We played in Chicago yesterday. It was very interesting. The venue was enormous, but a small turnout (however, those who WERE there, were totally amazing fans and incredible responses throughout all bands’ sets).
There was some violence and fights at this show. It was shitty. The cops came and the plug almost got pulled.
A girl working there came up to me and pleaded with me to help regulate the crowd by telling them to dance less violently or else the show would get shut down. Of course security there were total dicks and provoking the tension. While this girl spoke to me in the deafening venue, I took everything she said with a grain of salt, and then she dropped the key phrase, ”I’m a hardcore kid, I don’t wanna see this show get shut down.” Instantly my attention perked up. A hardcore kid, eh?
When it was spoken it was said with honesty, but the thing that I later realized while driving in the van is that this term is like a badge of honor. Instantly I took her seriously. A hardcore kid knows the scene, the politics, the strife and also the elation that comes with the extreme underground. Her saying this was like uttering a password for a secret brethren, and instantly I knew she was on the level. She wasn’t some typical suburban kid, she was a HARDCORE KID.
It was just an interesting anecdote that came to mind when driving in the van.
We’re on the way to Cleveland right now. We’re late because of the time zone change.
We’re all tired and dirty.
We stayed with my friend Selena in Chicago (big ups!)… She’s a true pro when it comes to photographs (lurk her out:
www.selenasalfen.com). A fellow Gemini, we have a lot in common and a good connection that I treasure.
The band sold the most merch in Chicago than any of the other shows, AND with the smallest attendance! Go figure. Guess these kids are bloodthirsty for HSB.
Prior to the show time was spent counting merch, getting the beauty school next door to give bikini waxes, riding fixies, etc… basically “the usual”
By the way, I found out Oreos are vegan. Cool!
There was a stretch of days without Internet, hence the lack of updates to this blog. However I'm about to do a big post now that I'm in Worcester, Mass. To tide everyone over till then, here's a single glorious picture and example of why graffiti can be amusing, enlightening and just plain wise (well four out of five on the list ain't bad I guess).
Be careful what you shake hands on...
All the bands on the tour love each other. REALLY.
I don't even know...
The people who were there for HSB raged pretty hard. It was great.
The final stretch to the finish line.
It wasn't so bad, as it was annoying. Especially when you see cops digging through your bags.
It was the best sushi I think I've ever eaten. Full on authentic, and the people there didn't even speak English, a true sign of legitimacy.
No time for bathroom breaks = peeing in a bottle... Not entirely uncommon.
The sign may be low brow, and when the tour manager made it, I hesitated, but it's actually worked on this tour, so what do I know?
Sometimes backstages are really shitty basements that look like out of a serial killer movie...
