Some quick pictures from the tour.....

After show, Nashville



Grant and Bob. Sandwiches in Dayton.



Boston Spaceships walks to stage at Highline Ballroom in NYC



After show, NYC w/Erik (Cat Power), AJ, and Jon.



After show, Chicago. Dag and Bob.

Three weeks before I left for a month of shows with Bob Mould and Robert Pollard's Boston Spaceships, respectively, I broke my left hand pinky. It's not the worst one to break with regards to bass playing but it does effect my abilities. While in the ER, I started to get the shakes. I had a flu for all of Labor Day weekend. I then contracted a strange illness that attacked my shoulders, back, and hamstrings. They would cramp to the point of sleepless pain. I saw a number of doctors and a specialist diagnosed me with "post-viral arthritis". Never heard of it either. I recommend avoiding it at all costs, though.

Fortunately, after weeks of drifting through my days in a heavily medicated state, my muscles relaxed enough to perform with Bob Mould in Madison for a duo show. It was the first time we'd done an entire set in this format.



We then flew to Monticello, New York for the All Tomorrow's Party Festival with My Bloody Valentine. Kevin Shields was very welcoming and calm. Unlike the rest of us.



I hadn't seen his brother, Jimi, in 10 years. He had spent a few years in Chicago with his great band, Lotus Crown, featuring my close friend, Zack Kantor on drums. It was a treat to catch up with Jimi.



The Bob Mould Band had a fun, sweaty set. Better pictures coming but this is right after the performance before we all ran over to catch MBV.



Then off to Dayton, OH for Pollard rehearsals. Jon Moen (The Decemberists) and I could not keep focus



More soon.....

Last minute change: I WILL be playing with Bob Mould in Madison Friday. It is billed as a solo appearance but Bob recently requested my presence. Here's the info:

Forward Music Fest

Sunday, Sept 21 will be the full Bob Mould Band with My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr, and many others in Monticello, NY. Here's the info:

All Tomorrow's Party Festival


I'm then off to Dayton, OH for rehearsals with Robert Pollard's new project, Boston Spaceships. Tour dates are as follows:

Thu 9/25 Cincinnati OH - Midpoint Music Festival/Southgate House
Fri 9/26 Cleveland OH - Grog Shop
Sat 9/27 Washington DC - Black Cat
Mon 9/29 Philadelphia PA - Johnny Brendas
Tue 9/30 Boston MA - Paradise
Wed 10/1 New York City - Highline Ballroom
Fri 10/3 Ann Arbor MI - Blind Pig
Sat 10/4 Dayton OH - Dayton Music Festival
Mon 10/6 Chicago IL - Double Door
Tue 10/7 St Paul MN - Turf Club
Thu 10/9 Champaign IL - High Dive
Fri 10/10 St Louis MO - Bluebird
Sat 10/11 Memphis TN - Hi Tone
Tue 10/14 Austin TX- Parish
Wed 10/15 Dallas TX - The Loft
Fri 10/17 Atlanta GA - The Earl
Sat 10/18 Nashville TN- Mercy Lounge

In Hamburg, Germany, the show was at a WWII bunker which has been converted into a music school, music store, rehearsal space, and performance space. It is round and has 5 ft thick walls. Eerie.







In Frankfurt, we ate at an Irish Pub. Momentarily, I felt guilty for not immersing myself in the German culture & cuisine. As we walked out, Jon noticed this plaque. Schindler had lived in this building. Guilt gone.



Berlin was a fascinating stop.
What remains of The Wall....



Downtown....



German wedding....



The cheerful man in charge of our catering in Amsterdam was Erik Tunison of Die Kreuzen.

Here he is at his restaurant....


The highlight of the tour was our three day stay in Barcelona. A Gorgeous city and a really fun festival, Primavera Sound.

Mission of Burma (AMAZING!)



Devo, Dinosaur Jr, Portishead, Stephen Malkmus (with the incredible Janet Weiss on drums), Rufus Wainwright, Buffalo Tom, and De La Soul all brought it.

Our first night, Jon and I hung out with Cat Power. Erik(bass player) and I...


Cat Power



Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom), Jon, and I talk Boston real estate



Primavera Sound Festival walkway along the Mediterranean Sea



Primavera Sound Festival catering hall



Last night of the tour. Tim Mech (stage manager) on the left. We brought only the head of our tour manager, Paul Blakeman, out for a drink

This is the Bob Mould Band.



Rich Morel, me, Jon Wurster, and Bob Mould.
We just returned to the States from a 2 1/2 week tour in Europe.



Great fun was had in the UK. In London, we played a beautiful theater called Koko. Back in the day, it was called Camden Palace and in 1985 it was where Husker Du played their first show overseas. This was the first time Bob had played this room in 23 years.

We arrive for soundcheck.



We bring noise.


My friend, Iain Baker, came by the show and joined me for dinner. He is the keyboardist/sample demon for Jesus Jones. I hadn't seen him in 17 years. He found me on Facebook.



Another friend, Paddy Considine, stopped by our Birmingham show.



The party continued with Paddy and his friend Chris to our hotel lounge where Bob kicked all of our asses in pool (until tour manager Paul Blakeman showed up). We also shot a music video in the lounge at about 4am. I will edit and post soon. Needless to say, it was messy.

In Paris, I found this restaurant on Bastille. That's right. It's called "Indiana Tex Mex"....



What's wrong with this picture? In Germany, Kiss can't advertise with their legendary logo "SS"s because it looks too much like.......



Note to Bruce Bowen: If you're going to follow my band around Europe, showing up at the front of the stage at every show like a giddy schoolgirl, at least smile while your wife takes our picture.



File under: "Who noticed?" Bob forgot to pack his shoes for one show. So he rocked in sandals, adding the dark socks because we were in Germany. He shouted to us during the show "Sandals=Solos!"



More soon......

Britt Daniel (Spoon) visited us in Portland. This is before the show. I can’t show you the pictures of us after the show.



San Francisco. Great American Music Hall. We walk on stage and a wave of weed smoke covers us. Very 70s. It wasn’t on the set list, we never talked about doing it, and Bob hasn’t played it in 21 years but we closed the show with "New Day Rising". Unbelievable. Fucking unbelievable. Wurster and I were pinching ourselves afterwards.




Jon, Bob, mountains.......Taco Bell



Solana Beach. The Belly Up Tavern. I had a band in the 90s called Verbow. We toured with Frank Black in 1998 and one of the shows was at The Belly Up. It was nice to be back. Monday night show - 1000 tickets sold. Fun, loud rock show.



Los Angeles



I found the guy that bought the first Verbow record! Thanks, Warren.



Everytime David Barbe (Sugar bassist) comes to one of our shows I always say to Bob, "I’ll gladly hand over the bass if you’d like to do something with David." He’s declined in the past but this time he pulled David out on stage for the encore. We played "Divide & Conquer". I sang lead vocals.



Last show of the tour. Vancouver. The band and our incredible crew. Jon, Tim, Rich, Bob, me, Frank. Thanks guys! Europe is next in May/June....

Bob and Conrad in 7th St Entry (Minneapolis). Husker Du played this room more than any other, anywhere.



The entrance hallway at Metro (Chicago). 2 Bobs and a Jason.



Seattle. Thanks Erin’s husband.



I was not the first owner of this bass head. Some good karma joining us at every stop.



Look for the new record by "Wurster Brothers"



Backstage 930 Club, Wash DC