Mac Chatterbox vs Speak Louder: The Ultimate Showdown

As a fan of underground music, you've probably heard about the legendary tour days where bands would hit the road, playing shows in every city they could get to. For those who have been lucky enough to experience it firsthand, the memories are etched forever in our minds like a claw hammer pounding away at a drumhead. But for those who haven't, let me tell you - it's not all about the music.

In the spring of 1993, I had the privilege of embarking on a two-month journey as the road manager, driver, and merch seller for the band Claw Hammer. This Los Angeles-based outfit was made up of talented musicians who were eager to share their sound with the world. And boy, did they ever.

I remember one particular show in Tulsa that drew six paying customers - an impressive turnout, if I do say so myself. But what made it even more special was the fact that three of those attendees were members of the Flaming Lips, another iconic band that was making waves in the music scene at the time.

As someone with zero musical talent (although I did try to pretend otherwise), I felt like a fifth wheel among the four band members. There was the guy who settled up with the club booker, the one who drove the van, the merch expert who taped t-shirts and CDs to the wall behind the table, and Peter Davis from Creature Booking, who made sure our shows were still on schedule.

Claw Hammer had recently come off a supporting tour with Mudhoney and had a new record out on Epitaph Records, run by Brett from Bad Religion. The energy was electric as we crisscrossed North America, playing shows in cities like Des Moines, Baton Rouge, Wichita, and Montreal.

I'd spent 60 days living in an Econoline van, traveling the US of A and a bit of Canada, and it was all I could do not to quit my job at Monster Cable as a customer service rep. But alas, my sabbatical ended up being short-lived, and I returned to my corporate life.

Looking back, those two months on the road were some of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. It was exhilarating to be part of the underground music scene, even if I wasn't the one creating the music. And who knows? Maybe someday, Claw Hammer will make a comeback, and we'll get to relive those wild and crazy days all over again.

Until then, Mac Chatterbox vs Speak Louder - it's not just about the bands; it's about the people who come together to create something truly special.

Mac chatterbox vs speak louder