Spring Tour Diary - 2016

[tedious1]

Big Brother - quite simply excellent, pardon the vulgar shirt the bass player is wearing... I did say our band name was immortalized in the 7 words you can't say on TV bit...and it was his choice to buy and wear it.

AD again, tried to get enough of the kit for someone to realize that he has no hihat...

Jamie is a guitar player by trade and training, he just wanted to try an instrument without a volume-limiting knob....

Again no end of night shot, my Mono strap started splitting, which sucks I like the strap, the little pocket holds a half dozen picks and a couple of Grolsch+brand strap locks to boot. So I was distracted... More to come, post show drinks with an old friend...

 

[tedious1]

So other than the strap malfunction, last night was really good. A touch of a hangover, finished the nite with a bunch of Makers Mark, so well earned.

And I will be putting paid to that strap issue, a few stitches with the old dental floss will cut the mustard, and I do have a coupla spare straps if needed, but the Mono is the widest and most comfortable.

Still hoping to cross paths with my Dad while are out here, but so far schedules have not accommodated.

Some random pics from wandering around yesterday:


Oh and thoughts on the Mark Bass head, not a fan, good head, but not my cup of tea, given their general price point though I'm not to broken up about it.

That cab was two 12s and a 15, and really light. Sounded good on stage as well. Never seen one before, but if I come across another, I may pick it up, if the price is right.

 

[tedious1]

Well, not going to be able to meet up with my Dad, unfortunately.

Yesterday's take was low, under $100, but moved a fair amount of merch, two old friends came by the show, both bought pretty heavily.

Stitched up my strap, hope that will be that. Tonight is one of the nights we take a hotel, so we are holed up there for a bit until we meet the promoter for dinner.

We'll have to see how tonight goes, Monday and all, but the promoter is anchoring the show with the local draw, instead of the touring band, so whoever does show, stays.

Pics to come.

 

[tedious1]

Tonight's venue:


The band doing sound check is Broken Foot, the young gentleman with his back turned is their bass player and tonight's promoter. I'll get a pic of his rig later.

Sitting in the room in the last pic typing this up with the drummer and singer, the guitar player is in search of more food.

Sound engineer seems a good sort, he's got the whole Jerry Garcia circa "Shades of Gray" look going on, and sound check went smooth and quick, we shall soon see.

Gotta remind the guitar player to turn on his amp early, he's not used to tubes at all...

 

[tedious1]

Broken Foot - such a good band! Different guitar player from last year, their original guitar player.

Some rig porn:

I chuckle, this was almost my rig too, and at one point I was considering the PF head with the 210s. No regrets on my part though, I love my rig.

Slow door, and the order got reset to us headlining, but I don't think it's going to matter. This show we don't take for the money, we like the town, the bands and such, of course we'd love a packed house, but it is a Monday night...

SCAM takes the stage next, pics to come.

 

[Zebra]

After looking at this thread, I'm given the impression that every bar in Canada is a British/Irish pub that could have been ripped straight out of their respective countries.

 

[tedious1]

After looking at this thread, I'm given the impression that every bar in Canada is a British/Irish pub that could have been ripped straight out of their respective countries.

There are many, it's one of the endearing qualities of this country. Stay tuned, some much more Punk venues are just around the corner...

SCAM pictures:

Time to play...near empty house, but good practice for our interview tomorrow!

 

[tedious1]

Well, talking to the few people who did come out, lack of advertising got us. It's a long sordid story, and I think our name played it's part. Bah, we got the door, we have another interview offer for next year, made some new contacts and friends.

I guess that is another object lesson, find and focus on the positives. Sometimes it is who is there, not how many. Since there is no way to know, shut it, strap on that Squier and play like the room is full.

Besides the interview tomorrow is with the university radio station, and we'll be playing in the studio, so...a near empty room is a great rehearsal!

Bonus, the sound engineer was solid, the sound was good, and he made sure to turn on the lights that keep you from seeing that the room is near empty...

 

[tedious1]

Almost forgo, I used the PF head and cab. Nice, the owner I oved the tone I got from it. All of us used the same rig tonight.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. @tedious1,

This. Is. Epic! Thanks for taking the time.

I'm all caught up with your tour so far. I had a very busy weekend with barely time to sleep and drive. I had precious little time for any "wobbly pop".

It's great that friends and venues put you up overnight. It adds to the adventure and saves cash.

I love your old van. Mine has over 130,000 miles now, bought new in 2001. Are you hauling your amps, guitars, and drum kit? You mentioned "backline" like your not expecting it often. Some lucky guys get backlined all the time. I guess sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it can be scary.

Anyway, keep up the good work and have a blast.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[tedious1]

Hi Mr. @tedious1,

This. Is. Epic! Thanks for taking the time.

I'm all caught up with your tour so far. I had a very busy weekend with barely time to sleep and drive. I had precious little time for any "wobbly pop".

It's great that friends and venues put you up overnight. It adds to the adventure and saves cash.

I love your old van. Mine has over 130,000 miles now, bought new in 2001. Are you hauling your amps, guitars, and drum kit? You mentioned "backline" like your not expecting it often. Some lucky guys get backlined all the time. I guess sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it can be scary.

Anyway, keep up the good work and have a blast.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Hey, thanks for the kind words, i always enjoy your gig reports, and that in turn led me to a tour diary.

Yeah, the van was a good buy, she had a lot klicks on her, we hit 300000 km coming home on the first tour, and lots of short shots around Alberta and into British Columbia and Saskatchewan. We've definitely got our money's worth...

Yeah we carry all our gear, drums, axes, amps and merch. No PA though, we've never had to supply a PA either.

In terms of backlines, most of the time, every band has their own gear. But there is a lot more gear borrowing than I suspect many here would be comfortable with. So far I've played someone else's rig twice. Tonight, I know Politikill Incorrect will be using my rig, they have the last two years. I don't mind in the least. Last year, one of the venues had an SVT-CL and 810e and a JCM 900 with half stack as a backline. In general though I'm using my own gear each night.

Well it's high time to supplement the complentary continental breakfast with some real breakfast. I'll be back with photos from our interview and of course, tonight's show.

@Zebra - tonight is one of those more Punk venues....

 

[tedious1]

Almost forgot, the dental floss stitches did cut the mustard, strap held up just fine. And it's a bit more subtle than the half roll of gaff tape I've seen others use...so needle and floss will be going into the show kit.

Peterborough was where the guitar player and I both bought surplus ammo boxes last year, I could use another one now, stuff is starting to get offloaded into axe cases, but they closed, and there is a pawn shop where they used to be. Just another sign o the times...

Drummer discovered that the clamp on the side of his kick,what holds the leg in place is stripped. So I think we'll be hitting Steve's or the L&M, hopefully I can leave the credit card in the wallet...

Particularly since the guy behind Wounded Paw is a friend of the singer, and his Black Sheep preamp is on my GAS list, and he should be at the show tonight, granted he won't have a preamp in tow, but I want to talk to him about a couple small mods...

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. @tedious1,

My wife would divorce me. But you make it work! Rock on!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[tedious1]

Hi Mr. @tedious1,

My wife would divorce me. But you make it work! Rock on!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

LOL, my wife picked out the color! It's a temp (Manic Panic) and my sweat strips the stuff out. I brought the tub, and a dead tooth brush to apply, and paper towel for edging and cleanup, but only a few pairs of gloves, so it's pick and choose what shows to be vivid at, the next show it will be pastel, then it's gone. So probably tonight and refresh on Thursday, and then Sunday.

So we are back in Toronto, visiting with an old friend. The first time we attempted this whole touring thing, was back in 2008, we played at a collective called Siesta Nouveau, freaky night, but we met another band called Endprogram, their singer lived at the collective, and he booked our show at Coalition. Dragged In, who we played with at Coalition, contains two more Endprogram guys, one of whom is putting us up tonight, and the last one booked our show in Oshawa on Friday.

Like I said, sometimes it is who you play for instead of how many...

That first tour in 2008 we also did an interview with Equalize and Distort on the university radio station, CIUT. Same show same station for tonight's interview.

 

[tedious1]

Some shots of the campus, we came down early to get to Steve's Music, but the drummers kit qualifies as vintage, so no parts, he suggested an alternative, but he'd need to order it.

So we are early for the interview so some pics including the outrageous parking fees.

Oh yeah, near Steve's:

 

[tedious1]

Well, interview ran long, so we missed the first act altogether, and we were loading in during the second band, and....and...

Kinda annoying, but it is what it is...

But I did take a few shots of the venue:


And I just realized I was rushed enough not to post the few shots I got from the interview:


Can Con, for those who are wondering, stands for Canadian Content, which radio stations here, in the main anyways, have to play a mandated amount. I don't know the ins and outs of it all, bit those cabinets contain the stuff that meets the criteria.

We also had a second interview, for a new internet radio station after our set. Sorry, no pics, but the interviewer is also a burlesque dancer. Again, my most sincere apologies.

I have no idea when either will air, I hope at least we get a recording.

 

[tedious1]

Off to Montreal, short shifts behind the wheel today, late night last night. Looks like mine will be the shift we enter the city on, I love Montreal, hate the traffic. In that city the cars rule the sidewalks and the pedestrians rule the roads...

Tonight our host is the sub bass player for a folk/punk act that Mrs Tedious and I entertained last summer, their schedule wouldn't let us put them up, but we fed them fresh produce and home made stuff, stocked the fridge with a selection of juices and pop, the beer fridge with local micros and the bar with local small batch stuff. And we had beds and showers and laundry facilities, tools for some minor van repair. Anyways when we posted the tour, he insisted we stay with him. Works out really well, he's close to both venues. We may, assuming that everything works out, be able to help him with his new project with some backing vocal tracks. Hope it works out, it'd be nice to help out, and they are working with the recording engineer/singer/guitar player of The Brains, who has helped us out in the past, and he's a friend of the guitar player.

Tonight's venue is a skateboard shop. Our history with storefront shows isn't that promising, but the owner bought a bunch of merch from us last year to sell on through the store. He may have pre-ordered this year, I didn't ask.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Well, interview ran long, so we missed the first act altogether, and we were loading in during the second band, and....and...

Kinda annoying, but it is what it is...

But I did take a few shots of the venue:
View attachment 854045 View attachment 854046 View attachment 854047 View attachment 854048

And I just realized I was rushed enough not to post the few shots I got from the interview:
View attachment 854049 View attachment 854050 View attachment 854051 View attachment 854052

Can Con, for those who are wondering, stands for Canadian Content, which radio stations here, in the main anyways, have to play a mandated amount. I don't know the ins and outs of it all, bit those cabinets contain the stuff that meets the criteria.

We also had a second interview, for a new internet radio station after our set. Sorry, no pics, but the interviewer is also a burlesque dancer. Again, my most sincere apologies.

I have no idea when either will air, I hope at least we get a recording.

Wow, that's a wild looking interior. Was it decorated by the patrons? It kind of reminds me of this little dive in San Juan Capistrano I play sometimes, called The Swallows Inn.

Yes, I've heard that about Canadian radio stations. The number I heard was 30% of the air time must be filled with Canadian artists. I do love me some Shania Twain.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[tedious1]

Hi,



Wow, that's a wild looking interior. Was it decorated by the patrons? It kind of reminds me of this little dive in San Juan Capistrano I play sometimes, called The Swallows Inn.

Yes, I've heard that about Canadian radio stations. The number I heard was 30% of the air time must be filled with Canadian artists. I do love me some Shania Twain.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

LOL, I've never asked! I first went there like 10 years ago, stuff has definitely changed over time, something to ask next year!

Tonight's venue:


Tonight's dinner, Montreal fare is always worth documenting:

I present to you...Poutine...
Fries, cheese curds and gravy. In this case bacon and pepperoni as well. Heart attack food, but so good.

Just us and Artificial Dissemination tonight so should be an early night, but probably not early enough to help with vocals though. Nowhere to go tomorrow though, and the venue is really close to where we are staying at, so a nice relaxing day in store.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr tedious1,

Tonight's dinner, Montreal fare is always worth documenting:
View attachment 854544

I present to you...Poutine...
Fries, cheese curds and gravy. In this case bacon and pepperoni as well. Heart attack food, but so good.

Wow! That looks great. I also love me some heart attack food once in a while, such as this quadruple bypass cheeseburger (with 20 slices of bacon) I got at The Heart Attack Grill the last time we played Vegas.

Sir, you are livin' the life and making us proud. That looks like an intimate venue tonight. Cram a lot of people in there and it should be epic.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff