Highlights:
At our hometown release show in San Francisco we were stoked to see a lot of new faces in the crowd.

After our SOLD OUT show at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, we hung out with the Heet brothers, and enjoyed a game called “Who can we get to drink the Smirnoff Ice.”

In Santa Barbara, Anton jammed the night away with the headlining reggae band.

In LA we were graced with the presence of Ninja Academy.  Guest members Ninjamamalickum, Gongis Khan, and Tai Kwan Dan were welcome additions, adding to the group’s interesting and dynamic sound.

After our Long Beach show, this dude Copeland invited us to stay at a 110 year old theatre.  Anton slept on the stage, while Lewis and I slept on a couch in the women’s bathroom.  Yes, there was a couch in the women’s bathroom, making me wonder, “what lies behind all those forbidden doors.”

Oceanside – where to begin?  Speakeasy Studios – A ridiculously awesome Recording Studio/Art Studio/Venue/Truck Repair.  Everything about the night was perfect… until the cops showed up and shut it down.  We got to finish our set, but our friends in The Burning of Rome got the shaft.  But they took it in stride and moved the party inside to the studio where they rocked a late night set for the remaining soldiers.

Jon

Ahh... San Diego, discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina.

Anton and Lewis are back on the Mates of State bus on their way to Texas, playing more shows w/ out JD.   In the meantime, I get a much needed (and much deserved) break.  I’m spending the time in SD with my good friend Josh Rosenberg.  San Diego sports fans may know him as the voice of the XTRA Sports 1360 AM radio.  Josh and I are old high school friends, both pursuing careers in the entertainment field.  

Lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun, reading a good book, watching season 4 of Weeds, eating great food, no obligations.  Could this weekend get any better? 

Tomorrow I leave for Houston, on another 3-day solo road trip.  I don’t think i will mind a bit knowing what is waiting for me… DREDG!!!  This tour is gonna be so sweet.

Judgement Day, reunited in our borrowed hotel room

We had our first show tonight as the opener on the Mates of State and Black Kids tour and man, it was a rough one. First off  everyone was running late all day so The Black Kids didn’t finish their soundcheck until the doors were already open and we had to do our whole soundcheck in front of the crowd. Then on the first song (Barrage) Lewis’s string slipped it took him about 5 minutes to fix it before the next song. At that point the crowd pretty much was already gone. They were bored and over it. When his string slipped a second time later in the set I was pretty much over it too. We finished the set and actually had a pretty cool jam in the last song (Genosha) but we left the stage pretty bummed. It was a huge, sold out show at a venue that treated us great on our last time out. It should have been amazing but it just wasn’t in the cards for us tonight.

Other than that we’re pretty stoked to be back out on the road. Jon made it on time and in one piece from his 3 day drive. Mates of State got a hotel room to shower in today but they are riding on the bus to Kansas City right now so we’re crashing in their room for free. It’s really sweet of them.

We have internet in our room and we got a very exciting email. It was the final mix of “Out of the Abyss” for our new 7″. It sounds sick! We recorded it live to tape so it’s way more raw than the version on our myspace. It’s going to sound amazing on vinyl. Our friend Dave Reep recorded it and he’s putting it out on his new label Third Culture Records in May. After hearing that mix tonight, we’re really excited about the release. The other side of the 7″ is just Lewis shredding for 3 minutes. We’re going to include the sheet music for that song as an insert. Oh my god, it’s going to be so sick!

I started writing a fantasy metal song on my computer tonight. It’s super over-the-top epic with lots of galloping and fast leads harmonized in thirds. I think it could be a cool song live. I’ll finish it and see if it’s physically possible for us to play.

Alright, Lewis has a genius bar appointment in Kansas City tomorrow at 3:00. His computer has been pretty messed up all tour so maybe he’ll finally be able to get it fixed. It’s a long drive from Minneapolis though, so I better get some rest.

-anton

Jon - Day 1

I’m posting this just before bed, at the end of a long day of driving. Today was day 1 of a 3-day drive to minneapolis.  I’m burnt. 

In the last hour I put together this video for my other band,  Sorry Mom and Dad.  I play guitar and sing in this Get Up Kids style bro-band (my closest homies).  Please enjoy our song, Letter: 

Sorry Mom and Dad – Letter

While Anton and Lewis are partying it up on the tour bus, Jon is back in the bay area sitting in his cubicle. 

Fuck a tour bus… I just picked up the Judgement Day minivan from the shop.  New shocks, axles, spark plugs, engine mount, and an oil change, THIS BABY IS RUNNING SWEET! It’s truly the Cadillac of minivans.  I even re-taped the broken headlamp (what!). 

I’m super excited about my 3 day drive out to Minneapolis next week… NOT.  But i am excited to be heading back out on tour, especially during this gorgeous time of year.  The weather in bay area right now is unreal.  Until I leave I plan on getting lots of sun and sleep.

Well, I’m off to see the Get Up Kids this evening in SF (jealous Lewis?).   More from Jon to come…