4:02 pm - Mar 25

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.

5:48am - Mar 20

Yesterday would have been my Mom's 53rd birthday. If only she could see me now, I wonder what she'd say. The album was released on Wednesday and so far the reaction from friends and family have been great. We just made it to Tony's parents house in Lansing, MI. 11 hours on the road, ready to sleep for a few then head over to Highland for the show today. I think this show will be a lot of fun. We're playing with some great bands. I'm not sure why I thought I could blog right now. I'm pretty much falling asleep. More later. Check the youtube for video blogs.

12:27am - Mar 18

Sunday night I played my first acoustic show by myself. Youth Against War & Racism had their benefit concert at Eclipse Records in St. Paul. 2 Tone Runts were not able to play, so I was asked if I would do the show solo. I don't think I've ever been that nervous for a show. At 6pm, I took the stage. The venue has no windows and a couple bright lights on the stage. I couldn't see the crowd at all. I started the show with an acoustic version of "Chaotic." By the third song in the set my voice was starting to go. I stumbled over chords, forgot lyrics but made it through. I played a few songs I had written in high school. It was a very personal set. After the show, a couple people said I should keep it up. I'll try anything twice.

The past few days have been non-stop tour prep. We did our first screen print poster. A limited run of 26 and they turned out pretty good. I managed to fix my bass amp. Hopefully I won't blow another fuse on the road. It's looking like we'll be renting a van for the tour. One day we'll own a van. I completely satisfied with the way the album turned out and I can't wait to play the new songs.

12:16pm - Mar 12

Everything is finally starting to come together. I've been streessed out and anxious all last week or ... month. I picked up the masters today and dropped them off with Noiseland to be duplicated. The album is the most accomplished thing we've done so far. I just finished editing the "Making of" video. I'll be putting up the website this week. The album will be called "On The Front Line"

We still haven't found a replacement van for the tour. We leave in 1 week! Worst case scenario, we go into more debt, rent a van. I also play my first acoustic solo show on Sunday at Eclipse records with some local punk bands. I'm pretty nervous. I'll be playing a lot of my original stuff that no one has ever heard. I'll through in some 2TR tunes as well. I can't wait until we are actually on the road, where I'm truly meant to be.

1:10pm - Mar 2nd

It's already March! Time is flying by. I met today with Bruce at Magneto Mastering. Everything seems to be right on schedule. We are still having some issues with money and how to distribute the album. We may DIY it again since we can't seem to afford $2 a cd for 500 copies to be made. Since dez E. and I are learning how to screen print we may be able to print the disc artwork on ourselves. We can always get it professionally duplicated later. The guy who does our t-shirts offered to give me some lessons tomorrow after his shop closes.

Personally money is pretty tight. And by tight I mean I still haven't found work and am completely out of money. We talked about all going in together to donate plasma as a band and use the money for the tour. I have been applying for a couple jobs a day. I hate it when they don't even send a reply but then I remember there is probably 200 people applying for that one opening. So I wait patiently and live for the days of free lunch days at the University of Minnesota. Like today, free mini donuts and cotton candy and for the meat eaters: hot dogs.