We feel like kings. Kings that are about to die.

Day won – Headed out of the Columbus to pick up Melty T-shirts and our van, who will be referred to as "Victory" from this point on, began having some health issues. We stalled with a few miles of angry traffic behind us and dreams of unicorns and playing at least one date on our tour ahead of us. Joy. Fortunately we were able to flag down a dude in a jeep to help try jumping the battery. This did get Victory running again but soon died again a few stop lights later. We had to decide if we should try limping to Dayton or make the smart decision and turn back home and swap out Victory for Sean's van, Temple of Abstraction, also known as The Brazilian Princess. Victory, shockingly, ran like a champ to our first venue, The Pearl, where we met up with good friends Captain of Industry, Joe Anderl, Erin, Chris, Mary Catherine and others. We played like we've never played before ….meaning like we've never touched musical instruments before or had any idea of what this strange music concept might be all about. Too much crack smoking might have a good excuse for our crap performance, but none of us had any to the best of my knowledge. If someone slipped crack into our dilaudid (sp?) I'll be pissed. Captain of Industry and Yakuza Heart Attack played great shows and we were glad to share the stage with them. Denny's filled our bellies and we were then off to sleep at Joe's house with his brother's dog, Watts. (I left a club sandwich in your fridge and know you're a veggie, Joe, so feel free to give Watts my leftovers as thanks for not humping my leg while sleeping.) A gazillion thanks to all.

So day too – Joe pointed us to a reliable mechanic in Dayton and off we rambled. The mechanics were extremely friendly but booked up for the day and unable to get us in for a repair. They, however, did hook us up with another shop who could take a looky-looky at our ailing vehicle. Before we left, we did have a conversation revolving around controlled substances with a sMr. Watts, not the aforementioned dog from the night before, but yes, a man named Watts. I don't want anyone to get the impression that we're touring around, kidnapping dogs and starting up canine cannabis conversations all willy nilly. No. There was an 83 year-old mechanic who shuffled around the shop, parked cars and made phone calls. Watts took a look at us and must have pinned us as folks who smoke and drink various things. After about 48 seconds of small talk, he explained that smoking marijuana, corn silk, drinking home brew (what we youngsters call beer) never did much for him. This prompted nods of placating agreement out of the three of us and he soon moved into another story involving racism, the KKK and white folk. I'm not sure if we're the type of people that instantly make you comfortable or if Watts was the kind of man who'll tell you it all if given a chance. Mr. Watts had us laughing and we snapped a picture with the whole auto shop. Off to Weber's Auto Service just 'round the bend.

From Dayton, Victory rolled out to Bloomington, Indiana. Upon a confusing arrival, we sought out a Kinkos, stopping every hot little college girl to ask for directions. We did not hesitate to stop every fifty feet to ask for directions. Short shorts="Do you know where the rock show is?" We finally find Kinkos and proceed to cut our artwork into CD inserts. We meet another DIY type of artist at Kinkos who slows our progress by asking to use one of the cutting machines. We happened to be occupying all three of the store's cutting stations. Cutting inserts and stuffing records apparently made Mark hungry for shitty Italian food- Fazolis. Upon leaving the restaurant we are bombarded by college beauties and put our sunglasses on in order to check them out without guilt. We arrived at the Cinemat thanks to directions from Ross (the fine drummer of Morgantown's the Caterpillar Scheme who's now studying the fine science of linguistics in Bloomington.) Upon our arrival at the movie store, we load our gear across the longest parking lot ever paved. We starting drinking diet pepsi with Rum in them while waiting for all of our adoring fans to arrive. After about an hour, we realize that nobody is going to show up so Patrick and the Believers start rocking their Springsteen alt-country shiiat. They sound awesome and let us borrow drums and a Fender Twin amp as my Sovtek just isn't holding up to the volume demands of house shows and art spaces. Steve and Lisa (of What Else Records Fame) who booked the show, invite us back to their amazing house/mansion to continue drinking, talking records, movies, and swim in their in-ground pool. Sean makes a disgusting concoction of Sunkist and Captain Morgan's Rum. It's called a Rumkist. Lisa makes this zesty cheese dip for nachos.We get drunker and wetter and laugh harder and fall asleep watching "Love Actually" on a the biggest home movie screen in a world. Sean cries at least 30 times.
We awake the next day at about noon and Steve and Lisa take us to a great little diner. It's tasty and we had some delicious but unfortunately moderately filling breakfast. We hightailed, and our van "Victory" doesn't hightail, to Indianapolis. Our hopes were high that we'd be able to hop on a show or something of the sort in that general region.

So, we roll into Indianapolis for two reasons: we want to find a show on which to jump and meet up with our good buddy, Mike Armstrong. Mark and Sean used to work with Mike and he lives in Indy and works at a Lowe's. So after spending yet another few hours at a Panera Bread, at which we meet a little indie chick that knows some guy at an art space. We give her a record and call the dude and he can't help. So, we decide that we'll go find the man that introduced us to Captain Morgan and John Frusciante. So we hit up the nearest Lowe's based on Mark's memory to try to search out Mike and get a place to crash. We find the right Lowe's and unfortunately, Armstrong is in Columbus. So, we decide that because every fucking show in indy is a metal show, we decide to press on to Bowling Green.

1. Fort wayne-
GET DIRECTIONS AT STARBUCKS
GET A NEWSPAPER THAT SAYS WHAT'S UP. IT'S CALLED WHAZ UP.
RENEGADE VAN.
MULTIPLE U-TURNS,
STOPPING TRAFFIC
FIREFLY
ART SPACE/ METAL SHOW
LEGENDS.
WOODY BAND THAT WE'LL CALL WOODY AND THE BACHELORETTES
THAT PLAYS SHITTY COVERS AND RAPS OVER THEM
"HEY JESSE, WHAT TOok YOU SO LONG" TO THE TUNE "ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST". HE ALSO WORKED IN MELTY MELTY FROM COLUMBUS INTO SWEET HOME ALABAMA.
"MELTY MELTY FROM COLUMBUS. THANKS FOR PLAYING THIS SHOW WITH US."
WE DRANK FOR FREE. IT WAS A BACHELORETTE PARTY
MARK BROKE CHAIR WHILE TRYING TO DO DIRTY DANCING MANUEVER. POOL GAMES.
GIRL THAT WANTS TO PULL MY BEARD AND SLAP MY FACE.
PITCHERS IN THE PARKING LOT. TORE OUT AND HEADED DOWN TWO DIFFERENT STREETS THE WRONG WAY. THANKS KEVIN.
HIT ARBY'S IT WAS 17 DOLLARS. "SHE SAYS, "IT'S ARBYS." SEAN JUMPS OUT TO CLIMB A BUILDING AND CHASES AFTER MARK WHO'S TRYING TO PEE. DUDE TELLS SEAN TO PUT HIS BELT BACK .. TRYING TO HIT MARK WITH IT. WE CRASH IN THE VAN AT SOME REST STOP WITH PORTA POTTYS.
WE WAKE UP TO HEAD TO BG.
WE SIT AT PICNIC TABLES AND THE WEATHER IS PERFECT.
WE DECIDE TO HIT THE ROAD.


BOWLING GREEN

ARE YOU TRAVELING MUSICIANS OR DO YOU HAVE THAT CARTOP CARRIER ON YOUR VAN FOR THE FUCK OF IT? WE'RE TOURING JUGGLERS. OH.
PULLED INTO HOWARDS AND MET TUNA. THEN WE WALKED AROUND BG LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO. "lisa sipes. 40TH BIRTHDAY PARTY. HAPPY 40TH. WOW-UNBELIEVABLE!" ATE AT EASY STREET WHERE KOPAZ ONCE PLAYED WITH MIRANDA SOUND AND NATE USED SEAN AS A BROOM TO CLEAN THE PLACE UP.

MARK'S LOVELY FRIEND AMANDA MET US AT THE RESTAURANT AND OFFERERED US A PLACE TO CRASH. SINCE WE STILL HAD SEVERAL HOURS, WE GRABBED BEER AND PLAYED MARIO. WENT TO THE VENUE TO SET-UP. TALKED TO THE SOUND GUY ABOUT CONDENSOR MICS. HE CLAIMED THAT A KSM-44 DIDN'T NEED PHANTOM POWER.

WE WATCHED JUSTIN PLAY A SWEET SOLO SET, COVERING TREYSUNO SONGS AND A FEW OTHER GREATS. THEN A LOOPER GUY THAT HAD WAY TOO MUCH CRAP GOING ON, AND PLAYED TO SCREEN SAVERS BUT WAS COOL. THEN SOME SHITTY BAND WHO'S DRUMMER SAID "DO YOU USE SCALED DOWN KIT SO THAT YOUR NOT TEMPTED TO PLAY COMPLEX PARTS. " CALLED SIDEWAYS SMILE WHICH IS THE LAMEST BAND NAME OF THE TOUR.

JUSTIN OVER PAID US FOR THAT SHOW. THANK YOU. JUSTIN.
WE HEAD TO AMANDAS BAR CALLED JUNCTION THAT IS HAUNTED. SHE TAKES US UPSTAIRS TO THE HAUNTED PART AND I TELL GHOST STORIES. WE WATCH THE US BEAT BRAZIL IN BASKETBALL BY DOUBLE POINTS. MARK WINS A BET THAT BRAZIL WON'T COME BACK IN THE LAST 13 SECONDS. MARK WINS A SHOT. THANKS ANTHONY. AMANDA DROPS $50 TO PAY FOR OUR DRINKS. WE GO BACK TO HER PLACE AND WATCH HALF-BAKED AND KEVIN PASSES OUT IN HER DOORWAY BETWEEN HER BATHROOM AND BEDROOM. HER OVERLY JEALOUS BOYFRIEND CALLS HER ALL NIGHT COMPLAINING ABOUT US. SHE WAS COOL AS SHIT. THANK YOU, AMANDA.

HAMTRAMCK, MI
ROADS WERE BAD. PASSED MY SUMMER VACATION SPOT. BOUGHT A SOCCER BALL AND FRISBEE. ROADS SUCK SO TRAILOR GOT FUCKED UP.
MET PETER. HE KEPT TELLING HOT CHICKS THAT HE LIKED THEIR DOG. BATHROOM IN WENDYS WAS ALWAYS LOCKED SO WE BECAUSE OF THE LAME EMPLOYEES, WE CAN'T PEE. WE TALK TO A RACIST BLACK MAN WHO HATES POLOCKS FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE HARDWARE STORE. WE MEET PETER WHO HAS TRANSYLVANIAN ACCENT. WE GO TO HIS BASEMENT. HE GIVES US SHIT. HE CHECKS ON OUR TRAILOR, COMES BACK 3 TIMES AND IS WEARING DIFFERENT CLOTHES EACH TIME. HE'S OVERLY NICE. HE KEEPS TELLING US STORIES. EACH TIME HE SAYS SOMETHING, WE ASK HIM IF HE'S LYING. SEAN WALKS THE STREETS. FINDS A COOL RECORD STORE. MARK AND KEVIN TALK TO PETER.
HE CAME TO THE COUNTRY WITH $150. HE NOW HAS A HOUSE, A CAR AND A LITTLE MOTORCYLE. HE HAD A YAMAHA 750 JUST LIKE ME BUT HE HAD TO SELL IT CAUSE THE VIBRATIONS WERE TOO MUCH.

KEV-HOW DID YOU GET THE SCAR IN YOUR HAND? WAS IT MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.
"DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR A STORY?" HE SAID HE USED TO FIGHT. ONE NIGHT I LOST CONTROL AND I PUT MY HAND THROUGH A MAN'S FACE. HE DIDN'T SURVIVE". HE LEFT AGAIN AND SAID HE'D BE BACK AND HE'D BRING US WOMEN. HE LEFT, CHANGED HIS CLOTHES AGAIN, AND CAME BACK WITH A VERY NICE GIRL WHICH WE HOT LIZ as I typed this . HE LEAVES AGAIN TO GET A VIDEO CAMERA TO FILM THE SHOW. HE CHANGES HIS CLOTHES AGAIN. HE FILMS THE ENTIRE SHOW AND WALKS AROUND ON STAGE THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VENUE, THE BELMONT, DIDN'T BOOK ANY OTHER BANDS THAT NIGHT. HE NEARLY STEPPED ON MARKS GLASSES, STEPS ON KEVINS PEDAL, MUTING HIM, AND KNOCKS MY BEER OVER. HE SHOWS US THE VIDEO IT'S INCREDIBLE. IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I HOPE WE GET TO SEE IT. HE SAYS HE'D GIVE US THE TAPE AND HE'S ABOUT TO, BUT HE STOPS AND SAYS I CAN'T GIVE YOU THIS TAPE BECAUSE THERE IS SOME OTHER STUFF ON THIS TAPE AND I'M IN TO XXX. IN THE SAME BREATH HE INVITES US BACK TO HIS HOUSE FOR SANDWICHES, COFFEE, AND SHOWERS.

WE LEAVE HAMTRAMCK THAT NIGHT AND START DRIVING EAST. SLEEP IN COMFORT INN PARKING LOT. STOP AT MCDONALDS AND TELL THEM THEY FORGOT THE FRIES AND GOT FREE FRIES. WE WAKE UP NEXT TO CRAZY CONSTRUCTION WORK. FEELS LIKE THE VAN IS ON FIRE. IT'S SOOOO HOT. KEV REALIZES THAT HE NEEDS TO GET BACK TO COLUMBUS FOR WORK SO WE STOP IN CLEVELAND TO GET HIS PARENTS CAR. MARK AND SEAN DRIVE TO AKRON WITH KEVING TRAILING. OUR FRIEND JAKE CHANDLER WHO PLAYS TRUMPET IN OUR SONG, KILLING TIME, SHOWS UP WITH 3 OR 4 HOT ARCHITECT GIRLS AND ONE OF HIS BUDDIES. HE PLAYS THE SONG WITH US AND IT'S FUN AS HELL. WE MAKE A LOT OF MONEY SELLING MERCH AND IN DONATIONS. SEAN DJURCIK AND BEN DEROLPH OF FUTURE PERFECT MEDIA.
WE WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY AND HEADED BACK TO CLEVELAND. KEVIN HEADS TO COUMBUS THE NIGHT BEFORE TO CRASH AT MY HOUSE AND MEETS US IN CLEVELAND. MARK AND I HEAD TO CLEVELAND TO MEET UP WITH SHAWN FLOWERS. WE GET TO HIS PLACE AND CLEAN UP A LITTLE AND
-MARK'S BUSTED TOE
-MOTOR BOAT ON LAKE ERIE
-RUM AND DIET PEPSI ON LAKE ERIE
-WE MEET UP WITH KEVIN Kevin was afraid.
-WE GO TO THE VENUE, CALLED THE TOWER. NICK IS AWESOME. MANDY SHOWS UP WITH THE SUPER HOTTIES FROM HOTCHACHA. MARK IS IN LOVE WITH ALL OF THEM. WE ALL ARE. THEY'RE SWEET. I TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES. WE MEET SOME REALLY COOL KIDS AT THE SHOW, INCLUDING MATT, THE TOURING DRUMMER OF SIX PARTS SEVEN. WE GO EAT HOT DOGS AT STEVE'S HOT DOGS AND THEN GO OUT TO THE VAN AND THIS CRAZY GUY IS TRYING TO IMPRESS US WITH HIS TRANSAM AND KEES BURNING HIS TIRES. HE DOES IT IN FRONT OF A COP AND GETS PULLED OVER. THE COPS DRAW THEIR GUNS. WE DECIDE IT WILL MAKE A SWEET BACK GROUND PICTURE.
WE MAKE IT BACK TO SHAWNS.
WE AWAKE AND WALK TO BREAKFAST. THE WAITRESS IS COOL BUT HUNGOVER AND IS KIND OF SARCASTICALLY MEAN SO SEAN ORDERS A LARGE SMILE AND A CUP OF COFFEE. SHE DOESN'T REALLY LAUGH.
WE DO LAUNDRY AT A CREEPY GUY'S STOLEN BIKE SHOP.

THEN WE CALL UP A BUNCH OF VENUES IN PITTSBURGH AND LAND A SHOW WITH SPECTRUM, FEATURING sonic boom OF SPACEMEN 3. HE GIVES US BEER AND SAID HE LIKES OUR SHOW BUT NOT OUR MUSIC. KEVIN'S BASS AMP IS FUCKED UP AND SOUNDS LIKE SHIT. SEAN ENJOYS KILLA WITH PETE FROM SPECTRUM. WE MEET SPLIT SIGNAL AND HANG WITH THEM AND MARTY. THEY RE COOL AS SHIT. MARK TRIES TO TAKE ON A GANG LOOKING IN THE VAN. SEAN PULLS A 2 INCH POCKET KNIFE ON THEM.

Pittsburgh "this one goes out to all the mothers out there. I think that truck should say "pussy wagon" on it.
Mark nearly took on an entire gang of dudes.

LIT LOUNGE.
TRAILOR PROBS.
KING HEN IS COOL.
WE PLAY EARLY.
WE PICK UP JUSTIN TYLER
WE GET WASTED EARLY
WE PLAY A TERRIBLE SHOW. THANKS KILLA AND SOUND GIRL james.
LIGHT BREAKS.
BOUNCER GUY GETS PISSED AT SEAN. SEAN STANDS UP FOR HIMSELF AND KING HEN SINGER AND SEAN DANCE ON EACH OTHER TO THE , DUMB MUSIC IN THE BAR. MARK IS HITTING ON SOME CHICK SO SEAN BUYS HER A BEER ON MARK'S TAB. THEN KEVIN DRINKS THE BEER BUT BEFORE HE CAN FINISH IT, SEAN KNOCKS IT ON THE GROUND AND THEN SHE COMES BACK AND WANTS THE BEER. FUCK. Justin gets called OUT USING A LINE FROM THE PICKUP ARTIST.

BEFORE GETTING TO BROOKLYN WE LEFT JUSTINS. WE WAITED IN A LINE FOR 2 HOURS FOR HOLLAND TUNNEL AND THEN THEY SAID WE COULD NT GO IN IWHT TRAILOR. REROUTE TO LINCOLN TUNNEL. ASS BACKWARDS NAVIGATION TRHOUGH MANHATTEN. REAR ENTRY TO BROOKLN BATTER TUNNEL. YOU WANT YOUR QUARTERS GUY? YOU'RE ON THE GUWANIS.

BACK TO JUSTINS. WE WATCH A MOVIE AND PASS OUT.
NEXT MORNING WE DECIDE TO GET OUR STUFF FROM JUSTINS AND LOCK OUR SELVES OUT AS WE'RE LEAVING. WE MAKE IT TO BROOKLYN.

WE PARK REALLY FAR FROM THE VENUE AND KEEP FORGETTING SHIT IN THE VAN SO WE WALK FOR MILES TO RETRIEVE IT.
-SHE FARTED. SHE FARTED. SHE SMELLS LIKE SHIT.
WHO IS THIS GUY?
-DANCING ON CHICKS.
-MIKE POSTALAKIS COMES OUT TO THE SHOW. ALI
-MARCELO COMES TO THE SHOW.
-JEFF BOYLE COMES TO THE SHOW WITH HIS GIRL SARAH.

WE PLAY PRETTY WELL BUT SEAN HITS BAD NOTE OVER KEVING HITTING THE WRONG CHORD. WE DRINK. THE BARTENDER LIKES US AND EVERY TIME I ORDER A PBR, HE GIVES ME TWO OF THEM AND A SHOT. THE CROWD ENDS UP RAPPING WITH MARK AND I. WE LOAD OUT AND THEN DECIDE TO OVER TAKE BROOKLYN, SINGING TIME OF THE SEASON.
MARK MEETS UP WITH DAVE AND JUDY IS GODFATHER/UNCLE. THEY WATCH THE SHOW AND ARE VERY NICE TO MEET.
BRIDGETE NEILSON AND MARK DANCED ALL NIGHT.

WE SLEEP IN THE VAN IN FRONT OF UNION HALL ON THE CORNER OF UNION AND FIFTH IN PARK SLOPE. THE NEXT DAY MARK AND I AWAKE TO TRY TO FIND WATER AND A PLACE TO PEE. WE FIND A BARBEQUE AND MARK'S NOSE STARTS BLEEDING. SO WE BOTH DROP LOADS AND SIT AT THE BAR COMPETELY HUNG-OVER WITH MARK HOLDING A BLOODY NAPKIN TO HIS FACE. WE DRINK ABOUT TWO PITCHERS OF WATER AND WATCH SOCCER AND TELL STORIES. SUDDENLY THIS GIANT PIECE OF "KNICK KNACK" FURNITURE FALLS OFF THE WALL AND NEARLY KILLS A CHILD. WE LEAVE AND FIND KEVIN SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK, LOCKED OUTSIDE THE VAN. WE DECIDE TO GET COFFEE AND THEN WALK UP TO THE PARK WITH THE SOCCER BALL AND FRISBEE. WE SIT NEXT TO THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY AREREALLY INTELLIGENT AND USE JUGGLING TOYS AND HOOLA HOOPS. THIS HOT COWGIRL SITS NEXT TO US AND WE SEE HER NIPPLES LIKE THREE TIMES. WELL, MARK DOESN'T.

WE WALK BACK TO THE VAN WHICH HAS NOW BEEN SITTING IN FRONT OF THE VENUE FOR 20 HOURS. WE MOVED IT CLOSER THE NIGHT BEFORE.

WE DRIVE TO PHILLY.
-THE OTHER BAND SOUNDS LIKE INCUBUS. WE MEET DAVID SCOTT JONES, SEAN WATCHES SWEET JAZZ DUDES ACROSS STREET. WE DRIN PBR AND WHISKY. WE PLAY TO NOBODY. THE SOUND GUY ADDS DELAY TO SEANS VOCALS. THE SOUND GUYS GIVES US PILLS THAT HE SAYS IS MORPHINE FOR THE TOURING BAND. WE THROW THEM IN THE PARKING LOT AND HOPE THAT A DOG DOESN'T EAT THEM.
WE MAKE 45 DOLLARS. WE SLEEP IN THE PARKING LOT NEXT TO A HIP HOP CLUB AND THEIR CAR ALRAMS KEEP US AWAKE TILL 5 AM. THE NEXT DAY WE WALK TO THE ROCKY STAIRS AND EAT BREAKFAST AT A SWEET DINER. IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET TO THE STIARS. EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE GET SOME SWEET PIS AND HEAD TO RICHMOND INDIANA.

WE GET TO THE CAMEL AND THE PLACE LOOKS AWESOME. EVERONE IN REALLY NICE. BUT AFTER BOTH BANDS LOAD IN, THEY TELL US THAT IF TEN PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP BY 9PM, THEY'LL CANCEL THE SHOW. SO SEAN TAKES HIS GUITAR OUT TO THE STREETS. HE PLAYS FOR PEOPLE AT LOWES PARKING LOT THAT CALL THEIR FRIENDS TO COME TO THE SHOW. THEN HE PLAYS A COUPLE OF SONGS FOR KIDS SITTING OUTSIDE OF STARBUCKS. THEY SAY THEY'LL COME. MARK WALKS THE STREETS TO TELL HOBOS THAT HE'LL BUY THEM BEER IF THEY COME TO THE SHOW. ABOUT THE SHOW. SEAN IS PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE VENUE AND A DJ FROM THE RADIO STATION ABOVE THE VENUE COMES OUT AND ASKS IF WE'RE PLAYING AND IS SUPER NICE AND INVITES US TO PLAY ON THE RADIO TO PROMOTE THE SHOW. SO MARK AND SEAN PLAY "MOUTHS" ON THE RADIO. SWEET DUDE. HE RUNS THE SHOW BEATLE.
WW97.1 SOMETHING.

SEAN CALLS THE PROMOTOR AND BITCHES HIM OUT. WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE THE BAND ILAD AS THEIR MYSPACE SONGS ARE GREAT AND THEY HAVE SWEET GEAR. APPARENTLY THE ILAD RECORD WAS RECORDED BY JOHN McENTIRE OF TORtOISE. THE BAND TAKES US TO A SWEET BAR AND WE DRINK AND MEET SOME COOL PEOPLE. I MEET THIS GIRL FROM ICELAND THAT SAYS SHE'S ABLE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD AND MAKES ABOUT 20,000 A YEAR THERE BUT THEIR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS MUCH NICER. THEN WE MEET MIKE WHO'S AN OLD RICHMOND MUSICIAN. HE TELLS US ABOUT A SHOW HIS BAND PLAYED WHERE THEY PLAYED AN S AND M WEDDING RECEPTION AND TOOK A BUNCH OF ACID. THEY GOT TO THE PARTY AND WERE HANGING OUT WHEN SOMEONE ANNOUNCED THAT THE GROOM IS READY TO SUCK DICK. WE DRANK $2 DRAFTS OF STELLA RICHMOND LAGER AND THEN CRASHED AT CAMERON AND BETSY'S HOUSE. BEAUTIFUL HOUSE. AWESOME PEOPLE. MARK AND I SLEPT ON A BED AND IN THE MORNING MARK LOCKED HIMSELF OUTKEVIN AGAIN SLEPT FACE DOWN MUNCHING CARPET SEAN STUMBLED AROUND IN HIS BOXERS TO FIND THE RIGHT DOOR TO LET HIM IN. IT WAS THE THIRD DOOR THAT WORKED. WE SAID OUR GOODBYES AND DECIDED TO FUCK ATLANTA. WE'D HEAD TO CHARLOTSVILLE VIRGINIA TO FIND A SHOW. NO SHOW. WE LISTEN TO ILAD ON THE WAY THERE. IT'S AWESOME.

WE HANG OUT IN CHARLOTSVILLE AND FIND A COLLEGE RADIO STATION AND THEY AREN'T VERY NICE. THREE WOMEN THAT ALL LOOK THE SAME. WE GO TO A USED THRIFT SHOP AND THE STORE OWNER IS CRAZY. HE KEEPS TELLING US ABOUT THESE ARMY ART PIECES. IT'S CALLED TRENCH ART. IT'S DEPRESSING. WE LEAVE AND HEAD TOWARDS LOUISVILLE. AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT, WE STOP AT A TRUCK STOP TO SLEEP. WE SLEEP FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS AND THEN GET UP AND WORK OUT AND THEN EAT SHITTY MCDONALDS. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, OUR TRAILOR TIRE BLOWS OUT AND WE'RE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE DETACH THE TRAILOR AND SEAN HANGS WITH THE TRAILOR ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HE MAKES A QUICK RUM AND PEPSI AND HANGS BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MARK AND KEVIN ARE BACK VERY QUICKLY AND WE REALIZE THAT SINCE WE ARE SOO CLOSE TO ROUTE 23, ABOUT 4 MILES, WE ARE GONNA JUST GO HOME FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS INSTEAD OF TRY TO JUMP ON A LOUISVILLE SHOW. WE ARE TIRED AND SPENT SEVERAL NIGHTS SLEEPING IN THE VAN WITHOUT SHOWERS. NOBODY GOT LAID. LETS GO HOME AND THEN ROCK CINCINNATI ON FRIDAY.

After Chicago at the Empty Bottle we slept at a hotel (not in a hotel) on the highway headed for Dubuque, IA.  Again, big props to Steve Carey and his buddy Justin for making the ginormous drive from Bowling Green to see the show and give us a place to crash. 

We ate at a Denny's before we left...3 orders of Moons over Myhammyi...three cups of coffee.  Mark got seasoned fries...Kev and I-regular.  The waiter was a dick...then he was cool. just very ...businessy.  Anyways, we headed to Dubuque, IA at about 1pm.  We arrived in Dubuque...this beautiful little town with amazing architecture and christmas lights.  We found The Busted Lift which is this stone-walled bar in the basement of yet another bar.  Aaron Hefel, who's booked bands for about 7 years, never taking a dime, immediately welcomed us with free beer.  Wheat ale.  We incorrectly thought that we would have a few hours to kill before our set, but we were mistaken. All-ages shows start at about 6pm?  A couple of bands opened the show...polyester pants was a pretty rad local noise band.  We sold a few shirts and records playing to 15-20 highschool kids that actually stood up front and got into it.  Since we were officially loaded back into the van by 8:30pm, we decided to just drive towards Omaha.  We slept at a truckstop somewhere in Iowa that night.

more to come...

 

So, we've arrived in Omaha...the dude at O'Leaver's briefly described how to get downtown.  We stumbled upon a pretty rad bookstore/record store...armed with a group of old men conversing.  Downstairs...an amazing collection of vinyl, CD's, Times New Viking's entire collection and Tiara's Again Cast In (in the marked down nobody wants it section-if only they new). 

We each talked ourselves out of buying a handful or records as money is a bit tight. However, if I could have purchased a vinyl copy of "NEBRASKA" I wouldn't have hesitated. The kids in the shop were super nice and said that there is nothing to do in Omaha...we should go to the zoo.  yeah...Marque, the ideaman Himmel or Mark Hemmel as Dayton's online mag put it, said "that store was a lot like our store, the go round..." but then he never finished his thought or rather I quickly forgot it--similar to how I'm about to end this run-on sentence.

We found an amazing diner, taking Sean back to thoughts of Jack and Benny's.  Kevin doesn't think their food is good but thinks the diner we're at is as good as the new diner next to the Ravari Room.  yup. Mark didn't get cheese on his chicken sandwich and Kevin played footsie with him throughout the meal.

we made it back to the van...no ticket.  Mark's asleep and Kevin and I are at some downtown coffee place.

To O'Leaver's at 8:30 we're told.  4 hours.

So, last night we played the Empty Bottle in Chicago. We left Columbus at about 11:30...arrived in Chicago at about 5:30. We stopped in Chalmers...crazy. Chalmers is a chick magnet. weird. So, we got to The Empty Bottle and loaded in all our gear and waited for about 5 hours to play. They have a private band room, free drinks, a hell of a sound system.

National Tryst played a more organic set than they usually do? It was good. Very chilled out. Del Rey was fucking amazing. Great band. Great Sound...two drummers. They should play with Brainbow in Columbus.
Dave Fischoff showed up. he brought us a gift-his new record out on Secretly Canadian. Then Dave Schalliol an old friend showed up along with Erika and her friend. John Thompson who wrote an amazing review for the show also came out...also got denied access. Our old roadie Steve Carey and his roommate drove from Bowling Green Ohio to come out to the show to find out that they couldn't get in without being 21. we felt terrible and got them in for our set. Then they invited us back to their hotel room but didn't give us the room number. So, we slept in the van...cold...cold...Sean got a call from Steve and slept in the hotel room at 4:30 in the morning. The real men stayed in the van...

anyways...now showers and denny's then dubuque.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show...everyone we met.

A great review of Melty Melty on http://starfool.blogspot.com. So, thanks to Chip Midnight for that.  Also, he's putting together the Triple Fast Action tribute and he's asked us to submit a song.  It should be out at the beginning of the year.

 

 

So, this last weekend was a blast.  friday night we opened for Ease the Medic, Flotation Walls, and Kopaz.  it was a great show...the sound was wonderful.

then last night at Andyman's...though attendance was purely horrible at best, the show was damn fun.  A big thanks to Kris, Chris, and Mr. Steve Willis Carey for joining in the Sunday night drinking charades.

Also, the guys in Mazarin and the Double were fucking great musicians and super cool guys.  All of you missed an amazing show. 

the biggest thanks go to Kyle Sowash and Mike Finch for inviting us to open the shows this weekend.

This week we'll continue to work on our recordings with Mark Himmel.  Hopefully within the month we'll be finishing that project. 

 

 

 

 

So, Melty Melty has 4 songs in the hard drive of Mr. Mix Master Mark Himmel.  We ran into some problems last night...like we forgot to tune the Bass guitar when we recorded it, so everything sounds "chorusy".  Oh well.  But, Mark is a badass and makes stuff sound quite charming nonetheless. 

I added acoustic tracks to everything and Mark added a rhodes part that sounds tasty.  So...we may be finished with those songs within a couple of weeks, which is sweet. 

2.21.06

So our first show at the Union was apparently a success.  We weren't convinced of it at first, but everyone seemed to dig what we're trying to do.  My mic was a little awkward and Kev's bass keys' cable died on us.  A big thanks to the Arch Villains for hooking us up with the show.  They were amazing as well as Ease the Medic, and Rat Brains.  Burrito Buggy was awesome!

We made some friends as well and we hope to see you all again at the next Melty Melty show!  whenever the hell that is.

This weekend we're gonna start recording with Mark Himmel of The Slide Machine.  He's a badass so it should work out quite well.