Back on the Chain Gang: Tour Post Number One

The last time I wrote in this blog I talked about the very last day of our tour in August, or as I liked to call it, National Peach Cobbler Day. Since then a lot of things have happened: I played shows with Dean Ween/Dave Dreiwitz/Chris Harford, Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller, and the Sarah Zimmermann Trio (myspace.com/sztrio). I also cut my hair, but that doesn't really matter.

So let's just pick up where I left off, shall we?

Tour Date Number One: November 1st. 2006/Granada Theater
In a rushed frenzy we left our small row house in Philadelphia at 8:30 in the morning to leave for the airport. I felt unprepared as usual because I always leave my packing to the last minute. I can be the typical lazy guy when I want to be. So, we get to the airport hours ahead of time and we're flying to Dallas, Texas. I've never been to Dallas before. I think the flight was about 4 hours but luckily when we got off the plane we realized the airport was set up so ergonomically that it was impossible to get confused.

Take note: this is a serious plus when doing something as bewildering as touring.

We took the rental car shuttle and met up with Adrian (his hair was notably longer). Seeing Adrian helps me breathe that very last sigh of relief. When he takes charge, we get things done!

As we start heading to the hotel I realize that Dallas is practically one big Taco Restaurant. I mean, they're everywhere. If you went to Las Vegas and suddenly all the casinos turned into taco houses, it'd look like Dallas. Anyway, we're nearing the hotel and all of sudden "Genie" (for the new readers here, "Genie" is our trusty GPS system) starts sputtering out directions that make no sense.

"Turn left, then take ramp left u-turn", said Genie.

Being the hyperactive maniac that I am, I peeked over at Adrian who was completely at ease. I immediately felt better as we pulled into the driveway of the Best Western. I get out of the car and then it hits me - it's freezing in Dallas. I thought it was always warm here?! I was wrong. I rush to get my hotel keycard (because I am starving) and we go to a local hang that shall remain nameless. Hey, I was happy with my Veggie Burger, but Julie the Food connoisseur (and bassist extraordinaire for new visitors) decided that her Corn Chowder was far too salty and I agreed.

After 1 hour I already feel the spine tingling rigors of touring! It's good to be back, road.

There is no time to relax. We speed right on down to the Granada Theater for soundcheck. Another beautiful venue for sure. For all you Philadelphia readers, imagine the Trocadero with seating and painted walls with different murals. I go to the stage and there's a synthesizer propped up in the middle of Adrian's already gigantic rig. I thought it belonged to our opener (the fabulous Saul Zonana) but it did indeed belong to Adrian. He brought a new toy! That being said, Adrian can play piano and different synth sounds WITH HIS GUITAR. Isn't that insane?

So soundcheck goes okay, except my new drumkit is extremely out of tune. This is embarrassing for any musician, unless said musician does not know how to tune instrument. After I'm done my semi-accurate-by-ear-tuning I go straight for the Adrian Belew Emergency Relief Area (TM) a.k.a. the backstage food spread. This is a common pre-show ritual. I stay at the venue and talk to the super cool staff for awhile, then I make some long phone calls which makes my brain mushy. In my head I am sure the show will be good, but I go through the normal Eric Slick Paranoid Motions.

"Will I drop a stick?"

"Will I break my hand?"

"Will I eat too much of this pasta and become the guy who barfed on stage?"

Well, before I know it, we're walking onstage and it feels like we never left at all. We rip through the set, plagued with the usual first night bum notes and broken sticks, but the energy was fierce as usual. Good to be back, as I often say.

After the show, I was obviously not thinking clearly. There was a curtain that led us to the backstage but before our encore I simply could not find the entrance. This happened several times! I walked right into the concrete backing. Not only that, but I had this uncontrollable urge and I inexplicably threw some our backstage fruit to the crowd instead of drumsticks.

Sometimes I wonder about myself, I do.

Off to Austin, Texas: The Live Music Capital of the World and home to Pat Mastelotto and even more confusing GPS directions.