Whoa, talk about an epic adventure! That sounds positively awesome, I totally wish I was on that trip for sure. I'll bet it felt great when you finally got home and had a bed to yourself to sleep on though huh?
This was ABSOLUTELY the craziest 11 days of my entire life.
Denver to L.A. non-stop in two used vehicles and a trailer, where we played three times, including The Down-N-Out and La Ceta, the night we arrived.
We twisted their brains into pudding.
Spent that night in East L.A., sneaking 22 people into 4 rooms and listening to the most traumatizing domestic violence imaginable through the walls for the rest of the night. Apparently we were in a motel that catered to a certain type of clientele, unbeknownst to us at the time of the booking.
Next night, a birthday party crash at Lucky Strike, which was great fun, and we stayed in Little Tokyo (close to The Graffiti Museum, which was spectacular), in an industrial wood shop. I considered this several steps up from our earlier digs.
Then it was off to Vegas, and a piercing convention at Bally's, where our Chinese Lion was basically violated by a couple of the drunker attendees. Luckily, we spotted them in the lobby the next morning at a ratio of 22:3, so that got worked out just fine, and we initiated new safety precautions to protect the dancers for the rest of the tour. Also played a show in the Arts District, which, thankfully, showed me a MUCH more human side to Vegas...
Back to San Francisco via Death Valley.
I do not recommend this, especially in used vehicles. We broke down pretty much in the middle, and ended up spending the night. It's kinda hot there, and at night, 85 degrees can seem downright chilly. There was a great jam session around the fire, someone caught a scorpion bare-handed, and no one got overly dehydrated.
Next 2 days were spent in Lone Pine, California, where the vehicles were repaired (for the most part), and we were off to SF and Oakland.
Friday we played the Rickshaw Stop with Extra Action Marching Band, who are like the Gogol Bordello of marching bands. The energy and the crowds were astounding, and awesome to be a part of.
Saturday it was The Uptown in Oakland with EAMB and The Something Experience (google THESE freakazoids...), hands down the best show of the tour: awesome energy, awesome crowds.
Spent Sunday getting the bus repaired in a really dicey part of Oakland, but had fantastic pupsas and the cheapest repair bill of the tour.
Followed 80 all the way home, limping the van, and in another 30 hours straight through, we are home.
I was pulled in directions I never thought possible, stretched to the breaking point and beyond more than a few times, ran out of money, got a loan, fed others with it, bonded with every single person in the band, and came out the whole 'Extreme Band Camp' a better, stronger, far more alive person.
This was truly cathartic. Pics/videos to follow.
Thanks for reading.
probie
Whoa, talk about an epic adventure! That sounds positively awesome, I totally wish I was on that trip for sure. I'll bet it felt great when you finally got home and had a bed to yourself to sleep on though huh?
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Ohh, yeaaahhhhh...
Sounds wild. I never have, and probably never will, tour. Just not for me. I like local shows.
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Cant wait to se some pics or video, thanks for sharing the expperience probie.
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Sounds like a pretty cool experience.
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Wow. That sounds like a funny, yet amazing adventure movie.
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I'd love to tour, see the world, do exciting things. Don't have any real obligations keeping me at the spot i'm in. If you can get paid to travel and play music, maybe pick up some women at shows, party like an 80's rockstar, for me it doesn't get any better than that.
Last edited by Russ; 06-16-2011 at 02:40 AM.
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RIP- Frank, Wolvie, Les Paul
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No metronome?
The Rudiments
helloprobie, hey sounds like a good story for a book! what a zoo! but how did actual playing go?
Enjoy the Music!
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As far as the actual shows went... completely mental.
The last two were the best, in my opinion.
Here's a video of the Uptown show:
Itchy-O at The Uptown June 10 2011 (pt 2)
www.youtube.com
Last edited by helloprobie; 06-17-2011 at 12:34 AM. Reason: link didn't work
This link appears down Probie! It only takes you to youtube's main page. Is this the video you were trying to put up there? I searched you guys and found something:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4arpuonuqY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4arpuonuqY[/ame]
ZildjianLeague/LP/Aquarian/Mapex/Pearl
Snares: 4
RIP- Frank, Wolvie, Les Paul
Forum Rules
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No metronome?
The Rudiments
Yep, thanks. I blew that one...
That sounds like such an amazing trip man! I would LOVE to tour! But just gotta get the band sorted first
J-D
Probie, I once wasx the wheel man for my a pastor's son's band for a weekend tour from Nashville to Kansas City where we were meeting other bands that had toured the upper Midwest, then back to Nashville. It sounded simple, but one of the other bands had a vehicle breakdown, so we met them and crammed them and their gear into my van as we headed for K.C. There was about 4 hours of sleep before the show, then we headed back to Nashville on no sleep to make the show there. I don't regret helping the guys out at all - I had a fun, but exhausting time. I'm glad I don't do it all the time, though.
Sounds like you loved the experience, and it will be a story that will be with you for life. May your life be filled with interesting stories! Cool vid BTW!
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Mmmman i misss dos daze,,,,
thxs for da flashback!!!!!
I guess i'll just have to live vicariously
thru my drumchat phamily....
Gramps is still here for advice kids,,,enjoy,,,
i sure did!!!!
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ENJOY IT ALL,,, MY BROTHERS & SISTERS"
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Aye other big bands went through that kind of rough times, break downs, cramped in on room hotel, freezing, sweating, hungry, sleepy etc. That's where it all starts. Did you guys make any money or did it all go into those used vehicle repairs and gas. Maybe next time it will get better for you helloprobie. Good luck on your next road tour.
sounds like great fun!!!
don't put off till tomorrow what you can put off today
@ AX MAN: well, and everyone else, too... You're right, it DOES get better!
We opened for DEVO last night.
Best. Thing. Yet.
probie
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