Libson, Portugal

My first time here (for three hours at the airport) and this is what I did. I have to pick the old writing scab and jump back into the swing of things. I'll be back in September to check it out for real and play, can't wait as I've heard the squid is superior.

It's been a while

Here I am in Czech ready to start to start our first summer run (more than two shows). I've imbibed plenty of Budweiser Budvar, had a killer meal of Beef in cream sauce, cranberries, potatoes and traditional Czech dumplings. It melted in my mouth and was amazing.

I love the Ottobar

Tonites show is at Ramshead Live which is way bigger than any other place we've played at in Baltimore.
My Aunt Jeanne and her man Chris came to see my in Baltimore. We caught up beer after beer after the set and they filled me in on how Chris' cousin is marrying Eddie Van Halen and how they can't bring camera's to it, 'cause it's at Eddie's house. Wild.
This show Mikey B did he best to rile the crowd up pre-set on the mic stating that I had the biggest cock in the room and getting everyone to cheer for me, pointing at me saying "Yeah...this guy right here, he has the biggest cock on the tour". You gotta love him. Anyway...This was a Waste night, multiple stage divers through out the whole set fueled our fires as we cranked them out on high voltage.

Return to Philly! (Electric Factory part 2)

My buddy John takes me from NJ to Philly for round two at the Electric Factory. Night and Day it was as the crowd loved us this time, we went over great and unlike last time where we were booed. I party down with a collection of old friends who made it out tonight and it was great. Catering was so so this time. Children of Bodom dropped off tonight due to Lexi's broken shoulder. Bummer. Great guys, we were sad to see them go. I partied harder than I thought apparently 'cause the next thing I knew I woke up in the van around 9am and I couldn't find where everyone stayed, haha.
We have a day off and we go to a nice brunch at the Devils Den. I order Crab Cakes Benedict and a pint of Kostritzer Schwarz as I think a dark beer can be paired with any type of food if you desire it so AND not to mention it's one of my favorites! I'm starting to think Philly is the food mecca by the way. We check into our hotel as half of us are sick (Ryan) and battered (Phil). I head out to meet to see Crude from Japan and meet an old Jersey buddy to drink some good beer. We end up at Eulogy and I ferment myself with a Rochefort 8, 10, Orval & some other godliness that made me feel like I was on the cover of Cryptic Slaughters' Stream of Consciousness album. I might as well add that these beer are strong and got me drunk about as fast as Cryptic Slaughters music was at their beginning.

Detroit to Myrtle Beach part 1

Here's a half-assed somewhat lazy way of "whizzing" through the remainder of the tour.
Here goes......
After Louisville we headed to Detroit. I had the most killer Chicken Shawarma I think I've ever had from the Bucharest Grill for super cheap. After Detroit we travel halfway and stay with one of my great friends, Will Scharf who is quite the drummer and drums for the mighty KEELHAUL. Breakfast before Buffalo was Angus Beef Burger & eggs, good stuff. We have a solo show in Buffalo and it was great. I played the best I did on tour I think. I ate a Buffalo Chicken Finger Sub afterwards and then we drove overnite to NYC so I could cook against Willie Adler on "Mosh Potatoes" (more on that later). We played Roseland that night I think we finally won the NYC crowd over. Playing in NYC in like playing the lottery for us sometimes. There is also a ton of killer food there and of course I don't have time for it. Catering was great though and oh yeah...Richard Christy was there, he hung in our dressing room and sang Stryper songs with the dudes..it was great.
I "Trans It" to NJ with my brother to meet my newest niece Brianna, but first we stopped at Papaya King for killer hotdogs!

Spam Musubi

It needs it's own post....YES, it's that good.

Climbing back on

I really fell off the last part of the tour and after being home for a little while it makes sense to catch back up. The tour was long but seemed short and to have "whizzed by" for some reason. I ate a lot of food, put on some weight...some muscle and some fat (all those desserts before playing). I learned a lot a new things about the music world and myself as well this time around. "I'm crazy" for eating before the set I learned. I just said "it makes you play like a man, haha". I also learned how to make silly faces before the guy with the camera blinds you momentarily. Bottom line, it was hard work and a great time. I made a ton of new friends and was turned onto some really great new things, esp. food. One in particular was Spam Musubi, which I have Nick and Kenny from the As I Lay Dying camp to thank for. Their Hawaiian and Spam Musubi is an Hawaiian favorite. Thanks guys!