2009-02-12
Tour Diary #3: Goodbye Nashville, Not Quite Hello Atlanta
Dear Earthlings,
So the Athens show didn't happen. A local band, Five-Eight, committed to being on a bill with us at The Caledonia Lounge and then pulled out without notifying us.
Dear Five-Eight, (if you find this post)
I'm sure you guys are a wonderful band. I've listened to your music and it's very well done. I'm sure you're all nice guys. Still- it's hard enough being a small independent band on the road without our colleagues burning bridges for us. Our fans in Athens have been patiently waiting for us to visit and we will have to postpone. Hopefully we'll make it to Athens soon (and the Caledonia Lounge looks COOL) but not this time. Like I said- we're NOT hating on Five-Eight, just suggesting a little more communication.
So whatever- we make mountains out of anthills (heh). We stopped by, Tennessee instead and stayed with TFB Space Cadet Axton. Sewanee is a tiny liberal arts town hidden in a beautiful southern bluff. The stillness of the countryside makes for an excellent reprieve from the always-on-intensity of the city. I think Marshall, Matt, & Travis are still asleep. I'm sitting at "The Blue Chair" coffee shop having Granola & Espresso. I sound like such a hipster.
Next stop: Lenny's Bar in Atlanta & a stay at the wonderful abode of Neil & Shelly.
- B
So the Athens show didn't happen. A local band, Five-Eight, committed to being on a bill with us at The Caledonia Lounge and then pulled out without notifying us.
Dear Five-Eight, (if you find this post)
I'm sure you guys are a wonderful band. I've listened to your music and it's very well done. I'm sure you're all nice guys. Still- it's hard enough being a small independent band on the road without our colleagues burning bridges for us. Our fans in Athens have been patiently waiting for us to visit and we will have to postpone. Hopefully we'll make it to Athens soon (and the Caledonia Lounge looks COOL) but not this time. Like I said- we're NOT hating on Five-Eight, just suggesting a little more communication.
So whatever- we make mountains out of anthills (heh). We stopped by, Tennessee instead and stayed with TFB Space Cadet Axton. Sewanee is a tiny liberal arts town hidden in a beautiful southern bluff. The stillness of the countryside makes for an excellent reprieve from the always-on-intensity of the city. I think Marshall, Matt, & Travis are still asleep. I'm sitting at "The Blue Chair" coffee shop having Granola & Espresso. I sound like such a hipster.
Next stop: Lenny's Bar in Atlanta & a stay at the wonderful abode of Neil & Shelly.
- B
2009-02-11
Tour Diary #2: Making friends at The Basement
Hello earthlings,
Last night we played wonderful Nashville room called The Basement. I was afraid that Nashville was all country. Our day spent downtown on music row certainly didn't ease my suspicions. Anyway, I was wrong- because The Basement is an indie rock enclave in all the best ways. Packed on a tuesday night and the employees couldn't have been friendlier.
We were playing what is sometimes referred to as a "showcase" set, meaning that we played only 5 songs. (The Setlist: Take It For Love, Don't Try & Take My Guns, How Do You Make Movies?, Kickstand Woman, Jump Blues) We were pumped up and ready to go. We loaded on stage. The clock was ticking (20 minutes isn't much). And.....Marshall's amp shitted out. The verdict is still out on what exactly is wrong with it but when your standing on stage and the announcer says its time to go on and your guitarist's amp isn't working- it's terrifying. I stood sweating in front of a packed room of people unable to perform yet caught in the spotlight. Seconds passed slowly. I fidgeted. Marshall plugged his guitar into the house amp (some kind of Marshall mini stack) and we got the show on the road. And I'll be damned if we didn't rock the roof down. Take It For Love was a little sketchy, seeing as there were almost no keyboards in the monitors, but the rest of the set was golden. By the time we played Jump Blues, we had inducted the audience into our secret society. The next time we come to Nashville, they will be back. Job well done.
I had the best BBQ sandwhich in my life in Nashville, yet its time to move on.
I'll be sure to check in soon.
-B
Last night we played wonderful Nashville room called The Basement. I was afraid that Nashville was all country. Our day spent downtown on music row certainly didn't ease my suspicions. Anyway, I was wrong- because The Basement is an indie rock enclave in all the best ways. Packed on a tuesday night and the employees couldn't have been friendlier.
We were playing what is sometimes referred to as a "showcase" set, meaning that we played only 5 songs. (The Setlist: Take It For Love, Don't Try & Take My Guns, How Do You Make Movies?, Kickstand Woman, Jump Blues) We were pumped up and ready to go. We loaded on stage. The clock was ticking (20 minutes isn't much). And.....Marshall's amp shitted out. The verdict is still out on what exactly is wrong with it but when your standing on stage and the announcer says its time to go on and your guitarist's amp isn't working- it's terrifying. I stood sweating in front of a packed room of people unable to perform yet caught in the spotlight. Seconds passed slowly. I fidgeted. Marshall plugged his guitar into the house amp (some kind of Marshall mini stack) and we got the show on the road. And I'll be damned if we didn't rock the roof down. Take It For Love was a little sketchy, seeing as there were almost no keyboards in the monitors, but the rest of the set was golden. By the time we played Jump Blues, we had inducted the audience into our secret society. The next time we come to Nashville, they will be back. Job well done.
I had the best BBQ sandwhich in my life in Nashville, yet its time to move on.
I'll be sure to check in soon.
-B
2009-02-09
Tour Diary #1: Parade in the 9th Ward
Hello earthlings,
Sorry for our absence. You see, we were preparing for a massive east coast tour and, now, we're actually on it. This post comes to you from the mighty city of New Orleans, where the guy on the corner is actually a jazz legend and your aunt makes the best gumbo in town.
We left Austin at noon on Friday- loaded up our RV, met Matt's (our bassist) mom, and waked Travis by telling him that a homeless man had broken into the RV and was currently sleeping in it. He stormed outside in a rage to discover that it was just Pec- his roommate (nice prank, Marshall). Standing in his boxers and panting from adrenalin, Travis introduced himself to Matt's mom as the sane older voice of reason that would guide her son on a velvet rope tour of America.
So we left Austin and 8 hours later we were in New Orleans and we played a show and-what can I say- it was wonderful as always. I drive around the country sleeping on your couches and playing our songs and it's my job. How cool is that?
The Neutral Grounds is a folk coffee shop- too small for a rock'n'roll band- but we made it work. We packed in like sardines and rocked our hardest. Played the new songs. Played the old songs. It was a success and a proper start to a 5 week tour.
Yesterday, Allen took us around New Orleans. I think I've finally got a sense of the city. The vibe. Outside of Allen's house, the 9th Ward neighborhood parade (let by Quintron) was practicing for the upcoming Mardi Gras festivities. We followed them along their parade route and it was joyous. Rifle girls, trumpeters, and drum majors marched their way through "The Boys are Back in Town" and, while I've always hated that song, this rendition sent chills through my body (the good kind). New Orleans, beaten and bruised from the hurricane, still finds in her neighborhoods the spirit of the parade. I'm energized. I'm inspired. I'm ready for another Frontier Brothers tour.
- B
Sorry for our absence. You see, we were preparing for a massive east coast tour and, now, we're actually on it. This post comes to you from the mighty city of New Orleans, where the guy on the corner is actually a jazz legend and your aunt makes the best gumbo in town.
We left Austin at noon on Friday- loaded up our RV, met Matt's (our bassist) mom, and waked Travis by telling him that a homeless man had broken into the RV and was currently sleeping in it. He stormed outside in a rage to discover that it was just Pec- his roommate (nice prank, Marshall). Standing in his boxers and panting from adrenalin, Travis introduced himself to Matt's mom as the sane older voice of reason that would guide her son on a velvet rope tour of America.
So we left Austin and 8 hours later we were in New Orleans and we played a show and-what can I say- it was wonderful as always. I drive around the country sleeping on your couches and playing our songs and it's my job. How cool is that?
The Neutral Grounds is a folk coffee shop- too small for a rock'n'roll band- but we made it work. We packed in like sardines and rocked our hardest. Played the new songs. Played the old songs. It was a success and a proper start to a 5 week tour.
Yesterday, Allen took us around New Orleans. I think I've finally got a sense of the city. The vibe. Outside of Allen's house, the 9th Ward neighborhood parade (let by Quintron) was practicing for the upcoming Mardi Gras festivities. We followed them along their parade route and it was joyous. Rifle girls, trumpeters, and drum majors marched their way through "The Boys are Back in Town" and, while I've always hated that song, this rendition sent chills through my body (the good kind). New Orleans, beaten and bruised from the hurricane, still finds in her neighborhoods the spirit of the parade. I'm energized. I'm inspired. I'm ready for another Frontier Brothers tour.
- B
2009-02-02
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