June 25, 2015 Touring Pastimes
I remember reading an article in Alternative Press a long time ago that quoted Sean P. Rogan (the previous guitarist of Big D & The Kids Table) in which he talked about cool ways to spend time and money on tour. I can’t find any of it on the internet but sometimes I think of it before a tour and think about the adventures I’ve had while on the road, and the ones I’ve skipped out on and regret not partaking in. I’m not alone in the latter. The fact is, I know way too many musicians who spend too much time in their van (driving or not) and who don’t really explore where they’re playing. You don’t always need an off day to find time for that. Here’s some places my bandmates and I like to visit with limited time in different cities.
Craft Breweries
Unless you’re part of a straight-edge band, you probably have one or two beer snobs in your band. That said, some of the primary places for touring have some of the best craft beer. My hometown of Boise has several within short walking distances of our local all ages venues. The Seattle area has Elysian, Chico CA has Sierra Nevada, and that’s just West Coast. A lot of the top craft beer places outside of the northwest have the best music venues as well, like Portland (see the Hawthorne Theater) or Minneapolis (I would kill to play the Triple Rock some day).
Skate Parks
One thing we decided when we did our first tour was that we all (with exception to our uncoordinated, freakishly tall bass player) were going to start skateboarding again and bringing our boards on the road with us. Our drummer’s pretty good so he’s had a chance to teach our vocalist and I how to not suck SO much, and this has brought us to some pretty sweet skate parks, my current favorite being the Puyallup Skatepark in Washington. This isn’t a new concept either, we’re definitely not the first band to bring skateboards on tour to get back into it. In fact, some bands even started because they were skateboarders (bands like Millencolin were professional skaters before they were professional musicians, even). It’s a great pastime for those days with short drives, or when you get to a new place and need something to do for an hour before the show.
Record Stores
Confined in one area, your music store options are fairly limited. Different bands have better followings in specific areas, and your local record store can’t always afford to sell everything you want them to. That said, different artists are popular in other areas that I’ve toured in, so local music stores in other towns are where I go to get some of my favorite records at used prices. I landed the Descendents’ Merican EP at Amoeba Music the first time I went to LA on tour four years ago. I almost bought Sunny Day Real Estate’s entire discography on CD for under $15 last year in Portland, OR. And once in a while you’ll find something incredibly rare: I got a J Church/Discount 7” in Olympia, WA last month. That’s not the entire list of course, and it will continue to grow the more I travel and especially the more I tour. But this is probably my personal favorite pastime that stays consistent from town to town.
Music Stores
If you’re a musician, you probably have a long list of gear that you want and can’t afford. Pawn shops and local music stores are some of the best place to look for gear you want, and your hometown can only have so many, so hitting those up while you travel is a great idea. In Everett, WA I found a music store down the street from a rad pizza place we were eating at (see below) that had a discounted Memory Boy Deluxe for sale, which, while I’m not much of a pedal guy, is one of the only delay pedals I’ve seriously looked to buy. Of course, if you’re on tour you’re probably not working, so your money is limited, but that’s why pawn shops and local music stores are so good - a lot of the gear is used and discounted. For my band, this is an essential stop, even if we don’t buy anything.
Pizza-by-the-Slice
I’m in a band with a health nut so I end up eating healthier than I would normally when I’m on the road… except for when it comes to pizza. Something about local pizza by the slice places is so exciting to me, as well as my bandmates. It’s honestly more the environment of a pizza shop than it is the actual pizza. I love Brooklyn Bros. Pizzeria in Everett (which has really great root beer on tap), and we always take bands to Piehole in Boise after they’re done playing. Also, we always somehow end up at Pizza Schmizza in Portland - it’s practically tradition for me when I go there now, on tour or not.
Local Fun
I’ll never forget a video I watched a long time ago in which all of the bands on a tour got together and had a huge paintball showdown. Videos like that always made an impression on me. It’s always important to be aware of the unique things going on in each city or new place. My first time visiting the EMP museum was on tour, and one time we stood outside Nickelodeon studios when they were filming iCarly. I’ve done most of my adult beach exploring with my tourmates, and I’ve walked the Vegas strip and the Hollywood strip with them as well. What are your favorite things to do in different cities with your bandmates? Let me know on Twitter @robolitious or in the comments below!
Reader Comments (1)
Hey Robert, thanks for the deets on your travels. Sounds like a blast. Couldn't agree more. You might as well stay home if you aren't going to discover what a place has to offer! What style of music do you play? Have you ever played in the little towns called Winthrop or Twisp in the Methow Valley, WA? Lived there for a summer and was blown away by the quality of the music that passed through.