Day 1—Vancouver to Panorama

There is something odd about good musicians off the stage. On it they contain an inherent timing and communication rarely evident anywhere, but off it they possess no more of it than your average menstrual cycle (sans birth control). Therefore it was hard to get going on the first morning, February Fool’s Day, 2003. We [...]

Day 2&3 – Panorama to Kananaskis

Another ski resort feeling the effects of a dry winter. Not a lot of people staying here, but they hadn’t had a band in for about 4 months, so the entire work-force from the stores and hotels surrounding the ski hill showed up at Woodies to see JR play 2 nights. Fancy hotel and friendly [...]

Day 4 – Off in Banff

Short drive. Gets colder. More ice. No falling this time. Stephen thinks it is minus 4 out. I insist that it must be minus 10 to make myself feel better as it will get much colder… We meet up with old school friend Jesse who now lives in Banff where he is a manager at [...]

Day 5 – Banff to Fernie

Strange order to do it but back through a few mountains to play for Australians in BC for ski holidays. The drive is not very comfortable as it is quite snowy and I’ve never really driven in this kind of weather before. Colin is doing very well and is driving WAY faster than I would [...]

Day 6 – Fernie to Calgary

Fernie was an odd night.

Day 7 – Calgary to Edmonton

Calgary was a nice show. The sound was really good, good size room, sold quite a bit of stuff and started to meet more of the friends that Jazzberry has made over the years. The temperature stayed good and the Flames lost. The next 2 nights in Edmonton the Oilers lose too…. Canucks are still [...]

Day 9 – Edmonton to Saskatoon

Illness. I can’t talk; only a barely audible and pubescent squeak will leave the mouthal area. But much more important, the band is,, one by one, starting to fall. Stephen has a sinus infection and can barely stand half the time. Al is next, ears. Drew is feeling a bit of everything and has a really tough [...]

Day 24 – A road in Quebec.

Illness killed any thoughts of doing this every day. I just felt so crappo for so long that I didn’t feel like doing anything. Just kinda wanted to go home. This touring thing is much harder than I’d imagined. I’ve been on tour once in my life for 15 days, but I got to play nearly every [...]

I don’t know what day it is anymore, so I’m not going to bother and I don’t feel like counting…

Next day was illness day in Canada. The day after that was Ottawa at Zaphods where a girl was trying to pick Drew up right in front of her boyfriend. Nice venue, but the band had to get off stage so the DJs could take over. SO the totally full bar emptied out while DJs [...]

Toronto

Toronto was very odd for me. I lived there for a year and quite liked it and hadn’t been back in the 8 months since I had moved home. So being there for about 17 hours was just kinda disappointing. Got to see some great friends though!! Plus it was Valentine’s Day and the turn out [...]

Kingston

In Kingston we play on the coldest night of the year in a 100-year-old mansion that has been turned into the alumni type club for Queens University. The band plays in the Corner of the Living room. It feels a bit odd; it’s too small and they don’t move the tables in front of the stage so [...]

Antigonish

Antigonish is the best town/city name of the tour. Drew says it many times while on stage just because it’s fun to say. I say it off stage many times to bug Al. Say “Annie gone ish” really fast. Here the boys play to a completely packed out bar unfortunately called “Chuggles”. Half of the town’s [...]

Fredericton

Fredericton. There ends up being 2 shows in Fredericton. The first is at a huge place called The Chestnut Club. It’s just a little too big, but the fans are happy and friendly. The sound guy is a crazy bugger, possibly literally. “Bite the pillow; I’m comin’ in dry” and “It’s my hips that deceive them.” Super Fan in [...]

Halifax

Halifax. Day off here is heavenly. Hotel is nice. City is quite great with a bookstore that is better than anything in Vancouver. How can this be? Not fair! We have way more people. Stephen and I go for some sushi, as we are both suffering from withdrawal. It’s not too bad, a bit pricey, but it’s well made. Not [...]

London, Ontario

London, Ontario… This is where I’ll discuss strange tour phenomena number 1. The venue is great. Lots of good bands have played here at Call the Office. Tons of band promo type photos all over the walls with signatures and praise for the bar. Unfortunately it’s Tuesday and we are competing with pro wrestling and that [...]

Sudbury, Ontario

Sudbury, Ontario. The show is dedicated to Todd Bertuzzi whose cousin is in attendance and has been a big fan for a few years. Bertuzzi was born here back before the trees started to grow. I went through Sudbury about 7 years ago and there were no trees or birds or… Met some more excellent fans, [...]

Sault Ste. Marie. Day 412

Sault Ste. Marie. Day 412. There is no Sault anymore, which I think means “falls” in one of the native languages. They put in a canal. Canal Ste Marie just isn’t the same though. We get to watch the leaves lose during sound check; we enjoy this and the bar staff doesn’t enjoy that we enjoy it. [...]

A new rule to live by

A new rule to live by: Make Bands Dinner. This is a very nice gesture that fans everywhere should try. You’re not going to get the Rolling Stones over anytime soon, but if you are a fan of an indie band and have maybe had some contact with them in the past, send an email when [...]

Dryden, Ontario subway

The girl in the Dryden, Ontario subway pretended to wipe blood on my subway bun. It was a very nice gesture on one of these entertainment craving days. We drive through the hometown of Avril Lavigne. I quietly wonder if she ever worked as hard as Jazzberry Ram……………. I quietly suspect not. The band (and crew) votes [...]

Drew finally grants me an interview

Boredom takes its toll so Drew finally grants me an interview. Usually he won’t talk to me. Random van interview number 1. B: Drew, how many times have you masturbated on this tour so far? D: Me personally or me masturbating the other guys? B: Well, both then. D: ummm… don’t talk to me. I’ll [...]

Winnipeg

Winnipeg was yet another odd show. I have to do this thing called “advancing” the shows. This is where I play phone tag with the promoters to ensure that the rider will be ready, hotel rooms booked, time for load in and sound check etc… I have a terrible time getting in touch with the Winnipeg [...]

Regina

Regina (the queen would be shocked) is a scary place. It’s a Sunday night and the bar is packed with some of the toughest looking people I’ve ever seen (and that’s just the girls). I swear some of them still have the broken cuffs on one wrist. We all feel small and weak (at least I do and [...]

We all have gear-loading injuries

We all have gear-loading injuries. Backs, necks, fingers, knees, feet are all cut or sore or twinged or pinched. Carrying heavy stuff up really awkward stairs and through narrow doors and halls and more stairs after sitting in one spot in a cold/ freezing van for 8 hours is yet another part of this that is [...]

Trevor Linden played Junior here

I’ve learned how to sleep sitting up in the van. This is something that I’ve never been able to do before so I’m kinda proud in that dumb way you get proud of yourself for dumb things… Drew thinks I eat too many sandwiches. I think he has too many hot chocolates. Al and Colin like [...]

Touring is bad for the figure.

Touring is bad for the figure. Wake-up, eat, sit in van, eat, sit in van, lift heavy things for 20 minutes, stand around, drink beer, eat, drink beer, stand around, lift heavy things for 20 minutes, drink beer, sleep (maybe). Repeat. Fat. 37 days of this. Fatter. Drew manages to lose weight; the rest of us are normal. He expends [...]

Calgary (second edition)

Calgary (second edition). The show is at a venue on 17th Ave. in Calgary though. The “enue” part in avenue gives you away as a non Calgarian. So does “calGARY.” Morgan’s is a good bar. They fill it way beyond hope and they feed us crazy drinks to try and kill the band. Polish Potato Vodka. In [...]

Banfffff

Banfffff. Mark is home and quite happy and comfy about it. Lisa squishes into the back of Mark’s truck for the ride from Calgary to Banffff. She is taller than Ryan, but she somehow manages to fall asleep in a place meant for tool storage… oh…… I get it now… Anyone get that? I barely do… I’m not [...]