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Oakdale Brewing Company, Oakdale December 1st, 2001 We went off on one of our fieldtrips to see Built Like Alaska in their hometown of Oakdale. The Oakdale Brewing Company looks like it sounds with a vast expanse of well-lit wooden tables and giant stainless steel cisterns behind glass in the back. The stage is small but nicely elevated so you can see the bands even when you're doing sentry duty back at the bar. The best thing was that the sound was actually good, too. "I'm just happy to be playing in Oakdale", professed Neil, and BLA proved it by rocking through selected hits and assorted Xmas tunes. A nice IPA filled eve in the dale of Oak. (Ask Garner, he of double fisted glory!) If you talk to us about our Central Valley escapades, you surely heard mention of the Puffin' Billies. Jeff Mooneyham is the drummer, Josh Ryan plays percussion and banjo, Matt "Guitar Matt" Cordano is on slide, Dave Hanley plays guitar, and Taylor Webster's on bass. At the helm of this all this washboard thumpin' is Will Taylor. Way back about 100 years ago at our first Acoustic Jam, when we were sitting there nervously smiling at strangers and thinking we really needed to get back in the car and leave, Will was the first person to befriend us. He walked straight up outta nowhere, shook everyone's hand, pointed out where stuff was and invited us to throw around a football with him. We decided to stay. Anyhow, that's how we first got to check out the Billies, and we've been fans ever since. Hell, Squid digs mandolin, Daz adores slide, what's not to love? We were certainly not in the minority on this particular evening, either, as tables quickly got cleared away to make space for an impromptu dance party of seriously alcoholic proportions. Rumour has it that they continued to rock long after our pathetic, still-recovering, alcohol-poisoned asses (See: The Avalanches) were forced to call it an evening. --- Read our other Built Like Alaska reviews: December 8, 2001 @ Café du Nord November 11, 2001 @ Bimbo's 365 July 2, 2001 @ Great American Music Hall June 15, 2001 @ the Dirty Duck in Modesto May 29, 2001 @ the Dirty Duck March 20, 2001 @ Café du Nord |