12 days an counting
OK.....less than two weeks and I get to go home for a break. This tour has been a bust. Don't get me wrong. They are a very good young band. The new CD will be out in Feb and it sounds great.
But I've had enough of the van and crappy venues. I will not do anymore tours like this. Of course its been many years since the last one.
So there are still rumblings of another Five For Fighting tour, maybe in September. I really hope so. The new single Devil in the wishing well is getting released any day now. Look for the guys on Leno tonight (7/23).
In the meantime it's back to it.
Night and Day
Well 4 days in and I'm tired. This tour is a lot different than the last one. Nothing special to report so far.
Sleep......what's sleep?!?!
So the Five For Fighting tour has come to an end. We spent the last three days flying around on Northwest airlines. Staying in some wonderful hotels and getting no sleep.
Everyone arrived in Detroit on Thursday evening, where two vans took everyone to Lansing. After an 85 mile an hour trip from hell, we get to our hotel. The festival is in full swing and has been for several days. Kansas is playing on one stage and Blues Traveler on another. However, food is a priority and we do that instead of attending said show.
Friday morning comes around. The weather is great. The people running the show are professional and very curtious. The show comes off nearly flawless.
Now the no sleep part. We head back to Detroit immediately after the show. Why? because we have a 7am flight for the crew to Minneapolis. We get to the Westin at Detroit International around 1:00am. Again after a crazy 85 mile an hour drive. The drivers think this is a NASCAR race I guess. This time the van driver doesn't remember how to get to the airport. We help her by saying take the exit with the sign that says AIRPORT!! She can't seem to grasp the concept.
After a shower I get a wonderful 3 hours sleep and rise at 5:45am to catch the flight to Minneapolis.
We arrive on time and check into another hotel. We have an hour and half till load in. You don't need to tell me twice, so I grab an hour nap.
At 11 am we arrive at the stage. For this show I rented some extra lighting which needed to be hung and programmed. Of course the day is extremely sunny and hot. This make things even more interesting because I can't really see what the show looks like. So even I will be surprised during the show.
Pat McGee and his band also appreared on our stage right before us. These guys have really become a tight group. The put on a great show. The crowd was loving it.
Just after the sun went down it was our turn. Minneapolis didn't disappoint. A great audience and the band gave it their all. Everyone had a blast.
So now we are off for a period of time. The band have a couple tv appreances and there is a radio show or two. A new single will be released in the coming weeks. Then hopefully a fall tour.
In the meantime, it's off to Hartford CT tomorrow to join up with the Blue Epic guys and five weeks of shows.
So the road tales will continue.
off to the friendly skies
Well it's off to the airport and a flight to Detroit. Then a van ride to Lansing, MI. See everyone this weekend.
Getting caught up........
So it has been over a week and a half since I posted. Let me think what has happened. Oh right.. Chicago was where I left off. First off I love that city. I have spent so much time there over the years. I nearly moved there at one point. As far as the show it went very well. The crowd was great, one of the best on the tour so far.
We actually had a day off the next day. John, Stuart, Casey and myself attended a Cubs game. We had very good seats thanks to a friend of the band. I love going to Wrigley.
We've had a pretty easy run this tour. A lot of miles but usually no more than two shows in a row, until this last weekend.
A day off in Detroit, which I spent gambling. Yes, they have casinos in the motorcity. I won a few bucks. To the guy that didn't like the way I played Blackjack, screw you. At least I didn't drop $800 at the table.
So I know I have mentioned how great some of the audiences have been on this tour. Well Detroit was the best by far. A standing ovation and they demanded an encore. This was an outdoor show which we played in the early evening. They weather was fantastic. A great day.
Now Saturday was a different story. We drive 10 hours from Detroit to St. Louis. We arrive early in the morning to find a threat of rain. We also find a small stage and let's just say, lame production. We had expected all three, but it was still disappointing. So we set up the band equipment and then the rain starts. Wait I mean the mini flood starts. We got soaked. So no soundcheck for the band today.
Luckily the rain stops by showtime. A bit of a strange crowd. We are still not sure how many people actually knew who the band was.
Off to Milwuakee that night. Sunday is Summerfest, which is one of the oldest music fest in the country. This is an eleven day event with something like 6 or 7 stages. There are at least 5 bands on each stage everyday during the event. We played the North Shore stage which is right behind Marcus Amphitheatre.
North Shore is the second largest stage. Production was provided by the fine folks at Clearwing. It is always a pleasure working with them. A big thank you to Onion, who was my lighting tech for the day. You did great, now get some rest.
So we finish the show and drive to Chicago to catch morning flights home. Yes that's right we are home already. Just until tomorrow, then it's off to Lansing and Minneapolis. After this there will not be much going on as far as the band touring. John will be playing Philadelphia by himself for a radio show. The band will be playing one show August 1 at Prince Edward Island, I think that is where it is at. There are a couple tv shows coming up, where the band will be playing the next single.
In the mean time I will not be needed so on Sunday instead of flying home. I will jump to another tour. This one I will be road managing a baby band called
Blue Epic. They will be releasing a new full length CD in Europe this fall and then a US release early next year. This is a low budget tour , but the band is really good. Besides I need to keep working. This should also carry me up to a fall tour with Five For Fighting. Now don't get too excited, there is nothing confirmed yet. However with a new single coming out John and the band would like to do another tour.
Well, my hectic week continues......until next time.
