And So the Story Goes... East Coast Tour Wrap Up Pt. 2

Day 7- Wayward Council- Gainesville, FL

Took off to FL after my Aunt Nancy graciously treated the four of us to a beyond grand Waffle House breakfast. Headed down to Gainesville through the scenic, winding roadways of central Georgia. Arrived to 80 degree weather. Amazing. We arrived at Wayward Council, as sweet collectively run record, zine, book, and t-shirt shop that’s put on some awesome shows in the past. Mr. Joe Bridge was nice enough to help us out with the show. We were scheduled to play with Hurricanes of Love from Atlanta and Many Mansions from MA. Got to meet Frank Hurricane who showed up and proceeded to greet us with phrases such as “Righteous brothers and sister, it is gonna be a HOLY night foshizelle,” and “Drop Pimp. It’s great to be hangizelle in the Gainesvilleationation.” Hmmm. After a 3 hour electro, folk, acid jam session that consisted of 3 bands, all with the same members, we got to play at the wee-hours of a spring break morning.
Joe apologized, but we all had a good time sipping our beer, talking about nonsense and enjoying the warm night air. Later, Frank Hurricane asked me where we were playing next. I told him that we were going to Jacksonville and our Atlanta show had been canceled. He responded with, “Oh damn, fo’ sho’. Hittin’ up Jackson-vegas! Das gangsta. Sorry to hear ‘bout Atlantweez.” It was a strange night.


Day 8- The Underbelly- Jacksonville, FL
The next day we only had an hour and half drive to Jacksonville so we did what any respectable group of 20-somethings would do. Got some beers and hung out at some backwoods train tracks for a while. Living the southern life is nice sometimes.

We arrived at The Underbelly in Jacksonville which is attached to a boho-chic type clothing store. Emily, the girl putting on the show was a sweetheart to us. Got us pizza and more beer. Steve opted to get an authentic Floridian haircut down the block, as K, Chris and I sat around the Underbelly, which was the outdoor stage.
Waited, and waited, and waited, and waited to play. Finally, got to go on around 10 after waiting for, uhhhhh, many hours in the backyard. Equipment went haywire, and I think it’s safe to say the small crowd of DMB-lovin’ locals hated us. Or, peered at us with such thick indifference you could churn it into some sort of batter. After we played, the cops showed up. We all hauled ass out of there. Well, the weather was nice.


Day 9- Everywhere America- Driving
We hit the interstate, trying to make it back up for our NY show the next day. We started doing an all-night drive from Jacksonville, trying to eat miles. Steve was doing a fantastic job into the late hours of foggy road out on I-95. About 40 miles from the North Carolina boarder, a car came racing up to us, and began tailing our vehicle for several minutes. We all made efforts to see if it was a cop or not. Needless to say, we thought someone was fucking with us. As Steve hit the breaks to drop back, the lights went on. YUP, a cop. Steve was asked to step out of the car, and was questioned in the freezing cold for a good 15 minutes. The sheriff of Florence, South Carolina kept insisting he was gonna break out the narcotics canine in the back seat. Fortunately for us non-narcotics carrying motherfuckers, we did not have to empty our vehicle for a search and the cop even asked us if we had stickers. “Breek mowa’ huh. Hope y’all make it beeg sumday.” Thanks officer. Later in the day/night whatever it was, Chris Brown threw my antique McDonalds glasses I purchased back in Virginia in the garbage at a Wawa. “I thought it was a bunch of crumpled up newspaper in the bag,” he said. I miss those glasses.



Day 10- The Cakeshop- New York, NY
Friday, we all traveled into NYC which is always a bitch and a half on a Friday night. When we pulled up to the Cakeshop, K.’s bladder was bursting, and fire trucks blocked off Ludlow street. Steve opted to park while we ran in with most of our gear. About 45 minutes later, we finally meet up with Steve who was able to carry the merch box and his cymbals for several unspeakable blocks. Again, a real trooper. That box is heavy! Great time was had by all, and it was the best Manhattan show I’ve ever played with any band ever. Can’t believe how nice everyone was, from the security guy outside to the bearded doorman. Way to rally around Cakeshop. Pregnant and Black Wine played. Oh what a night. J. Nixon nearly peed on me after the set, busting into the bathroom I neglected to lock as he ran offstage with his own bladder problems. Remember kids, lock the bathroom door, and always pee before you play. OR, live by the credo WhatWouldGGAllinDo (WWGGAD)!


Day 11- The Democracy Center- Cambridge, MA
After a nice stay in Harlem with our friend Jon Z., we headed up to Cambridge to play The Democracy Center. Now, the weather was cold. But stupid me brought a sorry excuse for a jacket with me. You win some, you loose some. Before the show, Steve pulled the car into a supreme spot by the load-in door. We all grabbed amps, walked 30 feet into the building, and walked back out. A minute’s worth of activity. As we exited, I spotted a meter-maid punching in the license plate. “WHOOOA! We’ve been here 45 seconds,” I shouted as change flew from my hands and pockets. “Does not go by seconds. It goes by money,” he informed me. Keep that in mind everyone. Steve avoids having an aneurysm in front of this dignified hall monitor as he slaps the tickets on the windshield. Oh, the law. The show was awesome though. Pat Kelley from Stumparumper came out with the ever-awesome Jayne Ziemba. And it’s always a brick mower honor to play with Young Leaves and Black Wine. BLACK WINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great night of tour, sans ticket. Black Wine leave to go back to NJ. We wave goodbye never to see them again…


Day 12- The Cookie Jar- New Haven, CT
The next day I texted Jeff from Black Wine. They made it home safe, so it turns out we will see them again. Stopped off in Providence to kill time after staying with Christopher from the Young Leaves and his better-half Jill in New Bedford, MA. Had a sick breakfast with them at Lizzie’s diner where Christopher hassled me for ordering rye toast. Apparently, this is not an option in New Bedford. Providence was cool, but man they have some bad coffee. Before our last show of tour, we all decided it’d be nice to have a final drink at classy bar, right around the Yale campus. Unfortunately, ivy league students don’t seem to drink in public, so we all shacked up at a classy Buffalo Wild Wings and had some send-off beers under a giant screen playing the new Punisher movie and a bunch of NCAA basketball. What hipsters we are.
Played our last show at the Cookie Jar house thanks to Emily, Andy, and Mitch, who graced us with a delicious vegan potluck before we played. Met up again with Weak Teeth, the 4 coolest dudes we met back in South Carolina. If you ever get to meet those guys, make sure you can spend the day bullshitting with them. Good gents. Twas the end of the line for both bands on tour. We each gracefully bowed out of the tour life for yet another stint. Drove back home to NJ after the show.

AMERICA!

(all these photos from these 2 blogs were either taken by Chris Brown or Steve).



UPCOMING SHOWS

3/25 @ Court Tavern - New Brunswick, NJ w/ Black Wine, Mattress, Sparkle Shit

3/26 @ Secret Project Robot- Brooklyn, NY w/ In Air, Period Girls, Bacteria, + lots more (PRFBBQ fest, day 3)

3/30 @ Maxwell's- Hoboken, NJ w/ Screaming Females, Black Wine,

4/6 @ Asbury Lanes- Asbury Park, NJ w/ Black Wine, Fat Shadow (on tour from IN)
3/26 @ Secret Project Robot- Brooklyn, NY w/ In Air, Period Girls, Bacteria, + more (PRFBBQ FEST show, day 3)

3/30 @ Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ w/ Screaming Females, Black Wine

4/6 @ Asbury Lanes- Asbury Park, NJ w/ Black Wine, Fat Shadow (from IN)