On The Road

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The below is BJ's account of the current tour of the USA & Canada.
Many thanks to BJ (the drummer) for allowing me to use this to give you all a little insight as to what goes on.

DAY 1 (travelling)
Well here we are on the road again, or rather in the air. All up there's about 23 hours either at airports or in planes, before we get to relax in Nashville. The crew this time around is KC, Bill, Di, Worm, Nash, Beej, Jeff, and the newboy, Glen. On top of that there's Greg our tour manager and finder of lost instruments, and bus driver, Joe C. We're all looking forward to the actual playing part of the tour, but definately over the long haul across the Pacific. Everyone else is asleep, so I think I'll join them for a while. The little troupe of merry travellers are all a little travel weary at the moment as you would appreciate, and there's still another flight, from Chicago to Nashville, and I think it is a little plane, which is not my best thing.

Day 2 (Knoxville,TN)
You would not believe it. After such a huge day and a bit of travelling, Glenn made me go out to a bar last night to check out some music and have a few cleansing ales.{We caught up with Richard (Hombre) Price who played bass guitar with us on our first tour of the States last ?????} and he told us about a gig not to be missed! Of course I didn't want to leave Glen high and dry, it being his 1st tour with us and all, so Bill and I joined him and had a great time watching Kenny Vaughn and his band, with special guest, Rossie Florez. An amazing singer!! The whole night was Rock-A Billy to the Max. This morning we're spending time getting the gear together at the hire company so that everyone's happy with what will be ours for the next month, then it's on the bus to Knoxville for the first show. I'll talk to you later then. Our first show with Lucinda went great, with only a few stuff-ups through a mixture of nerves and jet-lag. It was the first show with this line-up, and all in all I think the band are gonna rock. The crowd were fantastic and really getting into the music, and we got a great reception for the new songs, which is promising. Caught some of Lucinda's show and she just plain rocks, the vibe she gives off has to be seen to be believed, but then again Lu is my second favourite female singer in the world! Who is my number-one all time fave? I'll keep ya guessing for now!

Day 3 (Norfolk,VA)
An all night haul from Knoxville to Norfolk, Virginia brings back memories of the last trip. I've still got jet-lag, so my whole life is upside down and inside out. Some cruel people might say what's new, but that would be hurtful and not a little unkind! We're just passing the Navy yards and the aircraft carriers are huge! Got a few hours off this morning, so it's off to Wal-Mart for some supplies. Well did all the domestic stuff {life don't stop when, even your having the time of your lives} and then got to the gig which was at an open air amphitheatre. An amazing show, right in the middle of town, surrounded by houses, but the music played on. A few thousand people turned out to support the local radio station, and the end result is that Kasey will be back in Norfolk as the headline act next time. Thanks to all the folks who I met after the show, your support is very much appreciated. After a couple of the towns finest local brews,{ales that is, and not a nice cup of tea} we're on the bus for something completely different & heading for Vienna.

Day 4 (Vienna,VA)
Today was a day off, though we spent most of the morning sleeping on the bus. The afternoon was taken up with some shopping at another of those huge malls, then dinner and a couple of beers at the bar. I however had quite a few more than a couple, so I guess we'll be a bit under the weather tomorrow!

Day 5 (Vienna,VA)
OUCH!! My head hurts very much BAD!! Really looked forward to today's show, at a venue called the Wolf Trap. This is the most amazing gig. The stage is under cover, as are most of the seating, but it is all open air at the back, and people sit on the grass and have picnics, and it's all set in a national park. Easily the best venue I have ever seen, let alone played at. Around seven thousand people turned up for the show, which also featured Richard Thompson, who used to be in Fairport Convention. It was an amazing concert. Kasey got a standing ovation, Richard was just brilliant, and Lucinda and the band were awesome. We all loved tonight, and I hope that the rest of the tour is as brilliant.

Day 6 (Atlanta,GA)
We've left Lucinda for a few days, and are doing some shows with our good friends Robert, Rich, Marty, Bill, & Tommy who make up the Robert Earl Keen Band. We toured with them last trip, so it will be great to catch up again. The show is at the Variety Playhouse, where we played with Mandy Barnett on the last tour, and tonight there will be 1200 people, a sold out show. There were a lot of Kasey fans in the audience tonight, and the vibe on stage was pretty damn good. R.E.K. rocked, and the crowd was as loud as I remember from last tour.

Day 7 (Winston-Salem,NC)
A really cool venue, sort of half barn, half fishing shack. Kasey blew the crowd away tonight, and where normally they chant for Robert during our set, to everyone's amazement, they chanted for Kase during his set. We all thought it was really funny, and there was no problems and no egos were bruised. We got up with them to encore,( I played the maracas, and Glen said I did a pretty good impersonation of Peter Allen - the bastard!) and had a ball. It was let slip that Kase was having a birthday, the big 25!!!, so happy birthday was sung on stage. Back on the bus, but just a short hour or so, and we have another day off tomorrow. Life is just too hard!!

Day 8 (Carrboro,NC)
Today we've got some time off. Nash, Jeff and Glen have gone golfing, Di is shopping, Bill is wandering, KC and Worm are by the pool, Greg is doing the business thing in the motel room, and I'm doing my washing! It's just so rock'n'roll aint it? The plan is to have a relax and then do something later for the bosses birthday. She told me anything Seinfeld would be great for a present, so I found some 'jugee fruits' which was part of an episode, cause I couldn't think of anything she hasn't got. Had some drinks at the bar, then dinner. After a few more drinks, the cards came out and the games begun. A sort of dare game, with lots of drinking in between. Not so bad when your in the privacy of the bus or motel room, but we were in the main lobby of the Sheraton! Needless to say, silly things were done, and then done again for good measure, and I believe that I had the worst luck when it came to the dares. No idea what anyone would have thought about running pants down across the lobby! Anyway, apart from a few damaged brain-cells the next morning, all was well.

Day 9 (Carrboro,NC)
Tonight was our last gig with Robert and the boys, and again the crowd really fell for KC, and we even got an encore tonight. Thanks to the guys for having us along once again, and we hope to do something again next trip. After good-byes, we headed for the Big Apple, only 10 hours away. This last week has really caught up with me, so I'll sign off for now.

Day 10 (New York City)
Well it seems like it takes forever to actually enter New York. The traffic is absolutely crazy, and we're on a rather large bus. We get to our motel though, which is in the Soho district, down in the wilds of south east Manhattan, and start exploring. There's a few hours to kill before the show at the Roseland Ballroom, which will be our biggest show in New York yet, so despite some nerves, I'll try to catch up on some zzzzz's! Let you know how it all goes tomorrow.

Day 11 (New York City)
What a show. Definitely the best show that we've done in this little town! I half expected to play to a half-full hall, but it was pretty packed. Among the 2500 or so people were Chris Robinson (The Black Crows) and his wife Kate Hudson, Elvis Costello, and Charlie Sexton, who I met after the show. Lucinda thanked KC,"who is my absolute favourite singer right now" to a huge applause. It feels pretty cool to be a part of all this. A few beers with Lu and the band afterwards, as our crew has left me, and it's back to the motel for a bit of rest. Today was a free day for some of us, but the rest had radio shows and record company meetings. I just spent the day wandering around Times Square and checking out some of the shops I remembered from the last few trips. It is really warm, and I'm pretty tired now - there's a lot of ground to cover, so I will have a very quiet night for a change.

Day 12 (Red Bank,NJ)
It feels great to be out of the city again. I love NY, but it is such a huge place, you tend to feel really boxed in. It's only an hour or so to the gig, and so when we arrive There's plenty of time to take a look and spend some money. Found a drum shop, and signed my first "celebrity skin" for the owner who was a fan of KC. After a fantastic dinner, which we get catered by all the venues, it was on with the show. It went well, and then after we found out that Elvis Costello was in the audience again. Bill wanted to meet him, but we had to leave for Northampton,MA, where we have had some of our best responses at shows. Looking forward to this one.

Day 13 (Northampton,MA)
Today's gig was at the Calvin Theatre, which is owned by the same guy who owns The Ironhorse, where we have played twice before. Had most of the day to wander around town, re-finding some really cool shops. Last time it was freezing, with snow piled high. Today it is bloody hot, and the air conditioning in the bus is working over-time! For most of the shows, we're pulling up at the gig, and showering and eating there, so there is normally lots of waiting. The show was probably my favourite so far. The crowd were very much Kasey fans, and we even did an encore tonight, which is unusual for a support act to get. It shows though that Lucinda Williams is a total class act to allow us. After the gig, most of us went out to a bar we found last trip, and pretty well got well & truly blotto, and not just me this time! One o'clock, and a trip through to Boston. Things don't change very much day to day!

Day 14 (Boston,MA)
Woke up at the gig again. It's very warm, but the venue is on the water-front so the breeze is welcome. Another amazing venue, which is open air under gig white sails. Lots of stalls around the seating area makes it look like a fair ground. Big sound system, huge stage and the best backstage area I've ever seen. It's not so hard to hang at a place like this for 20 hours (we only do a forty five minute set!). Another brilliant show, marred only by the fact that I left all my sticks at Northampton, but thanks to Don from Lucinda's band I got through. After the show we were graced with Suzie De Marchi from the Baby Animals and her husband Nuno Bettencourt from the now dis-banded Extreme. They hung around for a few hours, talked about Aussie beers, mutual friends and graciously allowed us countless pics, before we left for Montreal,PQ. A Canadian border crossing at 7am is something to look forward to very much! Not for this little black duck! Watched 'The Castle' again for the sixth time this trip. I think we're all a little homesick.....

Day 15 (Montreal,PQ)
Its funny but you do feel like a criminal at the Canadian/U.S. border checkpoint, even if you have nothing to hide. And we didn't naturally! It took about an hour to verify that we were in fact who we are. No probs though this time, with us anyway. The other 2 buses, Lucinda's and the band/crew bus had a couple of dramas, and were held up till late the next night! But anyway we got to Montreal around 9am, and checked in and cleaned up. We have another day off, which is sorta cool, but we would rather be gigging. Everyone basically did their own thing, I went to buy new sticks as there is no sign of my lost ones yet, and then after a bit of a look around town had a bit of a lazy day. Just can't seem to catch up with sleep, and after a while you just feel like shit. Went out to dinner together at a little Italian place, and had some of the best food of the trip so far. I wish that I had taken more notice in my language lessons back in high school, because French is the main language spoken here. Just don't know what it is I'm looking at, or for that matter, ordering! I'm sure the waitress was swearing at us... Tomorrow it will be time to explore a bit more.

Day 16 (Montreal,PQ)
Spent the morning not being able to get out of bed. No hangover this time, just being lazy. Check out of motel at 12, and then wait till 5 o'clock when the bus leaves the motel. That's the downside of being on the road, the waiting and just filling in time. I'm not complaining mind, it's just the facts jack! walked around for a couple of hours, then went to the gig at 'Le Spectrum' and hung around there. We're in a real seedy part of Montreal so it should be interesting after the show. It took a couple of songs tonight to get the crowd vibed, but once they were it was a great show. It's good to realise again that sometimes we just have to work a bit harder, which is not a bad thing at all. Just before the show, Lucinda told me that her album had sold over 40,000 copies in less than a week, and her song 'Essence' is 28 on the Billboard chart!! That's awesome. After show travel leads us to Toronto, Canada, so we won't have to translate everything from French!

Day 17 (Toronto,ON)
Another day spent at the gig, Massey Hall, which is right in the centre of town. Jeff is well happy, as he has always wanted to play here. Gorden Lightfoot, one of his heroes since childhood plays here all the time. Normally my shopping vice is CD's, but this trip it's videos. I've bought about 30 so far, so that is where I spent most of the day, bargain hunting. The show was another great one, as there were a few people that had seen us last time in Toronto, and it makes a huge difference. We had some fellow Aussies come visiting us today. 'The Waifs', from Sydney are over here on a tour that will take them till October. We all thought the way we spoke was really funny. It just doesn't sound right when you hear someone say g'day. You swear that it's put on!! They are a great band, and if you haven't heard them, check out a disc.
Went to bed early tonight, I feel dead on my feet, and we have a border crossing in the early hours. We will probably have to get up, get dressed and show our faces at the immigration desk. Hope there won't be any hassle!

Day 18 (Pittsburgh,PA)
Oh great, another day off. It's very warm and muggy, so the motel room looks like the place to be. Besides the U.S. Open is on, and as I'm sharing with Jeff, it's on the TV. I finally got the first lot of the tour diary sent. Computers are fantastic, but I find myself getting in trouble more times than not. Easy you say,... remember I hit things for a living!!

Day 19 (Pittsburgh,PA)
Last night is a bit of a blur! Met some of the crew from Lucinda's band in the bar, later joined by members of both bands. Lots to drink, a bit to eat and the night was starting to get a little ugly! All I remember is the hotel bar closing, and then a whole group of us including some new bar pals headed off to a night club on a floating
pontoon. I somehow got separated at the last minute, and not even knowing where it
was I was staying (big lesson here), I managed to talk a couple of the City's Finest into giving me a ride in a patrol car. The most uncomfortable seats in the world. Just hard plastic, I'm glad I wasn't in cuffs!! Thanks though guys. The look on the crews faces as I was escorted into the lobby was priceless! Needless, lots of sore heads all around today, and all are a bit slow. Lots more hanging around at the gig, part of a big out-door arts festival, and then it was time to do our thing. We went down really well to mostly a crowd that didn't really know KC that well. Great sound, and a great vibe. Another night travelling, and I'm going to my bunk to have a nice long sleep.

Day 20 (Pontiac,MI)
What else can you call a place that is so near Detroit City, home of the great American motor industry? Had cleanup rooms, so after a shower you feel like doing some stuff. Had a look around town, then went to the gig. The venue changed because of weather forecasts to a re-furbished church, 'Clutch Cargoes' but it was really hot anyway so it didn't matter. At first we thought the sound wouldn't be great, but it ended up fantastic. The place was packed, near the biggest crowd ever in there, and the response was great. Di is doing really well with merchandise, and after the show, KC has to spend forever signing stuff. We stayed and watched Lucinda again tonight, and it was one of the most amazing shows of the tour so far. It is so cool to watch musicians of this calibre play, and then pick their brains after the show. I'm learning something new every night. On the bus again and heading to `Sweet Home Chicago'.

Day 21 (Chicago,IL)
We've been here twice before, but always on the last gig of the tour, and always just for the one night. This time we've got 3 days to check the place out a bit. The first day was Sunday, so not much doing where we were, so it was a good day to catch up on this Internet thingy. I didn't realise what I was getting myself into starting this daily journal, and find I have to play `catch-up' every few days. All of us are a bit road weary now, so each day tends to feel like the last. Also we have a lot of days off, & all of us would rather be gigging rather than filling in time! So after pulling all my clothes out of bags and cases, I spent all day washing and typing. Woo Hood!! Some went to movies tonight, some went to the bar, (not me for once), and some just stayed in. Run out of character space 'cause I do go on, so until next time its goodbye from all the crew.

Day 22 (Chicago,IL)
The venue today was on a pier over Lake Michigan. The lake is so big, it covers the whole horizon from our vantage point. An awesome looking place, it is another outdoor gig, and it was very hot indeed on stage. The sound was great, the crowd even better, as we have a fair few fans already here from our last shows, and the local radio has been super supportive. We have been joined on this part of the tour by Geoff Apter from Rolling Stone magazine who is preparing a feature on Kasey. While I remember, earlier on in the tour we had Ian & Nic from The Australian newspaper on the bus for a couple of days. They were doing a story on us for their
Weekend Magazine, which will be printed during August, but I'm not sure when. Look out for it though. If there is anything bad in it, I was obviously mis-quoted!!
We also have our good friend Rick from Warner Bros. who not only arrived bearing gifts for all, is a really cool guy to have a beer & a bourbon with. So we did untill the motel bar shut on us!

Day 23 (Chicago,STILL)
Today is going to be a great day. An afternoon spent downtown, Huge Italian dinner with Paul ......, a famous photographer, (who has even shot Spinal Tap, The Stones, Clapton, Aerosmith and now Kasey), then a night watching our mates in the Living End rock out Chicago. They're on tour over here for 4 months with Green Day rockin accross America. I know Aussies have to stick together over here, but (un-biased) the fellas blew Green Day off the stage. T.L.E. put on a bloody brilliant show. They have so much energy, and to watch 4000 sweaty kids in the mosh pit screaming out the lyrics all the set long made us feel proud to be Aussies! The funniest thing was back stage. The drink rider stipulated a case of `V.B.', nectar of the Gods. What they actually got was a case of `V.8., the juice only good for hangovers. Well... it was funny at the time! Thanks lads for letting us drink the beer you did get, and the bottle of bourbon too!! See you in Melbourne. The few ales back at the motel ended a fantastic day.

Day 24 (Madison,WI)
After leaving Chicago this morning, we arrived in the most brilliant town we have come across all trip. Great weather, better views, great shopping, ever better views. A cool little college town, there's just a great vibe that we all got as soon as we arrived. My bank balance is not so good after this little visit. Lucky it is for a few hours only, or all of us would be broke in a couple of days
We played in an old converted picture theatre, and we've never seen a stage like it before. We set up about 16ft above the head-height of the audience on the most rickety scaffold platform in the world. Sure am glad that I sit at the back, cause the people looked like ants down there. Did an hour set tonight, so it actually felt like we did some work for a change! Response was fantastic, & Di sold 85 discs after the show! The first U.S. performance of a new track from our upcoming album `Barricades & Brickwalls', titled `The Nullabor Song' was a highlight of the night. Afterwards in the bus, KC was amazed that even when we haven't played in an area before the response can be so cool. It was a bit sad to leave Madison, but we will be back, and we're on our way to Kalamazoo,MI, for another day off!! Homes looking better every day!

Day 25 (Kalamazoo,MI)
It's bloody raining! The first bad weather all tour, and though we've been spoilt, the planned golf game between both our bands and crews has been put on hold. Not much to do except catch up on some e-mails and be lazy.. The e-mails can wait awhile! No plans for tonight, so headed to the bar for a quiet one, (first mistake!) where eventually everyone met up. Two dollar Coronas set the scene for the nights activities, where Geoff and Flappy, Lu's guitar techs, and Turk, her F.O.H. engineer, told me about life on the road with Henry Rollins, Jimmy Paige, Robert Plant and a heap of others that I can't quite remember in the cold light of day. No sign of the other band though, I guess they just can't keep up with us Aussies!

Day 26 (Kalamazoo,MI)
Woke up to a smashing day, 30 degrees and not much to do until 4 or 5, so I'll wander around for a while and try to find some souvenirs of small town America. The difference in pace is more what we are used to in Aus. The best news of the day is that I just spoke to PRO-MARK drumsticks and I now have an endorsement. Just as well cause my lost sticks are still alluding us! The gig tonight was one of those few ones that you know is just plain special. The whole band played really tight, with everyone adding a little extra magic to their parts. It felt the best it ever has to my ears anyway, but then I have only played the show 600 times so who am I to judge!
Sat side of stage and watched Lucinda again tonight, just for something completely different, and they too were playing the gig of their lives. Must be something in the water here. In the words of Michael Katon in `The Castle',"everyone's kicked a goal". Lucinda even acknowledged KC and her brilliant kick-arse rockin band. Sometimes it all seems to fall into place!

Day 27 (Cleveland,OH)
Last time we were in Cleveland, it was 7 hours of hell stuck at the airport in a snow storm. I always say I was there for a week one day. Today is gonna be different. Wandered around downtown for a few hours, but Saturday arvo and most things are closed. The gig is at the Odeon Theatre which is a bit more of a rock club, like The Metro in Sydney. A bit of a change from the theatres and out door venues that we have been playing in. The show went pretty well, not as good as last nights, but then the bar has been raised a bit. I think we are just a bit more weary than I thought, and everyone just wants to get home. Only a couple more shows to go.

Day 28 (Cleveland,OH)
This morning, Glen, Di, and myself did the tourist thing and visited the Cleveland Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. What a cool place. There's an amazing amount of R&R collectable stuff, like stage clothes, instruments, posters, photos and nearly everything you san think of. Glen loved the historic movies on guitar legends and bluesmen, Di started to get a bit emotional at the Beatles and John Lennon displays, and I stood and stared at the great John Henry Bonham's drum kit that he used to record Led Zeppelin 4. I didn't get emotional mind you, it was something in my eye, honest! Wore a Spinal Tap t-shirt in homage. `Hello Cleveland!' Left town after that, and plan to get to Columbus in time for tea. Which we did, and being a Sunday afternoon, what else is there for a band to do? Drink! To the bar lads!!

Here is a 'Worm's Eye View' of the recent trip to the USA.

It's 4.15am Thursday 20th and sleep is not happening so I thought I would start a diary for you. Last night was our first gig and it was in Baton Rouge at the Varsity Theatre in Louisiana. We travelled up from Nashville the night before in the bus (different bus than last time) someone was just trying to get in our room SCARY!!! The bus trip took about 8 hours. We stopped at Wal-Mart on the way out of Nashville and stacked the bus with food and beer, good thinking us! Me and Kasey also brought some videos to watch (no Seinfeld) on the way. What else, the show was good and we also met the other guys from Robert Earl Keens band and they all seem like nice fella's. I think we are doing about 15 gigs with them. Me and Matthew drove past what appeared to be armed holdup of a servo, very exciting my first! In Louisiana (the swamp capital) everything on the menu's is either catfish, crawfish, shrimp or alligator apparently if it lives in the swamp" y'all can eats it". Well that's it we are heading to New Orleans tomorrow and its Mardi Gras time so will write back after that.
Day 2
We left for there the next day in the bus after a night of no sleep what so ever its only about an hour and a half to travel when we got there we got lost and it took about an hour and a half to find the gig. The show was a club called Tipatinas made famous by someone (cant remember who) the Mardi Gras was in full swing in New Orleans parades and beads everywhere, but I'll tell ya bout that soon. After sound check the record company took us out and treated us to some real Louisiana style food and shit loads of it. Barbecue shrimp to die for and I had turtle soup, not bad but couldn't eat it all for the fact that it was once a turtle. On the way back from dinner (we walked) there was a street parade on heaps of floats all throwing beads, you catch the beads and then wear them some people would have had about 100 beaded necklaces, truly a sight to behold. The gig was how should I put this...Fucking Loud and Fucking Crazy. Robert Earl Keen fans are loud, while Kasey was on, people were throwing beads and beer on stage shit going everywhere, after we finished we had to leave straight away for a 8 hour haul to Nashville.
Day 3
We arrived in Nashville at about 10 the next morning to change busses for some reason, well the other bus arrives and its a f%#@ing beautie. This is the ultimate in buses it got TV's in every bunk 2 up the front room and 1 in the back for a total of 15 TV's in the bus excuse the language but I've died and gone to TV heaven and I don't think I'm coming home. Where was I? That's right, Nashville, the show was at 328 a lot better crowd. Keith Urban as well all the guys from EMI were there and true to form they shouted us free beer, I love them guys. We stayed in Nashville that night at the Hilton.
Day 4
We are off to Knoxville Tennessee about a 4 hour hike down the way. The drive was good through the mountains (the Appellations I think) we went straight to the gig after a quick stop at Wal-Mart to stock supplies for the bus. Gotta love the bus! The show was at a really old theatre and once they raise 20 million they are going to restore it the lighting guy has been there for 21 years and is still waiting. The show was good (excellent lighting!!) all went well the lady who booked the show said a lot of people brought tickets just to see Kasey, cool. We left straight after the show and are currently driving to Charlotte. Day off tomorrow we are going to Fred Eaglesmith cant wait.
Day 5
We arrived at Charlotte (North Carolina) at about 3 am and slept on the bus waiting to get to our motel. The next morning we went to the mall to do some shopping but it was a shit mall so I didn't buy anything. After a few hours in the mall we went back to get ready for the Fred Eaglesmith experience. Fred was fantastic the best live act I've ever seen without a doubt. The band were great, Nash said they were the worst band he's ever seen but what would he know about good music. After the show Fred asked us to come back stage then we all went to dinner it was a fantastic night, definitely the highlight of the tour so far.
Day 6
We woke up feeling very sorry for ourselves and then hopped on the bus heading for Charlottesville in West Virginia, can't tell you much about that drive slept the whole way. The town however was really nice, its a college town a bit like Santa Cruz but a lot nicer with fewer PEOPLE SCABBING (THE SHIFT BUTTON IS STUCK ON SO THIS WILL HAVE TO BE IN CAPITALS) MONEY AND SMOKES AND NOWHERE NEAR THE BEACH SO I GUESS ITS NOTHING LIKE SANTA CRUZ. ANYWAY ITS A REAL NICE PLACE OLD LOOKING AND ALL THAT CRAP. THE SHOW WENT WELL the crowds are still very loud and the Robert Earl Keen chant is still going off every night. IT WAS AT THE STARR CITY MUSIC HALL WHAT WAS A COOL UPSTAIRS GIG WITH A NICE RESTAURANT DOWN STAIRS. FREE DINNER SO WE MADE THE MOST OF THAT. We left the town straight after the show for a short drive 120 miles to Washington DC, our nations capital. What the hell am I talking about, I'm not American. Traveling at night has it pros and cons, its good cos ya can sleep and be there but ya don't get to see much.
Day 7
Kym and me got up early and went to find the White House, surprisingly we did, and after a few photos we were off to check out the city. It's really nice, probably one of the best city's I've been to so far. The show that night was great a really good crowd response for Kasey excellent lights once again! We're on our way to New York now so I'll let ya know how all that goes at a later time.

Unfortunately Days 8, 9 & 10 have become lost in some black hole in cyber space!!

Day 11
Durham Nth Carolina - The last show with Robert Earl Keen, the guy is definitely weird, he hasn't spoken one word for 2 weeks and now he's got people running around changing the sign out front of the show cos it aint got Kasey's name on it and he's changing his whole set so all our guys can get up at the start of his show and sing with him because we have to leave straight away to drive 700 miles to the next show and cant get up at the end of the night, funny man!!!!! Not too much to say about Durham, we pulled up at the show and had a bit of a look around, Kym and me were looking for a movie theatre to see a movie didn't realise there was one next to the bus, didn't see a movie. Another good show, standing ovation for Kasey, travelling after the show 702 miles to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Day 12
Woke up to frozen lakes, must be bloody cold out is all I can think. Ann Arbor, what a great place. We had the first day off there so we walked the streets for a while then hung out at the motel for the afternoon then me and Nash and B.J. went out for a night of Irish music at a pub downtown. Started to snow at about 3 am went outside and got a tray full of snow then me and Kym built a snowman at 3 in the morning, very funny snowman with pretzel arms.
Day 13
Snowed all day very exciting, very cold about -5 or so. I can now put on my resume lugged gear in snow. Done the gear, the show was at a theatre called The Ark, then me and Cori had a snowball fight then made the greatest snowbear in the world. The show went well again, first show without Robert's crowds, excellent work. Had to leave after the show to head over the border into Canada. Apparently someone couldn't get into the country because of a criminal record in Aust. but in the end they were let in as an illegal alien!!!
Day 14
Woke up in Toronto, snow about 6 foot deep and everywhere. Never seen so much snow, great place, great shopping! Kasey went to town with the credit card, once again I lost all my money and smokes to the homeless. The show was on Queen St which is I think the main street for shopping at a place called the Horseshoe Tavern what is supposed to be a famous music bar but I aint ever heard of it so it cant be that famous!! Another good show Fred Eaglesmith was there, Fred is a legend. Canada is cold cant wait to get to Florida, the novelty of the snow is wearing off fast, now it's just cold. Once again leaving after the show back across the border to Northampton, Masstatusis (cant spell that and don't have a map to change it but you get the idea). Once again didn't sleep all night, sat up with the driver, the country side is fantastic the only thing not covered in snow was the road because that had been ploughed an unbelievable sight.
Day 15
Northampton, still snow everywhere the gig at the Ironhorse (we have been there before) it's a great gig and tonight's show was the best of the tour by far, 2 encores and screaming for a third, excellent work. At the moment we're driving to Philadelphia and should be there soon its 2 in the morning its Thursday and its the 8th of march and I'm going to bed, see ya.
Day 17
Philadelphia Pennsylvania, um what happened, woke up in the bus then went to the motel to have shower then straight to the gig. The show was at The Point, small little restaurant, really good show, sold out, really small stage, full of Aussie tossers. We left straight after the show for Atlanta 754 miles for our day off.
Day 18
Atlanta, Georgia, day of was very uneventful, we arrived at 2.30 in the arvo, were no where near town so we all just sat about the motel, went out for dinner at one of the guys from Warners' house, where we were treated to a home cooked meal of steak, fish, chicken, steamed vegies and mashed potatoes - very nice. Night off also means hangover, there wasn't many who didn't have one. Some found a strip club names will not be mentioned to protect the guilty.
Day 19
Still in Atlanta. The show was at another theatre, can't remember the name but it was in a groovy part of town. Hippies everywhere, they were trying to sign us up for some hippie commune in the mountains somewhere all you had to do was give them $300 and you could live with them and help to start the revolution - freaks - I gave them 2 bucks and told them to go away, it was my last 2 dollars street people once again getting the better of me. The show was with 2 other artists but I can't mention them cos Ii forgot who they were!!! Once again we headed off after the show now heading for Tampa, Florida, where I am now sitting writing this and finally the sun is out. There's no snow and its hot. We're just about to head to the show so I'll wrap this up and get back to ya soon. Day 20
I left you on the way to Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa, what a rocking place. Kasey played in the outside beer garden to a totally packed house it was a great show and if we had have had albums to sell some lady assured us that she would have sold the" BEJESUS" out of them. Excellent food again and once again all the beer you can drink thank you Warners. Again we left after the show heading for Orlando, 89 miles away.
Day 21
Orlando, Florida, woke to the sound of 50 bastards jack hammering the hell out of the motel - not to happy bout that. Kym and myself headed down to the pool for a few margaritas. The pool was the size of a small ocean, the motel was the size of a small city, and there was girls everywhere, we were in heaven!! The show was on the 24 floor, in the Presidential Suite, it was for Warners, press, radio stations and all that. After the show Niel took us out for dinner again, then we hit the road so we could get to the beach half way to Houston for our two days off.
Day 22
Pensacola, Florida, day off. It was a long haul (its 986 miles (1600 kms) from Orlando to Houston) and we got about half way. Nash, Kym and me played golf, it was a great day we were keen to walk around get a bit of fresh air and not drink. That fell through in a big way, first of all they gave us carts to drive around on, but then the big one came. We were on the 5 hole and this cart approached us, it was a drink cart, the girl driving it was beautiful and she asked us if we wanted a drink, we couldn't answer we all just pulled out a heap of money and got beer and some how managed to tee her up to come back after every almost every hole. That night we went out to a pub called Flora-Bama half of the pub is in Florida and the other half is in Alabama hence the name. There was Kasey, Cori, Nash, Kym and I, as soon as we started speaking the barman loved us and gave us free drinks all night - I love being Australian.
Day 23
Pensacola, Florida, another day off and we weren't leaving til midnight. The day before at the golf course Kym and I had met a guy at the bar when we were getting a beer and because we were Aussies he invited us to play golf for free at his course which was good cos the first day cost us 80 bucks each so we headed out there for the day. Had another great day then it was back on the bus and off to Houston, Texas.
Day 24
Houston Texas, support for Junior Brown, another great place and show left after the show headed for Austin, Texas and the South by South West festival.
Day 25
Austin, Texas, Kasey played to 7 thousand and absolutely killed em. That night we went out and seen Lucinda Williams, fantastic.
Day 26
Austin, Texas, Kasey played at a record company type thing Sandra Bullock was there but I didn't see her we were heading to Los Angeles that night which is just a short way down the road 1400 miles, almost 2000 kms.
Day 27
On the road, we made it to LA last night the bus driver drove all the way stopping in Tucson, Arizona only for 1 hours sleep, truly a great man.
Day 28
Today, Los Angeles, everyone went there own way Kym and Nash went into town for a while me, Kasey and Cori missed the bus to Disney this morning by 3 hours and right now I'm in my room writing this and I think now I might go out and see a movie, hope I caught you up on everything.