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The day of the Athens, Ohio show was something else. We stopped by this roadhouse in Indiana on the way and got huge breakfasts and an 8 piece fried chicken bucket for the table. Will had apple butter for the first time and I don't think he will ever be the same. When we got to Athens we were met by great people and some great grilled food. We all hung out for the night before heading into town to grab a hot nut (quite possibly the best coffee based alcoholic drink) and play the show. We were the only band on the bill and knew almost everyone in the crowd. It was wild. So much energy and such a rowdy time. After the show we headed to the best bar in America, Jackie O's. They brew their own beer there and it is all delicious. There was a band playing some of the most spot on covers. After a late night we woke up at 5:45 and began a 9 hour drive with a one hour fall back to Rock Island, Illinois for a daytrotter session. The session ran for a few hours and went amazingly well. After the session we hopped right back in the car and drove to Columbus Ohio. We ended up arriving at 4am. Today we play at the rumba cafe in Columbus and it's going to rule.

So many great shows. Wow. America is an amazing place. In the past few days we made solid entrances to several new cities: Boston, Pittsburgh and Bloomington. The Boston show was the last night that SHMNS was on tour until we get to Virginia. In between Pittsburgh and Bloomington we had a day and a half off in Columbus which was filled with karaoke, Ben Zambito, Cheetos omelets, Michael (the coolest little dude ever), and singing Waffle House employees. It's impossible to predict what will happen during the day when you wake up for tour and that rules. We are on our way to Athens, Ohio for another show and I'm stoked.

These past days have been amazing. On Saturday we arrived at Manhattanville College and were reunited with some of the best people in the world at WMVL. After a day of killer performances (in particular the lovely Raina Mullen) SHMNS took the stage and we played one of our tightest sets to a bunch of new ears. Fortunately I had about two hours between that set and the WC Lindsay set because it was an exhausting set.

Every WC Lindsay set at manhattanville is unreal. The amount of energy the crowd shares with us makes me realize how much I love playing music. I even got to wear a go pro camera on a helmet during one of the songs. Can’t wait to see that footage. After we packed up we got to party in the radio station. We took over the airwaves and played some of our favorite tracks.

After a killer omelet in the morning we started our trek to Burlington to visit Will’s friend Alice and play a show. During the trip we pulled off to get coffee and I thought I recognized the area. I realized it was the town that my uncle and aunt live in and I almost never get to see them. We stopped by and caught for a little. It was fantastic seeing them. The show ended up falling through, but it afforded us a great night off. We got food at this great restaurant called Duino Duende and stopped by a few bars.

We just left Burlington after hanging at the waterfront of Lake Champlain. Tonight is back to back SHMNS and WC Lindsay sets in Boston. It’ll be my first time playing a show in Boston. I can’t wait.

First day of tour

Today we played in Justin's home town of Woodbury. Two sets. SHMNS and W. C. Lindsay back to back. For a first day of tour it went really well. Tomorrow is local music fest at Manhattanville. So stoked to see all the dudes there!

SHMNS Tour Part 2

At Flagstaff we stayed at Riley's house (Justin's girlfriend). We didn't do much other than watch casino royale. The next day we headed south to Tucson, Arizona with a pit stop in Mesa to pick up some gear. When we arrived at Tucson we headed to TLMS (Tuscon Live Music Space) to set up for our show. We played with several local acts, most of which were college students from University of Arizona. The show went well and we returned to Riley's parents house to crash. The next day we left mid afternoon for El Paso, Texas, which included driving through all of New Mexico. By the time we reached New Mexico it was too dark to see anything, so it was a rather uneventful drive. Once we were up we hit the road and headed to Austin, Texas, the location of our next show. The venue we played at in Austin was sick and only a block away from where sxsw takes place. It even had a TV playing shitty Kung fu movies on netflix! Prior to the show we changed how we play our backing tracks and the difference was noticeable. We were much tighter than usual. We were quick to return to our motel after grabbing some post show ice cream as we had to be in Baton Rouge. In the parking lot of the Motel 6 we stayed in there was an awesome, cheap and fast BBQ joint called Donns. Most of our Austin meals were from there. When we pulled into Baton Rouge we were immediately at the venue. We hung around the area for the most part. The show had the biggest crowd of tour so far and we definitely made some new friends. After the show we hung out with some of the dudes from the jam band we played with. They offered us some 198 proof moonshine which was quite the experience. With a day off we headed an hour down to New Orleans and visited the French Quarter. I tried alligator for the first time and it was great! Now I'm in the car with Justin headed half way to Nashville. Can't wait to see what happens next.

SHMNS Tour Part 1

After a long and eventful summer in LA we have finally set out on our return trip home. This return trip spans over two weeks and includes several shows. Our first show was at an awesome record shop in Echo Park called Origami Vinyl. The stage was in the loft overlooking the venue which meant we had to carry all of our gear (drums, amps and all the other heaviest things we own) up a small spiral staircase. By the time the show started there was a decent sized audience. Among them was an old neighbor from Long Island. It was great catching up with him. The next morning was the official start to our tour. Sadly I had to say goodbye to two of my best friends, Jonny and Zakk, as they are staying in LA to pursue their careers. At the first stop of the trip George and I ran into an interesting pair: Joanne and Bob. Joanne and Bob are people that you only read about in books or see on TV. They were clearly hippies in the 60s now turned dessert dwellers. Joanne noticed George's shirt said "superhumanoids" on it and began a rant that started about robots and ended somewhere around the ethical implications of altering a cow's DNA for better milk. While on this rant Bob noticed my dessert boots and complimented them. A minute later he was already telling us his life story, which included 7 years of meth addiction. Around this time Joanne changed the subject to religion. I've never met someone so terrifyingly religious. After too much time spent talking to them I set an alarm on my phone and played it off as a phone call that demanded out immediate departure. After several hours of music filled driving we finally reached our destination: Flagstaff, Arizona.

Seen in an elevator in LA...

Wilson Arch, Utah

Way up in the Rockies #milehigh

#milehigh

Heart of America

Today we drove from Chicago to Omaha. It was about 7 or 8 hours worth of driving on one road. Other than our pit stop at the worlds largest truck stop it was relatively uneventful. I can't even begin to imagine how many farms we saw. Tomorrow we will have a change of scenery as we drive to Denver and the Rockies. I can't believe I'm actually driving across country. It rules.

Support the scene

This is #MERICA

#merica

Yesterday was the longest time I've ever spent on the road. After 3 hours to Philly and 12 hours to Chicago we just made it in time to play 4 songs at a house show with The Hundred Acre Woods. We went back to JPres cousins house and played some pool and hung out with some wild dogs. Now we are on route to Omaha, Nebraska. 7 and a half hours to go.

And it begins again

12 hours to Chicago. It's going to be a long day

On the road again. Boston bound.

Case western reserve university... Who would have thought it would have provided the craziest party of tour. We showed up at Will's childhood friend's house and there was an animal based costume party going on. Those future doctors know how to have a good time. We are back on the road. 7 hours to Philly and tour is over. I have met so many great people, eaten such delicious food and had experiences I never thought I would have. Everyone who has been on tour has told me that once I go on tour I'll always long for the road. I knew they would be right... They were right. Until next tour...

Last night was our last full band show of tour. We played in the wicker park area of Chicago. This was my first time in Chicago and I have to say I've grown fond of the city. It seems to be a cross between NYC and Philly. We stopped at Giordano's and got a deep dish pizza stuffed with meatballs and garlic broccoli. Hours later we are still rolling from place to place...2 slices wasn't my best idea, but such is life. Our tour of the city brought us to millennium park and grant park. I met up with a film major named Myra that I met last night who showed me around the parks. The bean was one of the coolest/trippiest things I've seen for sure. Every stop of tour has introduced me to so many great people and great experiences. I've never been much of a traveler, but I'm going to try and change that. Cleveland's next, so begins a 6 hour drive with the clocks going back an additional hour.

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