July 18th - 11:12PM. Driving To Toronto

"I couldn't sleep all night long; a fog-horn was groaning incessantly on the sound, and I tossed half-sick between grotesque reality and savage, frightening dreams."
-"The Great Gatsby"
F. Scott Fitzgerald

I have trouble falling asleep at night; drinking helps. When I do finally fall asleep it's not for long. I usually wake up each morning around 5AM in a hot sweat. The air conditioner on the bus needs freon or something like that I'm told. I can't sleep when I'm hot. I stumble into the front lounge, use the bathroom, drink some water. Sometimes I read, sometimes I write, sometimes I stare out the window vacantly as endless miles of interstate unfold before the bus. Eventually I lay back down in the bunk where I toss and turn until 7AM, when the bus has arrived wherever we are, and Heather wakes up to start her day. The I fall asleep until around 11AM. The bunks in the bus are small, they're not made to sleep two people. Regardless, I prefer to have Heather in the bunk with me than not.
We played early today, second on our stage. I woke up hung-over from a late, blurry night before. I drank a beer, then a vodka/CapriSun cocktail before playing. Unexpectedly, the crowd was one of the better that we've had thus far on the tour. The sun had yet to drain the energy out of everyone. After our signing, Heather and I went out to dinner with her parents. They still make me feel nervous, awkward. I'm married to their daughter, I want them to like me. It doesn't help that I haven't showered in 10 days.

July 5th - 1:09PM. Selma, Texas @ The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

  "Please just don't let me be boring." I was nervous all day long before the show.

  "Please just don't let me be boring." The thought kept running through my head. I was worried I was going to forget words. I was worried I was going to forget chords. But, above all, I was worried I was going to be boring.

  We woke up in Austin and checked into our rooms at the Sheraton downtown. After taking showers, Heather and I went for lunch at Mekong River. It was a 5PM load in at Emo's, not that I had much to load in, two guitars and an amp. Jordan walked down to the venue with me. I felt like a real cliche walking around downtown Austin carrying an acoustic guitar.

  We weren't at Emo's for more that 5 minutes before Andrew W.K. walked in. He immediately came up and introduced himself. We talked for a second. Andrew seems like a genuinely nice person, a genuinely positive person. I watched him sound check as I changed my guitar strings. After my own sound check I walked back to the hotel. I wasn't playing until 10:50.

  It had been a long time since I'd played a show by myself. I was hoping for disinterest and a lack of attention. I was hoping for anonymity and an empty room. Emo's was packed, with most of the crowd being made up of bands and crew from the Warped Tour. Everyone had the day off and everyone went to Austin. I played 7 songs total, only one of which I'd ever played live before. I kept it short.

  Playing a show alone is entirely different from playing a show with a band. The pressure rests solely upon you to perform. The only sounds being made will be coming from you, the only movements being made will be your own. Last night I was too nervous to do much other than close my eyes and hope for the best, hang on for dear life and wait for the ride to end. After the show was over I felt foolish for being so intimidated. I wished I had owned the moment. 

June 29th - Denver, Colorado

The singer said they were from Seattle, this was the last show on their tour.

He had a musical note tattoo'd on his right forearm, I took it as a sign of self affirmation.

Their sound was derivative of Pavement, Built To Spill, Weezer, and Death Cab For Cutie.

Awkward stage banter to an inattentive audience.

They were playing to the back of the room.

They were playing for gas money to make it home. 

Fender Stratocaster with an abalogna pic guard.

Grey t-shirt with a red heart printed in the center of the chest.

It was a Sunday night in Denver.

Skinny white kids played indie rock, committed drinkers clapped unenthusiastically from the bar.

The lead guitarists hair hung down over his eyes while he played.

Sometimes you get more of an effect the less effort you put into it.

Who cares if they remember the name of your band.

It was a time and place, I wish you could have seen it.

Kerouac died in St. Petersburg, but there's still poetry alive in Denver.  

July 1st - 11:48AM, Maryland Heights, MO @Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Heather and Emily have named the above look "P.S. - Vagina".

We know about the breasts, but look below, don't forget... 

P.S. -Vagina. 

Is that mean?