http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlsYOFRTAG0

MY NEW FAVORITE GROUP!

I've been getting my shit together and posting everything I find as far as film shit done in the past tours I've been on. Fun! Lot's of fun. I have some on myspace videos but I'm going straight to You Tube baby!!

www.youtube.com/gabrielomar

heh heh, for example;

Chico Mann "Who You Runnin From"



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I'm up early 'cause of Jet lag. Got home yesterday. Feels good to be home although Europe is not only the old continent but it is also the future. The world still runs on the US dollar but it's like we are the bastard child of Europe. Kind like the tax write off. Everything or everyone seems so chill about life. So not PC that it almost makes PC silly or a thing of the past or a thing that should have never existed. Yes there is racism and violence but it isn't thrown in your face like in the US. It is obviously the media which spins everything out of control and puts us all on edge. They do in fact not only breed fear but they give birth to it also.

I can't say I lived the "European life" while I was there for 54 days in a tour bus with 12 other "US citizens" and two English people (Tour manager and bus driver). But, being in so many venues in so many countries like Portugal, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Ireland, Czech Republic Germany and France; you get to hang out with local working people like myself and my colleagues. I would ask them the questions you don't ask when your a tourist. Simple questions like pay and cost of living and how you commute to work and how are your bosses and what not. Of course these are people working in the music industry like me so we aren't talking about office life. They, like I,are underpayed in this industry but most of them don't have to deal with shit like health care. It's free in most countries there. Especially in Spain. Most people ride a bike or a scooter and its not a hassle. These countrie are set up for biking and scooters or motorcycles. Huge plazas filled with bike racks and motorbike parking. I saw the very young to real old people riding bikes and scooters. You should have seen the look on my face when I saw this 75 year old lady just pull up on her scooter, take her helmet off and walk into her apartment.......with shopping bags.

Europe is not dependant on oil. They are doing fine. Most cars are diesel which is way cheaper and cleaner than gasoline and the service staions have boi-diesel. People walk everywhere. The trains and the busses make sense. They are made to accomodate the people rather than not be in the way of the cars. Yes people have cars there. But, for instance. In the UK or England (I'm not sure) you are taxed for every liter your engine is. Meaning, the bigger the engine and cylinders, via v6 or v8 or v10 or v12; you are taxed accordingly. So most people drive smart cars or tiny cars. The people with the big fancy Mercedes can definitley afford it. There aren't moms driving huge SUV's to go pick up there kids, no they pick them up on bicycle or they take a bus or train.

What I'm saying is nothing new. It's just new for me seeing it first hand for a long period of time. It has definitely inspired me to ride my bike more than I already do and walk more also. Especially coming home to these gas prices. Yes, we are almost to the price that the rest of the world pays, even though we're killing people and taking their oil..........hhmmmmmmmmm

Whew!...................

Lisbon, Portugal. Vigo, Madrid, Durango, Barcelona-Spain. Geneva, Switzerland. Karlsruhe, Bochum-Germany and I am in Bielefeld, Germany right now.

Damn, it's been a great ride so far. I've been video taping everthing and it's all been beautiful. The shows are fucking rocking!! Every show just jam packed and hot and sweaty. The food has been amazing everywhere! Especially the venues. They cook all the meals home made and they are amazing tasting. Geneva.....mmmmmmmmmmm. Germany, definitley a different country. Love their food and beer. Spain is still my favorite. The language is obviously more comfortable for me. After Spain, I'm like everyone else on the bus..........can't understand shit!

xoxo

g

Waz up peeps,

I'm in Bilboa, Spain and Valient Thorr is about to start. This is Basque country. 3 shows in and it's been absolutley amazing!! Everyone is loving Valient Thorr and of course freaking out for Fu Manchu. Lisbon, Portugal was our first. Then Vigo, Spain,- Durango,(suburb or Bilbao), Spain and tomorrow Barcelona, Spain where I'll meet up with some friends for a good time. Talk later.

peace

gabriel

Waz up peeps,

I'm in Bilboa, Spain and Valient Thorr is about to start. This is Basque country. 3 shows in and it's been absolutley amazing!! Everyone is loving Valient Thorr and of course freaking out for Fu Manchu. Lisbon, Portugal was our first. Then Vigo, Spain,- Durango,(suburb or Bilbao), Spain and tomorrow Barcelona, Spain where I'll meet up with some friends for a good time. Talk later.

peace

gabriel

Cheers everyone,

First off, I've got some video from the US tour that I have to upload. Some fun stuff. Overall the tour went well. Alot of fun and good response to the new record. Much fun!
OK, now. UK and Europe tour. I think it's 45 days total. Here we go.

Took a 7:40 pm flight from Newark on 4/20 and landed in Manchester, England at around 8am on 4/21. I'm in a little town an hour and a half from Manchester, England called Chlitheroe. Very very small quaint town. The tour manager Chris over here had me and the guitar tech Joe stay in his home town untill we pick up the tour bus and get driven to Lisbon, Portugal to pick up the two bands on this tour. I'm doing sound for Fu Manchu and Valient Thorr. Apparently we're going to Portsmouth and taking a 29hour ferry to Spain and then diriving to Portugal.

Last night was very fun. We drank English style all day with 24hours of no sleep!! I haven't drank this much Guiness ever!! We started at noon and we were brought to all the local bars. Wow, small town. I brought a video camera with me so I'll try and make some video blogs also.

That was last night. Today is Sunday and rainy, of course. We leave in a few hours to go pick up the bus. Well, meet up with the bus, get comfortable, un pack in my bunk and head to Portugal to start the tour. Well, must be going now. cheers!