Seven to Eight
Current mood: mellow

One of the things I've always wanted from playing music was the chance to travel the world. I've been through almost every state in the past few years, and I try to keep track of every city we play with a big map and some colored pins. Tonight I put a map of Europe next to it with 7 tacks to hold it up. Each time I put one in I could think of something great from our stay in each city. That's a great feeling.

It went something like this...

Take off from Chicago. Put on the headphones and what do we hear? The Bulls intro music. Perfect way to start our trip.

As soon as our plane landed in London, we tracked down our driver, Viper. He really kept our spirits up the whole trip. I only hope he is still driving around bands the next time we come through, even if he did think a couple of our songs were gay. He was the Gus of Europe. With a touch of McTernan maybe. 13 hours to Germany!



ROCK AM SEE. Drinking German beer IN Germany (simple one), eating lunch at a table next to NOFX, watching Nine Inch Nails side stage. I wish they would have gotten that light show. I'm sure it would have been eye twitching. Tim even ran into the singer from The Sounds! In the bathroom! (Always learn the translation for Men and Women when traveling to another country.) I would try to explain our set that day, but it was kind of one of those "you had to be there" things. Those are the best. I'll try to post a video soon.



LONDON. Kebabs, old school fans, Sam & Clair, cigs from Barcelona, and a set that blew my mind and vocal chords at the same time.

LIVERPOOL. I got lost after the show, and had to ask for directions about 12 times. Thick accents in that part of the country. We stayed in a hotel made entirely of plastic.

YORK. We slept in a castle and played next to the biggest church in the universe. Something about York reminding me a little of my hometown. Not sure why. Oh, and The Electric Monks were there.



GLASGOW. We got a great view of the country-side on our long drive while Max quoted William Wallace speeches. After eating at the most legit Pizza Hut in the world, we played a really fun show, then went to a 4 level night club with our new group of friends. There was a California brother and a Paramore-look-a-like contest. Great night.



AMSTERDAM. :)

We didn't play a show the next day, but even if we did, I couldn't tell you what city we were in. Somewhere in the Netherlands. We took over the hotel and it felt like we were there for a week. I could write a whole album about that day. Another one of those "you had to be there" things.



CARDIFF. More Kebabs, Road House starring Patrick Swayze, flaming drinks, and a long trip home that felt a lot like time travel. Arcade Fire played as we hit the air. Spiderman 3 sucked.

Looking back on this trip I see so many things I brought back. I'm glad we took pictures.



Our homecoming was short with a couple gigs in Wyoming and Minnesota, Now we're back home, with a few days to relax. We're going to be working on a little project at our home studio next week (and in the rest of our free time.) This should surface around the end of the year.

To close out 2007, we'll be heading out on a full stint with Spitalfield, Ludo, Attention, and best of all THE FORECAST. We'll be making quite a few stops in some of our favorite cities. Even Baltimore! We actually just won an award for The City that Reads. "Best Baltimore song by Non-Baltimore Band." Sure, there may not have been THAT many contenders, but the write-up was a great thing to read after spending so much time and energy in the Mobtown. We all feel very honored.

We also have a party at the Knitting Factory in New York, New York at the start of next month. Open bar!

I couldn't ask for a better way to end the year.

In 2008, I'll be 23. With a weak van, a strong team, a new home, and a new single.

After everything we've been through, I'm glad that i can sit here thinking about 1 year into the past and one year into the future, and smile at both. What more can you really ask for?



-c

Currently listening : Young Modern By Daniel Johns Release date: By 24 July, 2007