Kings & Queens

Fade to Grey, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Best show of the tour? Tonight we were at House of Blues Orlando. Without causing offense to the good residents of this area, i wasn’t getting my hopes up for this place from the minute i got off the bus and saw the massive Disney Experience logo above me. I love Disney as much as anyone but it just doesn’t go with rock and roll. We’ve seen it in California.

Further horrors include a Princess Diana exhibition (or something; i didn’t get too close), the fake lake with the fake boats and the Kenny G soundtrack (see- R&R and Disney – no go) along with the fake hot air balloon that rose and fell gently every few minutes. Maybe that actually had hot air. I meet a young fan who drove a couple hours to be here and she agrees this is not really the place for the Psychedelic Furs or the Happy Mondays. But this is my first sign that the show may be cool despite everything – she’s a guitar player we talk Vox amps and Jazzmasters; better than the usual “why didn’t you do Heartbreak Beat”. The House of Blues is the best i’ve seen – really cool room, perfect sound, great restaurant and dressing rooms. I even get a custom ordered omelette for late breakfast – oh yes.

So the Mondays do a hot set which i observe from the dressing room window above the stage. Mikey was on fire tonight… as they all were. Every night Julie owns that stage – i’m sure they’ve run into a lot of Furs-heavy audiences but i think she does an unbelievable job getting the place behind them. Now we’re on and its jsut good all round. Well, for me at least; i rarely get a great mix on stage but tonight its almost all there. Even ‘All of this and Nothing’ goes smooth. Crowd is off the hook… Mars and I hang with the people for a bit afterwards and then we have to leave. Good job and good night Orlando.

The Psychedelic Furs, originally uploaded by James Good.

Not much sleep. Mars, Paul and I have a dip in the warm, warm Atlantic by the hotel day room. Too much sun so far this trip? Never. I’m turning into a lobster though.

James takes a half day off and picks us up in the no-AC Porsche and drops Paul by the bus. It’s good to catch up with Jeem and we get good lunch and Margaritas at some place around the corner. After soundcheck we meet up with Diane and even discuss their wedding plans over more food at the place next to the earlier place. Nice to dip back into some normal family life for a minute. Like this part of Fort Lauderdale – some cool buildings and shops here. The venue (Revolution Live) is a little roach-y but has a cool outdoor area where we can chill out for a bit. The guy who looks after us all day (Sylvan?) is totally cool and somehow a bit of a ringer for Sawyer from lost.

Hot show for a packed audience that were most enthusiastic after the show. Barriers even! There’s still one drunk obsessive guy who’s all mad at me for not being John, but he’s keeps hanging around me calling me John. Little tired of that. I’m doing what i can people.

A final hang out with James, Diane and Leigh before heading to the beach for a midnight dip with Richard, Mars, Trish and Darren. Hilarious and not a little scary. Warm water, thunderstorms and darkness. Portuguese man of war? Is that you?

Cheap thrill, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Mars made me go jet-skiing. It was probably the funniest thing we’ve done on this tour. Screaming and trying to throw each other off with the wake. Terrible. One day the inner-adult will shine through. Shame we didn’t get the whole band out really; though it may have spelled the end of tour due to injury.

Tonight’s show is at Ybor City; a lot of Cuban history here – it was founded by cigar manufacturers. Still a load of that culture here. Should have got one… always with the benefit of hindsight. Instead, Paul, Mars and I went to the Greek restaurant and had some superb food with some authentic napkin and plate-throwing.

First night with Islands. I already had a heads-up from Pitchfork so i knew this would be somewhat compatible with my taste. I caught the last two songs. Loved it. Great sound, some amazing changes and writing. Cool guys too. Must remember: N-Dog (Nick), J-Dog (Jamie), Evan and Geordie. Check them out if you haven’t. I wanna tour K&Q with these guys.

Loved tonight’s gig; after the cavernous soundcheck it all came together very nicely. Good people too. They always want us to come to these ‘Official After Party’ events down the road; we never have any knowledge and we very rarely go because of bus call. But tonight we met with fans for a good long while before heading out to Fort Lauderdale. There’s an incredible white rhinestone cape on the bus. Islands called and had us pick it up. Its irresistible – sorry Nick.

Trying to sleep. Buzzing. Alligator Alley passes in the night.

Islands.

Rolling into Florida, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Some statistics:

So far:
Miles travelled: 7,642 or thereabouts.
People played to: millions. well, maybe
Packs of strings: boring, and i actually have no idea.
Picks: countless
Movies watched: 3 (Basterds, Wrestler & Miles Davis Story)
Coffee: It’s always on.
Food: countless greek salads and the occasional relapse into friedom.
Quote of the trip: “Dayamn!” ; everyone.
Hotel rooms: 7 1/2
Lush fans met: More
Sober fans met: Less
Swimming pools: 4
Best show: SF, Austin or Houston.

Actual photo from the space station., originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Sadly missed the Menil Museum today – Houston is just too dang big to handle in one day and we awoke in the center of the financial district which is pretty dead on a weekend. So i just wandered the block, got hot, did some laundry and hung out with Mars and Richard by the pool at the hotel. Same hotel as The Pleased stayed in all those years ago. I seem to remember some sort of ridiculous last-night-of-tour shenanigans that night. Frank Ferrer. Who knew he’d be in GnR and I’d be with the Furs. I hold a soft spot for Houston cause its where i first played Virginia Plain with the Furs.

Tonight’s show was another one of the best. I’m running out of ways to describe shows and audiences. Let’s just say it was pretty much a 10 night for me. I believe everyone else had the same feeling too. This is good in the middle of a tour… Met a lot of good people after the show – Texans are big on the Furs. Some cool pics here.

My favourite thing about today, however, was getting to meet Tim Kopra, an astronaut for Nasa who was recently up in the ’station and is set to ride back up again in September. He’s a huge Furs fan so it was a face-off of awe – us to him/him to us.  But how about this picture of the first album floating in space? Brings this to mind perhaps? Butler’s in space… Anyway, great to meet Tim and his wife and friends. Space walk!

Tonight was also our last with Amusement Parks on Fire opening. They a great lads with some cool tunes. Check them out.

Back on the bus for another 1000 miler to Tampa… how does Darren do it? Some sort of super human being. Oh, wait, no, coffee and cigarettes.

The Psychedelic Furs, originally uploaded by austinistdotcom.

Austin was a mind blower! Definitely a best show contender. Audience and band energy was really high tonight; outdoor stage was great despite earlier rains, sound was awesome, lights were moody… Met some very cool people who took us out for a drink afterwards. Can’t say enough good about this show. Thank you Austin.

Also, mention for the band we met (The Rocketboys) who did an after show set inside Stubbs – great sound and songs- check em out.

we drove forever today. Did some work, watched the Miles Davis story that i’d swapped with Jonn (Mondays) for Fearless Freaks, and tried to imagine i could stop in the desert of New Mexico. Stopped in El Paso after 700 or so miles. Wandered over to some Texican food with R, M, P and T – good too. A few hours in the day room; an episode of MadMen with Andi on video chat. Back on the bus at 1am to continue the drive; Austin-bound. Deathproof is on the screen.

A night drive let us out in Vegas for a badly needed day off. I barely slept so Andi and I explored a little but decided that our room is the best place in Vegas (THE hotel suite upgrade re-enforced this thinking). A quiet moment thank you..

We did run into Yogi in the lobby later – good to see the old chap, we wander a bit of the strip and see the Lions at MGM before once again caving to the silence of the room. For a city of lights Vegas is a dark place for the most part. Maybe its just being here after seven days of venues and noise. My parentals are on a road trip through the southwest right now and they are here to catch the Vegas show – they drop by for a glass of wine later – good to see them and get some stories from the hometown. Late dinner with Mars at the cafe downstairs after he saw the Cheap Trick / Sgt. Pepper thing on the other side of town. The Killers are texting.