This is an open and unfiltered diary-style journal
on the life of James Robert Smith.
This blog will contain sometimes graphic experiences (both beautiful and ugly),
sometimes stark insight, and all honest and factual documentation of dreams, diet, activity, and thoughts.
With my noise cancelling ear buds and eye mask I stay cooped
up in my window seat on the plane. One layover in Chicago then to Norfolk. I
think slept some but my neck is killing me.
Dave, Megan’s dad, picks me up from the airport and brings
me to the truck at Music Makers.
Back home. Elvis is glad to see me. Him and I take a much
needed nap.
Eggs. Toast. Tea.
Running errands in the pouring rain. Apparently, a tornado
hit Shore Drive. Meanwhile, I’m just getting groceries at Whole Foods and some
gear ties at Lowe’s.
We all pile into the bus – Bob drives us towards Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. Meanwhile, there’s some dispute on whether we should idle the bus
since we lost the tailpipe to the muffler – some are worried the fumes are getting
to the cabin.
Sleeping in the back till we arrive in downtown. We’re
playing the Marcus Center tonight. This place is like a maze with 5 other
events going on in other theaters and halls.
Setting up the stage and getting situated in the dressing
rooms. For some reason today there’s just too many things to do – I make some
repairs on Willow, one of our cases – drilling in a cup holder for Nigel on the
bus – and of course setting up my keyboard rig and such.
A few stressful moments between Rebecca and the “grumpy’s”
or the “soccer dads” as we lovingly call Mike, Ron, Phil, and Leon. Rebecca
gets a bit flustered cause they didn’t park where they were instructed to. The
dynamic between her and the older gentlemen isn’t always good. I hate to see her
get overwhelmed in moments like these.
A few of us take our dinner buy-outs and walk down the
street to a place called Proof Pizza. It takes a long time to get our food but
worth the wait.
Showtime at 7:30. We do our two sets to a lively audience as
usual. The theater itself is really tall with four levels of balconies.
Packing up and loading out.
Bob drives us back to the hotel after a directional mix-up.
He’s tired from driving all afternoon and morning.
Relaxing in the hotel room with Rebecca recapping today and
eating leftover pizza and cannolis.
Later on, downstairs in the lobby I chill out until it’s
time for the shuttle bus to take me to the airport. I have a flight to catch at
5:20 a.m.
Piling into the bus/trailer. After about an hour in we all
hear a loud clang after running over some debris in the road – turns out a
piece of our muffler fell off. We dismantle it off and move on.
Arriving at the Medina Entertainment Center, a venue half
bowling half restaurant. It looks like a Minnesota beer hall in here, not a
theater like we’re used to. The restaurant is aptly named Robert’s.
Loading in and setting up on the stage.
They gave us lunch and dinner vouchers for food today. Next
door is the hotel, a very old school joint with actual keys and “No Smoking”
signs posted everywhere.
The show itself was uniquely good – the band was tight –
Kevin’s voice was on point – just a general vibe and energy. At the meet n
greet it was even pointed out that every single band member looked like their
own super star.
Packing up and loading out.
Fortunately, the hotel is right next door. Settling in. I
always spend some time charging Ra (power generator) and cleaning up the bus a
little.
Waking up off and on throughout the morning – the sound of
the train horn goes off like every 15 minutes for some reason. It’s as if the
trains are playing Pong – back and forth.
Eventually, we awaken. Hitting up the local coffee shop
called Jitters. Enjoying a “cup of joe” while some reggae music plays on the
stereo.
Driving over to North Iowa Area Community College. They have
an auditorium where we’ll be performing tonight.
Loading in and setting up the stage – for some reason
tensions seem to be high. Nigel’s high strung running around micro managing
everything under the sun and chugging Red Bulls.
Making an Egg, Veggie, and Hummus Sandwich for lunch.
Sound check.
Dinner: Chicken, Veggies, and Cake.
Performance goes well. Good energy as usual.
Packing up and loading out.
Back at the hotel reconvening in Mike and Jimmy’s room
laughing at all the funny moments of the day and the bad moments of the day.
Waking up every 2-3 hours or so at a truck stop. We all
sleep like cats on this tour bus cause we have to wake up every time we stop
essentially.
We make it to Iowa City at some point. I have to pick up a
rental car from an Enterprise. Jimmy drives it to Des Moines airport to pick up
the old dudes that took flights.
Meanwhile, we make a longer food stop at a Panda Express for
lunch – we’re able to charge “Ra”, our power inverter for the bus.
Bob continues to drive us towards our destination. I hole up
in the back catching up on emails and work.
Eventually, we arrive in Mason City, Iowa. The trip as a
whole cost us a grand total of 27 hours of travel time. It’s kind of crazy to
think about. Getting settled into our rooms.
Then, Rebecca, Micah, and I hit up Culver’s across the
street for dinner. Enjoying amazing fries and custards. We get to know Micah
pretty good talking about all the lighting director work he’s done and how
excited he is to join this tour.
Back at the hotel – chilling with the boys (Mike, Micah, and
Jimmy) in their room for a while laughing about whatever.
Later on, I take brisk cold walk to a Kwik Star, about a
mile down the street for Orange Juice.
Gotta drive the bus all the way over to Superior Trailer to
get a new hitch and ball to connect to new trailer. We had to coordinate Carson
driving the van to meet up at the same time. I help him connect the trailer.
Then, Dan is here also installing Nigel’s computer box in his seat. I talk to
Phil, the trailer mechanic about all the ins and outs of the new trailer – so
much info.
Then, back home. I have so much to still pack and take care
of before we depart for tour. It seems like time just ticks away incessantly
and I can’t keep up.
Finally I’m all loaded into the bus and linking up with the
crew at the warehouse. We got a new light guy for this tour, Micah, and bus
driver, Bob (appropriately named).
In route towards Iowa.
Bob drives most of the day late into the night while the
rest of try to cat nap our way through the trip. I work at the computer
catching up on emails and such.
At some point after the 5th or so gas stop, I lie
down in the back on the futon and attempt to sleep.
Today is all centered around the MMLIVE show at The Bunker.
As usual it takes a lot of time to set up and transport
gear. Also, as usual I am very proud of all the bands – we had five this time,
all with their own layers of talent.
Rebecca and Reid help me big time getting all the gear brought
back into Music Makers.
I’m home finally catching up on everything – doing chores.
It’s about 9 a.m. and I just dropped off the rental after an
all night drive.
Home. I clean myself up and attempt to nap for a half hour.
Granola with Banana. Tea.
Then, at Music Makers we have three final band rehearsals
before the big show tomorrow.
PB&J. Coffee.
Talks with Rebecca about her qualms with the ELO band how
she hates all the things outside of performing.
Eggs. Black Beans. Quinoa. Kale. Garlic Bread.
Watching Barry.
At the warehouse. It’s after 11 p.m. and it’s pouring rain
but I’m here to help the van people unload the trailer and touch base with
Nigel about a few things. Mike drops by and we chat about everything.
Back home. Feeling super tired. I try to get some work done
as much as I can but I have no choice but to konk out.
Waking up bright and early at Mohegan Sun in Montville,
Connecticut. August drove the Tahoe all through the night.
Checking into the rooms and napping as long as we can till
it’s time for load in at 11 a.m.
Meeting the stage hands and getting everything on the stage.
Eating a nice lunch at some point and scoring some free
Starbucks coffee.
Setting up takes a bit longer since it’s such a big arena
stage – many, many moving parts.
At some point I leave the chaos and shower up in my room –
taking a much needed nap. Meanwhile, August is there but goes out to explore
the casino.
Back at the stage for sound check. Nigel of course is
unintentionally causing chaos trying to set up go pro cameras while
simultaneously knocking my vocoder over. We play through about 5 songs for Phil
the FOH. Then, dinner back stage.
I retrieve more of my belongings from the hotel room and
notice an enormous line formed to get into the arena. Little do we know the
original 7,000 in attendance show would turn into a 10,000. Security is upped
because of it.
It’s wild to be up on that stage seeing the sea of people
out in the arena. During our performance whenever they cheer it’s a monstrous
roar. Everything goes great – even Edwin – he’s filling in on guitar for Mike.
Doing a meet and greet, which requires an escorted secret
passage to merch. It’s kind of odd though cause people just stand there taking
pictures of us but at some point they start leading fans to us to sign
autographs.
Then, we have to high tail it on the stage packing up the
gear. It’s of course chaotic with all the venue crew doing various things
around us. But eventually, we hit the road in our Tahoe rental. August drives
me, Rebecca, Ron, and Chris all the way home to VB. I try my best to sleep in
the back but it’s always tough in a moving vehicle.
A couple things on my agenda this afternoon. I walk the hot
and pollen filled streets of Hilltop to Enterprise to pick up the rental. I was
hoping for a minivan but we get a big fat white Tahoe instead – still spacious
and nice.
Then, meeting one of the parishioners at the Galilee church
to talk about an upcoming recital we wanna do for Music Makers.
Eggs. Kale. Bagel. Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Immediately after, coaching Alexa’s band rehearsal – this is
their final one before the show this Sunday. I ordered pizza for me and the
band.
Back home. Packing up a few things for the trip tonight.
Meeting at the warehouse. Last minute I recruited August
(AJ) to drive our rental to Connecticut. Also in tow is Jimmy, Rebecca, and
Ron. I stay up in the passenger seat working on computer things. Some old alt
folk songs come on periodically – nostalgic emotional triggers here and there –
thinking about where I was a year ago – can’t believe how much of a blur it’s
been.
After a gas stop I slip into the back where the futon is and
try to sleep till Mohegan.
At the warehouse there’s chaos. Mike and I try to finish
attaching the foam on my piano shell. Then Jimmy and I get the pack in order –
labeling each case with numbers in order to which they go. Meanwhile, Rebecca,
Brittany, and Chris replenish the merch case with shirts.
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