Chilled Monkey Brains

7/19: I'm savoring the flavor of Steve's delicious tomato bean rice concoction from the comfort of the Adams brothers home just outside Panama City, FL. Last night was a proper send off at A&M Theater. Rogues Gallery opened the show with an amazing set. They were missing their drummer but you couldn't tell with all the intensity and melodica solos flying around. Car On Fire played next and tore it up. We followed with a great kick off set and having Trace fill in on trumpet was amaze-balls! We were followed by Lost In The Sauce and Nothing Short Of Pure into the wee hours of the morn. We retreated to the house and partook in festivities including copious amounts of liquor, musical instruments, and singing - a rogues gallery for sure! Great tour kick off!

7/20: The Handlebar show was a last minute fill in orchestrated by John Sisson of Diversity Is An Old Wooden Ship, but you certainly couldn't tell from the show. We played with TPS Reports (Jeff & Josh from Stick City Mafia) and the Handsome Scoundrels out of Mobile. After a belly full of chinese buffet (thanks to Steve's Dad!) we farted our way to Tarragonna street and played a righteous set. The crowd at Handlebar really made us feel at home and we appreciate everyone coming together to support us!

7/21: NEW ORLEANS! We got in early for the 4pm show at a really sweet art gallery called The Zeitgeist. It was in a wierd part of town that seemed to be ghetto but walking around the area we got smiles and waves - maybe we're just really cool I guess. We played with ComRec bands The Rooks and The Lollies. It had been over a year since we were in NOLA so it was really great to get back over there and we'll definitely be back more often (if that city doesn't kill us that is). After the show we went back to Rob & Greg's practice spot. It sounds basic but it was a really cool house in the north end maybe 15 blocks from Bourbon. Greg and the boys grabbed some beers, burgers, and veggies and did it up right! After the cook out we went to Frenchman St. for Mr. Barfield's wild ride! I have to say having Trace the past couple days has felt like the old Call For Fire days and I love it! NOLA has hardened him for sure as I imagine it would anyone. I couldn't keep up and racked out early (5am).

7/22: Our show in Auburn was scheduled at the Independent but they closed down a week before our show so Luke from Blame Sydney orchestrated a house party that we played at - (b t dubs Luke and Blame Sydney are sweet dudes if you ever get a chance to see/hang with them - do it!). We played with a cool band from Birmingham, AL called Hurl-yeah! and Blame Sydney headlined. It was a really fun set in the common area of a 4 bedroom house. We turned the lights out and Royal put on a strobe light in the middle of the room. I bought a multi-colored headlamp before leaving and put that on so it was basically like the "Enter Sandman" video by Metallica... except with goofy faces and horns! We stayed at Luke's house before getting up early and heading to MSR4

7/23: MASS SKA RAID! The biggest ska festival in the southeast is certainly picking up steam in it's 4th year. Having played every year (1 with Call For Fire and 3 with CMB) I have to say this one was the biggest and baddest! There were tons of local bands and near local bands that made the continual running between hell and purgatory stages essential. The only crappy thing is Masquerade is following the Warped example of charging out the wazoo for drinks, parking, no re-entry, etc. Some of the highlights of my night personally were: Corporate Fandango, El Chupaskabra, The Beat Officers, and Stuck Lucky. It was a monster sweat fest but our set (which was awesomely positioned in the middle of kick ass bands) was absolutely radicool - best set we've played at MSR yet! The great thing about MSR too is that almost everyone hung out for the headlining band Taj Motel Trio and they totally wrecked it - those guys wreck it every time we play with them! After the show we went over to Reed's house for some de-hydrated, re-beer-ated tomfoolery. Somehow I've managed a shower every day - I'm totally impressed with myself!

7/24: Last night we played at the Milestone in Charlotte, NC. This place totally made me think of the Shed in Tallahassee, but with a beer/liquor license. John from the Not Likelys got something going for us with JoJo Taterhead Revival (I missed some of their set at MSR but got to see them up close last night and they really ripped it - I can't wait to play with them again), Rape Whistle, and Sid and the Lipshits. Very interesting line-up and a fun show. After the show we fliped Chris Welch's terminator switch and drove to Steve's mom's house where we're at now playing Magic and bloggin it up! We're leaving soon for an amazing show tonight with Rust Belt Lights, Take It Back and more. Talk to you guys soon!