If you were to tell me 4 months ago that I would be flying to New York City to see Epic recording artists Marty Casey & Lovehammers on Valentines Day, I would have told you that you were high. I was hooked at the Seattle show with INXS on January 19th. I knew I had to have more than 40 minutes. So I flew to L.A. and caught the now legendary Viper Room midnight show on January 27th. That show was amazing beyond words. I came home and a few days later found out that they were playing the infamous CBGB club in New York City. I knew this place because my friend's bands had played a one day festival here in 2001. I knew how small the club was and also knew that this show would be even more monumental than the Viper room one.

The big day arrived and I flew out of Seattle at 8 am, after Angel Shadow met me at the airport and gave me some gifts to give the band. The flight was ok, over 5 hours and not too crowded. We arrived at Kennedy airport about a half hour early and I went down to ground transportation and looked for my ride. It was not there. I waited for 2 hours and 10 minutes and finally got in a cab at 5:40pm. I really thought I was cutting it close and did not want to miss a show that I traveled over 2,000 miles to attend. So by the time I got to the hotel it was almost 6:30pm. I checked in fast, dropped my bag and headed out to CBGB's. I was given bunk directions by a local and ended up walking about 15 blocks the wrong way on Bowery St. After falling off a snowbank and into a 3 foot long manhole filled with ice water/slush I asked a NYPD officer where CBGB's was and found out I was walking the wrong way. My feet and ½ of my right side were soaked through with freezing cold water and something was going on with my ankle and shin. Thankfully I found the club and everything was ok.

I entered, and was greeted warmly by old and new hammerhead friends alike. Most were concerned at where I was and what happened. After filling them in, I went and grabbed a beer and a shot of jager to calm my rattled nerves. CBGB's is such a cool place. It's covered from ceiling to floor in all kinds of stickers and flyers and it is very dark and stinks like hell. Not quite as bad as the "heavy metal vomit party" smell that emulated from the Viper Room floor and walls, but still it stunk in CBGBs as well.

The first band that played were called P.R.Y.D.E. and they were from New Jersey. They were 14,15 and 16 years old and were surprisingly good. They played about 35 minutes and the crowd (filled with hammerheads wearing red and black) gave them a warm reply. I ran into Neal Carlson of Bona Roba and Rockstar: INXS and talked to him for a few minutes. I told him how much I liked their CD and he seemed very happy about that. I also talked about some of the songs on it that I had questions on. I continued on with my drinking and schmoozing and watched as Bona Roba set up on stage. They finally started their set which was most impressive and drew songs from their "Reach in and Get Her" LP that was released in 2004. The crowd were responsive with Bona Roba and their dirty loud rock and roll sounds. Neal is a great front man. And his voice sounded great. They remind me of the Stones and Buck Cherry.

During their set I noticed that the Lovehammers had arrived. So I went back to the band room and saw Dino and gave him the presents the Washington hammerheads had made and bought for the band. Then I went back to my spot on the side of the stage and told others that the band had arrived. Bona Roba cleared their gear off stage and the Hammer Roadies started bring out the band gear. Over the sound system The Killers- "Mr. Brightside" was blaring and all you could hear was the crowd singing along. It was kind of cool actually.

The time had come for the band to take the stage, they came rushing out to an ear splitting and crazed welcome from the crowd. Lovehammers opened up with Straight as an Arrow and whipped the crowd into a heated frenzy! Dino had hurt his hand rescuing his puppy Frankie and so his hand (not his picking hand) was all bandaged up and it looked like he was flipping the bird. I don't know how he did it, I just watched him and he seemed unaffected by it. The Lovehammers set was the best I had ever seen them play. The energy was intense and each member seemed like they were on fire. Marty bounced back and forth, twirled around, jumped up and down, climbed Bobby's drum kit and worked the crowd like only he knows how to.

It's not a secret that Marty Casey is the best frontman in Rock and Roll today. Between songs early on in the set, lingerie was tossed up on stage and Billy picked up a pair of pink lace panties held them out on his finger and smiled from ear to ear. Then he draped them over his microphone stand. Marty picked up a bra off the stage and held it up and said "Whoa, Look at this, its HUGE", I think you might need this back, who ever you are!" Marty also commented how special this show was and how he always wanted to play CBGB's and now "Here he was". He thanked all the fans who came from all over just for the show. The whole set was 1 hour and 20 minutes of PURE LOVEHAMMERS INSANITY!! The crowd sung along to each song and I lost it when they played "Real Man" from L'Strange and "Low-Life Insurance (Let's Get Wasted)" from Murder on my Mind which I had not seen them perform live before.

The Lovehammers played two covers at CBGB's Ring of Fire and Paint it black. They were joined on stage during Ring of Fire and This Town by Jeremy on guitar which was a special treat. The biggest highlight for me though was when during "Hold On" Marty suddenly jumped in my face and smiled and held the microphone to my lips and I sang "CLOUDS WILL CLEAR AND THE SUN WILL SHIIIIIIIIIIIINE" and then I backed away and Marty shoved the microphone back to me and he nodded and I sang "ONNCEEEEEEEEE AGAIIIIIINNNNNN" and he smiled big and stood up finished the song!! I couldn't believe it, it was UNREAL. People patted me on the back and cheered me on!! I was shaking though... I know I can sing, but am VERY VERY shy around large groups of people. The sheer fact that I was hearing my singing voice (which is LOUD) over the PA while the LH were jamming was something I am taking to my grave and no one can take that away from me.

Marty took off his shirt about 30 minutes before they were done playing. I noticed he was not wearing the dog tag that I gave him in Seattle that has shown up for over ½ of the tour. (I later found out he lost it after Boston)

It is very hard for me to say which show was better- The Viper or CBGB. They were both amazing and I am one of the luckiest persons alive to be able to attend both those shows on different coasts of America. The dream was over though and the band had to end the show. They tried to meet with fans but it was too chaotic and there were legions of hammerheads blocking the bathrooms and the back door to the club. So security were less than pleased. Finally we were told we had to leave and that the venue was closed. So we poured out the front of the club and hung out outside for a little while and talked and took some pictures.

Then I went with a small group of Hammerheads to a small pub down the street from CBGB's where we all drank and talked about the show and the band in general. It was really fun to meet everyone and get the chance to hang out and get to know each other better. I had a great time in NYC. I had a bit of a gnarly hangover the next day, but I cured it by walking down the street from the hotel to Katz's Delicatessen for an Extra Lean Hot Pastrami on Rye w/Mustard.

In closing I must first and foremost thank each Lovehammer Billy, Bobby, Dino and Marty for keeping it real and making these fantastic and intimate small headline shows possible. I only hope I can see another one soon! Also, a very special THANK YOU to Randy, Dan and Jeremy for your dedication and skills on the road that help make this magic happen Shout out to all my hammerhead friends around this planet, I LOVE YOU ALL...

Scott aka the Hammerbeast Cameron

SET LIST:
Straight As An Arrow
Call of Distress
Real Man
Ultrasound
Throw My Head
Clinic
Hold On
The Riddle
Ring of Fire
Eyes Can't See
Rain on the Brain
Paint It Black
Low-Life Insurance (Let's Get Wasted)
Trees
Encore:
Tunnel
This Town

Thank you so much, Scott, for your report and pictures!