.Day 12 - 25.02.10 - Dublin, IRE.

It's been a hell of a whirlwind since the first day. Things have finally settled into a rhythm, and as I am saying that I am knocking on wood. The band is content, and the crew is content. The crew: we have a well oiled machine on this run. Steve Archie, Phay Mac Mahon, and Sir Willie are taking great care of us. Ski and I are learning valuable life lessons which are most important, and which we will take with us. To you, cheers gentlemen.

The shows thus far have been absolutely fantastic. The crowds have been estatic. And most importantly, the pints have been flowing.
You know, my family has been saying: "Do it while you're young". And they're referring to all of the traveling I'm doing whilst working. But, I think we're all young still. We can all travel anywhere we'd like at any time. My point: go for it. If you have a desire to go somewhere to see something, then do it damnit.

Mucho amor...

Day 1 -15.02.10 - London, UK - Travel Day/Crew Meeting

Spent most of Sunday night and Monday morning/afternoon on a plane surrounded by British high schoolers. They were on their way home from a field trip to Universal Studios/Disneyland. A few of them had just watched Forrest Gump for the first time, and they were quite fascinated. I fell asleep to them quoting the movie, and woke up to the same. My row consisted of two Swiss homies, a girl separated from her high school pack, and myself. The poor girl was overwhelmed with a fear of flying and being surrounded in a row of grown men. So, I offered my seat to one of her classmates. In return, I got to sit next to two of her hip classmates and we shared drinks before I passed out. Forrest Gump and Family Guy, it's their current obsession.

Not really sure what the next two days have in store before the big first show in Nottingham. Some things have happened within the camp that I won't go into great detail about, but it's upset quite a few people. It kills me when people don't have principles. Simple principles, at that. With that said, my goal in Nottingham is to find the sheriff. Wish me luck.

Ski, Tom, Kentucky, and I got a recommendation on a good pub a short walk from our hotel called "The Pheasant".Here we had a few proper pints of Guinness and plate of fish and chips. Later in the evening we meet up with a few other crew members. One thing we all have in common: no matter how things end up on this tour, we want to make it a great time regardless. I'm in.

Always...

.Top of the Pops, Smiles Style: An ode to '09.

So, I've reset my play count once again. Here's the Top 25 of 2009...

1) Owen - Good Friends With Bad Habits
2) Wilco - I'll Fight
3) Minus the Bear - Into the Mirror
4) The Life and Times - The Politics of Driving
5) Phoenix - Fences
6) Alexi Murdoch - All My Days
7) George Harrison - What Is Life
8) The Temper Trap - Rest
9) Band of Horses - Part One
10) Phoenix - Too Young
11) Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
12) Damien Jurado - Ohio
13) Sean Bones - Sugar In My Spoon
14) The Starting Line - Stay Where I Can See You
15) The Whitest Boy Alive - Burning
16) Passion Pit - Little Secrets
17) Phoenix - Countdown
18) Sean Bones - Easy Street
19) Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
20) Texas Is The Reason - Back and to the Left
21) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - You Wreck Me
22) Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
23) The Life and Times - Fall of the Angry Clowns
24) Luke Reynolds - Everything Leaves a Mark
25) Passion Pit - Reeling

Phoenix wins with the most hits on the list. We'll see what 2010 turns up.

You better hit the ground running...

Congrats to Clayton, Mitch, and Scott. Stellar performance tonight at FMF, boys.

I've been really thinking about these words lately: "Get busy living, or get busy dying". Thanks Andy and Red.

Currently listening to:
Calexico - Feast of Wire
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
The Dream - Love vs. Money

09.02.09 - New York City/Philadelphia

Started the day at 6a.m with the Conan O'brien cross-load. We had to park at 33rd and 11th, unload our gear to be transported via box truck, and later meet up with it at the NBC studios in 30 Rock. Got to see the sunrise through the New York City skyline. Loaded in at Conan around 11a.m. Conan's people are SUPER professional, those who were once road dogs and those who have been working in studios for a majority of their professional career. I met Jimmy, the production manager, has been working for NBC for over 30 years, who once worked on the Johnny Carson set. I met Dave, who is an old road dog who once worked for the biggest production company in the world, Clair Brothers. Clair Brothers provides sound equipment for some of the biggest tours ever made possible. My good-good buddy Eric currently works for those cats. Matisyahu came out for a cameo performance.

Got into Philadelphia around 8p.m. We stayed at the Loew's, which is located right in the middle of downtown. A block east is Philadelphia City Hall and Love Park, and a few blocks to the west is the historical district. Downtown was pretty dead, being that it was a Monday night. The view from our hotel room was EPIC. The clock tower was literally in our face.

I'm getting sick.

Take care buddies.

04.02.09 - Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina. Oh, Asheville....

Asheville is a dope little town. It's kinda hippy and holds true to its mountain-hillbilly roots, yet is progressive and forward thinking. Asheville is a great food town, with most restaurants offering up fresh organic locally-grown produce, meats, and poultry. So far, I've eaten at Tupelo Honey Cafe twice, and a delicious spot called Salsa. Tupelo Honey Cafe is sort of your home-style cafe, yet maxed out with the freshness. Recommendations: the grilled cheese with cheddar, and their AMAZING tomato soup (by far the best tomato soup I've ever had). If you're in the mood for breakfast try the sweet potato pancakes with caramelized walnuts and organic maple syrup. Their coffee as well - GOOD. Salsa markets themselves as Mexican-Caribbean; the two go so well together. I mean come on, spicy and sweet...what's not to love? Recommendations: anything. But really, the nachos will blow both your mind and your taste buds.

So I tried uploading pictures to the blog, but they are too big. BUT, you can go to my Flickr page to view them. If you've a Flickr account you should befriend me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35072733@N02/

Cheers, everyone.

I love you all...

02.02.09 - Athens, GA

An update...

Met up with the band in Atlanta. Sat and had a great cup of coffee at the Java Lord, while I waited for the band to arrive. They play some great tunes and have a table full of books to read. The show went GREAT. The band are happy campers to have someone around just to take care of them on stage. My job duties are as follows: monitor engineer and stage manager. That means I make sure the bands equipment is set up and working properly, and I also provide a great sound for the band on stage. We played the Variety Playhouse, same venue Minus the Bear played a few months back. The facilities and the staff are great. The neighborhood is awesome, called Little Five Points. Friendly as could be.

The next day we played the Georgia Theater in Athens, Georgia. A good friend of mine from high school lives in Athens, so I got to kick it with him hard-style for the duration of our stay. We also had a day off in Athens, which meant a crucial Super Bowl party was in store. Brett made a delicious pot roast with the fixins', and I came through with the wicked mashed. Good times had by all. Athens is a great town to kick it in. Lots of centrally located things to do. Had one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life at The Farm 255. Locally grown organic beef and seasoned to the max. Delicious. All Good is a good spot to post up and have a few drinks, and if you need to grab a bite to eat before you lay your pretty little head down hit up The Grille. Good times.

Today, we're on our way to Columbia, South Carolina, home of the University of South Carolina Game Cocks.

Cheers, buddies!

I love you all...