Tour Day 4--Oui, oui!! Montreal, Quebec Canada!

A little bit of time lapsed since my last entry...things have gotten way cool in my personal life so I have been kind of preoccupied...I start school again tomorrow, so I wanted to wrap the the tour blog...

So after a very successful show we are on the road headed to Montreal...The plan was to drive a few hours so we would be at the half way point. So I drove a bit and with everyone else crashed out, I started getting tired. I was maybe about 2 hours into the drive and said hell with it and stopped at the next exit...Cool, a Best Western!

Which was fully booked...fuck!

Back on the road I went and drove for awhile...Exits are not as frequent where we were at and I was limited in using my phone (GPS/Google Maps) because of data roaming so I was kicking it old school!! Also, there are not a ton of highway signs like here...you know, the blue ones that tell you where McDonald's is?

Another exit, and look at that...another Best Western...Went in...no one at the desk...Waited for 5 minutes...rang bell...still no one around...Goddammit!! I just wanted to go to sleep...

Back on the road again...found another seemingly populated area after a few miles...Got off and looked for hotels...The ones I found were not appealing to the eye...They looked like those fishing cottages you see in rural areas of Wisconsin...I got a total Deliverance vibe and decided we would stick with the chain hotels...

Back on the road again...And at this point, I'm starting to get mad. Mad because I'm tired and want to go to sleep. Mad because I am starting to see double while driving. Mad because I can't seem to catch a break with hotels. Mad because the three other insensitive assholes in the truck are dead to the world sleeping. Mad because...

Oh snap!! A Motel 6 up ahead!! Fifth times the charm?

As I said, I was seeing double at this point so I was having a hard time navigating...David woke up as I passed the turn off few times...the motel was in this "off" area and I just had a hard time finding where to go...David successfully was my eyes and I pulled onto the service road that lead me into the lot...

Got out and attempted to check in...Yes, they had rooms...however, there was a caveat...I dunno if Motel 6 is considered a 4 star hotel in Canada or not, but the price sure was...$125.00!!!! Ok, not exactly 4 star, but you know what I mean. Hell, I can find them around here for $40.00 a night...I begrudgingly payed and headed back to the truck...I just wanted sleep! So here I am steaming pissed as I went and parked...Went to the trailer to get the bags...The lock was not on there right meaning the trailer was unlocked for the last three or so hours...Not too big of a deal, but it was just enough to trigger the Tom Temper!! Stuff was flying around the trailer as I searched for my bag...I tossed everyone else's out, slammed the door shut, locked it properly, yelled out the room number, and headed up...

It was a nice Motel 6 though...Brand new. But fuck it...it was 5am and I just spent $125.00 for a four hour nap...Ugh...With every attempt I try to be frugal on the road, it never fucking works out that way. I am always keeping mad track of the band money and I get miffed when it starts depleting. Seems like we never get ahead.

We had to be at the gig at 3pm...I figured we were about three and a half hours away...We could get a nap and head out around 11 and be fine...And that's what we did after waking, getting our showers on, and stopping for gas/food...

As I was driving, I still felt like we were behind...the mile signs seemed longer than I had thought...Oh wait, they are in kilometers...Duh!

We get into Quebec...at that point, everything turns French! The signage, everything...Weird. We keep plodding along and the directions put us on this highway that turns into a regular city road for awhile...We laughed when we saw a KFC...There it is called PFK...

The road turns back to a highway and we are getting close...I noticed a shit ton of graffiti on the overpasses which seemed odd to me. I always think of Canada as this pristine place...It looked like we were back home in Chicago.

Jim did good with the directions. I am terrible about navigating once we get close...cities always screw with me. After a massive traffic jam, we find the exit. And sure as shit, the place is located in a busy downtown area. In a very steep area. With a festival of some sorts going on. And tons of traffic, both pedestrian and vehicle...And I overshot the club. Fuck!

Wasn't that bad though...was able to circle around and get there...After a bitch of a time backing in the trailer next to the bus, we met up with everyone and began unloading.

The club, Katacombes was pretty cool, although set up kind of weird. It was all circular and the stage was kind of small. There was not a lot of room to store gear. There were going to be two opening bands this night, so the room was really filling up with gear. We also wouldn't be able to backline due to the small stage and the openers.

I must say this...Jim was a trooper for this show...He put up with a lot of shit. David went to the truck to sleep, Adam went and did whatever Adam does, and I kind of wandered around, drank, or hung out with Ian from Destroyer. Jim attempted to set up his kit, work with the stage manager, dealt with the opening bands, etc. It was kind of an odd situation, which I wanted no part of. I just wanted to go get some Poutine!! Which I did...and it was everything I thought it would be!!



Upon my return to the club, I ran into an old friend, Annick Giroux. She did the zine, Morbid Tales and most recently, the super awesome cookbook, Hellbent For Cooking!

We played catch up a bit and it turns out she was DJ'ing at the club in between bands! Awesome, as she has great taste in music...



I was allowed to drink without limit today...David said he would handle the first leg of the trip home. He napped on and off in the truck throughout the night. Awesome! And drink I did...In fact, I sampled so many different beers...It would be a good night.

A pretty big line was forming outside. Everyone in Toronto said this would be a great show for us and it was sure shaping up that way, minus the logistical problems...The first two bands played to a pretty packed house. A very good sign. We were up next and our goal (as always) was to destroy the place. We were uncertain as I think we were unfamiliar to many, but it seems we won them over based on the merch sales after the performance. We about sold out of everything we had. Also we more than recovered from the previous hotel and then some, so I was feeling better.

Here is a video from the show...



Again, the metal fans there are great. We met a lot of cool people and made a lot of new friends. Sure there is a bit of a language barrier. However, their English is 50 times better than my French, so no complaints. If you are in a band, I highly recommend adding Montreal to your list of places to play.

Not much to say about Destroyer and Enthroned. They both killed it yet again. In fact, KK made mention that it was the best show of the tour. I would concur, even though I was not there for the whole tour. But the metal fans in Montreal are crazy and fucking dedicated!!! The place was packed.

After the show, we all hung out. The club was opened till 3:30am, and we finally got the chance to hang out without worrying about anything other than going home. Annick played some great tunes while the typical sing-a-longs, drinking, and debauchery occurred as always. We were having a blast, yet we were kind of sad as we would be going home. We did not want it to end and we made that clear to both Destroyer and Enthroned...

They were playing the Hostile City Deathfest in Philly the next day. We had tried to get on when we found out we were on the tour to no avail. Ian suggested we just go with anyway as there are always cancellations. Since we had their backing, it may have been worth a shot, but we decided against it. It was decided that we would make plans in the future though as we all really hit it off...

The bar was closing and it was time to leave. We had a 14 + hour drive ahead of us. David, as promised, took the first shift. I stayed up with him awhile until he got out of Montreal and on the main highway we would be taking all the way back.

The conclusion/aftermath coming soon...Stay tuned!!

Tour Day 3--Take off, hoser!--Toronto, Ontario Canada!!

Yeah, sorry, but I had to throw a Strange Brew reference in...

Ok, so we head out of Detroit after a pretty decent show. I was hammered, so David drove...I figured it would be best since he was sober...I doubt it would be in our best interest if I pulled up to the border in an inebriated state...So the keys to the war beast (read: Chevy Trailblazer) were relinquished...

David drives really well...It is tough hauling a trailer and he handled it with ease. Hence is why he is on the approved driver list for road shows...that makes only two of us...However, two is better than just me...Ha!!!

Our plan was to get through the border and drive a bit...It was a shorter drive than we were used to (about 4 hours) so if we could get through and make it some of the way, we should be golden. We had to be at the venue at 3pm. So time was on our side once we would (could) make it through...

We get to the border and it was a bit intimidating...I kind of sobered up instantly. The border guards were really polite, asked the random questions, and instructed us to pull up and check in. The check in area was pretty empty...Hopefully that is good, because I was worried about Jim getting in since he didn't have a passport. Doing some research before I left, I learned that you don't really need one to get in...It speeds things along and you may have a bitch of a time getting back to the US without one, but we would worry about that when it was time...

We pretty much breezed right in...I think we were there for 20 minutes...Next thing you know, we were heading towards the gig...Yay us!!!

David drove for awhile longer and gas was running low so we decided to get a room...By my estimation on where we stopped, it would be about a 3 hour drive to the venue...Lets get a good night sleep and something decent to eat in the morning....Sounds like a plan stan!! I want to say it was around 3am...If we were on the road by noon, we should be fine...

Sleep never goes well...With four of us in one room, sleep will not bode well...However, we are not rich so we have to deal with each others quirks...Mainly...snoring! Ugh!! Jim used to be pretty bad, but now Adam is the one that takes the cake...I went in and out of sleep throughout the night...Finally, around 9am, I got up and started getting ready...everyone else followed suit shortly after...

We stopped at the overpriced hotel restaurant and had a decent meal...We gassed up and headed out. All this time, dealing with American vs Canadian money, gallons vs liters, and miles vs kilometers...Yes, the first time we have had to deal with it...

We bought cigarettes...could not get Marlboros there...We got whatever Canadian equivalents...and the packaging is brutal...picture of a limp cigarette saying smoking causes impotency, a picture of a brain that had a stroke, pictures of blackened lungs, etc. That shit would not fly here at all...you know, because that is improper, offensive, and whatever else the moral majority deems fit for our eyes and brains...

So I drove to the venue...So far, everything was fine...Until we got to the Toronto area...The traffic was nuts!! I mean, crazy. I am used to traffic, but maybe being in an unfamiliar area stressed me out more...Either way, we finally made it and we were on time...

We get to the venue, which was The Opera House. We pull up behind the Destroyer/Enthroned bus...here they were, ready to help us again...No fucking shit!!!

The place was bigger than most places I ever played. For the Chicago readers, think about The Vic Theater...it was not as big, but it was close...We loaded in and started setting up...Met the sound guy and he started moving right away...There was a ramp installed from the floor to the stage to facilitate loading...Nice!!

The tour manager asked for a favor...he wanted to put the bus driver in a hotel to get some real sleep and wanted to save cab fare...Problem was, I am lazy, just drove through the gridlock, and really did not want to leave...especially with an empty trailer...However, I understood the predicament and the saving of cash, I just did not want to drive...David stepped up to the plate and I detached the trailer from the truck to make things easier...

Traffic sucked because they were gone for about 2 hours...Either that, or they all went to a strip club or went joy riding in the Trailblazer...Ha!! No one said anything on return...But they returned safely and all was well...we were all ahead of schedule...

We were the lone band to do a soundcheck...Destroyer and Enthroned trusted us enough to handle it I suppose as they did not soundcheck the entire time we were together...

We then find out Pathology did not make it through the border...I found that odd since they were on tour and made it in at Vancouver a week or so prior...I guess different borders, different rules?? Bummer as those dudes were cool. I'm sure we will share the stage again in the future...

There was a local opener though, which made me happy because we did not have to play first for once!! And they were nowhere to be found yet...

I went walking around to find a bar...which I did...and I happily planted myself there...

Jim and I did an interview...I drank...Just hanging out before the madness would begin...

Get back to the venue and there was a nice line forming outside...Nice!!

The opening band, Sepulchre was all set up and ready to go...Merch was set up and I was just wandering and hanging out...People were already buying stuff from us...A great sign, especially since it was our first time there....

Sepulchre were up and they were really good. I am unfamiliar with them, but I liked what I heard. They played a strong set to a good response...

We were up next...We stormed through our set...Someone passed out during one of our songs and he was right up front...Luckily, it was towards the end going into the next song, so I was able to do a pause and get this poor guy some help...we was carried away, and the show went on...It sounded great on stage, so I could imagine it sound great out in the crowd...

We get done, helped the Destroyer guys get situated, and off to the merch table...No shit...there was a fucking line!! Adam and I were scrambling because people were just throwing money at us...I want this shirt, this CD, can you sign this can you sign that...It was insane!! I still did not sign a set of tits, but I signed just about every bit of merch or concert ticket that was put in front of me...Weird...Someday, I will sign tits!!

Destroyer and Enthroned killed it as they did the last couple of days...I spent the rest of the gig hanging out at the merch table and talking to everyone who wanted to talk...Everyone was very cool and very appreciative that we played...We kept being told that the show in Montreal would kill...they are nuts there...To be honest, I thought this show killed...and it is going to get better??? Wow...I hope I am not getting set up for a letdown...

One funny point...I never seen so many Blasphemy shirts in the same place at once...It seemed like 1 out of 5 people were wearing one...Which is cool in my book...I love that band...

The only bummer of the night is the venue took a percentage of the merch...We knew this going in, but it was still a sore spot. I can see both sides...Here we are, a struggling band just trying to make ends meet, and a venue is going to take money from us...On the other hand, this was a big operation...multiple sound guys, security, the whole nine yards...And they only charged us for shirts, patches, and that sort of stuff...Not music...And since that was the majority of what we sold, we did not get hit for too much...Destroyer and Enthroned on the other hand were not too happy about it since most of what they sold were shirts...And they also stuck up for us because we were the struggling band...A bit of waves were made, but nothing real bad...Nick (tour manager) settled a lot of it...But I really appreciate being stuck up for...Again, these guys (Destroyer and Enthroned) looked out for the little guy (Us) and when most bigger bands could give a fuck, they did...Fucking massive!!!

We all loaded out and hung out a bit...We were invited to a bar by the locals, but we thought it be best to get on the road and make our way to Montreal...It would be a little over a 6 hour drive and I wanted to get at least half way there...Destroyer and Enthroned wanted us to hang at the bar and on the bus, but they respected our choice..."True Professionals" is the term I heard, and that really meant a lot. It also shows that we don't fuck around on the road...We are in the proving stage right now, and word of that will spread...

I was cool to drive as I did not drink a whole lot for a bulk of the night...We headed out, drove a bit, and stopped for gas and some vittles...got back on the road and I proceeded to drive as far as I would be able...3 days and no Tom Temper Tantrum...Things are good...Or would the Tom Temper show it's ugly face???

Tour Day 2--You Gotta Lose Your Mind in Detroit Rock City

Or so Paul Stanley so eloquently put it...

So I woke up around 8:30am, still kind of buzzed I think...and the burrito I devoured before going to bed didn't sit right...Oh well...lessons learned...I had to pick up the trailer at 10am...So I packed, shit, showered, and shaved, and headed out the door...

I got there a little late...no biggie...Got stuck with a 5x8 though...I much prefer the 4x8 because with those, I can still see out the back window a bit...Details, details...

I headed over to the practice spot and everyone was waiting for me...Loaded up and hit the road. Well, tried to. Seems like everywhere in our area is under some sort of pain in the ass construction. I think we finally got on the Interstate around noon...

It is roughly a 5 and a half hour drive to Detroit, which should put us there around 5:30...Kind of cutting it close I thought...I speed and the speed limits are a bit higher in Indiana and Michigan, so I thought I would be able to shave some time off...

Oh wait...I forgot about the time change into Eastern...Fuck...Now we would be really cutting it close. As far as I knew, the show was starting at 6pm. Ugh...Maybe the show will get pushed back like the Chicago show did...We could hope...

So, with me being quiet and focusing on the task at hand, I sped across Michigan with only one gas/piss stop...We got to the club, Blondies, and 5:45pm...We made it!!! I guess the Destroyer/Enthroned bus just got there shortly before us, and the Pathology van was nowhere to be seen, so I guess we were doing alright...

Being in a hurry because we still didn't really know what was going on, we quickly unloaded the trailer...But what's this? Members of Destroyer and Enthroned coming out to help...No shit! We got everything in the club and on the elevator in minutes...



We were about to get everything to the stage area, but not before we got to eat...There was a catered meal of chicken, potatoes, and cole slaw!! Awesome...Free food always rules...

So we get everything set up on stage (with more help mind you) and met some of the staff...We sound checked, set up merch, and had a lot of time to relax because the show did get pushed back to around 8:30. Beer time!! Then again, when isn't it beer time for me?

Pathology rolled in as they also forgot about the time change...Glad we weren't the only ones...

The place started getting a bit of a crowd. It was nothing like the Chicago show the night before, but it was respectable...We went on to a great response. More and more people were moving up to the front as we played, which is always a good thing...We get done and felt pretty good...Also sold some more merch after we played, which is another good sign.

Pathology was up next and they killed it. Like I said, not really my thing, but I found myself getting it into it more today. They also threw a song out to us...We'll have to return the favor tomorrow for sure...

Destroyer was up next and again, killed it...What else would you expect? They are a great band and they just took over the place...

Throughout all this time, I was hanging out in back and drinking beers with everyone...getting to know everyone more and just shooting the shit and telling stories...Finally met the tour manager for this leg, Nick, who was super fucking cool.

Enthroned was next and were great as well. I noticed the crowd would thin a bit after Destroyer, which kind of sucks because Enthroned is really good. Maybe people (like myself) were unfamiliar with them since they haven't been to the states in quite a few years...Either way, they slayed...

After quite a few more beers and hanging out, we started to load out...and get this...more help again!! As you can see by all of the mentions of this I make, I am very appreciative with help loading...

Loading got done quick and we were going to head out...Toronto was the next stop and since we never crossed the border before, we figured it would go quicker late at night...Besides, Jim did not get his passport on time, so we thought we would have a tougher time, so may as well get it over with as soon as possible...