Photos From Yesterday’s Make It Count Contest & Mike Vallely / By The Sword Show.

Yesterday was a jammed packed day beginning at 8 AM. I was up early to pick up the rental van to haul around band gear for tonight’s show then I was off to Mike V’s pad for the ride up to Delano, CA. Mike was heading up to Delano to meet up with most of the Element team for the next stop in their “Make It Count” contest series. The turn out for the contest was huge and all the kids were ripping. Fun times all around and I think it was a total of 6 hours spent in the car on the drive back and forth from Long Beach.

Later that night it was time for Mike Vallely / By The Sword’s fourth show at the Rhythm Lounge in downtown Long Beach. The tribute sets the band has been performing have been really well received and I think last night show was the best one yet. The crowd ate it up! Can’t wait for the next one.

As always, I bring you a photo play-by-play of some of the days events. Enjoy.


Heading up to Delano, CA, Mike V mans the wheel.


Cruising though the Grapevine.


Mandatory stop at Panda Express on the other side of the Grapevine. I caught Mike checking Twitter on his iPhone.


Arrived at the contest… DeWitt, Chad Tim Tim, Nick Garcia and Darrell Stanton checking out all the action.


Mike draws a crowd from the local skaters…


…and begins fulfilling requests for autographs. Signing boards…


…t-shirts…


…and even shoes.


Delano Skatepark overview.


Todd Larson mc’ing and announcing the contest.


MF gets the footy while the Muska gets the kids hyped!


DeWitt and Kirk Dianda.


Nick Garcia, Levi Brown, Mike V, Chad Tim Tim and The Muska with the contest winners.


The Muska and Mike V.


We had to bail out of the contest a bit early to head back to Long Beach to gear up for tonight’s Mike Vallely / By The Sword show. Here I am fueling up for the ride home with an assortment of Chewy Sprees and a tall boy of Coke.


E Street Radio kept us entertained for most of the drive home. Erie Canal… shout out to Fritton. Fifteen miles…


Flash forward a few hours and here’s the Master Of Disaster, Duane Peters and Mike V.


Here’s Mike Vallely / By The Sword kicking off their set. Each show has been better and better and tonight was no exception.


Colin Buis on the bass!


The hyped crowd singing along!


Duane Peters once again joined the band on stage for Wasted, Nervous Breakdown and Rise Above. So sick!


Head on my shoulders!!!


Colin’s girlfriend, Christine Doan joined the band for “We Are 138.”


The night finished off with a couple of Minor Threat tunes and “Runaway Train” by Revolution Mother. And once again, the set flew by in what seemed like a matter of minutes.

After the gig, it was load out time, late night dinner excursion and with last night’s daylight savings, my head hit the pillows at 4:30 am.

ATTN: SO CAL! See Mike Vallely / By The Sword performing their Black Flag tribute set on April 10, 2010 at the OC Punk, Rock N Roll Picnic. At the Hidden Valley Park at Verizon in Irvine, CA.