Well it all started as a pretty normal day. We left Charleston 15 minutes late. We stopped for lunch at Chic-fil-a in Augusta. As soon as the van got rolling again, something seemed amiss. She just didn't seem to want to go. We limped into a gas station about a mile up the road and after careful consideration and our collective vast mechanical experience we decided to call on some friends for help. First we unhitched the trailer and pushed it up into the parking lot. Then we went inside and bought some brown bag beers to celebrate our impressive feat. I decided to sunbathe a bit in my speedo*. After struggling, and failing completely , to push the van up, a friendly neighbor with a chain offered some help. When told help would be there in three hours, Joe, Micah, and I decided to hitch hike to a Panera down the road where we could take advantage of AC, coffee, and internet. Our ride there informed us she didn't really like Augusta because she didn't like "Big Cities". After enjoying breadly hospitality, as well as the phallic bread totem* in the display on the way out, we caught another ride. He seemed fairly normal at first. We got in his mini van and he told us he was a computer science professor and was on the way to class. Small talk ensued and then, "Have any of you ever been outside of your body?" To which we responded no, no and no. Well he had. He could see himself from a floating overhead point of view and a chord was "meangering" from his floating self to the navel of his earthbound body. Also he was at one with the universe, especially trees. We made it back to the gas station to witness the arrival of our friends from Athens in kick ass giant tow truck. The plan was for them to tow the van back to Athens , fix it, and we would drive home hopefully that night, or in the morning if it wasn't fixed yet. Sounded reasonable at the time. But wait, it gets better. Next a tour bus came to pick us and the trailer up to deliver us to Atlanta. Thanks mgmt! A tour bus!!!! Awesome right? Well ten miles before reaching us the bus driver noticed smoke pouring out of the rear, pulled over, and discovered the generator was on fire. So bus gets to us, thats good. But no generator means no AC, no TV, no electricity, that's bad. Finally we made it to Atlanta. Show was great. Everyone happy, but bus goes away, Athens friends pick us and trailer up, 9 people in an SUV, ride back to Athens to crash in fancy big mansion in the middle of nowhere. We get back on the road next morning, buy some scary gas station shrimp, and head home. As we pull into my neighborhood the smell of burning starts to permeate the van. We pull up to my house and are afraid rear passenger side tire is on fire. No flames, but she sure was smoking. Nothing a little garden hose can't fix. Until next time van, sleep well, rest up. *see pics in appended post
Welcome to Texas. We played at Dean's, which was housed in a cool building and had a fun vintage vibe inside. I started my sitting in stint with Nathan Angelo as well. Very cool music and a good time. The hotel parking lot was filled with lots of big trucks driven by real cowboys. Seriously
First we have a nice visual aid to compare the crowmobile and the bus. Just a slight step up in comfort! Then a nice shot of my kids trying to stow away/ enjoying their first, hopefully not last, visit to the top bunk. The bus was picking us up early evening on the 16th for a leisure cruise overnight to NYC where we were to play a showcase for some record bigwigs the following afternoon. Soon after we were under way Bones, our driver, informed us that Wayne Newton had just used the bus before us and had left some snacks! Wayne's brownies were a big hit with all. I kept one to have bronzed and use as a hood ornament. The trip was super comfy, satallite tv, wifi, my own icey cold bunk, and of course the tasty snacks. We pulled up to SIR rehearsal studios early afternoon, had a nice load in in my pjs, grabbed a bite, and proceeded to rock. Rocking in the room next to us was none other then the strokeman his self, Billy Squire! He still sounded pretty good after all these years. Afterwards we went out to dinner and drinks and fun times and friends in the city. The rest of the boys got to enjoy that sweet ride in the bus back home, but I was lucky enough to have a 6am flight (meaning a 4am cab ride to the airport!) to Louisiana to start my run with Mr Hoge, but that's for another post.......
I don't usually blog about my biggest gig ever, but this night was to big to pass up. One would think that metal karaoke at a bar that serves grain alcohol infused slushies would be enough to brag about, but no! On this fine evening we had to very special guests indeed. Eric Roberts signed up to sing some Poison! It just doesn't get any better than that. But wait, there's more. Paul Stanley showed up to sing some Motorhead! A good old fashioned drunken time was had by all. And to think I get to do this gig every Monday that I'm home!!
Slow Runner played in DC with the Avett Bros. Not only did we get an amazing tour of the monuments, but we had the pleasure of having our good friend Nathan Koci join us onstage ( even if his picture wont turn the right way) A fine time was had by all. Obama enjoyed the show so much that he gave the Avett Bros an executive order to let us open some more shows in September!!!
