Thur June 30, 2011

Dover NH @ Fury's Publick House

So after Sellersville we piled into Boss Hoss, Russ at the wheel. He'd been drinking coffee all set so was good to go. Crazy how early the sun rises up here. First light at 4am, sun fucking UP at 5:45am. He drove all night and only pulled over because the sun was right in his face. I did my best to stay up as copilot but dozed a few times. Slept in the van at a rest stop. Sucked. Felt like shit. Stopped at a park to kill time before hotel check in. Bautiful path thru a grove of pines, and a pool that cost $7 to get in. Got a little more sleep at the hotel we got in Ballerica MA. I only know the city now as I write. Spent most of day not knowing what city, let alone state, I was in. Was kinda nice.

Was just out of it all day long. Weird de ja vu feeling from constant broken dream fragments and being totally worn out. Found the venue in Dover ok. Weren't sure we were actually on the bill until we got there. Show details were a little sketchy. But opening band, then us. Day was a blur and trying to remember it.

Small place, wood stage. Not sure what to expect crowdwise. Opener had some people, that was good. They were nice, playing with them again in Ogunquit ME.

We piled onto the small stage. Put the monitor on my SVT case to make more room onstage. Opened with the shuffle walkaround into "How Many More Times" and instantly blew everyone's minds. Rob called the funkified Muddy Waters cover we do to keep the people dancing. Good call. I like the freedom of this band, when we have lots of time to fill and no fixed setlist. Play what we feel. Crowd loved it, good times.

The owner of the Levitt theater where we play Sat was there, he's our good friend Taylor Perkins' dad. Gave us an envelope of "spending money" end of night. We hope it is a tip and not the other half of our guarantee that night... that will totally catch us up from the brink of financial riun...

So I took the wheel and we got Denny's end of night as we couldn't afford to eat at the venue. Was delish!

Wed June 29, 2011

Sellersville PA @ Sellersville Theater

5 hour drive across Pennsylvania. Pretty much nothing to us now with some of the rides we've been on past month, and living in Austin, the Lonestar State is 4.5 to 9 hours in ever direction.

I've been to Sellersville before, when I was teching for King's X in 2009. When I saw the date for ETB I could picture the venue and the surrounding area clearly in my mind. Hell I even wrote about it in my blog here, look it up! Nice to return to a place and PLAY this time, heh.

Anyway, Sellersville Theater has been around since 1894. They show movies, have bands, and when we rolled up there was a girls dance recital just getting out of practice. Dawn the stage mgr and Dan (?) the soundguy were both awesome. Sounded fucking EPIC during soundcheck. Great to play a real venue with awesome sound system and nice stage. Best monitor system I've come across in awhile, heh.

Dawn took us to the Washington House Resaurant, built in 1896. Super swank and high end, as well as historic. $35 per man meal voucher, so we all had the finest meal of the tour. Much improved over Wendy's earlier that day. Has Asian glazed salmon with fried rice/edamame beans/cabbage/buncha other shit. Was amazing. On the way we asked about crowd projections. She said I ain't gonna lie, it'll be slow. Honesty ---> respect.

While eating, we noticed a guy scoping us, a fan who wanted to talk but didn't want to be rude and interupt our dinner. Which earned him extra points in my book. If you know anything about touring, if you see musicians sitting down to eat, that may very well be their first actual meal that day or perhaps several.

But he caught us as we were leaving. Took us into the parking lot to sign a guitar he just bought for said purpose. Wow. His name was Bob, was diabetic which limited his mobility, so he didn't get to shows much. But he appreciated us taking time to talk to him. Shit, he is paying to see us in a city we've never played and bought a guitar so we could be first to sign. You don't be a dick and blow such individuals off. Really bad form and lack of appreciation for the people responsible for us even havin music careers. Fans. We love them.

Had an actual green room as well. After awhile on the road you don't want to be in the venue, and you don't want to sit in the van. Green rooms serve as a happy medium. Had a shower and everything. Nice!

Anyway, we did one 2 hour set as opposed to 2 60's. And for never playing there before and a $15 cover, we had 40+ people there. Nice!!! Had a great show tho I felt a little off from lack of alcohol consumption. 1 or 2 beers really help grease the wheel so I don't have to think so much. Sounds weird but true. But great set and great crowd response despite everyone sitting down.

Met and hung with locals and staff after, they all loved us. Good night merchwise as well. An guess who came out again,Phil the superfan from Albany who's been following us around like the Grateful Dead minus the acid. Thanks Phil, you rock! Probably see you again in next few gigs \m/,