After we all got back to our lodging, we devised a plan to shower and chill for a bit before setting out on foot for the evening. I made up a few maps for people, and gave them my number just incase something should arise where they need me or got lost getting back to the house.
I also took the time to scope out the SXSW pamphlet that provided info for most of the shows happening that night. After making a list of all the bands playing that I wanted to see, then cutting it down to a list of bands I really wanted to see. I was able to devise a nice course of action to take that evening. The line up was Cold War Kids, Amy Winehouse, Menomena. I'm sure there was some other bands tagged onto the beginning and end there, but I can't really remember.
I called up Angie since her and I were gonna be partners in crime that evening & have the same likes in music. She said she was gonna be late to CWK because she had to run back to the hotel with Astrid Swan (another Minty artist) to get her bag or something...actually now that I think about it I didnt call Angie at all...let's back track...
After devising a plan of action that evening, me and the band walked down to 6th street. They eventually took off to do their thing and I went over to some club on Congress to see Astrid Swan perform. I got there before everyone else which was a bit of a bummer, but eventually Angie, Astrid, Al, and Anthony showed up. Astrids' show was pretty cool, I love that song 'Old Fashioned Couple' of hers, real nice.
While watching the performance, this is actually when i narrowed down my list of possibly shows to see, Angie and i coordinated our schedules, and that's when we came up with the break down CWK, Amy, & Menomena. Angie also said there was a possibly Paris Hilton party that night where you had to say "foodsty"? to get into and there was a playboy shin-dig at 2am.
After Astrid played, Angie said she had to go back to her hotel to grab a bag of Astrid's or something, so I told her i'd just meet her at the cold war kids show. Good thing i did too. The line was really long, esp. for people who just have wristbands...see if you have a badge you can just waltz right in, which Angie and Al had the luxury of doing, but no matter I got a free wristband, so i'm not complaining, and I got to eat some free Ice Cream while waiting in line.
Eventually I got into the show. The venue was really big and there was probably like 2,000 people there to see CWK play. Angie and Al arrived later, but i didn't see them till after the show. It was kinda funny watching the band play, seeing as how I saw them at Johnny Brenda's in philly and the stage/venue was much smaller and here they were now in a much bigger place with lots of people watching them. They put on a good show. I believe some fellow musicians from other bands came out near the end of their set with brass horns to give the audience and extra juicy performance. i was only half paying attention at this point.
After the show I met up with Angie and Al. We made our way over to check out the situation regarding Amy Winehouse, well I did really, because I knew I'd have to stay in line much longer to wait to get in then Angie and Al. I got up near the front door of the venue and was bout to go in when I realized Amy got pushed back in the lline up, so i went on over to Buffalo Billards where Angie and Al were watching Menomena. I told them the situation regarding Amy and they were all drunk, haha. Also somewhere in the mix, my buddy, jonas was txtin me to meet up. Since I wasn't a huge Menomena fan...and I don't really think they'd gone on at that point anyways, I opted to go meet up with hiim and the rest of the teeth(jonas'band) at Malaga some irish pub down on 4th. I tried to get Angie to come too, but she was right satisfied where she was, bummer.
When I finally arrived down at Malaga's, there was an outdoor patio area and some swank indoor bar. I went inside the bar to first see if the boys were in there and get a drink. It was pretty empty, and the guys weren't there, but I decided to get a drink all the same. Two bad things happened at this point. 1. the bartender wouldn't give me a drink because they wanted to keep the inside bar and the outside patio seperate entities for that evening. 2. I lost my I.D. indicating my age, and posing as a problem if I wanted to leave Austin in two days via airplane!!!
Immediately I freaked, then figured when i pulled out my map from the back of my pocket somewhere along the way on the walk down to Malaga's my I.D. had fallen out. So I did what any other determined being such as myself would do...i immediately back tracked ignoring prior engagements. I walked all the way back to Buffalo Billards retracing my footsteps as best I could...which is pretty pointless when you're half drunk and you're not paying attention to the steps you take to begin with. I met up with Angie and Al and told them what was up. They checked out the area we were hanging in, since that's where I last used my ID to get into...but there was no such luck.
I eventually left them and went back over to the Amy Winehouse venue since I did accidentally headed that way after leaving Buffalo Billards to go to Malaga's in the beginning.I didn't find any ID but noticed there was no line for Amy, which was odd. The bouncer there told me her show got canceled on account of drunkeness, that Amy, always staying true to form!
At this point jonas texted me again saying they'd all moved over to this bar called The Bayou. Since it was a block from where i was, I quit my search for the ID and went over there to join them. I pretty much thought this would be a fool's errand seeing as how I couldn't get into any bars w/o an ID, but thought i'd try all the same.
At the door to the place there was a big black security guard lookin' dude. He asked me for my ID and I just told him the truth of the matter and tried to look for anything on my person proving I was over 21. He just said "Hey, I'll let you in, but you should tip me!" haha, I said "alright!" and gave the man 2 bucks. real awesome dude. I dunno what it is about black men, but usually they're always nice to me.
So, I went inside to the back of the bar and there by the pool table was jonas, peter, andrew, chadwick, and a friend of peters? some girl who's name I can't remember. We all just played pool and hung out. Just kinda talking about how our tours were going thus far. somewhere in the mix I really wanted a drink, and thought i might be able to snag myself one seeing as how the bar ID's at the door, but I didn't wanna chance possibly getting kicked out and getting the security guard in trouble for letting me in....so right before I had to take a shot I gave jonas money to buy me a drink and thought this routine would work well if I wanted to keep on drinkin! ....& save myself both embarrassment for losing my ID and the hassle of not being able to drink because I had no ID. My whole policy is if I can avoid telling people things that will cause embarrassement and make me look stupid, I'll probably be clever and do so. However the second time I asked jonas to get me a drink he queried me about why I couldn't get it myself, and my plan was defeated.
I think like 30mins. later we left, and I thanked the security guard again for hiim being awesome and he gave me a special brotherly handshake and hug. I started walking back with the boys to where their car was at. I think at this point they were all pretty drunk because all they talked about was refried beans they were gonna have back at the place they were staying, and smoking pot. Chadwick was talking about how wary he was of smoking when he was drunk because he'd take off his pants and whip out his goods which he was also recounting in detail....on this note i realized i'd lost my glasses, yeah another tragedy that night. So I just said 'oh you guys are leaving now right?', they agreed, so i used it as an excuse to bail and look for my glasses. another account to avoid embarrassment...
Again I back tracked, and went back to the bayou to search for them. There were a few people standing on the corner by the club and were lookign around trying to help me out. I looked around the area of the club for a bit and right as I turned my head in one direction I saw my glasses skid across the pavement. I ran over to them and so did the person who caused them to skid in the first place, probably by kicking them or something. He picked them up and the frame was crushed and one of the eye pieces was broken. I was bummed, and pretty much blamed the whole night on the fact I went outta my way for people, but really it's no one's fault but my own and i was looking for a scapegoat at the time.
However the good thing was that since I had my glasses I could take them back to the place that made them and get a new pair since I have insurance on them up to one year. And I also had a back up pair of glasses at home just in case of situations like these where I lose my original pair.
i wandered over to Maggie Mae's then, to go find Alex and Isa who were checking out the French/Canadian Connection showcase. They were just hanging outside the club. We ended up just walking back up to the house. Isa also had a bad night that evening losing this awesome pullover she had...which she was borrowing from a friend from home. ..
I still had the idea that i might find my ID for some reason, and kept kinda looking for it. Alex said though it was impossible to find and I should just give up...so I did, and we got some huge slices of pizza before going back to the house.
i think once there we met up with Francois and Stephane...or maybe they showed up later. I sat down on my computer for about an hour or so and tried to talk to airport security about my license. I also tried to rack my brain to solve the problem of getting an id to me in time....this pretty much sucked that I had to do all this stupid work when tomorrow was my day off from working....what a pisser.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
SXSW-BAEBLE SHOWCASE-TOUR DAY 9 (PRT. 3)
After loading up into the van, we made our way back across town to Red 7 where our last show of the day was being held. This was a no sweat load in really. The venue was on a street that wasn't blocked, and since it was the last event there was no real rush to go anywhere afterwards.
We pulled up to the corner of 7th and Red River and parked illegally, but didn't get caught! The band loaded in and they were pretty much chill. Besides racing around getting the merch display up, talking to Amylu (promoter), and just making sure our van didn't get a ticket it was a pretty easy day.
Somewhere in the mix I heard that I'd recieved a complaint because I wasn't around to get the band drinks, which really bums me out because it's not that difficult for the band to get drinks, or anybody else, and on top of all that it's not my job to get the band drinks, it's my job to make sure the band gets on stage and all the aspects, which are far more important then quenching ones' thirst get solved before, during, and after the show.
But whatever, it's understandable when you're at SXSW all you wanna do is relax and just have a good time. I suppose SXSW is a pay off alot of people get for working really hard all year, so it's understandable when people just wanna chil and not have to answer to anyone for awhile.
I think at this point i left to park the car, came back for a while, checked on the band during the show (which was awesome), then got the van, drove it back to the venue and did the load out. Some plus's to this show were super-duper awesome Amylu, free beer for people(not me of course), and getting some free gum and Bust Mags.
After this event we went home to chill and get ready for the night that awaited us! Oh what a night! To be continued...
We pulled up to the corner of 7th and Red River and parked illegally, but didn't get caught! The band loaded in and they were pretty much chill. Besides racing around getting the merch display up, talking to Amylu (promoter), and just making sure our van didn't get a ticket it was a pretty easy day.
Somewhere in the mix I heard that I'd recieved a complaint because I wasn't around to get the band drinks, which really bums me out because it's not that difficult for the band to get drinks, or anybody else, and on top of all that it's not my job to get the band drinks, it's my job to make sure the band gets on stage and all the aspects, which are far more important then quenching ones' thirst get solved before, during, and after the show.
But whatever, it's understandable when you're at SXSW all you wanna do is relax and just have a good time. I suppose SXSW is a pay off alot of people get for working really hard all year, so it's understandable when people just wanna chil and not have to answer to anyone for awhile.
I think at this point i left to park the car, came back for a while, checked on the band during the show (which was awesome), then got the van, drove it back to the venue and did the load out. Some plus's to this show were super-duper awesome Amylu, free beer for people(not me of course), and getting some free gum and Bust Mags.
After this event we went home to chill and get ready for the night that awaited us! Oh what a night! To be continued...
Thursday, March 29, 2007
SXSW-SCHUBA'S 11TH ANNUAL YARD DOG GALLERY SHOWCASE-TOUR DAY 9 (PRT.2)
Alright. So we picked up from Buffalo Billards and made our way over to the next venue. It's sooo awesome we had a car for this day because honestly if we didn't we wouldn't have been able to make all our shows in a timely fashion.
Yard Dog Gallery wasn't too hard to find. We pulled up behind the building and just kind let our car chill. Eventually we loaded our stuff off to the side, I checked the merch in, and we just watched some other band play. The whole scene was completely chill and that can be owed to the god that is Matt Rucins. That boy has his shit together I can't say that enough, he rocks!
It was real awesome seeing him, and once again he just provided me with all the info I needed, gave me drink tix for the band, and meal vouchers too.
Everything was going smooth until we realized we didnt' have the transformer/adaptor that we needed....to which I thought the show couldn't happen w/o. This caused Stephane to panic a bit and get frustrated. We ended up having to call Anthony to pick up the thing from Buffalo Billards where it was left behind. The panic attack only lasted about 15mins though because Stephane being studio-boy genius that he is figured out a way for the band to play without it. So the show went on! Hzah!
While the band played I took a little break snagging some BBQ. Also Matt Rucins pointed me in the direction of my free Saucony shoes. The band was asked earlier on before the tour if they wanted a pair, but they all declined. Mainly because the Saucony website only showed these really sporty looking shoes. I wasn't that into them either, but thought 'hey i can always use some free shoes' I lucked out because they're actually a pretty sweet pair.
Anyways the band kicked ass. After they got off stage I told them I would take care of loading up the van because they needed to eat and relax for a second before we all went to the next gig. So while they chowed down on some BBQ I went ahead and loaded the van passing by some photographer for some magazine who kept taking pictures by the van, which was rather annoying.
After the band was loaded up and ready to go, I then went to grab the merch, did the count out and we were off to the next venue!
As for Anthony and the transformer I called him sometime during the show to tell him there wasn't an extreme rush to get it there. he was a little pissed because of sitting in traffic worrying to the high heavens the show wouldnt' go on because of this thing, which is understandable, but the show went on, we didn't lose the transformer and we were on schedule.
I was a little bummed though cuz i wanted to see cold war kids play after us, but didn't get to.
Yard Dog Gallery wasn't too hard to find. We pulled up behind the building and just kind let our car chill. Eventually we loaded our stuff off to the side, I checked the merch in, and we just watched some other band play. The whole scene was completely chill and that can be owed to the god that is Matt Rucins. That boy has his shit together I can't say that enough, he rocks!
It was real awesome seeing him, and once again he just provided me with all the info I needed, gave me drink tix for the band, and meal vouchers too.
Everything was going smooth until we realized we didnt' have the transformer/adaptor that we needed....to which I thought the show couldn't happen w/o. This caused Stephane to panic a bit and get frustrated. We ended up having to call Anthony to pick up the thing from Buffalo Billards where it was left behind. The panic attack only lasted about 15mins though because Stephane being studio-boy genius that he is figured out a way for the band to play without it. So the show went on! Hzah!
While the band played I took a little break snagging some BBQ. Also Matt Rucins pointed me in the direction of my free Saucony shoes. The band was asked earlier on before the tour if they wanted a pair, but they all declined. Mainly because the Saucony website only showed these really sporty looking shoes. I wasn't that into them either, but thought 'hey i can always use some free shoes' I lucked out because they're actually a pretty sweet pair.
Anyways the band kicked ass. After they got off stage I told them I would take care of loading up the van because they needed to eat and relax for a second before we all went to the next gig. So while they chowed down on some BBQ I went ahead and loaded the van passing by some photographer for some magazine who kept taking pictures by the van, which was rather annoying.
After the band was loaded up and ready to go, I then went to grab the merch, did the count out and we were off to the next venue!
As for Anthony and the transformer I called him sometime during the show to tell him there wasn't an extreme rush to get it there. he was a little pissed because of sitting in traffic worrying to the high heavens the show wouldnt' go on because of this thing, which is understandable, but the show went on, we didn't lose the transformer and we were on schedule.
I was a little bummed though cuz i wanted to see cold war kids play after us, but didn't get to.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
SXSW-THE CURRENT-TOUR DAY 9 (PRT.1)
The next morning I woke up pretty early. One because that's what a tour manager does! two because I couldn't get in a wink of sleep all night due to the uncomfortable floor and not being able to figure out how to turn off one of the lights of the room i was staying in.
I mostly did a little work on my computer, and rearranged my tour binder which had fallen apart in the process of loading the band in/out at the show yesterday. Eventually I woke up the band and started making breakfast. I'm not the most skilled cook, but I did a good job makin' scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon for everyone. I personally ended up makin a breakfast sandwich for myself, which was awesome. Stephane also added some awesome music to the morning mood, which is always a great way to wake up i'd say. Couldn't tell you exactly what was playing though, i think it was a mixture of French music, and some soundtracks from movies.
After breakfast we had our morning meeting, just a little run through of what was going on that day. Then we all loaded into the car to get to the first gig at Buffalo Billards on 6th street. Now 6th street is where all the bars and venues are. it's sorta the heart of SXSW. So naturally all the roads are blocked, it's impossible to load in, and it takes extra long to get to where you need to be. What made this semi easy was a reasonable police man who let us drive in behind the venue for load in, and my knowledge that there was a back alley way we could drive through to cause no hassel.
Soon as we got to the gig, I went upstairs to where the radio/interview/performanc was being held. It was real low-key with a nice little bar and some breakfast type foods. There was also about 50 people there who were witnessing Peter Biorne & John when I walked in. We were early for load in, so after checking with the club if it was okay for us to leave our stuff down stairs we kinda just chilled. Only casualties in this performance were the power going out for a few minutes which caused the Prototypes to go on a little later then anticipated and the fact that since we were filling in for a band that dropped out last minute we weren't on the advertised posters so there wasn't alot of people there to see us. I mostly took pictures and video taped the show, then handed the camera off to Al to take over while I prepped the van for loadout.
I think at this point I left to pick up the merch at the house, or I went to try to find parking...eventually I came back and picked up the band and their gear to race them to the next show across town at Schuba's 11th Annual Yard Dog Gallery show. The load out went pretty smooth, and from what I can tell the performance did too.
I mostly did a little work on my computer, and rearranged my tour binder which had fallen apart in the process of loading the band in/out at the show yesterday. Eventually I woke up the band and started making breakfast. I'm not the most skilled cook, but I did a good job makin' scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon for everyone. I personally ended up makin a breakfast sandwich for myself, which was awesome. Stephane also added some awesome music to the morning mood, which is always a great way to wake up i'd say. Couldn't tell you exactly what was playing though, i think it was a mixture of French music, and some soundtracks from movies.
After breakfast we had our morning meeting, just a little run through of what was going on that day. Then we all loaded into the car to get to the first gig at Buffalo Billards on 6th street. Now 6th street is where all the bars and venues are. it's sorta the heart of SXSW. So naturally all the roads are blocked, it's impossible to load in, and it takes extra long to get to where you need to be. What made this semi easy was a reasonable police man who let us drive in behind the venue for load in, and my knowledge that there was a back alley way we could drive through to cause no hassel.
Soon as we got to the gig, I went upstairs to where the radio/interview/performanc was being held. It was real low-key with a nice little bar and some breakfast type foods. There was also about 50 people there who were witnessing Peter Biorne & John when I walked in. We were early for load in, so after checking with the club if it was okay for us to leave our stuff down stairs we kinda just chilled. Only casualties in this performance were the power going out for a few minutes which caused the Prototypes to go on a little later then anticipated and the fact that since we were filling in for a band that dropped out last minute we weren't on the advertised posters so there wasn't alot of people there to see us. I mostly took pictures and video taped the show, then handed the camera off to Al to take over while I prepped the van for loadout.
I think at this point I left to pick up the merch at the house, or I went to try to find parking...eventually I came back and picked up the band and their gear to race them to the next show across town at Schuba's 11th Annual Yard Dog Gallery show. The load out went pretty smooth, and from what I can tell the performance did too.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
SXSW-DAY STAGE CAFE- TOUR DAY 8
Finally we've gotten to the much anticipated portion of my tour travels, that being SXSW! Oh what marvels I have to tell....
So, we woke up the next morning in Chicago and made our way to the airport. Dropping off the rental van was a pain in the ass. Mainly, because I didn't know where the drop off location was and was nervous about leaving the band alone when we were running on a tight check-in schedule for the flight.
When I finally met up with them, we were able to get checked in on time, but with the security check point and the gate being on the otherside of the airport, our time was very limited to getting on the plane.
We landed in San Antonio a little early. I went ahead to go get the rental van while the band waited for their luggage. When I arrived we hit our first bump in the road that day, Francois's suitcase didn't show up.
Apparently it ended up on a later flight. Francois didn't wanna leave the airport without his bag and really wanted to stay to wait for it. I might have freaked, but this situation really isnt a big deal, it's happened before on other tours, so I wasn't really worried about the airlines shipping it to us later that evening. I think Francois thought he might not see his luggage again, poor thing.
After a little convincing and reassuring with Francois we left for Austin to do the Day Stage Cafe Show. On the way we stopped to get the band something to eat since they were running on empty and tired at this point. They kept on wondering how important this gig was because of the lack of sleep, lost luggage, and the show night before was terrible. They really didn't feel like playing.
I thought the drive into Austin was gonna be really bad, but we lucked out and found some pretty decent parking near the convention center where we were playing. We didn't have much time till load in, and I was told we had to go to artist registry before we could perform. I just thought it would be a better idea to go straight to the stage and then register afterwards, but people kept telling me it wouldn't take long to get the band their wristbands and badges for the four days they were there. I covered my bases calling the stage manager for the show we were playing to make sure it was cool for us to wait in line or if we should just go ahead to the show. She said there was no prob if we were a little late to load in... Although I was happy for the laid back, self-assured response, waiting to register was not the best, however that's what we did and the line took forever.
We were able to hook up with other minties at this point, but were running out of time for load in. Angie, Al, myself, and some sxsw volunteers took the liberty of rolling our van around and doing a throw-and-go style loadin. Anthony took care of getting the band wristbands and their whole registration thing out of the way.
That day was the worst out of the whole 4 though. Just complete stress, too many cooks in the kitchen, nothing really getting done...., But hey, the band made it to the stage, they did their show, and it's all good. After this though i prayed the rest of the time in austin wouldn't be as bad as this...and we had 3 shows the next day so i was really nervous about the same 'last minute, running behind, no time' stuff happening. I didn't get to catch this performance btw because i was too busy parking then unparking to bring over the transformer, then parking again, then loading out. i"m sure they did good though.
AFter the show we all went over to the house we were staying at. I found it on craigslist for a sweet deal. basically the tenants said 'if you're international, you can stay here for free!' This is cuz of some deal at south-by where you can get free wristbands if you house an international band. It was only 6 blocks north of all the fun stuff at sxsw and was real chill, also everyone in the band was able to get their own room and bed to sleep in, so it rocked.
When everyone was done freshin' up, we had the evening to hang out in the city. The band was hungry, so I suggestd going to Stubb's for some awesome barbeque. When we finally found parking and walked down it was over an hour wait to have dinner there. Al, Angie, and Anthony were all meeting us there to eat, but decided to wait in line at the Stubb's main stage venue in the back of the resturant to see the Lily Allen, Bravery, Razorlight, Jamie T, the automatics, play. It actually turned out good that they did that. Since Al, Angie, and Anthony all had badges and we had our Prototypes badge, we were all able to pass up the long line and get in right quick to the venues. So while waiting for our table to be called upstairs at the resturant, we chilled downstairs in the back just hanging out.
This was probably when it hit me I was at sxsw! I was completely elated. But I totally had to water it down for myself because I was technically still working and couldnt' go crazy happy in front of co-workers....not yet anyway....Mostly while waiting we all just talked. I think somewhere in the mix we ran into the Young Knives again...they were on a route to find some foreign substances, so we parted ways reasonably soon after saying 'hey.'
Finally our table got called and we all sat down to some awesome bbq. I had some pulled pork and a cup of beans, it kicked ass. I couldn't really tell you too much of the conversations being passed around the table, cept witnessing Al get more smashed and gropping some lady's ass a couple times to see if she would notice. Also there was mention of how stressful today was, and I suggested to teh band we just take it easy tomorrow morning, and I'll buy some eggs, bread, milk etc and we'lll have a nice low key breakfast. they seemed to dig that idea, and francois wanted to get apricot jelly (what a smart man)
After dinner we went back to the lodging, I'm pretty sure we layed low this evening because we were tired. I think at this point I decided it would be best to go to the grocery store to get food that evening instead of wake up wicked early to get food for everyone. For some reason Al was with us, so i decided to give him a ride back to his hotel, but on the way stop and a 7-eleven so he could pick up something that I can't remember at this point....but there was food there so i got food there for the band and myself.
meanwhile i discovered my phone was ringing and I had three missed calls from Francois. Thank goodness he called again. he was wondering why his luggage hadn't arrived to the house yet and was very worried the man who would be delivering it wouldn't be able to find the hosue we were staying at...which francois has a point on, it wasn't the easiest house to see in the dark.
Anyways, I spoke with Francois and told him i'd be home soon so we could call the austin airport to check on the bag and then go to the airport to pick it up. After calling we found that Francois' bag was being held there, so we jumped in the car and went to go pick it up.
Francois was very happy about this and said he could sleep that evening now and would be in a much better mood the next day. I was happy because it was one less concern to handle on top of three shows the next day.
So, we woke up the next morning in Chicago and made our way to the airport. Dropping off the rental van was a pain in the ass. Mainly, because I didn't know where the drop off location was and was nervous about leaving the band alone when we were running on a tight check-in schedule for the flight.
When I finally met up with them, we were able to get checked in on time, but with the security check point and the gate being on the otherside of the airport, our time was very limited to getting on the plane.
We landed in San Antonio a little early. I went ahead to go get the rental van while the band waited for their luggage. When I arrived we hit our first bump in the road that day, Francois's suitcase didn't show up.
Apparently it ended up on a later flight. Francois didn't wanna leave the airport without his bag and really wanted to stay to wait for it. I might have freaked, but this situation really isnt a big deal, it's happened before on other tours, so I wasn't really worried about the airlines shipping it to us later that evening. I think Francois thought he might not see his luggage again, poor thing.
After a little convincing and reassuring with Francois we left for Austin to do the Day Stage Cafe Show. On the way we stopped to get the band something to eat since they were running on empty and tired at this point. They kept on wondering how important this gig was because of the lack of sleep, lost luggage, and the show night before was terrible. They really didn't feel like playing.
I thought the drive into Austin was gonna be really bad, but we lucked out and found some pretty decent parking near the convention center where we were playing. We didn't have much time till load in, and I was told we had to go to artist registry before we could perform. I just thought it would be a better idea to go straight to the stage and then register afterwards, but people kept telling me it wouldn't take long to get the band their wristbands and badges for the four days they were there. I covered my bases calling the stage manager for the show we were playing to make sure it was cool for us to wait in line or if we should just go ahead to the show. She said there was no prob if we were a little late to load in... Although I was happy for the laid back, self-assured response, waiting to register was not the best, however that's what we did and the line took forever.
We were able to hook up with other minties at this point, but were running out of time for load in. Angie, Al, myself, and some sxsw volunteers took the liberty of rolling our van around and doing a throw-and-go style loadin. Anthony took care of getting the band wristbands and their whole registration thing out of the way.
That day was the worst out of the whole 4 though. Just complete stress, too many cooks in the kitchen, nothing really getting done...., But hey, the band made it to the stage, they did their show, and it's all good. After this though i prayed the rest of the time in austin wouldn't be as bad as this...and we had 3 shows the next day so i was really nervous about the same 'last minute, running behind, no time' stuff happening. I didn't get to catch this performance btw because i was too busy parking then unparking to bring over the transformer, then parking again, then loading out. i"m sure they did good though.
AFter the show we all went over to the house we were staying at. I found it on craigslist for a sweet deal. basically the tenants said 'if you're international, you can stay here for free!' This is cuz of some deal at south-by where you can get free wristbands if you house an international band. It was only 6 blocks north of all the fun stuff at sxsw and was real chill, also everyone in the band was able to get their own room and bed to sleep in, so it rocked.
When everyone was done freshin' up, we had the evening to hang out in the city. The band was hungry, so I suggestd going to Stubb's for some awesome barbeque. When we finally found parking and walked down it was over an hour wait to have dinner there. Al, Angie, and Anthony were all meeting us there to eat, but decided to wait in line at the Stubb's main stage venue in the back of the resturant to see the Lily Allen, Bravery, Razorlight, Jamie T, the automatics, play. It actually turned out good that they did that. Since Al, Angie, and Anthony all had badges and we had our Prototypes badge, we were all able to pass up the long line and get in right quick to the venues. So while waiting for our table to be called upstairs at the resturant, we chilled downstairs in the back just hanging out.
This was probably when it hit me I was at sxsw! I was completely elated. But I totally had to water it down for myself because I was technically still working and couldnt' go crazy happy in front of co-workers....not yet anyway....Mostly while waiting we all just talked. I think somewhere in the mix we ran into the Young Knives again...they were on a route to find some foreign substances, so we parted ways reasonably soon after saying 'hey.'
Finally our table got called and we all sat down to some awesome bbq. I had some pulled pork and a cup of beans, it kicked ass. I couldn't really tell you too much of the conversations being passed around the table, cept witnessing Al get more smashed and gropping some lady's ass a couple times to see if she would notice. Also there was mention of how stressful today was, and I suggested to teh band we just take it easy tomorrow morning, and I'll buy some eggs, bread, milk etc and we'lll have a nice low key breakfast. they seemed to dig that idea, and francois wanted to get apricot jelly (what a smart man)
After dinner we went back to the lodging, I'm pretty sure we layed low this evening because we were tired. I think at this point I decided it would be best to go to the grocery store to get food that evening instead of wake up wicked early to get food for everyone. For some reason Al was with us, so i decided to give him a ride back to his hotel, but on the way stop and a 7-eleven so he could pick up something that I can't remember at this point....but there was food there so i got food there for the band and myself.
meanwhile i discovered my phone was ringing and I had three missed calls from Francois. Thank goodness he called again. he was wondering why his luggage hadn't arrived to the house yet and was very worried the man who would be delivering it wouldn't be able to find the hosue we were staying at...which francois has a point on, it wasn't the easiest house to see in the dark.
Anyways, I spoke with Francois and told him i'd be home soon so we could call the austin airport to check on the bag and then go to the airport to pick it up. After calling we found that Francois' bag was being held there, so we jumped in the car and went to go pick it up.
Francois was very happy about this and said he could sleep that evening now and would be in a much better mood the next day. I was happy because it was one less concern to handle on top of three shows the next day.
Friday, March 23, 2007
FUNKY BUDDHA'S- TOUR DAY 7
Today was real busy. I was mostly caught up with finalizing the advancing for the Current show, and printing out directions & day sheets. Also I had to go to the airport to pick up a rental van for this day. The Minty crew was leaving early the next morning for sxsw, so they weren't able to give us a lift to the airport or Funky Buddha's that evening.
While I was out getting the car, I stopped by Sensaphonics to place an order for a new ear mold to be made. In LA one of my in-ears broke, but luckily I knew we were going to chicago so that situation wasn't as annoying as it could have been. After chatting it up and grabbing the philly in-ear number for nat, I cruised back to Minty.
When i got back, I picked up Angie for lunch at Schuba's as to partake in some fine food whild getting the band's cutt from last night's show. Angie was really cool, like i said, she has all these great ideas for minty and hopefully she'll get to have some of them happen. After talking 'shop' we talked about life related matters then paid the bill.
Meanwhile the band was cruising around the city with Jim Powers. They really liked chicago, which is awesome. I'd have to say Chicago is one of my fav places to visit. I would consider living there if it weren't for the wind and cold....
Come show time we seemed a little destine for destruction..For some reason this show had a bad vibe set with it from the beginning. The band and I loaded up into the car and we ended up getting to Funky Buddha's around 8. I of course was getting us a little lost thanks to mapquest, and my driving skills...No one was there which was mysterious...Basically from this point on it was a whole lotta miscommunication. I won't go into it a great deal, but basically it was one of those 'too many cooks in the kitchen' incidents which no one can be completely held responsible for on all sides.
It was a bummer cuz we ended up playing earlier then was advertised and I believe alot of the Prototypes fans didn't show up till midnight. I mean the band was happy about it, they were real tired and jet lagged and I think were more concerned with the show the next day then anything, but it still blows for the fans. The promoter dude was pretty cool though about the whole thing, i felt bad for him, it sucks this gig got confirmed last minute. The promoter really put alot into it like getting us full backline, and drinks etc.
Oh well, after this event, we ended up bailing back to minty and prepared to leave for the airport the next morning. At this point i was excited about south by south west but also very nervous about getting to the first gig on time for the band. I really thought it was gonna be jammed packed with traffic going in.
While I was out getting the car, I stopped by Sensaphonics to place an order for a new ear mold to be made. In LA one of my in-ears broke, but luckily I knew we were going to chicago so that situation wasn't as annoying as it could have been. After chatting it up and grabbing the philly in-ear number for nat, I cruised back to Minty.
When i got back, I picked up Angie for lunch at Schuba's as to partake in some fine food whild getting the band's cutt from last night's show. Angie was really cool, like i said, she has all these great ideas for minty and hopefully she'll get to have some of them happen. After talking 'shop' we talked about life related matters then paid the bill.
Meanwhile the band was cruising around the city with Jim Powers. They really liked chicago, which is awesome. I'd have to say Chicago is one of my fav places to visit. I would consider living there if it weren't for the wind and cold....
Come show time we seemed a little destine for destruction..For some reason this show had a bad vibe set with it from the beginning. The band and I loaded up into the car and we ended up getting to Funky Buddha's around 8. I of course was getting us a little lost thanks to mapquest, and my driving skills...No one was there which was mysterious...Basically from this point on it was a whole lotta miscommunication. I won't go into it a great deal, but basically it was one of those 'too many cooks in the kitchen' incidents which no one can be completely held responsible for on all sides.
It was a bummer cuz we ended up playing earlier then was advertised and I believe alot of the Prototypes fans didn't show up till midnight. I mean the band was happy about it, they were real tired and jet lagged and I think were more concerned with the show the next day then anything, but it still blows for the fans. The promoter dude was pretty cool though about the whole thing, i felt bad for him, it sucks this gig got confirmed last minute. The promoter really put alot into it like getting us full backline, and drinks etc.
Oh well, after this event, we ended up bailing back to minty and prepared to leave for the airport the next morning. At this point i was excited about south by south west but also very nervous about getting to the first gig on time for the band. I really thought it was gonna be jammed packed with traffic going in.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
SCHUBA'S TAVERN-TOUR DAY 6
SCHUBA’S TAVERN
After a restless night of not really sleeping, we all woke and started getting ready for the day. Isabelle and myself were located on the main floor of Minty Fresh’s office and the boys were in the besement. Francois was the first of the guys to come up stairs. He had a shitty night so he just bailed to get something to eat. I grabbed some cereal from the kitchen in the office and started cleaning up my sleeping area.
Angie came in to work and then the rest of the MF staff followed. Anthony gave us a map of the area and pointed out some vintage shops we could check out til soundcheck that evening. Like I said before, the band really digs lots of vintage stuff so they were into checking out all the stores. My main goal that day was to finish advancing the exodus show in Austin and talk to Anthony more about the 450 expense for using junior senior’s drums at that show. Also I wanted to scope out schuba’s. I just wanted a feel as to what the stage and the venue was going to be like that night.
After we walked around for a while I received a call from the office regarding guestlists and also regarding another show. There was apparently an opening for a radio/performance for The Current, some radio station at sxsw. After having some sushi with stephane and francois, I high tailed it back to the office to do advancing for the Current. It wasn’t as complicated as it could have been. We were able to get all the backline we needed for this show and that was usually the thing that took the most time to deal with.
Soon the band came back to the office and theyall took short naps before we walked over to the venue. Once again we got there and the headliner hadn’t arrived yet, so the band walked around the area with Anthony and I stayed at the venue working on a ‘to do list’ for the next couple days. I finally got to meet matt rucin and talk to him for a bit. He was super cool, knows all his shit, just an awesome guy who’s got it down. I was also pretty happy about meeting him then because I knew I'd have to work with him again at the Schuba's Yard Dog Gallery Show for SXSW.
After kicking it at the venue, just having a little down time, the headliner arrived and I was able to thank them for lending out backline to us. They were pretty nice, but a little distant, overall cool dudes though. The band showed up right near the tail end of All Smiles (who's lead guy Jim Fairchild is from Grandaddy) sound check and set their stuff up right after.
I can’t remember exactly what caused me to be very busy after their soud check…oh yeah. I was still working on finishing up my to do list and then after that I took pictures of the bands’ sound check. What was real awesome for them at this venue was that fabrice, their sound guy, was French, so they felt right at home and their show was probably super awesome because of that. After the band had their soundcheck, we ate at schuba’s harmony grill which kicked ass. I had an awesome south western salad, yum.
I went back to Minty after dinner to pick up the merchandise for the show. Unfortunately I didn't have all the right keys on me to get into the office, so i had to wait for Anthony to come over to let me in.
Merch was fun, just same old same old. While selling some girl came up to me and formerly introduced herself thinking I was from this radio station that had all their free stuff sitting next to me at the merch booth....I was later led to believe she was drunk from the loud yelling she proceded to do at All Smiles during their set. Aside from that I talked with Al (Minty intern) and Angie a bit. Finally got to meet Jim Powers who's probably one of the nicest guys ever. He was very happy with my work and thought I was doing a real great job, which was awesome.
When the gig was over I packed up the merch and got a ride back to Minty with Al to drop stuff off. No one was there so I assumed everyone was still back at Schuba's hanging out. Al dropped me back off there and I discovered no one was there either. I called up Anthony and he told me everyone bailed. I immediately was like 'oh shit!'. This is because I was the only person from the Proto Crew that had a key to Minty and knew the band was either already outside the office locked out, or on their way to the office soon to discover they were locked out. I ran over there, and ended up only being a few blocks behind the band. They felt kinda bad for making me run up to catch them, but I can always need a quick spike in my heart rate, so I really didn't care too much about it. Alex was sayig 'yeah i told them you might come back after dropping stuff off with Al.....or not...." haha. So I suppose they just figured I'd be at the office.
Anyways, after piling inside I settled down to work a little longer on getting directions for Austin together and my 'to do' list. This time it wasn't so cold when I fell asleep. Only wish I could have slept longer.
After a restless night of not really sleeping, we all woke and started getting ready for the day. Isabelle and myself were located on the main floor of Minty Fresh’s office and the boys were in the besement. Francois was the first of the guys to come up stairs. He had a shitty night so he just bailed to get something to eat. I grabbed some cereal from the kitchen in the office and started cleaning up my sleeping area.
Angie came in to work and then the rest of the MF staff followed. Anthony gave us a map of the area and pointed out some vintage shops we could check out til soundcheck that evening. Like I said before, the band really digs lots of vintage stuff so they were into checking out all the stores. My main goal that day was to finish advancing the exodus show in Austin and talk to Anthony more about the 450 expense for using junior senior’s drums at that show. Also I wanted to scope out schuba’s. I just wanted a feel as to what the stage and the venue was going to be like that night.
After we walked around for a while I received a call from the office regarding guestlists and also regarding another show. There was apparently an opening for a radio/performance for The Current, some radio station at sxsw. After having some sushi with stephane and francois, I high tailed it back to the office to do advancing for the Current. It wasn’t as complicated as it could have been. We were able to get all the backline we needed for this show and that was usually the thing that took the most time to deal with.
Soon the band came back to the office and theyall took short naps before we walked over to the venue. Once again we got there and the headliner hadn’t arrived yet, so the band walked around the area with Anthony and I stayed at the venue working on a ‘to do list’ for the next couple days. I finally got to meet matt rucin and talk to him for a bit. He was super cool, knows all his shit, just an awesome guy who’s got it down. I was also pretty happy about meeting him then because I knew I'd have to work with him again at the Schuba's Yard Dog Gallery Show for SXSW.
After kicking it at the venue, just having a little down time, the headliner arrived and I was able to thank them for lending out backline to us. They were pretty nice, but a little distant, overall cool dudes though. The band showed up right near the tail end of All Smiles (who's lead guy Jim Fairchild is from Grandaddy) sound check and set their stuff up right after.
I can’t remember exactly what caused me to be very busy after their soud check…oh yeah. I was still working on finishing up my to do list and then after that I took pictures of the bands’ sound check. What was real awesome for them at this venue was that fabrice, their sound guy, was French, so they felt right at home and their show was probably super awesome because of that. After the band had their soundcheck, we ate at schuba’s harmony grill which kicked ass. I had an awesome south western salad, yum.
I went back to Minty after dinner to pick up the merchandise for the show. Unfortunately I didn't have all the right keys on me to get into the office, so i had to wait for Anthony to come over to let me in.
Merch was fun, just same old same old. While selling some girl came up to me and formerly introduced herself thinking I was from this radio station that had all their free stuff sitting next to me at the merch booth....I was later led to believe she was drunk from the loud yelling she proceded to do at All Smiles during their set. Aside from that I talked with Al (Minty intern) and Angie a bit. Finally got to meet Jim Powers who's probably one of the nicest guys ever. He was very happy with my work and thought I was doing a real great job, which was awesome.
When the gig was over I packed up the merch and got a ride back to Minty with Al to drop stuff off. No one was there so I assumed everyone was still back at Schuba's hanging out. Al dropped me back off there and I discovered no one was there either. I called up Anthony and he told me everyone bailed. I immediately was like 'oh shit!'. This is because I was the only person from the Proto Crew that had a key to Minty and knew the band was either already outside the office locked out, or on their way to the office soon to discover they were locked out. I ran over there, and ended up only being a few blocks behind the band. They felt kinda bad for making me run up to catch them, but I can always need a quick spike in my heart rate, so I really didn't care too much about it. Alex was sayig 'yeah i told them you might come back after dropping stuff off with Al.....or not...." haha. So I suppose they just figured I'd be at the office.
Anyways, after piling inside I settled down to work a little longer on getting directions for Austin together and my 'to do' list. This time it wasn't so cold when I fell asleep. Only wish I could have slept longer.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Day Off Chicago - Tour Day 5 (posted esp. for Chris Harne)
DAY OFF CHICAGO
TODAY WE WERE ABLE TO SLEEP IN. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WOKEN UP BY MY PHONE, I CAN’T REMEMBER. OH YEAH, WAIT, IT’S COMING BACK TO ME. I HAD TO WAKE UP EARLY TO RETURN OUR RENTAL VAN TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER THIS I WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL, MET UP WITH FRANCOIS TO DO LAUNDRY, DID SOME MORE ADVANCING, AND LATER HAD BREAKFAST WITH ALEX AND FRANCOIS AT DENNY’S. THE FOOD WASN’T THAT BAD, BUT THE PORTIONS TO THE GUYS SEEMED REALLY LARGE.
AFTERWARDS I WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL ROOM AND ISABELLE WAS JUST GETTING UP. I MAINLY JUST STAYED ON MY COMPUTER MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS READY FOR CHICAGO AND SXSW. STILL BUGGIN PEOPLE ABOUT AMPS AND CYMBALS ETC.
EVENTUALLY, IT WAS TIME TO GO TO THE AIRPORT SO WE ALL LOADED IN THE HOTEL SHUTTLE AND I CHECKED EVERYONE IN. WE HAD ANOTHER SMOOTH FLIGHT WHICH ROCKED. I THINK THOUGH THE BAND WAS A LITTLE WORRIED BECAUSE I WAS SITTING UP FURTHER IN THE PLANE THEN THEM AND THEY DIDN’T’ SEE ME. I THINK THEY THOUGHT I DITCHED THEM. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT THOUGH, THAT WOULD BE THE WORST.
UPON ARRIVAL I CALLED A CAB COMPANY THE LABEL RECOMMENDED WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE NO GOOD. THE CAB COMPANY WAS ONLY INTO HELPING PEOPLE GOING TO SUBURBAN AREAS, NOT THE CITY. SO WE ENDED UP WAITING IN LINE TO GET TWO CABS. THE FIRST CAB DRIVER WE HAD SPOKE FRENCH AND KNEW EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS GOING WHEN I GAVE HIM THE ADDRESS. THE SECOND CAB DRIVER EITHER COULDN’T UNDERSTAND ME, OR JUST WASN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT I WAS SAYING LIKE ‘PLEASE STAY WITH THE OTHER CAB, WE ARE A GROUP DRIVING TOGETHER’, OR ‘WE ARE GOING TO NEWPORT AVE’. THANK GOD THOUGH I WAS IN THE SQUIRRLY CAB, I THINK I WOULD HAVE BUSTED A GASKET IF THE BAND WAS LOST IN CHICAGO WITH A CAB DRIVER THAT DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS UP.
EVENTUALLY BOTH CABS MADE IT TO MINTY, AND WE ALL PILED INSIDE. THE LABEL’S OFFICE. IT WAS A REALLY CHILL SET UP BASED OUT OF A HOUSE. THERE WAS A LIVING ROOM AREA, A HUGE KITCHEN, NICE BATHROOM, AND EVEN A DOWNSTAIRS BASEMENT WITH A BATHROOM AND SLEEPING AREA FOR THE BOYS. EVERYONE WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL SO ANTHONY TOOK US ALL OUT FOR DINNER AT THE BURRITO HOUSE, WHICH KICKED ASS.
ALSO I FINALLY GOT TO MEET ANGIE, THE BAND’S PUBLICIST, WHO I’D BEEN DEALING WITH OVER THE PHONE. SHE WAS SUPER AWESOME AND HAS SUCH GREAT IDEAS FOR THE BAND AND THE COMPANY. SHE WAS TELLING ME HOW SHE USED TO WORK FOR SPIN AND I WAS TELLING HER HOW I WAS INTERESTED IN WRITING, SO HOPEFULLY I’LL BE ABLE TO GO WITH HER TO THE SXSW SPIN PARTY AND MEET SOME PEOPLE THERE. ALEX ALSO OVERHEARD ME TALKING ABOUT FINDING ANOTHER GIG AFTER THIS ONE AND GAVE MY NUMBER TO HIS FRIEND’S BAND LES BREASTFEEDERS, WHO WILL BE AT SXSW SO I’LL GET TO CHECK THEM OUT TOO.
AFTER EATING, WE ALL WENT TO BED. THE FIRST NIGHT SUCKED BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY COLD AND I WAS SLEEPING ON TWO SOFA CUSIONS ON THE FLOOR IN A SLEEPING BAG, SOMEHOW I THOUGHT THE FLOOR WOULD BE BETTER, MAYBE IF IT WAS CARPETED.
TODAY WE WERE ABLE TO SLEEP IN. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WOKEN UP BY MY PHONE, I CAN’T REMEMBER. OH YEAH, WAIT, IT’S COMING BACK TO ME. I HAD TO WAKE UP EARLY TO RETURN OUR RENTAL VAN TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER THIS I WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL, MET UP WITH FRANCOIS TO DO LAUNDRY, DID SOME MORE ADVANCING, AND LATER HAD BREAKFAST WITH ALEX AND FRANCOIS AT DENNY’S. THE FOOD WASN’T THAT BAD, BUT THE PORTIONS TO THE GUYS SEEMED REALLY LARGE.
AFTERWARDS I WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL ROOM AND ISABELLE WAS JUST GETTING UP. I MAINLY JUST STAYED ON MY COMPUTER MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS READY FOR CHICAGO AND SXSW. STILL BUGGIN PEOPLE ABOUT AMPS AND CYMBALS ETC.
EVENTUALLY, IT WAS TIME TO GO TO THE AIRPORT SO WE ALL LOADED IN THE HOTEL SHUTTLE AND I CHECKED EVERYONE IN. WE HAD ANOTHER SMOOTH FLIGHT WHICH ROCKED. I THINK THOUGH THE BAND WAS A LITTLE WORRIED BECAUSE I WAS SITTING UP FURTHER IN THE PLANE THEN THEM AND THEY DIDN’T’ SEE ME. I THINK THEY THOUGHT I DITCHED THEM. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT THOUGH, THAT WOULD BE THE WORST.
UPON ARRIVAL I CALLED A CAB COMPANY THE LABEL RECOMMENDED WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE NO GOOD. THE CAB COMPANY WAS ONLY INTO HELPING PEOPLE GOING TO SUBURBAN AREAS, NOT THE CITY. SO WE ENDED UP WAITING IN LINE TO GET TWO CABS. THE FIRST CAB DRIVER WE HAD SPOKE FRENCH AND KNEW EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS GOING WHEN I GAVE HIM THE ADDRESS. THE SECOND CAB DRIVER EITHER COULDN’T UNDERSTAND ME, OR JUST WASN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT I WAS SAYING LIKE ‘PLEASE STAY WITH THE OTHER CAB, WE ARE A GROUP DRIVING TOGETHER’, OR ‘WE ARE GOING TO NEWPORT AVE’. THANK GOD THOUGH I WAS IN THE SQUIRRLY CAB, I THINK I WOULD HAVE BUSTED A GASKET IF THE BAND WAS LOST IN CHICAGO WITH A CAB DRIVER THAT DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS UP.
EVENTUALLY BOTH CABS MADE IT TO MINTY, AND WE ALL PILED INSIDE. THE LABEL’S OFFICE. IT WAS A REALLY CHILL SET UP BASED OUT OF A HOUSE. THERE WAS A LIVING ROOM AREA, A HUGE KITCHEN, NICE BATHROOM, AND EVEN A DOWNSTAIRS BASEMENT WITH A BATHROOM AND SLEEPING AREA FOR THE BOYS. EVERYONE WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL SO ANTHONY TOOK US ALL OUT FOR DINNER AT THE BURRITO HOUSE, WHICH KICKED ASS.
ALSO I FINALLY GOT TO MEET ANGIE, THE BAND’S PUBLICIST, WHO I’D BEEN DEALING WITH OVER THE PHONE. SHE WAS SUPER AWESOME AND HAS SUCH GREAT IDEAS FOR THE BAND AND THE COMPANY. SHE WAS TELLING ME HOW SHE USED TO WORK FOR SPIN AND I WAS TELLING HER HOW I WAS INTERESTED IN WRITING, SO HOPEFULLY I’LL BE ABLE TO GO WITH HER TO THE SXSW SPIN PARTY AND MEET SOME PEOPLE THERE. ALEX ALSO OVERHEARD ME TALKING ABOUT FINDING ANOTHER GIG AFTER THIS ONE AND GAVE MY NUMBER TO HIS FRIEND’S BAND LES BREASTFEEDERS, WHO WILL BE AT SXSW SO I’LL GET TO CHECK THEM OUT TOO.
AFTER EATING, WE ALL WENT TO BED. THE FIRST NIGHT SUCKED BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY COLD AND I WAS SLEEPING ON TWO SOFA CUSIONS ON THE FLOOR IN A SLEEPING BAG, SOMEHOW I THOUGHT THE FLOOR WOULD BE BETTER, MAYBE IF IT WAS CARPETED.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
KEXP STATION & CHOP SUEY- TOUR DAY 4
KEXP STATION SEATTLE, WA
I WOKE UP A LITTLE GROGGY FROM TWO HOURS SLEEP. AFTER GATHERING EVERYTHING FOR THE TRIP, THE BAND AND MYSELF LOADED INTO A SUPER SHUTTLE AND WENT TO LAX. THE CHECK IN WENT PRETTY SMOOTH, AND SO DID THE FLIGHT.
WE LANDED AROUND 9AM AND I PICKED UP THE VAN FOR THE DAY TO TAKE THE BAND TO KEXP STATION FOR THEIR INTERVIEW/ON-AIR PERFORMANCE. THE VAN WAS A LITTLE SMALLER THEN EXPECTED AND THE BAND WASN’T TOO CRAZY ABOUT THAT SINCE I SUPPOSE THEY DID A TOUR IN CANADA AND RECEIVED A 15 PASSANGER VAN FOR ALL THEIR GIGS. HOWEVER THEIR BUDGET WAS PROBABLY DIFFERENT FOR THIS AND VANS MIGHT BE CHEAPER TO RENT IN CANADA THEN THE STATES.
WE GOT TO THE STATION AFTER GETTING LOST A BIT. I REALLY HAVE NO GOOD DRIVING SKILLS, IT’S OFFICIAL AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO ADMIT IT. I’M SURE BY THE END OF THIS TRIP THEY’LL ALL BE SICK OF MY DRIVING SKILLS OR LACK THERE OF.
AT KEXP I COULDN’T TELL YOU HOW THIS EVENT REALLY WENT. I DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO DROP OFF ALL THE LUGGAGE FOR THE BAND AT THE HOTEL AND CHECK IN WHILE THEY WERE DOING THEIR THING HERE. BUT FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM ALL THE DJ’S IT WAS PRETTY DOPE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ISABELLE HAS A RECORDING OF THE PERFORMANCE, WHICH I’LL HAVE TO SNAG SOMETIME.
ANYWAYS, I WENT TO THE HOTEL BOUT 20MINS DOWN THE ROAD, IT WASN’T THE BEST PLACE TO STAY AND THEY CHARGED US EXTRA FOR ANOTHER PERSON AND A COTT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS DOABLE FOR THE BAND TO HAVE.
AFTER DEALING WITH THE HOTEL AND BAGGAGE I WENT TO PICK UP THE BAND AND MET UP WITH SHANNON A DJ I WAS KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH DURING THE WHOLE ADVANCING FOR THIS. SHE WAS SUPER COOL AND HAD JUST GOT THIS AWESOME TATTOO ON HER SHOULDER WHICH REPRESENTED SOME BAND SHE WAS INTO (I CAN’T REMEMBER THEIR NAME). AFTER SAYING GOODBYES’ AND ‘CATCH YA LATERS’ TO THE KEXP PEOPLE WE HEADED TO THE HOTEL.
AGAIN THE BAND PUSHED FOR A LINECHECK SO THEY COULD GET SOME SLEEP, I CAN’T BLAME THEM I WAS PRETTY BEAT TOO. HOWEVER TROUBLE AROSE ONCE WE ARRIVED AT THE VENUE. I SUPPOSE THAT FRANCOIS IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE SLEEPING CONDITIONS FOR THE BAND, AND WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT, HAS DISCS IN HIS BACK…SO HE WASN’T VERY DOWN WITH SLEEPING ON THE COT. STEPHANE ASKED IF THE BUDGET HAD ROOM FOR AN EXTRA BEDROOM AND I TOLD HIM NO, I ALSO SAID I’D TAKE THE COT, BECAUSE FRANKLY I DON’T CARE, I EXPECTED THIS TO BE A ROUGH AND TUMBLE TOUR. FRANCOIS HOWEVER ENDED UP GETTING HIS OWN ROOM ON HIS OWN DIME THAT EVENING. I FELT BAD, AND TOLD ANTHONY AT THE LABEL, BUT ANTHONY WAS REALISTIC ABOUT IT, WHICH I AM TOO. WE CAN’T GO SPENDING EXTRA MONEY AT THIS POINT FOR ANOTHER BEDROOM WHEN WE CAN ROOM PEOPLE CHEAPER.
PEOPLE THEN WENT TO SLEEP ETC. I STAYED UP AND JUST WORKED ON GETTING THINGS DONE. AT THIS POINT I WAS A LITTLE DELIRIOUS AND THE TASK OF GETTING A RENTAL VAN FOR CHICAGO AND EXTENDING THE RENTAL ON OUR AUSTIN GIGS WAS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TASK TO ME.
I HAD MY THIRD WIND AFTER WE GOT TO THE GIG THOUGH. WE PULLED UP RIGHT NEXT TO THE LOADING DOCK, MOVED ALL OUR STUFF IN AND THE BAND JUST HUNG OUT FOR A BIT WITH YOUNG KNIVES AND FUJIYA & MIYAGI. BOTH BANDS WERE AWESOME AND SUPER NICE PEOPLE. I HOPE AT SXSW WE’LL GET TO HANG WITH THEM AGAIN. I KNOW WE’RE PLAYING WITH BOTH BANDS AGAIN, I THINK THE YOUNG KNIVES MORE SO THEN FUJIYA & MIYAGI.
THE VENUE WAS ALSO REALLY AWESOME AND HAD A NICE DARK ASIAN VIBE TO IT. COLIN THE REP THERE KNEW HIS SHIT, AND WAS REALLY EASY GOING ABOUT EVERYTHING.. I CAUGHT SOME OF THE YOUNG KNIVES PLAYING, BUT MOSTLY CHECKED ON THE BAND TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE GOOD. I ALSO FOUND A VERSION OF THE VAN WE ARE GOING TO GET FOR OUR SXSW DATES. I RAN IT BY FRANCOIS AND HE WAS A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT IT AND STILL WANTED THE 15 PERSON VAN, BUT I THINK THAT THE STOW AND GO IS GONNA BE PERFECT TO BE QUITE HONEST.
WITH THAT LITTLE WORRY TAKEN CARE OF I WAITED TILL THE BAND WENT ON AND TOOK PICTURES FOR HALF OF THEIR PERFORMANCE, THEN I SOLD MERCH FOR THE REST OF THE PERFORMANCE. WE MADE 209 ON MERCH, I KINDA WISH I STUCK AROUND MORE, WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY SOLD MORE.
AFTER THE GIG I TRIED TO TAKE THE BAND TO GET SUSHI DOWN THE ROAD. TURNS OUT IT WAS WICKED FAR DOWN THE ROAD WHICH THEY WERE NOT ALL ABOUT WALKING FOR. SO WE BACK TRACKED AND THEY ATE PIZZA NEAR THE VENUE. THEY ALSO HAD THE BILL TAKEN CARE OF FOR THEM BY SOME AMERICAN/FRENCH FAN. HE LOVED THE SHOW AND SAID ‘LET ME SHOW YOU HOW ALL AMERICANS AREN’T ASS HOLES’ AND PAID FOR THEIR TAB. THEY WERE TOTALLY THRILLED BY THIS, WHICH MADE ME HAPPY. I REALLY WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD TIME WHILE THEY’RE HEAR IN AMERICA.
ALEX AND I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF LOADING THE VAN BACK UP BECAUSE CHOP SUEY HAD ANOTHER SHOW AND WAS KICKING EVERYONE OUT. WE MAD ABOUT 144 EXTRA BUCKS ON THE VENUE CUTT, AND AFTER THIS SHOW I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GIVE OUT SOME PER DIEM TO EVERYONE, WHICH REALLY MADE ME HAPPY.
WE LEFT THE GIG, WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND THE BAND CRASHED FOR THE NIGHT. AROUND THIS POINT THOUGH I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY BUDDY PETER SZYLAGI. HE HEARD THROUGH MY ROOMMATE DAN I WOULD BE IN SEATTLE WHEN HIIM AND HIS FRIEND ALEX WERE GOING TO BE THERE. I WAS THINKING OF BAILING ON THIS INVITE TO HANG SEEING AS HOW I WAS ON THE END OF MY THIRD WIND, BUT I THOUGHT ‘FUCK IT’ MIGHT AS WELL HANG, NOT GONNA HAVE TOO MUCH TIME TO DO SO ON THE ROAD. SO I MET UP WITH THEM AT THE PIKE BAR. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT STREET IT WAS ON BUT IT WAS A NICE HANG.
PETER AND ALEX WERE THERE FOR A BIG LEBOWSKI CONVENTION OR SHOWING THEY HAD AT THE THEATER ACROSS FROM THE BAR WHICH WAS AWESOME. I CAUGHT UP WITH ALEX WHO I HADN’T SEEN IN FOREVER AND HE TOLD ME HE DROPPED OUTTA THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE AND WAS DOING MORE COMPUTER BASED WORK, PROBABLY A SMART IDEA, I ONLY WISH I WAS SAVVY TO COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE SO I MIGHT TRY AND DO THAT WITH WEB DESIGN OR SOMETHING. ALEX IS ALSO APPARENTLY MOVING UP TO SAN FRAN AND IS HAVING SOME GOING AWAY PARTY AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WHICH I’LL TRY TO ATTEND. PETER WAS DOING WELL, STILL AT COMEDY CENTRAL I BELIEVE, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIIM AND HANG FOR A BIT.
I ONLY STAYED FOR 30MNS BUT IT WAS WELL SPENT OVERALL. I THEN WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND CRASHED FOR THE NIGHT.
I WOKE UP A LITTLE GROGGY FROM TWO HOURS SLEEP. AFTER GATHERING EVERYTHING FOR THE TRIP, THE BAND AND MYSELF LOADED INTO A SUPER SHUTTLE AND WENT TO LAX. THE CHECK IN WENT PRETTY SMOOTH, AND SO DID THE FLIGHT.
WE LANDED AROUND 9AM AND I PICKED UP THE VAN FOR THE DAY TO TAKE THE BAND TO KEXP STATION FOR THEIR INTERVIEW/ON-AIR PERFORMANCE. THE VAN WAS A LITTLE SMALLER THEN EXPECTED AND THE BAND WASN’T TOO CRAZY ABOUT THAT SINCE I SUPPOSE THEY DID A TOUR IN CANADA AND RECEIVED A 15 PASSANGER VAN FOR ALL THEIR GIGS. HOWEVER THEIR BUDGET WAS PROBABLY DIFFERENT FOR THIS AND VANS MIGHT BE CHEAPER TO RENT IN CANADA THEN THE STATES.
WE GOT TO THE STATION AFTER GETTING LOST A BIT. I REALLY HAVE NO GOOD DRIVING SKILLS, IT’S OFFICIAL AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO ADMIT IT. I’M SURE BY THE END OF THIS TRIP THEY’LL ALL BE SICK OF MY DRIVING SKILLS OR LACK THERE OF.
AT KEXP I COULDN’T TELL YOU HOW THIS EVENT REALLY WENT. I DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO DROP OFF ALL THE LUGGAGE FOR THE BAND AT THE HOTEL AND CHECK IN WHILE THEY WERE DOING THEIR THING HERE. BUT FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM ALL THE DJ’S IT WAS PRETTY DOPE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ISABELLE HAS A RECORDING OF THE PERFORMANCE, WHICH I’LL HAVE TO SNAG SOMETIME.
ANYWAYS, I WENT TO THE HOTEL BOUT 20MINS DOWN THE ROAD, IT WASN’T THE BEST PLACE TO STAY AND THEY CHARGED US EXTRA FOR ANOTHER PERSON AND A COTT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS DOABLE FOR THE BAND TO HAVE.
AFTER DEALING WITH THE HOTEL AND BAGGAGE I WENT TO PICK UP THE BAND AND MET UP WITH SHANNON A DJ I WAS KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH DURING THE WHOLE ADVANCING FOR THIS. SHE WAS SUPER COOL AND HAD JUST GOT THIS AWESOME TATTOO ON HER SHOULDER WHICH REPRESENTED SOME BAND SHE WAS INTO (I CAN’T REMEMBER THEIR NAME). AFTER SAYING GOODBYES’ AND ‘CATCH YA LATERS’ TO THE KEXP PEOPLE WE HEADED TO THE HOTEL.
AGAIN THE BAND PUSHED FOR A LINECHECK SO THEY COULD GET SOME SLEEP, I CAN’T BLAME THEM I WAS PRETTY BEAT TOO. HOWEVER TROUBLE AROSE ONCE WE ARRIVED AT THE VENUE. I SUPPOSE THAT FRANCOIS IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE SLEEPING CONDITIONS FOR THE BAND, AND WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT, HAS DISCS IN HIS BACK…SO HE WASN’T VERY DOWN WITH SLEEPING ON THE COT. STEPHANE ASKED IF THE BUDGET HAD ROOM FOR AN EXTRA BEDROOM AND I TOLD HIM NO, I ALSO SAID I’D TAKE THE COT, BECAUSE FRANKLY I DON’T CARE, I EXPECTED THIS TO BE A ROUGH AND TUMBLE TOUR. FRANCOIS HOWEVER ENDED UP GETTING HIS OWN ROOM ON HIS OWN DIME THAT EVENING. I FELT BAD, AND TOLD ANTHONY AT THE LABEL, BUT ANTHONY WAS REALISTIC ABOUT IT, WHICH I AM TOO. WE CAN’T GO SPENDING EXTRA MONEY AT THIS POINT FOR ANOTHER BEDROOM WHEN WE CAN ROOM PEOPLE CHEAPER.
PEOPLE THEN WENT TO SLEEP ETC. I STAYED UP AND JUST WORKED ON GETTING THINGS DONE. AT THIS POINT I WAS A LITTLE DELIRIOUS AND THE TASK OF GETTING A RENTAL VAN FOR CHICAGO AND EXTENDING THE RENTAL ON OUR AUSTIN GIGS WAS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TASK TO ME.
I HAD MY THIRD WIND AFTER WE GOT TO THE GIG THOUGH. WE PULLED UP RIGHT NEXT TO THE LOADING DOCK, MOVED ALL OUR STUFF IN AND THE BAND JUST HUNG OUT FOR A BIT WITH YOUNG KNIVES AND FUJIYA & MIYAGI. BOTH BANDS WERE AWESOME AND SUPER NICE PEOPLE. I HOPE AT SXSW WE’LL GET TO HANG WITH THEM AGAIN. I KNOW WE’RE PLAYING WITH BOTH BANDS AGAIN, I THINK THE YOUNG KNIVES MORE SO THEN FUJIYA & MIYAGI.
THE VENUE WAS ALSO REALLY AWESOME AND HAD A NICE DARK ASIAN VIBE TO IT. COLIN THE REP THERE KNEW HIS SHIT, AND WAS REALLY EASY GOING ABOUT EVERYTHING.. I CAUGHT SOME OF THE YOUNG KNIVES PLAYING, BUT MOSTLY CHECKED ON THE BAND TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE GOOD. I ALSO FOUND A VERSION OF THE VAN WE ARE GOING TO GET FOR OUR SXSW DATES. I RAN IT BY FRANCOIS AND HE WAS A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT IT AND STILL WANTED THE 15 PERSON VAN, BUT I THINK THAT THE STOW AND GO IS GONNA BE PERFECT TO BE QUITE HONEST.
WITH THAT LITTLE WORRY TAKEN CARE OF I WAITED TILL THE BAND WENT ON AND TOOK PICTURES FOR HALF OF THEIR PERFORMANCE, THEN I SOLD MERCH FOR THE REST OF THE PERFORMANCE. WE MADE 209 ON MERCH, I KINDA WISH I STUCK AROUND MORE, WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY SOLD MORE.
AFTER THE GIG I TRIED TO TAKE THE BAND TO GET SUSHI DOWN THE ROAD. TURNS OUT IT WAS WICKED FAR DOWN THE ROAD WHICH THEY WERE NOT ALL ABOUT WALKING FOR. SO WE BACK TRACKED AND THEY ATE PIZZA NEAR THE VENUE. THEY ALSO HAD THE BILL TAKEN CARE OF FOR THEM BY SOME AMERICAN/FRENCH FAN. HE LOVED THE SHOW AND SAID ‘LET ME SHOW YOU HOW ALL AMERICANS AREN’T ASS HOLES’ AND PAID FOR THEIR TAB. THEY WERE TOTALLY THRILLED BY THIS, WHICH MADE ME HAPPY. I REALLY WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD TIME WHILE THEY’RE HEAR IN AMERICA.
ALEX AND I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF LOADING THE VAN BACK UP BECAUSE CHOP SUEY HAD ANOTHER SHOW AND WAS KICKING EVERYONE OUT. WE MAD ABOUT 144 EXTRA BUCKS ON THE VENUE CUTT, AND AFTER THIS SHOW I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GIVE OUT SOME PER DIEM TO EVERYONE, WHICH REALLY MADE ME HAPPY.
WE LEFT THE GIG, WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND THE BAND CRASHED FOR THE NIGHT. AROUND THIS POINT THOUGH I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY BUDDY PETER SZYLAGI. HE HEARD THROUGH MY ROOMMATE DAN I WOULD BE IN SEATTLE WHEN HIIM AND HIS FRIEND ALEX WERE GOING TO BE THERE. I WAS THINKING OF BAILING ON THIS INVITE TO HANG SEEING AS HOW I WAS ON THE END OF MY THIRD WIND, BUT I THOUGHT ‘FUCK IT’ MIGHT AS WELL HANG, NOT GONNA HAVE TOO MUCH TIME TO DO SO ON THE ROAD. SO I MET UP WITH THEM AT THE PIKE BAR. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT STREET IT WAS ON BUT IT WAS A NICE HANG.
PETER AND ALEX WERE THERE FOR A BIG LEBOWSKI CONVENTION OR SHOWING THEY HAD AT THE THEATER ACROSS FROM THE BAR WHICH WAS AWESOME. I CAUGHT UP WITH ALEX WHO I HADN’T SEEN IN FOREVER AND HE TOLD ME HE DROPPED OUTTA THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE AND WAS DOING MORE COMPUTER BASED WORK, PROBABLY A SMART IDEA, I ONLY WISH I WAS SAVVY TO COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE SO I MIGHT TRY AND DO THAT WITH WEB DESIGN OR SOMETHING. ALEX IS ALSO APPARENTLY MOVING UP TO SAN FRAN AND IS HAVING SOME GOING AWAY PARTY AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WHICH I’LL TRY TO ATTEND. PETER WAS DOING WELL, STILL AT COMEDY CENTRAL I BELIEVE, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIIM AND HANG FOR A BIT.
I ONLY STAYED FOR 30MNS BUT IT WAS WELL SPENT OVERALL. I THEN WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND CRASHED FOR THE NIGHT.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
THE TANGIER- Tour Day 3
TANGIER
TODAY I WOKE UP REALLY EARLY AND CLEANED THE KITCHEN, MY BEDROOM, AND THE LIVING ROOM TO GET THE HOUSE READY FOR THE BAND.
AFTER PICKING THEM UP AND DROPPING OFF THEIR GEAR AND LUGGAGE, I TOOK THEM DOWN TO MELROSE FOR THE DAY TO GO SHOPPING. THEY REALLY DIG VINTAGE T-SHIRTS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, SO MELROSE WAS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THEM TO KILL SOME TIME BEFORE THE SHOW. MEANWHILE I WENT TO THIS LITTLE INTERNET CAFÉ FOR A BIT TO CHECK MAIL AND DO SOME MORE ADVANCING. I THINK IT WAS CALLED @ CAFÉ. ANY WHO, THEY HAD FREE WIRELESS FOR THE FIRST HOUR, SO I’LL HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND NEXT TIME I CRUISE DOWN TO MELROSE FOR ANYTHING AND NEED TO GET SOME WORK DONE IN THE PROCESS.
I LATER HAD TIME TO HEAD BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PICK UP SOME THINGS FOR THE TRIP LIKE WHITEOUT AND TOOTHPASTE. I ALSO HAD A MOMENT TO COOK UP SOME BROCCOLI AND EGGS FOR LUNCH WHICH WAS REALLY YUMMY WITH THIS AWESOME CILANTrO SPICE I BOUGHT AT THE L.A. COUNTY FAIR THIS PAST YEAR.
I HIGH-TAILED IT BACK TO MEET THE BAND SHORTLY AFTER. THEY BOUGHT JUST SMALL THINGS LIKE, T-SHIRTS, SUNGLASSES, SCARVES, AND THINGS FOR THEIR KIDS. (THE GUITAR PLAYER AND BASS PLAYER EACH HAVE SOME NEW BABIES ). WE WENT BACK TO MY PLACE AND KEEPING IN MIND HOW WE WERE SITTING AROUND AND WAITING LAST NIGHT FOR A LINECHECK/SOUNDCHECK, AND HOW ANNOYING THAT WAS, THE BAND DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO CHILL AT MY PLACE TILL THEY REALLY NEEDED TO SHOW UP, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEFORE THEY PLAYED.
THIS IS TOTALLY SOMETHING I HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE, I’M SO USED TO WORKING ON THE CREW SIDE OF THINGS I FORGET COMLPETELY THAT THE BAND ARRIVES LATER, DOESN’T DO ANY WAITING, AND JUST DOES THEIR SOUNDCHECK/LINECHECK THEN BAILS FOR DINNER OR TO CHILL BEFORE THEY PLAY. ON THIS TRIP I’VE SLIPPED UP A BIT ON THAT, BUT IT’S ONLY A MINOR KINK IN MARY B’S PLAN FOR ACTION.
I WENT TO THE VENUE EARLY BECAUSE SCOTT STERLING TOLD THE BAND WHO’S BACKLINE WE WERE BORROWING TO SHOW UP EARLY FOR US. SO IF NO ONE WAS GOING TO BE THERE TO REP. PROTOTYPES, PAPILLON (THE OTHER BAND) MIGHT BE ALL ‘WTF’.
THE VENUE WAS COOL, EXACTLY WHAT I REMEMBER FROM SEEING DR. DOG PLAY. IT’S NOT A GOOD VENUE FOR THE PROTOTYPES THOUGH, I MEAN THE SHOW WENT WELL, BUT IT JUST WASN’T A TYPICAL VENUE THEY WOULD PLAY.
IT WAS GOOD THOUGH TO GET THERE EARLY AND TALK TO THE OTHER BANDS, THAT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THE JOB IS TO TALK TO THE OTHER BANDS AND HEAR THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD AND SUCH.
PAPILLON WAS TELLING ME HOW THEY KNOW THE BRIAN JOANSTOWN MASSACRE AND THE INFAMOUS ANTONE FROM THAT BAND. IT WAS INTERESTING HEARING THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE BAND AND HOW IT’S INTERESTING FOR THEM TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE’S TAKE ON THE BAND FROM JUST WATCHING THE DIG DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THEM.
REAL COOL PEEPS, THOSE BOYS, I WAS EVEN ABLE TO SCORE AN E.P. FROM THEM WHICH ROCKED.
ALSO SOFT LIGHTEES AND THE OPENER WERE GREAT TOO. I DIDN’T GET TO TALK TO THEM TOO MUCH. BUT I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO CHECK THEM OUT NEXT TIME I HAVE A MOMENT IN LA.
I SAW SCOTT DOWN AT THE VENUE, BUT I THINK HE JUST SHOWED UP TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE COOL AND BAILED FOR ANOTHER SHOW. I’M PRETTY SURE HE WAS STILL IRRITATED ABOUT THE WHOLE CAMERA SITUATION AT THE BORDELLO BUT OH WELL, HE’LL GET OVER IT I’M SURE.
EVENTUALLY I WENT BACK HOME TO GO PICK UP THE BAND. THEY WERE JUST WATCHING SOME TV AND TAKING NAPS WHEN I ARRIVED. IT SUCKS THEY WERE REALLY JET LAGGED. ESPECIALLY THE DRUMMER, ALEX. HE HAD TO FLY FROM MONTREAL (HIS PLANE ALSO WAS DELAYED) TO PARIS. STAY IN PARIS FOR TWO DAYS TO PRACTICE, THEN FLY TO LA. POOR THING.
ANYWAYS, THE BAND GOT TO THE VENUE ON TIME. SOCIALIZED WITH PAPILLON FOR A BIT, THEN WENT ON.
ONE AWESOME PART OF THE EVENING WAS SEEING NICK, EM, TIM LUKE, AND FRANCESCA. THAT’S PROBABLY LIKE THE 5TH TIME ANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE COME OUT TO SEE THE SHOW AND ME. BUT PROBABLY THE FIRST ONE IN LA SO IT REALLY MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO ME THEY WOULD COME OUT AND SEE THE BAND AND SUPPORT ME. SO THANKS GUYS! ;).
THE GUYS PUT ON A GOOD SHOW. ISABELLE HAD ME TAKE PICTURES. MOST PICS I TOOK WERE OF HER THOUGH BECAUSE THE ROOM WAS SOOO DARK YOU COULN’T SEE ANY OF THE BOYS ON FILM.
THIS SHOW WAS BETTER THEN THE BORDELLO, BASICALLY BECAUSE SOFT LIGHTEES WERE AWESOME ABOUT GETTING OFF OF THE STAGE ON TIME AND MY BAND GETTING IN ON TIME. ALSO I THINK THE GUYS HAD MORE SLEEP WHICH IS ALWAYS KEY ON THE ROAD.
AFTER THE GIG WE LOADED UP. I HUNG AROUND AND PUSHED SOME MERCH ON ONE TABLE SCORING 17 BUCKS FOR THE NIGHT, SAID GOODBYE TO MY FRIENDS, AND WE BAILED TO MY HOUSE.
WHEN WE GOT BACK, WE HAD ONLY ABOUT TWO HOURS TO SLEEP BEFORE TAKING A SUPER SHUTTLE RIDE TO THE AIRPORT. I WAS THINKING OF DEALING WITH VAN NUY’S FLY AWAY AND THE WHOLE CAB THING, BUT THEN I WAS LIKE 'SCREW THAT', IT’S GONNA BE TOO MUCH OF A PAIN IN THE ASS FOR THE BAND TO DO THAT. SO WE DIDN’T.
TODAY I WOKE UP REALLY EARLY AND CLEANED THE KITCHEN, MY BEDROOM, AND THE LIVING ROOM TO GET THE HOUSE READY FOR THE BAND.
AFTER PICKING THEM UP AND DROPPING OFF THEIR GEAR AND LUGGAGE, I TOOK THEM DOWN TO MELROSE FOR THE DAY TO GO SHOPPING. THEY REALLY DIG VINTAGE T-SHIRTS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, SO MELROSE WAS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THEM TO KILL SOME TIME BEFORE THE SHOW. MEANWHILE I WENT TO THIS LITTLE INTERNET CAFÉ FOR A BIT TO CHECK MAIL AND DO SOME MORE ADVANCING. I THINK IT WAS CALLED @ CAFÉ. ANY WHO, THEY HAD FREE WIRELESS FOR THE FIRST HOUR, SO I’LL HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND NEXT TIME I CRUISE DOWN TO MELROSE FOR ANYTHING AND NEED TO GET SOME WORK DONE IN THE PROCESS.
I LATER HAD TIME TO HEAD BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PICK UP SOME THINGS FOR THE TRIP LIKE WHITEOUT AND TOOTHPASTE. I ALSO HAD A MOMENT TO COOK UP SOME BROCCOLI AND EGGS FOR LUNCH WHICH WAS REALLY YUMMY WITH THIS AWESOME CILANTrO SPICE I BOUGHT AT THE L.A. COUNTY FAIR THIS PAST YEAR.
I HIGH-TAILED IT BACK TO MEET THE BAND SHORTLY AFTER. THEY BOUGHT JUST SMALL THINGS LIKE, T-SHIRTS, SUNGLASSES, SCARVES, AND THINGS FOR THEIR KIDS. (THE GUITAR PLAYER AND BASS PLAYER EACH HAVE SOME NEW BABIES ). WE WENT BACK TO MY PLACE AND KEEPING IN MIND HOW WE WERE SITTING AROUND AND WAITING LAST NIGHT FOR A LINECHECK/SOUNDCHECK, AND HOW ANNOYING THAT WAS, THE BAND DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO CHILL AT MY PLACE TILL THEY REALLY NEEDED TO SHOW UP, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEFORE THEY PLAYED.
THIS IS TOTALLY SOMETHING I HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE, I’M SO USED TO WORKING ON THE CREW SIDE OF THINGS I FORGET COMLPETELY THAT THE BAND ARRIVES LATER, DOESN’T DO ANY WAITING, AND JUST DOES THEIR SOUNDCHECK/LINECHECK THEN BAILS FOR DINNER OR TO CHILL BEFORE THEY PLAY. ON THIS TRIP I’VE SLIPPED UP A BIT ON THAT, BUT IT’S ONLY A MINOR KINK IN MARY B’S PLAN FOR ACTION.
I WENT TO THE VENUE EARLY BECAUSE SCOTT STERLING TOLD THE BAND WHO’S BACKLINE WE WERE BORROWING TO SHOW UP EARLY FOR US. SO IF NO ONE WAS GOING TO BE THERE TO REP. PROTOTYPES, PAPILLON (THE OTHER BAND) MIGHT BE ALL ‘WTF’.
THE VENUE WAS COOL, EXACTLY WHAT I REMEMBER FROM SEEING DR. DOG PLAY. IT’S NOT A GOOD VENUE FOR THE PROTOTYPES THOUGH, I MEAN THE SHOW WENT WELL, BUT IT JUST WASN’T A TYPICAL VENUE THEY WOULD PLAY.
IT WAS GOOD THOUGH TO GET THERE EARLY AND TALK TO THE OTHER BANDS, THAT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THE JOB IS TO TALK TO THE OTHER BANDS AND HEAR THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD AND SUCH.
PAPILLON WAS TELLING ME HOW THEY KNOW THE BRIAN JOANSTOWN MASSACRE AND THE INFAMOUS ANTONE FROM THAT BAND. IT WAS INTERESTING HEARING THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE BAND AND HOW IT’S INTERESTING FOR THEM TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE’S TAKE ON THE BAND FROM JUST WATCHING THE DIG DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THEM.
REAL COOL PEEPS, THOSE BOYS, I WAS EVEN ABLE TO SCORE AN E.P. FROM THEM WHICH ROCKED.
ALSO SOFT LIGHTEES AND THE OPENER WERE GREAT TOO. I DIDN’T GET TO TALK TO THEM TOO MUCH. BUT I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO CHECK THEM OUT NEXT TIME I HAVE A MOMENT IN LA.
I SAW SCOTT DOWN AT THE VENUE, BUT I THINK HE JUST SHOWED UP TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE COOL AND BAILED FOR ANOTHER SHOW. I’M PRETTY SURE HE WAS STILL IRRITATED ABOUT THE WHOLE CAMERA SITUATION AT THE BORDELLO BUT OH WELL, HE’LL GET OVER IT I’M SURE.
EVENTUALLY I WENT BACK HOME TO GO PICK UP THE BAND. THEY WERE JUST WATCHING SOME TV AND TAKING NAPS WHEN I ARRIVED. IT SUCKS THEY WERE REALLY JET LAGGED. ESPECIALLY THE DRUMMER, ALEX. HE HAD TO FLY FROM MONTREAL (HIS PLANE ALSO WAS DELAYED) TO PARIS. STAY IN PARIS FOR TWO DAYS TO PRACTICE, THEN FLY TO LA. POOR THING.
ANYWAYS, THE BAND GOT TO THE VENUE ON TIME. SOCIALIZED WITH PAPILLON FOR A BIT, THEN WENT ON.
ONE AWESOME PART OF THE EVENING WAS SEEING NICK, EM, TIM LUKE, AND FRANCESCA. THAT’S PROBABLY LIKE THE 5TH TIME ANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE COME OUT TO SEE THE SHOW AND ME. BUT PROBABLY THE FIRST ONE IN LA SO IT REALLY MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO ME THEY WOULD COME OUT AND SEE THE BAND AND SUPPORT ME. SO THANKS GUYS! ;).
THE GUYS PUT ON A GOOD SHOW. ISABELLE HAD ME TAKE PICTURES. MOST PICS I TOOK WERE OF HER THOUGH BECAUSE THE ROOM WAS SOOO DARK YOU COULN’T SEE ANY OF THE BOYS ON FILM.
THIS SHOW WAS BETTER THEN THE BORDELLO, BASICALLY BECAUSE SOFT LIGHTEES WERE AWESOME ABOUT GETTING OFF OF THE STAGE ON TIME AND MY BAND GETTING IN ON TIME. ALSO I THINK THE GUYS HAD MORE SLEEP WHICH IS ALWAYS KEY ON THE ROAD.
AFTER THE GIG WE LOADED UP. I HUNG AROUND AND PUSHED SOME MERCH ON ONE TABLE SCORING 17 BUCKS FOR THE NIGHT, SAID GOODBYE TO MY FRIENDS, AND WE BAILED TO MY HOUSE.
WHEN WE GOT BACK, WE HAD ONLY ABOUT TWO HOURS TO SLEEP BEFORE TAKING A SUPER SHUTTLE RIDE TO THE AIRPORT. I WAS THINKING OF DEALING WITH VAN NUY’S FLY AWAY AND THE WHOLE CAB THING, BUT THEN I WAS LIKE 'SCREW THAT', IT’S GONNA BE TOO MUCH OF A PAIN IN THE ASS FOR THE BAND TO DO THAT. SO WE DIDN’T.
Monday, March 12, 2007
THE BORDELLO- Tour Day 2
BORDELLO
So sorry for the delay in my tour diary, it’s kinda hard to keep up given the errands to do and the lack of internet available at venues.
10AM I went to pick up Alex and Isabelle to take care of getting drum sticks and some shoes repaired. Stephane and Francois decided to come along as well. After dropping off Isabelle’s boots, we went to the guitar center on sunset. The band enjoyed looking at all the hand prints in front of the store and took some pictures as well.
After that Stephane told me he wanted to meet up with a director friend of his, Twist, who I guess is well known for doing one of the Vines videos, also his brother did eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. We arranged to meet up with him at the Griddle after picking up Isabelle’s shoes from the repair shop. Until it was time to go there though, I showed them around LA. I ended up taking them by Ozzy’s house, through Bel Air, and all the way up the PCH back tracking through Santa Monica. They had a really good time laughing and talked to me here and there to answer some questions they had.
After picking up Isabelle’s shoes we went to the Griddle. It was a good meal. I don’t’ know if they enjoyed it or not, but they seemed happy. I didn’t have too much to add to the group conversation after Twist arrived, because everyone was conversing in French. But I’m not really a big talker in large groups of people anyways so it suited me just fine.
After the gig we went back to their hotel and they got ready for the show while I went home to grab my computer and tour book for the day. I picked them up a little after 5 and we went down to the venue. The main band Paris Love L.A. was on stage working out all the details of their performance. They were taking a very long time though, and the band who’s backline we were using weren’t going to show up until 9pm that night. So the band dropped their gear and went back up to the hotel. I hung around the venue to catch some of the show and prepped the guestlist.
Paris Loves L.A. was a good band, but they weren’t that great in my opinion. Also they hogged the stage and went over their set time and no one did anything about it. This caused the prototypes and magic & rattles to shorten their set. One thing that will piss people off is when you go over your set time by taking a long ass break and they playing ten more songs after that break. Very uncool on Paris Loves L.A’s part, And I’m kinda mad that the plug wasn’t pulled on this band for doing that because it should have been.
Anyways Adrian Greier? The main dude in the HBO show Entourage was there. He came to see Paris Loves L.A. I think, what a silly choice on his part, He should have stayed later for the Prototypes when we went on which was 12:11, not 11pm. After the show we loaded up. The band was still jet lagged so I took them to the hotel.
Problems with this show included not having enough comp tix for the guest list, and Twist getting in trouble with the venue for having a camera rig. People being all “L.A’ about things is a pain in the ass sometimes, meaning Twist getting booted not him filming. Aside from that it went okay. The show had some technical difficulties, but they’ve been adjusted since.
After the show I also forgot to get the cutt from the venue, but raced back and caught up with the promoter and got our whopping 60 bucks. Then I think I went home and tried to sleep…
That’s all for now, I know I’m a loser for doing that, but I have to go to bed, I will try to write more tomorrow because I have most of the day free.
Cheers,
mary
So sorry for the delay in my tour diary, it’s kinda hard to keep up given the errands to do and the lack of internet available at venues.
10AM I went to pick up Alex and Isabelle to take care of getting drum sticks and some shoes repaired. Stephane and Francois decided to come along as well. After dropping off Isabelle’s boots, we went to the guitar center on sunset. The band enjoyed looking at all the hand prints in front of the store and took some pictures as well.
After that Stephane told me he wanted to meet up with a director friend of his, Twist, who I guess is well known for doing one of the Vines videos, also his brother did eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. We arranged to meet up with him at the Griddle after picking up Isabelle’s shoes from the repair shop. Until it was time to go there though, I showed them around LA. I ended up taking them by Ozzy’s house, through Bel Air, and all the way up the PCH back tracking through Santa Monica. They had a really good time laughing and talked to me here and there to answer some questions they had.
After picking up Isabelle’s shoes we went to the Griddle. It was a good meal. I don’t’ know if they enjoyed it or not, but they seemed happy. I didn’t have too much to add to the group conversation after Twist arrived, because everyone was conversing in French. But I’m not really a big talker in large groups of people anyways so it suited me just fine.
After the gig we went back to their hotel and they got ready for the show while I went home to grab my computer and tour book for the day. I picked them up a little after 5 and we went down to the venue. The main band Paris Love L.A. was on stage working out all the details of their performance. They were taking a very long time though, and the band who’s backline we were using weren’t going to show up until 9pm that night. So the band dropped their gear and went back up to the hotel. I hung around the venue to catch some of the show and prepped the guestlist.
Paris Loves L.A. was a good band, but they weren’t that great in my opinion. Also they hogged the stage and went over their set time and no one did anything about it. This caused the prototypes and magic & rattles to shorten their set. One thing that will piss people off is when you go over your set time by taking a long ass break and they playing ten more songs after that break. Very uncool on Paris Loves L.A’s part, And I’m kinda mad that the plug wasn’t pulled on this band for doing that because it should have been.
Anyways Adrian Greier? The main dude in the HBO show Entourage was there. He came to see Paris Loves L.A. I think, what a silly choice on his part, He should have stayed later for the Prototypes when we went on which was 12:11, not 11pm. After the show we loaded up. The band was still jet lagged so I took them to the hotel.
Problems with this show included not having enough comp tix for the guest list, and Twist getting in trouble with the venue for having a camera rig. People being all “L.A’ about things is a pain in the ass sometimes, meaning Twist getting booted not him filming. Aside from that it went okay. The show had some technical difficulties, but they’ve been adjusted since.
After the show I also forgot to get the cutt from the venue, but raced back and caught up with the promoter and got our whopping 60 bucks. Then I think I went home and tried to sleep…
That’s all for now, I know I’m a loser for doing that, but I have to go to bed, I will try to write more tomorrow because I have most of the day free.
Cheers,
mary
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Prototypes Tour Day 1
For some reason today I wasn't wiggin'out about touring...I think that's because I got a head start on it two days ago, when I felt I didn't have time to get everything done.
Anyways, I went to the airport and met up with Francois which went smoothly. He was mostly very tired and drunk from what he told me, which made me more relaxed. He really wanted to get to the hotel, and since my car didn't have enough room for his luggage plus the rest of the band's (who arrived later) I took him to the hotel first.
I was a little crazed when checking him in and having the room keys...
Then I left for the airport again and ended up getting in around an hour after I should have been there to pick up Stephane, Isabelle, and Alexandre. I already told Francois though to (call, or leave a message) for Stephane so they would know i was running late and why. They were in good spirits when I met up with them, but very tired all the same.
I dropped them off at their hotel and they invited me to come out to dinner with them.
We ended up going to Mel's diner right near Hollywood and Highland. Dinner went fine, lots and French and English being thrown around. They also were very happy with how organized I am and pleased with their tour booklets, which made me very happy.
After dinner we went to the Famous Groemanns Chinese theater for them to check out. Since we have two shows in L.A. it's going to be hard for them to get out and actually see L.A. so I think they were happy with walking on Hollywood Blvd for a bit.
So, one day down, went pretty well, tomorrow we'll see how the actual show day goes.
Here's info on that if any L.A. pals wanna stop on by.
Bordello
901 E 1st Street
Los Angeles, Ca 90026
we go on at 11pm
support: Paris loves France and Magic & Rattles.
tix: 5.00
signin' out.
Anyways, I went to the airport and met up with Francois which went smoothly. He was mostly very tired and drunk from what he told me, which made me more relaxed. He really wanted to get to the hotel, and since my car didn't have enough room for his luggage plus the rest of the band's (who arrived later) I took him to the hotel first.
I was a little crazed when checking him in and having the room keys...
Then I left for the airport again and ended up getting in around an hour after I should have been there to pick up Stephane, Isabelle, and Alexandre. I already told Francois though to (call, or leave a message) for Stephane so they would know i was running late and why. They were in good spirits when I met up with them, but very tired all the same.
I dropped them off at their hotel and they invited me to come out to dinner with them.
We ended up going to Mel's diner right near Hollywood and Highland. Dinner went fine, lots and French and English being thrown around. They also were very happy with how organized I am and pleased with their tour booklets, which made me very happy.
After dinner we went to the Famous Groemanns Chinese theater for them to check out. Since we have two shows in L.A. it's going to be hard for them to get out and actually see L.A. so I think they were happy with walking on Hollywood Blvd for a bit.
So, one day down, went pretty well, tomorrow we'll see how the actual show day goes.
Here's info on that if any L.A. pals wanna stop on by.
Bordello
901 E 1st Street
Los Angeles, Ca 90026
we go on at 11pm
support: Paris loves France and Magic & Rattles.
tix: 5.00
signin' out.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Getting Excited
Well Folks,
At the end of this week I will be wrapping up my gig doing sound for the Lady Bird play. The Crew and Cast have been great and I know I'm going to miss it in some ways....but it was always cold there and my car sometimes didn't start so in other ways I won't miss it one bit!
The Prototypes tour is shaping up nicely, just a few more people need to get back to me about backline and I should be all set to rock this beast. I just hope I don't get yelled at, would cause me to be more nerve racked then I already am. However I know if I just take a deep breathe and think back to the days I was under the leadership of the TM from BBVD for consultation I'll be fine.
There was a post on myspace today for the Prototypes' Video "Who's Gonna Sing". Here it is!
Who's gonna sing/Prototypes/clip-video
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Hopefully this will show up.
Off to the gym and to see black snake moan!!!
At the end of this week I will be wrapping up my gig doing sound for the Lady Bird play. The Crew and Cast have been great and I know I'm going to miss it in some ways....but it was always cold there and my car sometimes didn't start so in other ways I won't miss it one bit!
The Prototypes tour is shaping up nicely, just a few more people need to get back to me about backline and I should be all set to rock this beast. I just hope I don't get yelled at, would cause me to be more nerve racked then I already am. However I know if I just take a deep breathe and think back to the days I was under the leadership of the TM from BBVD for consultation I'll be fine.
There was a post on myspace today for the Prototypes' Video "Who's Gonna Sing". Here it is!
Who's gonna sing/Prototypes/clip-video
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Hopefully this will show up.
Off to the gym and to see black snake moan!!!
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