News & Shows Music & Merch The Band Press Join Our Mailing List Contact Links Tour Journal TOUR JOURNAL February 3 2012 : Seattle, WA, USA Showbox Gimmie Shelter, Benefit to end Homelessness with Young Evils, The Maldives, Dusty 45s Like most low level rock musicians I have a small briefcase style container to hold all my odds & ends. Here is what mine looks like: Typically if I was to open the case, you would be greeted with a sight that looks like this: When I opened my case this morning, the morning after the Showbox gig. A gig where I learned that Billy Joe from the Dusty 45's can throw down an awesome shindig, this is what the inside of my case looked like: I have no idea what happened but apparently it involved stealing Rolling Rock... January 28 2012 : Tacoma, WA, USA New Frontier with Midnight Salvage Co., Trees Without Leaves Wake up early, hit the hotel lobby eatery for the most important meal of the day and then out to the art museum. I spend a couple hours in the modern wing, the Kenny Scharf piece looks particularly awesome today. Back to the hotel, join the rest of the crew and over to some other hotel eatery with a bloody mary bar. Then a couple hours of walking the riverfront park. Then its van and I-5 north to Tacoma. We arrive alive. Dump our gear in the venue and head out looking for food. Some place down the street we've hit in the past is still there. Its a bar with food. Only Craig is smart enough not to order the steak recommended by the waitress. I head to the can, dreading the possible signage options. The waitress is hanging out at another table bouncing a small child in her arms. She looks over at me. "Free hugs all evening long" she says. "Cool," say I quickening my pace. 30 minutes later we leave, our jaws aching from all the chewing we had to do to get through our "steak". Arrive back at the venue. No soundman. We are supposed to hit the stage at 9, but its 8:55 and no sound man so that won't be happening. 9:30 - no sound man 10 - no sound man. The bartender and some random guy from the audience start attempting triage on the PA. We play the gig, microphones feeding back the entire time. We sell some merch this time, which is cool. We drive home and unload gear in a down pour. I'm cold & wet when I get home. My cat doesn't seem to mind. January 27 2012 : Portland, OR Langano Lounge with redcoat turncoat We all played hookie from our day jobs, packed the van and got an early start south down our favorite interstate to Portland. We checked into our hotel and set out looking for a place to eat. We land at some brew pub. I go to take a piss. There are two doors, one labeled "Hops" and the other labeled "Barley". Hmmm, which one means "Men" and which one means "Women"? Just a quick message to bar owners everywhere: I know you want to be "unique" and give your establishment a personal twist or whatever. I know every freaking bar these days has to have a damn theme, blah de blah blah. But if there is one thing you shouldn't do, its use "mystery navigation" on drunk people trying to figure out where to piss. Its just common sense. Drunk people aren't like normal people. They will piss where ever if you provide the slightest impediment. I went back twice before seeing a man walk out of the "Hops" door. I should have just pissed in their "gift shop". Anyway, I do my business, wash my hands and start looking for the paper towels. None. Electric hand dryer, not functioning....sigh. I wipe my hands on the the rack of t-shirts in the "gift shop". Hmmm, they feel damp. Looks like I'm not the only one looking for a place to dry my hands. At least I hope that is why they are damp...... Its kind of gross I know but seriously what can you expect from a bunch of "hops" like us? We're stupid and lazy. We're just hops for crying out loud. We hit the venue. It is basically like playing in someone's living room. There are some technical issues but we make it work. Before we go on, I hit the head. There's two doors, again neither with much indication as to who goes where. I don't know, is it a Portland thing? Maybe they don't like labeling things what they are because they don't want the room in question to feel pigeon-holed or something. Herman Jolly, the 5th beatle of the Purrs steps in for 4 songs including an audience demanded, rather rousing version of "Loose Talk". After show gathering at hotel...fine. Vodka...fine. Sleeping in a hotel room by myself with nothing but peace and quiet...priceless. Check out gigs from these years: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011