I’m back home for 10 more days. The shows went really well. In fact, I think it was the most successful jaunt I’ve ever been on. There are a few things that help keep spirits high when you’re on the road with your band:
The first is people actually coming out to the shows. Since we were opening for a bigger band we had nothing to worry about in that department. Sometimes you can hit a town half a dozen times and still only get 10 people out. On this one about 100 people watched us every night which is rewarding after sinking hour after hour into writing and rehearsing.
The second is promotion for the shows. We had some awesome people work really hard for us on this tour. That and the fact that we’re charting nationally now added to people actually being aware that we existed before we hit the stage. It’s neat to be out of town and have people sing along to your songs. I’ve never experienced that before, though the last touring band I played in was an instrumental one.
The third is pay. It can be a real bummer when you get paid out $6 at the end of the night when you have to find food, a place to stay and put gas in the tank. Fortunately for us, we were paid handsomely by each promoter and sold some merch to boot. This alleviates a ton of stress and I don’t think any of us had to dip into personal savings. A huge success in the world of independent music.
Fourth: tour tantrums. Spending a large portion of your day in a hot van with your bandmates can be grating. If people aren’t careful to keep their attitudes in check, the day can easily turn into a drag. Being that we’ve all run this gamut before in other bands, we made a point to air our grievances which helped raise awareness of things that can be done on a personal level to improve the overall enjoyment of the experience. It’s neat, we’re all older dudes and we were all pals before we started this thing, so it feels like everyone is a little more invested in making sure people are having a good time.
Anyways, our homecoming show was bananas and we were offered a spot to play at the Western Canadian Music Awards which is kind of neat. It’s a strange thing, this band. Things just seem to keep coming our way. The band we played with wants to bring us to Montreal in the fall. They really dug our stuff and would like to help us out so we’re starting to draft plans for the fall, which brings me to my next topic.
When I returned home, I arrived to find that I got a B in my ethics class and a reply from the public school board. Turns out my application was accepted and I was provided with information on how to apply for a job subbing this fall (which I will be able to do once I finish my last class and get my teaching certificate). That’s really what I’m going to shoot for. Having the flexibility to do the band thing and be in the school environment when I’m at home seems like the bees knees to me, for the next while at least. You know, you’ve got to keep moving forward, but you can’t forget who you are or what keeps you in love with the world. This is a lesson I’ve come to learn in the last couple of years re: happiness.
Ok, Africa time. Today I begin making with the preparations. First thing’s first; getting my itinerary together as well as a making list of supplies I need to pick up and things I need to take care of.
Filed under: Band?
Day 4
We played on a reservation last night under the stars. It was wicked, probably one of the most fun times I’ve ever had playing music. The show was moved to this guy’s back yard after the original promoter flaked out, when he found that the venue had been double booked. The change was last minute and a ton of people still ended up making it out. I forgot to mention that we’re playing these dates with a band that features the dude who played Deaner in the movie Fubar. Last night, Paul (Deaner) led the crowd in an accapella version of “Rock n’ Roll is My Guitar” after his band finished their set. People ate it up and it was a really great time.
Starting to feel more like a tour now as we haven’t showered for a couple of days.
Day 2
I would hesitate to call playing less than 7 shows away from home a tour, so consider me on a short west coast jaunt. 4 shows in 5 days. Not bad. I wish it were longer, but I probably won’t see a long string of dates for a while since I’m burned out on booking those. This is why we met with a booking agent last night. I hate to outsource that part of being in a band, it’s not very D.I.Y. But when you’re as busy as I am and the band is not your full time job, booking tours is not unlike waiting in a long line for a coffee.
We played in Vancouver last night, on Hastings again. Before the show, we watched about a dozen rats run around in the empty lot behind the venue. The show was great. About 150 people showed up, Nardwaur was there and we got paid. I was feeling a little under the weather from having spent the previous night barfing. I guess one could say that gas station veggie samosas are not the greatest of ideas.
When I come back from being on the road I get what I refer to as a post-tour bummer. After being closely surrounded by your friends and exposed to new terrain everyday, the shock of re-adopting a sessile lifestyle at home takes a good day or two to adjust to. This is also funny, because I am also prone to early-tour crazies that is; after a day or two of being in a van with people in close proximity I want to lose it from not having my own space. These things come and go, and due to our travels being relatively short (5 days), I’ve had both feelings in less than a week. So there’s that. Also, I would like to add that being on tour with a band is not unlike being with your family at Christmas time. At times, it is no walk in the park. To have the best experience, you really have to overcome some of the things others do that drive you completely nuts. Most times, I’m pretty good at taking everything with a grain of salt, but there have been times over the last few years when I’ve felt like quitting because I couldn’t deal with the egos, neuroses or negativity of members I was traveling with. Not to say that I am the model citizen in this regard. It’s just that you’ve really got to let the bad stuff slide to make it through to the next show. However, that is not to say that a little tension doesn’t mean you will play horribly because some of the best shows I’ve played were partially a result of inter-member drama. I guess after being exposed to it you are able to understand why bands split due to creative differences. Anyways, I digress and onto what seems to be my other personality.
This semester is going to be really fun. Basically, I’m in class taking 3 courses in 5 weeks. Some of the things we’re going to be doing include outdoor field trips, judging science fairs and going to check out the science Olympics at some high school. It’s an intense workload and I’ve got to fit some part time work in there to make sure I’ll be able to pay my bills, but I’m totally up for the challenge. Today I’ve got to study the curriculum for Bio 30 and figure out a way to teach it to my peer group as part of a jigsaw exercise.
Two more things.
Did you know there was once a headless chicken that survived for over a year? It’s pretty weird, and I don’t condone how Mike came to lose his head, but the story is interesting nonetheless.
Also, a cat was microwaved to death in small town Alberta last week. Not the first incident of animal cruelty to happen here in the past while. The good news is that there are some steps being taken to prevent these kinds of things by strengthening Canada’s animal cruelty laws but more support is needed to make it happen. If this interests you, check out Bill C-373 and throw some weight behind it by contacting your MP.
Filed under: Band?
Arrived home and fell asleep as soon as I walked in the door. The drive from Vancouver to Canmore yesterday was much longer than we had anticipated due to some pretty hairy weather. Canadian bands know better than to tour Canada in the winter, especially when it comes to driving through the shield or the rockies. The hitch is that if you’re willing to risk it, the shows are way better because there are less bands doing their thing, as compared to the summertime when there’s usually a show a night.
I’ll write a bit more about it later, right now I have to get ready for the first day of my last semester tomorrow. And sleep. I need sleep so badly…
Filed under: Band?
We arrived in Vancouver last night around midnight. The roads were alright, for the most part. There is a large population of Edmontonians in this city and some of them are putting us up while we’re here. S snored all night. I slept in the storage room. Tonight (and tomorrow) we’re playing in kind of a rough neighborhood that is slowly succumbing to gentrification and the city’s desire to hide the homeless population for the 2010 Olympics. Going out to find some eats.
Well, I’m back in my lovely city. Played a show on NYE and it was pretty wild. Unfortunately I was feeling a bit under the weather and had to call it a night a bit early so I could try to rid myself of some illness I picked up (on the plane I’m sure). Tomorrow the band I play in is leaving for a little mini-tour. Basically, an excuse to go hang out by the ocean for a couple of days and test drive a few new songs. Then it’s back to finish my last semester at the University. I applied to do my long practicum in a small mountain town, 3 hours West of where I live. I don’t really know what I’m going to do if I get it. Find a place to crash for 9 weeks I suppose and try to get someone to look after my cats.
2008 is shaping up to be an interesting year. One of my resolutions was to avoid any kind of relationship (of the romantic sort) for the year. Figured it would be a wise decision to put as much energy as possible into doing well finishing off my degree, musical endeavors and getting rid of some parasitic emotional baggage. I’m stoked. For the first time ever I will be putting out a musical recording on vinyl. I’m also applying to take a teaching class in Africa. Touring. Graduating. Generally just moving on into this whole new chapter of my life.
Anyways, if anything happens on the road, I’ll post it here. Otherwise, I’ll start with the regular updates next week, once the semester starts back up again.
Happy 2008. I’m anticipating a change in the tides this year, politically and musically.
Well, tomorrow is my last day at the Jr. High so it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. The admin and school staff are letting me put on a show for the students. A friend of mine as well as my own band play are going to play during the last two periods of tomorrow. It’s a secret! Shhhh! The kids won’t know until they get called to the gym for what they will be led to believe is going to be an assembly. I’m stoked. I remember when a band played at my school in grade 10 and I remember them even playing some Jane’s Addiction. I’m sure some of these kids will grow up with music, there are a few who talk about downloading tabs on the internets and it brings back the memories let me tell you.
Anyways, today was good. Kids wrote a Unit test on space. Half of them did really well. A few of them bombed (including the girl I had high hopes for). One kid got 34% by guessing all “A’s”. It was pretty crass. I stayed after class to put the pressure on another kid I know is capable but who refuses to apply himself. I told him that it was easy to get 100% on the particular lab if he just puts in minimal effort. He’s taking his book home and giving it to me for marking in the morning.
The last class was ridiculous and I felt like a sheep dog trying to keep kids in their desks and on task. K says they get like this close to Xmas. Can’t blame them, I feel the same way!
