late wednesday night...

Everyone is sleeping 'cept for me 'n Craig, rallying the internet service in Fernie in a hardcore way!

Monday gig:
We played on an ice stage -- outside -- at the Silverstar resort just outside of Vernon. There was only a small heater, and we were cold. However, the worst problem was that Tyson was ill, ill, ill. Some seeeerious food poisoning! We were late getting to the mountain, so he just puked out of the window while we flew down the highway. Big splatter on the windows, haha!

So... Scot and I had to trade off on the drums. We're pretty funky guys, but not the funkiest drummers. But...we got through the gig and the folks there enjoyed it before rallying a fireworks show. Lots of dancers, especially youth. The guys stepped up to the plate and played well... very impressed, I am. Then...we drank beer. I shared a bed with our tour manager, erf!

Tuesday gig:
Cranbrook. We got a lot of free Guinness but not much of a crowd. (It was Tuesday night, after all...) By the time the third set rolled around, there was maybe 8 people in the place. Band played well, but it was hard to rally. Oh well -- at least we got 6 large beds in a seniors-friendly motel and caused a lot of havoc in Tim Hortons afterwards!

Wednesday gig:
Fernie. Beautiful town, this Fernie. We played at the Fernie Hotel... very cool place with very cool people. Awesome to finally get to an internet cafe. The bar was PACKED. Lots of guys who told us they haven't had any ska in town in soooo long, and rallied hard. Tons of beer...fark.. big ups to the Team-Sized pitchers! Dave had to be pulled away from it. Tons of spilled beer too...here's hoping the organ is ok! (The Hammond, you sick knob.)

Kingsley is taking TONS of photos, and I'm not far behind. When we get back home, there will be a severe update to our photos page!

Off to Calgary tomorrow...looking very much forward to rallying with the Plaid Tongued Devils: coooooool band, they are!

missing Nanaimo though!

sunday reflections

It's our only day off for the tour, and we've taken full advantage of it! Sleeping in, eating homecooked food, and drinking juice and water instead of beer.

Tyson and Tristan are rallying in Chilliwack, and Dave took off to Silverstar early with Big G, so our first big drive tomorrow will contain a pretty relaxed Suburban. Yay! Yay!

Quick recap on the previous shows: Elusions in Chilliwack went well, mainly because Tyson's entire extended family showed up and drank more beer than the band! We re-named "Regina Nights" as "Abbotsford Nights" to get the first dancers of the evening. Tyson's parents are awesome -- thanks for the beer, beef jerky, dinner, and stories about Tyson wearing leotards and capes! Go Pink Peanut go!

Last night was the 1st Annual Ska Smackdown in Vancouver; a very awesome show! The Elixxxers (ah, a leather clad Bobbi-Jo) opened up the show and judged the smackdown between ourselves and The Hounds of Buskerville; we alternated two 45 minute sets and both bands rallied hard. The Hounds kick ass! After a hard battle, the Kiltlifters reigned supreme; thanks to Peter V. for the bling, crown, beers, cheers, and women's brassiers! (spelling!) Also, thanks to the Furios for getting on stage with us and rallying some Rancid, and to Matt for the killer Drunken Master Freestyle!

Big shout-out to my bro and his girlfriend for coming out to the show and dancing big time..I'll get you that CD asap! No thanks to Elise for bringing the naked photos to the show! Thanks to the Swiss girls for being Swiss! Thanks for the cans of Kokanee at the afterparty, and we're working on a new song about backlickers!

Off to Silverstar tomorrow...

day 2 - last resort tour

Sitting in Tyson's family home in Chilliwack...2pm.

First gig went over well, at Pub 340 in Vancouver last night. Los Furios kicked ass as always -- great to hear some of the new songs! -- and Karmacanix had a great energy and cool stage show. Some of the guys promised they'd be well improved from when we last played with them, and I had to agree!

It was also great to see a bunch of friends from back in the day at the show that we hadn't seen in awhile! Jer and Elyse, Megan and Chris, Beth, the Malaspina actresses, Ska-T, Lisa and Kevin, some of Scot's relatives...

The only annoying part was that the soundman is a knob... I didn't deal with him directly, but he had Scot and Chris (Furios) absolutely boiling over. Soundcheck was supposed to be at 8:30, show at 9... and he didn't even show up until 9:10. He lives upstairs from the club. *shrug*

Walked around most of downtown Vancouver with Dave and Tyson in the morning... big ups to Rickys for the breakfast. The rest of the guys are somewhere in Maple Ridge after staying with Kyle Furios, and surely rallying some playstation.

Gig at Elusions in Chilliwack tonight... lotsa relatives o' Tyson to be there, apparently. Should get rowdy. Tyson's dad keeps feeding us beef jerky.

day of the tour!

Alright... Thursday and it's the first day of our spring break tour! We leave on the 5pm ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver, and things are going as smoothly as always:

-I've got a midterm this morning before running out to buy something to pack my stuff in. The guys threatened me with death if I bring my hockey bag again;
-T-Bone is classified as a "young offender" and isn't allowed to drive;
-The meatball isn't allowed to drive unless he gets his driver's abstract in, which is funny, since we're taking his dad's Suburban;
-do we have enough cash to pick up the merch;
-Craig is still looking for his ID;
-Jon wants to listen to Prince all tour;
-and, best of all, Doogie had an audition IN TORONTO yesterday for U of T; he's flying out THIS MORNING in order to make the Vancouver gig TODAY. fark.

At least I've remembered my alarm clock this time....

see the website for tour details! First show should be a doozy, with Los Furios and Karmacanix!

big hairy steamer

Steamers...fun and filled with beer (1516s) as always. Bit of a small crowd - understandable with all the big shows going on in Victoria this weekend - but some of the best skankers we've seen in a long time. Big ups to the Salt Spring crew, the Parksville representatives, the ol' Tentoolatians, and, of course, the chef named Don. The only bogus happenings were car break-ins that happened to two groups of friends of ours... what the hell? That's no way to have to leave a ska show.

New songs sounding sweet...swedish meatball talks about his nutz...

rallyin' victoria

Steamers Pub - in Vic - tonight! 3 sets o' Kiltlifter madness, with a handful of new tunes thrown into the mix!

Tour booking is basically done... a cool mix of ska shows, pub rallies, and ski resort parties. Check the website for more details! I'm stoked we get to play near Kamloops, whooeee!

One of the coolest things about touring is getting to play with other bands, and getting recommendations on the local beer. Los Furios, Karmacanix, Hounds of Buskerville, the Elixxxers, Plaid Tongued Devils... we shalleth raise thy goblets of rock and douse thyselves in majesty! While wearing dirty socks.

island life

Oh man....Salt Spring Island always rules. Big ups to the mad dancers, and Rob for the stunning dinner, even if he remained hidden on this night. Go to the Anise Restaurant in Ganges. Eat. Eat a lot. Especially the ceasar salad!

New songs almost ready to go... tour planning going smoothly... dirty jokes being planned...