Tuesday May 16 2023

Waking up at 9:45 a.m.

 

Everyone is running around packing up and cleaning up the Air BnB – checkout is 11 a.m.

 

We drive into Portland where the waterfront is to return the bikes but not after a 30 minute ride around town. I stop by Voodoo Donuts and It’s Fried Egg I’m in Love. Getting to see a few of the inner city sights before we head out of town.

 

 

Bob and Turbo Phil take the wheel and drive us south of Oregon.

 

One truck stop after the other. We hit up a Seven Feathers in between a Love’s and a Pilot. This place is like a smaller version of a Buc-ee’s. I buy Turbo Phil a harmonica.

 

Getting the bus/trailer washed.

 

At some point we make it to Weed, California, a place aptly named initially after the guy Abner Weed who founded the town but cannot evade the marijuana connotations now. Jimmy is stoked and buys souvenirs. In the distance is Mount Shasta, a massive volcanic mountain considered very sacred to the Native Americans.

 

 

A little after midnight we arrive at a Traveler’s Inn in Williams, California – just a place to sleep and shower.

 

Monday May 15 2023

Waking up super late today at 1 p.m. in the Air BnB. Feels good to sleep in.

 

Protein Shake. Tea.

 

I drive the bus with Jimmy, Antwan, Micah, Casey, and Edwin. We venture into the waterfront in Portland to rent some bikes. Then, we locate a spot in Swift Shore Park, a locals only kind of spot for swimming. We end up not needing our bikes much.

 

 

Getting our feet and bodies wet in the ice cold water while other kids and families play around us. We watch a couple of brave people climb all the way up the cliff to jump from a diving board. Earlier I took a strong toke from Jimmy that has me completely out of it. I rest on a log holding my head up with my hand till we leave. I can’t really have cognizant conversations with anyone. I plop down on the bunk bed in the bus until we arrive back home.

 

Everyone is cooking for dinner tonight: Steaks with Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Garlic Bread, and Ice Cream. The Mask is playing on the TV while we eat.

 

It’s crazy how conked out I got this whole day after one hit. At some point later in the night I take the bike out for a ride in the neighborhood. Its pitch black everywhere but this hill feels wonderful against my face.

 

Sunday May 14 2023

Waking up pretty early at 10 a.m. from the hotel in the middle of nowhere Washington.

 

 

We drive to Portland, Oregon today. Playing at the Revolution Hall, definitely one of the more interesting places we’ve played. It’s an old high school repurposed for conference halls, events, a rooftop bar, and downstairs restaurant. The auditorium is turned into a performance hall.

 

Setting up the stage and doing sound check – the load in took a bit of time with an elevator situation.

 

 

Having some dinner downstairs in the Show Bar. Some of the guys are down here too. Enjoying one of the Vodka slushies and a Beyond Meat Burger/Fries with a Kale Salad.

 

We finally hit the stage to do the show. Everything sort of starts out normal – not the biggest crowd but nothing we didn’t expect. Stuff starts getting weird again. For some reason Kevin wanted to cut a few songs. He’s been drinking and is losing motivation and any sort of happiness being the lead singer – he literally looks mad up there. He makes a few comments about not wanting to do this anymore back stage. The morale of this band is getting lost. Some of us work really hard (I know I do) and believe in this project. We’re really gonna have to do some thinking. Regardless, we get through the show by skipping a few other songs he didn’t wanna do – no encore.

 

 

Packing up and getting out of there.

 

Checking into the Air BnB 15 minutes away.

 

Saturday May 13 2023

Waking up earlier than desirable.

 

Phil and Bob drive us to Federal Way, Washington, south of Seattle. It’s a beautiful drive weaving through the northwest lakes and mountain.

 

Arriving at Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center. A fairly spacious stage and nice staff. Unfortunately, there are some limitations to the venue that will kick us in the butt later on. They’ve got some young buck stage hands that seem to be a little inexperienced but again, helpful.

 

Setting up the stage – lunch in the green room.

 

Afterwards, I take a walk in search of a new charger for my laptop cause the original one crapped out. Batteries + points me to a local computer repair shop called Info Tech, a DIY shop with a couple of nice dudes that sell me what I need.

 

 

Sound check.

 

Nearby is a Hawaiian place called Pac Island Grill. Ordering a Mahi Rice plate and Coconut Pudding Pie. Funnily enough the viola player, William, happens to be here also getting dinner. We chat about Seattle and small talk.

 

 

Then, showering up and show time.

 

Our set, as soon as it began, weird things start happening. Many things caused this to catapult into a mess. Kevin’s E string was out of tune. Then, the house PA system started cutting in and out – later we discover it’s a frayed wire into the mixing board – the video projection was shifting, which we discover later was because it was installed incorrectly on the same baton as some light movers. Then, something weird was happening with the spot operators – they were missing cues. Kevin had been drinking and was just sick of it. He breaks the third wall by addressing them directly in front of the audience. You can tell it was a buzz kill for the people watching the show and we never really recovered.

 

 

Packing up and loading out. We drive to a hotel in Olympia, not too far away. Upon arrival it’s a mess trying to check in – we tried everything we could to advance these people so there were no complications. But alas. Reconvening with Mike and Rebecca.

 

Friday May 12 2023

Waking up kind of early. Running/walking a few miles on the treadmill in the fitness center.

 

Granola and Tea for breakfast.

 

The new Phil drives the bus to Spokane, Washington, just a hop skip and a jump from the hotel in Idaho.

 

We’re playing the Bing Crosby Theater tonight, a beautiful theater built in 1914. Loading in and setting up. We have some youthful and helpful stage hands today.

 

 

Walking up the block to a local coffee shop called Brews Bros Coffee, a tradition I like to keep, finding the local caffeine spots in town.

 

More set up on the stage and then sound check.

 

 

We find a cool burrito bar up the street called Neato Burrito, a small hip bar decorated with vintage pictures of Jesus and other random knick knacks.

 

 

7:30 it’s show time! The roar of the crowd as usual is contagious.

 

 

Packing up and loading out. Phil drives us through the night to the middle of nowhere, Othello, Washington. Upon checking in we discover another hotel with no elevators. Normally this wouldn’t be a concern but we have olders who can’t lug their bags up the stairs. I help out as much as I can.

 

Settling in. Running/walking on the treadmill they have downstairs before hitting the bed.

 

Thursday May 11 2023

Officially awakening at a Love’s somewhere in Montana. I take the wheel at 7:30 a.m. powered by coffee and a breakfast bar.

 

I’m fortunate enough to get the early day time drive cause it’s really beautiful seeing all the open mountain ranges with cows grazing in the fields. I deejay the music from my phone – forgetting how much of a mood boost music can be just for listening pleasure.

 

Kevin takes the wheel at the next fuel up. We drive further west into Idaho to pick up Phil, an old friend of Nigel’s, with a limp leg and a fun attitude.

 

We finally arrive in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a hop away from Washington. It was a beautiful last leg of the drive, watching all the brooks, rivers, and mountains. And now we can settle into a hotel and stop “moving” for once.

 

I take a walk up the street to the Natural Grocer for some general groceries I needed.

 

Helping Bob troubleshoot the power inverter and figuring out which fuse box to replace.

 

A memorable moment: when I went to visit the pool where Ed and Casey were hanging, Casey points out that there was a bumble bee stuck by the window. I grab a cup to carry him outside – the bee vibrates dramatically, eager to be released – he’s free now to roam.

 

 

Later on, a few of us meet up for dinner at Tomato Street across the way, a homey Italian restaurant with blank coloring paper for us to draw on. Enjoying pasta, garlic bread, and wine.

 

 

Working out a little bit in the fitness room. A flu of some kind has been passed around – fortunately when it came to me it only lasted a day mostly. But I feel bad cause others are really taking it harder especially Rebecca.

 

Wednesday May 10 2023

 

Waking up just before 9 a.m. at the Air BnB in Colorado Springs. We all have to gather the food and pack up.

 

Magic Spoon cereal with Tea and a Banana.

 

We all pile into the bus and thus begin the unforeseen adventure.

 

First, Bob doesn’t make a wide enough turn somewhere early on and accidently shreds one of the trailer tires. We all work as a team to replace the tire with a spare on the side of the road.

 

Then, we park at Home Depot – buying a new A/C unit and power inverter. It’s like non-stop work all afternoon working on these projects – I help get the unit installed while Kevin, Ed, and Nigel work on this battery inverter that attaches to the actual battery. Meanwhile, there’s a Mexican food truck nearby – I’m starving.

 

 

Then, we have to trek into downtown Denver to return an hdmi decimator we accidently grabbed last night – this whole drive today is magnified by all these side projects we had to get done.

 

The trip calms down a bit after we start hitting our Love’s stops circuit. Bob stays dedicated at the wheel while we stay busy at our devices or sleep.

 

 

Tuesday May 9 2023

Waking up in the Air BnB feeling pretty well rested. 

 

We all pile into the bus and head to Denver, Colorado (about an hour or so drive).

 

Performing at The Paramount Theatre tonight, right in the heart of downtown Denver. Everyone is at different stages of an illness floating around. I start to feel something but I push through it.

 

After load-in I walk around the block to grab some coffee and a sandwich from Snarf’s.

 

  

 

Setting up things at the venue. I’m amazed at the richness and grandness of this theatre with all the medieval style tapestries on the wall and gorgeous ceiling.

 

 

Grabbing some soup from this place called Zoup! down the street for dinner.

 

At some point getting on stage and doing our thing. All of us are struggling to breath in this high elevation – the altitude makes it a little more challenging to hold longer notes and general labor/moving around. Also, Antwan, a new bass player we’re working in is performing with us tonight.

 

 

Meet & Greet at the show then packing up the stage.

 

Back at the Air BnB – everyone chows down on whatever food is around. Cleaning up the dishes and catching up on things. Doing a lot of pre-packing so tomorrow morning isn’t crazy.

 

Monday May 8 2023

 

Waking up hot and sunny in the bedroom of this Air BnB in the middle of Colorado Springs.

 

Enjoying breakfast and camaraderie in the kitchen with the rest of the band. We make plans to get out of here and explore some nature.

 

I drive us (Edwin, Casey, Jimmy, Rebecca, and Micah) with the bus into Manitou Springs, a small but rich area full of little surprise shops and eats. Spending a few hours mindlessly perusing everywhere from ice cream shops to beignets to witch stores to boutiques.

 

 

Then, we drive through what they call “The Garden of the Gods”, a national landmark full of unusual and unique sandstones, a sacred place for thousands of years Indian tribes used to roam. We drive our giant bus through the scenic spots – hiking down – climbing where we’re not supposed to climb and creating great memories.

 

 

Back at the BnB, Nigel is grilling up a storm – communal dinner tonight. I warm up the potatoes from the night before. Hanging out and catching up with everyone. Ping Pong downstairs. Fire pit chats. NBA playoff game is on too.

 

Really feel like I’ve been eating a lot lately – mainly too many sweets.