Toby Keith Tour Wrap-up

 

I'm back. I got home last night after our brilliant bus driver Greg completed a remarkable 20-hour drive from Saskatoon. The hardest part for me was trying not to eat too much junk food (failed) and choosing between watching a zombie movie and Heroes. 

Now I'm writing this and fighting off a cold that may be attributed to a bunch of late nights and the sub-zero temperatures in the front lounge of our scantily-insulated, 20-year-old bus. No complaints, though, really, because it was a good tour. Me and the rest of Jessie Farrell's band played our little 20-minute set for tens of thousands of people during our six shows opening for Toby Keith and his Easy Money Band. We were treated to some official after parties at local clubs in a few cities where somebody obviously thought we were cool enough to be picked up in a limo and given a bar tab. I mean, we've all thought we were cool enough for years and were happy to tell anyone that would listen -- I guess it's just taken a while for the news to spread.

I had a great time meeting some of the guys in Toby's band. In particular the drummer, Dave McAfee, was just the nicest and most down-to-earth guy I've met given his accomplishments. He's been playing with Toby's band for eight years, he's endorsed by Vic Firth and Yamaha, and he's unbelievably forthcoming and great to talk to about music, the industry, crazy tour stories, other rad drummers, gear, life...he's a class act and I'm glad to have met him.

It was awesome to spend some time with Aaron Pritchett's band again, too. Aaron's sound crew, Scooter, Warren, and JP were doing double-duty and helping us out with our sound and stage setup as well. We didn't have that much going on in terms of gear, but it would have been tough-going without guys as solid as them. Scooter was using a new mixing console he made from scratch using 218 broken iPods, a Sega Dreamcast, and a 3-cylinder engine from a '97 Geo Metro. I'm afraid his tortured genius knows no bounds.

I met a good number of the other musicians on the tour, but not all. By the end of the trip you have pretty much said 'hi' to everyone in passing, but different folks gravitate to each other, maybe bonding over hockey or favourite albums or an unhealthy affection for boxed wine. There are so many great characters in these bands, and I think it's because it would really suck to spend so much time working so closely with people who just weren't that interesting. Hell, I'd take a punch to the groin if it meant making a new friend who is as crazy as shithouse rat. I didn't, but some people in my band did, and at the end of the day those sore balls are like a badge of honor whose pain is easily assuaged by a couple dozen beers.

I could go on, but in this case I'm able to cut this post mercifully shorter than I might otherwise. That is because I have some photos to put up and some videos to throw together that will do a far better job of illustrating the tour experience than my bloated and long-winded writing ever will.

So, check back soon for more fun stuff from the last 10 days on the road.

 

Photos by Lisa Bettany

Comments

[Pasquale]

That is one gigantic adventure. I also enjoy that Saskatoon contains 'toon' in it.

[Lisa]

i had a whiff of ye ol' bus and it smelt a bit like a musty ol' goat wearing a necklace of those air-freshener tree things you buy at gas stations.

hachoo!