Black Mountains, White Knuckles

Atlas packed to the brim.
Atlas meet THOR. THOR meet Atlas. THOR say goodbye.... Goodbye THOR.
Roosters and fire extinguishers... need I say more?Mr. Bus Driver Man.
Yes.
Flat lands sunset.
Into the hills.
Regency Inn room view.
Another angle.

Last night was indeed awesome. Grant rocked on the sound board, and the people of Revelstoke rocked with us, and we rocked with them. It was fantastic. On the way there I pretty much gripped the steering wheel, and hoped for the best. A winding dark mountain road in the rain, dodging Transports and pulling over when the bus starts to smoke. 2 more pints of oil and we are back on the road. Running late... wait we passed the time zone... we are good again. Intense and rewarded by a great show in a great town. Cheap coffee and friendly peeps. Thank you Revelstoke!

r.

Black Mountains, White Knuckles

Mountain Pass

We are surrounded by mountains.

We drove into Revelstoke at 9pm last night. The bar was warm and the audience was great.

In the dark I knew we were surrounded by mountains but seeing them in the day is another experience entirely. I will not complain that my camera is out of batteries. It does seem untimely though.

Today's plan:

- get up for free breakfast
- nap until late checkout
- enjoy Revelstoke

I think I can handle that.

g.

Mountain Pass

Dangerous

There is much to report. There is a lot to tell. I can't even mentally summarize things anymore as the days are a little out of focus. A little faded around the edges. I wake up. I'm either in a bus, van truck, bus or getting into a bus, van, truck, bus. It doesn't matter. A few hours later I'm unloading and setting up gear. I'm in a shady bathroom learning that 'Reid blows real good 4 u'. The same shitty songs play in the clubs before and after our set. I'm playing 3 sets a night. We're debuting a song we've never played before. Back in the van, bus, motor vehicle of some sort. It doesn't matter. Onward, downward. I'm sleeping in Scooter's burnt out basement. The Twisters tell me to stop fucking around with these shit shows and start booking us into festivals. I'm drinking alcohol with Garret and Garth. A pretty waitress smiles at me. The RCMP knock on our bus door and ask why there are no plates. I'm drinking beer outside of Salty's Liqour. Someone asks me if they can have my sweater. My neck is sore from sleeping wherever I pass out. I'm loving almost every minute and secretly loving every other minute. Whenever a dark cloud passes over I think of the music and everything's fine. What day is it? Where are we today? The prairies stretch on endlessly, but now behind me. I miss my other life, but feel just as at home here. Nowhere. Scooter tells me we're all going to be millionaires. I wake up scared, not knowing where I am. This is chaos, but I like it? Strange faces, new places. I never know there names: Candy, Mandy, Andy, Mark, Matt, Matt, Matt, Paul, Emeri? I'm drinking Guinness with Tim Lee all the while he is saving our tour, and filling our brains with great ideas and stories. I love seasoned musicians. I'm sleeping on the floor. I'm wondering when we're gonna get a chance to stop for dinner. The Rockies lie ahead. Tomorrow is my turn to drive. I still don't like the sun. I'm in another small town for 8 hours. I'm back in the bus, van, car, truck.










I'm building an atom bomb in my basement.

g.

Dangerous

Brian's Diner

Rental Transferrrr.

Grain Elevator plus train.

Saskatchewanese general storeOh yeah.Welcome to WilkieHella rental van.
Atlas getting the routine check up.BBQ? anyone?

Interior. Notice the bitch'n control panel.Test cruise.Prairie view.Prairie view.again.
Junkyard.


Are things coming together?

r.

Brian's Diner

Thor is dead. Meet Atlas.

Kitchener's own blues man, Tim Lee, has saved us from certain destruction. He used to tour in a school bus until he realized he was a van guy. "Not a bus guy. A van guy." He is selling us his old tour bus - we have dubbed it, 'Atlas'. We met up with him at Blues on Whyte. He came out to meet up with the band that is playing there this week: 'The Twisters'. Those guys are a bunch of cool blues cats.

We are staying the night at Tim's place in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. The road just keeps getting more and more interesting.

We are all well.

g.

Thor is dead. Meet Atlas.

new faces, strange places

Hanging out in the bus. Somewhere.

The Sunset when Thor's axle gave out.

Tow Truck driver let's us ride in the bus.

Billy's Outlaw Inn

Live on Stage


"A blanket acne'd with cigarette burns..."


Emeri sets up.


Our room with a view.

What's going on?

Paul and Rob posted today as well. The benefits of a strong internet connection. Slave Lake is a quiet town. A drunk 18 year old asked us for drugs. He almost ran into a wall. Tomorrow we return to Edmonton. This is a far north as this tour takes us. It is cold. I'm out.

g.

new faces, strange places

Bus or No Bus....

We are far way from home. We are doing what all of us have dreamed about for years and years. It may not be the prettiest tour in the world... but it's the beginning of something great.

Yes the bus hasn't worked out the way we wanted it to... but if you think that is going to stop us... give your head a shake. We haven't spent the better part of our lives eating and shitting music to let one of many problems to come get in the way of us getting our music out there.

Canada might not be the best place in the world for the arts at this moment... (example: Harper's arts and culture cuts) and it maybe the second biggest country in the world with cities and towns so spread out that it cost more in gas then you'll ever make playing shows... but it's ours to conquer!

By the way... I need to express that Canada is big... like really big. Like big enough that if you haven't driven across the bastard... you have not even the slightest clue how big it actually is.

Anyways, we as a band are stronger then ever. We as friends are stronger then ever and we are only going to get stronger as we continue. We are making the best of all of this... and we are all looking forward to coming back home and rocking your faces off.

Thanks to everyone that has been helping us through this bump in the road... we are totally fine and we will see you all very soon!

Take care, be safe.
Paul

Bus or No Bus....

What !?! ................ ! yes !

Wicked ass Acadian in Saskatoon.
Notice this machine is empty... as in all sold out. Many disguises floating around Lloydminster.
Thor assuming the position.
Broken ass bus.
The new vessel.
Welcome to Bow Valley. The land of the 6 dollar 6 pack. Washes down the jagger and tequila like a B-day wish. Thanks Paul and Kristen you guys rock!!
Don't look back.
The road to Slave Lake.
One of many Oil Tankers. Spooky trees all around.
Riding in the rental. White thunderous pickup truck that it is.

Tonight we play Billy's Outlaw Inn again. Slave lake. 3 sets of solid magic I guarantee it.

r.

What !?! ................ ! yes !

Slave Lake Bound

We depart in 2 minutes for Slave Lake. The accumulating stench of man is how we know when check out time is. We are considering a number of options in regards to our broken down vehicle. One of which involves someone driving our trustworthy van out to us and flying home, or just hanging out with us the rest of the tour. The Tap House last night was fun. Good pizza.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, beers, shots, pictures, hotel rooms, etc.

g.

Slave Lake Bound