The road and another year gone...
It's a very cold and snowy day today. I decided to log onto my blog, which I realized today I never seem to post to anymore. I guess it happens. I find myself on Twitter and unfortunately Facebook. Also there are a few industry blogs and forums that I like to frequent.
Time seems to go by quicker each year. 2013 found me still touring, though not as much as the previous few. The guys in YES have been keeping me busy and 2014 is gearing up to be more so than 2013.
The music business is shifting on so many levels. Bands are making very little money selling their music. So touring is a means to make some real money and if they are lucky a living. The bean counters have really stuck there noses into the industry. Managers, accountants and even the bands themselves are cutting back on salaries offers. They are also pushing to cut back on the amount of people they hire and ask the ones they do to wear more than one hat.
This multi hat issue is not new. It has been going on with the younger and up incoming artists for some time. The problem is established and more well known bands are doing it more and more. For example they want the same person to do sound and road manage. Or they want someone to set up the band gear and handle the merchandise. Yet they only want to pay them the equivalent of one job or even less.
What this is leading to is the quality of work is suffering. Also I believe it will lead to safety issues as well.
As a fan it will effect you to a point. The quality of the product will go down. Say if you have an young inexperienced sound person mixing your favorite band and it sounds bad, you a not getting what you paid for. This will come back on the artist because "you" the fan may not be willing to pay your hard earned money to see them the next time around.
Labels: 2014, Band, Canada, North America, Progressive, Road, roadie, Roadies, Salary, Snow, Tour, Tours, Travel, YES
2013 is underway
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| ASIA Lighting Rig Japan 2012 |
Is it really a month into 2013 already? Wow time seems to be flying by. 2012 was a fairly busy touring year which was good for the bank account. I spent most of the year touring with the band
YES. We did a North American tour which included the US, a couple Canadian shows and a show in Mexico City. We also did a tour of the far east which included Japan, Australia and Indonesia. Things wrapped up at the end of the summer.
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| Mount Fuji |
In September I was asked to work with the guys from
ASIA which of course includes Steve Howe and Geoff Downes from YES. It was ASIA's 30 anniversary tour. This time we started in Japan and then did a North American tour. The tour wrapped up at the end of November.
It was then announced that Steve Howe would be leaving ASIA to concentrate on solo work and of course the band YES.
Speaking of
YES. The band will be hitting the road at the end of February for another North American tour. They will be performing three of their classic albums in their entirety. Also there will be a five day
cruise during the middle of it, that will feature several progressive rock bands along with YES headlining.
After this tour we should be heading to South America in May. After that there is talk of a summer tour but where we haven't been told yet.
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| part of the kitchen remodel |
Since I have been home for the holidays I have worked a few local shows, but mainly I have spent this past month remodeling my kitchen. I hired a contractor to do 75% of the work. I designed the kitchen and did most of the demo and all of the painting. I was very fortunate that it came in at what I had budgeted. I have a home improvement line of credit which I have been using over the past year to make improvements to the house.
It's tough doing anything around your house when you spend more time away from it than you do in it.
I will be working this year just pay for most of these improvements but in the end it will be worth it.
Labels: 2012, 2013, ASIA, Canada, Lighting, Mexico, North America, Photos, Road, roadie, Roadies, South America, Toronto, Tour, Touring, Tours, YES
Stay Classy Buffalo
It’s that time of year and the summer concert season has
begun. Concert tours large
and small. This includes festival
shows of all types of music styles.
It’s the time of year when radio stations like to have their
summer “bashes” by some catchy
name. Most of these are outdoor
events.
The country stations are no exception. Last night was one of
these shows. This is known as
“Taste Of Country” and this one was in Buffalo NY. The production company that I work for when I am not touring
provides sound, lights and staging for this event and has for several years.
We actually set up the stage and everything the day before
(Thursday). We had excellent
weather though a bit cool. The
forecast for the show (Friday) was rain most of the day. The promoter (radio station) scheduled
this festival “rain or shine”.
The morning of the show the bands loaded in their equipment
this included some additional lighting, stage monitors, backline, etc. Just a typical day which began at
8am. The weather has turned gray,
cold and rainy.
We try to keep things as dry as possible. Covering up some of the gear with tarps
etc. The day progressed normally considering the conditions. The gates opened and the crowd streamed
in.
There were five acts on the bill and the first four
performed. All of them in the rain
even though the intensity of the weather varied through out. The conditions were monitored all day
and fortunately no thunderstorms or dangerous winds up to this point.
This changed during the fourth artist Joe Nichols. The wind started to pick up and rain
became quite heavy during the late part of his set. I personally became concerned. I am the lighting crew chief on this
event. However I am also
responsible for operating the motors that support the “roof” system, which the
lighting is attached to. The owner
of our company was working on site with us and he also voiced concerns with the
changing conditions.
We decided to lower the roof down in hopes to reduce the
pressure on the structure. This is
normal procedure and it’s recommend by the company that makes it. Upon doing so we received weather
reports that the conditions were going to get worse. The covering on the roof was taking quite a beating. With that said the staging was holding
up very well. We take great care
and time to make sure of this. We
even add two additional towers upstage to help carry the load of everything
hanging on it. This is an eight
tower roof.
No matter how safe you are and how good the equipment Mother
Nature can still come up and smack you in the face. The roof is only rated to handle a certain point of wind
speeds and we were approaching them.
So it was decided with all those involved that the remainder of the show
was to be cancelled.
No one likes to see this. We don’t go through the dozens of hours, effort and man
power to not give the paying public what they want. It’s about putting on the best show possible. When it’s all said and done the public
safety, the bands and crews safety are what matters.
The public was told that we could not continue at which
point the booing began. This was
understandable. What began next
was pathetic. Several people
decided to begin throwing full beer cans, chairs and other items at the
stage. We are looking out for
these people’s safety and they turn around and potentially could hurt those
helping them by throwing things.
Yes it was small amount of idiots that did this but it makes
the people of Buffalo come across as ignorant and childish.
I hope those that threw things and shouted obscenities have
“sobered up” today and realize that stopping the show was the right thing to
do. They can say what they
want. I know that all the powers
that be would handle this the same way if and when it’s happens again.
I know I woke up earlier today knowing we did the right
thing.
Labels: 2012, Buffalo, Collapse, Dunn Park, Eric Church, Festival, Indiana, Joe Nichols, Stage Collapse, Taste of Country, Touring, Tours, Weather
Oh well...next
It was confirmed yesterday that I will not be doing the tour I mentioned the other day.
Turns out they decided to not only not increase the salary. They decided to not bring anyone out to fill the position. Money must be getting tight for them. I was told they would also not be adding additional lighting like they had hoped. So the lighting director from the headliner will just run their lights.
This is not uncommon. I have been in this position in the past where one of the support acts has covered their set.
So now it will continue to look for another tour.
There is some talk of one of my previous artists touring later this summer. I'm not holding my breath.
Labels: Lighting, Roadies, Touring, Tours
what is it about June
It seems like every year around this time I hurt myself. You know a major cut, sunburn or like this past weekend a sprained ankle.
The worst part was it was a stupid accident. I rolled my foot on a broken sidewalk coming off of steps on a porch. In all fairness the sidewalk had some weeds and grass growing through and it had been raining. I haven't heard the end of it from one of my sister's kids who thought it was funny.
The picture here was from this morning, it actually looks worse now but feels better.
Lots of ice and wrapping it. Ice being the most important part especially in the first 48 hours.
The reason I mention this whole ankle story is it happened at a bad time. I leave this weekend to begin another run of shows. It's going to be a busy summer and it means a lot of time on my feet.
I also have a lot of flying to do in the next week too. Saturday it's off to San Francisco where we do a show on Sunday in Stockton California. I then fly back home on Monday. On Wednesday I turn around and fly to Milwaukee. We have to fly to Calgary within the first week of the tour too.
Thankfully I have a couple ace bandages and lots of Ibuprofen.
Labels: Airports, F11, Finger Eleven, Touring, Tours
Tour dates updated
Originally we were scheduled to start the next tour on the 19th of February. Things have been pushed back to March 4th. Most of the shows are with Chevelle. There are some dates you will find posted for Chevelle around the net that the guys will not be on. All of the dates posted here are the two bands together.
Also the guys will be performing at Juno Awards in Canada in April. They are also up for single, album and artist of the year.
I haven't posted anything about these changes till now. Things have been pushed back due to illness with a band member. He is going to be fine but was ordered to rest. I will not discuss it here until the band posts it on their site.
Here are the updated shows.
Mar 4 2008-Newport Music Hall- Columbus, Ohio
Mar 5 2008-Fillmore - Detroit= Detroit, Michigan
Mar 8 2008-Massey Hall- Toronto, Ontario
Mar 10 2008- Hamilton Place Theatre- Hamilton, Ontario
Mar 11 2008- Capitol Theater-North Bay, Ontario
Mar 12 2008- Centennial Hall- London, Ontario
Mar 16 2008-The Hippodrome-Springfield, Massachusetts
Mar 18 2008-Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel -Providence, Rhode Island
Mar 19 2008-Rams Head Live! -Baltimore, Maryland
Mar 20 2008-Toad’s Place -New Haven, Connecticut
Mar 22 2008-Sammy T’s- Huntsville, Alabama
Mar 24 2008-The Swamp Ft. -Walton Beach, Florida
Mar 25 2008 -Strand Theatre- Shreveport, Louisiana
Mar 26 2008 -Diamond Ballroom (Oklahoma City)- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mar 29 2008 -The Pavilion @ Concrete Street -Corpus Christi, Texas
Mar 30 2008-Whiskey River- Waco, Texas
Apr 1 2008-Midnight Rodeo- Amarillo, Texas
Apr 2 2008-Fillmore Auditorium Denver, Colorado
Apr 8 2008-University of Akron- EJ Thomas- Akron, Ohio
Apr 9 2008-Bogart’s- Cincinnati, Ohio
Apr 11 2008-Univ. of Pittsburgh-Johnstown- Johnston, Pennsylvania
Apr 12 2008-Machine Shop- Flint, Michigan
Apr 13 2008-Streeters -Traverse City, MI, Michigan
Apr 15 2008-House of Blues - Chicago -Chicago, Illinois
Apr 16 2008 -Pageant- St. Louis, Missouri
Apr 18 2008- East Peoria Event Center- East Peoria, Illinois
Apr 19 2008 -Uptown Theatre 1800 -Kansas City, MO, Missouri
I am looking to get back out there.
Labels: Concert, F11, Finger Eleven, Touring, Tours
2008 and the Finger Eleven dates are in
Well some of the Finger Eleven tour dates have been officially announced. I actually received them plus a lot more that are not confirmed a couple weeks ago. Their management office sends everyone in the band and crew dates whenever they come from the agent.
The first six weeks of shows will be with Chevelle. It looks like large clubs and a few small theaters, mainly in the 1200-2000 range. The majority of them are in the United States but there looks like there will be some Canadian shows too.
February 2008
19 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
20 - Traverse City, MI - Streeters
22 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
23 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
24 - Akron, OH - University of Akron/ E.J. Thomas Hall
26 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
27 - Saint Louis, MO - The Pageant
28 - East Peoria, IL - East Peoria Event Center
March 2008
1 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room @ Murat Centre
2 - Sault St. Marie, MI - Kewadin Casino Dreammakers
4 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
8- Toronto - Massey Hall
10- Hamilton, ONT- Hamilton Place Theatre
12- London, ONT- Centennial Hall
14 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
16 - Springfield, MA - The Hippodrome
18 - Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
19 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!
20 - Richmond, VA - Toad's Place
22 - Huntsville, AL - Sammy T's
24 - Ft. Walton Beach, FL - The Swamp
25 - Shreveport, LA - The Strand Theatre
26 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
29 - Corpus Christi, TX - The Pavilion @ Concrete Street
30 - Waco, TX - Graham Central Station
It looks like we will be touring for most of 2008.Labels: Concert, Finger Eleven, Lighting, Touring, Tours
Hello Canada
Well another week at home just flew by. After some home repairs, a dentist visit and auto inspections I head back out on the road. It's off to the great white north. We will be on the Strength In Numbers Tour co-headling with Sum 41. If you have seen the guys in Finger Eleven before well they have a couple of surprises for you this time around.
The tour will run till November 10th, hopefully we won't see a lot of cold weather yet. Well at least not much snow.
I need to pack. Three flights ahead of me.
More to come.
Labels: Canada, Concert, Finger Eleven, Strength In Numbers, Tours
Late Night TV
We are taking a break on the way to Minneapolis as I type this. Yesterday we spent most of the day at the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. I have done the show before. This time the band performance was done by two separate artists. The Finger Eleven performance will actually air this Friday the 14th.
The guests were Dwight Yoakam and Billy Bob Thorton. Dwight was there and also performed, however Billy Bob cancelled for some reason. I was disappointed because I really wanted to meet him.
Everything went very well. Everyone also went downstairs and took pictures with some of the Price is Right games including the wheel.
I also found out that they got my work papers so I will be on the Canadian tour next month. The guys will be co-headlining with Sum 41 doing arenas across the great white north. It should be fun since I am doing some cities I have never been to.
Labels: Canada, Finger Eleven, Late Late Show, Touring, Tours
What's that smell
Five days in and things are off and running. I haven't been on a tour like this in years. We are all on one bus and so far have played some very small places.
The band is as good as I remember them. I finally got my lighting package up and somewhat programmed. They showed up late in Reno after the freight company dropped the ball. The show was then nearly cancelled do to inspections from the fire marshall. The venue owners had failed to take care of some previous violations. In the end we did the show but with no real lighting except for what we are carrying.
Tomorrow we head to Tempe Arizona to play another dive. Then it's on to LA on Tuesday and an appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Then it's off to Minneapolis, yes you read that right LA to Minnesota and another one of those long submarine rides. We will probably stop somewhere along the way and spend a day doing nothing while the driver sleeps.
Labels: Concert, Finger Eleven, Lighting, Touring, Tours
Week One Recap...sort of
It's been exactly seven days since I stepped out of the door of my house. Arrived in Providence late at night and took a cab along with a couple of the other guys to Mansfield, MA.
After 4 hours of sleep we went to the venue and began to load in the production. Well it turns out the lighting was not properly prepped. Which in turn caused us to spend several hours just getting things to work. This held up the rest of the stage being set up and effected some of the sound checks.
Mind you the first show was not until the next day. However, the extra day was for production rehearsals and such.
The show went fine for the most part. We did have some issues with Wu Tang and the opening of their show which hopefully have been solved.
The shows in NYC were a bit different since Rage Against the Machine are closing the show. We are using their sound and lights which makes my day easier, plus the rig is larger. The place was hot, rainy and the crowds were huge. If you do a search on You Tube there are clips all over.
We are now in Atlanta for a couple of days off. We are also looking at where we are from a production standpoint. Part of the crew out here are very green and it shows.
So many hours so far and so little sleep, I am spending my time recharging a bit.
Labels: Lighting, Rock The Bells, Touring, Tours
The days approaching
Just a few days until we begin the tour. This one is similar to the Smokin Grooves tours that I have done in the past. A multi-artist tour with a bunch of hip-hop acts. The difference this time is that we are using a smaller production.
I will be using a lighting system, which we will be carrying on the tour. There was talk of using local lighting at one point. I'm glad this was not the case. The audio guys will be using the same consoles and montiors but the PA will be from local sound companies. So there will only be two semi-trucks on this one instead of 4 or 5 which we had on the Grooves. The trucks are loading today and will be leaving from California later today.
There are also going to be two production buses.
If you know anything about this upcoming tour, you know that Rage Against the Machine will be headlining four of the shows. We will being using the production they are using which means my lighting rig will stay in the truck. Our day will be a bit easier on those shows.
We are going to need it since we are loading in at 6am the regular days of the tour with doors at 2pm. It is going to make for a very long day. The other good thing is we only have a couple of shows back to back. There will actually be quite a few days off. There goes a bunch of the per diem again.
The production crew will all be flying in on Tuesday evening. Some of us have worked together in the past and some have not. So it will be the first time meeting and getting to know each other. It's interesting how people who don't know each other learn to work and live together in a very short period of time. I can't think of any other industry that this occurs, except for maybe pro athletes.
Labels: Concert, Rock The Bells, Touring, Tours
Coast to Coast
Looks like I will be heading to the west coast a bit sooner than I thought.
The tour is still scheduled to start April 17, of course I will head out before that. I just didn't think it would be this soon. Now I have to fly to LA on April 2nd and do a show with John and the band on April 3rd. This is not a show that is open to the public. It is a corporate show and for whom, I have no idea. It will take place south of LA in Orange County. I spoke to the venue's lighting tech today and I'm waiting on their house plot.
It is going to be a long couple of days. I will return the day after the show. Then turn around about 10 days later and fly back out there again. At least the snow will have stopped by then. We are actually getting another snow storm as I type this here in the Northeast.
The best part of all this flying across the country is the frequent flyer miles adding up nicely. I have almost enough for a trip to Europe. I really should use them to take a vacation to Hawaii.
Labels: Airlines, Five For Fighting, Touring, Tours, Travel
Fat Tuesday.......and no Van Halen tour,
Today is that day of course. Mardi Gras is in full swing. I am glad to see the festivities are going so smooth in New Orleans. I have many friends there and have worked for a couple of groups from Louisiana over the years. That area had been through so much over the last year and half. They still have a long way to go.
I had someone email me asking about the Five For Fighting tour and when I would be posting the actual dates. I am waiting for the rest of the ones that are tentative but I will put them up soon.
On other tour news, it looks like the Van Halen
reunion is off. I thought it was wrong to do it without Michael Anthony. I would bet Eddie heard the voices of the fans who have uttered the same sentiment.
Labels: Five For Fighting, New Orleans, Tours, Van Halen
Five For Fighting Tour Dates
I received dates for the upcoming tour for
Five For Fighting. They are not all confirmed and some of the venues may change. There are also a couple of dates which list multiple cities, of these will eventually be one or the other.
I mentioned I would post the dates as soon as I got them. Here they are, well sort of. I will list the cities but will wait to list the actual dates. The tour will start April 17 or 18th.
Here you go:
Las Vegas, NV
San Diego, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Kansas City, MO
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Orlando, FL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Norfolk, VA
Baltimore, MD
Albany, NY
Verona, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Mashanutucket, CT
New York, NY
Cleveland, OH
Milwaukee, WI
Chicago, IL
Minneapolis, MN
Vancouver, BC
Reno, NVThere will be an additional 6 or 7 other cities. I know what a couple of these are and what they may be, but like I said they aren't confirmed.
I will say many of the venues will be theaters.
As soon as the dates are confirmed I will post them along with actual dates and venues. If not here at
my website..
I will be out running lights and helping with the stage as always.
Fire up the video game console it's time to hit the road again.
Labels: FFF, Five For Fighting, Live, Touring, Tours
Ozzfest 07....FREE
I just read this article on
Pollstar. It seems that Ozzfest will be going on the road again this year. The interesting thing is tickets will be free. Yep, a free concert tour.
It's an interesting concept. They will definitely fill the seats. How will this tour cover it's cost? Corporate sponsors will be everywhere on this thing. Also Live Nation will be promoting all dates, the venues have not been announced yet. Of course these will be Live Nation owned which means a percentage of the concession and vending revenues will go in their pockets as always. I wonder how much a bottle of water or a hamburger will be this year.
The bands will not be getting paid. Ok well I wonder what "name" groups will be willing to play for free. Sure there will be younger bands will to do it for exposure. Just don't plan on a band like Judas Priest or Slipknot to play for free.
Distribution of tickets has not been announce yet either. I think you will still need a credit card to get them and don't be surprised if you pay a service and handling fee. They will need to set a limit on the number of tickets to each person. The other possibility is a lottery type system.
Here is the article
Free Ozzfest
Updated 11:46 PST Tue, Feb 06 2007
Ozzy Osbourne and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne held a press conference at the Concert Industry Consortium February 5 that was promised to be historic, and was.
Osbourne dispelled rumors that he was retiring and announced the first free festival tour in the history of the U.S.
"Ozzy's been touring for 30 odd years and he's done very well, and just wanted to give something back," Sharon said.
The tour starts in San Bernardino July 7 and will continue through 25 cities including San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford, Charlotte, Atlanta, West Plam Beach and Nashville. A final confirmed list of cities and dates is forthcoming.
How this will work logistically is unclear, but it will be a ticketed event and is a Live Nation tour.
"For the last few years,ticket prices have steadily climbed as artists demand more and more money for summer tours," Sharon said. "We certainly want everybody to make money, however we also want the kids to be able to afford to come out and have an incredible experience. If we continued with the traditional touring festival model, we would have no choice but to raise ticket prices again this year."
The bands will not be paid. This gives artists an opportunity to get exposure by playing in front of thousands of Ozzfest fans, Sharon said. The artists will have the opportunity to secure other gigs during the tour.
A lineup is expected within two weeks.
Joe Reinartz / Pollstar Labels: Concert, Live, Music, Tours
Summer of the reunion tour
It appears that 2007 is going to be another summer of reunion tours.
One band that many people have been waiting over 20 years to put together their original line-up is
Van Halen. I know they have been touring for years with Sammy Hagar and then Gary Cherone.
Now David Lee Roth is back fronting the band. The thing is they are going to tour without bassist Michael Anthony.
Sure it will be good to see Dave back but why not all four members? Eddie your son might be talented. No one wants to see a 15 year old playing with a bunch of guys in their 50's. This is still not a complete Van Halen reunion.
The other reunion coming soon is
The Police. They will be playing at this years Grammy Awards show. There has been no tour announced as of yet, but it will probably happen.
It will be interesting to see which reunion lasts longer.
Labels: Music, Reunion, Touring, Tours, Van Halen
