First of all, there isn’t anything better .. being on the road with a few guys that you really gel with, experiencing new things, new places, new cultures. New experiences help direct our moral compass …
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whether it be at a truck stop in Amarillo, TX or a Taco John’s in Lawrence, KS or a dirty strip club in Atlanta, GA (I had never seen a women crush a beer can with her ass cheeks before) .. these observations and encounters help form our personalities, not mention destroy our livers. Pabst is mostly given away to bands on the road and we’re much obliged to take it. Nothing like a nice cold one after an hour set .. I’m getting parched just thinking about it.
The laughs are endless. Who slept with who? Who fell asleep where? Who smashed the acoustic guitar into the front our van .. yes, it happened. I recall a night in Springfield, MO after a sold out show where two of the bands on the bill decided to join forces for a little covert fireworks show .. in downtown square! You’ve never seen a group of drunk and high musicians so organized to pull off a stunt like this. Of course there was the hilarity of one straggler who, as we were counting down for ignition, started to piss on the corner of a building … 3.. 2.. 1 .. IGNITION .. he of course took that a different way and lit into that building. So the sight of him falling over himself as we ran off brought tears to my eyes .. not to mention he fell flat on his face, with his dick in his hand. Ouch … as much as I felt sorry for him, I couldn’t help it. It was too funny.
The shows are a blur at best .. you try and remember the good ones. 150 people packed in those dive bars .. 500 stretched out in large music halls. Usually screaming for the headliner, which you wish one day will be you. The sound checks run smoothly, for the most part .. there’s the assholes out there, both musicians and sound guys don’t get a pass here, turn this up a hair, turn that down a smidgen … all so you can play in front of eight people. It can be a little ridiculous but, hey, what can you do. The load in’s are always forgettable .. snow, rain, 100 degree heat. Amps, PA’s, drums, guitars, merch … you sweat just as much loading as you do playing. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Did I mention drinking? Yes there’s plenty of it .. typically altering your memory, but it’s shit you don’t want to remember anyway. The food is grade D at best. Taco Bell, Taco John’s, Taco Bueno .. did I also mention I live in Texas, where Mexican food is a delicacy. Anything with a Taco in the name is a stop, it’s usually the cheapest too. But of course you hit McDonalds, Jack in The Box, Wendy’s, Subway (when you want something green and healthy in your food) .. and the occasional Chinese buffet. Always bring a microwave too, chili and soups make a quick and cheap dinner. It’s rough, but it gets you by
There’s also the support from home. The phone calls, the emails from friends, families and girlfriends, supporting you. You can never thank them enough. There’s not many people out there who understand much less care what you are trying to do. They say they do .. they wish you well, but in the end it’s a dog eat dog world. Gotta survive. Keep going. After all, who the fuck wants to work 9-5! ?
Cheers
.Brian Bowe
