The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Sorta)

October 25, 2010

What’s up animals??? With Halloween rearing it’s latex & Karo syrupy head, I just really want to share a few things with y’all.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Most of us in City Zoo are HUGE sports fans. 2 us went to LSU, 4 of us are in multiple fantasy football leagues and 3 of us are part of a group that splits 4 season tickets to Hornets games. We went completely batshit crazy when the Saints won Super Bowl 44. Rory got so excited, he went out for the team! We screamed and hollered when LSU tasted National Championship goodness in ’07. We also basked in a awesomeness of Chris Paul in the ’08 Playoffs.

Our game faces look something like this...

So logically, with football season in full swing on both the college and pro levels, and basketball season right around the corner, this makes for the greatest sports watching time period all year!

You may have noticed that there is no mention of baseball. This will be the last mention of baseball.

What watching Fox coverage of baseball is like

Let’s do a little breakdown on our outlook in Louisiana Sports:

The Big Teams:

New Orleans Saints: 4-3 (Only ahead of Carolina in NFC South)

LSU: 7-1 (The most vilified #12 team ever)

New Orleans Hornets 1-7 (Preseason)

I’m not saying I’m concerned. What I’m saying is this: This Fall/Winter has the potential to be one of the most awesome times for Louisiana sports. Here’s why:

The Saints have not played their best football. As we all like to think, it’s obvious. The Saints are having a Super Bowl “Hangover.” What does this mean for the rest of the season? It means they have to practice. A lot. Execution is horrible. Penalties, turnovers and protection/lane assignments are what is killing this team. Having this “hangover” and coming out of it 4-3 without Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sharper, Scott Shanle, Tracy Porter, and for now Jabari Greer is still damn fine. Think about what happens when the Saints decide to play 4 quarters after a full week of solid fundamental practice. Not to mention get guys back and healthy.  It’s scary. You get that Tampa Bay game. Maybe even better when people heal. My biggest concern right now is the O-line. COACH ‘EM UP!!!

I know y'all are bigger than me. I'm still calling you out. Even I could have gotten around you on Sunday!

LSU have not played their best football either. We all know the issues with Les Miles v Media, Jordan Jefferson v. Jared Lee, etc, etc. They lost this weekend to what looks like the Heisman trophy winner. What the hell is Cam Newton going to do for an encore? If he enters the NFL draft, what position will he play? You ever seen a 6’6″ 250 dude barreling at you from a backfield? Think Brandon Jacobs, but awesome. Anyway, if LSU and Miles pauses long enough during this off week and takes their collective head out of their ass, they may realize that they went with the #1 team in the country all but 5 minutes of the game. That’s something to build on. That’s something you can beat Alabama with.

Please remove head from ass...love, CZ

The Hornets end up 1-7. It’s preseason, man. They played less than a half of basketball with their projected starting line-up. With the exception of DWest, the guys are healthy, and if they can move Peja & his salary before the deadline, we become a prime candidate for some free agents in the new CBA-era next season. This team is going to sneak up on people. Seriously.

I'm talking to you Trevor. Time to get sneaky...

Speaking of CBA’s…

Both the NBA & the NFL have managed to create the largest potential screw-over in the history of sport. This time next year, we could very well not have either sport, be watching walkons and scrubs playing, or be forced to watch Tim McCarver get more champagne dumped on him.

No pic. Just sayin…

The NBA wants to cut a third of its salary and hasn’t ruled out cutting teams.

The NFL wants to continue stiffing current & former players who gave up their physical well being for the most watched form of entertainment on the planet.

Both sports claim there will be seasons next year. But who knows??? I’m sure there will be a plethora of extra insight once each respective season is over.

But for now, all I can and want to do is be a sports fan in Southern Louisiana. I’ll settle for The Saints at home on my couch, & The Hornets up close (as close as the 300 level can bring me) and personal for 20 games. I’ll be the guy cheering and yelling.

Seriously…

See you at the Hive on Wednesday & don’t forget -

ST from CZ


Post Shows & New Shows

August 8, 2010

First off, let me start by saying it’s mighty damn awesome to have football back! I really can’t wait for the whole world to refer to the New Orleans Saints as “Defending Champions” for an entire season. It’s so good to say that. But anyway, we have some news to report.

Last week, we played Upstairs at The Maison w/ LOVEHOG and THE SWIP. We all had such a damn good time, I’m sure we’ll be doing that lineup again in the future. Thanks to all the wonderful people who came out to the show – without you guys, it’s no where near as much fun! Here’s a few of shots from the show!

All of us in our sweaty glory.

Rory doing badass things to that guitar...

Jeff behind the kit...shirtless.

Nick & Pete, being Rock Gods...

Thank you Kate Barkmann for taking the photos!!!

That does it for the post show stuff. Now we have some new shows to announce:

September 3rdONE EYED JACKS! We’re opening for GIVERS & CADDYWHOMPUS. The whole shindig starts at 10 so get there early to catch us!

September 4thBAYOU PARK BAR! We’ll be playing with THE GREEN GENES and AUTOMATIC MEN.

This will be a huge-ass Labor Day Weekend Rock Extravaganza! We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you at both shows for a 2 day long party! Don’t worry, you’ll have Sunday and Monday to recover! Look for more updates soon (us cutting an EP/Album…who knows???)!!!

See you guys around…

ST from CZ


Somewhere in the Long & Winding Backyard of City Zoo

March 11, 2010

So there’s probably been a lot of you who’ve come on this site & been like, “WTF???” What happened to the posts?

We’ve all been doing some other things – Here’s how we’ve rolled:

Rory Callais

He's going out for the team...Seriously

Rory has been writing with The Green Genes, playing with Vox and the Hound, started his own underground fight club with his friend, Tyler, developed a cure for cancer but had to scrap it because the man wanted to charge for it, fighting terrorism (no, not with the Army. On his own, and with his bare hands.  Why?  Because he eats terrorism for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that’s freaking why), punching pedals, and convincing Christopher Nolan to do a third “Batman” film.

Sequel NOW, NOLAN!!!

With his leisure time Rory enjoys talking smack on Avatar (seriously, f**k James Cameron), writing a movie, preparing for grad school, breaking fingers (mostly his own), hunting wild elk in the smokey mountains, discerning the meaning of life from watching The Empire Strikes Back repeatedly, both schooling and punking bitches of all stripes, and spending time with his godchild, because everyone has a soft side.

Nicholas Hebert

Man of the City, Philanthropist, Gentleman, Fashionista

While finally pursuing his life-long dream of opening a school for kids “Who do calculus but can’t add good,” Nick’s world came to a screeching halt. While in the middle of inventing, “the perfect riff” – Nick’s beloved Ibanez (aka, Big Blue) gasped her last breath. Crushed, (both for the loss of the riff and the guitar) Nick organized and led an old fashioned jazz funeral through the streets of Old Gretna. Among the attendees were local prominent beer vendors & a few cats. A writer for a “certain” publication referred to the ceremony as “The most touching thing since the last time I was detained by airport security.”

You're my girl, Blue!

Generally pissed off as a result, Nick decided to seriously abuse every guitar that comes into his possession by beating the living shit out of it. Giving them the ol’ Pete Townsend, if you will. For questions – Google: “Death and Destruction”, or “Blowing Shit Up.”

Scott Theriot (yeah, me.)

It's hot, right?

After burning my tongue severely on a piece of French Quarter Pizza, I basically took a vow of silence. Thrusting my eyeballs into the likes of Tolstoy, Ibsen, Dickens, and Bill Simmons, this not only slightly  improved my vocabulary, it flat out pissed me off!

Adopting the long forgotten monicker of “Mush Mouth,” I proceeded to train as an MC and bodyguard. That way I can pay myself to take out the fools that step in my grill (e? no e? Hmm. Decisions.). These days were simply grueling as I began a lengthy study under Diddy/Daddy/Puffy/Pdiddy Combs and Shug (Only an “s” away from a hug!) Knight.

...and from heaven, Biggie smiled

To while away the hours between tongue healing and badass gangsta training, I managed to make attempts to rival Nick in terms of guitar destroying, but only came up with a new way to scream words clearly with a bandaged tongue. I am now currently writing this from rehab as I’m getting over my love of gauze. I am still silent. I am still in quiet, badass gangsta mode.

All together, the three of us are petitioning the New Orleans Hornets to sign us each to a 10 day contract right around the time we play the Lakers. One of our feet – kobe’s knee. You get the picture.

So I guess you’re all thinking the same thing by now: Where the hell is my Pete Cassagne fix? Don’t worry ladies, we saved this one for you:

Pete Cassagne

Dr. Grooveslayer

While on break in Barbados, Dr. Grooveslayer had an epiphany. What was this epiphany? This epiphany was simply a mission. The mission? To make a better, stronger groove-laying machine that will not only lay any groove imaginable, but the sheer touching of a single string on it’s neck will cause clothing to instantly be removed. Cutting his stay at Larry Flint’s summer home short, he returned to his laboratory to create the ultimate beast. Using spare parts from speakers, weapons of mass destruction, and a spare toaster oven, Pete poured the last month into creating not only the baddest ass bass ever played upon, but he also somehow invented a machine that not only instantly cured world hunger but solved the budget crisis as a happy residual effect.

A gift for the entire world!

Satisfied with his new creation, Dr. Grooveslayer returned to Larry Flynt’s summer home just in time to celebrate his monthly magazine launch.

So there’s just a smattering of the activities that all of us at City Zoo have been involved in. Yes, we are writing new stuff. Yes, we are trying to find a drummer. Whenever we have more info to give, we’ll attempt to pass it on to you. Or if we just feel the need to give away more stuff. Until then, here’s a vid we shot at our last show with The Green Genes at Whiskey Dix. We stole their drummer, Chad Clements for the night. (Again, thanks Chad!) It’s our newest song so far called Something You Love to Hate.

If you’re diggin’ on this stuff and want more, look over to the right side of this page and scroll back up for links to Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, FREE MUSIC, etc, etc, etc. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>/\/\/\/\/\/\

(P.S. if you take all this stuff seriously, then I have some property in Florida you might want to look at.)

(P.P.S. Except Rory. It’s all true. That’s how he rolls.)

(P.P.P.S. Seriously.)

‘Till whenever we damn well please -

ST, NH, RC, & PC from CZ


Post Game Report

November 9, 2009

8 – friggin’ 0: I have to say, I’m mighty proud to be a Saints fan right now!

8-friggin 0

Not as happy as this guy - but you get the idea.

Anyways, all of us in City Zoo are mighty glad the game wasn’t until 3pm. The reason being, our batshit crazy show the night before at Whiskey Dix w/ Jak Locke & The War Office.

I have to say, I’m damn glad Whiskey Dix has that big honkin projector at their place because now all the bands that play there have some extra dimensions to play with in their sets. Both The War Office & Jak Locke played to the backdrop of the Mel Brooks film “Blazing Saddles”

blazing-saddles1

How the west was truly won...

So after many beers and the return of our pre-show shot, we decided to slap on a little video show of our own. Here’s a couple of the images we used.

The gubbonator

The Gubbonator (Always said w/ Austrian Accent)

Fire

You can't go wrong with fire @ a rock show!

Anyway, we had a blast Saturday night & we hope everyone who was there had as much fun as we did. Considering some parts of the show were a little hazy, then it may have been a good one. I’ve recently been told I was making rather odd noises b/t songs. If you’re around this fall, and you haven’t seen us yet, you probably should! More show dates to come! See you around.

ST from CZ


Calling all Saints & Sinners!!!

November 2, 2009

Sorry we haven’t posted anything in a while. With Halloween parties, Hornets starting their season, putting together a badass slide-show (catch us this weekend & you’ll see.) and the Saints being bad-ass juggernauts, it’s been hard to find the time.

Of course as most of us all know, the mighty Saints are playing the Falcons tonight on Monday Night Football. If you have cable – you should be watching it. If you don’t – you should be at someone’s house who does. Unless of course you’re in The Dome screaming your damn head off!!!

The Mighty Breesus!

WWDBD? Kick Atlanta's Ass!

Now that we’ve declared our allegiance to the Saints, we have a show to declare and scream about this week!

It’s Saturday @ Whiskey Dix w/ Jak Locke & The War Office here’s a flyer!

nov 7

Look, we all know Voodoo left you broke, busted, and bleeding, but hey, there’s no charge for this one! Yep. It’s FREE!!!! We’ll try to keep the bloodshed to a minimum…emphasis on TRY. The whole shindig starts around 9. We should be hitting the stage around 11/11:30. Come drink with us and watch Jak Locke and The War Office before!

Now some recording news – With W & Personal basically done, we’ve moved on to laying tracks for Eventually. All that’s left are some guitars and backing vocals. Things have been sounding awesome so far, so we promise, when this thing comes out, your faces will melt!

Indy Face-Melt

Yes, like this...Seriously

So now that we’ve ruined your lunch and have your attention, come down November 7th to Whiskey Dix and get the face-melting treatment 1st hand!


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