Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Getting toasted with Chuck
So for those who do not know, we just got back from a mini tour that brought us to places in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota...pretty exciting stuff. I will go day by day in describing the events that took place within the five day trip, and then give you some parting thoughts of the trip as a whole. Enjoy!
Day 1 (Wednesday March 4th)
Day one brought us to the beautiful town of Harrisburg, South Dakota, which was about 10 miles away from our hotel in Sioux Falls. We played at a place called the Phoenix Lounge, one of two bars in the town...awesome! Couple of things about the show and then I will move on:
1. Smokiest bar I've ever been to
2. Amazing sound and stage
3. Thank God there was a pool league going on
Sold some CD's and Tees, signed a poster for a guy that made a bar in his basement called "The Wreck Room." Definitely hope he put that thing up right next to the Jeff Gordon poster. After we got back to the hotel in Sioux Falls, we ventured out to a "casino" called the Hole In The Wall Gaming Parlor. It was just a small room with 10 machines that you can find in pretty much any bar or bowling alley in Wisconsin. JB and I came out ahead while Colin and Harkins lost a few bucks...all in all a good time. Beat Colin in a game of pool before we left the hotel. One last note about day one...Thanks Sheraton!
Day 2 (Thursday March 5th)
Made it into Omaha, Nebraska quite early, and decided to load in all of our equipment right away. Played at a Pizza Parlor call PS Collective. Nothing good to say here. If it weren't for a group of people that Colin recruited from Creighton University, nobody would've been there. I did meet a girl named Jade Sharp who turned out to be my cousin...not. But we did have the same last name. Last thing...a big thanks to Jason (Ryan's cousin) for picking up our bill...what a nice guy.
Day 3 and 4 (Friday March 6th-Saturday March 7th)
Day three brought us to the thriving metropolis of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This was the first of two days playing at the same venue in Aberdeen. We got to the venue which was called New York New York, and met the owners Rick and Nicki. Within 10 minutes of meeting them, Rick offered to give us the key and let us stay in the office above the bar for the next two nights. Apparently there was both State Boy's Basketball and a huge Bowling tourney in Aberdeen over the weekend, and all hotels in the city were full.
Anyways, we had to play acoustic at New York New York. In part because it was an older crowd, and in part because it really isn't a music venue that is prepared to have amps and such. Playing acoustic was definitely a different feel, but it turned out alright for us. I had a good time. Met a bunch of interesting and fun people, especially Chuck, Carrie, and Roxy. Chuck was a regular at New York New York, probably around 60 years old, and has a tendency of getting a little toasted. Chuck had plenty of stories to tell us over the course of two days...some of which left all of us on the verge of peeing our pants. There should be some sort of reality TV show documenting Chuck's Life at New York New York...it would be a hit. Had fun getting toasted with Chuck.
Moving on, sleeping above a bar is not as glamorous as it may seem. Brushing your teeth in a bar bathroom probably isn't too healthy nor is it appealing, and the lack of shower left us all looking and smelling good...but the stay was free so who are we to complain. Actually got to shower on our way our out of Aberdeen...and there is a story behind this one. Carrie, one of the bartenders/servers at New York New York also works as a maid at the local Super 8 Motel. She told us to call her on our way out of town, and she would get us into one of the rooms she was cleaning so we could all shower. And that is exactly what we did. Thanks Carrie and thanks Super 8. Quite an experience.
Special thanks to Rick and Nicki...both extremely nice people. And to the groups of younger peeps that came in to see us after seeing us in the local newspaper...advertising does work.
Day 5 (Sunday March 8th)
Onto St. Paul, Minnesota to play at Big V's Saloon on a Sunday night! Not gonna lie, by this time, I think we were all a little burnt out. My girlfriend Kristy is from the area, so she told some people about the show. I was really hoping to go on stage around 9:30 pm so that Bruce and Bea(Kristy's Dad and Uncle) and a group of Kristy's friends (Gina, Cara, Angie, and Garrett) could all see us play. Well we ended up going on around midnight...but Gina, Cara, and Angie stayed. Thank God they did because they were the only three people in the bar. And thanks Gina and Cara for giving us a place to stay...hope we weren't too much of a hassle.
In summary, the trip was quite odd to say the least. I did a lot of sleeping...which isn't really anything new for me...but there wasn't much else to do. Don't really plan on going to South Dakota or Nebraska anytime in the near future. Lastly, sorry if this was boring...but that's actually quite fitting. It is what it is.
Day 1 (Wednesday March 4th)
Day one brought us to the beautiful town of Harrisburg, South Dakota, which was about 10 miles away from our hotel in Sioux Falls. We played at a place called the Phoenix Lounge, one of two bars in the town...awesome! Couple of things about the show and then I will move on:
1. Smokiest bar I've ever been to
2. Amazing sound and stage
3. Thank God there was a pool league going on
Sold some CD's and Tees, signed a poster for a guy that made a bar in his basement called "The Wreck Room." Definitely hope he put that thing up right next to the Jeff Gordon poster. After we got back to the hotel in Sioux Falls, we ventured out to a "casino" called the Hole In The Wall Gaming Parlor. It was just a small room with 10 machines that you can find in pretty much any bar or bowling alley in Wisconsin. JB and I came out ahead while Colin and Harkins lost a few bucks...all in all a good time. Beat Colin in a game of pool before we left the hotel. One last note about day one...Thanks Sheraton!
Day 2 (Thursday March 5th)
Made it into Omaha, Nebraska quite early, and decided to load in all of our equipment right away. Played at a Pizza Parlor call PS Collective. Nothing good to say here. If it weren't for a group of people that Colin recruited from Creighton University, nobody would've been there. I did meet a girl named Jade Sharp who turned out to be my cousin...not. But we did have the same last name. Last thing...a big thanks to Jason (Ryan's cousin) for picking up our bill...what a nice guy.
Day 3 and 4 (Friday March 6th-Saturday March 7th)
Day three brought us to the thriving metropolis of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This was the first of two days playing at the same venue in Aberdeen. We got to the venue which was called New York New York, and met the owners Rick and Nicki. Within 10 minutes of meeting them, Rick offered to give us the key and let us stay in the office above the bar for the next two nights. Apparently there was both State Boy's Basketball and a huge Bowling tourney in Aberdeen over the weekend, and all hotels in the city were full.
Anyways, we had to play acoustic at New York New York. In part because it was an older crowd, and in part because it really isn't a music venue that is prepared to have amps and such. Playing acoustic was definitely a different feel, but it turned out alright for us. I had a good time. Met a bunch of interesting and fun people, especially Chuck, Carrie, and Roxy. Chuck was a regular at New York New York, probably around 60 years old, and has a tendency of getting a little toasted. Chuck had plenty of stories to tell us over the course of two days...some of which left all of us on the verge of peeing our pants. There should be some sort of reality TV show documenting Chuck's Life at New York New York...it would be a hit. Had fun getting toasted with Chuck.
Moving on, sleeping above a bar is not as glamorous as it may seem. Brushing your teeth in a bar bathroom probably isn't too healthy nor is it appealing, and the lack of shower left us all looking and smelling good...but the stay was free so who are we to complain. Actually got to shower on our way our out of Aberdeen...and there is a story behind this one. Carrie, one of the bartenders/servers at New York New York also works as a maid at the local Super 8 Motel. She told us to call her on our way out of town, and she would get us into one of the rooms she was cleaning so we could all shower. And that is exactly what we did. Thanks Carrie and thanks Super 8. Quite an experience.
Special thanks to Rick and Nicki...both extremely nice people. And to the groups of younger peeps that came in to see us after seeing us in the local newspaper...advertising does work.
Day 5 (Sunday March 8th)
Onto St. Paul, Minnesota to play at Big V's Saloon on a Sunday night! Not gonna lie, by this time, I think we were all a little burnt out. My girlfriend Kristy is from the area, so she told some people about the show. I was really hoping to go on stage around 9:30 pm so that Bruce and Bea(Kristy's Dad and Uncle) and a group of Kristy's friends (Gina, Cara, Angie, and Garrett) could all see us play. Well we ended up going on around midnight...but Gina, Cara, and Angie stayed. Thank God they did because they were the only three people in the bar. And thanks Gina and Cara for giving us a place to stay...hope we weren't too much of a hassle.
In summary, the trip was quite odd to say the least. I did a lot of sleeping...which isn't really anything new for me...but there wasn't much else to do. Don't really plan on going to South Dakota or Nebraska anytime in the near future. Lastly, sorry if this was boring...but that's actually quite fitting. It is what it is.
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