Saturday, November 1, 2008

New tour

I am officially on tour again though only a short one. I am currently sitting on a plane on my way to Los Angeles with MyNameIsJohnMichael for some important showcases in front of important industry peeps. It's going to be a solid 5 days of fun in the sun hanging out in Hollywood and I'm pumped about landing.

This trip I'm acting as FOH and tour manager which means that when the boys are away I get to keep them in line, on time, and sober (when they need to be). I am responsible for the 6 band members, a Mr. Ben Lorio, and a Mr. Mark Heck. Band manager Erin Frankenheimer is with us as well but this is her hometown so she ain't having me feeling responsible for her.

Anyway, we're playing at the Mint on Sunday and The Good Hurt Wednesday so if you're in the area, come see us.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Heading home

Well, it's all over. I'm sitting in the Newark airport thinking back over not just the second leg of the Allmans (which, by the way, culminated with a show with the Grateful Dead last night), but all the touring I've done this year. I'm pretty sure I can say this is the last major tour I go on this year and that should make my girlfriend happy.

That's not say I won't be doing some more travelling. This weekend I'm going to Memphis with MyNameIsJohnMichael and then out to LA for a showcase the first week of November. No matter how often I leave or how long I'm gone, I've always got my sights set on New Orleans. So, while I had a lot of fun, I'm excited to get home.

I did make some good friends on the road this year and hope I'll see them again when various bands roll through New Orleans if not next year's ABB tour.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Hotlanta

Well, my birthday came and went with little notice. I suppose that's what happens when you spend it away from your friends though.

We've been in Atlanta since the 9th and have one more show tonight. As the tour winds down with just two shows left I realize that I enjoy being out on the road, definitely appreciate the pay, but I don't think I could do it full time like some of these folks. I just miss New Orleans and everyonr in it too much to be away for months at a time.

Thus, I will be finding a new job when I get back to the city next week. Any ideas? Something music related without the sin of retail would be preferred.

I return to New Orleans on Tuesday so, if you're reading this, let's celebrate.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Show #20

Last night's Birmingham show was a doozy. They played a couple of tunes I'd never heard live, they did the set list completely out of order, Warren called out an old blues song on the fly, an Mr. Salt and Pepper American Idol Taylor Hicks sat in.

The show was going wonderfully until Mr. Hicks was called on-stage. He didn't sing, as one may expect, but instead took to the harmonica. I always thought it was near impossible to be off key playing harmonica as it is only in one key. It was confirmed that his harp was in the right key (more on that later) but the way he played it was just bad. I almost felt sorry for the guy having just gone out and made a fool of himself on front of 5,000+ people.

This apparently isn't the first time he has sat in with the Allmans and it's not the worst performance he's given with them. It is, however, the worst performance he's given sober. Anyway, after he came off stage he set his harmonica down on one of my cases and walked away. Thus, I am now the not so proud owner of a Hohner harmonica in the key of D played on stage by Taylor Hicks. I have no idea what to do with it but for now it will rest in my backpack. Maybe I can sell it to a middle aged woman fascinated by his boyish good looks underneath a sea of gray hair giving her an idea of youth in her later years.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Birmingham, AL

First of all, please check out the new element on my blog! On the right column, you will find a link to my iPhone app GPS Tracker. I will update it every day (or I will do my very best to do so) so you can figure out where I am on a day to day basis! Thanks!



So here I find myself on day off number two in Pelham, AL (just south of Birmingham). It's a lot like one may expect in a small southern suburb: fast food, chain restaurants, and a Walmart. There's honest to God nothing to do. Yesterday we decided to hit up the only sports bar in the area, Hooter's, and watch some football. While a good time was had by all, I must say I felt kind of filthy to be in there.

It was my first trip ever to a Hooter's and I'd love to say it's my last but the Saints and the Red Sox are playing tonight so I guess I'll be returning. It's hard to be picky when you're on foot.

Today I spent an exciting morning doing laundry, eating at Waffle House (which truly was exciting), and finding the quickest way to Walmart--which is through a 6 foot diameter drain under the highway and down a dry creek bed. Yes, I am quite the adventurer you might say.

Tomorrow we have our show in Birmingham and I can only hope it will be without a Hendrix tune on the setlist like the last show. When the Jimi Hendrix Experience plays "Manic Depression" as a three piece, it's wonderfully loose and dirty and it moves. Now when the Allman Brothers play "Manic Depression" as a seven piece, it's polished and slow and tight a.k.a. no good. Everyone's been asking if we're in town for the Talladega race. We're just sorry to disappoint them.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Carolinas

We have made it through the first half of the second leg officially. Today I find myself in Charlotte, NC waiting around as Phil Lesh and Friends finish their setup as they will be closing the show again tonight. Thus, it's a hurry up and wait situation until we can get our stuff on stage.

Last night's show was pretty killer though I'm worried about the mix since my ears were all stopped up thanks to yet another sinus infection. Apparently, my sinuses know when I leave the deep South and make me pay handsomely for it. Thankfully, it was just two bad days and it wasn't too severe. Brian Farmer, poor guy, is puking due to the build-up in his throat.

I wish I could say I had a lot more stories about shooting rubberbands outside the bus window, but I don't. The most ridiculous thing I've seen since I last visited you was a sponsor tent last night raising money for a children's hospital. It's not that alone that makes it ridiculous. It's the fact that the organization that was raising money through a motorcycle auction was Raleigh's number one strip club. Honest to God, strippers were walking around asking for donations and telling everyone about free admission valid with the ticket stub to last night's concert. It didn't make much sense to me. I thought they were going about it all wrong: calling out to people based on hair color, what they were wearing, etc. For example, when I walked by on the way to the CD sales tent, I was called "Boston hat," "red western shirt" and "hey you." However, I don't guess they know any better. I would imagine that's the type of treatment they get day in and day out. How unfortunate. It's no wonder I don't go to those establishments.

Tomorrow we're heading for a whole two days off in the Birmingham area. My buddy Adam said he'd come visit but I doubt he'll remember. Maybe calling him out publicly in this forum will convince him to make the short drive. Otherwise, we'll just hang around visiting the hotel bar, possibly playing paintball, and watching TV. If you're in the Birmingham area, come pick me up and take me somewhere Sunday and Monday!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Rubber Bandits

Today, we drove. And drove. And drove. The overnight drive from the Memphis area to right outside of Baltimore took longer than any of us expected.

We finally pulled up to the hotel around 7pm local time but not before various bus hijinks and bad movies went down. When I roused this morning, the atrocious King Arthur was just being placed in the DVD player. First of all, I'm not too big on mythology and other various tales and especially not when they are retold by a whole host of overactors reading from an immature script.

The second movie was the now legendary among the crew Mr. Woodcock. Fantastic. I hardly remember laughing that hard at any movie that has come out in the past three years. Then, disaster: a five car pile up that kept us at a snail's pace for an hour.

Have no fear though, loyal readers, we know how to keep ourselves entertained. In this case, we loaded up our rubberband guns and aimed at open windows in the stop and go traffic. Yours truly made it into two open sunroofs before the wreck was cleared and traffic thinned out.

Finally, I was tortured with the suckfest (no pun intended) that is Underworld. My mind screams for intelligent conversation. Hopefully I can find it at dinner this evening.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

And so it has begun.

So I'm back on tour. We are currently on a little bit of downtime before show number two in luscious Robinsonville, MS. Last night we played in Fayetteville, AR at the Blues, Bikes, and BBQ biker rally. It was actually pretty cool to walk around and see all the bikes and hilarious biker wear. I was the outsider because I wasn't wearing a sleeveless shirt (especially one that is frayed at the shoulders). The day before in the Houston airport I was the outsider because I was wearing baseball cap and converses with my Western style shirt instead of cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. Texans, as I've stated before, are funny.

Getting away from my attire and the fashion sense of others, I am on show two of I believe eleven on this leg. I decided to stick around for the entire second leg and will therefore be on the road until approximately the 14th before leaving again for the weekend with MyNameIsJohnMichael and then out to Los Angeles for a showcase the first week in November. I calculated that by the end of the year, I will have been on tour for something around 70 shows in 2008, up from 11 last year.

I'll be checking in hopefully more frequently than I have been between tours so please check back often. I'm off to the casino to watch Brad lose money to the video poker machines.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Stormy weather

I find myself 1500 miles from home with a powerful storm lurking just south of the gulf. As it seems now I may have to pack everything up Friday afternoon when I get home in preparation for a Saturday morning evacuation.

The fact that expected landfall will happen mere days after the third anniversary of Katrina is both mind-boggling and disturbing. My only hope is that it will weaken or turn. I'm not sure how much faith the fair citizens of New Orleans will have in their city if another storm passes through.

As far as the mynameisjohnmichael.com goes, our plan is tentatively to record one track back home in Jackson and then possibly pick up in Austin later. Of course, that is planning for the worst.

Keep your eyes on the weather and your hearts on the city on New Orleans.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Hershey Park

Well, I've done it. In one day I knocked out both Hershey Park and my first rollercoaster. I must say, rollercoasters are good times. Wooden ones are absolutely frightening though.

Scuba Steve and I spent a few hours there taking in the sites and riding as many rides as possible. My only regret is not seeing any Hershey Kiss shaped lampposts. Someone definitely lied to me about that one.

We have a show at the park tomorrow so I just might have time to venture off to check out some more rides. We'll see.

In other news, my good friend Shannon drove up to the show last night and brought me medicine so I'm feeling better already.

Three shows left and this time I'm keeping notes on the best versions of the best songs for an actual greatest hits compilation for those of you that requested it last year. They still haven't quite nailed "Dreams" yet but there's still time. They did play "Dazed and Confused" for a bit last night which went over very well so that will most likely make the cut as well as a smoking version of "Gilded Splinters."

Friday, August 22, 2008

Sick again...

Well, it's official. I am chronic victim of tour crud. I am sick again with another sinus infection. It is apparently impossible for me to stay well while traveling.

Last night in Rochester I walked a few miles looking for a pharmacy to no avail. The downtown area dies after 5 pm. Today, we're sweating in Canandaigua, NY and heading to Jersey tomorrow.

I need to see about hiring some healthy person's immune system for the next tour I go on in November.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Hartford, CT

Another two shows down with excellent results. The mixes got many compliments and both sets were killer. While I can't say I have spent time with other touring bands and crews, I can say that the Allman Brothers' crew is a group of some of the nicest guys I have worked with.

The stories I hear on a daily basis keep me in stitches. The learning experience I'm getting every morning while flying the pa is sure to come in handy in the future. I can certainly dig the catering and tour bus.

All in all, it's turning out to be another great Allman Brothers tour.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Rest in Albany

Two days off is both a blessing and a curse. I've walked up and down the main thoroughfare Wolf Rd. looking for food and entertainment with marginal success and failure respectively. I've been playing catch-up on the Olympics, finally catching some track & field (though I greatly prefer track to field). In addition, I've discovered that I love E! countdowns like Top 101 SNL Moments as well as old school Tom & Jerry cartoons. I've also finally had Dunkin Donuts coffee--delicious.

The last show was great. Derek Trucks' wife Susan Tedeschi sat in. Listening from the crystal clear headphones I was reminded how angelic her voice is and how tasteful her Nashville-style of play is. CD sales were huge as usual in the Boston area. I can only hope sales will be as robust elsewhere as they were Saturday.

The bus continues to be amazing as well as on-site catering. Every day I can expect to find good sammich fixins and a decent dinner. All in all, I'm having a good time and think that this tour is just the right length though it's been much easier just having friends here.

Friday, August 15, 2008

R. I. P. Jerry Wexler

Today, legendary producer Jerry Wexler died. It will be a great loss to the world of music of yesterday and today. While at Atlantic in the 50's and 60's, Wexler was instrumental in getting the sounds, songs, and recordings of some of my personal favorite artists of all time.

He is often overshadowed by his partner Ahmet Ertegun but his work simply cannot be ignored. He worked hand in hand with the likes of Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, and the infamous Aretha Franklin among others. It is said that the hit "Land of 1,000 Dances" was penned about Wexler's lack of rhythm on the dancefloor. He chose Otis Redding's minor hit "Respect" as a cover for Aretha Franklin as well as helping his partner shape Ray Charles' now legendary career.

If you are unfamiliar with Wexler's work, I implore you to buy yourself a copy of Aretha Franklin's 1968 Atlantic record Lady Soul. "Since You've Been Gone" and "Chain of Fools" alone are worth the purchase.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Bethel, NY

The first show is complete. I was pleasantly surprised to see that 95% of the crew returned so finding friends was easy. After the extremely hectic initial set up, I relaxed and tried calling American Airlines to find my bag.

The obese sounding woman was quite unhelpful. She went as far as to say that my bag was not currently in the system. O'hare? Maybe. Newark? Maybe. Laguardia? Perhaps. I hung up in disgust.

The show went very well. Hopefully the cd sounds good though I'm not sure. I found my spot on the crew bus (a huge step up from last year by the way) after helping the audio crew break down and load out. The bus is cozy full of quiet, peaceful individuals though no real friends on this one.

Either way, I'm happy to be here. I called the baggage hotline back and they located my bag. Thank God. I will have clean clothes, socks, and full toiletries tomorrow. On to show two tomorrow. Keep posted.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Slick Willy

So the wedding went well. The highlight was definitely when Bill Clinton popped in and I snagged a photo of him congratulating the new bride and groom. At the reception, he loosened his tie, had a scotch, and sang along to all the Journey songs. I wish he could have signed my Big Mac.

In other news, airports suck. I'm currently hanging out in Albany waiting to be picked up sometime well after midnight. I should've stayed home. This is an omen.

O'hare

I hate airports. Always have. My flight was cancelled. Of course it was. Was my boss's flight cancelled? Nope. At least, not yet. Thus I stand in this long line waiting to speak to a "rebooking specialist." Ha. It's going to be a long day.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

iowa!

So I'm in Iowa for Kat's brother's wedding. It was great to be home in New Orleans for the short week I was there but it had to come to an end I suppose. The wedding is mere hours away and I am procrastinating getting dressed watching the olympics--one of my favorite pasttimes. It's a damn shame, in fact, that I will be on tour during most of the games and thus will have to get results online instead of watching the games. I did get something that will aid me in getting info as well as blogging and staying in email contact while on the road: a new iPhone. It rocks.

Anyway, it's time to get dressed and stop searching for new awesome apps. Stay tuned for allman bros blogs starting this upcoming week.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

I'm home!

I know, I know, I've been slacking horribly. The truth is, I've been so busy I haven't had time to blog much. After Norway and the last three Sweden shows, we had to take everything completely apart to get back home. I stayed up all night using up minutes on my calling card and made plans to sleep the entire length of the plane ride back. I almost did. The only thing that stopped me was a stewardess who apparently decided that nothing was getting in the way of her fulfilling all of her atmospheric duties.

We boarded at 8:10am local time and I immediately fell asleep. About two hours later, I was awakened by an incessant tapping of this stewardess leaning across the two people in my row to get my attention. What did she want? She wanted to make sure that I had the Kosher meal and needed me to open it due to Kosher Law (I did have the Kosher meal, I'm not Jewish, I just don't eat pork and have had great luck with that meal in the past). So I groggily open the package and fall back to sleep. An hour after that I'm poked again and open my eyes to a warm Kosher meal in my face that I clearly did not want hence the whole slumber thing. So I ate one cracker from it and slept again. I figured I'll be damned if she's going to ruin my sleep. That should be it, barring oxygen masks falling, she has to leave me alone. Nope. She neglected to mention the Kosher breakfast. Heaven help me she woke me up again for that nonsense too. I should lodge a formal complaint with Continental.

With all of that behind me, I am now back in New Orleans eating deliciously rich Cajun food, drinking decent beer, speaking English 100% of the time, and melting in the heat. I elected not to go back to work this week so it has been a solid few days of relaxation during which I have done laundry, rearranged my house, cleaned up, gone to the bank, watched TV, read the last of my book, and taken cat naps. Yesterday, I began recording a John Michael song and it is great to be able to do that before leaving again. I really missed recording.

All in all, I'd say the trip was worth it. I learned a lot, I visited three new countries, I got out of the New Orleans heat, I got some killer new jeans, and I had fun. Will I partake a tour that long again? Not sure, but I could do some fly dates I believe.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Downtime and new book.

Today and tomorrow are filled with significant downtime. I thought I would relish the itinerary-free days but today was instead accomplishment-free for the most part. I woke up very late, sat around finishing The Undercover Economist, and eventually took a trip into Stockholm for a currency exchange. I must say that the small personal success of going there alone and finding the Forex exchange and a bookstore as well as making it back with no problems was uplifting.

Anyway, the book I picked up was Love in the Time of Cholera. I figured reading a Nobel prize winning classic would not only be a character building exercise but also last me until I got back to New Orleans. I'll start that up tomorrow I guess. It was down to either that, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, or the new Nick Hornby book. While I really enjoyed the first two of his novels, the more recent ones have been a disappointment so I decided to skip it.

Tonight for dinner, I walked down to the local restaurant and got some felafel. I don't have any idea what felafel is but I've been enjoying it immensely ever since Eddie's Attic in Atlanta where I had a mini-felafel burger.

On the morning of the 23rd, we'll be leaving for Norway and I won't get back to Stockholm until the night of the 28th which means I will most likely be without internet access until then. No blog updates, no email, no nothing. Hopefully I'll have much to speak of when I get back. Who knows? Maybe my next post will be laden with Nobel-prize-worthy romantic descriptive language. I just may be gushing with emotion having finished my 12th book.

Friday, July 18, 2008

The further misadventures of Goran Wallen

I didn't think I would have enough material to write a second post on our story's antagonist and certainly not this soon. However, the past 24 hours' events have changed things. When Goran (GW) borrowed the van we're traveling in from a friend, he was told explicitly to remain aware of the water level. To check it often and fill it when necessary. As usual, that caution went in one ear and out the other.

On our way to the ferry last night, GW remarked candidly that the car was overheating. Rather, he said "the car is boiling." Instead of stopping and checking the water, he insisted on continuing until we were safely inside the ferry. We arrived finally after a grand series of starting the car, getting up to 15 and turning it back off, coasting to a stop, despite repeated pleas not to. So, this morning I put a full half-gallon of water in the van and insisted that we find a mechanic to make sure a lack of water was the only issue and that it will last us through the Finnish countryside today and all the way to Norway later this week. Instead, he hopped on the freeway.

After explaining to him that if we overheat in the middle of nowhere, he's going to have some trouble finding Theresa and I transport to the venue with all the gear while he waits with the van to get it fixed, he decided to get it looked at. I'm positive that at one point in time this man did have a job but I'm not sure what kind and I can only speculate as to the seemingly obvious simplicity it must have entailed. There's no way logic and critical thinking were involved in his daily work routine.

I nearly forgot: on the ferry there was a karaoke bar. Said karaoke bar was in full swing when I stumbled upon it and my eyes didn't believe my ears when I rounded the corner. There, in full glory, was a 350lb Finnish biker complete with black doo-rag, long beard, huge gut (contained by a black t-shirt with demonic imagery) singing Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love" and singing it well. He was as serious as the heart attack that is sure to one day befall him. His whole chubby, dressed-in-black, biker family was into it too. Soon after he was finished, a young Swedish couple got up to sing "I've Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. I figured the guy was roped in by his Patrick Swayze loving girlfriend, but he was into, man. Karaoke on the Baltic Sea is serious business.

Anyway, back to GW. Upon arriving in Porin (where the venue was), he took a left turn from the right lane because he thought it was a two way street. That was near death experience #1. Between near death experience #1 and 2, we (Theresa and I) discovered that a) the 4pm show we were supposed to have was actually the next day and we had to cancel it, b) our hotel rooms were cancelled and then rebooked, and c) were being led around aimlessly because he didn't want to bother the festival promoter with directions. Anyway, we had a show at midnight that went well and then left at 5am to get back to the ferry. Near death experience #2 was when he stalled out in the middle of an intersection (which is pretty much just a giant yield sign) while pointing to a sight instead of driving. This leg of the tour is pretty much Bad News Bears, it's a wonder we succeed at all.

Pori, Finland is a beautiful small town apparently much further north than Stockholm judging by how high the sun was in the sky at 10pm. I thought it would never set. One last thought: the artist passes we got for the Pori Jazz Festival are totally bitchin.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

The Misadventures of Göran Wallen

So we have had our last night in Gotland. The show was in a reception hall. A horrible sounding reception hall. Of course we waited until the last night on Gotland to play such a small venue that we were actually turning people away at the door as well as making the mistake of bringing far too few CDs. Hopefully we can remember the vibe of last night in Finland and Norway as I would imagine the crowds will be a lot more tame and less ravenous for Theresa.


Yesterday, Goran, 66, sat in the middle of the road stopped in front of the venue with no blinker just waiting on something or looking at something or really doing nothing is what it was. Either way, when he did finally decide to turn off this very narrow one lane road into the venue, a Vespa was passing him and he clipped the back tire, nearly throwing the young woman from the scooter. However, she was so scooter saavy that she quickly regained balance, remained upright, and kept driving. I, of course, was inwardly furious at his constant neglect for the safety of others, the rules of the road, and his general surroundings. Thus, I have reached the conclusion that barring flight delays, the only reason Iwouldn't be home on July 29th would be a car wreck caused by our bumbling octogenarian promoter.


After the show, we arrived back at the house near 1am with plans to be up and at 'em to leave at 7am in order to catch the ferry back to the mainland. I undress, climb into bed, and close my eyes, exhausted. Suddenly, my door opens, the light comes on, and Goran asks me if I can get into the car.

I ask, "why? You have the keys."

"No," he says "I locked them inside just now."


I think about this for a second, realize that I made sure that all the doors and windows were well locked on the van when I came inside and told him "Guess you'd better call a locksmith now then to make sure we can leave promptly at 7." I then, having solved the issue, fell asleep.


Ten minutes later, Theresa wakes me up. Apparently on Gotland locksmiths are most certainly not available 24 hours a day and we wouldn't be able to catch the morning ferry unless we got the keys soon and would I mind trying my hand at getting in since Goran is doing nothing but circling the car trying all the windows and doors again in a textbook case of insanity: repeating an action expecting different results. So, my next 20 minutes were spent in the pre-dawn chill, with eventual success, feeding a crooked coathanger in the window to unlock the door.


Now, this is not the first time Goran has locked us out, but I'm having trouble deciding on which time was more troubling. The first time he locked us out of both his car and his house in one fell swoop while it was raining heavily and we were in a rush. All in all, I'm beginning to fear my safety as a passenger and/or guest in this man's care. It is a miracle we haven't missed a show yet. I believe I could have an entirely separate blog entitled "The Misadventures of Göran Wallen" and it would probably have more readers and more comments than this one but the subject just depresses me.


On a happier note, I finally got him back for taking numerous unwanted candid photos of me against my wishes by snapping a shot of him snoring loudly, mouth open, head back.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Visby

We have played two shows in Visby so far, both in a unique club set inside a tower which is part of the ancient city wall. The tower itself is said to date back to 900A.D. and certainly looks it. As great as the ambience and decor of the room was, imagine running sound in a half-cylindrical room made of stone. Not too much fun. Either way, we got the sound pumping and it was a good crowd. This was the first Swedish show in a proper bar so the crowd was ready to move with the music. The alcohol certainly helped.

Some of the pre-show music piped in was a hilarious mishmash of 80's hits like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "Like a Virgin," Cameo's "Word Up," "Welcome to the Jungle," and the Human League's "Don't You Want Me." The greatest part of the night came between the two sets and some jackass put on "Dr. Feelgood." It seems like the bar suddenly jumped into hyperdrive with everyone up and singing along while dancing over to the bar. And all for what? Mötley Crüe.

We've got a few more shows here in Visby before heading to Finland on the 17th for a show, back to Stockholm for a show on the 20th, a few shows in Norway possibly, then three shows back on the mainland from the 26th-28th to close it out before I head home sweet home. I'm counting the days.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

My greatest fears have been realized

Well, the time has come and a lot sooner than I had hoped. I finished all my books including the John Grisham book (which sucked me in around page 200 I must admit) and a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird that was miraculously here in Sweden. So I have finished a full 10 books and a thoroughly uninteresting copy of Vogue in about 5 weeks and have about 2 1/2 weeks left. Hopefully I can actually make it to that bookstore in Stockholm when I get back.

On a happier note, Gotland is pretty nice. We're pretty isolated from everything here and the distance from a city is noticable. A kilometer in one direction brings me to a country store with the daily necessities, a kilometer in the other direction brings me to the Gotland shore and an ancient fishing village with no electricity or plumbing to give you an idea of the area I'm in. Either way, Gotlanders are excited that one of their own is here and playing shows. They're packing in from miles around.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Gotland

Earlier I found myself on a ferry ride to a mythical land, Gotland. Mythical because of the extreme pride of natives who talk it up. Twinkles appear in the eyes of Gotlanders when the word is mentioned and they will speak at length of it as if it is their first and only child.

The way Gotland seems to have shaped many artists, it has become a popular haven for the creative but even in my short time here, it seems that Gotlander artists use it as a fencepost: something they can lean against (though in some cases, it leans back). In addition to an artist haven, it is also a hugely popular vacation spot in the summer. I was hoping for, if nothing else, packed shows, fresh air, and a dip in the Baltic Sea (if only just to say I've done it, which I now have). I got more than that.

The beginning of our second day began at 3am to drive an hour for a 4am casting call for a TV4 program. Filmed in the ruins of a once magnificent stone church, the three hour show highlighted the upcoming goings on in Gotland: a politcal convention, a small culinary fest, a new wonderful vet, Theresa Anderson shows (she performed two songs on the program which I got to mix live to air), and the circus. The circus spot was one of constant buzz because it featured Mickey, a very large, very hungry elephant.

That's correct. For many hours Mickey hung around a small field that was once the grand stone foyer of a very large church eating apples and unpeeled bananas whole with an insatiable appetite both for the fruit and attention of the dozens of confused onlookers. Confused because an elephant was downtown, confused because an elephant was being filmed at 7am, confused because they were stand out of earshot of the hosts and may have found it necessary to draw their own conclusions rather than popping on Sweden's Good Morning America and discovering the real reason for presence of this uncaged, untethered gentle giant in their fair city.

That afternoon we made our way to a local hotel compound (many cottages, hostel rooms, and true hotel rooms) for the show. The staff, while attentive and generally aiming to please, became a source of constant irritation through their music choices. I truly believe that the young manager has just discovered the Barenaked Ladies and admires them vociferously as the triumphant voice of a generation. Thus, he played the same five songs over and over as an evangelist of the gospel of sappy Canadian pop. Otherwise, the accomodations were fine.

This morning, I took a walk down to the store. I grabbed a pear and Coke, set them down on the counter, waited to hear the price (or actually see it on the screen) before handing over my money, and said "tack." In response, the duder said "you're welcome." How did he know!? Apparently my look just screams American. No matter what I wear people know that I do not belong. Amazing.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Moja

Moja is beautiful: An island off the eastern coast of Sweden (1 of an alleged 25,000 small islands) measuring approximately 5 miles by 2.5 miles. It is Swedish pastoral epitomized--numerous clay red cottages dot the rocky landscape said to have been formed by slow moving glaciers and I believe it. We were treated to a wonderful bbq on the water with a large gathering of an extended family and many new friends before the show.

The fresh air did make me feel a lot better for a time and this morning's outing was especially nice. We took a boat ride to a tiny island further out into the Baltic for coffee and freshly baked bread that we brought with us. I took many pictures but have no way of posting them now as this PC doesn't like my camera connection. Either way, the island community absorbed us like a wet blanket. The tight knit group fed us, gave us drink, offered to carry our equipment, wanted to talk all night, offered beds, even two whole cottages. It felt like home.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

My 4th of July

Last year I spent my 4th of July among many friends. We ate, drank, and took two dogs for a swim with mixed results (the pug is a swimming champ, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was terrified). This year, I spent 4th of July in a country that doesn't even have an independence day. There are rumors that country executives are attempting to make June 6th meaningful in some way but it was unclear as to why. Something about conversion from paganism.

Anyway, for my 4th of July, I read a book used often in college level management courses, ate an entire veggie pizza, and blew my nose a lot. I'm still quite sick and can only hope that the trip by sea we're taking today doesn't disagree with me.

I do hear from others, though, that the fireworks were bright, hot dogs warm, iced tea sweet, and spirts up in the States. Good for you guys, I guess.

Here are some things Sweden has allowed me to get back in touch with:
e-Bay
PayPal
Blogging
Writing stuff down in my little notebook
Sinusitis
My hilarious passport photo
BBC (especially the show Lead Balloon which is genius)
Long, personal emails

Here are some things Sweden has allowed me to neglect, if only temporarily:
Shaving
Recording
Coke
Good American television
Variety of wardrobe
Driving
The celebration of national US holidays
Long, personal conversations

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Paranoia or are they out to get me?

It seems a running joke towards Americans here is forewarning us to either be silent or behave especially well around certain individuals due to a great disdain towards my native land.

The way in which this "joke" is presented baffles me: is he serious? Might I upset this A&R guy? Will that bartender spit in my beer for ordering in English? Will this shop attendant give me intentionally wrong directions? Sarcasm translates as a dead serious statement. It is hard to appear dry and cynical when one stumbles over words. If the comic concentrates hard enough on the proper English, he or she forgets to display the twinkle in the eye, the wry smirk, or the eye roll. Maybe I should just tell people I'm from Canada and see how their reactions may change.

Today we had a long break between load in and sound check--around 5 hours. Therefore, I sat comfortably scrolling through my iPod to find music I have not listened to for one reason or another and actually enjoy it. The Guillemots were great, Peter, Bjorn, and John's Writer's Block was also good. I chose to listen to the latter because I was able to meet John earlier this week. Very nice, very unassuming guy. If anyone has found anything truly amazing recently, please pass it along. I've heard great things about Fleet Foxes but haven't had a chance to listen to or even learn a thing about them.

Sitting in the green room listening to music and contemplating my origins today, I noticed two tea candles on the table and I wondered: what is it about candles or contained fire in general that is comforting? The small amount of light they put out is romantic in a restaurant setting but frighteningly unhelpful in total darkness. Is it human nature to, even now in the 21st century, amaze ourselves in the discovery to cultivate fire? Our ability to overcome what once alluded us for thousands of years? I'm not sure but I will allow myself to be pulled blindly toward the softly flickering light time after time.

I ramble because I'm quickly running out of book. We have, I believe, 20 shows left in Sweden and I've already finished The Corrections, Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop, and American Pastoral. Today alone I read half of Made to Stick and after that it's a thin Elmore Leonard novel and a John Grisham legal "thriller"--gross.

I do know of a Swedish bookstore with a variety of English titles as well as a record store with various music themed books but it would cost me $15 round trip for a one day train pass. Oh well, I don't have much choice. $10 says the bookstore has stacks and stacks of Stephen King, Jeffrey Deaver, Dean Koontz, and other horribly boring fiction while carrying nothing of interest to me. Maybe they'll have a sweet used section full of heavy paperbacks tourists didn't want to take back with them in lieu of all the heavy Swedish stuff they bought while on vacation escaping the doldrums of reality television, fast food, and shopping malls. Little did they know that they would be watching nothing but reality TV in Sweden (many stations carry it), eating fast food (easy to understand menus), and shopping in malls (there are tons of them here).

Either way, I need something to fill my time otherwise I'll just it around and know what it means to miss New Orleans while thinking nonstop about this cold that refuses to die. I think it's my body telling me to head West.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Why do I attract stupidity?

First and foremost, I must say that I laud Swedes for their commitment to learning much of the English language. Nearly everyone I ask a question in English (do you have international calling cards, where can I find a map, why is everyone so blonde here?) is able to answer me with little to no difficulty. It seems, though, when I begin to engage in a deeper conversation than the normal "is this your first time in Sweden? How do you like it? How long are you here?" etc, that there are just as many idiots present in Scandinavia as there are in the US perhaps more.

Granted, I've met some very intelligent Swedes that I would delight in talking to all day long (one of them being local indie star Tobias Froberg, his fiancé Sondra, and Michael, the music producer of Scandinavia's largest theme park, to name a few) but I have certainly had the unfortunate displeasure of having lengthy repeated conversations with some who are no brighter than a brick wall that is suffering from a growing and relentless dementia. As my father would say, "about as dumb as a bag of hammers." Now my question is this: is it the language barrier or just genuine lack of appropriately firing neurons that account for the sheer stupidity? Do these same people think that yours truly is a moron as well? Finally, how can I spot these people before engaging in conversation or how to keep it to a minimum with those I cannot avoid?

Yes, I realize this post is one full of brash language and perhaps a false sense of superiority
by yet another complacent American, but I'm just telling it the way it is. Any thoughts?

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Stockholm's totally walkable

Today I walked around Stockholm. I did yesterday as well, but today I did it alone. It's interesting to see the great number of people that look just as confused as I do. July and August, I've heard, are the months that all of Sweden seems to take as vacation so I would imagine that many native to Stockholm have vacated and many from the country have flocked in. Either way, it's a cool place to visit.

After getting caught in a rainstorm today, I decided that perhaps a warm coffee in a not-so-hip coffeehouse was the thing to do. So, while enjoying a good cappuccino and my current book (Philip Roth's American Pastoral), I noticed quite a commotion across the street. There were literally hundreds of blonde-haired Swedish women crowding through two sets of double doors into what turned out to be two simultaneous showings of Sex and the City. Promiscuity and materialism, it seems, is not limited to American culture.

These women were ravenous for Sarah Jessica Parker's latest travails in the ways of love (or perhaps those of Samantha's). I still have absolutely no interest whatsoever in seeing it, regardless of my sometimes regrettable admitted materialism. I confess that I am a true hound for studio gear and boutique jeans. It is something I cannot escape. I bought boutique jeans yesterday, in fact, from a local jean shop (Nudie Jeans) that are fantastic (and fantastically expensive compared to the regular Levi's). It's something I cannot help. My calves, my thighs, my waist, it seems, are happier when embraced by quality denim in an insatiable thirst that cannot be satisfied by American chains like The Gap, American Eagle, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Tell me I'm wasting my money, tell me I'm a clotheshound, only don't tell me my jeans look bad.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Sinus attack.

Well, it has happened. I go overseas will a clean bill of health and get sick. How typical of my sinuses to ruin a day of planned exploring. I'm still going, but I may not be able to do the full amount that I was planning on. Hopefully I will only be down and out for a few days since the next show is on Thursday. Sinus infections are potentially troublesome for running sound: my nose is congested, my ears feel clogged, and I'm drowsy.

This morning, I did what any American would do: head down to a grocery store to grab some medicine. This is all well and good except that Swedish groceries do not have medicine. Only Swedish pharmacies have medicine. Fine. Great. I'll go to a pharmacy. Finally having made it to the pharmacy, I find that Sweden is not as frivolous about giving out medicine as we are in the US. They only have regular strength over the counter drugs. If I want the Jerry Seinfeld "figure out what will kill me then back it off just a little" maximum strength, I have to go see a doctor. Thus, I am on a combination of various medicines that will hopefully do what Advil Cold & Sinus does. I am not a fan of alternative, natural medicines on the whole; I just want the drugs.

Therefore, I will be chowing down on apples, bananas, OJ, Emergen-C, etc. until I feel myself again.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Back to Stockholm

Well, we have four shows under our belt and have just arrived back in Stockholm for a couple of days rest. The shows have been to very interesting crowds due mainly to, in my opinion, inappropriate venues but we've gotten fairly good responses. In the past week since I've been here I've made many observations about Sweden and Swedes in general:

-95% of Swedish hotel rooms have only a single bed-no double, no queen, and certainly not a king.
-95% of Swedes wear jeans. All the time. So, I, of course, fit right in.
-Sweden is the one place I don't look ridiculous carrying around my sunglasses at midnight. People that know me well know that I usually find myself stuck with my sunglasses late at night for one reason or another but in Sweden, I actually need them until usually around 10:30pm due to the extremely late sunsets.
-Swedes don't understand the whole Hurricane Katrina disaster. They understand that we could have done nothing to stop the storm, but what is puzzling is the loss of life. It seems that in Europe's eyes, America really has it together and to lapse in a time of need is unbelievable. When I asked the entertainment producer of Scandinavia's largest theme park what he meant by this, he replied "Well, hell, America sent a man to the moon! Anything is possible!"
-Swedes say "thank you" all the time. Constantly. I hear "tack tack" 1,000 times a day.
-The Swedish countryside looks very much like Mississippi: rolling pastoral lands full of very down to earth people.
-Swedes (and Europeans in general) have an extreme affinity for small cars. It's easy to see why with the high gas prices here. Something I've found interesting is the appealing American brand European-only available vehicles. I imagine that as gas prices continue to rise in the US, some of these tiny Fords, Hondas, Hyundais, etc. will make their way into the American market. It would be absurd for US automakers not to bring them stateside.
-Finally, Europe loves large, counterproductive digital FOH boards. The Digidesign Show is the worst live board I've ever seen unless it is a touring board. The time it takes to set up a new artist is extremely prohibitive and the fact that I have to select each channel to set EQ and pan (controlled a full 2 feet away) is alienating. Great recording board, great board for a touring band, but horrible in a venue.

We've played two festivals so far and it's been awesome to be able to run such large systems (albeit on terribly expensive, terribly limiting digital boards) though the set-up, sound check, and load out times are getting smaller and smaller it seems for festivals. This is certainly a drawback when you have a set-up that has to be disconnected completely and moved in sections because Theresa prefers not to be on a riser. Oh well.

On a lighter note, here is the van we're traveling in:



And here's a view of Goteburg (which really looks like Munich, where Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was filmed):

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Sweden!

So I've made it to Sweden and I must say: Jet lag is horrible. The fact that the sun doesn't set here until around 11:00 pm doesn't help my sleeping pattern one bit. Thus, after going to sleep last night before 9pm, I'm still up at 12:30am. I just don't get it.

Our first show is tomorrow and we'll see how well Swedish sound guys understand English when I need a hand in locating certain things, figuring out how the place is wired up, etc. I don't think the few words of Swedish I have learned (tack - thank you, nej - no, yah - yes, mixer - mixer, etc) is going to help one bit in this regard.

We have been into Stockholm from the suburb we're staying in quite a few times. What I have seen of it is absolutely beautiful; the old and new architecture, cobblestone streets, and canals passing through the city are great. However, I must admit I haven't been paying attention to the city nearly as much as I have been paying attention to our driver: Goran Wallen. Retired salesman turned promoter, Goran should have been a last place Nascar driver. He drives with two feet (even when not shifting), tailgates, zooms around curves, hops curbs to pass slow moving vehicles in the city, and talks on his cell phone constantly, even if that means traveling at highway speeds in third gear. It's terrifying.

We've been to a few music stores to get supplies and scope out places we may later need and have found a goldmine: Hellstone. The owner, Sven, gave me a free shirt that is killer. I will surely take a picture of it at a later date. This place has tons of vintage drums including old Gretsch sets and probably 100 each of vintage Slingerland and Ludwig snare drums. It's pretty much Eric Rogers' heaven. In addition, they have not one, not two, but three RCA 44 ribbon mics wasting away in a display case. According to Sven, all three are working very well and all three have an asking price of 21000K or $3500. Oh well.

I keep you all posted about some other parts of Sweden when I return from my 4-show road trip.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

AHH!

Packing up is serious business. We're cooped up in a large Tribeca apartment trying to make sense of all the stuff we have to take. Hopefully we'll be able to fit all of it into small enough bags to make the trip financially viable (overweight/size bags are expensive!).

On the other hand, New York is great. Once you learn the subways, it's really a piece of cake. It's still expensive to eat and live and all that but at least I know how to get from Brooklyn to the Upper West Side quickly and cheaply now. No more cabs for me. I will be wrapping up loose ends this evening (i.e. posting pictures that haven't yet been posted and need to be...if any) before we leave tomorrow afternoon for nearly 5 weeks.

Obviously, my phone will not work in Sweden but I should be able to check email every other day or so and I would greatly appreciate a hello from folks in English since I'm not sure how much I'll be able to communicate with these Swedes. I've got a ton of books to read including two new ones I just picked up--Made to Stick by Chip Heath and American Pastoral by Philip Roth--so I won't be all alone. Either way, shoot me a line, let me know what's going on in New Orleans or in the US in general. I'd appreciate it.


drinks11@gmail.com

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

[Writer's note: While today I should be writing about the show, it seems that the new MMJ record is more present in my mind so I shall review it instead]

I love My Morning Jacket. I do. I love the singable melodies, the huge reverb, the amazing shows, and their progression through the years. I discovered Z first and worked backward. Z is such a stand out record for me because nearly every chorus has a melody that one just aches to sing along to. The music is well written, the lyrics have meaning, the recording itself is phenomenal, and it's just the right length.

When I heard that they were releasing a new record soon, I waited on pins and needles to hear it. Today during my drive I listened to it three times in a row and I must say I'm a little surprised. Throughout their career, the members of MMJ (mainly Jim James) have flirted with alt-country, space rock, noise rock, and indie. Each album shows a growing musicianship and talent for arranging and Evil Urges is no different. However, the vocal melodies that were once so appealing are not as present in this record.

The title track begins with strongly until the vocals come in: Jim James is almost squealing his lines. It's a little bit of a turn off. Two songs later, "Highly Suspicious," you would swear that Prince was coming over the loud speakers. This song rocks. It has a great melody, a pumping bass line and a tempo that makes it a great driving song. Again though, the vocals are strange. The chorus (a chanted "Highly Suspicious") is sung more or less sarcastically or playfully.

Two songs that really strike a chord with me (and not in a good way) are "Two Halves" and "The Librarian." The chorus of "Two Halves" is a little out there for me and not what I'm used to from My Morning Jacket. With "The Librarian," he mentions that we don't use books much anymore since we got the interweb [sic]. Interweb. Jim James may not think of it this way, but I believe that most artists should think ahead to the lasting impression of their work. Including kitschy slang like "interweb" does not bode well unless, heaven help us, it becomes a common word through major usage.

That's not to say that the entire album is that way because it's not. I will say that Evil Urges is a grower and you can most definitely find gems in it. Those of you who aren't as concerned with lyrics or vocals really will find it remarkable. But for those who have been waiting patiently for a new album full of James' reverb laden vocals, you may have to keep waiting.

That said, I can still greatly appreciate this record and I know I will be coming back to it again and again, but I don't feel I can give it the same 4 star rating I would have given Z. I continue listening to it again and again hoping to find something new. Fans will love it, casual fans may feel alienated by the playful vocals. I do think they will gain a whole host of new fans with this one though. Either way, I'm excited to see them again.

New York shows!

Sorry I've been slacking with blogs since I arrive in New York. It's just so hectic up here I haven't really had time to write. Anyways, New York has been a blast and it's over too quickly. I'm leaving here in a mere 45 minutes to go to VA for the next two shows.

Sunday we played at Union Hall in Brooklyn. Very cool place. They had bocce ball courts in the bar and the music was in the basement on a tiny stage with low ceilings that had lots of charm. It was a small crowd that was receptive for the first few songs.

The next day I hopped on the subway and explored Manhattan for a few hours before having lunch with Kelley near Times Square where she works. I got a new phone charger since I left mine in Baltimore and duder was nice enough to let me charge it in the store while I browsed through the inferior Virgin book selection. I went to the only physical B&H store and it was amazing. I also headed over to 48th and 7th for all the music stores and actually had time to explore them all which was great. Then back to Brooklyn to prepare for the second show at Pianos.

The Pianos crowd was bigger and better and the show went off without a hitch. [edited for content]. Good crowd that was receptive. It was a cool club in a cool area. Seemed to be one of those "places to be seen" and she was certainly seen there.

After the show, I left the club around 11:30 and didn't get home until after 1. The subway stopped after only Lorimer street due to late night construction which meant walking the rest of the way through Brooklyn. That sucked.

Yesterday I had some true New York pizza and went to Katz's for dinner which is the ultimate in Jewish delis. Katz's is where the famous "I'll have what she's having" scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed. I had matzo ball soup and a brisket sandwich; both were out of this world excellent. The show went fine and it was a quick load out so I had time to get back to Brooklyn while Kelley was still awake and actually hang out with her and Rubey.

Oh yeah, and while walking through the Lower East Side yesterday I stumbled upon this: the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. I wanted to go in but it wasn't open yet.


Now, we have to drive a long way to VA instead of having a few days off to pack up and prepare as we should. Oh well. See you guys in the funny papers.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Baltimore Chop - Baltimore, MD

Before we even get to the venue I hated because of the long drive and insane traffic. DC sucks. Always go around it, never go through it-no matter what Mavis says.

The coffeeshop ended up being very intimate. Good small crowd that was quite receptive and stuck around for nearly two hours afterwards to talk. They certainly didn't help carry anything but oh well. I bought two books there since I'm already getting low.

So far I've finished Geronimo Rex (for the third time), read the Jerry Lee Lewis biography Hellfire (great) and I'm burning through Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections. I bought an Elmore Leonard book and on that will perhaps allow me to better understand my sister when I read it, Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop.

Today before leaving we went to Hon Fest on 36th St. It was nuts.

Visulite Theater - Charlotte, NC

Good show, good room, great percentage of folks buying CDs. The stage was amazing.

Before the show, we had some absolutely killer BBQ. I don't care what anyone says, Carolina BBQ is the tops. How could anyone truly favor ketchup-based BBQ over vinegar based? People are crazy.

Also, on the way to the venue, we went to an awesome coffee shop called the Smelly Cat. It was totally chill. Great coffee and the owner was a sweetheart. Additionally, out on the porch they had these little glass pieces strung up which I though was cool:

Yesterday Theresa had a YouTube featured video that got something like 250,000 views very quickly. Hopefully that will translate to lots of people out to future shows but we'll see.

I took a bunch of pictures though they may remain in my camera until August as I think my computer is kaput for the time being. My RAM is corrupt and I don't feel like spending nearly $200 on some SODIMM right now, especially if I apparently won't be able to really use it much overseas since the Swedes are all about some PCs.

Tomorrow's drive will be 7 1/2 ungodly hours. Far too long for a donations show. We should've had a paying show in VA or elsewhere in NC somewhere instead.

Anyway, here's a few pictures I took of the show I thought turned out well.











[I was able to edit this post on someone's computer, so here are pictures. I will be able to post some pictures when I can use others' computers but not my own...]

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Greenville, SC - The Handlebar

This morning we left Atlanta for Greenville, SC where we met up with sound man extraordinaire Brian Dawson.  He will be with us through our New York City shows and will lend us his experience and talents to make sure the very important showcases in New York will be tip top.


Tonight at the Handlebar, Brian took the wheel running sound with my assistance and, I must say, it was pumping.  This is the first room we've been in with a sizeable PA system.  We figured out some great EQ tricks and levels that will make sound checks a breeze and each show will sound crystal clear.

The show itself tonight was great though the turnout was dismal-even for the headliners.  Theresa has never played Greenville before and we were told that the town is usually dead during the summer months as it is.  Oh well.  I blame the headlining band.  They were some old duders "rocking" limply it seemed to me.  The lyrics were in the style of Jimmy Buffet: mellow, not smooth, kind of shitty.  What really mattered was that the crowd, though small, got into the set and was engaging with Theresa.  They were cheering heartily, clapping along, and talking to her between songs and definitely after the set.  

That being said, we're psyched for the next few shows leading up to New York and especially NYC because it is generally awesome.  Besides, I'll get to see one of my dearest friends: Miss Kelley Farris.  

Until next time folks!

Decatur, Ga - Eddie's Attic

Mavis is a liar, and a pathological one at that.  She'll take me down a road then pretend it ends prematurely so she must calculate another route for me.  Most recently in her string of lies, she sent me down Dozier Hill Road just outside of Oxford en route to Birmingham.  For those of you unfamiliar with the road (which I will assume is everybody save for the residents of the few houses along it), it is six miles of a one laned gravel full of steep hills, tight curves, and speeding locals.  It will haunt my dreams all the days of my life.


Finally, after I was able to resuscitate myself, I made it to Birmingham otherwise unscathed to stay with a good high school friend, Candace.  She has just finished her first year in law school and is having a blast living it up in the South's worst area of cell phone reception.  Many thanks to Candace.

Atlanta was great.  I finally got to go to Eddie's Attic and see a show.  Eddie's the nicest guy in the world, and I got to talk shop for a solid hour with the sound guy, Shalom.  They fed us well and afterwards we retired to a friend's cousin's home just off Piedmont Park.  Many many thanks to Mark Thompson for letting us stay, feeding us, entertaining us, and being generally hospitable.  He sat up with us until 1am engaging us with his stories of his 2000+ skydives.  He is truly fearless.  

Unfortunately, I have no picture from Eddie's Attic.  I either forget that I have a camera, or I'm far too busy to actually get in there and take pictures.  I promise to be more diligent the rest of the week.a

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Oxford, MS - Two Stick

A 4 1/2 hour scenic drive sponsored in part by local New Orleans bands Antenna Inn and Fay Wray has put us in the 95 degree Oxford Square.  We were able to stop by my hometown and have lunch with my folks which was nice.  


During our break today, I began advancing shows for the next week.  Advancing is neither a science nor is it a pleasant thing to do.  If I'm lucky enough to actually get someone from production on the phone, there's always some sort of contractual discrepancy.  Otherwise, I'm stuck talking to duder that happens to be near the phone and is generally unaware about things like load-in, doors, set length, etc.


On a lighter note, the Two Stick has some damn fine sushi.  Thus, it was with a full belly and a tingling tongue (spicy sauce) that I loaded gear.  The load-in was quick and easy and the show went pretty well.  We still have a few bugs to work out but things are coming together well.  


I guess now is a good a time as any to explain exactly what makes the show so complicated:  Theresa has a monstrous pedal board with two looping pedals.  She builds loops using guitar, violin, dulcimer, vocals, drums...anything really.  She has two sub-mix boards and a total of five outputs.  Basically, it's a fight with every song to get everything equal.  I've got a crib sheet for each song but we've got to figure out little feedback issues and clarity.  


All in all, I'm pumped about the next show at Eddie's Attack in Atlanta.  I've heard great things about it and I've never had a chance to go so now I'll see it in the flesh as well as running sound.  


No pictures this post but expect some from Eddie's Attic on Tuesday.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Natchez, MS - Bowie's Tavern

We began today in a huge van barreling up I-55 on our way to Natchez guided by Mavis: the wireless GPS system which is absolutely amazing.  After soundcheck and grub, we found our hotel rooms, lounged about, and pumped ourselves up for the show.  We had no idea what to expect when we arrived back at Bowie's Tavern for showtime.  

Full of our Deep South neighbors, drunks, bored citizens looking for a good time on a Friday night, and, finally, music fans.  Pre-show jitters were accompanied by the police escorting out an angry and intoxicated Toyota mechanic and a "Happy Birthday" request. 

I sat side stage - rather, directly next to Theresa behind the speakers - an unfortunate spot.  Theresa didn't care about her dining fans or those that just didn't understand the whole looping concept; she played anyway.

The crowd brightened up quickly and by the time she played her Sw
edish song (which I was worried about the crowd's response) everyone seemed hooked.

Theresa can work a crowd.  Her dancing, her ability to sing just as loud off the mic as on it, as well as her obvious heart and soul propel the shows.  By the way, she obliged the "Happy Birthday," though not happily.  Her voice and smile said "yes," but her body language said "no, no no." 

Cheap thrills don't come easy, but when you sing a song called Mississippi to a group of steady drinking Natchez, Mississippians, it just works.  One last thought: It seems Duane Allman is alive and well.  He offered Theresa $20 to play a Faces tune (Ooh La La).  

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Stress! Time to go!

So it's officially the night before and I'm stressed. My emotions run wild from thinking ahead to the upcoming drives to shows to having to advance all the upcoming shows and generally making sure I'm doing everything right. Kat and I just had our last dinner together at Cafe Atchafalaya (which was good by the way) and it's becoming quite obvious to us collectively that we have but a short time together before I head out tomorrow morning.
I will of course be updating all with blogs about the various shows and how I'm feeling and where I am so please everyone feel free to leave comments. They let me know how many folks are actually reading these and reassure me that I'm not writing for myself. Below are a couple of pictures that are cheaply displaying my array of emotions while procrastinating packing. I hate packing. Kat is actually trying to pack for me while I'm typing. Fitting two months of your life into a carry-on is not fun. Until next time, let's boogie.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Almost ready to go!

So it's June 4th and it's coming down to the wire. I've officially begun "road-mode" which means I'm stressed, on edge, hurried, impatient, and unable to sit still for very long. Theresa and I had a great rehearsal last night which will go a long way for the first show in Natchez. By the way, for those of you loyal readers that will be in the area for any of the upcoming shows, I fully expect to see you at them!

Before I leave I'm spending as much time as I can with friends and loved ones which means dinners, drinks, shows, and general relaxation (or as much as I can as we approach my departure). Tomorrow night will be my last night in town for nearly two months and I will spend it at Tipitina's to see John Michael's show (he's the opener). So please come see that folks!

Keep posted for more and more blogs!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Big Sam, Abita Tour

This weekend I've got a friend in town so I decided to show him a good time native New Orleanian style. I took him to Big Sam for a good local show and the Abita brewery tour today. I don't have much to say about either so I will let the pictures do the talking.

On the way to Molly's for a pint.








At Molly's with a pint. This is Jeffrey.












At Blue Nile for Big Sam's Funky Nation. Good live band, definitely worth seeing live at some point during a New Orleans stay. However, I can see why they play live so much as opposed to relying on CD sales. It's hard to listen to a CD with a bunch of "throw your hands up" and "shake it, shake it!" all over it. That said, the music is tight, Sam is extremely energetic, and has a killer taste in sunglasses as you can see below. Somewhere, Grandmaster Flash is smiling.




Big Sam's guitar duder, Casey. My apologies to Casey for the picture but he never gave me a good shot.





My favorite picture of the night by far.













And finally, on to the Abita Brewery Tour. Kat is enjoying a beer before noon if I recall correctly.  She's a champ.  It's all delicious, it's all informative, it's all free. What more could a red blooded American ask for in a Saturday morning?



Cody maxing and relaxing after a few pints from the self-serve taps.



The glorious self-serve taps. Everything (almost) that Abita offers is available here. There are hundreds of cups stacked nearby for unlimited refills. The cups fill quickly, the lines progress with such a fervor of Americans realizing they had better move before this thing that is too good to be true ends, and every sip is ice cold. The end of the "tasting" (imbibing) is marked by the beginning of the tour into the brewery.

The brew tanks. These house the ales, lagers, and soon to be Belgian brews. Look for those this fall.

Many rounds later...


Thursday, May 29, 2008

Studio

So in the past few months I've been putting together a studio. I've mainly been using it on the My Name Is John Michael stuff. So far I've accumulated what seems to be a pretty nice set up. That said, I'm always looking for other projects in the New Orleans area, whether that's just vocals, mixing, or mastering.

For those of you that might be interested in knowing the gear I have, check the following list:
Digidesign 003 Rack
DriveRack PX (for RTA with my monitors)
Event TR6 monitors
Neumann U473SP mastering compressors (pair)
Neumann PEa parametric EQs (pair)
dbx 162SL
dbx 163x
Neumann M 149 Tube
Audix SCX25a

and on the way:

Aurora Audio GTQ-2
Focusrite Octopre LE
AKG D112

So, as I've said, if anyone is interested, please contact me about recording/mixing/mastering at drinks11@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Tour Details!

I've gotten some info on tour dates so I figured I'd pass them along. The Theresa Andersson tour will start June 6th in Natchez, MS and I should arrive back in New Orleans July 29th. Here are some of the dates in between:

Jun 6 - natchez, ms @ bowie's tavern
Jun 7 - oxford, ms @ two stick
Jun 10 - atlanta, ga @ eddie's attic
Jun 11 - greenville, sc @ handlebar
Jun 12 - charlotte, nc @ visualite theatre
Jun 13 - baltimore, md @ chop shop
Jun 14 - philadelphia, pa @ world cafe upstairs
Jun 15 - brooklyn, ny @ union hall
Jun 16 - new york, ny @ pianos
Jun 17 - new york, ny @ living room
Jun 18 - vienna, va @ jammin java
Jun 19 - charlottesville, va @ gravity lounge

We'll be flying off to Stockholm on the 22nd and playing apparently another 17 shows in Europe before flying back.

In August, after an Iowa wedding, I'll be heading out with the Allman Brothers sticking mainly to the Northeast:

Aug 12 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Center
Aug 13 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon Theater
Aug 15 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Center
Aug 16 - Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
Aug 19 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga PAC
Aug 20 - Hartford, CT - Meadows
Aug 22 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands PAC
Aug 23 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Center
Aug 25 - Hershey, PA - Hershey Star Pavillion
Aug 27 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Eneregy Theater
Aug 28 - Chicago, IL - Chapter One Pavillion
Aug 30 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks

This tour seems unusually short for the Allman Brothers but we'll just have to see. Gregg Allman has been recovering from Hepatitis C for months so they are still figuring out a touring schedule that will not be too strenuous for him. I was told initially that the tour would stretch from August into October but that may be it folks.

On a side note, I purchased a new camera recently so you may actually see photos shot by yours truly appearing in this blog soon. I will certainly take lots of pictures of the Theresa tour and as many as I can of ABB (they do not allow cameras or even cell phones on stage and that includes band, crew, visitors, etc).

Check back soon and often for updates!

And finally, a couple of pictures:

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

New Tours!

Hey people,

Sorry it's been so incredibly long since I've last posted. I just got out of the habit I suppose. Here's what's been going on:

Since January 1st, I have been a part of the mynameisjohnmichael.com project. It is a local New Orleanian (John Michael Rouchell) writing, recording, mixing, and releasing one song a week for the entire year. We've recently passed song #20 and still going strong. Make sure to visit the site and catch up on the songs. There's definitely good stuff in there.

Second, I'm going on more tours this summer. During the months of June and July, I'll be with local artist Theresa Andersson in New York, England, Sweden, Holland, Norway, and maybe Finland. When I arrive back in New Orleans, I'll be home for a short week then it's off to tour with the Allman Brothers again until possibly middle of October. Needless to say, I'm going to be very busy.

I will keep everyone updated on the tours via this blog as much as I can so stay tuned.