August 6-7th Drive Home
August 07, 2005 03:24 PM
We left the studio, as mentioned, drove all the way to Salt Lake, went to sleep around 3:00am, got up, were ready to leave by 10:00am, only there was something leaking from under the hood, so we drove to get the oil changed, etc. Turns out is the water pump seal. We patched everything up temporarily and headed home. 24 hrs. later, after driving though the night, we arrived. 12:30pm. I drove over half - 730 miles of the trip myself... and actually, (brag, brag) 350 miles of the trip (over half) from Seattle to Salt Lake - making me the champion driver... jk. John drove thru the night last night. I cat napped a few times, but am totally toast right now.
We lied to Kim - telling her we were 5-6 hrs away and surprised her by being here after she got home from church. She and the small gang freaked. We got home in time to do the house cleaning she was going to do for us... it was so cool. Now we're all slugging around. - too sleepy to stay awake. Including me..... zzzzzzzz.......
We're so happy to be home. it's amazing. Weston wanted his mom's beans and rice so that's what she was cooking when we arrived. I want to go to our own Starbucks tonight and see people. i'm flat lining... my drive today began at 6:30am after what felt like no sleep at all. I drove the entire 350 straight with everyone asleep... but now am feeling it. ok. zzzz....... bd
August 4th - 5th Seattle. Recording.
August 05, 2005 09:23 AM
Last Journal Entry from this Tour
The tour is over. We're leaving for Salt Lake this morning. I just thought I'd catch you guys up over my last triple shot latte at Bauhaus before i grab the van, double park in front of Compound Studios where we'll load out and point our van South East.
Yesterday we loaded in at 9:30am, unloaded and started cranking open road cases. By 10:00, Aaron was getting drum sounds. A scratch vocal and guitar by Sherri as Weston ran thru the song to warm up and one take for tracking. Fender Rhodes was next followed by tons of guitar work all afternoon by both Sherri and Chauntelle. They finished tracking vocals around sometime after midnight and we crashed upstairs in the apartment by 1:30am.
Head Against the Sky sounds freaking amazing. It's huge. huge, I tell you. It's everything I could have never dreamed it would be. I might be overstating it's wonder, but... I've always imagined this song done up right. This is right. Sweet new guitar parts... fat, jangley tele tones throughout... everything is so good. I can't wait to hear the mix.
What's going to happen with it? I have no clue. It was just important to record it... why? Because Aaron wanted to. And people at the label were stoked over it... management, fans... old and new. It was one of those opportunities to go back and grab a song that should have been given the right treatment... and ended up being important enough for the support team to make it happen. Aaron, at this point is a huge part of the support team. It's the strongest producer/band relationship Eisely has ever had... from day one, it's been that way with Aaron.
So... we'll see; maybe it's an itunes song, maybe it gets saved for the record, maybe it gets put on a 7 inch, maybe it gets buried or shelved, maybe it's just something to put out there to fuel the fire. I have no clue. It was just important to record it.
---------
We're probably going to blow thru Salt Lake, sleep at Thomas's house, get up tomorrow morning after they stuff us with breakfast... and head on toward Texas. We're tired. Been touring since February. A short week at home won't really remedy anything, but... we'll take it.
Weston just called. They're ready. Gotta blow this joint and pull the van around. Take care! boyd from Seattle.... out!
-------------------------------------------
We're Technically Still on this Tour
Until We're Back Home
Greetings. What are ya’ll up to? It’s a Friday night. A boring night for us. I guess you could say that Eisley mostly drives across the highways of the US of A for a living.. only they don’t really make a living yet. One day maybe. Maybe not. No matter. Live one day at a time... play music. eat gas station food.
We’re only 1 hr. away from the Salty Lakes... strike that, we’re 1 hr away from Bountiful.... (as I say to Thomas, in some really gay, blissful voice - “where everyone is happy, and the birdies continuously chirp, and there’s never a harsh word is spoken... and life is peaceful - always... in Bountiful.”) Because, that’s the way Bountiful is. Why? Because the droid population is 86% and they’re all programed to smile as they calmly speak. We're not staying long... in facdt, we're leaving in the morning... but we’ll be back to throw and eat apples from his back yard Apple tree in October (the Saltair w/ Switchfoot) Looking forward to the Salt Lake fans.
Eisley Qualified by Random Phone Operator
Speaking of - this is so weird: I often book hotels thru Choice Priviledge, since we’re business customers... so I’m constantly having to call them from the road... late at night or whenever; and random operators answer the phone. A few weeks back, I called to reserve some rooms and used the word “tour” in a sentence because I was explaining to her what we need...that we're out constantly and use them exclusively.
The girl said... “oh, what... is it a band?” I said, “yes”. She said, “what band?”. I said,..”ahh, you probably wouldn’t have heard of them...they’re not that big”. She said, “i dunno... I might, I listen to a lot of music”. I said, “oh...well, I tour manage a band called, Eisley”. She said, “oh my gosh!! you’re KIDDING!!? I totally know Eisley. I saw you guys in Salt Lake on your Winter West Tour; yeah, cuz that girl...the singer, the sister was sick, right?” I said, “wow... amazing, you’re right. That was my daughter, Stacy...she couldn’t sing”. She said...Eisley is huge in
Salt Lake"... and I said, "huh? what do you mean?" and she said, "they're getting so popular; everyone talks about them and likes them..." blah, blahh, blah... and we chatted. Funny, huh. Random.
Getting the Jump
I’m so happy. I entered every gas receep and every hotel receep and every xtra expense (like the $2k AC hit, etc.), the toll receeps, the parking receeps... most of the accounting for this tour is done. I just have to tabulate the enormous cash we receeved every night (which wouldn’t cover gas cost for most drive days much less hotels)
I wasted lots of time.. Oh well...we’re pulling up. boyd out.
August 3, 2005. Seattle, Washington. The Showbox
August 03, 2005 12:48 PM
Ode To Jon
The reality is evading us... I think - because we're on this tour and Jon is
with us and nothing seems different. Hard to grasp the fact that tonight is
Jon's last show with Eisley. It seems... not real. So, I guess we're not
facing reality. But tonight, Eisely will face it.
Come say farewell to John. Come help us bid farewell to Jon. Long live Jon.
Well, so much for ode's. We're about to bust out of this hotel, head into
the city and... I dunno, do whatever. Eat. Eat coffee. Perhaps some food,
walk around by the sound at sometime... or, the marketplace, as they
call it. Weston wants to go to the Starbucks - the first one, down there.
The show is sold out tonight..."technically", I heard. There might be some
pockets of tickets they were trying to release, but I'm not sure. Well -
gotta go. Have a great day. Tonight we're driving out towards Salt Lake...
I think. We're making it up as we go at this point based on anyone's
favorite, best, wanton desire, choice, decision... whatever.
Come see Jon's last performance tonight and shed a tear or two.
bd
Bauhaus
We're sitting in Bauhaus Books + Coffee on E. Pine in Seattle talking to
Aaron Sprinkle about coming to Tyler to record the band at some point in
the next 6 months... or sooner. Anyway. Take care yall. bd
-----------------------------------------------------
End of an Era. End of a Tour
Nobody could see the tears in Stacy's eyes as she left the stage and
walked directly back to Jon for the last hug of the last show of the last
tour...ever. The lights dimmed, but I caught a moment on video camera
Jon lumbered off stage and gave Garron a two handed high 5 in what
seemed like something of a sign... symbolic: a changing of the guard. I
caught it on film.
Tonight was emotional... though professional. Less public, very private.
Directly after the show, we all walked up the hill for a grand meal at The
Cheescake factory with Jon. We were Joined by Leif, Weezer's lighting
guy... who is fascentated by Eisley's music and wants to work with them.
I have to go now... we're back stage but loading out has already
commenced. I have to say goodbyes to some and get with the program.
More from the hotel when we get back there.
EISLEY IS GOING TO RECORD TOMORROW WITH AARON SPRINKLE!!
more later. boyd
-----------------------------------------
Expositions
There's no way to bring closure to the end of this Jon era. I'm finally
realizing that.
I expected something sadder, harder... more emotional tonight. But I
think I figured out why there wasn't this wrenching pain. Besides the
denial I've been describing, I think it's something more. Jon is still in our
lives. He's still the best friend. He's still the neighbor... in the hood. He's
still coming over for late night coffee and a movie... he's still going to
watch me grill the chicken... We're still going to hang out at our local
Starbucks.
In other words, Jon isn't leaving. So, it's not like the last day of class or
camp where you know you'll never see that person again. It's more
like... he's not working at the same company. Weird. I finally figured out
what's going on in our heads. I should be a shrink. I'm a freakin' monster
and should be treated for madreporite syndrome.
The Showbox
I don't remember how many times we've been there. I really don't. At
least, a handful of times. The hospitality girl things it's been like 5. No
way, right?
Anyway, as I drift off... the show was very good. The crowd was so cool.
The band was candid. They spoke of their love for Seattle. It was genuine
and everyone loved it. Pretty cool finale.
on HOT HOT HEAT
This tour was earmarked by stress. Nobody has a clue... not even an
inkling as to how much drama and stress there'e been behind the scene -
with changing management and losing a band member smashed between
tours, and juggling 2 new tours, having been out since February... but here's what I'm getting at:
It hasn't been the most connected, cohesive tour so far. Everyone has
seemed so busy. Aloof. Hot Hot Heat hasn't paid too much attention to
Eisley - a few words here and there. They've pretty much been into their
own world, rehearsing and writing and learning new material all afternoon
before shows. They're hard workers; very focused.
And, honest... touring has the tendency to make you knumb. Fresh bands
have tons of energy and enthusiasm. Bands that have toured non stop
have a harder time bridging gaps and forging new relationships.
Anyway, the last day of the show proved to provide that cathartic
moment that I didn't expect would come. Hugs and words and phone
numbers being exchanged and lots of regrets about not connecting
more... lots of admissions and confessions about how much stress they'd
been through and how it might have affected the outcome. Lot's of really
sincere words. Don't get me wrong... they've been nice; they've hung out
some... they totally respect that band, love the music and showed great appreciation for the both openers. I've said it before...they're super
sweet guys. But tonight, everything came together as it should have.
WE start recording with Aaron Sprinkle tomorrow. Head Against the Sky.
I'm falling asleep. G'night. bd