May 6, 2007 LAX to ORD to SYR

Leave the room at 5:45 with Ted. Meet Saundra in the lobby to wait for the shuttle. It’s late.
Victor has done a clinic in nearly every city on the tour. He has signed autographs for hours…. played an incredible show every night… went to bed around 3 every morning… and does it [...]

May 5, 2007 Los Angeles, CA

El Rey Theater….
Wake as we’re pulling into LA… about 9:00AM.  Call the promoter and leave voice mail saying we’re in town.  Call the hotel and am told that it’s only 2 blocks from the venue.  Anthony, Tone’ and I set off walking…. and finally give up somewhere in the second mile.  Of course, as I’m [...]

May 4, 2007 San Francisco, CA

The Fillmore…
“Welcome to The Fillmore”…from the back gate guard….and again from the first loader to arrive. (Early).  Both are roughly the size of Cleveland and exhibit an equally sized amount of pride in the venue and it’s place in music history.  This is undeniably one of the most famous stages in the world.  It also [...]

May 3, 2007 Chico, CA

Bell Memorial Auditorium, CSU@Chico
Ah… the halls of higher education.  To be inside the bubble again…..
The day starts like so many others, with Paul’s feat of amazing bus/trailer skill.  Today it’s backing into a construction area next to the “loading dock”.  After unloading and watching the hands push everything up a steep ramp and then LIFT [...]

May 2, 2007 Eugene, OR

McDonald Theater…
I’m really enjoying Oregon.  Lots of pretty scenery…. and nice people.  There seems to be a certain consciousness up here. 
The load-in is next to the municipal bus company terminal and Paul has to thread our bus thru a narrow driveway behind the theater. The promoter is nearly speechless after the move.  He later tells [...]

May 1, 2007 Portland, OR

Aladdin Theater….

My cell phone wakes me… a call, not the alarm.  Joseph from the front lounge…. Slight miscalculation on time today and we arrive at the venue at 9AM.
Do we sit at the venue for 3 hours or go to the hotel?  Can we get early check-in?  Drive this thing to the hotel and then [...]

April 30, 2007 Ashland, OR

The Mobius….
Very sore this morning.  I went out to the bus after getting back to the hotel last night to get the printer and my second briefcase.  I missed the bottom step getting off the bus and ended up on the pavement with a skinned knee and palm.  Printer, briefcase, and bottle of beer from [...]

April 29, 2007 Travel Day

Driving into California and then up to Ashland, OR today….. 14 hour ride.  Miss all but 2 hours of it. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz…….
Check into hotel….discover that internet is down and not expected back on until tomorrow.  Some have trouble with rooms and have to move.  Decide to never stay at a Super 8 again.
Go to the venue [...]

April 28, 2007 Salt Lake City, UT

The Depot….

I’m into a good daily rhythm…so I plan on today being an easy one.  We decide that we’ll do a webcast into TheBassVault tonite… and Vic forgot to bring a tripod.  We have a great runner today and Saundra, Ant, Paul and I head off to the hotel…which we discover is further away than [...]

April 27, 2007 Fort Collins, CO

Aggie Theater…..
Have you noticed a trend here?  Yup…. each day is basically the same.  Pull into town… load-in… see what’s missing from the rider…. Vic heads off to do a clinic…. Jack and Ted set-up….the band sets-up… find the runner… band to hotel…. band back from hotel… soundcheck starts… wait for Vic to get back [...]