In our infinite wisdom, we crammed 14 people into 3 station wagons and drove up the NSW coast. There’s Astronomy Class, Horrorshow, The Tongue, Hermitude, me and Jane as well as Mondo (manager) and our soundy Luke. This first leg is a one-off, Astro, Hermy and Tongue leave us after these 3 shows.

There’s something you can’t beat about opting for driving over flying; the mixtapes; the shit-talking; the friendly waves to the highway patrol who may have just fined you hundreds of dollars; the pitstops for shitty food; the busload of old women at Bulahdelah, all rocking that pimped out purple hair; watching a factory worker at Broadwater Sugar Plant trying to raise the Australian flag on their flagpole; the bikies camped outside a cafe on a rest stop; the progressively looser Astro car smokin’ & drankin’ (shoutout to Gusto designated driver); stopping off at Little Italy Museam north of Coffs where we find out the first Italian refugees arrived in 1881 (not the most popular of museams from our time there) while ‘We Get Around’ is playing on the car radio of the tradeys working out the front. There’s a lot to like about a good long drive up the coast. Me and Solo discuss new rappers like Wale, J. Cole & Drake.. I make mention that my favourite records of the last 2 years are from vets Q-Tip and Mos Def. Solo is across shit – I think he eats and breathes internet. Chips Tyzzle is dropping folk from Iceland or wherever..

First stop, Coffs Harbour. Everyone put on good shows and the night is messy. I’m holding it down sober – with 25 more tour dates and a voice that gets lost after raging tour weekends – I’m pretending to be pro. It’s working for the most part, though I think I shook one guys hand about 25 times who was drunk as shit (I’m not trying to be cold here, but after about 18 it gets really samey). Good guy though. Spent about 10 minutes chatting and signing some stuff for 2 guys at close, who then stole a shirt. Meanwhile, if you were deaf, you’d only have seen the haze in the backroom, not the cypher that kicked on well after closing time. I completely destroyed my ankle earlier on this week playing indoor soccer, so I’ve got an exaggerated white gangsta limp in full effect – and this traveling crew is full on proper noble gents, I ain’t carrying shit upstairs yo. The accom upstairs reveals bunks with no sheets. I probably would’ve been better off getting drunk.

On to Byron Bay – always a pleasure – it’s like a resort town nowadays. Japanese surfers working at the Sushi joint; glowing Belingen mums pottering around the Thai restaurant taking orders; Scandanavian girls making coffees – Byron is the place where George Clooneys go to rest. I worked away on the merch desk and tried to sneak glances of the Eels vs Dogs preliminary final. I actually dig the random conversations with fans, though it can be exhausting, and sitting on the merch desk is asking for it. Tonight a lady and her husband told me that 2 years ago, I’d signed a CD for their friend, who was arranging it for them, because they couldn’t come to the show as this woman was pregnant at the time. I had signed the CD and jokingly predicted the baby would be born on 5/6/08. They came tonight to tell me their baby was born on the 5/6/08 and maybe I have magical powers.

We finished tonight upstairs blasting Shane Skills opus. It includes the classics ‘Your mum’s a mole’ and ‘I like to smoke mull’.

Saturday and we’re at Sounds of Spring Festival in Brisbane. Some crew members are looking worse for wear and head home after their sets. I catch up with a few crew (Phrase, Drapht, Pez, 360 & Seth, Downsyde) but I’m confined to backstage of hip hop tent cos of my ankle, so I don’t get to catch up with my tight black jeans peoples. I caught the first half of the AFL grand final in the green room and it seems most of the music industry are Saints supporters. I reckon Tex Perkins and Paul Dempsey made grumpy frontmen that night. We (Urthboy) get a good response but something is missing – later we’re msg’d and contacted via myspace and email that the PA was dodgy on the bigger stage in the hip hop tent. You can plan for everything but…

As is the natural way of things at festivals, our rider is raided. We leave and party at our hotel. Cyphers on the balcony; Rage on the TV; Batla is speaking half Spanish half English so you know he’s had a big day. Good crew this one, made up of young and old(er) elefants. Mondo has done a stellar job (including 2 trips to the hotel due to lack of designated drivers, one had 7 people and about a 637 bags and 30 photos). Drama at the airport next day but it works out so I’ll spare you the blah blah…

Next week Sydney, Manly and Katoomba. I’m feelin it f’real.