If you would like, tune in and ask us some questions.
www.ampedup.tv
Cheers.
G.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Amped Up TV
Just a quick note to inform you all that we will be on AmpedTV for a live podcast interview before our set at The Cavern Club in Winnipeg tonight.
If you would like, tune in and ask us some questions.
www.ampedup.tv
Cheers.
G.
If you would like, tune in and ask us some questions.
www.ampedup.tv
Cheers.
G.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Coch's Corner (please vomit in the parking lot)
9am. I awoke confused and bedraggled in the basement of the Coulson Tavern. The battle between my immune system and the cold I have had is nearly over. My immune system wins again. Manuka Honey reinforcements must of done the trick.
We packed our gear into Atlas, made a strategic call on propain and departed for Sault Ste Marie. Sickness and massive lack of sleep had caught up with me so I climbed into the loft and slept for the entire drive. The loft is a space above our gear hold. We plan to sleep in Atlas some of the nights we do not have hotel rooms. Right now all of our luggage gets stuffed up there. I had about a foot and a half wide bed to sleep on. When the brakes were applied forcefully I would hang on for dear life. Eventually I wrapped a few bags around my wrist as an anchor though this probably would only have resulted in myself and a number of heavy bags pouring out of the loft and onto the bench seat where Rob was sleeping peacefully.
We are playing at a place called Coch's Corner tonight. It was our first stop on our last jaunt into Canada's west and I must confess something. The entire band, perhaps feeling slightly overzealous, ended up getting completely drunk after the set. Paul Coch is the owner and we sat around in the bar and he kept feeding us alcohol. I can still picture Emeri leaning against the wall of Thor while I drove us to Marathon the next morning. He was passed out against the gear hold because his bunk was too bouncy, a damn of tissue surrounding him to keep the vomit from running all over the bus. Yes, that is ugly, but sometimes the road is ugly...
Tonight we have all sworn to be more responsible. There are two extreme trouble areas on this trip when it comes to us refueling. One is from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay, the other is from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg. There are very few propain stations in between there. We will surely be using our emergency bbq tanks. The next few days will be stressful but we have great shows to look forward to. We'll get through it with minor damage I'm sure. Northern Ontario is very deceptively large.It is a bit surreal to see some of the same places and faces on this tour. Perhaps it will eventually become like a home away from home. Right now I am in the exact same spot as Paul was in Onward, Downward Episode I when he is joking about his 'offices'.
This afternoon, shortly after our arrival, we went shopping for a few items and a bite to eat. Malls are a bit gross. No matter where you are in North America, it is the same stores. I find it slightly frightening. After lunch we went took full avantage of the hotel swimming pool then took a break for naps.
Now it is time to eat. A well fed band is a good band. Yum.
I have just received word that the staff intend to feed us alcohol until we pass out. Uh oh...
g.
"what I thought it was it isn't now"
Night one of the tour is about to end. Pretty soon I will put my head into a questionably clean pillow and pass out. We are underground. In band room #6 at Coulson Tavern in Sudbury. To be honest I am not even sure that is what this place is called. There are a few different signs on/in the bar.
We departed Kitchener around 1130am. Within 15 minutes Atlas' temperature gauge was climbing skeptically high. As we pulled into one of those giant space station motorway places, coolant rushed out of our grill and steam flooded the cabin. Emeri, thinking it was surely a fire, almost kicked open the door on his way out. I haven't seen him exit a school bus that quickly since the beginning of summer holidays when we were growing up.
Paul made a quick phone call and help arrived "Faster than CAA." He sped off to Canadian Tire and bought us a new T joint. This was a very minor repair. Given my complete lack of sleep the last few nights, I slept in the loft through the entire affair. Paul's greasy hands were a sure indication of a successful repair. Yes Paul!
So after a few hours we were back on the road. I should tell you that Atlas gets horrible mileage. The bus runs on propane (which we call proPAIN). After almost running dry we coasted into a station just outside of Sudbury. A cockerspaniel pumped our propain. Panic. Panic Panic. Hello, sorry I would just like some pain please.
Finally we arrived at Coulsons/The Nightclub/whatever it is called. Nice stage and friendly staff. We setup and went for dinner. Since we hadn't touched the food budget for the day we went for Italian at a place called 'Respect is Burning'. Not fancy, but not bottom of the barrel either. Rob and I both ordered the 'Werewolf at Night' pizza. Fantastic.
The set went well. Played some new songs and a small encore for a small crowd and then we watched a female acoustic duo perform. I forget the names (I feel like a jerk, but I have a cd and it's written down) but they were excellent. We got to hear Neil's, 'Comes a Time'. Tomorrow they are playing in Sault Ste Marie as well and I think they might come to our show at Coch's.
There is a different air about the band this tour. I think we all know what we're in for and we're pacing ourselves. I recently listened to a podcast in which a booking agent compared touring to prison except on wheels. I think it's a lot more fun than that but it can be trying. It is many miles away from resembling a road trip.
I'm gonna try to document this tour in a more cohesive manner (for my sake and your amusement/enjoyment) but you never know when we'll be stranded or whatnot and updates will be impossible. Also, sometimes I just want to be here as opposed to writing about being here.
The fridge in this room hums like an engine. Suddenly the lights just flick on and I turn to see Emeri in his underwear, wrestling the beast into silence. Well at least he wasn't singing Rod Stewart... ;)
Sleep.
g.
We departed Kitchener around 1130am. Within 15 minutes Atlas' temperature gauge was climbing skeptically high. As we pulled into one of those giant space station motorway places, coolant rushed out of our grill and steam flooded the cabin. Emeri, thinking it was surely a fire, almost kicked open the door on his way out. I haven't seen him exit a school bus that quickly since the beginning of summer holidays when we were growing up.
Paul made a quick phone call and help arrived "Faster than CAA." He sped off to Canadian Tire and bought us a new T joint. This was a very minor repair. Given my complete lack of sleep the last few nights, I slept in the loft through the entire affair. Paul's greasy hands were a sure indication of a successful repair. Yes Paul!So after a few hours we were back on the road. I should tell you that Atlas gets horrible mileage. The bus runs on propane (which we call proPAIN). After almost running dry we coasted into a station just outside of Sudbury. A cockerspaniel pumped our propain. Panic. Panic Panic. Hello, sorry I would just like some pain please.
Finally we arrived at Coulsons/The Nightclub/whatever it is called. Nice stage and friendly staff. We setup and went for dinner. Since we hadn't touched the food budget for the day we went for Italian at a place called 'Respect is Burning'. Not fancy, but not bottom of the barrel either. Rob and I both ordered the 'Werewolf at Night' pizza. Fantastic.
The set went well. Played some new songs and a small encore for a small crowd and then we watched a female acoustic duo perform. I forget the names (I feel like a jerk, but I have a cd and it's written down) but they were excellent. We got to hear Neil's, 'Comes a Time'. Tomorrow they are playing in Sault Ste Marie as well and I think they might come to our show at Coch's.
There is a different air about the band this tour. I think we all know what we're in for and we're pacing ourselves. I recently listened to a podcast in which a booking agent compared touring to prison except on wheels. I think it's a lot more fun than that but it can be trying. It is many miles away from resembling a road trip.
I'm gonna try to document this tour in a more cohesive manner (for my sake and your amusement/enjoyment) but you never know when we'll be stranded or whatnot and updates will be impossible. Also, sometimes I just want to be here as opposed to writing about being here.
The fridge in this room hums like an engine. Suddenly the lights just flick on and I turn to see Emeri in his underwear, wrestling the beast into silence. Well at least he wasn't singing Rod Stewart... ;)
Sleep.
g.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Stress Fest
Our show at WLU was very cool. Big room. Big sound. Dual projection. Very good times.We're here in the zero hour and I can inform you that the stress is mounting. Very soon we will leave the comfort of friends, loved ones and general familiarity for the daunting behemoth of a country that is Canada. True, we are only headed west, but even without the east this country is rather large.
I usually like to use my words, but tonight/this morning I am simply too tired to function properly. Pack. Pickup shirts. Paint bus. Pack bus. Say goodbye. Do too many other things to count.
Night.
g.
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