diary
New Pornographers Tour Diary Part 3
Okay – I know this is so late it’s almost not worth putting up anymore, but here is the last of the tour diary I kept whilst on tour with the band in the US last year. It stops at Seattle because I was so frazzled by that point that I couldn’t write it anymore.
The remaining gigs on the West Coast were great fun though and we got to spend some time with Jim Putnam of the Radar Bros. as he was doing sound for us. Top bloke. The Radar Bros. have got a new album coming out very soon on Chemikal Underground by the way and it’s marvellous.
Anyway, here goes…
29th
Atlanta – Day Off
Today we have a day off. I usually don’t like days off as I get bored and end up sleeping as I don’t have a gig to wake me up. Today was great though and Erin and I went to the cinema (Tara Theatre) to see The Darjeeling Ltd. It’s a
great film by Wes Anderson and I loved it. Great cinematography, characters and a great atmosphere to it. Came out very happy and then headed to the Spybee just in enough time to have one of the greatest Thai meals I’ve ever had. Joy.
Jonny and Graeme and Jamie went on a shopping spree. They all came back with new jeans and sunglasses. I thought I was the one that was meant to do that?
30th
Atlanta – Variety Playhouse
Today our bus driver was fired. This was pretty funny but pretty intense for our poor tour manager. The driver, who shall remain nameless, had been dumping the chemical toilet on the highway, which as well as being downright out of order is also highly illegal. Jenn, our tour manager, pointed this out to him and he went ballistic. He called her an incompetent bitch and then Jenn fired him. I’ve never lost a driver in all the years Delgados were together so this is a first. I hope we have someone to drive us to New Orleans tonight.
There was a fantastic bike shop next to the venue today
31st
New Orleans – House Of Blues
Halloween tonight and in this city they take it very seriously. All of the New Pornographers are getting dressed up for it and so feeling under pressure to do something ourselves I took a walk round the nearby streets for inspiration. I came across a bunch of amazing antique shops (makes a change from bars) and found a shop that sold out watches. I’ve always had a thing for watches. There are few things I’m willing to spend a lot of cash on, for example I really don’t enjoy shopping for clothes to anywhere near the extent of most of my female friends, but watches, shoes and bags are worth every penny if you find the right ones. However, I wasn’t really in a position to part with $500 for an antique Rolex, beautiful though it was.
I eventually found a shop full of opera glasses and was convinced that was the answer for our costumes. I went back to find the rest of the band and we went shopping. We found some feather boas next door and the job was done. You really have to see the photos to understand quite what Jamie looked like as words fail me.
1st Nov
Houston – Warehouse Live
This weather is insane! I got off the bus today and couldn’t believe how oppressive it was. This is November and everyone has shorts and t-shirt on. I do love warm weather but I couldn’t do this every day. No way.
There’s a massive car park outside the venue so after the gig we played Frisbee which even in the dark was immense fun. We then had a car park party. The temperature post midnight is more my kind of thing.
2nd Nov
Dallas – House Of Blues
Frightened Rabbit were playing tonight at the Cavern so we all fled over there as soon as the NPs came off stage. It was good to see them and hear some more Scottish accents. They’ve been on tour for the same length of time as us and they’ll be supporting Mum later on too. Catch them if you can.
3rd Nov
Austin – Fun Fun Fun Festival
Another extraordinarily hot day with us playing early afternoon so under the full heat of the sun. I was exhausted playing today. Afternoon gigs in daylight are just weird. I met a friend afterwards and we drank margaritas in front of the Colorado River at the back of a hotel off Red River Road. It was a welcome sight and I realised how much I pine for large expanses of water when I’m away from Glasgow. I always head up north to Loch Lomond after touring the US to get my fix.
7th November
Evanston, WY – Day Off
We’re on our way to Seattle now and have parked at a Best Western Hotel in the middle of nowhere. We’re so bored that we did the laundry today, as it was actually the most exciting option available to us. We were the only people in the Laundromat and I bought a pack of cards and played patience for a while. Rock and Roll. Then we visited the local supermarket and bought a chicken for dinner.
Now we’re back at the hotel watching Die Hard, and Jamie’s shoes have just been thrown outside the room, as they smelled so bad we couldn’t breathe.
It was chemical warfare. That boy really does have to sort his feet out or he’ll be hitching to Seattle.
8th November
Seattle – Crocodile Café
It may be a cliché already but Seattle really does offer the best coffee.
I’ve been in the US for weeks now and so far the coffee experience has left me wanting. I’m a bit of a coffee fan and look forward to a good one every day. Problem here though is that your average diner coffee is filter and usually stewed and not the best. And then there’s Ratio Rage… I’m all for free refills, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want someone coming up and refilling my cup once I’ve worked hard at getting the coffee/milk/sugar ratio just right. What do you do? You can try and guess at how much extra sugar you might need but you might as well forget about adding more milk as there’s no room anymore. Disaster.