The next day we’re at Chula Vista. It was a great day. We put the astroturf down for the shop, had a great gig, a great crowd and sold a record number of CDs! A great start to the second batch of merch. I get a little scared though when pretty much everyone I talk to warns us about the heat the next day.
As I step out of the door of the bus the next morning I feel the heat pound down on me. I feel like an almighty hairdryer is causing pressure on my body. Ooof. Then Freddy directs us to set up the shop what seems like miles away and up some stairs. Eek. Anyway we manage it. Our set time is a little later and we can see from our spot that the crowd goes mental for other headline acts. It’s hard to do anything or think anything but we put our heart and soul into the performance.
New Mexico is BUSY! We have 2 gigs, a signing, a couple of interviews and I’m ill from the sun. I try desperately to cool down and eventually do. It’s windy, it’s raining and it’s on grass but the heat still got to me (or maybe it was the sun from the day before). The first gig is great on the main stage. We have introduced a fog horn noise as our entrance music. It works a treat. Then we head to the store before doing a smaller more intimate gig at Brian’s acoustic basement. A lovely lovely chap….
Dan Gray squares up to Brian from the acoustic basement tent
In San Antonio we meet up with the wonderful Dave Dale. Great to see him and we all watch a bit of Wimbledon together and reminisce about SXSW.
Watching Murray do Bagdatis
The whole festival is late to arrive and our set time on the main stage is cut. So we’re off to Tilley’s stage at 8.30pm for a smaller later gig. This means a quiet day on the store but we don’t lie down and take it. We head to a livestock hall where the kids are chilling out under 20 foot ceiling fans. We play and gather some new friends.
Busking in the livestock halls
The gig on Tilley’s is great too. There’s not a massive crowd but all our friends new and old are there. We get them on stage and have a party.
Skinny party on Tilly’s stage
People were worried that the stage is going to break but it’s cool (I’ve been in this situation before)! The BBQ that evening was great and somehow I managed to wake up with a bottle of high class vodka in my bag from the barman!
BBQ party in front of the buses
Houston Texas is also a blast. It’s raining which is very nice. Back on the main stage, we have a great crowd, gig pit and lots of lovely people come and find us to sign and buy stuff. Houston we hope to come back soon!
We loved you in Houston! Can’t wait till we meet again~Briana
We loved you in Houston! Can’t wait till we meet again~Briana
Thanks to the good times and big grins. So great to spend time with you all again.
Amazing to see you being loved by 1000’s; about 100 days after your first US gigs in Austin.
Got a quick clip of the huge stockyard/ ceiling fans in San Antonio. (Wondered how many cattle it can hold. We were only in one room of it. ) Coolest space to relax in the heat, misting tent at the entrance. Lots of exhausted/overheated folks sprawled on the concrete. One of the many people that asked me who you were, said your music was: ‘a welcome break from being screamed at’. Big grins.
That space had a very heavy and consistent background noise. Blades moving air, people, concrete room. Wasn’t loud to the ear, easy to tune out; but it was swallowing an amazing amount of sound. I knew it was a big stockyard when I couldn’t hear the Mule. 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNyCcPgIPxg
Loved your evening set (bumped from the dismantled main-stage). The (big) Texas sky looked amazing as the sun came down. Not sure how many stomping people a stage like that it rated for, but it got tested.
Thought more people would stay at Warped until it ended at 9pm, but not surprising so many leave early (given they’d been in the heat since before 11am.)
Was disappointed with Warped for deflating the big sign with the line-up on it, when I went to look for an evening band to see before you. I understand the pressure to pack up quick and get to the next of 50 cities; but out of respect for the people on it (and the people who stay to the end), I think it should have air until 9pm.
Other bad thing about Warped: energy drink sponsor pushing sugar syrup etc . . $4 for small water, limited allowance to carry water in, no re-entry during the day to get more. Made me think of the film: US Civil Defense Preparedness Agency; Series: ‘Your Chance to Live”, Episode “Heat Stroke”. Never forgot the kid playing basketball in jeans. (No, stop, drink the water in the shade dude!)
Anyway back to that night: Small club feeling, under a big sky. Good party. 🙂
Best bit of Warped for me was in the circle pit, followed by waltzing; with the big crowds at the Houston main stage. Never done those two at the same show before. Got a little video of people going crazy for beermats/17 Summers.
Lots of new friends and stories in Houston and this Summer’s just begun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=As-LrUirbto
Vans Warped Tour 2012 (cookie monster voice: “ROooooock!”) was delicious.
Add punk, pop-punk, emo, screamo, hardcore, post-hardcore . . . little bit of folk . . . roast in an asphalt parking lot for 10hours in the mid-Summer. Serve fresh daily in 50 cities. (Young crowd; no drugs, drunks, fights or drama. . . lots of smiles.)
Other stuff I loved:
Matt Toka – Proper punk spirit in his live shows. (Minor Threat) Took me back to my youth (smaller earlobes and less tattoos back then.)
Vampires Everywhere – The type of wild theatrical show I’d hoped I’d get to see.
Stepdad – Belongs at Bestival. Feels like I should have heard them there first. Would love to hear them there next.
Thanks again from all of us in Texas and see lots more of you soon (given the current trajectory of your great American adventure).
All the best until next time,
Dave x
(Here’s a tune I love for a long hot hard road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDC321iYh4o)
Thanks to the good times and big grins. So great to spend time with you all again.
Amazing to see you being loved by 1000’s; about 100 days after your first US gigs in Austin.
Got a quick clip of the huge stockyard/ ceiling fans in San Antonio. (Wondered how many cattle it can hold. We were only in one room of it. ) Coolest space to relax in the heat, misting tent at the entrance. Lots of exhausted/overheated folks sprawled on the concrete. One of the many people that asked me who you were, said your music was: ‘a welcome break from being screamed at’. Big grins.
That space had a very heavy and consistent background noise. Blades moving air, people, concrete room. Wasn’t loud to the ear, easy to tune out; but it was swallowing an amazing amount of sound. I knew it was a big stockyard when I couldn’t hear the Mule. 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNyCcPgIPxg
Loved your evening set (bumped from the dismantled main-stage). The (big) Texas sky looked amazing as the sun came down. Not sure how many stomping people a stage like that it rated for, but it got tested.
Thought more people would stay at Warped until it ended at 9pm, but not surprising so many leave early (given they’d been in the heat since before 11am.)
Was disappointed with Warped for deflating the big sign with the line-up on it, when I went to look for an evening band to see before you. I understand the pressure to pack up quick and get to the next of 50 cities; but out of respect for the people on it (and the people who stay to the end), I think it should have air until 9pm.
Other bad thing about Warped: energy drink sponsor pushing sugar syrup etc . . $4 for small water, limited allowance to carry water in, no re-entry during the day to get more. Made me think of the film: US Civil Defense Preparedness Agency; Series: ‘Your Chance to Live”, Episode “Heat Stroke”. Never forgot the kid playing basketball in jeans. (No, stop, drink the water in the shade dude!)
Anyway back to that night: Small club feeling, under a big sky. Good party. 🙂
Best bit of Warped for me was in the circle pit, followed by waltzing; with the big crowds at the Houston main stage. Never done those two at the same show before. Got a little video of people going crazy for beermats/17 Summers.
Lots of new friends and stories in Houston and this Summer’s just begun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=As-LrUirbto
Vans Warped Tour 2012 (cookie monster voice: “ROooooock!”) was delicious.
Add punk, pop-punk, emo, screamo, hardcore, post-hardcore . . . little bit of folk . . . roast in an asphalt parking lot for 10hours in the mid-Summer. Serve fresh daily in 50 cities. (Young crowd; no drugs, drunks, fights or drama. . . lots of smiles.)
Other stuff I loved:
Matt Toka – Proper punk spirit in his live shows. (Minor Threat) Took me back to my youth (smaller earlobes and less tattoos back then.)
Vampires Everywhere – The type of wild theatrical show I’d hoped I’d get to see.
Stepdad – Belongs at Bestival. Feels like I should have heard them there first. Would love to hear them there next.
Thanks again from all of us in Texas and see lots more of you soon (given the current trajectory of your great American adventure).
All the best until next time,
Dave x
(Here’s a tune I love for a long hot hard road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDC321iYh4o)
Hes actually pretty funny!
Hes actually pretty funny!