2009
February 13, 2009
The Doll Hut
Anaheim, CA
Headline Act: Psychostar
Opening Act: Angus Khan
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
"Stripper Theme" Intro Tape
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
Holding just 50 people, The Doll Hut is by far the smallest venue WITCH has ever played (photo at right by Mike 'Ozzy' Gibbens). 
But, this was also one of their most fun shows. With a history that goes back nearly as long as WITCH, The Doll Hut has been the punk venue in Orange County for more than two decades, playing host to bands like SOCIAL DISTORTION, JANE'S ADDICTION, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, ADOLESCENTS, and lots more. Your living room is probably bigger than the whole club, so imagine sticking a stage in the corner and a bar in the middle and you have the Hut. This was WITCH's first Anaheim gig in exactly 20 years. When Punky lit the torches at the beginning of the show the bartender/club manager grabbed her head with both hands in shock, then threw her hands in the air as if to say "OK, what the hell!" Punky began dressing like a Catholic School girl starting with this show. Headlining band PSYCHOSTAR have their own Punky on guitar and vocals.
But, this was also one of their most fun shows. With a history that goes back nearly as long as WITCH, The Doll Hut has been the punk venue in Orange County for more than two decades, playing host to bands like SOCIAL DISTORTION, JANE'S ADDICTION, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, ADOLESCENTS, and lots more. Your living room is probably bigger than the whole club, so imagine sticking a stage in the corner and a bar in the middle and you have the Hut. This was WITCH's first Anaheim gig in exactly 20 years. When Punky lit the torches at the beginning of the show the bartender/club manager grabbed her head with both hands in shock, then threw her hands in the air as if to say "OK, what the hell!" Punky began dressing like a Catholic School girl starting with this show. Headlining band PSYCHOSTAR have their own Punky on guitar and vocals.
February 14, 2009
Paladino's
Tarzana, CA
Co-Headlining Act: Spiders & Snakes
Opening Acts: The Premises, The Perfect Stranger, Revolution Kill Pill
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
"Stripper Theme" Intro Tape
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
After an excellent show the night before, tonight's show was musically a little rough. (photo at right by Heavy Metal Mary). However, some songs--particularly "(No More) Suffering In Silence" and "Hit the Road"--were very good. This was supposed to be a co-headlining show with a reunited LONDON, but guitarist/co-founder Lizzie Grey pulled the plug on that band a week earlier. Instead, his solo band SPIDERS AND SNAKES closed the night.
On March 24 Betsy's interview with Kenny Pick on the "Turn Up the Night" podcast began airing.
April 18, 2009
The Black Castle
Los Angeles, CA
Headlining Act: Abattoir
Opening Acts: Winterthall, Phantom Armada, Taking Over, Advent
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
A great show for the band at a venue usually played by black/death metal groups, located not far from the L.A. Forum. Fans traveled from as far away as New Mexico and the place was packed. An intro tape was not used. "Damnation" was considered as the opener, but the band opted for the heavier "Nervous Wreck."
April 19, 2009
The Cat Club
Hollywood, CA
SET LIST:
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
WITCH's first show on the Sunset Strip in exactly 20 years. As is typical with Hollywood clubs these days, the band had to use the house backline, and they were not allowed to use torches, intro tape, special effects, or even the WITCH banner. And because of the placement of the house backline, for the first time ever Ronny played on stage right and Jim played on stage left. Although some cell phone camera footage was shot, a complete recording of this show is not known to exist.
In June, an amicable split was made between Ronny and WITCH. After a brief search, Geoff Gayer--founding member of LEATHERWOLF and an old friend of Punky and Jim's--was chosen as the new guitarist.
On August 9, Geoff rehearsed with WITCH for the first time at a studio in Garden Grove, and the band ran
through the set twice. This was the first time Punky and Geoff had played together since the first incarnation of LEATHERWOLF 29 years earlier back in 1980 (LEATHERWOLF was one of Punky's very first bands), and Jim played with Geoff at least once back in 1991 when he auditioned for LEATHERWOLF. Famed photographer Heavy Metal Mary was on hand at the rehearsal to capture the first pictures of the new lineup (left).
August 15, 2009
The Black Castle
Los Angeles, CA
Opening Acts: Ruthless, Resistance, Gallow's End, Ninth Circle
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
"Pricking Of My Thumbs"/Organ Intro
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
I'm No Rainbow
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
WITCH returned to the Black Castle for their first headlining show since their reunion nearly one year ago (photos at right and below by Heavy Metal Mary). A big night for the band filled with many firsts: Geoff Gayer's first show with WITCH; their first show with RUTHLESS since 1988; for the first time ever WITCH had an all-female road crew (the way it should've always been!); and the
biggest first of all: the live debut of a brand new WITCH song--"I'm No Rainbow"--written and sung by Jim. Punky again used the torches at the top of the show, but he did not throw out DAMNATION CDs from a lunchbox during the band introductions as he had at previous shows. The band couldn't have been happier with Geoff's performance and look forward to many more shows with him. Besides the club-cam recording, a professional video crew was on hand to video--at least--"I'm No Rainbow," and they possibly recorded more of the show, as well.
On September 28, Punky and Kelsey were married at the court house in Santa Ana, California.
December 31, 2009
The Doll Hut
Anaheim, CA
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
"Are You Ready" Intro Tape
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Keep The Light On
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
I'm No Rainbow
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Nervous Wreck
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
WITCH ended 2009 the way they began it: with a show at the tiny Doll Hut. The show started in a unique way, with the band taking the stage to a recording of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's "Are You Ready," a song WITCH performed live a few times back in 1985. Tonight's set list also saw the inclusion of the old WITCH favorite, "Keep the Light On," a song they had not performed since January 16, 1988. Punky's costume for the evening was a nurse's uniform, after having retired the Catholic school girl outfit following the August 15 Black Castle show. There was another unique element to this show: the band allowed me to play guitar with them on "1:45." (photo below by Mike 'Ozzy' Gibbens) Earlier in the month Jim and Punky asked me if I would like to play, and of course I said yes. I chose "1:45" as the
song and we rehearsed it on December 30. This put me in some pretty good company because WITCH has only allowed two other people to 'jam' with them in their career: Tommy Lee and Lita Ford. Needless to say it was an honor for me to play with Jim, Punky, Betsy, and Geoff, and I can't thank them enough! Fullerton punk legend Rikk Agnew and his band POOP were scheduled to close the evening--and bring in the New Year onstage at midnight--but Rikk phoned the Doll Hut in the middle of WITCH's set and canceled, saying he was too ill to play. This made WITCH the only band on the bill. They took the stage at 10:10pm, and during Betsy's intro of "Take Me Away," the Doll Hut sound man grabbed a mic and announced that POOP would not be playing. WITCH stretched their set out as best they could, staying on stage for over 65 minutes.
****************************************************************
On February 14, 2010, Ronny Too picked up his amps and guitars from storage at Jim's garage. Punky was also there and the three hung out for a few hours. At the end of the day Ronny took his gear back to Idaho.
On May 31 Punky and Geoff debuted their new classic rock cover band NO DRESS CODE. The band played three sets over six hours on an outdoor stage at the Street Fair in Orange, California. The band lineup featured Punky on drums, Geoff on guitar, Bino McMann on bass, and "Cowboy" Dave on vocals.
NO DRESS CODE played their second show on July 1. Punky, Geoff, Bino, and vocalist Karl Detken played a five-song set at Perqs in Huntington Beach, California. It was the first time these four friends had played together since 1980. And to make things even more ironic, the Perqs sound engineer was former AMPAGE guitarist and Punky bandmate Henry Stone. The set list was as follows:
Whole Lotta Love
Tush
Tie Your Mother Down
Man In the Box
Rock On/We Will Rock You
NO DRESS CODE played Perqs in Huntington Beach again on July 15. Featuring the same lineup as the July 1 gig, the set list was as follows:
Tie Your Mother Down
Tush
You Really Got Me
Rock On/We Will Rock You
Rock and Roll All Nite
Two Tickets To Paradise
Eleanor Rigby
I Wanna Be Sedated (Geoff on lead vocals)
Whole Lotta Love
On August 4 NO DRESS CODE played again at Perqs with the same lineup. The set list was:
You Really Got Me
Rock On/We Will Rock You
I Wanna Be Sedated
Tush
Eleanor Rigby
Tie Your Mother Down
Rock and Roll All Nite
Play That Funky Music
Brick House Rock
Whole Lotta Love
On March 24 Betsy's interview with Kenny Pick on the "Turn Up the Night" podcast began airing.
April 18, 2009
The Black Castle
Los Angeles, CA
Headlining Act: Abattoir
Opening Acts: Winterthall, Phantom Armada, Taking Over, Advent
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
A great show for the band at a venue usually played by black/death metal groups, located not far from the L.A. Forum. Fans traveled from as far away as New Mexico and the place was packed. An intro tape was not used. "Damnation" was considered as the opener, but the band opted for the heavier "Nervous Wreck."
April 19, 2009
The Cat Club
Hollywood, CA
SET LIST:
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
WITCH's first show on the Sunset Strip in exactly 20 years. As is typical with Hollywood clubs these days, the band had to use the house backline, and they were not allowed to use torches, intro tape, special effects, or even the WITCH banner. And because of the placement of the house backline, for the first time ever Ronny played on stage right and Jim played on stage left. Although some cell phone camera footage was shot, a complete recording of this show is not known to exist.
In June, an amicable split was made between Ronny and WITCH. After a brief search, Geoff Gayer--founding member of LEATHERWOLF and an old friend of Punky and Jim's--was chosen as the new guitarist.
On August 9, Geoff rehearsed with WITCH for the first time at a studio in Garden Grove, and the band ran
through the set twice. This was the first time Punky and Geoff had played together since the first incarnation of LEATHERWOLF 29 years earlier back in 1980 (LEATHERWOLF was one of Punky's very first bands), and Jim played with Geoff at least once back in 1991 when he auditioned for LEATHERWOLF. Famed photographer Heavy Metal Mary was on hand at the rehearsal to capture the first pictures of the new lineup (left).August 15, 2009
The Black Castle
Los Angeles, CA
Opening Acts: Ruthless, Resistance, Gallow's End, Ninth Circle
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
"Pricking Of My Thumbs"/Organ Intro
Nervous Wreck
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
I'm No Rainbow
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
WITCH returned to the Black Castle for their first headlining show since their reunion nearly one year ago (photos at right and below by Heavy Metal Mary). A big night for the band filled with many firsts: Geoff Gayer's first show with WITCH; their first show with RUTHLESS since 1988; for the first time ever WITCH had an all-female road crew (the way it should've always been!); and the
biggest first of all: the live debut of a brand new WITCH song--"I'm No Rainbow"--written and sung by Jim. Punky again used the torches at the top of the show, but he did not throw out DAMNATION CDs from a lunchbox during the band introductions as he had at previous shows. The band couldn't have been happier with Geoff's performance and look forward to many more shows with him. Besides the club-cam recording, a professional video crew was on hand to video--at least--"I'm No Rainbow," and they possibly recorded more of the show, as well.On September 28, Punky and Kelsey were married at the court house in Santa Ana, California.
The Doll Hut
Anaheim, CA
Archived: Video
SET LIST:
"Are You Ready" Intro Tape
Cinderella (In Black Leather)
Keep The Light On
Damnation
(No More) Suffering In Silence
I'm No Rainbow
Hit the Road
Take Me Away
1:45
Nervous Wreck
Bewitched
Wet n Wild
WITCH ended 2009 the way they began it: with a show at the tiny Doll Hut. The show started in a unique way, with the band taking the stage to a recording of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's "Are You Ready," a song WITCH performed live a few times back in 1985. Tonight's set list also saw the inclusion of the old WITCH favorite, "Keep the Light On," a song they had not performed since January 16, 1988. Punky's costume for the evening was a nurse's uniform, after having retired the Catholic school girl outfit following the August 15 Black Castle show. There was another unique element to this show: the band allowed me to play guitar with them on "1:45." (photo below by Mike 'Ozzy' Gibbens) Earlier in the month Jim and Punky asked me if I would like to play, and of course I said yes. I chose "1:45" as the
song and we rehearsed it on December 30. This put me in some pretty good company because WITCH has only allowed two other people to 'jam' with them in their career: Tommy Lee and Lita Ford. Needless to say it was an honor for me to play with Jim, Punky, Betsy, and Geoff, and I can't thank them enough! Fullerton punk legend Rikk Agnew and his band POOP were scheduled to close the evening--and bring in the New Year onstage at midnight--but Rikk phoned the Doll Hut in the middle of WITCH's set and canceled, saying he was too ill to play. This made WITCH the only band on the bill. They took the stage at 10:10pm, and during Betsy's intro of "Take Me Away," the Doll Hut sound man grabbed a mic and announced that POOP would not be playing. WITCH stretched their set out as best they could, staying on stage for over 65 minutes. ****************************************************************
On February 14, 2010, Ronny Too picked up his amps and guitars from storage at Jim's garage. Punky was also there and the three hung out for a few hours. At the end of the day Ronny took his gear back to Idaho.
On May 31 Punky and Geoff debuted their new classic rock cover band NO DRESS CODE. The band played three sets over six hours on an outdoor stage at the Street Fair in Orange, California. The band lineup featured Punky on drums, Geoff on guitar, Bino McMann on bass, and "Cowboy" Dave on vocals.
NO DRESS CODE played their second show on July 1. Punky, Geoff, Bino, and vocalist Karl Detken played a five-song set at Perqs in Huntington Beach, California. It was the first time these four friends had played together since 1980. And to make things even more ironic, the Perqs sound engineer was former AMPAGE guitarist and Punky bandmate Henry Stone. The set list was as follows:
Whole Lotta Love
Tush
Tie Your Mother Down
Man In the Box
Rock On/We Will Rock You
NO DRESS CODE played Perqs in Huntington Beach again on July 15. Featuring the same lineup as the July 1 gig, the set list was as follows:
Tie Your Mother Down
Tush
You Really Got Me
Rock On/We Will Rock You
Rock and Roll All Nite
Two Tickets To Paradise
Eleanor Rigby
I Wanna Be Sedated (Geoff on lead vocals)
Whole Lotta Love
On August 4 NO DRESS CODE played again at Perqs with the same lineup. The set list was:
You Really Got Me
Rock On/We Will Rock You
I Wanna Be Sedated
Tush
Eleanor Rigby
Tie Your Mother Down
Rock and Roll All Nite
Play That Funky Music
Brick House Rock
Whole Lotta Love