April 28, 2010 - Getting Social in Orlando

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic right now as I sit here in Orlando, FL in a club called "The Social." I've been here before once upon a time when I visited my friends Olivia and Kat. We saw a band called Virgos Merlot. Oh, how I loved them. I loved my friends, too. Still do!

I've set up a little office for myself in the one nook I could find with a power strip. Travis is computing across from me. Venture Guitars keeps him very, very busy.

 

Trash Talk joins the tour today. They finally made it back! In the battle of Trash Talk vs. Volcanic Ash, Trash Talk totally kicked ash... (Get it? Yeah, it's bad, I know. Shut up.)

 

Also joining me in my little computer nook is Wade. He is being responsible today and paying his rent via the interweb. 'Atta boy, Wade!

 

Earlier today we managed to find a little time to hit the beach back in Daytona, where we stayed the night at they guys' friend Manly's. The sand was super fine and soft, and the sun was blazing. Such a beautiful day!

 

We also met up with Travis's sister, Michal. She has the best smile; such perfect, white teeth!

 

Beach babes: Manly, Brian and Greg.

 

Last night in West Palm was a good time, aside from the humidity in the club from all of the sweaty bodies and the stink of cigarettes. I really hate it when they allow smoking in bars. The club we were at, Ground Control, was actually a billiard as well. Everyone seemed to enjoy a little friendly pool-playing.

 

 

Therefore I Am played first, so I weaseled my way up to the front to snap a few photos...

 

 

... but I wound up giving up only a few songs in because I was literally dripping with sweat. It was gross, man. I couldn't bear to go up for La Dispute's set. It was so crowded and sweaty and people were moshing around and crowd surfing. I just couldn't do it. I mean, look at how soaked Brad was after playing :

 

Here's Stu working with the house soundboard. It seemed a little wonky to me, but he worked his magic.

 

While Alexisonfire was getting ready to play, some of the La Dispute and Therefore I Am guys made good use of their time and read my blog. See that, readers? You're in good company!

 

Travis was busy in the bar while everyone else was reading.

 

I braved the crowd and worked my way up to the front to try to shoot Alexisonfire.

 

 

... and that was about all I could stand. You can call me a wuss all you want, I really hate getting sweaty. Especially when you wind up drenched in other peoples' sweat. No thank you, man. Two photos is all you get today. I opted to hang at the bar in the other room with the rest of the guys.

 

Alex, the promoter of the club, was so stoked on the show and how cool everyone was that he bought us all a few pitchers of beer. Things got interesting...

 

Peoples true feelings started coming out...

 

... and then La Dispute showed us this weird bonding exercise of theirs where they touch their bare bottoms to each others' bare bottoms. Dood butt touching. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

 

... but they LOVE it!

 

Ok, so I admit it; the butt-touching thing is pretty hilarious. Just don't expect me to EVER participate in that group activity. Noooooo! I'll gladly take photos, though. Too funny!

The lights have just dimmed down here in the club. It's 6:59, which means doors will open within the next minute or so. Time to pack it up for the night! I'll let you know if anything cool happens tonight...

April 27, 2010 - West Palm Beach, FL. Ah, yes.

Yeah, West Palm Beach! It's warm and sunny and humid and I'm blogging from atop a pool table in a club that kinda smells like the inside of a refrigerator that's been shut off for a few days. Gross. But everyone here seems pretty cool, so that makes up for it. This is my makeshift office for now behind the merch area. Just hanging out with La Dispute's TM, Colin.

Just a short while ago, before their interview, Jordan from La Dispute surprised me with this gem of an outfit:

 

Now, let us travel back in time to a whole two days ago, Sunday, the 25th of April, to the Canal Club Downstairs Lounge. When we arrived in the late afternoon it was still sunny and warm. The La Dispute kids were doing a little spring cleaning. Totally necessary when there are seven people in one little van.

   

Once we loaded all of our gear in, a group of us wandered around downtown a bit to seek out coffee and avocados.

 

No avocados, but I indulged in a seriously delicious iced coffee from this little joint called Cafe Gutenberg. I wish I had another one right now, man.

Alex liked this little graffitti wall, which was right in the alley of Alley Katz, where Therefore I Am played the last time we came through Richmond on the This In New England Tour.

  

There was a little room backstage for all of us to hang out in, for computing or texting or daydreaming...

 

La Dispute opened the show, and apparently Jordan's lip? Or tongue? Either way, there was a little blood. Way to suffer for your art, bro.

 

  

 

Therefore I Am played next...

 

... and this guy was STOKED! He almost knocked me over several times. Look how into it he is!

 

 

This might be my favorite photo of the evening. Ordinarily this image would never see the light of day. It's an outtake. However, I laugh at it every time I look at it and thought perhaps you might enjoy it as well. It kinda looks like Alex is creepy lounge singer, hi-fiving young men in the audience. I also really like Brian's expression in the background. So good!

 

 

I loved the beardy guy here. I think this was the moment when he realized, "Hey, you know what? I think I like these guys..."

  

Things got so crazy during the set that someone's dad got knocked over and trampled. Pretty intense, eh? Someone actually called for an ambulance. Here's the proof :

 

Here's a few snaps from Alexisonfire's set.

 

What a happy guy, eh? Hiya, Jordan.

 

They're such a fun band to watch. I like watching people in the audience while they play, too.

 

 

 

  

 

More hang time after the show. Chad from La Dispute thought he was messing up my photo with his peace sign here. But I am sneakier than he is because I was actually taking his photo. HA!

 

Less than five minutes after Alexisonfire finished their encore, a couple of very excited fans found their way back to the dressing room. Honestly, it was a little weird at first because that's kind of a no-no. However, how can you turn away a beard that glorious? And they were super nice to boot.

 

So the club is located underneath a whole bunch of highway overpasses that cross eachother. I thought it looked awesome, so I had to snap a little photo.

 

Once everyone had loaded out, we decided it'd be fun to go hang at a bar together. We went around the corner to a place called "Wonderland." There was some seriously creepy decorations. Fun times, though. Vass bought me a Woodchuck. That's him playing with my Keep A Breast bracelet. Thank you, Vass!

 

Here's Colin before and after consuming alcohol at the bar.

Clearly, we had fun. I love it when you can be friends with the other bands on tours. You never know if you'll all get along, so when you can party together, it's the best! Just look at all of this amazing bonding going on :

 

 

We stayed that night in Richmond with my friends Amir and Myke. I consider them some of my tour family because Myke's band, Bury Your Dead was on the Music As A Weapon tour last year, which I was also on. I love those guys.

 

They have a pretty sweet balcony at their apartment. We spent a little while admiring the view before turning in for the night.

 

Richmond is gorgeous! We lounged a bit in the sun to have some breakfast before saying our goodbyes and hitting the road for an off-day show with La Dispute in Summerville, SC.

 

A little pre-show fun with Greg and Al, courtesy of Four Loko. That stuff is pretty nasty, but the guys seemed to really enjoy them. Hi fives, doods.

 

We no sooner arrived at the hall and the promoter asked the band to play straight away. The crowd was a little stiff at first...

 

 

 

... but I think they won over old Summerville.

 

Some of the other bands on the bill were actually pretty cool. One of the bands was called Ambush! I initially was hanging out outside because it was so stinking hot indoors, but wound up wandering inside to try to snap a few photos.

 

 

La Dispute headlined. They mentioned during their set how great it felt to be back on the floor as opposed to an elevated stage, like the shows have been with Alexisonfire. It was cool to see them perform in their native habitat.

 

Alex was particularly excited.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Vass is so metal.

 

Being the gracious person that he is, Jordan hugged at least a dozen people after their set to say thank you for coming to the show. Awwww... Ok, and I just have to comment : Dwight Schrute + Jemain from Flight of the Conchords = the out of breath dood to the left in the photo here :

 

That Brian... He's a real S.O.B.

 

Say hi to Bryan and Gabe. They're in Ambush! and also happen to be former bandmates and friends of my friend Davey, who now sings/screams for Vanna. Small world, eh?

 

After the Summerville show we packed up and hit the road for a crazy long drive to Daytona Beach, FL. With a solid 6-hour drive ahead of us, we opted to make a quick trip to Waffle House for a little snacky snack. And some of us took a quick ride on the motor pony.

 

... which brings me to now! West Palm Beach, FL! The first band has taken the stage and it's beginning to get smokey in here. I guess smoking indoors hasn't been outlawed down here in Florida. Ah, well. All the more reason to take a stroll to find some dinner! Until next time...