one more sleep

19.5.2008

this is probably, like, my tenth tour. i still don't feel like i'm a seasoned and accomplished suitcase packer. i've packed 22 tshirts to cater for all eventualities (namely, my innate drink spilling sensibilites - i just can't keep things in the cups). i have 5 pairs of jeans, of which i will probably wear, at most, 2. despite knowing this potential space saving factoid, i will not unpack 3 pairs. no siree. i'm a glutton for choice. i have 20 pairs of socks. 18 of which are white, which most people seem to think is a faux pas, but if its goot enough for MJJ, it's good enough for me and it's certainly good enough for you. i have 12 pairs of pants. now, this is a dilemma. i'm away for 18 days, so you do the smelly crotched math. what this means, is that at some point, american apparel will be making a good 50 english bones off of this ill-prepared traveller. add to the mix 4 pairs of shoes, 2 towels, some pyjama bottoms (out of respect for our american guests), some random toiletries and you've got a pretty loaded red suitcase and a pretty solid and unecessary idea of what little grasp i have of reality. there are still the unchartered depths of overcoats and winterwear to consider, in the event of any brisk changes in the ol' temeperature. so many variables, people. so many.

this tour will be our first time on a tour bus. those behemoth, motherfuckers that sleep like 1600 people. it'll be a bit like noah's ark but with less civilized animals, less couples and, tragically, less beard. in fact, it'll just be a whole lot of man and a whole lot of bewheeled metal. nevertheless, it's going to be a riot. i'm actually schoolboy excited. we're leaving at 12am wednesday morning, so i feel a bit like i should be going on a french exchange trip with school to meet my penfriend, claude deschamps... except that we're going to middlesborough and i don't know anyone there.

usually these blogs serve some constructive and higher purpose that relates, in some way, to you helping us to achieve something or me informing you of some golden little nugget of shinfo. this one's different. i just feel like talking because i've had like a case of diet coke and i'm climbing the walls in anticipation of tour.

earlier today we worked on a new set intro. we figured that our black or white intro had expired - for the time being, at least - and that it was high time for a new, more cinematic entree to our delicious main course. it's a goody. trust. we also slung together a playlist or two to keep y'all and y'us entertained between bands at the shows. expect a lot of mid 90's gospel, r'n'b, hip hop and house. feel free to contribute ideas toward songs you'd like to hear at our shows and we'll read and ignore them accordingly.

actually, i found a reason to post this. our singles out today. give me what i want, i mean. you know the one. go and buy it or something. hell, buy a few and make a mobile for your baby sisters crib or fob it off as a set of coasters and a belated birthday present for your mother. also, save your breath - our brethren from newport and it's surrounding trenches - have just put up 3 new tracks of exceptional quality and pop-punk savvy. go enhance your life a little and jam them into your head. i managed to maneuver my way onto the 3rd song. no prizes if you spot me, unfortunately. knowledge is reward enough, i think. but yeah. killer tunes. www.myspace.com/saveyourbreathband.

in preparation for tour, i've taken on the mantle of the sober, designated driver. consequently, i've been finding alternative ways to spend my evenings and days. it's actually shocking how much you can do in a day if you're not pre-occupying yourself with the perils of beer gardens. i tidied my room and found some cds in a bit of my car that i didn't know existed. 3 years of mysterious disappearances solved. i managed to catch a fair few films at the picturehouse. namely, iron man, charlie bartlett and smart people. all turtley coolio iglesias.

i have more use for this blog yet... a few of you have been curious about the HMV instore. well, frankly, so am i. but here are some facts i've coerced:

- it starts at 4.30pm.
- it is FREE. no need for wristbands. no binding, obligatory purchase clause.
- we'll be playing a few songs full band and then signing albums and whatever you fancy. we've signed apples in the past. be creative. ice cream?

equally, so as not to deprive the rest of the country of our awkward and stuttery company, we'll be hanging about before and after shows if you want to come and say 'holla' and chill with some exceptionally cool gentlemen. i think some shows have designated meet and greets, even. that's good news for all, huh? hang time is good. hang time is goooood. it probably won't be as good as the high school basketball tv show of the same name, though. i can't compete with the tubby, loveable rogue that was theodore 'teddy' brodis, or the feat of genetic engineering that was julie connor, femme-baller extraordinaire.



see.

anyway. i hope y'alls exams are passing without any depressing incident. if you need any help revising the romanian infrastructure, joel is your friendly and cooperative native. if you ever feel like revision is just getting too much for you, type 'ticketmaster' into google, then 'kids in glass houses' in their respective search slot, you will see that we've been kind enough to hold a succession of seminars and lectures on all manner of helpful, exam related subjects. it costs like £8, but it's probably worth it. for your future's sake.

i'm off to listen to naughty by nature, cause i'm down with o.p.p. yeah, you know me.

have a pleasant day.

aled xxx