"New Yorkers really like San Diego music"

"New Yorkers really like San Diego music," says Grams guitarist Chuck Schiele, who has played or promoted around a dozen NYC shows during the past year. "They came. They clapped. They bought CDs. All the New York musicians have the impression that we have a very healthy music scene."

Schiele has booked several SoCal bands at famed Gotham venues such as the Bitter End, Kenny's Castaways (where Joey Ramone met Dee Dee Ramone at a NY Dolls concert), the C Note (now closed), and CBGB, which will probably close in October when its lease is up. "The peeps at that club are all cool and nice but seem a little on edge," says Schiele. "I think they've grown just as tired of the 'future of CBGB' question as they are of 'what does [marquee sign] OMFUG mean?' But they still buy me drinks and they always record my set...."

The Grams appear at Lestat's in Normal Heights on May 28.