When Eagles cry

We're back in LA. Tonight is the last show of this first tour.

It's warm here (it was 88 in downtown LA yesterday) and it will probably be in the 80s for a couple more months.

Whenever I tell friends on the east coast about this weather they respond with "yeah, but you have smog" and "yeah, but you have earthquakes", like I was bragging. It's unnaturally warm and kind of annoying. The screen door is open like it's July. It's weird seeing Target mechanical deer and snowmen on crisp-dry brown lawns. The heat makes people crazy and confuses them into making bad decisions.



The biggest misconception about touring is that you get to actually visit the places you're traveling to. In reality you get to visit the clubs, the gas stations, the Super 8s and supermarkets of this country (any place that uses the word "super" at the start of their name probably isn't).



When you're driving for 8-10 hours a day the gas station convenience stores become the looked-forward-to midday activity. There's a strange comfort in knowing when you walk into a store items will be organized in a familiar way -- 16oz bottle of water in the fridge, peanut M&Ms at the front counter. Supermarkets also help out by displaying items together that we'll probably be bought together... the peanut butter goes next to the jelly, the deli meats next to the cheese, and so on...



And I'm always amazed at what you learn on the road. Everyone knows that doves cry, but did you know that eagles cry too? (again, my phone is such a POS that you can't see the tear, but know it's there).



Oh, what to do with all these tour pics.

1 band, 5 members, 5 cRaZy hats... coming this fall to the FOX kids network.

Target Center opening for the Stones

Food is the only thing that looks good on my phone, is that okay with you??

Deep fried PB&J at Beachland in Cleveland, and that's powdered sugar on top. It was freakin' awesome, thanks Kim.



Pumpkin curry at a Thai restaurant down the street from the 400 Bar in Minneapolis. Unclear whether they appreciated our sense of humor.



Cheese in North Dakota (loser).



Also in N. Dakota, a chance to trade in your old Deer Hides for a booey knife. By the way, not sure if everyone is aware of this but you can trade in Human Hunter Hides at the Film School shows for a free Hideout 12" vinyl or CD *your choice*.



Fan letter of the week!
Thanks Baardis! PS. Does that 50 include yourself?

Hey,
I just wanted to say that I really like your music. I am a Norwegian and you guys are not so well known here (I imagine maybe about 50 people around the country have heard of you - which is very sad), but I 'discovered' you when searching through Mark Lanegan's music label, Beggars. If I had the power to get certain bands to play in Norway, Film School should have been one of them -- for sure!

The (maybe uninteresting) picture is me and a friend dancing. I usually dont like to dance, but if the music is good, and I have had anough beer, and there is pretty girls, I'm there!

Best greetings

Baardis!



And a blog about last night's show in Minneapolis... "This band sounded so good, they could have been rocking at the Target Center opening for the Rolling Stones." Good news for the Stones... we've been discussing playing shoegaze Bar Mitzvahs in the next few months, but would be available for some one-offs if the timing is right.
http://britishrockisalwaystop.blogspot.com/

Tragedies and puppies

Man it's tough to keep up with these TorBlogz...

We ate corn at Cafe Habana in NYC (it looks nasty, it's not)...



We've stayed in more crappy hotels (it looks nasty, it is)...



Dave played on a Eulogies song at Johnny Brenda's in Philly (backstage practicing)...



AND big marketing news...Tragedy finally struck! "Coincidentally" it happened at the Beggars office...



I fell over this big ball they had in the office. I knew they were up to something when they had "In Rainbows" playing on the stereo in the office.

Speaking of, I heard something about only about half of the people that bought "In Rainbows" online from Radiohead actually payed something for it. It doesn't seem far off that instead of album prices being fixed there will be a "suggested" price based on what other fans paid for the album. The ultimate album review.




And speaking of, a few days ago we received a message from a fan on MySpace that said "How can I find your music for free, I'm broke!" This isn't the first message we've gotten like this. Isn't there some unspoken rule that you're not supposed to ask a band how to find their music for free? I guess why hide the obvious. Consumers are trying to figure out whether music should be free or not, and it sure seems to be heading the way of free. What's the rule about downloading music? Do you download the album for free, then buy the CD if you like it? Or download the music then go to the show and buy a tshirt? What if the tshirt is a shitty design?

I KNOW I KNOW... bands are supposed to just be grateful anyone wants to listen to their music... Why can't these selfish musicians just be happy to have their music be distributed and enjoyed??

And why can't every in rainbow end in a pot of gold??

PS: We have this pic of some cute PUPPIES from our stay at James' parent's place... aaaawwwWWWW!

TorBlogz are sooo 2004

Ah, trying to score that elusive Pitchfork headline, not an easy task. You know it's tough out there when your label posts a blog that they hope your blog will reveal some tour tragedy to get press:

http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/blog/

Let's make one thing clear: we're on board with the new marketing plan!

We had a back-tire blowout on the drive from San Francisco to Austin, does that help?

It's rough right now being a label in a post "In Rainbows" world, but since we're in this together and finger-stirring the brainpool, we've come up with some compelling ideas to get the actual label some attention:

- Release the Devendra/Chan sex tape on YouTube.

- Set fire to the entire Beggars inventory (yes, fires still make headlines after all these centuries). If people want it, you can repress it. If not, take the insurance money and open a coffee shop.

And don't forget the basics:

- Reinvent your image. Get some new press shots and a new look, but don't cut that hair! (long hair is in again)

- MySpace is a great way to get in touch with the youth: showcase the label's personality with photos and wacky backgrounds, and work on getting a feature.


Also, we don't want to tell you how to run the business, but have you noticed fucked up female celebs are hot right now? Unify the movement and create a talent division for these girls! Pioneer members should include Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears (tip: Hannah Montana has potential with some creative development).


Soooo back to us, just yesterday our sound engineer Scott, in a moment of drug-induced lucidity, described our music as "a polar bear in the frickin' Milky Way." Surely we can find a way to use this.


PS: If you can build a cool $20k gear replacement fee into our budget maybe we can arrange for "another exciting thing to happen."
(....easy dude, I'm kidding)


OH AND...

A message to the guy in the front last night who was pissed about the video cameras and yelling "Do you want to play for us or YouTube?".... We didn't know the people videotaping the show. And most of the time we couldn't see them. Suggestion: instead of yelling at us, say something to them about it. Or move closer to the stage so they can't get in front of you. We know how frustrating it can be to have people in front of you videotaping, but yelling at us will only get you on YouTube with an unflattering title.

Thanks to fans in DC, Chapel Hill and Philadelphia who came to the shows! CYA TONIGHT IN NYC BITCHES!

Backstage at The Earl in Atlanta

This was one of the best shows we've had on tour so far, thanks to all Atlantans who made it so -- superrad.

the last few hours

oye.

the last few days

the south:

the suck:

the sucker:


Thanks to our fans who came out to the Austin Emo's show and Dallas Cavern show, in particular the guys in front at the Cavern show who were losing their minds during our set, even for the slow stuff.

Pretty amazing scene on the street outside the Cavern after the show -- felt like being in a Snoop video. Why do I take pics of sweet tea signs and miss the short shorts? I'll make up for it in the next blog.

Finally got to play a set with Experimental Aircraft, who I've seen 3 or 4 times in Austin over the years, but never with Rachel playing the Omnichord -- sick omnichord work. Kids: listen to this band and rip off their tones and you will do well.

Dug Red Monroe in Dallas as well. Amazing this band is from Dallas.

We've logged about 50 hours so far in the van on this tour. Here's what we're learning from commercial radio:

* Diamonds and gold are great substitutes for affection and sex

* Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Boston are the hottest rock acts in the states right now

* There are more commercials on the radio than ever, I guess because stations don't get as much revenue from each ad. Damn internet.