When Hatebreed’s management called us to push the interview time forward, and then pretty much fucked it off without a phone call back, Dallas and I were left with only one option:

I can’t remember the last time I built a fort, but it probably was not nearly as epic as this particular fort. The best part about it, though, was the fact that we built it right in the office’s entry-way, and every person who came in had to climb over the cushion-less couch.

Our CEO Bill Fishkin:

Armed For Apocalypse drummer Nick Harris:

Synthesis Editor and Candy Apple frontman Jacob Sprecher:

The list goes on. Me, I would have just knocked the stupid thing over. Luckily, the rest of the office fears my wrath, and nothing would stir my wrath more than knockin over my fucking badass fort. See the front? It has gun turrets! Halliburton could learn a thing or two here.

UPDATE: Hatebreed just fucked off the second interview time (rescheduled for 8:00, fingers crossed). In the meantime, blueprints to rebuild the fort are quickly being drawn up. Emerald City look out.

UPDATE #2: Jamey from Hatebreed is way nice. My new fort is even nicer.

With their new album Heretic Pride slated for a February 19th release, The Mountain Goats have announced their West Coast tour dates. IMHO, the Goats’ We Shall All Be Healed was my favorite album of 2004, thanks in part to the production work of John Vanderslice (whose Emerald City is on the short list of my favorite albums of 2007 and is pictured above with Mountain Goats frontman/songwriter John Darnielle). Check them out live and hear Darnielle give manic point-of-reference descriptions of what his songs are about.

Joining the Mountain Goats for most of the dates will be Jeffrey Lewis & The Jitters.

February
19 Anchorage, AK - TBA
22 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard’s on Richards
23 Seattle, WA - Neumos
25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
26 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
27 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
29 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo’s 365 Club

March
1 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
2 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
4 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
5 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour