We just pulled into Iowa City and it is like one big college. Probably because our hotel is right next to Iowa University.
We meet up with the tour package here. It's Goodnight Caulfield opening and us and The Higher co-headlining. The Higher will headline the Midwest and we will headline the East coast. It is shaping up to be a fun tour and we are really looking forward to meeting the bands.
The band has some exciting things in the works and some awesome bands we're looking at touring with. Of course, it is all always up in the air until the day the tour starts, but it is still fun to talk about it and throw a wishlist around!
Current tour package wishlist:
- The Fray, Switchfoot
- Safetysuit, After Midnight Project
- The Used, Mayday Parade
Honorable mentions:
- Owl City
- Third Eye Blind
So there ya have it! Ok, our hotel has a pool, so I'm gonna go swim and then get ready to check the city out!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
4/28/2010
So today has been a big day! Our few days off in Nashville, then a show last night, were amazing!
This morning we woke up at the crack of noon and moaned and groaned about the poor choice of hitting Steak n Shake at 4 am. Once we were all up and going (without showers due to the hazardous conditions of the bathroom), we went to a trailer store.
The owner of the venue just happened to be the owner of a very nice trailer store and gave us an UNBELIEVABLE deal on a sweet new 7x16' dual axle trailer. We traded in "Clifford" the giant red trailer and have named the new one "Murphy." So we loaded all our stuff in and got on the road to drive over 600 miles to Iowa City!
On our way out of Nashville, we stopped in a Guitar Center where Jeremy found a 1969 Fender P-Bass. After a lot of haggling, he walked out with it. It's the sweetest bass I've ever heard! Be looking for it when you see us at shows. Ask him about it -- he'll be more than happy to tell you all about it!
Now we're just on the road. It's beautiful driving through KY and TN as the sun is going down. We're chasing it at 70 mph, so it's like the neverending sunset. There's no buildings. Nothing. Just road, trees, and mountains. There's something about this kind of drive that makes me feel closer to God.
One more day and the full-on tour starts!
This morning we woke up at the crack of noon and moaned and groaned about the poor choice of hitting Steak n Shake at 4 am. Once we were all up and going (without showers due to the hazardous conditions of the bathroom), we went to a trailer store.
The owner of the venue just happened to be the owner of a very nice trailer store and gave us an UNBELIEVABLE deal on a sweet new 7x16' dual axle trailer. We traded in "Clifford" the giant red trailer and have named the new one "Murphy." So we loaded all our stuff in and got on the road to drive over 600 miles to Iowa City!
On our way out of Nashville, we stopped in a Guitar Center where Jeremy found a 1969 Fender P-Bass. After a lot of haggling, he walked out with it. It's the sweetest bass I've ever heard! Be looking for it when you see us at shows. Ask him about it -- he'll be more than happy to tell you all about it!
Now we're just on the road. It's beautiful driving through KY and TN as the sun is going down. We're chasing it at 70 mph, so it's like the neverending sunset. There's no buildings. Nothing. Just road, trees, and mountains. There's something about this kind of drive that makes me feel closer to God.
One more day and the full-on tour starts!
Monday, April 26, 2010
4/26/2010
So we're here in downtown Nashville, TN in our hotel after driving all the way through Alabama. It's much cooler than I initially anticipated! We've got a nice balcony and a sweet view. I'm glad that we have our day off in Nashville.
We've got some business to handle while we're here. Josh's to hi hat cracked and he's sponsored by Meinl, so they're going to hook him up with some new ones. We're looking at maybe picking up a new guitar amp for me while we're here. We've talked about either an Orange, Bad Cat, or Vox. I'd be happy with any of those!
Last night I put in earplugs. That actually helped me hear my voice (like putting your fingers in your ears makes your voice incredibly loud). I really nailed my harmonies and felt good about them! That's the first time that's ever happened. We traded some of our old equipment for wireless in-ear monitors. We need to get one of the packs fixed so I can have mine working. Can't wait for that!
Tonight, we're going to hit up the city. I'm ready to hang out and have some fun!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
4/24/2010
Our kickoff show for this tour was in my hometown of Gainesville, FL. It was amazing. So many of my friends and family came out and we sold out the venue! Aside from the intense heat of the venue, the show itself was one of our best.
Merch sales were good and food was cheap, thanks to Subway being right next door. Those things are both awesome. God takes such good care of us.
I had picked up a Gibson Nighthawk at the Gibson Showroom right before we left for tour. I didn't even plug it in. It was light and looked good, so I said, "Yeah, load that one up -- I'll take it." Best decision ever.
I usually use a lighter Les Paul Standard for the first part of the set when Ryan's playing guitar too. Then when he switches to piano, I play a heavier Custom Goldtop, which has a much denser tone. But the Nighthawk just fit. I know it doesn't make much sense to most people to leave a Goldtop at home and use a Nighthawk, but ya gotta do what feels right.
So we're on the road to Atlanta to play a festival. There will be a hotel, food, and a green room. These are all good things. We stopped for a couple hours last night and slept. Our van is so set up for it, so it's nice. I prefer the van to a hotel, except the van doesn't have showers.
It's exciting to be back on the road. But with every awesome thing in life, there are hard parts, like saying goodbye to my best friends, Mom, Achsah, and Joanna last night. So I'm glad we'll be touring through Florida again in exactly a month! Until then, it's one day at a time or rock and roll!
Merch sales were good and food was cheap, thanks to Subway being right next door. Those things are both awesome. God takes such good care of us.
I had picked up a Gibson Nighthawk at the Gibson Showroom right before we left for tour. I didn't even plug it in. It was light and looked good, so I said, "Yeah, load that one up -- I'll take it." Best decision ever.
I usually use a lighter Les Paul Standard for the first part of the set when Ryan's playing guitar too. Then when he switches to piano, I play a heavier Custom Goldtop, which has a much denser tone. But the Nighthawk just fit. I know it doesn't make much sense to most people to leave a Goldtop at home and use a Nighthawk, but ya gotta do what feels right.
So we're on the road to Atlanta to play a festival. There will be a hotel, food, and a green room. These are all good things. We stopped for a couple hours last night and slept. Our van is so set up for it, so it's nice. I prefer the van to a hotel, except the van doesn't have showers.
It's exciting to be back on the road. But with every awesome thing in life, there are hard parts, like saying goodbye to my best friends, Mom, Achsah, and Joanna last night. So I'm glad we'll be touring through Florida again in exactly a month! Until then, it's one day at a time or rock and roll!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)