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Our tour manager C.A. Wilson has written and shared with us, 'Reflections From a Pela Tour.' A piece which takes you through the entirety of our last national tour, all the while offering his unique perspective on band and our experiences. We are happy to share his writings with you. Please feel free to share your comments to Wilson, as we are sure he would love to hear from you.
xoxo- Pela
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Reflections From a Pela Tour
by C.A. Wilson
A note from the writer: This is my story of Pela's last tour which occurred during the months of May and June in 2008. It was their first national tour as headliners. As their Tour Manager, I felt I had a unique perspective into the everyday happenings of the band, the tour, and the relationship that they are building with their fans. This piece was written a month or so after the tour was over, giving me time to reflect on all that happened. There are small parts where I talk about past tours and incidents, giving my special insight to the band's thoughts and perspective. Sometimes I am giving my thoughts when they occurred at that particular time in the tour and other times they are looking back, reflecting on it after the tour was over. This was something that I did on my own, yet, inspired by their love of what they do. I felt compelled to tell others of my experience with the band, the crowds, and the tour.
Pela is:
Billy McCarthy- Vocals, Guitars
Nate Martinez- Guitars
Eric Sanderson- Bass, Vocals
Tom Zovich- Drums
Christopher Herb- Keyboards
There is something about airports that put a smile on my face. The comings and goings of people, the bustling of luggage. Emotions running high at both ends. People either really happy to see someone or really sad to see them go. People overly excited for vacation, family members saddened to wave goodbye to loved ones, or business people who have just had it with traveling. My eye catches all of it as I weave through the dense crowd looking for the exit. Airports really are a unique place.
My flight from Buffalo to JFK in New York City arrives a little early. As I wait on the curb I take long heavy pulls off of my Marlboro, eager to see my touring family. The last time I saw the boys of Pela was quite the ordeal. During the last song at Schubas in Chicago a month and a half before, Billy fell off the stage and badly cut his hand due to smashing it into a pint glass. We had to cancel the remainder of the tour after just three shows, sending Billy on a plane back to New York after being at the hospital with him all night. Trying to figure out what's best to do for a man that I have grown to genuinely love as a person while he is wondering whether or not he will ever have mobility in his finger again. It was an intense, scary night. Looking back on it now, I am proud of the way we handled it. It was a moment I think we all shared, being there for a fallen lad. We developed a protective shell around him, concerned for his treatment and care. What happens to him, happens to us.
So, with the flick of my cigarette and the shifting of my heavy laptop case to a fresh shoulder, I see Blueberry driving down the pick-up lane towards me. She is like a happy dog that just found her master again. Eric and Billy emerge from the van doors with open arms and huge smiles accompanied with the excitement of an impending tour in their eyes. I gather my belongings and step into the van that we will call home for the next three and half weeks. I am full of energy and contentment. This is what we do.
Getting out of New York City is like trying to escape quicksand. The harder you try to get out the more it seems to suck you in. I set the time to leave for 11 AM and think we were lucky to have finally gotten on the road by 2:30. The stop and go traffic and the spitfire use of the horn through NYC will never be normal to me. I cringe as we navigate our 15-passenger van through the narrow streets of Brooklyn. We finally get on the thruway headed for DC and the excitement in the van is palpable.
This tour will be something unique. Right from the get-go in DC we can tell. A crowded room and a stage is just so special to Pela. After all the years the guys have put into this band, the really tough times getting started, being broke musicians in one of the most expensive cities in the world, the struggles with managers, labels, and mediocre coverage from press, the stage has always been the constant for them. All they ever have wanted to do is put on a show for people. It really is just five guys who love playing music together. Period. After six or seven years of working hard at their craft, they have truly started to master the art of a stage performance. The DC show will generate the blueprint for the tour and really connect the band with their audience. It is really the beginning of our understanding of the relationship Pela has with their fans.
Pela takes the stage for the first time since Billy's accident. His rehab was nothing short of amazing. Just 90 days after slicing a tendon in his finger and hearing the words "you might never have mobility in that finger again" come out the mouth of a Doctor, McCarthy is ecstatic to be back in front of a crowd again. As if he has been away from home for too long. "DCeeeeee!" he yells as the drum intro to "Waiting On the Stairs" begins. The band is bouncing around the stage already before ever touching their instruments. The crowd is eager as they are in a frenzy as the band launches into the song. I can't help but give way to a huge smile across my face, seeing the band back doing what they do best after facing a month or so of turmoil. I got chills at that moment (which would become a nightly thing for me on this tour) and in my mind the tour was already a huge success.
The relationship of Pela and their fans is an inspiring story. After Billy was bombarded with medical bills due to his injury, the story of his accident was picked up by numerous blogs and other media outlets. The emails started pouring in from fans asking how they could help. At first it was touching. The fact that so many people were emailing well wishes and kind words to him was just a reminder of how kind people could be. Heart warming. The reality of it was, musicians rarely have health insurance. Most of their money goes right back into their art. Recording and musical gear is not cheap. Add a NYC rent into that equation and it really is a tough mountain to climb. The band decided that the best way to help Billy would be to set up a paypal account for donations on it's website. Immediately after setting up the account, the donations started coming in from people all across the country and even overseas. The sentiment "how touching" quickly evolved into an overwhelmingly heartfelt thing for the whole band, but especially for Billy, who through his whole life has had to scratch and claw for every inch he has ever gained without the luxury of asking for help from anyone. The bond was cemented. Through the generosity of people willing to come to the rescue of someone most of them have never met and the giving of some sort of reward to the band for, hopefully, having touched people's lives through their music, a special and uniquely dynamic relationship was born.
The energy between the band and the crowd was electric. It was hard to tell who had bigger smiles on their faces, the audience or the performers. A special moment occurred when McCarthy, who seemed to be gliding all over the place, was warned about a loose pint glass that was placed on the side of the stage. "Watch out!" and "Careful!" came rushing out of the mouths of what seemed to be the twenty closest people to the stage. Billy's huge smile was louder than any thank you he could have spoken into the microphone. The crowd's "you're welcome" reply came in the form of a wave of laughter, almost blushing because they knew the story too well.
After the show I wandered to the upstairs bar to find Billy and Herbie in a back room chatting with some fans and friends. When I entered the room I quickly noticed a piano in the corner. When I played a couple chords, I realized it was in perfect tune, which usually isn't the case when you stumble upon unkempt pianos in bars. As soon as Herbie and Billy heard the piano they naturally migrated to it. Chris started tapping a few keys and then I asked them to play a song for us. My request was a new song off the new record that is called "Barrel of Leaves". It is a beautiful ballad played on the piano. Billy's voice came in overtop of Chris's piano and I'm pretty sure it marked the first time the song was ever attempted live. When the song ended Billy took off like a rocket and returned with his acoustic guitar in hand. The twenty or so people that were in that little front room didn't know it, but they were about to get another set. Billy blasted off into some oldies and B-sides and the other members of Pela started pouring in the room as if to say, "I want in on this". Nate, Eric and Herbie played their respective parts on the different sections of the piano, some of them playing drum parts by clanging beer bottles together. They were all so eager to keep playing and the fortunate people that happened to stumble upon this room were just as eager to listen.
This became another intricate part of tour. Hanging out. The guys consistently, before and after shows, wound up at the venue bar mingling with fans and talking to everyone that approached them. Talking about everything from how fans came to know Pela to politics. It seemed so odd to them to hide from the crowd in a greenroom backstage. Especially after the ordeal with Billy and the generous donations. These fans have become family and it was if the guys wanted to know all of them. These encounters produced an earful of thoughts and praises from the fans. Lots of them interesting and heartfelt; "your music helped me through a difficult period of my life"; "you guys are going to be huge"; "you guys should tour with this band" or " you should play this venue/festival". It also produced the awkward moments that we equally love. The drunk fan who tries to make the band understand just how good they really are, "really guys, I KNOW music and you guys ARE fucking great!" and then offers his services to change the dynamic of the band by saying he should play guitar on the next album. Trust me, we love it all.
A couple nights later, we arrive in Chicago and return to the scene of the accident at Schubas. After sound check, we enter the restaurant to have dinner. We are all starving and are eagerly awaiting our food. There are a few tables in the restaurant that are filled with what look like concertgoers. The looks start coming the band's way and the boys start getting antsy. We are a hoping for a great night. Dinner ends and I gather a couple of guys for an interview in the greenroom. The opening band takes the stage at 9:00 p.m. Pela is downstairs changing guitar strings and taking care of other pre-show activities. I can't help but think that this must be a bit strange for Billy. He must have mixed feelings about being back at a place that brought him 45 stitches to his hand and could've significantly cut into his guitar playing ability for the rest of his life.
The lads take the stage and begin checking their gear prior to the start of the show. The sellout crowd cheers and they smile back. Eric approaches his microphone and politely says " Hello. How is everyone?" Billy quickly corrects him on his sweet demeanor, "Fuck that!" he says, and then screams out "CHICAGOOOOOOOO!" The crowd raises their arms in the air and screams back in the same manner, killing any kind of awkwardness in the room. After the first song, Billy has some kind words to say to the people of Chicago that donated money for his medical expenses. It is heartfelt and genuine and the crowd sees it, rewarding them by feeding the band energy and participation. The night was another total success.
The next morning we head out for Minneapolis. "Round 3", I think to myself. Giving you a little background on Minneapolis and me, after the last two shows, the official scoring is MINNEAPOLIS 2, WILSON 0. It is an ongoing battle I have with that city and the guys know it, constantly asking me if I'm scared with devious smiles on their faces while we head north. I want to be clear, Team Pela loves Minneapolis. The problem for me is Minneapolis loves Pela. I know this doesn't sound like a bad thing and it really isn't. It's beautiful. The 400 Bar has played host to us a couple of times now. The owners of the bar are great people and are true fans of the band. One of the owners is a highly respected tour manager in the music world and has worked with some rather popular acts, including Pela favorites The Replacements, and Bright Eyes (on this particular night he watches the show with a few members of Rilo Kiley who had a show of their own earlier that night at another venue). There is rock and roll history seeping through the walls of that place, as well as out of the mouths of the owners who share stories of past shows and the epic tales about some of our rock heroes. It is a true rock and roll club. So in rock and roll fashion, they like to drink up there- A LOT. Now, I am no slouch when it comes to booze. I can hold my own. But I can't even walk by that bar without one of the bartenders yelling out "hey Wilson!!" and placing shots on the bar. Keep in mind; we usually load into a club at 6 p.m. for sound check. Yeah, do the math. Hence, MINNEAPOLIS 2, WILSON 0.
There is something about "that" club and "that" band that work together to produce something special. It is one of the only venues in the country where I constantly see the band taking requests from the crowd. They don't even care if the song is unrehearsed or hasn't been played in years. There is an ongoing flow of booze brought to the stage. The lads are completely drenched in sweat and keep slamming shots and beer as if trying to re-hydrate themselves. And then it comes to me as I watch this all happening and it is as though a light clicked on. Pela fans of Minneapolis- including the staff at the club, realized that if they get us drunk they could get the band to play longer. Sheer genius. The band ends up playing for almost two and half hours and is clearly exhausted when their epic set is finished. Tom the drummer's arms look like they actually might fall off as he and the rest of the sweat-covered lads break into a dub-reggae jam to close out the night. Billy heads to the bar and raises shot glasses with a bunch of fans and staff while admiring his fellow bandmates, still dubbin it out on stage. Shot glasses are slammed down on the bar and Billy, smiling ear to ear and watching the boys from the other side for once, exuberantly points out "I love this fucking band!!" I think I fairly speak for everyone else in that room that night, "So do we Billy. So do we". (p.s. I manage to stay vertical that night and chalk it up in the win column, MINNEAPOLIS 2, WILSON 1)
The van rumbles along I-90 heading west. We have a couple of days off to cover the long distance from Minneapolis to the northwest for shows in Seattle, Portland and the Sasquatch! Festival. The landscape of the Dakotas and Montana is truly stunning. It is a peaceful drive and the downtime is welcomed for once. It is the first time the band verbally acknowledges that something is happening. The responses the crowds have given them the past couple of shows fuels an optimism that is earned and well deserved. Bands sometimes have to force optimism to keep their spirits high in the face of an unforgiving music business. I feel fortunate to be a part of something like this. I am a witness to how a band builds their fan base and popularity from the ground up. With no "hit single" on commercial radio or video on TV, the band is truly doing it the old fashioned way- earning every fan they get through hard work and commitment to their live show. I have watched fans take such pride in them, like they were apart of Pela. As if they were apart of the team and the truth of matter is, they are. I think that a fan I was talking to in New York summed it up best. She explained to me "What makes these guys so cool is their ability to include everyone in this thing they have. They don't look down on everyone else and think they are the coolest people in the room. They make everyone feel involved in it and in unison, the band and fans, have created "something" that is cool. Not just people that are". Well said, I thought. Nothing was more evident of that theory than the show in Seattle.
When Pela arrived in Seattle to play their first show there in June of 2007, it was to a mostly empty room at Chop Suey. They had a great time and played their hearts out. There just weren't a lot of people there to witness it. When they returned to Seattle the second time, two months later, it was a different story. They had been asked to play KEXP's BBQ along with just a few other bands. KEXP has been one of Pela's biggest supporters and rewarded the band with a 45-minute slot in front of 3,000 people in downtown Seattle in August of 2007. The lads put on a rock show that saw KEXP's own John Richards crowd surfing during their set pointing back at the band. His enthusiasm and Pela's crowd pleasing anthems made their set one of the major highlights of the day, invoking John to take the mic after their set and yell to the crowd, "You see? You see? I told you these guys rocked!" It was another special moment in the ongoing history of Pela.
After being forced to cancel their show in early March due to Billy's injury (a show that went on despite Pela's absence with none other than Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder in attendance), Pela was eager to finally return to Seattle for a show at the Tractor Tavern. The show sold out immediately after doors opened and I heard later that people were scalping tickets outside for upwards of $60. There is always something to be said for selling out a show 3,000 miles away from where you live. It must be a unique feeling, especially for Billy, who used to live in Seattle and couldn't get a gig playing anywhere in the city. The guys were as excited as I have ever seen them before a show. Walking around the club during the opening band's set I talked to as many people as I could. Almost 100% of the people that I talked to told me their stories about the KEXP BBQ. Some of them had never heard of Pela until that show. Others said that they heard the album and enjoyed it, but didn't really get what they were about until they saw the live show. They all had great stories and had so much excitement in their voices. I thanked them each for their insight and told them to enjoy the show, exchanging hugs, handshakes, and smiles.
I remember the embrace we all shared backstage before they took to the stage. There we were, the five members of Pela and myself, arm in arm in a circle stomping our feet, rocking back and forth, yelling, screaming, channeling all this energy together. I'm surprised we didn't explode right there. We broke our circle and headed towards the stage to the sounds of thunderous applause from the crowd as soon as the band came in sight. The moment the band kicks in gear, I get chills and give in to a huge, child-like smile. "Go!" Billy yells out as if officially kicking the show off. What a moment! It is as if we broke our circle backstage to make a bigger one that included 500 people. And everyone was so eager to join. Pela put on a blistering set of music and never lost that excitement they had backstage. Eric and Billy at one point were jumping up and down in the air, pumping their fists, screaming. I couldn't help but think they looked like a couple of 15-year-old kids at their favorite band's concert, bursting with excitement. But they WERE the band! There was no pretentious, ego-tripping, holier than thou thing happening here. Here were 5 guys on stage not giving a shit about anything else and literally jumping for joy doing what they love. I wasn't the only one who was witnessing this; the 500 people in that room were doing the exact same thing and loving every minute of it. I know for a fact that it was hard for them to leave the stage that night. You only had to look to the stage to find them smacking high fives with everyone they could reach. They humbly and sincerely tried to thank all the people that came to see them for THEM making it such a special night, even rewarding a bunch of lucky fans with guest list spots to the Sasquatch Festival the next day. A way for them to really show their appreciation and to give a personal and special thank you.
After attending a party for the band at an after hours club we head back to the hotel to grab 2 or 3 hours of sleep. Everyone is excited and really looking forward to the festivities that lie ahead of us at the Sasquatch Music Festival. Pela's set is at 2:30 on the Wookie stage and we arrive at 11 AM to deal with load in and other pre-show obligations. The crew is really nice and share stories of the previous two days of the festival. After settling in, we had some time to wander around and explore the beautiful setting. The backdrop of the main stage is a spectacular site. One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen really. "Wow! What a place to see a concert" I thought. We wandered backstage to see what our "artist" wristbands could offer. I believe we left with coffees. "No beer until 4 PM fellas", one of the staff disappointingly tells us. "Probably for the better" I chuckle to myself as we head back to the Wookie stage.
The act before Pela is finishing up their set as we prepare to take the stage. There is a crowd of about 1,500 people watching them as I start licking my chops with the idea my boys playing for a built in crowd. That feeling quickly dissipates when the other band ends and the crowd turns and hightails it to the main stage. "No! Don't go", I say to myself, wanting to scream out to all of them, "Trust me, you will really like these guys!" (I actually feel like the Scottish noble from the movie Braveheart when his army slowly starts to retreat at the site of the massive English army; "Wait men, do not flee! Wait until we've negotiated!"). The crowd is shrunk down to around 2 to 300 people as Pela is setting up their gear. The guys remain totally optimistic and realize that they will have to earn a crowd on this day. Just to give them a little encouragement, a bunch of the people at the front of the crowd start yelling "We were at the Tractor last night". "Us too!" "Me too!" "You guys were great last night". It was as if they were reaching out to the lads, reminding them that people in this small crowd were there for them. Fans actually doing what they can to make sure "their band's" spirits are high. It was a sweet gesture but totally unnecessary. Whether 200 or 2,000 people watching them, it's always going to be Pela being Pela.
Having the benefit of being on the side stage directly next to the entrance of the whole festival, and it being relatively early enough that people were still filing in, the crowd in front of the Wookie stage began to, well, swell. As I make my usual laps around the venue to check the sound, I constantly observe people watching the show. I see lots of curious eyes and mouths half open, people yelling to their friends "who is this band?" People rummaging through concert itineraries, finding the Wookie stage and the time slot they were in to find the name of this band. People really begin to wonder what's going on when they are seeing a band they have never heard of, completely rocking out on stage and a bunch of die hard fans singing along with every word. "Wait, who are these guys?"
They put together a great set. The crowd, getting more into it with every song, is won over by the fourth or fifth song. The band plays really well and is ignited by the fiery drumming of Tom Zovich who is putting on a show of his own behind the drum kit. Their set comes to an end with the band singing a cappella, in front of up to a remarkable 4,000 people that were keeping the time for the band by clapping along. "Got a drunk for a mother, got a Saint for a brother" Billy sings to close out their set with the rest of the lads by his side. The crowd goes into a frenzy with an ovation that is seemingly endless, with the cheers echoing throughout the great Gorge. Beautiful. As Pela is signing autographs and talking to fans at the side of the stage, I run to the sound booth to thank the sound guy for the job he did. In return he says to me, "My pleasure. That was the best band I've seen on that stage in three days". I'm all smiles.
The rest of the day is just a blast. We headed over to the VIP area by the main stage to grab food and to just take the whole festival experience in. We got to rub shoulders with some of our favorite acts like Built to Spill and The Flaming lips that both put on great shows of their own, and see the spectacle that was the Mars Volta. Beautiful scenery, beautiful people and really just a whole incredible culture in itself. And it becomes official: Pela loves Festivals.
The next morning we get to sleep in a bit before heading out for Portland. It is another beautiful drive through the mountains, rivers and streams of the lush northwest. Probably one of the most beautiful parts of the country. We have time to take in the events of the last week of shows. The crowds have been truly inspiring for the band. All of them have been so excited and their enthusiasm really takes the band to a whole new level.
We arrive in Portland to play at the Doug Fir. After sound check we head over to the lounge for some dinner. While passing through the doors we run into a fan that recognizes the guys. "I took a train down from Seattle to see you guys," she says. She went on to tell us that after catching the show at the Tractor Tavern she went home and bought train and concert tickets for Portland. "Wow, that's great!" the guys gratefully tell her. After exchanging smiles and handshakes we head into the restaurant. The Doug Fir has to be one of the coolest set ups around. A venue, restaurant, and hotel built into one complex. Unfortunately we can't take advantage of all its perks on this night. We have a show the next night in San Francisco and we need to leave directly after tonight's show to knock some time off of our drive for the next day. Before the show I have a conversation with a married couple who tell me how excited they are to see the band. They go on to explain to me that Portland concertgoers are unique. "They don't dance" he says. "That doesn't mean they don't like the music. They just don't dance". I find it funny that he feels compelled to bring this to my attention before the show, as if we wouldn't come back to Portland if people weren't dancing. "We'll try not to hold it against them" I told the couple. Really nice and friendly people (I found myself later rocking out with them toward the end of Pela's set). The show went really well and had a decent turnout for the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend and the Sasquatch festival. Nobody was breakdancing, but I saw some movement in the crowd that indicated to me that people enjoyed the show.
Traveling around the country with a band, or any kind of group of people, is always a great experience. Seeing the different parts of the country, hearing little bits of knowledge about places that each person knows from personal journeys or adventures. It's a certain kind of feeling to be just "on the road". Everyone should have their Kerouac moment at some point in his or her lives. After touring with Pela a bunch of times now, as well as roaming around on my own for a while, I start to really see the personalities of different cities. Each place provides a different perspective or insight into the make-up of this country. As we cross over the California state line, Billy and Herbie begin to float with glee. Growing up in Northern California, they share an appreciation for the "Golden State" (Billy shows his in their new song "California's Son" which worked it's way regularly into the set on this tour). Their wide mouth smiles due to returning home put an infectious positivity into the band. They tell stories from their childhoods about growing up outside of Sacramento and how they first met, giving up the lowdown on bands from the area that made it, and those that didn't make it. It's great to hear all of it. Especially when Nate, Tom, Eric and myself all grew up on the east coast or close to it.
We always look forward to playing at Bottom of the Hill. The last time we were there it was Billy's birthday, followed by Eric's when it turned midnight. They put on a high-energy show. Towards the end, Billy jumped on top of his amp, launched himself in the air and grabbed a hold of some kind of fixture on the ceiling. After swinging from it for a couple seconds, the fixture gave up and came ripping off the ceiling to the crowds delight. When I went to settle up with the bar manager at the end of the night I braced myself for what I thought was going to be some flack for Billy's antics. Instead, she looks at me with amazement and says, "That was the most rock and roll thing I ever saw here!" Hmm. Awesome.
San Francisco has become like a family reunion for Pela. Whenever we have a show there, tons of friends come out to see it. Billy and Herbie's friends from their teenage years, even Herbie's Dad makes it out to this particular show. There are also a bunch of people that Nate and Eric went to college with in New York that live in San Francisco now that come out. It's just a real special thing. A venue like the Bottom of the Hill really gives it almost a "house party" feel. Sharing drinks and smokes on the patio before heading in for Pela's set, giving everybody a real chance to catch up. It's funny to hear stories from band member's old friends about them when they were younger. Everyone is so proud and happy for them. "Look at you guys!" and "I can't believe it!" The show that night was just a few tickets shy of selling out and the crowd was shoulder to shoulder from the edge of the stage to the door, making it a really packed, very intimate show. It's a great sight and great show for a lot of great people in San Francisco and its surrounding areas.
We continue on our path down the I-5 to SoCal, with a stop in Los Angeles at Spaceland. The guys are excited to see an old friend, Dan Long. He recorded a bunch of tracks for Pela for their debut "Anytown Graffiti" and is currently in the process of recording and co-producing their sophomore effort "Rise Ye Sunken Ships". We are all extremely excited about the new record and they are eager to talk with Dan about some more upcoming recording sessions in Brooklyn (The band already put a month in the studio for the new album out in LA in late 2007 and continue to work from home studios as well). The album is a constant discussion while on the road. There are lots of listening sessions in the van to material that has already been recorded. Ideas pop from everyone about different songs or certain parts and you can really see why some bands go years between albums. I have heard songs go through numerous changes since they started writing for this album. It is crazy what actually is done to a song before you hear it on a record. But the beauty of all of it is, these guys are true craftsmen. They push songs to the point of snapping them before they settle on final cuts. Songs are constantly evolving into something more. It is an honor for me to take part in such discussions. Imagine your favorite band asking you what YOU think about certain things during the song's production. Yeah. I know. I love my job.
The Spaceland show is great. We have a great turnout, filling the room despite competing with the REM/Modest Mouse/The National show across town. It is Pela's first headlining show in Los Angeles and it is a positive one. It is safe to say that the people there are big Pela fans, singing along enthusiastically with every song. They put on a passionate performance and all of us are enjoying seeing their fan base grow there.
The next day we start making our way back east. It's an awkward feeling I have. I find myself coming down from some sort of high. Although everyone is looking forward to our remaining shows, there is something about heading back in the direction of home that kinda brings us down. Not in a bad way, but in a way that reminds us that the tour is coming to its last handful of shows. Some bands look forward to getting back to normal life at home, but aside from seeing loved ones missed from the road, Pela is not one of those bands.
We make our way north on I-15 through the desert, leaving California and entering Nevada. I have a personal passion for the desert, having spent a lot of time roaming around in it while living in Las Vegas some years back. Although the LA traffic has put us back a few hours, I can't help but stop in my old stomping ground. A couple of guys had never been there before and it was really nice to let them see it, giving them a little insight into a city that had a significant impact on my life. Nothing crazy, just a drive down the strip and a quick stop at the Hard Rock Hotel for a couple of beers. Giving them a chance to gawk at some of the monstrous hotels and the brilliant glow of neon. It's quite the sight for a first timer. After an hour or two we are on the road again, speeding into the desert darkness. We end up driving late into the night, finally pulling over to catch some sleep somewhere in Utah.
"What's that noise?" There is a clicking sound coming from Blueberry's engine as she is having the fight of her life with the Colorado Rockies. I can only imagine how many battles were lost to these stunning mountains. She makes it to Denver, but not without her scars as the clicking sound has gotten louder. "It's the transmission", "It's a belt", we hear from locals and staff at the venue in Denver. One thing about tour that you never want to worry about is your transportation. There are enough hiccups with gear and various other things that car trouble is the last thing you want to deal with. We decide to ride it out and get the van looked at in a couple of days, due to it being a weekend. We just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best until then.
The Denver show is anybody's guessing game. The only other time we had a show in Denver we were a supporting act. We left having put in a good nights work and really felt like we turned some heads there. It was great to see some friends we have there, including Nate's sister. We hang out for an extended amount of time before the show, being the last of four bands to play that night. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, hanging out talking and watching a couple of the other bands. The place slowly filled up as our 12 AM set time approached us. By the time Pela takes the stage, it is 12:40 AM. The place, all of the sudden it seemed like, was mobbed. People are jammed into the long skinny venue and are fired up as Pela takes the stage. Maybe it was the late set time and the crowd had some extra time to suck some drinks down, but they are nothing short of incredibly enthusiastic. The band looks equally raring to go as I look to the stage to find Billy shirtless already. The look in his eyes leads me to believe we are in for something extra special tonight.
By the second song the entire band had followed suit and was running around half naked. I know it had happened before at shows, but not when I was there. They do stick to a rule they got somewhere along the way that if the number of band members outnumbers the crowd, then they have to play in their underwear. I believe it has happened once. But not on this night. Pela put on a tremendous show that is one of the most memorable to date. A shirtless rock and roll band in a dingy, packed rock club. Perfect. At one point they launch into an impromptu dub-reggae jam that saw a couple members of other bands come up on stage to play percussion and even some trumpet. The band rips through their songs for a very energetic and appreciative crowd. I remember at one point being in the back room at the bar and looking back towards the stage to find the entire crowd pumping their fists in the air, singing along with a blistering rendition of "Tenement Teeth". "LAND!, LAND!, LAND!". "Holy Shit!" I remember thinking. "What the hell is going on in Denver?" No one from Pela wants to get off the stage and not a single person has left when the bar's apparent 2:00 AM "get everyone out the fucking bar" curfew hits. As Pela begins their last song, Billy begins to sing the words to "Cavalry" to find that the P.A. system has been shut off. With the band still tearing away, the crowd realizes what has happened and decides that the P.A. is not important and begins to sing the song for the band. It was absolutely one of the most amazing moments of the whole tour. Then, it was followed by the absolute worst moment of the whole tour.
Upon completing the final song, the crowd began to disperse, but apparently not fast enough for the staff that was now screaming at them to "GET THE FUCK OUT!" Literally, pushing people out the front door and snatching drinks from people's hands. It just got ugly from there. Not liking the way the staff were treating fans after they had just packed the place and lined the wallets of those working that night, words were exchanged by team Pela and the staff, igniting a dangerously hostile environment. We are proud of the fact that we were willing to come to the defense of people who just paid to see us. What we weren't happy with was some of our behavior and were totally disgusted with the lack of professionalism from the staff. Nobody in that situation reacted properly. What we were unaware of was the effect that our behavior had on the 50 or 60 fans that still lined the street and sidewalk outside. Our yelling at the staff gave a green light for everyone to yell at the staff, putting them in a vulnerable situation. Fortunately, nothing major erupted outside that wasn't quickly squashed. It could have gotten really bad, really fast. Come to find out later, most of the problems we were having with them turned out to be friends of people that worked there and weren't part of the staff. All in all, it was a shitty way to end what was otherwise a perfect night and in no way did the ugliness overshadow the incredible evening we had. We are looking forward to returning to Denver.
The next morning we embraced not having to wake up early. Nate was off spending some quality time with his sister and Eric and Herbie took some time to catch up on Pela's ongoing tour blog. Tom, Billy and myself headed out to see if we could possibly find some kind of mechanic shop open on a Sunday. After finding a very limited garage, we left Blueberry to be checked out as we headed over to an established neighborhood restaurant for some breakfast. I think it is fair to say that the three of us chose poorly in our selections as we all were holding our stomachs as we left (even Tom who is unchallenged for the crown of the smartest eater in the band). So after getting the van back with absolutely no feedback as to what was wrong with it, we head over to pick the rest of the lads up at a nearby restaurant. Walking in, I am immediately jealous of Herbie as I see him joyfully eating his kick ass $4.95 steak and eggs breakfast. "Damn you!" I say as I tell him about my once again horrible food choice. Food has become a constant topic in the van. There is a conscience effort to eat healthy yet cheaply, which is a feat that is quite difficult when you are constantly on the go trying to get to the next show. Most of the time you have to give up one or the other, either eating healthy or affordably. We are getting better at it, but a few more tours and I think we'll have it down to a science.
We drive well into the night heading east on I-70 and end up rolling into a town called Salina, Kansas. Salina is the closest city to the geographic and geodetic centers of the United States. We really didn't know what to expect. We finally found a hotel that had a bar in it and made ourselves comfortable. We became more excited when we learned that beer was only $6 a pitcher. So there we were, sitting there, 6 jackasses drinking beer right out of our own individual pitchers of beer. Fantastic. We made friends with a couple of guys from the area. One was engaged to the girl behind the bar. We chatted with them for a while telling them about the band and the tour until Nate and I challenged them to a game of darts. While playing, the jukebox had come on. One of the guys from Salina had found Pela on it and was cranking it throughout the bar. It was quite to our surprise but was definitely welcomed after a couple of pitchers of beers each. Pela on the jukebox in Salina, Kansas. Awesome. After Nate and I gave the fellas from Salina a good old-fashioned Buffalo beat down in darts, the guys invited us to go to another bar with them. Everybody but Herbie and I politely declined, and so the keyboard player and the tour manager set off into the dark night with a couple of fellas from Salina. Can't quite recall the name of the establishment but I'll never forget it. It was one of the most diverse places I have ever been. A pool hall, a karaoke bar and a dance club wrapped into one, having every possible stereotype of person there. Interesting place, interesting night, and good time.
The next morning, Tom went to get the van looked at and found out that Blueberry's days were numbered. The mechanic told him that we "probably" would make it back to New York, but after that we would either have to get a new engine, or, put her down. Not the news we were hoping for. So crossing our fingers, we kept heading east to our destination for the day which was in downtown St. Louis. This would be the one show on the tour besides the Sasquatch Festival that we would not be headlining. We were opening up for another Brooklyn band- the White Rabbits. We rolled up on the venue to find them playing an intense game of catch in the parking lot. We exchanged hellos with all of them and headed into the club. After sound checking and hearing the economic problems of the city from the sound-guy, we sat around watching the opening band. Soon after, Pela took the stage and performed a quick but energetic set. Shortly after their performance, we were off to the hotel where we stayed up incredibly late for no good reason, laughing at our late night shenanigans. Come morning, we were headed home to Brooklyn.
It was kind of nice to be back in Brooklyn. We had a day off before the show to hang out with friends and loved ones. Everyone was eager for the Bowery Ballroom show. Pela has sold out their last 7 or 8 NYC shows including The Music Hall of Williamsburg a month and half prior, and the Bowery the last time they headlined it. It's great to sell out at home. The guys tell me how great it is to look out from the stage and see support from so many familiar faces in the audience. On this particular evening, Pela is proud to be playing with good friends, Caitlin De Marrais (formerly of Rainer Maria) and The Big Sleep. After a great performance from Caitlin, and a rip-roaring nights work from The Big Sleep, Pela took the stage for a sold out and eager crowd. They show no signs of being run down from touring as they crank out song after song from "Anytown Graffiti" and a ton of new songs. The crowd is full of energy, constantly clapping and singing along. There is a sense of pride in the air. A lot of the people in the crowd have been coming to Pela shows for a long time, following them from small out of the way venues in New York, to the sold out shows at The Mercury Lounge and now to the sold out Bowery Ballroom. Everyone I talk to tells me how proud of them they are. They have been grinding it out year after year and everyone acknowledges that there are grand things on the horizon. The band finishes out the night arm in arm at the front of the stage, giving the crowd a couple of bows to say thank you and show some well deserved appreciation for the hometown fans of New York. There have been so many people who have given them a helping hand in that city. It's not just the basic family members and close friends (who provide a constant supply of great photos), it's the strangers they meet at shows that offer to help in anyway they can. The networking spectacle of NYC is truly in a league of its own. Whether it being filmmakers wanting to use a song in an indie film, artists who want to design shirts or CD covers, independent photographers, videographers putting their work on the net, sound engineers offering to record tracks, writers documenting shows in blogs, newspapers or magazines, other musicians offering their services, a music fan that wants to help by buying a CD and T-shirt, or just telling a friend about the band. There is a coalition of support from their hometown that is based on mutual respect and appreciation and from Pela's viewpoint; it doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated.
Although the show at the Bowery felt like the last night of the tour, it wasn't. The next day we headed up to Boston for one last show. Since we made it home in Blueberry with no major engine explosions or failures, we decided to test our luck one last time with her (I believe it was Roy McAvoy that said "you ride her until she bucks you or you don't ride her at all"). We arrive in Boston at the Middle East for sound check in the early evening. While Pela is checking their levels, I can't help but notice an older man sitting in the corner watching and fingering his laptop. He didn't look out of place, he just caught my eye. When Pela finishes they point out to me that it is Michael Azerrad, the best selling author of "Come As You Are: This Nirvana Story" and "Our Band Could Be Your Life" (I loved both those books). Come to find out he is playing drums in one of the opening bands. I was hoping he was there to write about Pela but I enjoyed his band and was glad to have met him regardless.
The show was a sellout to our surprise. The shows there have been growing steadily the last few times and we are excited to see our first sellout in Boston. The fans there are passionate and friendly. We end up sitting at the bar with a bunch of people who we just met that are telling us how excited they are to see the show. We are listening to a Morphine CD on repeat and I can't help but notice all the photos of them on the walls (Morphine is one of my personal favorites). The bartender tells me all about them and I guess the Middle East was their favorite hangout when at home in Boston. Pela finally takes the stage to a packed house. It is a special night being that it is Nate's birthday accompanied by the first time sellout in Boston. They play a show with the same energy and excitement that they had at the first show of the tour in Washington DC over three weeks before. Their sound is as tight as ever and the smiles on their faces are as big as ever. At one point in between songs, Billy makes a personal thank you from the band to myself for my work during the tour. It is much appreciated and truth is, the pleasure is all mine.
On the way home the next morning, I can't help but think about all of the special moments from the tour. I am sad to see the tour end but am excited for all the little things that tell me there will be many more; the sellouts in Chicago, Boston, New York, and Seattle, the winning over the large crowd at Sasquatch, the stories from the girl that took the train from Seattle to Portland, the two fans that flew from Minneapolis to Denver to catch another show, the guy and his buddy that came up to catch the show in NYC after seeing them for the first time in DC, the photographer that drove to DC from New York just to get pictures of them in a different city, the crew from Brooklyn that flew to Seattle to see them at the Tractor and then Sasquatch, the fans trying to lift their spirits at the start of the Sasquatch show, the sound-guy telling me "that was the best band I've seen on that stage in three days", the constant praise from almost every opening band on the whole tour; telling me how good Pela is and how much fun it looks like they're having, the continuous growing of crowds in places like Denver, LA, DC, Portland and San Francisco. All these things tell me something about this band and makes me realize that it is not just me. I'm not just being totally biased. There is something happening here. The chemistry between these five guys is special. The relationship between these five guys is special. The relationship between these five guys and their fans is special. Their genuine love of music and each other is special. I'm very happy to be a part of this group of guys. I'm extremely proud to see where they are going but am even more proud of them for keeping at it as long as they have despite difficult obstacles. It's so easy to give in and give up trying to do what you love and settling for less than what your heart desired. But traveling around with these guys and looking at them and into their eyes, it's easy for me to see. They are five guys who couldn't be happier performing and making music for all of us.
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