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Berkeley, CA

2009-02-04T22:21:00.001-08:00

I just did an article for Vice Magazine about my touring problems from last year that is available here:
http://vice.typepad.com/vice_magazine/2009/02/san-francisco-.html
There is also a link to the new video for Front My Hope that I directed. I did this the same day as most of the Deerhoof "Offend Maggie" video.

Since getting from from the world tour I spent a few weeks holed up not really doing much at all. I'd become mentally fragile and pretty wrecked from the whole thing. In early January I did a short trip with All Leather through San Diego, Mexicali, and Los Angeles. Following this was a show in Santa Cruz with High Places and then two shows with Matt and Kim. These were definite needed refreshers. I even got my first heckle in years while playing in Sacto, some graff kid yelling "SHUT THE FUCK UP". Everyone was quiet then some tiny kid yelled back at him "WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE THE FUCKING ROOM".

Other than that I've been in deep with the xbxrx, kit, and hawnay troof records. I really would like to get them finished but my voice keeps going out and my focus keeps getting worse... I really want to move onward and get to mixing the raincoats stuff and getting my planned photo book printed!

Oh! I'm also getting flown to London in April to play two shows as the Raincoats drummer. Mega childhood/ adult fantasy come to life!

Vienna, AU

2008-11-27T15:43:00.001-08:00

The Porto show was strange... The promoter, who was fucking aweosme, brought me out to eat. But Porto, being the second largest city in Portugal, made me think it was probably about the size of Olympia Washington, if not smaller. So this made it difficult when I get in so late to find food. There were only two resturuants open. The first was a kabab stand that had all meat on it. Instead we went to look at the menu at this cafe which was full of drunk college students. It was shoulder to shoulder crowded yet somehow we managed a table. I inquired to the waiter about the veggie burger. The english menu said somehting like "contains equ will". When I asked him what that was, and said that I have dairy allergies, he tried selling it off with the stupidest line ever:
"All I can saw is that its magnificent! (then did the french kissing fingers thing)." It ended up being JUST the burger with about 10 french fried on it. It was the smallest portion ever and really disgusting.

While eating the club called the promoter saying that some douchebag french dj showed up and demanded my room, which had the stage, and that I should play in the dj room, which didn't have a stage or proper pa. I explained that this was completely stupid and he needs to stop being a baby. This didn't work.

I showed up and checked out the room, which was only a disco ball. They had built me a "stage" which was a huge dj booth with a million tvs in front of it (????!!!!!). I explained that I couldn't use it, though I appreciated them making it for me. The show ended up being played in this dark room to about 20 or 30 people who seemed mostly frightened. When I was done I sold some stuff, but fuck man, do any of these people care?

As people were buying stuff they kept telling me that they were leaving to go to this other show. I found out the other show was actually my buds, 2manydjs. I was stoked to find this out, especially since I have been totally surrounded by strangers since I have been here. They have all been NICE and KIND strangers but its nice to see something familiar here and there, so that I can feel grounded and not like I am just a body floating in outer space.

Me and the promoter dropped by my hotel as we walked to the 2manydjs show. It was a really old place with skelaton keys. The owner was asleep and let us in. We put my stuff in the room and headed to the gig.

We got in on the guestlist and luckily as they were playing. It was a fuckign rave in a mosk. We were beneatht he city in this smokey, sweating, million degree, gross cauldron. I immediately went for th ebackstage and glanced out to the stage when Steven saw me and tripped out. Him and david were so kind and gratious to see me. Those guys are super grounded and I always feel really refreshed after seeing them. I think that I really feel connected to them because they are brother who share multiple performance/ art projects together, like and steve do. It really reminds me a lot of that relationship, or simularly the billotte sisters/ etc.

They finished at 6 AM. I hung out for a few minutes but there was a million fucked up vampires trying to get the three of us to do coke with them. We avoided most contact and the promoters kept trying to throw all these fucked up people out of there. I spoke with them for a few minutes and ran back to my hotel. There were tons of intimidating, jocky, fucked up people on the streets, throwing up, screaming etc.

Once I left the hotel I realised that someone has spent a bunch of money for me to use the room for thirty minutes. Long enough for me to take a shower and repack my bags. That's kinda fucked up.

I walked with all of this bullshit to the trainstation. I tried ot stay awake so I wouldn't miss my connecting stop but I kept dozing off. It was really difficult.

At the next station it was sunrise. Since I came in during the evening I hadn't seen how beautiful this city was. I was atop a huge mountain which created a valley and a huge lake below. The sun was coming over the next set of mountains making the sky a clear pink. I was alone outside witht he sound of seagulls blaring. I felt fortunate to have this be my first clear view of the city. But before I knew it my train had picked m,e and up and I was headed to lissbonne.

The stop was the Oriente station. The same one that I was at the night before. Its this huge, modern art, piece of shit shopping mall/ train station/ cab stand. I grabbed another cab to the airport, took another flight to cologne, another subway to another train.

The itenerary Headquarter gave me was pretty much impossible to follow and once I got to Essen I realised that there was no one at the station waiting for me. I waited for a long time but it was extremely cold and I figured I would be standing in this frost forever if I didn't leave. I walked to a cab stand, with all these bags, and took it to the venue. The owner immediately `came out and was worried. He said the only person that we mutually knew was peaches and he called her to get my number. I laughed and said "did she say 'yeah right, he doesn't use phones!'".

It was about ten o clock at night and no one was there yet. They informed me that it was sponcored by lucky strike, which you know, I would have been cautious about working with had I known beforehand. When I walk int there is lucky strike rave holgrams everywhere, girls in short skirts trying to pawn off ciggarrette, etc. They even hired a famous german tv chef to cater the event. Its guestlist only. No one can walk in.

I soundcheck, eat, and do some email. No one has really showed up yet. A few hours later I walk out to piss and the place probably has about 600 people in it (capacity is about 400) and there is the worst house music playing. The owner and promoter hate it and get on the mic and start making fun of the people who are there. That was pretty funny. I went back upstairs, into the office (which is my dressing room), and lay down for a half an hour nap. I wake up at 1 AM and go back out. I end up playing around 2:30 to a bunch of fucked up, weird people. Its kind of jocky and most aren't having it. No one really responds or claps. I think they want some shitty, brainless, housemusic at 120 bpm. Well, that's not what they got and they were BUMMED.

The owner was drunk and kept tapping me on the shoulder and telluing me to get on top of the PA. that was awesome! I kept kicking all of the drinks off.

Afterwards I sell the least amount of stuff on the tour and everyone who talks to me apologises for the show. It hought this was kinda strange. Haha. I crash out of there at 4AM and get to my hotel. My name isnt on the reservations and it hasnt been prepaid. Kind of a nightmare. I end up getting ot bed and waking up at 4:30 the next day. Thank god I finally got some sleep.

Alex, who promoted the show, comes to my hotel at 6 PM. He brings me and his roommate m, tobi, to dinner. We went to this amazing vegan resturuant, zeitgiest. It was SUPER hippy. This iranian man owns it and has star signs written EVERYWHERE in the room. Its all a great wood finish and there are plants and vines growing throughout the place. I got a salad with raisins, lettuce, walnuts, mayonaise, apples and a few other things in it, samosas, a vegan pizza (called "Taurus"), and lemonaide with honey. For desert I got a caramel pudding.

We go back to their place after and watch anchorman. It blows my mind because here we are, relaxing, tryign to wind down, watching a movie with blankets, and they are doing blow off of the table and smoking ciggs. Kinds nuts.

I head back after to try to sleep but end up staying up all night working on tunes. But thank god there is not internet at my hotel, otherwise i would have had HNO SLEEP the night before either haha.

Porto, Portugal

2008-11-21T17:45:00.001-08:00

At times like this I really wonder why I put myself though fucking hell to play gigs. While the past few months have been intense enough it's becoming distant, instead this has become of my past few days:

I stayed up all night packing between coming home from the Deerhoof tour with Kit and flying out for this current HT europe jaunt. As quickly as my final bag was zipped I was headed to SFO on a pre- sunrise bart train. The plane from SFO landed at JFK for a layover, and then again in Amsterdam. I finally got to Stuttgart and had to take a cab to the trainstation and ride hours to a small french town called Colmar. This was 36 hours or straight travel with three HEAVY bags and NO SLEEP.

I managed a four hour nap post show at my hotel before having to walk twenty minutes, with my bags in tow, to the trainstation in the rain. Once there I had another 12 hour day of trains and subways. I ended up washing ashore in Bordeux, where luckily I hadn't a gig that night. So I rested.

Once I awoke the next morning I realised it was 1:30 in the afternoon. This shocked me as:
* I hand't had 9 hours of sleep this whole year
* I hadn't slept straight though past 11 A.M. in at least a year and a half

The flat I was in was amazing. My bed was on the third floor, and I was alone, with only a skylight. It's so cold here that it was nice to have a small, quiet, warm room.

After the Bordeux gig I passed on going to a bar with everyone to sleep, but ended up on the internet for hours instead. When I finally tried to sleep my stress levels and to do lists prevented me from doing so. I opted for booking a spring tour and answering neglected emails over another night of sleep, which would have probably remained restless.

At 7 A.M. Ruth, who has hosting me, walked me to the trainstation. We got there and I waited. Took this train for three hours up to Paris. Me and my bags hauled tot he 4 subway line then transferred at the RER. Once I was at my stop I took the bus to the airport. My flight landed in Lisbonne, Portugal. I hailed a cab to the trainstation and took ANOTHER FUCKING train for 3 more hours to Porto. My head was heavy and I just drifted in and out of concioussness during all of these trips. I couldn't deal. My eyes were heavy and felt like a millions of tons of bricks were in them.

As I write now I'm upstairs at a dance club. The promoter is super sweet. We went out to FINALLY get me something to eat when the owner called and said my stage was moved to the smell room cos some fucking stupid, arrogant french dj's showed up and wanted the room that I was in. Everything- my shoulders, head, back, arms, legs, mind, and spirit- hurts right now. I'm really looking forward to getting some sleep, but that won't happen for a while. This show is slated to end around 5 AM and my train is at 7. I have another set of two trains and a flight coming up in only a few hours.

I really cherish and love playing but I'm seriously wondering WHY DO I DO THIS??????

Birmingham, UK

2008-10-17T10:41:00.001-07:00

Just now I had an awesome cab driver who started talking to me about life. At first I could tell that he mistook me as a loser but then he came around when I started going off about how important a good work ethic is and about the separation of class. He then told me that I sounded like I was looking for something with all of my traveling. My response was "experience". Apparently he disagreed when he handed me a "gift", a copy of the koran.

Orlando, FL

2008-09-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Atlanta, GA

2008-09-08T21:47:00.001-07:00

Things that have happened on tour thus far:

* Our first truckstop in the midwest had the following things to offer:

- "Jesus died for myspace" T shirts
- A dirty truck with mean dogs in the bed. On the back was two jet skies (we were in Kansas!)
- A giant semi truck with a bloody "fetus" on the right side with its hand missing. The detached piece was on the right side on top of a giant quarter. Backed with one sentence across the top that read: "ABORTION IS AN OBAMA NATION".

* As I get older my body starts to glitch. I knocked a pizza onto our amazing host in St Paul, Tom, in front of the whole resturaunt. That was embarassing.

* A Summary of Chapel Hill:

- We are running late. When we turn the corner for the show I notice a Police Station spitting distance away. I laugh to Rory that this show will be shut down. We see tons of underage kids running away. We turn a corner and see a barrage of police cars. They leave.

- It's raining because of the hurricane. A drunk kid tries to help me bring in the PA but it just makes things more complicated. I decide to fire him and drag the whole tower up the front steps myself. A large man in who looks like a cross between GG Allin and the Big Boss Man opens the door for me. When I thank him for doing so he creepily whispers: "I LIIIIIKKEEE EWWWWW."

- While setting up the PA said boy comes walking into the room, dressed in a cammo vest that is open to compliment his body tight, cut off short shorts, and points at me WWF style and says: "WHHEEEWWWSSS GUNNNNNAAA SUCCCKKK MAAAIIII DICCCKKK?!?!?!" I then notice that through his shorts he has a ragin boaner, and a fresh piss stain, which he is flexing to a girl who giggles, "Oh Look! Its moving!". Moments later he walks up and whispers to me that he wants to give my dick "germs".

- While Rory was smoking a ciggarrette in the rain the same dude came out of the bushes with a girl and said "THAT GUYS BEEN STANDIN THERE FOR A WHILE SMOKIN HIS CIGARRETTE... WANNA SEE MY NUTS?!?!"

- While loading out I hear sounds in the darkness. I glance over and notice a guy completely passed out in the rain, face in a mud puddle, throwing up on himself.

- Some kid named Forrest was so drunk that he knocked over my whole system, and computer, breaking my chords off into my mixer. He didn't mean it but it fucking SUCKED.

* While discussing Chapel Hill in Atlanta we find out that a guy in the crowd actually lived with the "Whos Gunna suck My Dick" guy. Rory finds out that he has a band and works as a manager at a subway in Asheville.

* We got Towed in Chicago. There weren't any signs up and the towing fee swallowed the few bucks that were left after the Midwest financial beat down. Me and Rory ended up walking through the heat to Chicago impound to get the vehicle back.

* Baltimore had a surprise when my longtime friends, Drew and Martin, let their wild side out. While Drew chose to soberly mosh during the Leprecaun Catering set, Martin opted to get trashed. He ended up under the merch table grabbing peoples feet and trying to punch through the top of the table. It ruled!

* In Athens we did two gigs. The second one was at a warehouse and didn't start until 3 AM. During my set an older man, in a wheelchair because his legs were hurt, and looks like he would work with my dad at comcast, was in front row center. The problem was that he wasn't facing me. He was angled at 1:10, with his back facing towards me. This wouldn't normally be distracting except for the fact that he was facing the ground and swinging a glow stick apathetically. Surrounding him were two white raver kids with dreads doing the craziest raver dances... that "carrying the ball" shit. When we left around 5:30 AM things were still going on and a bunch of random drunk kids were shooting off fireworks.

* En route to Atlanta we were on a small southern highway that was absent of lighting. We freaked out when we noticed a car was headed the wrong way up the highway. It almost hit us and was super intense.

* After pulling into Brooklyn for our show, the band fund was at a defeating four dollars!

Flagstaff, AZ

2008-08-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

My new limited edition book, NFJM 026 available now only at these live shows (while supplies last):

08/26/08: Denver, CO @ Rhinoceroplis
08/27/08: Lawrence, MO @ Jackpot w/ Iggybaby, Ssion
08/28/08: Lincoln, NE @ Box Awesome
08/29/08: St Paul, MN @ Eclipse Records
08/30/08: Chicago, IL @ Chic A Go Go
08/30/08: Chicago, IL @ Peoples Projects
09/01/08: Detroit, MI @ The Belmont
09/02/08: Brooklyn, NY @ Death By Audio RECORD RELEASE PARTY! w/ City Center, Urxed, Vivian Girls
09/04/08: Baltimore, MD @ Floristree
09/05/08: Chapel Hill, NC@ C-CHCFME-bog 15 Bolin Heights Chapel Hill NC 27514
09/06/08: Athens, GA @ The Go Bar
09/07/08: Atlanta, GA @ Eyedrum
09/09/08: Orlando, FL @ Blackbooth
09/10/08: Pensacola, FL @ Sluggos
09/12/08: Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
09/13/08: Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
09/15/08: New Orleans, LA @ The Spellcaster Lodge (Quintrons Birthday Party!)
09/16/08: Austin, TX @ Okay Mountain (Early Show)
09/17/08: Lubbock, TX @ Bash's
09/18/08: Phoenix, AZ @ Trunkspace
09/19/08: San Diego, CA @ The Whistle Stop (Free; 21+; 9PM)
09/20/08: Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell
09/21/08: San Francisco, CA @ The Knockout (21+)
09/24/08: Aukland, NZ @ Power Station w/ Peaches
09/25/08: Wellington, NZ @ SFBH w/ Peaches
09/27/08: Adelaide, OZ @ PARKLIFE w/ Dizzee Rascal, Diplo, Peaches, Goldfrapp
09/28/08: Melbourne OZ @ PARKLIFE w/ Dizzee Rascal, Diplo, Peaches, Goldfrapp
09/29/08: Perth, OZ @ PARKLIFE w/ Dizzee Rascal, Diplo, Peaches, Goldfrapp
09/30/08: Melbourne, OZ @ Ding Dong w/ Always, Grey Daturas
10/01/08: Melbourne, OZ @ Enmore w/ Peaches
10/02/08: Sydney, OZ @ Hopetoun w/ Cat Call, Circle Pit
10/03/08: Sydney, OZ @ Palace w/ Peaches 10/04/08: Brisbane, OZ @ PARKLIFE w/ Dizzee Rascal, Diplo, Peaches, Goldfrapp
10/05/08: Sydney OZ @ PARKLIFE w/ Dizzee Rascal, Diplo, Peaches, Goldfrapp
10/08/08: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill w/ High Places, Ponytail
10/15/08: Glasgow, UK @ 13th Note Cafe
10/16/08: Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
10/17/08: Birmingham, UK @ Chicks Dig Jerks
10/21/08: Hamburg, GER @ Hafenklang
11/07/08: Dallas, TX @ Grenada w/ Deerhoof
11/08/08: Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fest w/ Deerhoof
11/14/08: Vienna, Austria @ Arena w/ Death Sentance Panda
11/27/08: Frankfurt, Germany @ o25
11/28/08: Munich, Germany @ CandyClubFeierWerk

Flagstaff, AZ

2008-08-26T01:33:00.000-07:00

On tour once again. I ordered a new camera before leaving which didn't get shipped in time. The new album is in panic--- lp's show up in two days and the cd artwork got fucked up. Rory's mom had some health problems this morning. But the show last night ruled. Looking forward to the next few days.

OAKLAND, CA

2007-12-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

I recently made a huge update for the completion of Hawnay Troof's Dollar And Deed tour. It covers most of the events that happened during the trip.

You can read it by clicking here.

OAKLAND, CA

2007-12-13T13:22:00.000-08:00

Some new videos:

GEORGE CHEN:

SATOMI:

"TENNESEE":

MARY PEARSON:

WHARTSCAPE 2007/ BALTIMORE:

KIT/ DEERHOOF UK TOUR 2007:

KIT UK TOUR 2007:

Paris, France

2007-10-22T04:15:00.001-07:00

Paris, France

2007-10-22T04:08:00.000-07:00

In Zurich I had one of the oddest hotel experiences so far. As I walked up the steps in a 3 AM haze I noticed all of the rooms were individually titled "Monroe", "Japan", "Pool", Etc.

Once I opened my door I realised that I had an Arabian themed room! The boys were stuck in Asia while Brezel and Francoise spent the night in Africa.

Paris, France

2007-10-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

Frieburg was cool. We had a day off and then a gig. We spent the whole afternoon doing laundrey. Since it took hours, we went into all of these vintage toy shops and second hand stores. I found out that Avi is obsessed with toy rv's. In one store I saw a ton of old He Man toys that I had as a kid. I remembered playing with them, mostly in the backyard of the house that I grew up in. Then a dog came out. It was really sweet and I started to pet it. I started looking at more stuff when it came up and was running its head into me. Then it started to roll over. Really cute. But got me thinking a lot about Sheila. Between that and the He Man flashbacks I had to get out.

Later we get dinner together. Everyone crashes early. I watch MTV till 2 AM.

The hotel is loud and I wake up sweating to death.

The show is pretty good. An old underground jazz club. Better than any of us expected. The place freaked out for everyone. The crowd was louder than Stereo Total- singing along to every single song. It sounded really good.

The drive to Stuttgart is whatever. The venue is out in the middle of nowhere. Super hippy and boarderline burning man. Reminds me a lot of Club Hot. Makes me remember why I hate Berkeley.

Gig is good and kids are tripping out. Super loud crowd. Really fun. Me and Brezel start doing this crazy improv part at the end of Discoteque.

Tonight is an apartment hotel. We each get our own room. Brezel seems bummed about something before we go to bed, but seems fine in the morning. After the show we were driving to the place and Francoise was commenting on the soundmans lack of talent. Everyone agreed. I pointed out that during Cinema he turned down the whole master volume in half for 10 seconds and then back up to normal again. To me it was frightening. Brezel said "Well, you either bring a sound guy or you don't". I was kind of bummed at first. But then I realised that he is right. Complaining about this is sort of pointless unless we are willing to do something about it. I really respect what he has to say. When he speaks I always listen, it would be stupid not to.

Brussels, Belgium

2007-10-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

The drive from Lazern to Lausanne was amazing. We stopped at a countryside cafe for lunch. A little girl- probably around 8- was driving a car that pulled up. She then became our waitress. It was a place that had spring rolls with their salads. Really strange. Surrounded by the alps.

We stopped again later to piss. There weren't any bathrooms so everyone went behind this old barn. I went across the street to this field of cows to listen to all of their bells.

I played Lausanne in August. It was part of this open air festival that happens every year. My show at it went so well that the owner invited me to do a second set after the headliner in the dj tent. Both sets were incredible so I expected nothing but the best from this gig.

The show was in a dark, unventialted basment. The staff was awesome and super nice. But the crowd was overall another wall. There are a FEW people going off. But yeah... not the best. Not the worse either.

During Stereo Total's set Francoise made this dude come up and sing who was pouting in the front for the whole show. That was funny.

The sound of a thousand church bells in my window starts every hour starting at 9. Every time that they start they ring for ten minutes.

We go back to the club and load out. I eat some pizza for breakfast. I'm kinda over Switzerland and am ready to get out.

In the early evening we arrive in the capital Zurich. The club has super good vibes and the view from the backstage window is to a giant lake and park across the street. This place is partially owned by one of the guys from Celtic Frost. Sadly he is gone playing in Mexico. The woman in charge is super nice and accomodating. The set tonight is incredible. Right into it I noticed a mirror across from the stage. I feel like I am beating off in the mirror the whole time. I usually just look to the back of the room the whole time I play. It's hard to take my focus off of it. The response is amazing. Stereo Total was great. Everyone is in the best mood. This totally saved Switzerland!

The anticipation of going back through the Swiss guards was harsh. It was obvious to me that everyone was expecting something fucked to happen. Luckily they just flagged us through. We stopped at a truck stop right before doing it. It was one of those things that is a walkway over the whole interstate. I pissed then went back out and waited. No one was around. The van was gone. I did a run through of the whole building and couldn't find anyone. I figured by this point they had arrived at the boarder and realised that I wasn't asleep in the back! Later Brezel came and got me. Turns out that both sides are completely identical. Even simular looking women working on each end. This is was cray. I was relieved that the scenerio that I envisioned wasn't true.

Freiburg, Germany

2007-10-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Lausanne, Switzerland

2007-10-13T12:07:00.001-07:00

The other day we were going around a roundabout. I woke up and all I could see out the window were the vast amount of clouds and the sunlight coming in. In every direction of the circumference I have been thinking about that every day since.

(Backstage in Munchen)

We arrive in Munchen. Peeps from Stereo Totals booking and management company are here when we arrive. Almost immediately we go to Buvarian Open Radio for ST to do an interview. Afterwards they have me do a radio i.d. They gave me two songs to choose from. In a panic I chose "Whistle Song" and "Oh Yes". In hindsight I wish it would have been something by Keak or "Beautiful Girls". Once that is over we eat dinner. It's already rushed as I'm due to be on stage shortly. I ordered a simple dish- noodles with garlic, tomatoes and olive oil. The d-bags bring out everyones dishes and ask me if "ham and cream" is better? WTF?! Eventually I get my meal. I shove it down and head to the club.

(Radio I-Ding)

The venue is interesting and kind of like an old community center. People are initially reserved when I start my set, but by the end everyone becomes very responsive. It was a really fun one. People go even more nuts by the time ST hit the stage.

I was waiting on the side of the stage getting ready for my song with Stereo Total when security came up. A blonde girl asked him to come and get me. I walk over and she starts talking about wanting to see me in my underwear. Shit like that. Later that night her and a group of her friends are all around me asking why I wear the underwear that I wear on stage. I tell them that it dries the quickest. This is obviously an unacceptable answer to them because they keep asking over and over again. I am told that I am "fit" but need to "rid the knickers".

The Swiss boarder is notoriously tight. We were expecting to be stuck there for at least a few hours. Customs took one look and flagged us through. A good surprise. To celebrate we stopped at a roadside station to eat. They have black tea with weed for sale in gas stations here. The bottle is bright orange with a weed leaf photo shopped into the middle of an ice cube. I decided to buy it just for the ridiculousness of it. It tasted good. Thankfully no side effects.

The countryside is insane. All mountains. As Rollins mentions in Get In The Van, "Every time that I look out the window (in Switzerland) it looks like a postcard". Totally true. The only problem is anytime that we stop the country folk look at us like we are aliens who just landed. Getting holes burnt from every direction!

The show tonight is in a small town called Lazern. Of all of shows, this one was probably the hardest to please. My set felt like playing to wall. Some drunk dude during Stereo Total through a bottle of water on Francoise. She left the stage. Everyone in the crowd started yelling. They eventually went back up. Some dude was standing in the front being a dick during movie star. Total grumple stillskins. I don't really know what to make of it- it's just strange...

Lausanne, Switzerland

2007-10-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

(Brezel simultaneously living and reading Get In The Van)

The first three days of my trip were engulfed with reading Henry Rollins tales of Black Flag tour horror stories in Get In The Van. The venue we played in Vienna, The Arena, is where the Flag played in 1984. The show is actually mentioned in the book. They played and the cops showed up with dogs. A huge riot erupted between the police and the punks. We are in the SAME ROOM!!!

The show is enormous. The venue is also interesting- outside there are hotdog stands and shit like that. Total carnival style. Its definitely strange. Andi, Illias, and Victoria all show up. I score some hangage, do the gig, see some of Stereo Total then head across from the venue to see Toxic Lipstick.

Toxic Lipstick are some friends I made on my European tour last April. I showed up to the show in Leeds and these two girls showed up dressed exactly alike (same make up, dresses, hair pieces, EVERYTHING!) When they played it sounded like the Chipmunks doing harmonies over Cobra Killer instrumentals. They had these wharped smiles the whole time. It confused every single person in the room.

Their show tonight was even weirder. A punk show next door had just let out and most of the crowd wondered over. They were in white prom dresses made for a five year old girl. They started off with a programmed tom roll that went on for about 5 minutes. There was no vocals on this song. Instead they threw these ten balloons that they had all over the place. Then they threw up all over their dresses, moaned on the floor while spitting up fake blood, accidentally knocked their whole setup off of their table during a silent section between songs, pulled out a strobe light that was aimed about 5 inches off of the floor... It's really difficult to even explain it. It was just mind blowing... I was laughing the whole time. They closed the set to silence after saying in their high pitched thick OZ accents: "Rememba, there are no kangaroos in Austria..."

It's a shame because I consider this the best night of the tour and my camera broke. Earlier in the evening the battery ran out and I tried to fix it but nothing worked. The camera would not turn on or recharge.

We are staying at this rock n roll hotel in the center. I have stayed here before. There is a photo of Stereo Total in the lobby. I am sharing a room with Arnold again. I love him to death and he is a sweet man but his weakness is definitely apparent in the snore zone. Thank god he didn't on this night. But it is always enough to keep me on edge.

In the morning I meet up with Illias and Victoria. They are nice enough to bring me to a shop and help me find a new camera. I randomly buy a new one. I still don't know if it is good or not. Haven't transferred any photos or figured it out yet.

(Breakfast in Vienna w/ Andi, Illias + Victoria)

Andi meets up with us at the shop and we take his car over to my favorite Eu restaurant. Its a vegan Asian buffet that has fried peanut balls, thai noodles, spring rolls, potato wedges, soup, sushi etc. For dessert I have fried banana balls with honey. By the time we are finished it is past noon. I'm supposed to be at the hotel for check out. Andi rides me to the corner and I get out and run the corner. I get there and no one is ready. Whew.

(Brezel in the van)

(The countryside view from the 2nd bench in)

The next show is Salzburg, Austria. It's an awkward town and an even stranger space. The city really seems to be riding solely on the fact that Mozart was born there. I try a gross thing called a Mozart ball. The crowd is very reserved, but they are bumping by the end. I kind of feel like shit today. Francoise is upset when they come off stage and doesn't want to do an encore. I don't know what happened. Eventually she decides to go back out. I do "Discotheque" with them. I only sell one cd. Haha.

(ST on stage in Salzburg)

The hotel is strange. Reminds me Mississippi or something. I can't sleep cos Arnie is snoring tonight. I try to wake him up but he is solid. Eventually I move into the front room and sleep on the floor between the bathroom and the closets with the fan on. I can still hear it. Rough night in the sleep zone.

Luzern, Switzerland

2007-10-12T13:19:00.003-07:00

Current tour jamz:::

Munchen, Germany

2007-10-11T06:30:00.001-07:00

HT/ ST on stage doing an impromptu version of "Relax Baby Be Cool" together in Praha, CZ

Salzburg, Austria

2007-10-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

Tour images thus far:

(Francoise's kick drum. Erlangen, De.)

(Catering. Dresden, De.)

(Brezel post show. Dresden, De.)

(Francoise's purse. Erlangen, De.)

(Brezel souncheck. Erlangen, De.)

(The boyz: Avi + Arnold. Dresden, De.)

(American graffitti. Dresden, De.)

(Train + clouds. De.)

Vienna, Austria

2007-10-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

(Stereo Total in Dresden)

There hasn't been much internet access as of late. I have spent much of the time either in a club or inside of the van, 2nd becnh seat in, randomly waking up when an awesome snare fill or weird breakbeat happens on the stereo. When it does me and Brezel (who is third bench in) both rise our heads and discuss it, then lie them back down.

The drive to from Czech to Austria was pretty. I have a photo in my book that came out two years ago of a Jesus statue in a vacant countryside. We drove by it today. I remembered it being in Italy but it's actually Austria. That was really strange. I remember that we were on the other side of the road when we saw it. I was in the backseat. We were stopped because a train was passing. The weather seemed about the same as it did today. It's strange seeing these things out of context and it brings you back to that moment that you first saw it.

There was lots of vacant houses that looked like hobbit holes. At the boarder was a ton of theme parks including one that was all dragons! I really wish that we had time to stop.

It's become a lot colder here. The past few shows (Leipzig, Erlangen and Praha) have all been excellent. The east German shows were funny- as the crowd was very reserved and shy. Praha was my favorite, as everyone went pretty bonkers and the enviorment seemed to fit. I even did an encore. I walked off of stage, exhausted, and the crowd got louder and louder. Francoise and Brezel said that I should go back out. I did another two minutes and then ran off.

Stereo Total has been amazing every night. It's pretty nuts to see.

(Brezel in Leipzig)

(Francoise at dinner)

The show Erlangen was funny. We had a large lunch in Leizig (back to that awesome vegan place again). When we got the club it was in a cafeteria. We ate too much food, as we did the night before in Leip (3 dinners!) I was destroyed post show. When we got to the hotel I zoned out watching an Austria documentary on TV. I was sharing the room with our awesome driver Arnold. Rumors have been floating around that he was a horrible snoring, and I was sad to find out that this is too true! It was random sounds of a boat drowning, gasping for air. There was a front room by the bathroom in our room. I laid down underneath the baggage holder and fell right back to sleep. In the morning he apologised but really, he shouldn't feel bad. People can't help these things.

We had a long drive to Vienna today. Its at this huge venue called Arena. Toxic Lipstick are supposed to be around today. I just finished soundcheck. It took over an hour because the soundman disapeared. A man who looks like Santa Claus meets El Duce who is doing sound and myself waited around forever. Eventually he shows back up but there is some crazy buzzing going down. By the time it gets fixed my crew has left. I don't blame them. It took too long.

To be honest, there isn't much that is interesting to report. Tour has proven to be boring over and over again. We always sleep in, drive to the club, have dinner, play then back to a hotel. It's golden repeitition. Oh, and my camera has broken.

Somewhere, Germany

2007-10-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

A woman from the station in Leipzig did an interview with me. She handed me this sheet of paper with names and then asked me to fill it out.

Leipzig, Germany

2007-10-07T15:32:00.001-07:00

At the Conne Island club in Leipzig. We just finished loading in. When we pulled up there was a group of Nazi's walking around.

The Metz show the other night was great. Everyone there is insane and the people got naked. The only problem is how late it went. I got out of there and into my hotel long enough to pack and take a half hour nap before heading to the train station.

Not really sure what's going on here.

One of the nude kids getting escorted off stage by security!

I have 6 train transfers in 12 hours today. The drivers were on strike. I left while it was still dark out. Every train has been delayed. There was also some bizarre email drama having to do with money the night before, so I'm freaking out about it this whole time- worried if I was being an asshole or if peeps will be mad at me. Ends up everything is ok. But couldn't sleep on the trains. I'm too scared of thievery and missing the stops.

I arrive in Dreseden by early evening. I think the last time I was here was 6 years ago. I was still a teenager. This town trips me out. Still fucked from the war. As the train pulled into town there I can see buildings and momuments on the side still visibly suffering from the fire bombs that happened in WWII.

Tonight is the first show with Stereo Total. The show is at an old venue with posters from the 90's all over::: L7, Hammerhead, and Yo La Tengo all played here. Bretzel points out a poster where they played here Christmas of 1995. I crack up when I realise the show was with Rammstein.

I'm completley exhausted. At this point its beyond. I can not keep my eyes open. Its really bad. While I am playing I keep feeling the urge to disperce internally. I have to keep up. Can't crash yet. I play two songs with Stereo Total for their encore. During Dancing In Squares I played the drums. I was scared I would fuck it up with all those weird stops in the song, but it gets pulled off sucessfully.

I walked by this in the hall and started laughing...

My head is in pieces by the time we get to the hotel. When I laid down to sleep I'm already there.

In the morning I watch some television while packing. I sleep the whole way to Leipzig.

We accidentally find a vegan restaurant for dinner. It's incredible. I got these curry filled spring rolls, dipped in sesame and fried. The accompanying sauce is a spicy mango. My main corse is a Bombay wrap- spicy red bean thinly fried with a curry sauce. REALLLY THIN curly fries. I have a feeling that I will be craving this again in the near future.

The dinner in Leipzig.

Currently backstage waiting for sound check. Its insanely cold- there isn't much modern heating or air conditioning in Europe. Excited for the show. The venue is huge...

Metz, France

2007-10-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Take the train from Lyon - Paris - Metz. Walk to my hotel with the promoter, Patrick. He brings me to dinner which ends up being the most killer samosas that I have ever had. The outside skin was krispy with fluffy bubbles. Hard to explain. But it was intense!

The next morning I wake up to my phone ringing. Its the woman downstairs asking me if I want breakfast. Well, I was sleeping and its 9:30, so no! Luckily, its the most sound sleep I have had yet. I've been really sleepless this whole time. I think from the illness mixed with a little bit of stress. I spend the rest of the day working on some of the my photos from the past year. Take a break to get some food. Go for a wonder and can't find shit. My hotel room is hot. I try to open up the window but it just faces a wall that is close enough to touch. I look up and the top is enclosed. No fresh air today.

(why i can't eat)

This hotel is interesting. Weird shaped spiral keys. Really ancient. There are wood pillars on the ceiling. A giant spiral staircase. It's very small and takes forever to hike up. I'm on the top floor. There is a place at the bottom where you are supposed to leave your keys. Its part of the wall. Has hooks with the room number above it. No thanks. Patrick told me not to worry and that its a small town. Fuck that.

Metz, France

2007-10-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

The jamz of the tour thus far:

Lyon, France II

2007-10-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

Switched hotels this morning. I guess during soccer season it is hard to get hotels. So I got booted out of this one. I couldn't sleep. I don't know why. I woke up at 7. I mixed up the days and thought that today was off too... oh well. I watch some Soprano's and do some work on my computer until Malick comes to move me at noon.

The new hotel is pretty nice. I like it because it is smaller. Malick is really worried about it being small. A lot of bands come over here and think the world owes them something. It's fucked. A guy from the Uk played the festival that I did last weekend and was tripping out about his hotel room. It was four stars but he was insistant on having a suite. I had never heard of the guy either. Some nobody. I don't really get that attitude...I'm glad that I don't treat people like that.

Malick brings me across the street where there is an Indian resturaunt. The have these crazy indian sandwiches that is packoras and samosas covered in curry then wrapped in naan. It's really good.

Later we walk to the show. The venue is a boat on the Rhone River located in the cities center. Everyone thinks its weird that I am amazed at this large fish swimming outside of the window. The river is disgusting. It starts to make me sad seeing these fish swimming and looking for something to eat amoung the soap suds, ciggarettes and potato chip bags.

Tonights show was with this band Whatzafuk. They are really nice guys. Bizarre hip hop. They actually had a hook that went "home sweet OHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMM". Totally monk chant. They held out the "ohm" for a long time. Then a sitar sample played. I started laughing cos it was insane. No one else did. I guess they weren't joking. But it was kinda nuts!

As soon as I grabbed the mic people started screaming. Then the drums came in everyone started hopping. This lasted till the end of the set. Pretty incredible.

We stop by Celine and Malicks house for tea. Then back to the hotel for some sleep.

Lyon, France

2007-10-04T05:43:00.000-07:00

I've had the past two days off. Spent Sunday traveling from Strasbourg - Paris - Lyon. It really wiped me out. Had first class on the first leg. Finished reading Get In The Van. I thought it would last me the whole tour, but all of this time on trains has dried out that possibility. Before I left I almost packed a second book, but I figured it would be deadweight. I also brought that Soprano's full discography that I bought in Shang Hai with. When I got to the end of disc 5 I realised that I had left the rest at home on my desk. Whoops.

I link up with Celine and Malick at the Lyon station. They book all of my French shows through Headquarter. Malick really reminds me of Dave Chappelle, both with body language and his looks. We go to eat some late night indian and then check into the hotel.

The next morning Malick brought me around town. In Lyon, you can rent bikes from the city for one euro a week. They have these booths set up every few blocks. You buy a card that you use to get them on and off of the locks. We rode to this veggie resturaunt that I found on happycow. I got a traditional french dish, lasagna with fried walnuts on top, spring roll and a side of salad- It was great! We then rode to a park in the city center that has a ton of animals in it- deer, elephants, zebra's- you name it. It was really relaxing. Malick tells me about how when the holidays hit, everyone gets rid of their pets by throwing them onto the street. I asked why and he told me that people get cats and dogs and then when its time for a holiday they don't know what to do so they neglect them onto the sidewalk outside the home. Then when they get back later they just buy a new dog or cat.

I insist we stop at a grocery store on the way back to the hotel so I can get some stuff for dinner and breakfast.

Other than that chatted on AIM, downloaded and watched Sopranos, resized a bunch of photos and did the email business thing. Finished my med's this morning. Still feel sick...

Now I'm at my new hotel in Lyon that is across from an Indian resuruant where you can get samosas and pakoras wrapped up in naan with curry on top. HELLLA GOOD.

Strasbourg, France

2007-10-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

In Strabourg, France. It's pretty early. I woke up to a sound that I thought was murder, but it was really a couple having insanely loud sex. A few days ago I was in Paris at the Hotel Cosmo's near Replublique. I took a train from there to Gernoble. Most of the drive was boring corn fields and countryside. It put me to sleep. I woke up a few hours later surrounded by mountains with really low cloud's moving between them- it looked like a dragon coming out of water. There were old castles built into the stone tops of most of them. A surprise to wake up to. Pretty incredible. I showed up to the club and do some email. Scream Club are also in the internet office. We say hi. We're both surprised and excited to see each other so far away from home. Tonight is a radio festival and we are playing in the college cafeteria! I fell asleep uncomfortably in a two person chair till showtime. Pretty uncomfortable but I'm to drained to care. I wake up and can't feel my legs. I was eating dinner with Scream Club when Dat Politics showed up- another pleasant surprise. They are also playing the festival, just at another venue.

After our show one of the organisers hustles us to the other venue. It was a strange, large open room with marble finish on everything. I'm not sure but it felt like the lobby of a hotel. Everyone is fucked up on too many drugs and I hear an MC rhyme "I'M A CAT..... THAT'S A FACT!"

We roll out around 3:30 and get dropped off to sleep.
A few hours later it's time to head to the trainstation. I hate trains on the weekend because they become populated with a ton of d-bags. Well, this weekend was no exception. The first leg I was stuck beside a single mom with two babies. The were screaming the whole way. A great soundtrack to the beautiful alps. During round two I was stuck at a four way table with a family while the aisle across was this UGGGGLLLLYYYY blonde 5 year old boy- he reminded me of that Wonder Showzen character "Tyler". I struggle between sleep and wanting to kill the children for being INSANELY loud. At one point I awoke to "Tyler" beating the SHIT out of his mother. Everyones starring at them in shock. He is moving between moans and screams, just YELLING. Throwing punches at her face. Ewwwww. So disgusting. You could tell it made everyone really sad. It must be insane to shit of these things out thinking that its improving your life, when really you are just making every stranger in public who see's you bummed out. Everyone in the train was sad and disturbed. It's strange because I'm sure she was adored before she was stuck with that little monster. Not so much now. That must be some heavy shit to be stuck with for the next few years.

Its another large festival tonight. Celine picks me up from the stations and brings me to my hotel. I open the painting in my room and alter it. It has a countryside with a lake and mountains. It says "Hotel Ibis Galway- Ireland". I add Jesus on a cross dying int he countryside look at a lake full of sharks fight a fire breathing dragon. There is a UFO come to save them from over the mountains. So if yr ever in Strasbourg at the Hotel Ibis get room 709. Check out the Ringwald '06 painting.

The view is insane. I'm at the very top an the sun is setting. My room illuminates pink. I have german TV in english. Awesome! Watch that then head over for dinner at the festival.

It's funny. The fest that I am playing totally reminds me of this thing that happens in Mobile called Bayfest. I went to it a lot as a child. They shut down the streets downtown, put up chain length fences and people set up booths and stages and go buck. I was at dinner when someone said something to me. Iooked up and it was Jona! I guess Yacht is on tour with Architecture From Helsinki but he isn't playing this show. I'm pretty excited to see him. I end up having to cut it short to do some interviews. I'm pretty zoned out still from exhaustion and this infection. The first one is a radio one which isn't so bad. It's pretty short. The girl doing it is really nice. They cut me early which is fine. They asked me about Kim Gordon, my cookbook and Peaches. Weird! I'm really tired and feel like I am doing a bad job. The owner of the fest brings me over to do a TV thing. They insist on shooting in the darkness outside opposed to inside one of the buildings. OK. So now I have this large light in my face and I can't see anything. People are all looking at me. Weird circumstances to try and give a good answer. The guy kept asking me about the Beastie Boys and rap. I keep saying that I would consider myself pop before rap. A lot of these interviews are funny, because it seems like they just look at your wikipedia and then ask you questions. My show is OK. I accidentally put a hole in the wall which bums me (and the venue) out. I think they are pretty pissed. The guy came up to me afterwards and just help up a large piece of the wall and then threw it away in the garbage can behind me. Onstage I mentioned how i feel like a zombie and was doing interviews and fucking them up. I didn't mean anything negative about it besides that I felt like a zombie. But one of the girls was in the crowd and yelled out "THANKS!" Shit. I hope she didn't take it wrong. The Arcitecture people are really nice. The singer used to be a outback farmer and he was telling everyone about growing up in Australia skinning Sheep. Insane.

The backstage clears out. I see Crissi who was on the other end of that weird breakup I went through a few years ago. She was dating the guy who was cheating on her with Allison. That was strange. We talk about how it was actually a positive experience and that everyone got to move on in their lives in a positive way. If everyone kept dating it would have prevented everyone from accomplishments.

SFO- PARIS DE GALLE

2007-09-27T04:26:00.000-07:00

LAST MONDAY XB WAS HEADED TO LA FOR A SHOW WHEN MY EARS WENT INSANE. I HAVE BEEN SICK FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. MY EAR HARSHLY POPPED AT THE TROUBADOUR WHILE WE WERE WAITING TO SOUNDCHECK. IT ALL WENT DOWNHILL FROM THERE. A FEW DAYS LATER I COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING OUT OF MY LEFT EAR BUT DIDN'T WANNA JINX MYSELF OR BE WHINEY MCHINEY SO I JUST BLEW IT OFF. I FINALLY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL EARLY MONDAY MORNING WHERE THE DOCTOR INFORMED ME THAT MY LEFT EARDRUM ACTUALLY HAD A HOLE IN IT, CAUSED MY A SEVERE RESPIRATORY AND SINUS INFECTION.
I LEFT FOR EUROPE EARLY THIS MORNING. I HAD A CONNECTION IN THE HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHICH HAS A STARBUCKS LITERALLY ON EVERY TURN WITHIN IT. MY FLIGHT TO PARIS STARTED OFF PRETTY ANNOYING CAUSE OF IT BEING FULL OF ANNOYING SOUTHERNERS. YOU KNOW, THE CHURCH MOM ONES, THE ONES THAT ARE EGG- SHAPED WITH SALLY JESSE HAIRCUTS AND GLASSES? IMAGINE ONE THOUSAND OF THOSE AMERICAN D- BAGS ON THIS FLIGHT.
DUE TO THE PAST WEEK PLUS OF BEING ILL, I WAS READY TO WIPE OUT BY THE TIME I BOARDED THIS PLANE. I PASSED OUT QUICK BUT WOKE UP WITH THE DISTURBING IMAGE OF AN EGG LADY'S ASS IN MY FACE. I WAS SLEEPING IN THE MIDDLE ROW FACING THE WALKWAY. SHE WAS BENT OVER THOWING UP ON THE GIRL SLEEPING IN THE AISLE ACROSS FROM ME. SHE WASN'T SITTING ANYWHERE NEAR HER. COULD HAVE THROWN UP IN HER SEAT, THE BATHROOM, IN THE PROVIDED BARF BAG... BUT NO, ON A FUCKING GIRL PEACEFULLY SLEEPING. IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. A STEWARDESS CAME UP, KINDA LIKE "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" EGG WOMAN JUST WALKS OFF. TOTALLY THAT TYPE OF PERSONALITY WHO WOULD FART ON AN AIRPLANE AND WOULD PREFER TO LIGHT MATCHES AND GET THE 2 G FINE THAN JUST DEAL WITH IT (THOUGH THINKING ABOUT EGG WOMAN FARTING MAKES ME WANNA HURL.)
NOW THERE IS THIS TEENAGE GIRL SITTING THERE SHOCKED AFTER BEING WOKEN UP BY FRESHLY EATEN STOMACH- SOAKED, ROAST BEEF, EGG- LADY VOMIT. THE PLACE WREAKED. DUMBASS EGG LADY DIDN'T APOLOGISE OR EVEN ATTEMPT A CLEAN UP. HER SELF CENTERED STOOOOOOOPPPPPIIIIIDDDDD ASS JUST WENT BACK AND SAT DOWN! THE SMELL STAYED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT.

AS AN ADDED BONUS I WAS WAITING AT BAGGAGE CLAIM WHEN ONE EGG WOMAN SAID TO ANOTHER: "WOW, THERES A SUSPICIOUS LOOKING CHARACTER..." "WHAT?" HER FRIEND SAID. SHE REPEATED IT A LITTLE LOUDER IN HER BEST "ORANGE ALERT" VOICE. I LOOKED UP AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ME! WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT I NOTICED SHE TRIED TO SWITCH GEARS AND ACT LIKE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE FRENCH DON'T LIKE AIR CONDITIONING!!!

PSS---- I REALLY DID ALMOST BARF THE HALF HOUR CAB RIDE TO CITY CENTER. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA COME CLOSE. THINKING ABOUT THAT BREAD OF SOUTHERNERS REALLY REAAAAAALLLY REAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYYYY MAKES MY STOMACH TURN.

TEST

2007-07-18T02:19:00.001-07:00

TEST!