The view from the road ...

June 27th

Things that are good about today:

1. It’s the first day of a 15 date tour.
2. It’s the first day of an 8 date tour with GALLOWS.
3. I get to play my frankly ridiculous new drum kit.
4. I get to play in MOHO tonight (always wanted to play here!)

Things that are bad about today:

1. I’ll be spending 4 hours at home for Charlie’s Birthday and then I have to leave for tour.

May 16

Last nights gig was sad. For 10 days we’ve toured with frankly the best guys in the world. I’ve said before we were brothers in arms, that statement still stands. Genuine remorse was abound as we said our goodbyes last night, but with a 3 hour drive ahead of us we couldn’t have a farewell drink. Regret. But from that tour, we’re now in the studio. I’ve just finished setting up what can only be described as a bastard drumkit. Fitting that a record about a mental breakdown, I have a kit that looks like one. I’m operating on 4 hours sleep and I’m aiming to have half the tracks done today. Fuck.

May 15th

It’s always a bit git glum on the last day of tour. You cuss and curse all the way through because you’re hungry, tired, dirty, uncomfortable, sick of sharing space and fighting for your hard earned cash; but on the last day you realise just how much you’re going to miss it all. This is a double whammy sad day because we’ve actually found kindred spirits in the form of Goodtime Boys. It’s not just a case of “they’re good dudes”, we just click musically and spiritually. I know it’s a bit lame to say that, but I think you need to know exactly just how rare a thing it is out there. You can be a drinking buddy with anyone, but how often do you become genuine friends and brothers in arms? This feeling was exemplified last night at a squat show in Sheffield. If you wanted a visual representation of just what is wrong with the “Hardcore” scene, you should have attended. It was well attended, but I think more for the “you can bring your own beer” notice. The stench of weed and cigarettes was cloying and the amount of “tough guy” two stepping posers just in there to make a br00t pit was fucking appalling. (right, if you don’t see a problem with this attitude, just get the fuck out of my life). Hardcore is dead and if it’s not I will gladly put it out of its misery. Anyway, I digress. Tonight is the last night before we go into the studio. I’m quite nervous still, but I’m gaining some confidence on the tracks. Here’s hoping this all pays off.

May 12th

It doesn’t matter how tired you are; hunger pangs will always keep you awake.

May 11th

And today is wash day!  Fuck yeah WASHING MACHINES!

Yesterday I discovered that wearing tight jeans in the sun is a horrific idea!  So I played the gig with them and a sweater with the hood up.  This wasn’t my cleverest moment, I must say … at least I kept it up for the whole gig though!!

Played a gig last night with 3 chugtastic bands last night who, in their infinite glory, took so long to set up and play ourselves and Goodtime Boys only had 50 minutes to set up and play our sets.  We did it with time to spare - fucking epic.  Total man points to Pennie for nailing some hardcore dancing flailing prick.  Half the pricks size and just owned him against a wall.  Goodtimes, Boys.

London today, which is a gig i’ve been most looking forward to since the tour started.  Good friends, good promoters, good people, good venue, good times! Nitkowski are playing too; one of the best bands we’ve ever played with and the best guys in the world.  They looked after us on our first foray down to London way back when, when we were hillbilly whelps in a big city.

I’m beginning to realise I’m just scrawling thoughts down on paper rather than having any meaningful moments on here.  I think I’ll make more of an effort on the next entry.

May 9th

I’m feeling burnt out.  Tour diet is never good but i’m really feeling like I’ve been punched in the head right now.

We have a day off, and we’re spending it with our friend Chloe in London and planning on a small BBQ if the weather holds.  I’d like to apologise to the UK as a whole for the atrocious weekend weather; as it was was me that said ‘this will be a great tour - let’s BBQ all the time’.  So yes, it was me that jinxed it.

After 3 days we’re still fiddling with the set.  Which is bugging us all.  It’s not what we want it to be just yet and that is very frustrating.  Today we’re sitting down and just working out some links and ties and ends for the songs and hopefully it’ll make us settle down into a bit more.

The down side to this tour so far is that we haven’t really had a chance to actually hang out properly with Goodtime Boys.  A combination of travel times and where we’re all staying has meant only chilling out around the gig time.  Of course, they’re the best guys ever - but a full day would be good.  I mean we’re touring partners for fucks sake!

A week today we go into the studio.  It still hasn’t sunk in.

May 8th

Today I woke up so dehydrated it hurt to breathe.

So far we’ve travelled 688 miles for 3 gigs and it’s been gutty as fuck.  Wrexham was predictably quiet, though we did have some sychophants come down to say “you boys are  doing well now” (Insert false camaraderie and back slapping here).  However, it was all worth it just to finally get to play with Battle for Paris.  18 months we’ve tried to play with them and finally we do!  Worth the wait.

Truro was a new town for us but i didn’t see any of it.  After operating on 3 hours sleep I caved in the back of the van.  I missed most of Goodtime Boys set so I could recover so I’m looking forward to watching them tonight in Bournemouth.

I should mention that I’m crashed out on the sofa downstairs while the guys are all upstairs.  Our host, Glyn, is playing acoustic guitar and singing and without sounding like a suck up - he is just about the most talented singer/songwriter i’ve ever heard.  Cross Brand New and Frank Turner and you’re close.  Talk about a unsung hero.