Kings & Queens

Leaving Philadelphia, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Currently sitting in traffic somewhere in upstate NY. In a mere thirteen hours I’ll be back home…

***

After the goodbyes the day is spent dealing with delays, missed stand-bys, $9 dollar sandwiches, rain, overweight luggage and general busy-ness of airports. Only on the second flight do i relax, take a painkiller for the chest and get six sweet hours out of my iPod. Coltrane, Big Star, Spiritualized, Kate Bush etc… I review some K&Q songs too. Not so shabby… the six weeks break may be just what was needed to now finalize this record. Itching to get back in the studio. Unmixed/mastered preview of one here.

I retrace the tour steps through the cloud-covered United States before they part and let me back down in California. Home.
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14,000 miles, 29 shows, 2 guitars, 3 amps, 54,000 people…

Thank you and good night

Bus shakes us awake in Montreal. Parking won’t be easy today. The last day. Freezing. Well, probably not that bad but compared to Jet Skis a couple of weeks ago this is ridiculous. Mars and I do the wander of the town. It appears we are playing the rainbow district tonight; some odd christmas ornaments in the stores. Venue is great; big old red theatre that’s very Parisian inside. No barriers too – always a good sign. Last night was great except for the 10 foot gap between us and the audience; i prefer to be close.

Thom has the runner take me to the doctor for sternum exam. It takes about an hour and I end up with some fairly hefty painkillers but no x-ray. He says its probably not fractured. I’ll try the painkillers tomorrow.

The show is off the hook tonight. A perfect balance of good sound, great, warm audience. It’s difficult to stop at the end of Forever Now. This could be my favourite show. And then its over. 6 weeks done and dusted. An empty venue full of beer cups. Detune the guitars and wrap the heads for travel. I pop onto the Monday’s bus for final goodbyes; not to get sentimental but its strange saying bye when you’ve just lived together for a month and half. I’ll miss their funny little English ways(!). I’ll be in touch.

To all the Furnatic fans who visited with us on this tour; you made it quite a ride around the country. Thanks for all your enthusiasm and support. See you next time.

The bus rolls and we cruise the border – much simpler affair going back in to the US. Chat with Trish, Darren, Amanda and Zarr up front before a final pass out in the last right-middle bunk.

It’s 3ish when we hit the border. They make us sit in a room for half an hour and search the bus, take passports, ask question. It’s all pretty harmless but its also late. We’re back on the road and into canada by 4ish. The last two dates ahead.

Wander Toronto a little with Richard this morning. It clear and just about freezing. Walk fast. Some coffee a few pictures of the CN Tower. The venue (koolhaus) has a big ole stage, a cavernous room and the best food of the tour. Stir Fry station anyone? Good stuff. After soundcheck i throw my sternum out in a mini-wrestle with Jacob. Or bruise it or crack it or something. Feels like daggers. Kicking myself for this cause it could throw my extravagant moves for the show(!?). I take a walk over the Tower to see if it fades away. It doesn’t, but not to worry cause the show is awesome, if anything the energy is higher than ever and I only wince from over-exuberance in Forever Now. Sleeping tonight, however, is not so restful. Last show tomorrow.

Awakened by the sound of the engine stopping. Going on deck to see where we are. Ah, Pontiac, MI. Detroit if you’re not being picky. So the last US date. As the end draws near things are changing. Leaves. Minds. Pedals. Band relations. Some questions occur:

1. How to re-establish contact with normality upon leaving the microcosm? This is a big one because i’ve become accustomed to being told what to do, where to go, who to listen to and to people clapping when i do things.
2. Will I be able to stop wearing black all the time?
3. Can i afford that new Vox Phantom or that Gretsch?
4. Will i walk as far every day?
5. Have my cats remembered who the hell i am?
6. Has my wife?
7. Will Mars stop calling me?
8. Will Tim start calling me?
9. Will Paul come visit?
10. Will i see Amanda in LA?
11. Will Richard call every night at showtime and sing LA LA LA LAAA at me?
12. How to stay in touch with Mondays? Will Jonny move back to San Diego?
13. Will Islands finally give me a copy of their vinyl record in trade?
14. When will the desert be on the horizon again?
15. How seriously has my diet been damaged? Will i still have to pick after show food off a photocopied menu every night?
16. Will Nick ever wear that cape on stage?
17. In what year did the Psychedelic Furs first (!) tour the US?
18. How will i afford the new rig i want? Fender/Vox vintage.
19. Will i be able to do anything by myself?
20. When’s my next gig?
21. What crazy pedal will really make the beginning of ‘All of this and Nothing’ sound right? Micro Pog didn’t seem to do it.
22. Can i really pull off a dead Marc Bolan impression at that Halloween show?
23. Why am i so tired all the time?
24. Was that really the ghost of Musk-rat?
25. How will Elton’s wardrobe fair on this bus?
26. Will we do Dumb Waiters one more time?
27. Can i avoid the bus-plague for the next three days?
28. My god, i need some decent avocados. (not a question)
29. What really happened in Dallas on November 22nd, 1963?
30. When are we doing this again?

Awesome, loud show in Pontiac! Big, cold, room with a skeleton downstairs in the shower. Islands last show with us. Love that band – great tones on stage. Go see them – they are on their own tour for another 3 weeks. Catch the vapours and some fine stage threads.

Now, to the border. Helloh Canada.

Its late and the bus is rolling gently away from Columbus, OH en route to Pontiac, MI; the last of the US dates. Tonight was ridiculously loud but a ton of fun for me; everything went smooth and the stage was a good little intimate theatre stage. Usually carpet is not so good but the shoes like it tonight. Richard rocked them despite the illness. Ah, the illness. We’re all frantically taking copious amounts of vitamin c and kombucha right now. Tim and Richard both had the 30 hour cold. But as long R made it through we’re probably good – the rest of us can play instruments despite a flu.

I was filming video clips all day today. 84 in total. ‘A day in the life’ will happen. Including the legendary ghost of Musk-rat in the graveyard.

Camaraderie between bands is at an all time high right now. We’ve been through a lot together and the end is so near i think we’re all feeling the apprehension that goes with that. Islands and the Mondays have been amazing as tour partners.

Wilco were in town today. I saw John Stirrat in the street earlier and thought it was just a lookalike. Only learned they were here later. Bastards probably took half our audience. We had a rowdy lot tonight still.

I have  headache and its time for bed.

Where i awoke., originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Boston started with some conflict between the powers that be. There’s been some of this already and its not pretty. Fortunately, relations between the PF and HM band members and most crew has been, and is, completely fine; its just other parties within the organizations that have off-days. It’s not the greatest environment to be playing music within. No names… But i didn’t like what i saw going on today.

Pretty mellow day in Boston, the venue is excellent and that side of things is easy. Popped out for lunch with Mars & Paul, rested a bit, spoke to dad, bought Sister Europe 7″ in a record store.

The show was great but Julie from the Mondays collapsed after their show and had to be ambulanced to ER. This was rather alarming so i had Jonny text me when he knew she was fine. Poor lass, totally overdoes it every night – carries many a show. I think she was extremely dehydrated.

Meanwhile we did a meet and greet in the VIP area with some senators. I was cornered for a bit but Rob’s friend Christina from Seattle (who showed me the Hendrix Museum) rescued me and the conversation shifted to London art schools and Chet Atkins. Also met this guy who does this cool magazine; he wants to do a Furs issue. I like it. One drink later the we are back on the bus and headed to Ohio. Farewell East Coast.

President Gas in NYC with Knox Chandler

I love New York. I realised that once again on this trip. It’s an unbelieveably vibrant place. But its also crazy how you can never escape people. Claustrophobia is always a short pull away. I’ve become a space-aholic living where I live. I need to have peace and quiet and plenty of sky. I was just marveling as Andi and I sat in Central Park, that there is no way to get away in NY. Even in the park there is tons of stuff going on all the time. And everything is man-made. Too much. I need to see some earth that has been there since the dawn of time. Take me to the desert, the mountains, where you can see how time has worn the landscape naturally. And space to make noise. It’s all noise here. So yes, i heart NY but maybe just for a two-night stand. It may just be that I’ve been in a major city every day for the last 5 weeks.

Anyway, a tangent carried me away! We were on the bus at 10.30 today. Pulled away from the herd of tour bus’ and into the city. The Roseland is cavernous and kinda cool/kinda run down. So run down. We catch some breakfast at a diner with Mars and Darren. Much hilarity ensues… I’m not going in it here. The cottage cheese omelette was interesting for a go. Not so much hilarity between management today.

Bit of rehearsal of Friends on the bus. Then we wander with Tim and Mars over to the music store area (48th?) for a look at some fine old instruments and for Mars to find reeds (which he didn’t). Soundcheck – Knox is here! The cello throughout PG makes me grin the entire time! Something new! (hey, its been 5 weeks). Friends didn’t work out again. I just keep wanting So Run Down and Dumb Waiters back in. But i don’t want to cut any either. It’s hard to have a set when the band has too many good songs.

Andi and I wander some of Central Park to get the true Autumn in New York vibe. Its there, though i wish we had more time. Dude playing sax, squirrels, young lovers: check. Couldn’t work out where the Ghostbusters building were though. Also managed a quick run through of the fourth floor of the MOMA. Free friday night! Thanks Target. Always nice to see some Rothko right before a show. Packed it was!

Sister Europe

Despite the life on stage being marred by all manner technical trouble (crazy monitors, kick drum pedal breaking in encore, my amps appearing to fade in and out) tonight was a very fine show with a big ole 2000+ NY crowd. They seemed rather taken with all of us. After the show i got to hang with my crew of Andi, Carl, Jo, Rochelle, April and their friend who’s name escapes me. All very sweet and complimentary. Also got a few minutes with Knox who seems taken with the show too… Again, the cello of P-Gas was so much fun to play with. Even Frank F endorsed us tonight… So good to see him after all these years. Looking good man! Must be the GnR diet.

We hung around for a bit on the bus before I had to say bye to Andi and Ro once again… Quick slice of pizza with Mars and we’re out to Boston. Dillman doesn’t sleep.

Day off in NYC, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

We bought $4 shades and day-glo socks. Had a great day in NY with my lady. Had great coffee breakfast at Cafe Reggio, ran into Mars and Knox Chandler (he’s going to rock some cello on PG tomorrow!) wandered the village, saw Charlie Parker’s place, Cafe Wha, had a drink in the lower east side, almost bought too many shoes, didn’t buy any, ran into Marc Snegg, checked out Mars’ old pad, ate great indian from the Punjabi place apposite the Mercury Lounge, took the train over to Brooklyn and whiled the evening away with Rochelle and some mexi-food and a whiskey. Tube it back to Secaucas. zzzzz.

I need to catch up on this. Will endeavour today.

Philadelphia today… I see a blue bridge, chinatown and a rather uncompromising, cranky, lack of sleep. Trocadero tonight.