9/15/12 On the road to Southampton UK
T-shirt weather.
3pm
Last night served as the great convincer that Scotland and it’s music scene are nothing but fun. The show was well attended and had just the right amount of rowdiness. The venue turned out to be BYOB. Perfect for us. Billy Liar was fantastic. He killed it. His warm accent is inviting , and his lyrics reflect my first impressions of him. He’s a bit younger than me, but he’s pretty damn good already. He may wind up being great—I hope he does. To say that someone's set has inspired you to write is a high compliment where I come from. He did just that for me. I needed to feel that—to feel the honesty—his effortless intensity. A much needed departure from the rut I've been in.
A few people knew the words to some of my songs last night. The songs I wrote in my living room in Allston, Massachusetts. It blows my mind that I was in Edinburgh in general, let alone singing my songs to a rowdy Scottish crowd that was singing them along with me. What an experience! The last thing I would want to do is take anything like that for granted. How people get to that point is beyond me—beyond egotistical. It’s an overwhelming display of jack-assery to take something as pure as that for granted. I think I’ll get off my pedestal now. Sorry, it's just too easy to jump up on that fucker.
We’re taking a break at a road stop. We’re officially three-fourths of the way through another long haul. We tend to break for coffee at the halfway point of any drive, but ultimately its up to Christian to stop—he is the one that’s driving after all. Christian is a straight up—bark at the moon—road warrior. Never to be swayed from course, and never bested by any obstacle that threatens us getting to the next city in time for dinner. He drives many bands around Europe. He's become somewhat famous for his expertise. His friendship alone is worth the trip, but the fact that he gets us from place to place in a timely fashion is most certainly a bonus. A road warrior indeed.
Lately, we’ve been listening to an audio book throughout the drives. It helps to ease the hours spent sitting in one position, and gives us something to talk about—besides our own lives. A welcome respite. We’re listening to Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. The act of listening to audio books while on tour has officially bumped our tour status up to towering new heights. What I’m trying to say is... err... we’re getting old. Speaking of American gods, we seem to pass by them constantly throughout our travels. McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, etc. The only true American gods that I can readily name for you.
9/16/13 Dover UK
Grey, and well deserved.
11am
We just boarded the ferry again. This time to make our escape from this epic black cloud of a country. I love you Wales and Scotland. But fuck the rest. Really—fuck it. What this ultimately means for us is that this leg of the tour is over. Between Shows not being booked, shows that were booked falling through, promoters not holding up their end of the guarantee, lack of meals, and sincere lack of sleep—this has been a shit-show. And so it is with a feather-light heart that this chapter comes to a close. Good riddance UK. I hope to see you again—under a different light— as a tourist and not a lowly musician. Sleep well angry country, sleep well.
We’re heading back to Belgium to play a show in Antwerp. I’ve got a burgeoning hurricane of thoughts kicking up a gale in my mind. I’m trying to live in the moment and pay little attention to what’s in the rearview, or up ahead. For now I’ve got the white cliffs of Dover surrounded by a light green ocean and a subtle breeze to aid me. I'm not sure what's around the corner, but I know it'll be new. And I know It'll be a memory.