Against doctors orders (remember I badly sprained my right ankle 3 days before the first show), I lined up for my Futsal (indoor soccer) team on the Monday before this last leg. An opposition player kicked me so hard in the left foot (accidentally) that he had to leave the court, as did I, limping. Within an hour my foot started swelling up on both sides and I couldn’t walk at all.
Alarm bells.
I got a scan which revealed no break or fracture – just an excruciatingly sore foot that requires crutches. I didn’t even think of pulling out of the shows – which is proof of something… stupidity I think. I was pretty bummed out about it given how great this tour has been – I really wanted to go out on a high on the final leg and WA is a great place to play live music.
The mind is willing...
Tonight is soldout in Fremantle and the venue, Mojos, has a lot of character. Everyone forgets that Sydney is 3 hours ahead so when we’re on stage at 11pm, it’s actually 2am our time (usually the first show on the WA run is a mixture of delusion, exhaustion and exhileration). None of this matters, the crowd is great – and sympathetically scream as I hobble onto stage on crutches – my debut crutches performance. Horrorshow play a massive set – one of their best.
Due to an accommodation slip, we’re staying at a backpackers tonight. We wind down outside as an Israeli, a Japanese and an Australian discuss world politics. Brings back memories of life on the backpacker curcuit – I have a sudden urge to rob them of their Thai fisherman pants and read ‘The Beach’.
Luke Snarl - indefatigable soundman
Onto Bunbury! The Prince of Wales is a classic venue with a classic publican, Mitch. Mitch “doesn’t believe in riders” so he disregards any written requests (as are included in artists contracts) but he happily provides most of whatever you request in person. Our backstage is upstairs in the pub accom and we have to decline bongs from a few Aussie hip hop fans also staying upstairs, shirts off, already cutting loose.
Me: “Sorry fellas, we’ve got to do the show .”
Bloke: “Awwright, afterwards then?”
Me: “We’ll see how we go.”
Bloke: “Sick cunt!”
Bunbury is always wild. One guy drunkenly spilt bourbon across a number of our tees on the merch stand and then stumbled off, only later to return and demand a discount on a fresh tee. Most of us are fairly sober, but some of our clientele are drunk as maggots – it’s an awesome dynamic.
Back to Perth and our final show of the tour at the Amplifier Bar. We’re clashing with Phrase, Pearl Jam and Ladyhawke tonight so there’s no guarantees except the party afterward. Mondo has worked with Urban Monk to create his own song about tour managing, featuring autotune and synth hip hop production – and performs it unannounced onstage as a surprise for us at the end of soundcheck. We fall about the venue laughing!
Horrorshow rockin' Amps!
Amplifier turns out! We pretty much sell the venue out and the vibes is heavy – we spot Drapht kickin it with his lady and it turns out to be the perfect show to close it all out. Cameras are flashing constantly – our touring party madly trying to capture the last moments before the tour finishes. We conclude the night with an all-in jam session and everyone, including Mondo, joins us onstage dancing to our final track.
Spitshine Tour week 8 – final weekend – WA
Against doctors orders (remember I badly sprained my right ankle 3 days before the first show), I lined up for my Futsal (indoor soccer) team on the Monday before this last leg. An opposition player kicked me so hard in the left foot (accidentally) that he had to leave the court, as did I, limping. Within an hour my foot started swelling up on both sides and I couldn’t walk at all.
Alarm bells.
I got a scan which revealed no break or fracture – just an excruciatingly sore foot that requires crutches. I didn’t even think of pulling out of the shows – which is proof of something… stupidity I think. I was pretty bummed out about it given how great this tour has been – I really wanted to go out on a high on the final leg and WA is a great place to play live music.
The mind is willing...
Tonight is soldout in Fremantle and the venue, Mojos, has a lot of character. Everyone forgets that Sydney is 3 hours ahead so when we’re on stage at 11pm, it’s actually 2am our time (usually the first show on the WA run is a mixture of delusion, exhaustion and exhileration). None of this matters, the crowd is great – and sympathetically scream as I hobble onto stage on crutches – my debut crutches performance. Horrorshow play a massive set – one of their best.
Due to an accommodation slip, we’re staying at a backpackers tonight. We wind down outside as an Israeli, a Japanese and an Australian discuss world politics. Brings back memories of life on the backpacker curcuit – I have a sudden urge to rob them of their Thai fisherman pants and read ‘The Beach’.
Luke Snarl - indefatigable soundman
Onto Bunbury! The Prince of Wales is a classic venue with a classic publican, Mitch. Mitch “doesn’t believe in riders” so he disregards any written requests (as are included in artists contracts) but he happily provides most of whatever you request in person. Our backstage is upstairs in the pub accom and we have to decline bongs from a few Aussie hip hop fans also staying upstairs, shirts off, already cutting loose.
Me: “Sorry fellas, we’ve got to do the show .”
Bloke: “Awwright, afterwards then?”
Me: “We’ll see how we go.”
Bloke: “Sick cunt!”
Bunbury is always wild. One guy drunkenly spilt bourbon across a number of our tees on the merch stand and then stumbled off, only later to return and demand a discount on a fresh tee. Most of us are fairly sober, but some of our clientele are drunk as maggots – it’s an awesome dynamic.
Back to Perth and our final show of the tour at the Amplifier Bar. We’re clashing with Phrase, Pearl Jam and Ladyhawke tonight so there’s no guarantees except the party afterward. Mondo has worked with Urban Monk to create his own song about tour managing, featuring autotune and synth hip hop production – and performs it unannounced onstage as a surprise for us at the end of soundcheck. We fall about the venue laughing!
Horrorshow rockin' Amps!
Amplifier turns out! We pretty much sell the venue out and the vibes is heavy – we spot Drapht kickin it with his lady and it turns out to be the perfect show to close it all out. Cameras are flashing constantly – our touring party madly trying to capture the last moments before the tour finishes. We conclude the night with an all-in jam session and everyone, including Mondo, joins us onstage dancing to our final track.
Solo, Chips, Gusto (back), Urban Monk, Mondo, Cam, Adit & me
Urth & Chizzzle
Big up Urban (Polo Club)
Solo is mos def in the house in 2009
What would J Dilla do? Elgusto killed it on this tour
Absinthe (?) is hectic.
We fly home slightly less energetic.
Thanks to all the people that came to the shows for making this tour so great!