my tour story

f85 · October 6th, 2005, 08:06 PM

Hey y’all, Ken here. Everyday lurker, occasional poster.

A couple weeks ago, my band went on its first tour down the west coast. The Seattle PI, a local newspaper, let me do a story about it, probably because I whined and begged to be allowed to do it. I work there as a support person and I think they just got tired of hearing me ask.

Anyways, its a story about what its like to tour when no one knows you, and you don’t have major label backing (or in my case, any label backing you). So if you’re interested in reading it, here’s the link:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/24...andtour07.html

I hope you enjoy reading it. I enjoyed writing it.

Now my question to all of you is: who has the strangest touring story?

Mike Murphy · October 6th, 2005, 08:24 PM

Fun story - sounds like a good time. I'm not currently in a band - hell, haven't been in twenty years - a little vicarious touring was nice. Thanks.
Actually - going way back, an out-of-town gig had a funny story. Almost home from a gig 40 - 50 miles away, the points give out in the distributor of our VW bus - leaving us stranded. I jump in the other car, drive back to our neighborhood (6-8 miles) and swipe the points from a bug parked on the street (it was 4:00 am, alright?) and then head back up to our stranded vehicle, put them in and finish the trip. I did go back and put a set back in the bug a day or two later.

Skully · October 6th, 2005, 08:48 PM

Fun piece. I even learned a thing or two.

LarryR · October 6th, 2005, 09:22 PM

Hey Ken,
do you know the Gruff Mummies from up there? They just went through a very similar experience. After winning a best new band contest at the EMP and playing to nice crowds, they came to LA "to tour".
1st gig, there were 6 of us in the audience and the next night at a downtown club, they showed up at their gig and were told that the booker quit weeks earlier and there was no band scheduled. It was open mike night so the club let them get up and do a set.....they had a Seattle writer/photog with them and he did a story up your way also......same sort of story, young struggling band from the NW gets it's 1st taste of being on the road.......

Twangmeister · October 6th, 2005, 09:26 PM

One of my favorite moments came when I was touring in Iceland (that's right, not Cleveland, Iceland), and the bass player had eaten whale, washed down with several local brews. Talk about a paradigm shift in your personal space!

Great article with many fine observations.

Rule 11: What happens on the road, stays on the road!

f85 · October 6th, 2005, 09:51 PM

Hey Larry, I didn't know the Gruff Mummies until earlier today, when a co-worker brought in the Kitsap Sun story that ran today also. I had no idea that they were working on a similar story. But then again, I'm not the first to write about touring and I'm sure I won't be the last. Its funny how minds think alike!

--Ken

f85 · October 6th, 2005, 09:54 PM

And Mike, I would have loved to see the face on the Bug owner when it started up all of a sudden after not running for a day or two. Then again I've owned a couple VWs. Thats not all that unusual.

--Ken

October 6th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
f85 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 26	my tour story Hey y’all, Ken here. Everyday lurker, occasional poster. A couple weeks ago, my band went on its first tour down the west coast. The Seattle PI, a local newspaper, let me do a story about it, probably because I whined and begged to be allowed to do it. I work there as a support person and I think they just got tired of hearing me ask. Anyways, its a story about what its like to tour when no one knows you, and you don’t have major label backing (or in my case, any label backing you). So if you’re interested in reading it, here’s the link: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/24...andtour07.html I hope you enjoy reading it. I enjoyed writing it. Now my question to all of you is: who has the strangest touring story?

October 6th, 2005, 08:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mike Murphy TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cape May, NJ, USA Posts: 55	Thanks, Ken - Fun story - sounds like a good time. I'm not currently in a band - hell, haven't been in twenty years - a little vicarious touring was nice. Thanks. Actually - going way back, an out-of-town gig had a funny story. Almost home from a gig 40 - 50 miles away, the points give out in the distributor of our VW bus - leaving us stranded. I jump in the other car, drive back to our neighborhood (6-8 miles) and swipe the points from a bug parked on the street (it was 4:00 am, alright?) and then head back up to our stranded vehicle, put them in and finish the trip. I did go back and put a set back in the bug a day or two later. __________________ No deadline too realistic! (Where's my groovy username?)

October 6th, 2005, 09:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Twangmeister Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lost Angeles, CA Posts: 1,238	Ah yes, "road bloat"....... One of my favorite moments came when I was touring in Iceland (that's right, not Cleveland, Iceland), and the bass player had eaten whale, washed down with several local brews. Talk about a paradigm shift in your personal space! Great article with many fine observations. Rule 11: What happens on the road, stays on the road! __________________ "The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils." http://www.myspace.com/jeremendelsohn

October 6th, 2005, 09:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
f85 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 26	Hey Larry, I didn't know the Gruff Mummies until earlier today, when a co-worker brought in the Kitsap Sun story that ran today also. I had no idea that they were working on a similar story. But then again, I'm not the first to write about touring and I'm sure I won't be the last. Its funny how minds think alike! --Ken __________________ ---I swear one day I'm gonna learn how to play this plank!

October 6th, 2005, 09:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
f85 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 26	And Mike, I would have loved to see the face on the Bug owner when it started up all of a sudden after not running for a day or two. Then again I've owned a couple VWs. Thats not all that unusual. --Ken __________________ ---I swear one day I'm gonna learn how to play this plank!

October 6th, 2005, 08:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,881	Fun piece. I even learned a thing or two.

October 6th, 2005, 09:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
LarryR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 628	Hey Ken, do you know the Gruff Mummies from up there? They just went through a very similar experience. After winning a best new band contest at the EMP and playing to nice crowds, they came to LA "to tour". 1st gig, there were 6 of us in the audience and the next night at a downtown club, they showed up at their gig and were told that the booker quit weeks earlier and there was no band scheduled. It was open mike night so the club let them get up and do a set.....they had a Seattle writer/photog with them and he did a story up your way also......same sort of story, young struggling band from the NW gets it's 1st taste of being on the road.......