Tonight, we were in Rookie of the Year's hometown of Fayetteville, NC. The show was decent. The sound at the venue was pretty bad, but that happens from time to time.
We played before Rookie tonight (since it's their hometown and all). I got some sweet Chinese food for dinner. It was a nice change of pace from normal fast food.
We're staying at Rookie's friend's house again tonight. Right now, we're all just relaxing a bit.
Greenville, SC is tomorrow's destination. Ahh this routing makes no sense.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Columbia, SC (Headliner's)
Last night, we were at Headliner's in Columbia, SC. The show was solid! It sold out (750 people). I had a buddy from high school come out to see the guys play. It was good seeing him and catching up.
After the show, we drove to Fayetteville, NC. We got into town around 4am. We crashed at Rookie of the Year's friend's house.
Tonight, we're in Fayetteville, NC. This is Rookie of the Year's hometown. We'll see how it goes!
After the show, we drove to Fayetteville, NC. We got into town around 4am. We crashed at Rookie of the Year's friend's house.
Tonight, we're in Fayetteville, NC. This is Rookie of the Year's hometown. We'll see how it goes!
DAY OFF (Orlando, FL)
We had the next day off. We spent it in Orlando. Our hotel was actually INSIDE of the Orlando airport. I mean, we walked out of our room, took an elevator, and we were by all the terminals. It was pretty crazy!
It was somewhat convenient because we could walk downstairs and hit up a footcourt, etc. I'm not going to lie though, I felt a little bit like Tom Hanks in the movie "Terminal."
We cleaned out the van and got some other errands done. The rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pool and just hanging out. It was great!
It was somewhat convenient because we could walk downstairs and hit up a footcourt, etc. I'm not going to lie though, I felt a little bit like Tom Hanks in the movie "Terminal."
We cleaned out the van and got some other errands done. The rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pool and just hanging out. It was great!
Orlando, FL (The Social)
We woke up in Jacksonville and hit up the beach for about an hour. It was great. I swear, something about the beach is therapeutic. Everyone is always in a great mood when we hit up a beach.
We hit up a beachside diner for lunch. It was good!
After that, we drove to our show in Orlando. I was excited for the show because I had a bunch of friends from Tampa coming to it.
The show sold out, which was great. After the show, we hit up a bar with our friends for a while. We then hit up our hotel inside of the Orlando airport.
It's always great seeing my Tampa friends. I miss them a lot, but I know we're all where we should be right now.
We hit up a beachside diner for lunch. It was good!
After that, we drove to our show in Orlando. I was excited for the show because I had a bunch of friends from Tampa coming to it.
The show sold out, which was great. After the show, we hit up a bar with our friends for a while. We then hit up our hotel inside of the Orlando airport.
It's always great seeing my Tampa friends. I miss them a lot, but I know we're all where we should be right now.
Jacksonville, FL (Jack Rabbits)
We hit up Jack Rabbits in Jacksonville, FL the next night. We played this venue a little over a year ago on the Audition tour.
The show was pretty packed! I ran into some guys from a Jacksonville band that I know. It was good seeing them. The show was pretty solid.
After the show, we went to our hotel in Jacksonville. We hung out for a while and then called it a night.
The show was pretty packed! I ran into some guys from a Jacksonville band that I know. It was good seeing them. The show was pretty solid.
After the show, we went to our hotel in Jacksonville. We hung out for a while and then called it a night.
Fort Lauderdale, FL (Culture Room)
The show in Fort Lauderdale was awesome! The room was packed, the crowd was responsive, and the guys played great!
I had a lot of fun that night. Selling merchandise is crazy on this tour! All the bands have deals going on, etc. The nice thing is that everyone is helping each other to sell more stuff. We're doing a 'tour combo' where you can get 4 of the bands on the tour's cd for a total of $20. Pretty crazy.
I love being back in Florida. It's hot, but it's always a good time.
We got a hotel in Fort Lauderdale for the night.
I had a lot of fun that night. Selling merchandise is crazy on this tour! All the bands have deals going on, etc. The nice thing is that everyone is helping each other to sell more stuff. We're doing a 'tour combo' where you can get 4 of the bands on the tour's cd for a total of $20. Pretty crazy.
I love being back in Florida. It's hot, but it's always a good time.
We got a hotel in Fort Lauderdale for the night.
Friday, July 25, 2008
DAY OFF (NC to FL)
We woke up in Charlotte, NC this morning and made the drive to Orange Park, FL (right outside of Jacksonville). We saw The Dark Knight tonight with Playradioplay! and Rookie of the Year. It was really good! I don't think it was as good as all the hype, but it was definitely solid.
We're playing in Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow night. It should be a good one!
I'm stoked to be in Florida for the next few days. There should be some good times ahead!
We're playing in Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow night. It should be a good one!
I'm stoked to be in Florida for the next few days. There should be some good times ahead!
Charlotte, NC (Amos Southend)
Charlotte, NC is a cool city. We played at Amos Southend last night....the venue was great! Awesome sound and a really cool venue.
We landed a couple rooms at a local hotel called 'The Blake Hotel.' The place was really nice! Swanky rooms.
I hope we come back to Charlotte soon. It seems like a fun city to spend some time in.
We landed a couple rooms at a local hotel called 'The Blake Hotel.' The place was really nice! Swanky rooms.
I hope we come back to Charlotte soon. It seems like a fun city to spend some time in.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Atlanta, GA (Masquerade)
Last night the tour stopped at the Masquerade in Atlanta. This is the second time we played here. This show was a lot bigger than the last show we played at this venue. Everything went pretty well.
I had a good buddy from high school come out to the show. He had never seen the band or anything, so it was cool that he finally got to. I also had a good friend from my FBR internship days come out. It was great seeing her.
After the show, we drove to Greenville, SC and got a hotel. That's where I'm at right now.
We're heading off to Charlotte, NC to go do an acoustic radio performance. It should be cool. After that, we're playing a show in Charlotte.
Tomorrow's an off day. We're going to drive part of the way to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and hopefully stop to see The Dark Knight. I'm stoked,
I had a good buddy from high school come out to the show. He had never seen the band or anything, so it was cool that he finally got to. I also had a good friend from my FBR internship days come out. It was great seeing her.
After the show, we drove to Greenville, SC and got a hotel. That's where I'm at right now.
We're heading off to Charlotte, NC to go do an acoustic radio performance. It should be cool. After that, we're playing a show in Charlotte.
Tomorrow's an off day. We're going to drive part of the way to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and hopefully stop to see The Dark Knight. I'm stoked,
Mufreesboro, TN (Club 527)
We had a day off on the tour Monday, so we picked up a show in Murfreesboro, TN. I was actually surprised by the club. It was pretty legit!
A few other bands from the tour played the show as well. Matt bought some fireworks at a rest stop on the way to the show.......that turned into trouble right when we got to the venue. Bands were shooting off bottle rockets, throwing m80's, and all sorts of other stuff at each other. It was intense!
After the show, we drove to Atlanta.
A few other bands from the tour played the show as well. Matt bought some fireworks at a rest stop on the way to the show.......that turned into trouble right when we got to the venue. Bands were shooting off bottle rockets, throwing m80's, and all sorts of other stuff at each other. It was intense!
After the show, we drove to Atlanta.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Cordova, TN (Skatepark of Memphis)
Tonight's show was at the Skatepark of Memphis in Cordova, TN (and eastern suburb). This was the first show of the tour that wasn't sold out. There were still over 400 people there.
It was really hot in this venue too. The crowd seemed kind of weird. Merch sales were slow.
We're now at our hotel in Memphis. We're waking up tomorrow and driving to our show in Murfreesboro, TN.
It was really hot in this venue too. The crowd seemed kind of weird. Merch sales were slow.
We're now at our hotel in Memphis. We're waking up tomorrow and driving to our show in Murfreesboro, TN.
Oklahoma City, OK (The Conservatory)
Last night's show was at the Conservatory in OKC. We played this venue about a month ago on the Nightmare Of You tour. This place is small (240 cap.) and run down. Luckily, it was a little cleaner than last time.
The show was beyond sold out. It was insanely hot in the venue! However, we tried to make the best of it. The guys went over well and we did great in merch sales.
After the show, we stayed with some friends outside of town.
The show was beyond sold out. It was insanely hot in the venue! However, we tried to make the best of it. The guys went over well and we did great in merch sales.
After the show, we stayed with some friends outside of town.
San Antonio, TX (The Scout Bar)
We went in to 96.1 FM - The Mix early Friday afternoon. We did an acoustic performance for about 30 listeners from the station in the stations little studio called the "Sprint Mix Lounge." It was actually really cool. Tim got a new percussion instrument called a Cahong, and it really gave a new feel to the songs.
Secondhand Serenade played two or three songs after our guys played. The crowd was really excited to see him play in such a small environment.
After the radio station event, we went to the show. The venue was brand new. It was really nice! The stage, sound, and lighting was awesome! This was good because we normally play some really bad venues in San Antonio. The guys played really well that night and the crowd seemed to think so too.
I finally got our new credit card machine activated and working that night. This was a huge relief to me. I had been dealing with some technical difficulties with the machine for about a week.
The machine is easy to use, and so far, it seems to really boost sales a good amount!
After the show, there was a cover band that played at the venue. We hung around for a while, watched the band, and had a few drinks.
We then left the venue and drove to our hotel in Waco, TX. We stayed there for a few hours and then drove to Oklahoma City.
*Here comes a crazy story: When we were at the radio station earlier in the day, there was a dj there named Russell Rush. I knew the name sounded familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint where I knew it from. Well, we talked for a minute, and he told me that he used to dj in Bloomington, IL (where I went to college). I then put two and two together and realized that I had listened to this guy all time for a few years in college! Crazy that we met each other in San Antonio.
Secondhand Serenade played two or three songs after our guys played. The crowd was really excited to see him play in such a small environment.
After the radio station event, we went to the show. The venue was brand new. It was really nice! The stage, sound, and lighting was awesome! This was good because we normally play some really bad venues in San Antonio. The guys played really well that night and the crowd seemed to think so too.
I finally got our new credit card machine activated and working that night. This was a huge relief to me. I had been dealing with some technical difficulties with the machine for about a week.
The machine is easy to use, and so far, it seems to really boost sales a good amount!
After the show, there was a cover band that played at the venue. We hung around for a while, watched the band, and had a few drinks.
We then left the venue and drove to our hotel in Waco, TX. We stayed there for a few hours and then drove to Oklahoma City.
*Here comes a crazy story: When we were at the radio station earlier in the day, there was a dj there named Russell Rush. I knew the name sounded familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint where I knew it from. Well, we talked for a minute, and he told me that he used to dj in Bloomington, IL (where I went to college). I then put two and two together and realized that I had listened to this guy all time for a few years in college! Crazy that we met each other in San Antonio.
Dallas, TX (The Granada Theatre)
We woke up in San Antonio early on Thursday morning and made our way to Dallas. We did a radio station visit at 102.1FM - The Edge. This is a big station in Dallas. We did the same type of thing as the day before. It was a good time.
After the visit, we checked into our hotel early and a few of the guys got some sleep before the show. I didn't sleep because I was on the phone trying to figure out why our brand new credit card machine wasn't working. I made some progress with that.
The show was awesome. It was sold out (about 1,100 people). The venue was really cool. Great stage and great sound. The guys' played really well, and they won over a lot of new fans.
After the show, we went back to our hotel. We had to wake up early again because we had another radio engagement in San Antonio the next afternoon.
After the visit, we checked into our hotel early and a few of the guys got some sleep before the show. I didn't sleep because I was on the phone trying to figure out why our brand new credit card machine wasn't working. I made some progress with that.
The show was awesome. It was sold out (about 1,100 people). The venue was really cool. Great stage and great sound. The guys' played really well, and they won over a lot of new fans.
After the show, we went back to our hotel. We had to wake up early again because we had another radio engagement in San Antonio the next afternoon.
Corpus Christi, TX (Brewster St. Ice House)
We arrived in Corpus Christi, TX around noon on Wednesday. We did a radio visit to 102.3FM - The Planet. We met the staff and the station and played a few songs acoustic for them. It was pretty cool.
After the station visit, we headed to the show. The venue was big! It was somewhat of an outdoor venue that fit about 1,200 people. Did I mention that the show was SOLD OUT?! Haha. Awesome.
The show went pretty well. It was packed with people and everyone seemed to have a good time.
After the show, we drove back to San Antonio and got a hotel for a few hours. We had another radio visit (in Dallas) the next morning....
After the station visit, we headed to the show. The venue was big! It was somewhat of an outdoor venue that fit about 1,200 people. Did I mention that the show was SOLD OUT?! Haha. Awesome.
The show went pretty well. It was packed with people and everyone seemed to have a good time.
After the show, we drove back to San Antonio and got a hotel for a few hours. We had another radio visit (in Dallas) the next morning....
DAY OFF (Drive Day)
Last Tuesday was a drive day for us. We had to get from Albuquerque, NM to Corpus Christi, TX. This was a 13 hour drive.
We made about 11 hours of the drive and got a hotel in San Antonio. We woke up the next morning and finished off the drive.
We made about 11 hours of the drive and got a hotel in San Antonio. We woke up the next morning and finished off the drive.
Albuquerque, NM (The Launchpad)
The show in Albuquerque was pretty crazy. It was a smaller room (about 270 capacity) and it sold out. In fact, it was packed to the brim! It was so hot in there.
Everything went smoothly. We stayed in downtown Albuquerque after the show. We woke up the next morning and made our way toward our next show in Corpus Christi, TX.
Everything went smoothly. We stayed in downtown Albuquerque after the show. We woke up the next morning and made our way toward our next show in Corpus Christi, TX.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Tucson, AZ (The Rock)
So we were supposed to play a show in Tucson, AZ tonight. We got to the venue, loaded in, got merch and everything set up, and then the show got cancelled.
Secondhand Serenade (the headliner of the tour) had bus problems and then they got caught in a flash flood. They didn't think they were going to get to the venue in time to play the show, so they called the show off.
We were all bummed out because we were ready to play and there was a good crowd. We understand why Secondhand cancelled and everything though. Our guys played a few acoustic songs. The venue let kids come in and buy merchandise, which was great for us. We made our gas money, so that's good.
We're now just relaxing at our hotel in Tuscon. Our show tomorrow is in Albuquerque. We've got a long drive tomorrow, so we're going to have an early morning.
Secondhand Serenade (the headliner of the tour) had bus problems and then they got caught in a flash flood. They didn't think they were going to get to the venue in time to play the show, so they called the show off.
We were all bummed out because we were ready to play and there was a good crowd. We understand why Secondhand cancelled and everything though. Our guys played a few acoustic songs. The venue let kids come in and buy merchandise, which was great for us. We made our gas money, so that's good.
We're now just relaxing at our hotel in Tuscon. Our show tomorrow is in Albuquerque. We've got a long drive tomorrow, so we're going to have an early morning.
San Diego, CA (Soma - Sidestage)
Last night's show was at the Soma in San Diego. This was our third time at the venue. The show SOLD OUT! Awesome. The crowd was cool and we did really well in merch. We sold a ton of CD's which was great. I hope we can do this nightly.
After the show, we went and stayed with Jared's older brother's friends. It was a late night! I love San Diego. I hope we get back there soon.
After the show, we went and stayed with Jared's older brother's friends. It was a late night! I love San Diego. I hope we get back there soon.
Los Angeles, CA (The Troubadour)
The tour kicked off Friday night at the Troubadour. This venue was the first place we ever played on our first national tour last January (2007). The show sold out! 500 people. The guys played well. L.A. crowds are always kind of weird, but the response was pretty good overall.
After the show, we went back to our hotel in Arcadia. We hit up Denny's for a late night dinner and then went to bed.
I think this tour is going to be really good! The crowds are going to be solid, and the bands seem pretty cool. I'm stoked.
After the show, we went back to our hotel in Arcadia. We hit up Denny's for a late night dinner and then went to bed.
I think this tour is going to be really good! The crowds are going to be solid, and the bands seem pretty cool. I'm stoked.
Los Angeles, CA (The Viper Room)
We were in Los Angeles this past Thursday and Friday. Thursday night, we did a showcase at the Viper Room. The club was sweet! I know it has a lot of history to it. Tom Petty played the opening of it in the early nineties. Pretty sweet.
The crowd was pretty small, but the guys played well and sounded great. It was a good warm up for the tour (which started the next night).
After the show, we split up. Corey and Max ate sushi with Matthew (our A&R guy). They saw the guy who plays "Jim" in The Office at the restaurant!
The rest of us hung out with our buddy, Kurt French, from Guitar Center. We went to Santa Monica and had an amazing italian dinner. After that, we went down on the Santa Monica pier and walked around. I'd never been to Santa Monica before...it was nice! I hope we get to go back again soon.
We stayed in Arcadia, CA (about 30 minutes outside of L.A.).
The crowd was pretty small, but the guys played well and sounded great. It was a good warm up for the tour (which started the next night).
After the show, we split up. Corey and Max ate sushi with Matthew (our A&R guy). They saw the guy who plays "Jim" in The Office at the restaurant!
The rest of us hung out with our buddy, Kurt French, from Guitar Center. We went to Santa Monica and had an amazing italian dinner. After that, we went down on the Santa Monica pier and walked around. I'd never been to Santa Monica before...it was nice! I hope we get to go back again soon.
We stayed in Arcadia, CA (about 30 minutes outside of L.A.).
Thursday, July 10, 2008
IL to CA (2 Drive Days)
We left Springfield on Tuesday afternoon and headed for California. The Secondhand Serenade tour starts in Los Angeles on Friday. However, we have a private show today (Thursday) at the Viper Room in L.A. It's a free show and it's open to the public. It should be pretty cool!
Anyways, we had about 52 hours to make the 32 hour drive. It was pretty intense, but we did it! We're currently in our hotel room in Barstow, CA (2 hours outside of L.A.).
We're really stoked about this tour. It should be one of our best ones yet! I'll keep you all posted throughout.
Anyways, we had about 52 hours to make the 32 hour drive. It was pretty intense, but we did it! We're currently in our hotel room in Barstow, CA (2 hours outside of L.A.).
We're really stoked about this tour. It should be one of our best ones yet! I'll keep you all posted throughout.
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