we meet in the lobby, valet brings the van and we roll out. I’m ready to leave ATL. We hit up Denny’s and I finally get the Superbird I’ve been craving. Sick of Denny’s now, just as much as Subway. Denny’s Boycott ’09 is official. We drive and I sleep except to wake up at truck stops and use the bathroom, maybe cop a green tea every once in a while. When we arrive in Carrboro, I don’t remember if I’ve been here before. Stop at Chipotle and grab some taco’s and head to the venue, called the Local 506. There is an Atmosphere show happening down the block at Cats Cradle tonight, which raises some concern, because two shows on the same night in such a small city most likely is going to effect turnout. We get lead to an apartment next to the venue upstairs, which is our backstage “area.” It is so gross and hot up here that it’s hard to breathe. Sweating. The bathroom is gnarly as fuck. All of a sudden the soundman comes upstairs and enters a locked door and we realize this dude lives here. It’s almost showtime so I go downstairs to the venue and it doesn’t look like anything is happening. I got a spritzer and starting playing the old school X-Men arcade game and some fans want to play against me. They get their asses kicked because I’ve been awesome at this game with Wolverine since back in the day. As I’m waiting to go on I notice my friend Slug walk in and I greet him. He stopped through to say what up along with Ant before their set down the block. I went on shortly after. I watched Cage for a few songs and walked down the block to check out their show. As soon as i walked up i realized that i have been here before, on an EL-P tour. Check out Atmosphere for a few songs walk outside and see Eyedea, say whatup and head back. Cage just finished and by now I got some nice drinks in me and I get some more from the bar while hanging around with fans. Eyedea came through and we shared some spritzers with as well. We hit the hotel and the ride back got a little crazy. Sean jumped out of the van like a frantic maniac while it was moving, to pee. We got lost looking for the hotel. Everyone is drunk and losing their minds or at least that’s how it seems to me because I’m definitely losing mine. When we find the hotel, Chauncey and I decide to crack the bottle of Jack we were looking for and take a swig or a couple two tree. Chauncey takes one and hands me the bottle. I took one, swallowed some and spit sprayed the rest out. Definitely was not ready for that. We checked in and continued drinking and acting like drunken idiots, taking pictures, and running back and forth from our rooms.

Set my alarm early to do laundry in the hotel as I have no clean clothes once again. It’s so humid and disgusting in New Orleans today. I told Todd he could sleep in my bed while I was out because I didn’t feel like walking over him and his air mattress as I go in and out of the room. When I come back, Cage is in shock and disbelief at manner in which Todd overtook the bed. He was asleep when I told Todd he could so he was surprised at the audacity he thought Todd had, which is funny in and of itself. Chris got up and we hit the continental breakfast and watch people around us as they pick and choose from the usual cereals, yogurts, bananas, waffles, etc. We overhear and older guy at the next table talking about Facebook, and we laugh because there is something strange hearing about people you would never think even know what Facebook is, talk about it to people who definitely have no idea what Facebook is. I imagine this increases popularity but I don’t fully understand what a 50 year old man is doing with Facebook. Maybe in 20+ years I will totally contradict myself. I sit in the lobby and Timmy is roaming around without a cause. He sat down across from me and he looks as if he didn’t get any sleep. I ask him what time do we have to leave and he says 10:30. He walks off and finishes using the net on my own laptop minutes later and head back to the room to see Cage blogging and Todd snoring. I asked Todd, what time do have to be at the van? He comes out of his slumber and says 11. Hmmmmm, Timmy said 10:30. I think to myself I bet everyone in the other room thinks 10:30, because that’s what Timmy told me in the lobby, and they are going to be pissed when we don’t show up until 11. I try and tell Todd that I saw Timmy and he said you told him 10:30 last night before we went to sleep. He doesn’t answer back. I leave to pick up my laundry, come back, and Cage and Todd are up now. Cage reads us his first blog and we laugh at certain things he mentions in it. When we finally get to the van. It’s definitely after 11, and Sean and Chauncey are pacing around beside themselves because they’ve been out here since 10:30. We jump in the van and drive. Everyone is acting weird this morning. We are running late already, have barely any time to eat, and are starving. We pull off an exit to a Wendy’s and grab some fast food. Wendy’s hasn’t tasted this good in a long long time. We drive more and trade stories of past experiences in Atlanta. Some interesting times and stories are seared in our minds forever, especially because Cage and I went to Atlanta many years ago with Camu to play a show. We arrive at the venue a half hour late and they push back doors so we can set up and get situated. The backstage looks like a backroom where mobsters might play poker. Like the Bada-bing in Soprano’s. It has a seedy strip club vibe. Cage walks back from soundcheck and tells me he feels like this place is set up like an underground wrestling ring as if they hold cage matches here, ironically.

Chauncey and I get busy making and drinking some refreshing spritzers, as previously mentioned and decide that our new bandname is called The Backstage Spritzers. I have a couple of these before showtime and we proceed to play to a small crowd, having a good time throughout. During Cage’s set I notice from where I’m standing on the side of the stage watching, that someone walked into our backroom and someone else followed behind them, when the door shut. I walk back and open the door of the room like what the fuck? I see a dude grinning because he knows exactly what was going through my head, and Todd is standing next to him laughing. It’s my boy Steph, aka P.O.S.. He’s in town for Warped Tour and came to the show to say what up. We hug and chop it up for a few. After the show we met some fans who drove upwards of 8 hours to see us. Hearing that alone made it worth it for us to play. We hit the Renaissance Marriott, which is really nice, and while we were checking in some crackhead looking dudes outside started getting rowdy with the valet guy. It was mildly entertaining. The best part was the lady behind the desk saying “oh boy, they’re getting aggressive out there” as she called for security. She said it a few times as things escalated and it made me laugh every time. We dropped our stuff off in the rooms and hit the Landmark diner, fend our way through more crackheads, and it’s back to the hotel.

Woke up at the La Quinta feeling like I hardly got any sleep. That’s because I didn’t. I know I’ve been on tour for a while when I actually start looking forward to eating at places I would never eat at when I’m home, like Denny’s. Last night or morning when we pulled in the hotel I noticed the Denny’s in front of the hotel and I figured we would eat there in the morning. As a matter of fact when we were in the elevator Todd asks me

you know what La Quinta means in english?

nope

“Behind Denny’s”

I laugh because there is a lot of truth in it. Wherever there is a La Quinta, there usually is a Denny’s right in front or behind it. Either way I was looking forward to that Superbird. But when I get downstairs and everyone is in the lobby I motioned for Denny’s and all I got was a banana thrown at me. Might as well have been a tomato or cabbage. Lame. Guess not. So we drive and we’re tired and progressively getting more and more hungry. By the time we get there Timmy will end up driving longer than he slept last night. We pull off because everyone starts getting crazy, especially Sean. Try taking 6 hungry dudes and posing these options; Jack In The Box, Cracker Barrel, Wafflehouse, and Cheddars. After much deliberation and arguing, we decide on Cracker Barrel even though there is a 25 minute wait. We sit down and I order, along with Chauncey and Todd, the greasiest meal; fried chicken and mashed potatoes with mystery gravy. I feel gross. We all leave in better spirits at least and jump in for our never ending ride to New Orleans. As we are driving to New Orleans we all start to get this weird feeling. Hurricane Katrina hit this place so hard that even if you’ve never been here before, you can almost tell that something happened. We pass a body of water with the top of trees sticking out over the surface. It was so strange and creepy. And you can see the water line on this elevated road we are driving on, almost reaches the top. Sean tells us about some cool people he’s met that live in the bayous out here. Some real uber remote swamplife shit. And Chauncey starts telling us about these huge nutria rats that live out here, which are such a problem that supposedly you can get money for shooting them and bringing the bodies in. We start talking about rappers from here like Lil Wayne, Master P, BG, Juvenile, Manny Fresh, and Young Turk. It was pretty entertaining. And then we started reciting lines from Mobb Deeps Godfather Part 3, because there were several rainstorms and lightening on the way in, and the third of which we dubbed the G.O.D. father part 3. So we finally get into the French Quarters and if you’ve never been here and you have been to New York, the downtown area of New Orleans is a very VERY low scale version of Times Square with a lot less people aimlessly walking around with camera’s and funny hats. But either way it seems like the area has come a long way since I was here 2 years ago. It was completely dead then. They actually treated us really well in the House of Blues. The food was great, hospitality, and drinks. The show was a thin crowd. It was intimate but the one redeeming quality thing about it, is that when you come to a place that doesn’t get much of anything in terms of live shows that kids can get into, the people have an appreciation that is unparalleled. Tonight was a fun night. Chauncey made drinks backstage for each man. He calls them “backstage spritzers.” These time’s are the happiest of the tour; drinking and laughing about dumb shit like Tim and Eric’s Tordo’s Flavor Dust. LUST THE DUST!.

Photo by Todd Westphal

We go to this place called Old West for breakfast in Denton, TX which was soo good. The drive to Austin is going to be a long one so I decide to experiment and drink a “Drank” for the first time so I could relax and go to sleep. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. The only problem with Drank is that the can is so big that after you drink it and it starts to take effect, you have to piss so bad and the pressure is unrelenting that it’s almost impossible to relax, especially if you can’t piss right away. However, when that shit starts to hit you, all you want to do is stretch your legs and zonk out. And that’s exactly what I did. We had about a 4 hour ride and I was up for the half hour I had to pee. Woke up on the highway driving into Austin and I immediately felt like I’m back at South by Southwest. We pull up to Emo’s and step out. Austin is so hot today! Emo’s is a legendary venue in Austin. There are three separated rooms/sections of this venue with stages. Tonight there are acts playing in all 3 including us. I’ve played in two of them previously and tonight we are in the room I’ve never played. We unload and there is a consensus among us for Stubbs BBQ, which is probably the best BBQ in Austin that I know of besides Iron Works. We each get an assortment of meats and everything from ribs to sweet potatoes. Some fans came in as we were eating dessert and we signed some things for them. I was happy to see them and say hello, even with a mouth full of apple pie and ice cream. They were excited and I think we all caught that vibe from them. We take it back to Emo’s, soundcheck and while we wait Sean is playing Zeppelin riffs. I could probably sit and listen to it for hours. Everything sounds good and we are taken to our backstage area that is up a metal staircase that looks like it could be a fire escape. It leads through a small alleyway above the venue to our greenroom. It reminds me of a treehouse. Our greenroom is small and ridden with stickers and writing on the wall of those who have been here in the past. It’s approaching showtime and we are visited by some members of The Bronx, who are friends with Chauncey. Chauncey did some shots with them and heads down to the room to set up. I followed and walked through the crowd. We had a great time playing. The crowd was awesome. When I’m finished I’m drenched and I towel off. Came back down at the end of Cage’s set and everyone is drinking and enjoying the post show experience. The people here are super nice. After everyone clears out we go outside, pack up, and there are still people from the show hanging around as well as crowds of bar hoppers galivanting through the streets. Austin is officially crackin’ on a Saturday night. Anywhere else you would think there was some kind of street fair or a holiday but this is Austin, TX where It’s all about music, partying, and drinking, We have a long drive ahead of us and we are all wound up, jokes courtesy of Cage, providing a little comedy relief at Todd’s expense. So funny. We stop at a place called Buc-cees. I don’t know why but that name is funny to me so I took a picture. Maybe I’m delerious. Finally…La Quinta. 4:30AM ZZZZzzzzZZZ

Pull up to Haileys in Denton, TX and I get déjà vu. I can’t believe I’m back here. It seems like such an unlikely place to find myself in for a second time. From the outside Hailey’s looks abandoned. We wait around for someone to let us in the structure that looks like it’s barely standing up. We’re just milling around because the soundman is late and there is really nothing for us to do. We are hungry so we jump back in the van and look for something to eat. Chauncey notices something and it looks like we can get some cold brews there so we go. It’s called Roosters. Chauncey says he spotted a “bohemian area where dudes had tank tops on and he knew that we’d be able to get some beers in that vicinity.” We get brisket and beers, establishing a nice buzz before the show. There is no backstage so we’re basically just hanging around and talking with everyone.

I go on and the crowd is just staring at me. When I finish each song there is a delayed reaction but they cheer way louder than I expected for such a quiet crowd. And this happened a bunch of times. I figured everyone was just high. Denton is not too far away from Dallas so most people were surprised that we would play here instead of a bigger city that isn’t that far away. Nonetheless, it’s actually a fun show and we have a good time kicking it and chatting with everyone. We take it to a seedy Days Inn and I put the AC on a moderately cool setting and go to sleep.

photo by Darien Chin

when we were in Seattle, there was a photographer there who took this amazing picture of me and Chauncey. His name is Darien Chin. Check out his website http://www.darienchin.com

woke up sweating my ass off. Cage wakes up and asks me…

why is it so hot in here?

I don’t know. Seems like the AC is off.

He asks Todd…

Did you turn it off?

Todd points at me and said Yak told me to turn it off before we went to sleep.

LIAR!!!

no Todd he didn’t. I was right here before he went to sleep.

So in short, we figured out why we’ve been waking up gasping for air and sweating is because Todd has been shutting it off.

Today was a drive day and we did nothing but drive. We are on our way to Denton, TX. We ate at Chili’s again. I got that chocolate cake with ice cream, which is honestly the best thing you can get at Chili’s. We stop in Oklahoma somewhere along the way. Goodnight.

photo by Todd Westphal

The drive from Phoenix to Albuquerque is a long one and we have an instore to make it to. This part of the country is dry and dusty and it’s hard to believe people spend a lifetime here without ever leaving. They could probably never imagine living where things move faster than a speeding bullet. We’re out of the hotel a little later than we should have. Todd is rushing us. We get in the van and I put on my headphones and try to zone out. It is a pretty boring and uneventful ride. We start getting hungry. When driving on highways and hunger strikes, options are limited. All of a sudden there is a sign for Del Taco. It’s amazing how I can go from amped about Del Taco one day to feeling like if I never had it again, I wouldn’t care. But here we go again and we all bite the bullet. It’s either that or some other shit like Carls Junior. While we are on line Sean got spotted by some die-hard Hatebreed fans who he took pictures with right then and there. As we were leaving another dude pulls up in the parking lot, parks in the middle of the lot, jumps out of his car, runs up to the window and says “is Sean Martin in there?” He was the brother of the dude in Del Taco who must have gotten word that Sean Michael Martin was in Del Taco. Sean being the gentleman that he is got out in the middle of his meal and took a picture with the kid. Back on the road. Long and boring drive down a stretch of road that seems like it’s taking us straight to hell. Instead we end up in Albuquerque, NM, a city in the dessert where we are parked in the back alley of the Launchpad venue, which I’ve never played before. We never made it to the instore on time and had to cancel due to some difficulties we had along the way. One thing I can say about this place is that it seems to be developing since I first came here about 5 years ago. This show is all ages and there are plenty teens and pre-teens on line so we sign and take pictures with them. Before showtime Chauncey, Todd, and I hit this diner called Lindy’s which is a small diner on the corner that I’ve eaten at before. Head back to the venue and play my set to a small but loud crowd. It was cool. I never went backstage, but just hung out at the merch table for the rest of the show. The people here are very down to earth and I even spotted a kid with an original Yak Ballz T-Shirt, the first series I ever made, and brought on my first tour with Aesop and Cage about 5 years ago. Crazy. There is a scene here and I hope to be back sooner than later. Thanks Albuquerque.

We have to wake up earlier than usual today to make it to an instore before the show in Phoenix.  It is so hot my neck is sweating.  The mood in the air is not a happy one.  Everyone is kind of irritable and weird today.  When Todd tells Chauncey and Sean to hurry up, they snap back while Cage and I are just waiting to get in the van and for everything to blow over.  As we are driving we see a sign for In-n-Out Burger and I practically beg Timmy to pull over because I’ve been craving it since we got to LA.  I got my usual double double, animal style, with fries and a root beer.  It was so good.  We get to the instore at Zia Records and there is a decent amount of people there.  This store is actually pretty awesome and we all go shopping and pick up some CD’s and DVD’s before Cage’s instore performance.  Chauncey is playing some dope 90′s tracks and we’re enjoying it.  Cage does some songs and signs some posters and CD’s and after we head to the venue, Chasers.  This venue has that local dive feel.  Sean sits right down at the bar and gets local really quick.  This place is really hot and we are there waiting around for way longer than we should have been.  Finally we can leave to eat and hit the hotel to freshen up a bit before showtime.  Sean tries to lead us to a Mexican take out, with directions from somebody, but in the process he spots another place and says

“thats it, it’s the same thing!”

“it is?”

“We’re supposed to go to Filberto’s but the guy said if we see Fiesta’s it’s the same thing and it’s probably Filberto’s cousins place.”

We are starving so it doesn’t matter.  We walk in the place and it is just as hot inside as it is outside.  We order some very below average Mexican food in the sweltering heat.  After that horrible experience we hit the hotel.  It is a Double Tree and I back it.  Wash up and head back to Chaser’s with very little time to spare before I have to go on.  Showtime and this show is redemption for me.  I felt like I had something to prove.  When I got off I was exhausted and dripping.  Cage went on and plowed through his set and altogether we had a great show in Phoenix.  The rest of the night was a blur.

I’m ready to get out of this hotel. Sometimes we just wear these places out and start feeling like it’s some sort of dirty time warp sucking you in deeper, the longer you stay. It’s a cool hotel, Holiday Inn, and a decent location downtown LA, and clean, but after a while any hotel starts to feel like the walls are closing in. Somehow the climate in hotel rooms never reaches a comfortable temperature for me. It’s always too hot or too cold and this room is no exception. Our van call is is 2pm and we all meet downstairs. We take off on the highway towards San Diego or more specifically, Solana Beach, where the venue is located close by. As we are on our way, all of a sudden we hear a huge pop, thump, and a rumble in the back of our van. Timmy swings across two lanes over to the right onto the shoulder of the highway. Our tire popped and shredded so we are stuck.

Timmy gets underneath the van and unlatches the spare to find out that the spare has a hole in it as well and is also flat! What-the-fuck?! So basically we were riding on the spare the whole time and it was never replaced by whoever used this van last. Very considerate. We call AAA and wait for them to come. During this time we are twittering what is happening and where we are. After a little while a car pulls up in front of us. One person gets out and walks up to the window and asks if we need any help. It is a fan who caught our tweets. By that time Todd left with the AAA dude to get the new tire so we didn’t need a ride anywhere or anything like that so we said no and thanked him for stopping. It was really good to know that our fans are good people who are willing to bail us out of a jam. About 15 minutes later a black beemer pulls up in front of us and a girl comes walking up. She is another fan checking up on us. At this point we have realized how powerful twitter really is. Todd gets back with the tire within 5 minutes of this happening and we thank her as well and send her on her way and she says she’ll be at the show. The AAA guy fixes it and we’re off. We pull up to the Belly Up and I remember playing here with Aesop a little less than a year ago. Something about San Diego makes me feel good. It’s beautiful here and maybe the most beautiful place in the United States that I have ever been to. The beach is right down the block from the venue and I headed there on foot with the camera in hand. It’s a perfect evening at the beach and there are still people in the water. I chill for a second, take it in and return to the venue. It’s approaching showtime and for some reason I don’t feel well. I have a lingering cough from when I was sick and it’s annoying. I pushed through the set and the thin crowd was appreciative, nonetheless. Some days on tour are more rough than others and some shows are better than others. It’s the nature of the beast. Somehow we always bounce back. I love San Diego. It’s a special place. After the show we hit the hotel. There is a Denny‘s right next to it so Todd, Cage, and I decide to eat some unhealthy food before bed.