The Milky Way and Oreos

I don't get to look up at the sky very often and see what's really up there, anymore.  In most places we're at these days, there are too many street lights and other types of light polution that block space out in a dull, orangey haze.  It's really too bad, because the stars are beautiful.  I hope that someday we'll be able to travel to distant planets and moons and return to Earth within a lifetime, maybe even fast enough for weekend vacations!  How cool would that be??
For now, I guess I'll have to stick to terrestrial tourist destinations, and there's a lot of them that I haven't seen yet.
So I know I kinda lied back when I said I'd write a new blog and then didn't for a week and a half, but I'm getting it out now, and I guess now I have another week's worth of stuff to write about!  (I'll probably just end up rambling about myself, though.)
We're nearing the end of a long and uneventful drive right now going from Grand Rapids to Baltimore, after a nice little collection of weekend shows near home.  I had to skip out on one of those shows, last Saturday in Rockford, IL.  My cousin got married up near Traverse City, MI, so I had to go do the family thing and support.  It was a great outdoor-ceremony and the weather went from hot, humid and cloudy, to cold and slightly rainy throughout the day, but the party went on, anyway.  There was beer brewed specifically for the occasion by the groom, himself, lots of champagne and other assorted liquors floating in the river, staying cold, and some amazing pork that had been smoked right in the driveway.
This box (or bag?  I'm not really sure what those packages are classified as,) of Oreos is staring at me from the table, taunting me, willing me to eat them, but I don't have any milk to go with them.  What a cruel situation this is.  I can outlast you, Oreos!  You will not defeat me, my will is strong!
I'm loving the weather, lately!  Not the crazy stormy catastrophe weather that's causing all kinds of chaos, but the mild, slowly cooling weather in the midwest.  The temperature is in the 50's, clouds are moving quickly across the sky and the sun is moving south.  Soon, the leaves will change and football will be in full effect, and Hoodies will become common again.  (Hint hint...)
We stopped somewhere in eastern Ohio today, for a little pre-tour dinner.  Outback Steakhouse treated us very well, and I went against my norm and ordered the grilled chicken and vegitables.  The chicken was ridiculously juicy and delicious, I'll definitely get it again!
Coming up this week and next, we'll be in Baltimore, MD, Syracuse, NY, Uncasville, CT, Albany, NY, West Chester, PA, Clifton, NJ, Jacksonville, NC, and Charleston, SC.  I'm hoping the cool, calm weather follows us for most of the shows!  I just got my slippers and pajama pants out of storage for the winter months.
Oh, I got my hair done again, yesterday.  It's back to black and red, and I hope it stays in for a long time!
A Wii made it back on to the bus, this morning.  Mario Kart has once again taken over the back lounge, and I can't imagine it will be too long before the trophy makes its way back into the bunk room.  I swear we have the most intense video game competitions on this bus out of all touring musicians in any genre.  I obviously can't state that as fact, but it could be.  I wonder if there's a way to find that out...
Sounds like I'm running out of steam here, so I'll just end it at that.  See ya soon!

The Black Hills and Four Forefathers

[I had this whole nice blog typed out, and when I went to go get the video link, for some reason it logged me out and when I posted it, everything was erased!  GAH!  At least part of it was saved up until the TV link]
Looking out the window of the bus right now, I see some campers and what looks like a pole barn with the word "BUFF" on it.  If I lean to my left, I can see that it actually says "BUFFALO CHIP," but I think I'll stick with my first glance because it makes me giggle.
Unfortunately for someone on the way in, we saw a bike in minor shambles, looking like it had been laid down on some gravelly pavement.  Ouch!  I send my condolences to whom ever that may be.
This morning we stopped at Mount Rushmore, a place I've wanted to visit since first hearing about it at a young age, when ever that was.  Although there were some mixed feelings about the size of the monument from the driver's seat, I was definitely in awe of such a huge accomplishment, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.  I definitely hope at some point we will be able to stop back for a longer period of time and get to go hiking on the trails all around.
For those who haven't seen it yet, go check out my new tour video (#16) right now, and then come back and finish reading.
Back?  Okay, good!
Word on the street is that it's getting a little chilly outside, and I think I may have to dig out one of my hoodies or jackets for an evening stroll.  I might even put on shoes!  Oh my!  Last I heard, it was 67 and dropping.
So yesterday we were lucky enough to be invited out on a boat in Minnesota, and it was a beautiful day to be out.  I lost a pair of cheap sunglasses somewhere in the murky abyss, and with the help of some goggles and our nifty little waterproof GoPro Hero camera, I spend many minutes scouring the bottom for them.  I was unsuccessful, unless you count the many beer cans and Sony Xplod receiver faceplate that I came up with.  I like to think of them as bonus items.  If you lost that faceplate in whatever lake it was that we were in, I'm sorry, but it probably doesn't work anymore.
Soon after, we were engulfed by a school of ravenous sunfish, nibbling at our toes and hopelessly staring us down (or up, as physics require.)  I've got some nifty video of that too, although not quite Discovery Channel quality, I like to think it's pretty good considering what I had to work with.
After a few hours of floating, sinking and burning, we cruised over to Lord Fletcher's Old Lake Lodge for some dinner.  I gingerly enjoyed a burger while my coarse tshirt rubbed against my sunkissed flesh, then it was back to the bus for me to finish the releasing process of previously mentioned TV16.
Alrighty, the great outdoors is calling my name, so I must wander.  Have a great weekend, everyone!  Catch ya on the flipside.

(Over-used cliche saying about Band Camp)

Two days off in a row.  That's what we get, and for once, we're not spending the entire time driving a ridiculously long distance between shows!  It's good to be parked in one comfortable place for a day, and tomorrow the plan is golf!  If you're new to Pop Evil, yes, we are avid golfers.  You can see some of our outings in past tour videos I've put together.  This time, I'm more excited than most because I actually have my own clubs with me now!  I'm really hoping to beat Leigh and Dave tomorrow, but the outcome will depend on my ability to stay relaxed.
Last night at Band Camp, Dave and I were hitting some balls with a 7 iron in this big grassy area next to the busses, and after the turn, dave almost hit one of them.  Shortly before that, a ball was hit into a crowded area, and everyone scattered.  Whoops!  Sorry!
So more on Band Camp!  What a great show!  Aside from the intense sun and heat, there was All That Remains, Anew Revolution, Aranda, Saving Abel, Egypt Central, Clutch, Volbeat and many others!  It was an awesome lineup, and a bit of a tour-family reunion!  Have I mentioned that I love festival season?  First time I've ever seen Volbeat, and I was very impressed!
Dylan made it out to the show as well, it feels like forever since we've seen him and it we've definitely missed him!  I've got some more chest-cam video to edit up for y'all, I'll get to it soon, I promise!  I've got about 15 videos in the waiting line right now, so I'll be busy for a while!
It feels strange to think we'll be playing in Sturgis with Alice Cooper in a week.  It feels like summer has just begun, even though tomorrow is the first day of August.  I'll have some new tour dates for you, soon!  I'm expecting a new itinerary any day now, and when I get it, you'll know!
I think I'm ready for bed, already.  It's been a long day of slip-n-sliding, grilling and relaxing, and we have to do it all over again, tomorrow!  I'm gonna need to get my energy back.  Gnight, everyone, hope y'all had a great weekend!

Out on the trail (er)

It's been kind of a stressfull week.  So much so, that I really don't remember when it started.  Let's say it started when the tire on the bus blew out as we were driving from Mississippi to Arkansas.  That's only like 4 days, but it feels like at least a week and a half.  So it's about 8:00am, we all went to bed about 5:00am, and one of the rear tires blew and the debris took out the airbag by that wheel.  For those of you who have no idea what that is, it does the same job on the bus as a spring/shock absorber does on a car.  From the name "airbag" you can pretty much guess that it's kind of like a balloon.  When it popped, the bus dropped down about 4 inches instantly, and every single ripple or bump in the road caused the bus to bounce up and down and shake back and forth like a carnival ride.  Being thrown out of the top bunk isn't the most fun way to wake up in the morning.
We got the tire replaced, but there was no airbag in stock, (finally got the right one shipped to us today) so the ride is still bouncy.  Hoping it will be fixed tonight, after the show.
All the bouncing of the bus wreaked havoc on the trailer as well, throwing mic stands off the walls and scattering merchandise all over and so on, so we had to take an extra 20 minutes or so when we got to the show (30 minutes after doors opened) to get everything out of the trailer and make sure nothing was broken.  Luckily enough, everything was fine, and other than extreme heat everyday, most things have been running smoothly until this morning when a tire on the trailer blew out.  Now we've had this trailer about 2 weeks, and it's pretty much brand new, and I just can't figure out why the tire would blow the way that it did.  Since Bobo changed the last tire, (on the old trailer) it was my turn to go out and do it, and come to find out, our floor jack is a little too small for the new trailer.  It rides higher off the ground, as well as weighing a lot more.  I had to put the jack right under the rear axle and then jack it up while lying on my back with both of my hands over my head.  Definitely not an easy thing to do, and with very sweaty results.  So the trailer got changed, and I realized I left my red merch light hanging on the ceiling at the club last night, so no more red light fun.  :(

On the bright side, touring with Black Stone Cherry, Kyng and Lansdowne has been great!  The shows have been fun and everyone is really easy to get along with.  I'm a bit late for doors right now, so I gotta run inside and sell some CDs!  See y'all soon.

I've got 10 minutes...

I've got a little bit of time here before we have to hit the stage in Aberdeen, SD.  Egypt Central is on stage right now, and yeah, I know.  I'm a bad person for not watching their set.  I'll make it up to them later with beverages.

I guess that today is the official start of the tour with Black Stone Cherry, although they played with us at Muskegon Summer Celebration last Friday, but I'm not counting that show.  It was its own entity.  We actually got to celebrate the 4th at home this year, which was great!  I can't speak for what any of the other guys did, but Chris and I grilled up some brats, steak and chicken, and then blew up some firecrackers and shot paintballs at a piece of fence in the backyard.  It was relaxing and fun!

Then, to celebrate the release of "War of Angels," we had an acoustic performance/meet and greet at the FYE in Rivertown Mall in Grandville, MI, on the 5th.  The 6th, we drove to Janesville, WI, for another in-store at Exclusive Company.  They had some of the coolest things there!  I bought an ice cube tray that makes shot glasses!  Apparently these have been around for a while, but I just found out about them, so the excitement is still there!

Yesterday, we were at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI.  I was hoping to see Katy Perry, but no such luck.  Our set time was right before her's, so when we got done with everything and packed up, she was also done.  Oh well, maybe next time!  (Yeah, make fun all you want.  She's hot and you know it!)

It was good to see our buddies in Finger Eleven again!  The best part of festival season is reuniting with all the friends we've made on previous tours.  I think I've said that before, but I'll definitely say it again.

Ok, I've got to run, it's show time!