30.10.18

Adelaide // Travel Day

- Me & my travel buddies

New Orleans // Mardi Gras World (Glass Animals support)

New Orleans, Louisiana // Laundry Day

Very late start today. After fighting with my alarm clock I finally got up and met the guys at Stumptown again, where I proceeded to spill my coffee all over myself, though I did not get a drop on my white shirt! Clean reflexes!

Then we went for a much longer than expected walk to do our laundry.

The laundromat ended up actually being an old recording studio, having produced artists such as Little Richard and Fats Domino!

Now it’s a wash and fold ... 😔

Cam & I went to Cafe Du Monde to try their famous beignets. Very nice!

Grabbed a coffee from Spitfire Coffee (another good roaster) as a marching band casually went past.

Then back to the hotel & past this rad place covered in skeletons and ghosts.

All the colours of the tech rainbow.

Black to dark green.

New Orleans, Louisiana // Day Off

Went out and got coffee for the boys at Stumptown Coffee before meeting up for breakfast.

Had a bit of a stroll around the French Quarter, checking out the voodoo shops.

Found this awesome brass band busking in the street, soon joined by an albino rastefarian fella with a djembe.

Then back to the hotel for a bit of a break from the heat.

Got a bit over budgets and emails, and headed back out to see Armstrong Park and a record store, that sadly ended up being closed.

Do I want to leave? NOPSI! 😊

Legit gas lanterns

I got myself some more comfy pants from Forever 21, not in green. Cause all my pants are green? Then went to dinner, we went to a place first that was a bust before heading to a real local dive that was really good.

Then with some suggestions from Ross (TCE) we went to some legit jazz club on Frenchman St. We hit up the spotted cat for s bit before heading back into the French quarter to hit up some bars.

New Orleans, Louisiana // Day Off

Late arrival into New Orleans this morning, avoided the storms but did get caught out by some rain.

Some of us had bigger nights than others

Poor Dobby, he has seen some things...

We then went and got breakfast crepes and had our own wet t-shirt competition, cause we all decided to wear white for some reason. The day off uniform!

Love US shipping speed

After too many frustrating emails I went with the UberEATS option, and my drink didn't come ... so it's all coming up roses.

Little taste of home.

Few miles later, feeling sore & sweaty.

Austin, Texas // Rest Day

After some more editing last night it was a bit of a late rise this morning. Went and got breakfast with Cam, with a lovely rude waiter!

Then we stopped off at Voodoo Doughnuts, I can finally say I've been to one now!

And as you guessed it back to the hotel to edit more Robot noises.

After a bit mor work I did some yoga & then headed out to a bar. Met some locals and went to a vegan food trailer and then onto the saddest hip hop show I've ever seen. Great energy. 11 people.

Bus call at 1:45am, nearly forgot my kindle but luckily had enough time to run back.

Austin, Texas // Austin City Limits

Very early wake up call this morning to start unloading the truck straight away.

Hope you like yellow

Went to try & find coffee... only found cans of cold brew. Close enough I suppose.

Calm before the storm.

Show was live broadcast on Red Bull, went nice & smooth, with Dobby looking on.

Load out with no more lighting!

Dallas, Texas // House of Blues

Dallas House of Blues!

Nice & warm Texas weather today.

Got up early & found coffee, before having some breakfast quesadillas.

Pretty cool looking venue.

Smooth sound check & then back to editing Robot content.

My little speakers the same as the PA!

Midland, Texas // Travel Day

Long bumpy drive last night.

Arrived around 11:30 in Midland, a town at the centre of the oil industry centre.

In other words, there's nothing going on an no-where to eat, if you don't like Chuckie Cheese.

Stole a sharpie.

How are those rolling concrete planes...

Saw Bladerunner in the loudest cinema known to man. Had a great sound design, but was super long!

Then a bit of composing in the hotel room & on the bus before our departure for Dallas.

Tucson, Arizona // Travel Day

Too hot!

Uber'd into town to have a pretty rad breakfast next to the court house. So many guns.

Then we walked for maybe ten minutes & completed the full tour of Tucson.

Back at the accom I worked my way through some Curb Your Enthusiasm & SC tour planning.

Steak house for dinner, suprisngly good vegan salad actually? Then Nam & i walked back to the hotel to try and work off some of the food we ate.

Had a nice late night Skype meeting & then back on the bus!

San Diego // Day Off

Laundry day!

Met up with Can first thing, had some breakfast and washed some clothes.

Aside from one shirt, it was all black.

At breakfast it couldn't have been more American, obviously. But when I asked to have two less pancakes than the four they were going to serve I was told, oh no they won't do that. I said I'm just not going to eat them ... it's fine we'll just throw them away after. Oh good. Solid mentality.

I only drink beverages that match my outfit.

Went for a detour past the hardware store to get some more straps for the trailer, then more sock shopping (obviously) before heading back to the ball park to have some juice and chill.

Back to the hotel I did some more yoga, which didn't hurt as much as yesterday so that's a win & then emails for SC.

Whilst lusting over these new Girl desks covered in Eames furniture!

Went and got some Japanese that was amazing, before coming back to the hotel to try and write some music for Robot.

2am bus call

San Diego // Day Off

Petco Park, home of San Diego Padres.

Great coffee & a killer avocado toast.

Solid Bobs Burgers reference

Finally sent a letter for Mum I was meant to sent a few months ago.

Really cool old theatre sadly being torn down, at least on the inside.

Met up with Nam & Jimmy, grabbed another coffee & the band card before heading out to get supplies from some music stores.

Really wanted a bigger midi keyboard which would have been great in the studio at home, but it was just too big to fit in my suitcase, so the mini one will do. Probably better for my hotel room writing... if my laptop wants to play ball yet?

Got a bit of writing done before doing some yoga and meditation for the first time in a long while. Back to square one it feels like sadly. Some very sore and uncomfortable joints and muscles. I think I'd rather do a full load in and out of the show, it's less painful.

Cold pizza in the hotel room with some Netflix.

Found the most amazing sock store ever on my walk ... I used intense self control to only buy two pairs.

They had the biggest Stance selection I'd ever seen... it was difficult.

San Diego // Day Off

Very late rise today, bit of a headache and clearly needed to catch up on some sleep.

Couldn't get in touch with anyone, so went and got a coffee and some food before going for a walk around.

Picked up some bathers cause I forgot to pack any, and some new plane pants (from Forever 21 ((cause I'm worth it))) with pockets to avoid losing my wallet again.

Moved in. Emails, emails, emails.

Lots of computer issues as always when I want to actually do work. Also found out my new pants are pretty water proof when I tipped my glass of water all over me... it's what I get for trying to be healthy.

San Diego // CRSSD Festival

Not the worst place to wake up in.

Right on the harbour in San Diego.

Head lining CRRSD Festival tonight.

Loaded in early, did a virtual sound check which is where Cam (on drums) runs a multitrack recording of the night before to hear how it will sound, without the band. Jimmy & I then setup all the stage stuff in the mean time.

Finished that a few hours early & then to the hotel for some food & a break until lobby

Next door for some veggie tacos then a short walk around the block

Ended up accidentally falling asleep, but woke up just before lobby call.

Post show chaos

Oakland // Fox Theatre Show #2

Took a pretty long Uber trip out to a Nike store to try and get some shoes that wouldn't leave my feet in agony by the end of the day. Sadly it was a bit of a bust, only horrible fluro shoes available in size 10 apparently.

But I did of course get socks!

Went to the venue & had my second or third coffee of the morning. Went for a walk & found a local pop up shoe shop.

See how long it takes me to loose these, even with my grandpa strap.

Lost my other pair this morning ...

That's a pair per tour so far I think.

Awesome Oakland coffe & a snicker doodle.

Soundcheck day 2.

Lots of waiting around before show today, all went well tonight. Couple of technical things but ended up being nice & smooth.

Then back on the bus to drive to San Diego for an early start at a festival.

Oakland // Fox Theatre

Had a decent bus capsule sleep last night, though did meet the boys manager at 4am, when I wasn't wearing any pants going to the bathroom. First impressions count!

Woke up in Oakland at the Fox Theatre, but venue that's held a lot of massive bands. The walls are littered with photos from some awesome gigs.

Including Obama.

Beautiful old theatre with some amazing statues and interior decor.

Setup and sound check went nice and smooth, ready for the first show.

Checked into the Marriot for the night.

Show No. 1, they made the wall.

Two consecutive sold out shows.

Los Angeles // Mates Rehearsal Studio

Another day at Mates Rehearsal space.

All went pretty smooth until the bus driver arrived & backed up into the driveway, bottoming out, drilling the trailer into the concrete & getting himself stuck for an hour or so.

I got to then enjoy directing traffic for an hour or so in the heat, which included backing up 3 tour buses & a semi, before leaving the 22 cooks that had come out to help & going back into rehearsals.

Beck's EMI console from Abbey Road.

Packed up & then loaded the trailer, had sa shower, some food at Denny's and then bed.

Los Angeles // Mates Rehearsal Studio

Breakfast, coffee and off to the rehearsal studio.

We were in the big main room which is apparently Blink 182s room.

Pretty much every US band seems to store their gear here as well, the bands that would have been through these doors is pretty crazy.

All in all a pretty long but successful day.

Around 10:30 we called it a night and back to the hotel before an early call the next morning to do it all again.

Perth > Melbourne > Los Angeles

Weird flight, not sure if I slept or what happened? Delayed departure out of Melbourne, so got a few hours to wait around.

Impressively loud snoring Asian man on the floor behind me.

Met up with Matt (Lights) who got us into the First Class Lounge. Had some good avocado on toast & a back massage.

Sometimes touring isn't too bad.

Got upgraded to the top level which was nice, had a bit more space.

Quick shower at the hotel and then off to the warehouse to prep and build.

Acoustically treated testing room

Nerding out over this cable tester

Back to the hotel, crashed out & woke up just before midnight, went across the street to Ralph's where half the store was covered in builders plastic, but I got some snacks & headed back to catch up on emails

Perth // Travel + Listen Out

Listen Out 2017 at HBF Arena Joondalup, Perth

Rain was a massive drama today, consoles & gear getting soaked. Bailed early to catch my flight to Melbourne.

To the airport and checked in nice and early, didn't realise that silver in Qantas grants you fast lane access. Ended up bumping into Brett a sax playing/sound designer who was also flying to LA and will be playing all good Austin City Limits same day as us!

Super jealous of the kid in the 'Where The Wild Things Are' onesie.

Looks hella comfortable.