensate”

8.  How much did you drink?

• James – “More than 10 times my body weight”
• Mark – “a ton o’ beer.”
• Bernard – “Not much.”
• Joshua – “More than I should have, though it wasn’t much”
• Timothy – “enough to make Dionysus look like a light weight”

9.  What did you drink?

• James – “Lots of Shiners, Lone Stars, and Red Bull/vodkas”
• Mark – Mark – “just beer man, ton of cheap beer.”
• Bernard – “At one party we attended, the drinks did flow and I had a gina nd tonic, mojito and bloody mary. All were excellent not to mention free”
• Joshua – “Mixed drinks and a maybe one or two beers”
• Timothy – “anything and everything that was handed to me…but i do recall having a vodka that was infused with chocolate and cherries. Needless to say….it was the bomb diggity”

10.  Describe the moment when you were drunkest (that you can remember).

• James – “At some party at SXSW, and the outside patio floor was covered in wood chips which made it really hard for me to walk without looking like a new born baby deer.”
• Mark – “was never that irresponsible..too many people and places to meet.”
• Bernard – “Never got drunk. Who do you take is for Motley Crue?”
• Joshua – “I didn’t really get drunk while I was there. I kept it very moderate.”
• Timothy – “walking with my friend Derek to our other friend’s apartment, but not before stopping at 711 to buy a 1/4lb. hot dog and a dozen of donuts. Tasty”

11.  What piece of clothing did you wear the most at SXSW?

• James – “My jeans, I will hopefully be wearing them everyday until the next SXSW.”
• Mark – “I pretty much wore the same outfit every minute, hour and day of the festival.”
• Bernard – “Sunglasses”
• Joshua – “Pieces: Black jeans, black hoodie, black jacket, black boots”
• Timothy – “some black jeans that were beyond the point of return”

12.    Name the 2 best bands that you saw.

• James – “Scissors for Lefty, Project Jenny Project Jan”
• Mark – “Scissors for Lefty, Project Jenny Project Jan”
• Bernard – “Shane Alexander and Jenni Alpert”
• Joshua – “Mieko from L.A. (I think that’s how you spell her name), and Project Jenny, Project Jan.”
• Timothy – “project jenny/project jane and von iva”

13.  Share something that either Phil, your mother, your father, or a sibling said to you during SXSW.

• James – “I can’t remember exact statements, I was just happy to have them all there.”
• Mark – “Mark, Eagle Eyes 12 O’clock.”
• Bernard – “Phil said “Just give them the hits!”
• Joshua – “My brother Phil (At Lambert’s BBQ): “You guys should really thank the soundguy, man, he mixed you guys PERFECT.” … I did find him and thanked him”
• Timothy – “my mom asked me if i wanted to move back to Texas”

14.  What did you like best about the city of Austin?

• James – “The laid back casual feel, yet people are very active cause there are so many things to do outdoors.”
• Mark – “everything.  I miss that city”
• Bernard – “Cool people and good food.”
• Joshua – “The use of limestone in the old buildings.”
• Timothy – “seeing everyone being themselves….and BBQ!!”

15.    What word best retrospectively summarizes your experience of SXSW?

• James – “Insanity”
• Mark – “fun busyness or funny business…but that’s like more than one word.”
• Bernard – “Wish I brought my fishing rod.”
• mind?
• Joshua – “Nice…”
• Timothy – “is it possible to describe such a spectrum of glory and excitement in one word? i think not.”

In Briefs: a survey, March 28 2008

Leilani in an email to Astra Heights: “You have ten minutes from the moment you open this email. Look at the clock. Now answer the following questions. When time’s up, please send it to me. I’ll compile for the blog.”

1. A song that changed your life.

• Mark – “’Babe, I’m gonna leave you’ by Led Zeppelin . . . I was 19 going on 20 living by myself in Austin, discovering music without any one suggesting it and I happened upon Led Zeppelin….When I heard that song…it blew my mind…so then i went out and bought all their albums except ‘physical graffiti’
• James – “’There Goes the Fear’ – Doves . . . .I think it was 2002 the year leading up to our move from Houston. I was sitting at my office cubicle for my computer job and I saw the video online and the imagery and music just struck me, like what the hell am I doing here? I need to go pursue music wherever it takes me.”
• Tim – “Because – The Beatles”
• Joshua – “On Eagle’s Wings”
• Bernard – “So many to think of. Perhaps something random like Raindrops Keep Falling On My head”

2. A warm memory of your mother from before you were 12.

• Mark – “Caring for me after my hospital visit in Pennsylvania . . . I was in there for a severe Asthma attack.
• James – “Taking me to class on the first day of school for first grade. I was crying my eyes I out, I was such a girly momma’s boy.”
• Tim – “Sweet Theresa rubbed Vix on my chest after having an asthma attack.”
• Joshua – “Her getting ready and always wanting to look pretty for my dad when he’d come home from work.”
• Bernard – “Getting me from the middle of the deep end when I jumped in not knowing how to swim.”

3. Something your father said more than once that you never forgot.

• Mark – “All a man has is his word and his work ethic.”
• James – “I’m proud of you”
• Tim – “There’s a time to be a child, and a time to be a man.”
• Joshua – “To respect women. Mainly to regard women as God’s creations and to keep a pure heart and mind.”
• Bernard - “Daddy Fix (whenever something was broken)”

4. Your most embarrassing moment as a teenager.

• Mark – “mmmm, swinging from a rope on a tree, rope breaks, I fall into deep mud puddle, I go to shower, I slip and tumble out of the shower onto the floor. it was a bad day.”
• James – “Not having a license and driving my senior prom date around in my parents’ van. Which now that I think about it, is kind of cool…….well, maybe not.”
• Tim – “my six grade teacher called me out in front of the class for not wearing deodorant….bitch.lol. Thus, setting the mood for bad hygiene up until now”
• Joshua – “Getting in trouble with my parents after looking up nasties on the internet. What man?! I was young once…”
• Bernard – “Lots of those. Maybe being caught … uh do you really want to know? I don;t think it would reflect well on the band. Let’s just say that I “had” a dark side.”

5. The first movie you saw in a theatre.

• Mark – “don’t remember, but I remember Return of the Jedi. Thanks Princess Leia for the memories ”
• James – “Die Hard is the first theatre experience I remember”
• Tim – “the first one I remember was Jurassic Park”
• Joshua – “I think it was ‘Predator’”
• Bernard – “The Yellow Submarine I think.”

6. The last movie you saw in a theatre (as of Feb 15).

• Mark – “Does a seedy XXX theatre count? I kid, I kid…The Water Horse
• James – “Cloverfield”
• Tim – “don’t remember”
• Joshua – “Juno”
• Bernard – “I don’t remember but I am aiming to see Juno. Anyone want to take me (even if you;ve seen it before)?”

7. Boxers or tighty-whiteys?

• Mark – “Briefs”
• James – “Not a big fan of boxers, I have colored briefs.”
• Tim – “Briefs”
• Joshua – “It varies (back off man!)”
• Bernard – “Boxers”

8. Do you have a tattoo? If so, of what? If not, what would you get?

• Mark – “Maybe a tattoo of my son, maybe a tattoo of Astra Heights”
• James – “No, I’m not sure what I would get that’s why I don’t have one.”
• Tim – “I have my last name on my right shoulder, and the band’s initials on the back of either arm”
• Joshua – “Two religious symbols”
• Bernard – “Yes, an original Leo Zuluetta Malaysian/Borneo influenced Pisces symbol”

9. What was your high school GPA?

• Mark – “I made B’s all the way thru….so maybe like a 2.9, 3.0?”
• James – “Oh jeez, I don’t remember but I was an A & B student for the most part.”
• Tim – “don’t know”
• Joshua – “A 3.0 or something like that”
• Bernard – “3.75”

10. Did you ever cheat on a test? Were you ever caught?

• Mark – “Nope, see question number 3”
• James – “I was never caught, but yes I have cheated on tests.”
• Tim – “I cheated once when i broke my hand, I hid the answers in my cast…never got caught”
• Joshua – “Cheat, yes. Caught, no.”
• Bernard – “A few times but rarely. Never caught.”

The last day at SXSW, March 20 2008

There’s a lot you can learn when people assume you are sleeping.

For example, Sean Askandari snores, talks in his sleep, and hogs the bed.  At the same time, he is a teddy bear who automatically throws his leg across a pillow or, should the bedmate steal the pillow, over the bedmate.  The bedmate being me.

Don’t get any ideas.  As you know from past blogs, comfortable sleeping quarters at SXSW were hard to come by, and here was an opportunity to actually use a mattress: the sofa bed in Sarah’s hotel room at the Marriott.  Sean had first dibs but I didn’t give a darn.  I was going to sleep in a bed, gosh darn it.  Even if it meant I wrestled all night with Sean’s unconscious teddy bear moves.  Sarah, we thank you.  Sean woke up refreshed for the last day of SXSW.

It was a day that began with Astra Heights playing the Red 7.

Their show was followed by what, for me, was one of the highlights of SXSW: a performance by Von Iva. Another great highlight of SXSW was the pleasure of the company of Von Iva’s singer, Jillian, who is one heckuva hang.

Red 7 was followed by an epic meal with the Morales family:

Then we retired to Marcus’s apartment and napped (thank you Marcus) before our last night out on the town, which began at Oilcan Harry’s.  Then Marisa, Liz, and I hotwired this car and drove to Lambert’s (our feet hurt):

Joyous pandemonium broke out at Lambert’s because Project Jenny Project Jan was playing, and they were bringing down the house.  I think every single person in the audience was inebriated to one degree or another — (yours truly excluded, of course, as you can see from this picture with the singer) –

which one must admit makes for a pretty good party.  Here are some shots:

You ever have such a good time you feel like the top of your head is going to bust open with all the fun inside?  That’s what this last night at SXSW was like.  Thank you, Astra Heights, for memories to last a lifetime.