Who stole Houston? 28/12/12

T- minus 1 and counting... Houston you are cleared for take off!

Although we're not really.. it's a little wait before we can load in..

Time for a family photo?

I think Kenny and Bo may be related...

Load eventually happens with a rather fetching folk lift, nice!

Stage is set and into the sound check....

Then I get Kelly for her first focus and the mighty Torr to help with all my lighting needs.

Just enough time to eat and take 5 with Bobby Long..

Before we know it .. it's showtime!

Jet? JET? 

JET!!!!! 

Wake up! 

WAKE UP!!

And Houston rock out, with some whoops and hollers the last gig goes well.

And it's a speedy load out followed by drinks on the bus before we scatter.....

Majestic Theater- Saint Antony couldn't find us, how could we find our way home? 27/11/12

And so as we climb the steps from the bus to enter the venue, James, JT and myself are greeting with a strange site. 

It appears one of the cast from Mad Max has been teleported to a wall in San Antonio..

Our initial strange experience is heightened by the fact that we enter what we asume is our theatre, only to be greeted by a tiny venue whose stage is complete with cannon!!

So it's with some great relief we enter the Majestic Theater and meet stage manager Ian to our ball rolling!

Kenny gets his Truck On.. and a huge amount of hands appear to empty it on the stage..

Ian's signature pony swaying to the sounds of Sunken Condos by Donald Fagen, a favourite of our PA mans.. 

And as sales soar our boys literally sell the shirts off their backs... 

Thing is I think they might be lady tee's....

Sound check sounding fine and I get chance to play with the lights..

The Governor gets his funk on and is blazing up the hammond today.. 

Look out San Antonio, you thought it was hot outside! 

And it's all over, we try once again to navigate the back stage area without getting lost... a bite of pizza and a quick shower and we're out of there!

And with a little time  to kill before we roll Richard, Paul, Bo, Bobby Long and myself head out for a post work drink...

We end up in a very quiet Karaoke bar where we actually all got up together to sing a favoured tune... 

Austin City Limits, TX, 25/11/12

It's time to get off the bus, onto the elevator and into the venue.

We soon have our burly locals ( Alex is actually part bear) to help us fill the freight elevator and hit the stage

James sets up production in a corridor whilst Jet hangs, hiding under his hood...
Shhh he may be sleeping!

We get our stage set and the venue definitely feels like a TV studio...

After a hearty meal served close to an area under construction we're looking forward to getting our rock on!

               But first... Bobby Long.... Who has a couple of nice friends in attendance...

Oh it's naptime.... no snoring chaps!

The lovely Eugenia appears and enjoys tonights show along with some of her lovely friends.

Our old friend Kate also enjoys the show and we hit a local bar for a post work drink and catch up.... 

And Joe takes the oche for a gentle game of darts with Kate's friend Brian....

      And it's morning and a no show day, so time to rest and prepare for the last couple of gigs.

Hard Rock Tulsa! And another birthday special, Cpl Summers 24/11/12

Welcome to the Hard Rock Joint, Birthday boy Joe!!

It's a special day in Oklahoma as both major football teams are playing each other.. Mark our video guy is getting quite excited about it too!

Bo takes the helm on Merch and regales his customers of stories from home... 

Utilising his best of British look!

With help from Josh, I get my look on and doors have opened.

Boy do I have some lights to play with tonight!!

A quick chat to Mark the video director will ensure good timing for instrumental solo's!

Bo, Joe and myself hightail it to a fancy restaurant to get some grub pre-show.

What a spread.. ending in a creme brûlée with a birthday candle.. great stuff!

Thanks Sarah, our server in McGills on 19.

A speedy load out with a crew eager to help out, thanks Tim and chums!

And no for some more cake!!

This time with Champagne....

Off we go to grab a relaxing drink before hitting the road for Texas.

Which we share with Vidiot Mark and his lovely lady and stage manager Dave..

Thank you Tulsa and Good night....

Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK 23/11/12

With the Trauma of our travel day being eaten by a poorly bus...

And Thanksgiving spent relaxing..

It's on to the next show.

And what a strage venue it is!

Some of us still require more recharging however

Soundcheck comes around fast and the boss is in fine form!

Corporal Summers reporting for duty at the quartermasters, make sure you have the correct chit!

Meanwhile back at the office it's steak and pie charts for dinner!

And it's showtime!

Things to do in Denver on a Tuesday.. 20/11/12

 And we're up in the clouds! 

Well a mile high at least...

The gangs all here, Mike our bus driver hits the runway, with my lighting guy, Chris behind!

Zach our house chief narrowly escapes the shot.

The sky is blue and the Paramount too, looking fine for another show...

And lunchtime for lovers everywhere....except both of their partners are missing!

Soundcheck bangs out some old favourites... 

                          Cafe takes some toys into the corridor to keep on the groove.

Whilst old friend Bobby Long hits sound check.

A groovy gig with visit from Optibike!

We load out pretty fast....

However our merch sellers take some extra time to dot the 'T's and cross the 'Eye's.....

Fox Theater, Tuscon 18/11/12

It's Sunday and it actually feels like it.

Being out on the road as we are, you're never quite sure what day it is... but not today!

Desiree, Stacey and Lou are our guys for load in, Chip also lends a hand but misses the photo!

Soon after setting the stage Kenny's son Canen arrives with an old Harley for refurb.

Just time for line check before the band arrive to check..

Jet kicks out the beat, jam hot!

And oops, someone's feeling the weight of our schedule.

Yes it's been tough but we rock on!

The gig is all about the theater and talk is all about it's upkeep and the town's 'modern street car'...

Exciting stuff!

A wicked show and we're on the bus before we know it!

After a bus load of band and crew clean up first of course... fighting fit!

And when we awaken we're in New Mexico.. 

But what's this RV doing in the pound...Bad, breaking bad!

Dear Mr. Fantasy Springs, Palm Spring 17/11/12

And so awaken from the depths of our slumber to find ourselves in the desert.

Breakfasted and ready for work we load in and dump on the stage. 

I'm introduced to Michael and Keebler, my lighting crew for the day, top geezers!

Keebler, as the name suggests is a fellow hobbit and even sports a wolverine look not too dissimilar to one I was rocking fairly recently!

And backstage the scene is set ready for action!

And the crowd goes wild.. great show!

Some fab solo's from the guys which the audience duly note.

And it's back on the bus and away....