First let me apologize for my last blog and video blogs. They suck, I know, I'm sorry.
The tour was amazing. Everyone we met on the road was awesome. The show in Michigan was insane. We packed a coffee shop and everyone really connected. CIB 800 played an awesome set. They are all very cool guys who know how to put together a great show. I talked to a couple kids who where starting a ska band of their own. Can't wait to see what they got. It was truly awesome to see Kenny and the other kids in front singing along to the songs. After CIB 800, The Waffle Stompers from New Jersey played. Their brand of ska was a site to see. Towards the end of their set a recorded track came on and they broke out into possibly the greatest dance break I have ever seen. It's also featured in the music video for their song "serious." They closed their set with a cover of "Rollin." After their set I talked to Nathan, trombonist, and Ted, guitarist, for a while about everything from all ages venues and vans to future shows together and being an independent band. It was an honor to cross tour paths with them. I'm sure more shows together lie in our futures.
Saturday we played in Bradley, IL, a small suburb about 45 minutes outside of Chicago. It was a young crowd. It looked like most of the kids were 15 and under with their parents there to support their band. Hardly any of the kids their had ever heard of ska much less been to a ska show. We heard a lot of comments like "Trombones!?!?". The Projection put together the show in a local bakery and they did not disappoint. We often take for granted all the great all ages venues in the Twin Cities, but in most other parts of the country they take what they can get. I was impressed at how The Projection was able to turn that place into a venue. I spent a lot of time talking to a kid named Austin after our set. We talked about about the beginning stages of being a band. Little did I know that his band, At Rifts End, was playing that night. Those kids got a lot of heart and put on a great show. They are all 15 but if you were to hear them recorded you would never be able to tell. Their lead singer and the only female in the band rocked hard. Great voice and great energy.
Sunday we played in Madison, WI. We arrived late Saturday night and spent the whole day on State Street. The boys fell in love with Madison. The co-op we played in was huge. Build in the 1920's and taken over by squatters in the 70s. They build a fire in the fireplace before we played. The atmosphere for the show was just right. I saw an unexpected friend who appartently now lives only 6 blocks away from the co-op. It was quite a relaxed show and we played nearly the entire album. Another DIY venue with bass amps as a PA. Laura's brother, Brandon, put together the show and his band, Flowerbaby played a great set. A mix of covers and originals and a special encore of "Sexual Healing."
Around 3am I returned the van to the rental and returned to Connor's for a much needed night of sleep. I can't wait to get back on the road and am very excited by the thought of one day owning a van and traveling non-stop.
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