how did you spend your Sunday?
Today was Easter and for myself and everyone on the tour it was spent on the beach in Florida. Nice weather is always a plus. Now if everyone could be on the same basic schedule. I tried to organize an afternoon of go carts. These plans would soon fall apart.
Oh well maybe in Corpus Christi later this week.
Tomorrow begins three shows in a row.
Labels: F11, Finger Eleven, Touring
what day is it?
Holy crap, March is almost over already. It's Easter weekend and we are in Alabama. You have to love the irony in that. Tonight we are playing a fabulous club, (note sarcasm). Nothing like trying to fit three bands on a postage stamp.
Also we have 24 par cans for a light show. Guess what some of them do not work. Imagine that!!
At least we enjoying some beautiful weather and tomorrow is another day off which will be in Florida.
Labels: Finger Eleven
How much is too much?
Yesterday was the fourth show in Canada this week. The guys were booked into theaters with several thousand capacity. This meant we were able to bring in a larger production. I did a three truss design which was basic because of a rigging problem in one of the venues. Don't get me wrong it is a nice size show.
The band decided to play a thirty minute set acoustic before kicking into the regular set. James came up with a concept of having a video projection behind them during the first part of the show. The image is of space and a comet slowly heading toward the stage. It is morphing the entire time as it grows larger. Just before the electric part of the show the image brightens and explodes. We then release the cyc that the image was on to reveal the large backdrop with the pile of band equipment on it.
It's a nice effect and the transition works very well. We are hoping to take it on a full tour later this year.
Now yesterday was interesting. The venue was changed to a large club. This meant we had to scale back considerably. I was still able to get about 30% of the show into the place and things went well.
The band and some of the crew have flown to LA to do some sort of acoustic performance. Since I was not needed I get to stay in Toronto for a couple days. Going to LA for the weather would have been nice, but I can't say I missed the plane ride.
So on Saturday it's back to the states and a show on Sunday where we resume the tour with Chevelle. Glad we will be heading south soon.
Labels: Concert, F11, Finger Eleven, Lighting
Toronto
Just a few days into the tour and I am tired already. It's sucks getting old. Things kicked off on a solid note in Columbus the other night. Everyone was a little rusty but the show went pretty well and the crowd was appreciative. Day two featured a trip to the motor city. Besides some issues with the bands monitors the show went ok. Again the crowd seemed to enjoy it and sang along at several points in the show.
We arrived in Toronto around 5 am yesterday morning and I found myself venturing to my room while still half asleep. Along with point a couple of the guys in the right direction since they had a bit much to drink on the ride here.
It's a busy schedule the next couple of days. We set up yesterday at MTV for a private event that they are having tonight. The guys will be closing the show. One of the other artists on the bill is Alanis Morissette. She is going on early and playing an acoustic set.
This afternoon we head over to Muchmusic so that some of the guys can perform a short acoustic set.
For me today it is easy since I won't be running lights for either performance since television is involved.
Tomorrow is a different story. We will be at Massey Hall for a concert. I have a lighting system coming in that I designed and will be using for three of the next four shows. If you are attending any of them you will be seeing the band in a whole new light. Pun intended. They actually will be doing something special for these Canadian shows.
The interesting part of the next couple days will be the weather. It appears a major winter storm will be coming up the east coast and will impact the northeast part of the US and southeast part of Canada. They are calling for up to a foot in most areas. So it will be interesting to see what happens as far as the show. Hopefully it won't be postponed.
Last time I was in Toronto with the guys back in December we had a major snow storm. I think someone is trying to tell us something.
Labels: Concert, F11, Finger Eleven, Snow
Puttin On The Foil...no wait....
That would be a backstage pass. After a two week delay it's finally time to get back on the road. Things kick off for the guys in Columbus Ohio tomorrow night. We then go to Detroit on Wednesday and then up to Canada for a week, before returning to the states.
The guys are Canadian of course and some of them are hockey fans like myself. Being from the Toronto area they are Leafs fans, while I am an old Penguins fan. I think I am driving them nuts since my team is having a much better season. Plus it's only a little more than a month from the playoffs. It's a good thing we have a satellite dish on the bus.
It's tough some days though since we are doing shows while the games are on.
Our schedule is filling up quickly. We are going to be out with Chevelle until April 20th. It looks like we will then be jumping onto a bunch of radio festivals right after that. May will be more of those and possibly some headlining shows mixed in. The summer is being filled in with more festivals. Hopefully the guys will end up on a nice shed tour. I haven't heard of anything in that regard but I'm hoping. I love sheds in the summer.
Hopefully I am able to get out tomorrow since the weather is suppose to get ugly in the morning.
Labels: F11, Finger Eleven, Hockey, Touring
