Warped Tour Week 3
3rd Week! First hump week of three more weeks of hump. It’s camelesque out here in the scorching parking lot tour of Americas. We are fully on routine out here. Let’s go!
St. Louis, MO - We arrived in St. Louis to yet another parking lot. Luckily this time there were some geese and a pond. We hit the hotel pool and quickly made friends with some overweight Machine Gun Kelly fans. America! After a nice latina girl is reluctant to enter the pool she informs us of a black widow floating around. We thrashed about like a scene from Jaws. Lucky to be alive we hit the parking lot for a good old American Fourth of July. The tree line surrounding the hotel blocks our view of any firework danger bang adventure. However, the explosions sent our cap in to a Vietnam flashback. He vanished in a gaggle of geese and returned with Laryngitis the next morning.
Detroit, MI - Detroit was great. The air was humid and the sea of teens stretched back to the Yellowcard tent in a flurry of dropped posters and Epitaph backpacks. During the day we are invited to play the Warped Tour BBQ that occasionally happens when there is a late bus call. We were nervous performing in front of so many of our peers (a drastic change from the usual 12-16 year olds), but we conquered the impossible and made a crowd full of rockstars dance. This was the best opportunity for us thus far. This was the equivalent of being jumped in to a gang, but this gang represents success.
Chicago, IL - Chi-town baby! Wind city put ya hands up! We were conveniently placed right on the other side of the fence that separated our bus parking. We created an assembly line and handed our equipment over the fence. Of course a giant tubs of skateboards was mishandled and smashed apart on a roadies foot. Good! The show was another dehydrated and hot massacre. Girls in paint danced against each other and swapped pantone colors like a child’s first painting.
Minneapolis, MN - Ahhh Mini-apple-seed. A sort of home away from home for us as many friends and musical cohorts we respect and love came out to support and talk shop. After the sweat show we are invited by Sean Anonymous to perform in downtown Minneapolis at The Cause. This is a perfect getaway from the new routine of 7am-9pm and we finally get the chance to play inside, at night, and to adults. The crowd loves it as we smash our sets and rage the night away with drinks and russian roulette. Ceschi spewed black bean tacos into the bathroom sink after following a shot of Whiskey with a Fireball. Yikes! What a guy. Astronautalis and P.O.S. stop by to support and we get the chance to say hello to new and old friends.
Day Off On The Bus - We drove all day. We ended up in Madison, WI where a five hour pit-stop allowed for perusing the Country Kitchen Palace. Cheese curds were bought, and fountain sodas were slurped. The Cap was having difficulties, his swollen sinuses make for a grumpy Gus and a full bus servicing on our tab that was unexpected. We’re out of water, we’re out of clean clothes, but we’re never out of hope! Chase starts off the day with 2 breakfast sandwiches from the Flying J, he swills down a monster and then continues into a couple burritos, a piece of fish and a chunk of fudge. Now the kid ain’t doing too well, the sound of Pawn Stars lulls him to sleep while the rest of the crew takes bird baths and try not to absolutely lose it.
Indianapolis, IN - Okay, we’ve absolutely lost it. Today our booth was placed by the port-a-potties. Hot poop filled the air as we struggled to breathe without gagging like a groupie in a tour bus. We powered through and gave a performance of champions. During our set cops gathered around and watched in full enjoyment as our little piggy representative flipped them off and scratched his little heart out. We end the day with rare beers and games of blackjack. We add a new crew member, Jack (reminiscent of a young Dicaprio circa Titanic, going down with the band). A young kid but he’s got heart and hustle. And so the caravan carries on.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Today we are placed in the enchanted forest of rap. In the pocket between main stages we are nestled in a nice picnic area, surrounded by trees, shade and grass. The odd placement works to our advantage as flocks of rebellious teens sneak away from their parents to smoke cigarettes and escape the tyranny of the sun. Chase receives a new kick drum and snare courtesy of Chicago Custom Percussions and the mega kick from the kit tears kids a new face where their dongs should be.
