Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 287

Year Three - Day 228 – October 22, 2011

The Road

I didn't sleep a wink until I heard from Jake.

Jake had a show with The Parachuting Apostles back in Philadelphia tonight so he had to catch a flight back. Once I got the text that said everything was cool I rolled over and caught a few winks. I got the room to myself tonight...which is always rare and wonderful.

It's a rare moment to be alone with my thoughts which can sometimes be a dangerous thing. I'm a dreamer with an analytical brain, I often take everything apart and over analyze and it drives me crazy. I did eventually get to sleep though, I'll deal with the questions in the am.

I woke up with the sun, cold symptoms lingering so the sleep wasn't amazing. I'm a little hungover, cause Minneapolis always gets me I scoop Andrew from his room, the slight rash has now engulfed his entire body and he's itchy from head to toe. we scoop Rob and after a quick visit with Flip we've hit the road to head back home.

As we journey back home the ride is quiet for the most part leaving me alone with my thoughts again...dangerous lol.

I'm basically of two brains about the immediate future.

Boy Wonder wants to keep going. That part of me loves the van, the hotels, the bad food, and most importantly bringing music to people. To perform night in and night out is a dream come to get paid for it is amazing. Opportunities keep popping up and I want to take advantage of every one.

Andre, the smarter/creative part wants to go home and rest, recharge, and write new songs. Everyone's heard the songs from Animated a bunch over the past year and some change. If you want the audience to stay there you have to keep it fresh and for me that means new material. You learn so much out here and I'm anxious to pick up the Pen and the Martin and throw myself into the process. There are 5 or 6 new tunes already, who knows what will happen in a week or a month.

The focus now is the show at Johnny Brendas on Wednesday. I was a bit more aggressive with the marketing for this show this time around, mainly because I'm excited to have the opportunity again. I want it to be bigger and better than it was before, I want Jake not to have food poisoning, I want to be seen in a more professional light, I want to feel better about the show, I want to slow everything down like we did in Minneapolis so I can enjoy it. To be completely blown away by two Killer Bands in a 5 day span also intrigues me.

Part of me is (and will always be) still haunted by the voices of the people who laughed when I said I wanted to do this for a living. There are a lot of people who would like to stick a finger in my face and tell me I'm no good, who'd prefer that I'd be quiet about the things I'm doing. People are really nasty about it sometimes. But as a I ride in the front seat of my Dad's 1993 Blue Dodge Ram I get over it real quick.

I like who I am and I'm proud of the few things I've accomplished. No one knows better than me exactly where I stand in the grand scheme of things. There are still people in my hometown that have no clue who I am or what I'm doing. We tour in my Dad's conversion van that I'm not licensed to drive, the electronics don't work half the time (As rob smacks the Dashboard) we play to a few hundred people a night and get paid if we're lucky, I'm broke half the time, I live with my parents, there are promoters in town who hate my guts because I refuse to be taken advantage of, I'm nowhere near where I'd like to be. Can I be annoying? Sure. Even I wish I didn't have to be in people's faces as much as I am...especially lately. But when someone says “Hey we like you to play” or “Hey would you be willing to come on my radio show” or “Hey I think your band is awesome” I get excited and I wanna tell everyone I know, and even some that I don't because I know that without people in my corner I've got no chance.

Night falls and my tirade is over we popped for some cheap DVD's at a Best Buy in Wisconsin and I'll do my best to stay awake with Andrew as he drives.

Home tomorrow

Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 286

Year Three - Day 227 – October 20th 2011

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Today's the day

The show that I've been salivating to play since August. Boy Wonder, Jettison Juliet, Machine 22, The Morning Voice, and of course Vanity Theft in Minneapolis, MN. Andy has a few rash like spots on his arms and body.

Minneapolis, home of Bob Dylan, Soul Asylum, and of course Prince has become a second home to us. Other than home in Philly we've played Minneapolis the most times in the past two years. This particular city has proven to be very fertile for us, our audience is growing and the gigs keep getting bigger and bigger, not to mention it's one of the strongest music scenes I have ever seen. People like music there which makes it easier for us.

Taco John's and Naked Juice made for an...eventful 7 hour drive to The Twin Cities. We check into the hotel and pretty much immediately get to the 400 Bar. Of course I am immediately intimidated by the size and the posters on the wall. And as soon as doors opened at 8 people were coming in...the place was getting crowded pretty quickly. Brue is a helluva promoter, best I've ever seen. All I could think of was “Man I hope I don't screw this up” A text from Nichole Lynn calms my nerves.

Jettison Juliet was on first...they were really good, as they wind down I venture into the green room to do vocal Warm Ups, I do the same ones I learned from the Bang Camaro Vocalists pretty much to a T. I feel better than I did last night but we'll tune down to e flat just to make sure. I have the butterflies but I'm ready to go.

We approach the stage and when you've got a few nerves the worst thing you can do is look out into the crowd...so of course I looked out into the crowd. All my friends/supporters from the twin cities are here so I feel a bit better. I look back at my crew and I'm confident I can pull this off, but just in case I pray a silent prayer

“God keep me upright for 45 minutes and I promise I will take my black ass back to the hotel and go to sleep”

I count it off and we tear into the set

Slowdance
What's My Name
Ex-Girlfriend
Surrender
Sexy Machine
I Don't Dance
Feels So Good
Never Gonne Give You Up
Psycho

This show is probably us at our loudest. As I skulk around this stage doing my best Rock God impression I begin to notice something. I'm not in a rush, I'm taking my time and I'm enjoying it more. This all used to go by so fast, and now it's starting to slow down, I'm aware that you don't get moments like this very often so I want to enjoy every single second.
We're playing like a well oiled machine quite different from how we sounded on Wednesday Night at Home. I don't really want this to end but sadly it has to. I just have to work harder to make sure we play like this as often as possible.

But good for us the end of our set marked the beginning of Vanity Theft's. There are many words I can use to describe them but I'm only going to use two; Real Deal. An all girl band (which I love) from Venus or Mars or something. I dug the music and the show, they know exactly how to present themselves musically and on-stage, the perfect blend of sex and music. I'm sure when I have (imaginary) Grand kids I can tell them that I opened for Vanity Theft...who will likely be HUGE by then.

Then Machine 22 and The Morning Voice took the stage and killed it. All in all it was the best Minneapolis show so far. We hung out for a while with all the Minneapolis peeps and then dropped Jake off at The Airport. I close the hotel door and try to get some sleep.

Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 285

Year Three - Day 227 – October 20th 2011

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Today's the day

The show that I've been salivating to play since August. Boy Wonder, Jettison Juliet, Machine 22, The Morning Voice, and of course Vanity Theft in Minneapolis, MN. Andy has a few rash like spots on his arms and body.

Minneapolis, home of Bob Dylan, Soul Asylum, and of course Prince has become a second home to us. Other than home in Philly we've played Minneapolis the most times in the past two years. This particular city has proven to be very fertile for us, our audience is growing and the gigs keep getting bigger and bigger, not to mention it's one of the strongest music scenes I have ever seen. People like music there which makes it easier for us.

Taco John's and Naked Juice made for an...eventful 7 hour drive to The Twin Cities. We check into the hotel and pretty much immediately get to the 400 Bar. Of course I am immediately intimidated by the size and the posters on the wall. And as soon as doors opened at 8 people were coming in...the place was getting crowded pretty quickly. Brue is a helluva promoter, best I've ever seen. All I could think of was “Man I hope I don't screw this up” A text from Nichole Lynn calms my nerves.

Jettison Juliet was on first...they were really good, as they wind down I venture into the green room to do vocal Warm Ups, I do the same ones I learned from the Bang Camaro Vocalists pretty much to a T. I feel better than I did last night but we'll tune down to e flat just to make sure. I have the butterflies but I'm ready to go.

We approach the stage and when you've got a few nerves the worst thing you can do is look out into the crowd...so of course I looked out into the crowd. All my friends/supporters from the twin cities are here so I feel a bit better. I look back at my crew and I'm confident I can pull this off, but just in case I pray a silent prayer

“God keep me upright for 45 minutes and I promise I will take my black ass back to the hotel and go to sleep”

I count it off and we tear into the set

Slowdance
What's My Name
Ex-Girlfriend
Surrender
Sexy Machine
I Don't Dance
Feels So Good
Never Gonne Give You Up
Psycho

This show is probably us at our loudest. As I skulk around this stage doing my best Rock God impression I begin to notice something. I'm not in a rush, I'm taking my time and I'm enjoying it more. This all used to go by so fast, and now it's starting to slow down, I'm aware that you don't get moments like this very often so I want to enjoy every single second.
We're playing like a well oiled machine quite different from how we sounded on Wednesday Night at Home. I don't really want this to end but sadly it has to. I just have to work harder to make sure we play like this as often as possible.

But good for us the end of our set marked the beginning of Vanity Theft's. There are many words I can use to describe them but I'm only going to use two; Real Deal. An all girl band (which I love) from Venus or Mars or something. I dug the music and the show, they know exactly how to present themselves musically and on-stage, the perfect blend of sex and music. I'm sure when I have (imaginary) Grand kids I can tell them that I opened for Vanity Theft...who will likely be HUGE by then.

Then Machine 22 and The Morning Voice took the stage and killed it. All in all it was the best Minneapolis show so far. We hung out for a while with all the Minneapolis peeps and then dropped Jake off at The Airport. I close the hotel door and try to get some sleep.

Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 284

Year Three - Day 226 – October 20th 2011

Fairfeild, Iowa

Rob Saved My Life Tonight....But let's go back to the beginning

I awaken to the sounds of Watch The Throne Blaring in my ears, must have had it on while I was sleeping. Jake's mouthing words but I (obviously) don't know what he's saying. I take my ear buds out and the words are “Hey there's a Denny's. You wanna go there or do you wanna wait for Bob Evans?” I opt to wait for Bob Evans. When we see one we stop to get our grub on. The banter has already begun.

As we get back in the car I look around, mostly out of the window, I've always liked the scenery here. It's especially beautiful in the fall and summer (I won't come here in the winter to compare it...too f'n cold) We're not too far away from Fairfield I get a call from Zach, he's not home yet so we're gonna go to the Grocery Store and get some stuff to make Chicken Vegetable soup. I'm still sick and Andy (Tour Manager is Too) coughing up Lung Butter For Days, it's a s gross as it sounds. We stock up on food and meds and head towards Zach's.

One of the many benefits in having a band that can tour is that I see my friends who have (in the past couple of years) scattered across the country, Casey's in DC and Zach's in Fairfield, and they're a lot like crack...need a fix everyone in a while. I made soup and I got a phone call from Kruu FM, the solar powered radio station in Fairfield. Apparently the booker at Red Rock Tavern, the venue we're playing tonight set up some time for us to come in for an interview...awesome. Me and the boys finished our soup and rolled down.

I like to bring the guys with me on stuff like this. I could do the interviews myself but it's more fun with three people that can answer questions. Those guys are quick witted and they keep me on my toes . The interview is going along nicely I play a song on my guitar and it's winding down with no problem and then I'm asked a question about my band mates. Along the lines of what excatly they bring to the table I start off by saying;

“It's my vision and my songs but the other guys bring so much to the sound of the band and that I wouldn't be much without them”

Now the appropriate thing to say after a statement like that is...nothing. At least that's what someone with class would have done. What came out of my mouth was

“...Cause music is a lot like sex. Sure you can get the job done by yourself but it's better with at least two other people.”

Yeah...I know. I dropped that little gem on the radio...In Iowa. They'll probably never have me on again.

Everyone was really nice and we loaded into the venue shortly after. The task tonight is simple, play four sets in the hours between 9PM and 1AM, which is fine...we do that on a regular basis. We'd tune to e flat to make the songs easier to sing. I feel worse than I did yesterday as the aches set in. After aggressively combining several different cold medications together to combat different symptoms I said a silent prayer

“Dear God if you can keep me upright for the next four hours I promise I will take my black ass back to Zach's house and go to sleep!”


The dropped tuning seems to be working as I'm getting through the songs no problem. The people are packing in this place (Which I wasn't totally sure about, small towns are hard to judge) and they're dancing, mostly the girls, who are super cute, this brings a smile to my face. I like it when people are having a good time.

I can't begin to tell you how amazing this place was, the people were friendly, the people that worked there were Johnny on the spot with everything, and everything was handled in a professional manner. I recommend any band that is coming through the area to make a stop there.

People had nothing but good things to say and we were invited to a post show party at someone's house ...we oblige...so much for going to bed early lol.

I'm not used to places without streetlights, it was dark as hell going to this lady's house, like something out of a horror movie. We got lost and a cop followed us for a while, he left then we figured out how to get to the party spot.

The stars were out though...and they were beautiful.

We enjoyed the company of some of Fairfield's finest. Most of these guys are into Transcendental Meditation, so they think differently than me, it's refreshing. They live in a world where just about anything's possible and often we as musicians are bound by the shackles of the “Real World” we forget about all the possibilities that can come from just deciding to live your life a certain way, there's much to learn from people like that.

After chillin for a bit the host, a lovely Scottish woman begins passing out glasses of Red Wine, I love red wine so I reach for a glass

Rob: Andre...do NOT Drink that.

Andre: Why? I like Red Wine.

Rob: It's got Mushroom Tea in it.

Andre: Like...Magic Mushrooms?

Rob: Yes

I quickly give the glass to someone who wants it.

And that friends is how Rob saved my life. Me tripping face off mushrooms, something I don't need to experience and the world doesn't need to see.

Soon, Zach's followed by jokes and bed. Minneapolis tomorrow...can't wait!

Boy Wonder: Professional Musician 283

Year Three - Day 225 – October 19th, 2011

Philadelphia PA

Leaving for any kind of a tour run is always that hardest part. Not emotionally, this is old hat, I'm used to leaving, the guys I tour with are used to leaving and the people around us are used to us being gone. I mean it's hard from a logistical standpoint. Doing something like this always requires uprooting your life and in my case putting things in place so that things will be taken care of while I'm gone. We have always been grownups in the sense that we have responsibilities at home that need to be taken care of before we leave.

Before we do anything Rob and Andrew have to meet me at my house. We have to pack the van, pick up my guitars from the repair shop, grab Jake, re-pack the van (with his bass amp in the car) and head to Triumph.

I decided to do a tune up gig at Triumph Brewery, I figure since we're playing two very important shows this week why not start at home. We packed the car and headed down. We pick everyone up and pull into Triumph. As I walk inside I notice that I'm sick, the kind of sick I hate the most, congestion cough, runny nose, lungs (seemingly) covered with that green and yellow buttery stuff. I feel like crap, this presents a problem.

Set List

Slowdance
Get Me To California
Never Gonna Give You Up
Sexy Machine
I Don't Dance
Feels So Good
(I Think We Should) Breakup
Psycho

I struggle to sing, my guitar refuses to stay in tune, I'm sluggish, it isn't pretty. The Most you can do at that point is hope that things end better than they started.

We end the night driving towards Farfield, Iowa I dream of terrain that is both foreign and familiar with the stars shining bright I go over the tour plans in my head one more time.

-Get To Fairfield
-Get Some Rest
-Radio Interview
-Play
-Sleep
-Wake Up
-Get To Minneapolis
-Rest
-Play
-Get Jake To The Airport
-Sleep
-Drive Home

If I can get all of these things done without my head exploding I'll consider it a successful week.

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