Due to hotels' lack of reliable internet and an increasingly busy schedule, I fell behind and am now home.
Days Twenty-Seven through Thirty-Three were cut short due to tour being cut short and lack of funds.
View my set from SXSW here.
My set from Flying Machines' tour here.
And my set from New York here.
My ever-updated Flickr and Vimeo.
Wednesday
Days Eleven & Twelve: Iowa & Illinois
Tuesday, March 9th:
We pulled into Iowa City and immediately papered University of Iowa with flyers for the show that night at The Blue Moose. Luckily, the venue was a block from the campus, so we didn't have to venture far. Then after eating at Breugger's Bagels, we loaded in and I sat behind a drum kit for the first time in two weeks to sound check for Ken. I can't wait to get back to Fresno and play with Antinovella again.
We waited for over three hours for the show to start (two hours late) and Ryan and I did so by playing Big Buck Hunter Pro and enjoying two-dollar tall drafts. I also ran into one of the bartenders who we had talked to the day before about load-in times, etcetera and had to take a picture of her tattoo:
The band, again, did great, even though they played for the opening act and bartenders. Sometimes, though, those are the best shows.
After the show I talked at length with Jason the Door Guy about hardcore and how it's changed, our love of ETID and Terror, and being in bands and not sounding anything like who you listen to. It was a good night. When we finally left the club we drove three hours to Peoria, Illinois and checked in for the night.
Wednesday, March 10th:
Another day off meant laying around, walking the city in search of food and toiletries, and trolling Fail Blog. We lucked out and got two Hot Spot cards (as you can only use one per IP) and got a second night comped. After I went for a walk and got lost (being in a shopping center two miles away from Evan and John with the exact same stores and landmarks), we went to Perkin's Diner and I had amazing grilled shrimp and broccoli risotto. Full and bored, we went back to the hotel for the night and rented The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was very good. Heath Ledger did amazing (I would be curious to know how it would have turned out if he hadn't passed before finishing shooting) and I really enjoyed Tom Waits as the devil.
All-in-all it was a pretty lazy day and can't wait to get back on the road. Tomorrow is St. Louis, Missouri.
We pulled into Iowa City and immediately papered University of Iowa with flyers for the show that night at The Blue Moose. Luckily, the venue was a block from the campus, so we didn't have to venture far. Then after eating at Breugger's Bagels, we loaded in and I sat behind a drum kit for the first time in two weeks to sound check for Ken. I can't wait to get back to Fresno and play with Antinovella again.
We waited for over three hours for the show to start (two hours late) and Ryan and I did so by playing Big Buck Hunter Pro and enjoying two-dollar tall drafts. I also ran into one of the bartenders who we had talked to the day before about load-in times, etcetera and had to take a picture of her tattoo:
The band, again, did great, even though they played for the opening act and bartenders. Sometimes, though, those are the best shows.
After the show I talked at length with Jason the Door Guy about hardcore and how it's changed, our love of ETID and Terror, and being in bands and not sounding anything like who you listen to. It was a good night. When we finally left the club we drove three hours to Peoria, Illinois and checked in for the night.
Wednesday, March 10th:
Another day off meant laying around, walking the city in search of food and toiletries, and trolling Fail Blog. We lucked out and got two Hot Spot cards (as you can only use one per IP) and got a second night comped. After I went for a walk and got lost (being in a shopping center two miles away from Evan and John with the exact same stores and landmarks), we went to Perkin's Diner and I had amazing grilled shrimp and broccoli risotto. Full and bored, we went back to the hotel for the night and rented The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was very good. Heath Ledger did amazing (I would be curious to know how it would have turned out if he hadn't passed before finishing shooting) and I really enjoyed Tom Waits as the devil.
All-in-all it was a pretty lazy day and can't wait to get back on the road. Tomorrow is St. Louis, Missouri.
Monday
Days Nine & Ten: Minnesota Nice
Sunday, March 7th:
First day off in Minneapolis. Slept in, lunch, and East Bound & Down. Uneventful and chill. Ryan, Evan, and I went to Throwbacks for a nightcap and were welcomed with two-for-one tall draughts, and so Newcastles and Winter Ales abounded. Now here's the kicker: Never fall asleep before everyone else. This is Evan:
Monday, March 8th:
We woke up, checked out, and hit the nearest laundromat. I got some great photos in the time we were there. Laundry in the midwest:
Then we hit the road towards Iowa. It was a long drive, to say the least. Despite getting lost in the fog, trying to find a restroom, and finding a Walmart amidst the severance, I was mesmerized by the road.
Ryan's a sweating vampire:
And sometimes we read:
So we got to Iowa City in time to hit the fast food, finish East Bound & Down season one, and play Apples to Apples (with extraordinary results). After tomorrow's show at The Blue Moose, so begins our trek to St. Louis after a day off.
And finally, a shot of the weather in Iowa; The frozen hotel pool:
First day off in Minneapolis. Slept in, lunch, and East Bound & Down. Uneventful and chill. Ryan, Evan, and I went to Throwbacks for a nightcap and were welcomed with two-for-one tall draughts, and so Newcastles and Winter Ales abounded. Now here's the kicker: Never fall asleep before everyone else. This is Evan:
Monday, March 8th:
We woke up, checked out, and hit the nearest laundromat. I got some great photos in the time we were there. Laundry in the midwest:
Then we hit the road towards Iowa. It was a long drive, to say the least. Despite getting lost in the fog, trying to find a restroom, and finding a Walmart amidst the severance, I was mesmerized by the road.
Ryan's a sweating vampire:
And sometimes we read:
So we got to Iowa City in time to hit the fast food, finish East Bound & Down season one, and play Apples to Apples (with extraordinary results). After tomorrow's show at The Blue Moose, so begins our trek to St. Louis after a day off.
And finally, a shot of the weather in Iowa; The frozen hotel pool:
Sunday
Day Eight: Minneapolis
Saturday, March 6th:
The drive through Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota was beautiful:
Boring, but beautiful:
We pulled into Minneapolis around 8pm and after getting harassed by an over-zealous parking lot owner, unloaded the equipment at the Nomad World Pub. The venue was long and spacious with a raised stage and basement greenroom. The staff hooked up a case of PBR tall cans for the four bands that played that night and the basement is where we hung out for the majority of the evening.
The bands that played with Flying Machines were The Chelsea Boys, The Van Gobots, and Say Like The French Say. Out of all of them, The Van Gobots really stood out to me, reminding me a lot of Minus The Bear. All the bands being from MPLS, I enjoyed talking with them about local artists P.O.S. and the Doomtree Crew and The Plastic Constellations. Ryan, of course, gushed about Prince. Flying Machines once again put on a solid performance.
I'm having so much fun, but I miss home. We have two days off then it's Iowa City. And so it goes...
The drive through Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota was beautiful:
Boring, but beautiful:
We pulled into Minneapolis around 8pm and after getting harassed by an over-zealous parking lot owner, unloaded the equipment at the Nomad World Pub. The venue was long and spacious with a raised stage and basement greenroom. The staff hooked up a case of PBR tall cans for the four bands that played that night and the basement is where we hung out for the majority of the evening.
The bands that played with Flying Machines were The Chelsea Boys, The Van Gobots, and Say Like The French Say. Out of all of them, The Van Gobots really stood out to me, reminding me a lot of Minus The Bear. All the bands being from MPLS, I enjoyed talking with them about local artists P.O.S. and the Doomtree Crew and The Plastic Constellations. Ryan, of course, gushed about Prince. Flying Machines once again put on a solid performance.
I'm having so much fun, but I miss home. We have two days off then it's Iowa City. And so it goes...
Saturday
Day Seven: Chicago & Flying Machines
Friday, March 5th:
Arrived in O'hare at 3:45pm. At 5:30 I decided to take a cab to the venue. The band hadn't accounted for Chicago's horrific traffic. Seven miles and 37 minutes later, I arrived at Martyrs'. This venue is legit. Two full bars, dining area, greenroom upstairs with shower, free food (I had a delicious black bean burger), and bar tab. This is where I'd be on a Friday night if I lived here.
Finally, after two poorly booked acoustic/folk acts, Flying Machines took the stage. Having never seen them live before, they completely blew my mind.
I didn't get time to see the city, sadly. But so goes the downside of touring. Next stop Minneapolis, MN.
Arrived in O'hare at 3:45pm. At 5:30 I decided to take a cab to the venue. The band hadn't accounted for Chicago's horrific traffic. Seven miles and 37 minutes later, I arrived at Martyrs'. This venue is legit. Two full bars, dining area, greenroom upstairs with shower, free food (I had a delicious black bean burger), and bar tab. This is where I'd be on a Friday night if I lived here.
Finally, after two poorly booked acoustic/folk acts, Flying Machines took the stage. Having never seen them live before, they completely blew my mind.
I didn't get time to see the city, sadly. But so goes the downside of touring. Next stop Minneapolis, MN.
Thursday
Day Six: The Bronx & The NY Skyline
Woke up and went back to the now familiar Rockefeller Center for lunch at Dervish and had some amazing penne pasta with eggplant. We then went to Bronx to (expectingly) tour Edgar Allan Poe's cottage. Sadly, it's only open Saturdays and Sundays (I'll be back for sure), but I got some great photos anyway. It's truly amazing how preserved it is. He lived out the last three years of his life in this shack. I'm a little jealous.
I then walked the Bronx streets and very much fell in love. The character in the monotony of the buildings is inspiring.
Next stop was New York Botanical Gradens.
Among the park preserve landscape was Haupt Conservatory.
The current exhibit was The Orchid Show, which I was happy to observe.
The final stop of the night (and my last in New York before I meet Flying Machines in Chicago for their SXSW tour) was the NBC Experience at Rockefeller Center. The view was amazing.
In short, New York makes me smile.
I then walked the Bronx streets and very much fell in love. The character in the monotony of the buildings is inspiring.
Next stop was New York Botanical Gradens.
Among the park preserve landscape was Haupt Conservatory.
The current exhibit was The Orchid Show, which I was happy to observe.
The final stop of the night (and my last in New York before I meet Flying Machines in Chicago for their SXSW tour) was the NBC Experience at Rockefeller Center. The view was amazing.
In short, New York makes me smile.
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