Thicker than blood

My good friend moved this week. It wouldn’t normally be such a big deal when a friend moves except this time he is moving to another state.
This now puts 4 really good friends in different states across the country. Friends that found each other and bonded over music and all came from sorted home lives. It’s sad to think we may not see each other again or even be in the same room at the same time.
One by one each of us left the sanctuary of our small town to chase a dream or change the course of our lives at the time. We have each been succesful In our course of action to some degree and I only wish the best for my brothers.
I know time time will tell our history and each of us will rise to new challenges, but sometimes i just really miss my brothers in arms. We have a bond that can never be broken; to my brothers, I raise a toast.

Moving

I haven’t posted in a week or so. I have been preparing to move. Moving the practice of going through all the little memories and objects that make up your life and surroundings, placing them in a box loading them in a truck driving to the new place unloading everything and trying to figure out where your favorite guitar pick ended up. Change is good I will be living closer to work, closer to town which means closer to the bars and ease of going out. Gone is the wonderful wood stove. The dark night to check out the stars and being able to go outside naked if I liked, and I liked. You take the bad with the good. Ill miss the little cottage.

Photos

Big Train

Hanks in L.A.

The Office. I never mid going to work here. No window but a different city every night.

Strictly Medicinal…

Leaving Las Vegas

Things are done. The tour is over and the band is off to Russia. The Vegas gig was pretty rad. we played at a festival called Vegoose. A 3 day music fest in Las Vegas on the campus of UNLV. Our set was the last on the Jokers Wild Stage on sunday night. We finished and the Main Stage fired up with Rage Against The Machine. From Where I was standing it sounded great and the light show was pretty good too.

Being the last night of tour we had to split up gear and get it ready to ship home, back to the rental house or on to Russia. Having been up most of the night after LA and not much sleep thru the day as the bus kept overheating and then the trailer blew a tire makes for a long day.

Time to get clean. get a beer and say good bye. Time to head home.

San Francisco

A bit of downtime this evening. A shower is great thing for the mental well being. We are performing at the Mezzanine in downtown S.F. I went on a bit of walkabout with James (DJ) and came across a few unsavory characters and of Course MY GUY! ITs almost Halloween and we have had a hard time concentrating at work since we got here. The Hospitality girl is dressed up as a badd badd cop and has been nothing but helpful.

Escape from L.A.

Friday morning up and at ‘em. Last night I caught up with drew. He had [ractice and then a gig at the Derby. I caught up with him after watching most of game 2 of the World Series with James (bass) down at the Sports Bar in the Hotel. He’s a cool guy; we bonded over Red SOX and fIREHOSE, and beer. Liles and I are headed to breakfast at the diner around the corner. Won’t be long now before we are off and running again. Tonight we play the echoplex then drive to San Francisco.

Which Way to go, (lost in L.A.)

8:05am Liles and I are in the lobby of the hotel and most of the band are nowhere in sight. Yes late for an 8am bus call to head off to Fuel TV for a shoot for the Daily Habbit on Fuel TV. TV shoots are hell. All the work of setup for a show and none of the time to get it done. We were late, per the norm, as rusty couldnt find the studio. The TV Show was on a tight schedule so we had to pack up faster than we usually do. Thankfully we had ordered in some Mexican food because I was starving. Up and out of the hotel with no time to eat this morning and all the work makes for a hunger shutdown.

Welcome to L.A. …

Wednesday was a very interesting day. I decided to spend my day off taking care of Joels p.o.s. jaguar, so I hopped the bus down to guitar center on sunset in hollywood. The bus in LA is certainly interesting, I see why people write songs about the freaky people in LA. So for about an hour I was traped on this freak train bound for hollywood and I was the guy on the bus with the guitar. I headed for the sanctuary of guitar center to get the guitar a proper setup which I don’t think it has had, ever. I walked about 4 blocks from the hotel and waited and waited for the 2 or the 3 Bus to take me to Hollywood. I wanted to get there and back so I could go out and catch Bella Morte and This Means You at the Knitting factory. Finally the bus came and I paid my $1.25 and checked with the driver to make sure I was on the right route. HE assured me I was and the freak train rolled on. Not really too much out of the ordinary from most city busses but La La Land has a twist all its own. A few stops down a large group of folks got on the bus and took there seats, talking amongst them selves. then another few stops and they all got off and a few more people got on. some looked like they hadnt seen a shower in months while others were students on the way to class or down to Hollywood for an adventure. a couple got on that was playing mad libs that caught my attention as they were laughing and joking and seemingly in love. A large woman got on the bus and began to talk to herself, Loudly. Oh lord; Oh lord she exclaimed. Then she stood up and proclaimed Im sick while holding her stomach. I was sure she was about to shit herself right there in front of me. She moved towards the back of the bus and eventually made a go for the door, Only to stop and get her arm stuck in the door. Im Not out she cried as the door slammed on her arm over and over. A woman outside the bus tried to help by pulling on her arm but that was no help until the woman finally made it thru the door and outside.

Figuring I had made a terrible mistake I swore I would call a cab to get me back to the Hotel. Finally I arrived safely at Guitar center.

I needed to get Joels Jaguar set up proper like. More advanced than I was prepared for and my tools in the bottom of the trailer this seemed the best solution. John was awesome and set upon the fixing of the jaguar as necessary. the Neck needed to be shimmed and adjusted and while I waited I caught up with Drew.

Drew met me at Guitar Center with Meghan and we all headed up to Hollywood to grab a bite to eat before the show. It just so happened that it was the same night as the premiere of the new Steve Carrell movie Dan Real Life. The Block has Hopping. As we sat down to the crepeire the movie let out and stars began walking by. I didnt care I was hanging out with my peeps form the C-ville in Hollyweird.

Outside the knitting factory we ran into the cats in Bella Morte and T.M.Y just in time to have a meth head who couldnt be older than 19 offer to sell us tickets to the show. YEs he offered to sell the singer in the band tickets to his own show. Once inside the shots and beers flowed like water.

Post show we headed back downtown. Driving along sunset I spotted James the DJ out side of a club so we looped the black to find a few of the guys trying to figure out how they were getting back. A very in charge Tour manager grabed the helm and decided to get in to the back of the tiny little Honda Crv we were in. Follwed by James (bass) James (DJ). Away we went to the hotel, a few wrong turns and finally we were back at the hotel.

DAMN Bus Call is at 8am. DAMN!!!

52 Hours on a bus…

Today is wednesday. We arrived in LA yesterday about noon after at least 52 hours on the bus. I couldnt have been happier to get off the bus. We had been on the bus since Chicago. We got settled into the hotel took a shower and went out on walkabout. David Liles, the monitor engineer, and me self (as the brits say) walked up to the ralphs and grabed some snacks to keep us from spending loads of money on food from the hotel. On the way back we found a great little local drinking hole called hanks, we knew we had to go back there later. We made it back to the hotel and hit the pool and steam room, then headed out to try and find something fun. Oh yeah we also grabbed the bottle of Jack and got started early. We eventually stumbled upon the rest of the guys at an underground Irish bar then they headed out to find some party in Hollyweird that the tour manager was going too. Liles and I headed to Hanks, A real LA downtown bar. Its seedy dark and only a locals place. we had a good time driniking and I stumbled on back to the hotel. Liles and Mike (the lighting guy) headed over to the Golden Gopher. This morning we were both a little hungover but found a cool little breakfast joint around the corner, we couldnt believe a $6 breakfast was possible in LA. So far Today I have just been sitting in the hotel room and Im getting a little stir crazy. Tonight is Bella Morte and This Means You at the knitting factory in LA. I feel a hangover coming on…

Dont Mess with Texas…

That state is huge. Right now I am somewhere outside of Dallas. We stopped in memphis this morning and a little bit ago we stopped at a mexican place for dinner some where in nowheresville Texas. Due to the no solids rule on the bus I thought it best to avoid mexican for dinner, so I stuck to the margaritas. We hung out in the parking lot for a good stretch before hiting the road again.

Last night we played chicago, at the Metro. I think I love Chicago. The people were nice the bars and clubs are open late and if you hang out with the local crew the drinks are damn near free.

On the way to chicago from Toronto we had a strange thing happen. Some guy in an SUV pulls up to the bus while we are on the Highway and  trys to sell us a home theater system. The bad part is we were about to pull off for fuel anyway so he followed us to the truck stop. Weird Midwest tweeker.

We arrived at the gig only a little late this time and the local crew out did themselves. They were Nice, hardworking and very helpful. The hospitaltiy was great. They loaded up the bus with a few cases of beer and some snacks and made sure we were taken care of. I had a dog from a joint across the street, a real chicago dog. with a hole pickle on the dog. I have never had a Dog so damn good. Its no Nathans, but it was great.

Last night was a long night on the bus after the show. we didnt pull out until about 4am and we have been on the bus pretty much for the last 24 hours. Thankfully we got to shower before the show in Chicago, unfortuanly  it was at the seediest hotel I have ever been to. When in Chicago, dont stay at the Hotel Carlos. Its the kind of place nightmares come true. We were looking out for needles under the bed, I didnt even consider sitting down on the bed. But the shower was decent enough. I had to use my dirty T-Shirt as a towel as the front desk woman was less than helpful.

I had th e opportunity to meet Derek Carter.  I didnt know who he was but I suppose thats cool. James L. refered to him as a hero of his. As the bus pulled away I sat back had a beer and realized I love this work.