Thursday, December 27, 2012

Toronto Snapshot

A friend of ours shot some video during our performance in Toronto this month. Nothing like a YouTube clip full o' memories.



'Twas the night after the day after Christmas...

...and the entire band was home except for the drummer. He headed north to Wisconsin after the final gig in Chicago to celebrate the season with his wife's family, instead. And he has a couple of random post-tour thoughts to blog about.

- After catching a screening of Les Miserables, I remain convinced that singing things that were meant to be spoken is not as high class as so many people seem to think. Let's be honest: it's a bit silly. And forcing almost every line of dialogue to exist in a rhyme scheme creates a pretty small box for plot to function in. Just sayin'.

- Christmas carols are chock full of ridiculousness, as well. I understand that many of them were written as lullabyes for children, so historical accuracy was not the most important factor in crafting the song. But, I'm pretty sure oxen and lambs don't keep time all that well and the birthing of a new mother's first child was probably not the most serene, peaceful environment, either.

- I'm thankful for the bond I share with the guys in this crew after three months on the road. Many bands exist in either a treacherously tenuous or just plain toxic social situation: they get together to make the music happen and then couldn't care less about each other for the rest of the hours of the day. After three months locked in either a van or a hotel with these guys, I'm in no way tired of their company or sick of their presence. I realize how unique and special that is, and I am certainly grateful for it.

North America, the second half

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Home Stretch

We've arrived at that point once again: the final week before a tour's end. Tonight finds us sealed up in a hotel room in Montreal, trying to let the weather system snow itself out before we continue on to Ottawa. Of course, I say "snow", but what I mean is that sludgy, wet, cold substance that doesn't quite communicate a festive sense of the season or even allow for sensibly coherent motion. Venturing out for lunch, we joined the natives downtown in a sort-of waddling, wobbling, motor-skill-impaired form of movement that left us with wet shoes, cold feet, and a aching desire to get back inside.

Thus, I wish I could report that this city is as beautiful as it's been accommodating to us, and I'm sure that it is, but the weather has kept us from any kind of exploration we might otherwise have pursued. Alas, I've relegated myself to getting some reading done, playing some nonsense games on the iPad, and getting caught up on Lord of the Rings before I go out to see The Hobbit (Netflix being, of course, disabled north of the border).

But, I must say that our Canadian audiences on this tour have been some of the most enjoyable for which to play. We all feel very welcomed and appreciated here in the Great White North and it is a truly wonderful privilege to get to perform our music this far away from our home.


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Laundry Day

Ah, Laundry Day - when the road dogs celebrate getting to cleanse the tour funk from their suitcased lives. The sweat of myriad performances is swept away in a couple of glorious, change machine-funded hours. Permanent press? Spin cycle? Heavily soiled? These are the questions dealt with by every independent band who's ever toured and they are enough to make you wonder: is large scale success really worth it if I have to forfeit all of this? I mean, what will a tour be if we're simply employing people to do our laundry for us? Where's the poetry in that?

Anyone else get that I'm a bit bored watching my clothes go round and round?

This update's long overdue, folks. I know that. I apologize. Except, I don't. The reasons for the delay have been both numerous and legitimate. First, the band was able to enjoy a bit of a siesta during the tour after our show in Nashville. Most of the crew loaded up the van and drove south to enjoy a few sun-soaked days on the beaches of Florida before continuing with our performances in St. Petersburg and Orlando. I, on the other hand, hopped a plane and met my beautiful wife for a long-awaited jaunt to Walt Disney World. It only took me 30 years to get there, but, by golly, I got there. And let me tell you all: it is not overhyped or too good to be true. I got to spend a couple of days feeling like a kid again. The music, the rides, the food, the sights - all of it conspired to bring out that old joy that made my jaw drop the first time I saw Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast in the theater as a youngster. Great times.


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