A Test

July 15, 2008

A Test

I have no idea where to start. It might be easier to list what’s gone right as opposed to what’s gone wrong on this tour of all tours. A good friend of ours, Jon Cheese, has the letters PMA tattooed on his forearm. Positive Mental Attitude. That is what we need right now. We are in the biggest test of our band’s career…hopefully we’ll pass.

We are about two weeks into the Shout It Loud Tour with Less Than Jake, Suburban Legends and Goldfinger. Every show has been at the very least, awesome. The things that have been less than awesome are our van, rental vans and borrowed vans breaking down, time after time, and our trailer breaking, not once, but twice in one day. It’s like Murphy’s Law, “if something can go wrong, it will.”

We tried to help the environment out and save a few bucks by renting a van converted to run on veggie oil. That veggie part broke on the first day. At least we can still run the van on diesel fuel. Then that broke. We’ve taken cabs to garages in the middle of nowhere, sent Eric, our tour manager, on buses to retrieve broken down vans, trailers with an odd amount of functioning wheels and we’ve been late to almost every show.

Even when the shows are not that far in between, we can’t seem to make it on time. We go to sleep around 3a.m. every night, not because we’ve been partying or hanging out, but we usually have to drive for a few hours after each show. We’ve been getting up around 7 or 8a.m. too.

We really can’t believe how piss poor our luck has been on this tour, except for the shows! We are so incredibly lucky to play these packed shows in front of people that really seem to be having a bona fide good time. We are pretty lucky.

However, we are all totally exhausted from the extreme lack of sleep, endless problems that arise, late nights, early mornings, and no air conditioning, while driving through the country, 3 people to a bench. It’s hotter than two rats screwing in a wool sock. It’s all a test.

We try to stay positive. Stay positive. Always stay positive…but it’s tough. We think it’s a test because we’ve been a band for 12 years, have played hundreds of shows every year, traveled across borders, oceans, desserts and time zones, and our luck has never been this bad. But because it is so stressful and taxing on us, we believe that when we get home in August, we’ll be so happy, relaxed and healthy, then we’ll write the best record that can possibly be written. We are very excited about writing. We’ve been paying our dues for a long time and this is a psychically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting tour.

I hope that it doesn’t seem like I’m complaining, I just want anyone who reads this to get a glimpse into our situation. We definitely have a good laugh at some point everyday about all of the shit that’s hit the fan. I’ve heard and said, “it can’t get any worse, right?” every day since we left Boston on July 2nd. It’s July 15th today.

I guess that’s all for now. I’ve posted some pictures below too of photos that I’ve taken. Thanks for reading and please come and say hi to us at the shows, it definitely helps our PMA.


Sean P. Rogan
www.seanprogan.com














July 18, 2008 Posted by: bigd

Shout Out Loud!

Hey everybody. I apologize for my lack of tour updates. However, here is the first of this Less Than Jake, Goldfinger, Suburban Legends tour.

Everything is going really well except for our traveling. The shows have been amazing but the van that we're renting needs some TLC. The van we own pretty much sucks so we decided to continue with our eco friendly style and rent a veggie oil van!

It costs a little over a buck a gallon and is really cool. However, the van just got back from another tour the day that we rented it and did get serviced. Now it's a bit under the weather and unfortunately our trailer is too. That means we have to miss our Cleveland show today and hope to make it to the next one. We NEVER miss shows but unfortunately, it happens.

We will also be doing video tour updates that we'll post here, myspace and on youtube.com. Keep your eyes out for them.

That's all for now.

sean



July 8, 2008 Posted by: bigd

Uk Tour Starts Next Week!!!

Calling all British fans! This may be our only tour of the UK this year, Don't miss the RUDE AWAKENING TOUR!!! Big D, Sonic Boom Six, Random Hand! Ticketing details are available on the TOUR PAGE..

On a side note, we have posted extremely LIMITED EDITION screen printed posters from the Steady Riot tour on merchandise page. Please check them out, ALL proceeds from the sale of these prints will be donated to charity. And did we mention that we SIGNED each and everyone of them? Well, we did. So grab one now! -Big D

May 13 KINGSTON, UK @ THE PEEL w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 14 BRIGHTON, UK @ FREE BUTT w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 15 LEICESTER, UK @ CHARLOTTE w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 16 BIRMINGHAM, UK @ ACADEMY 2 w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 17 NORWICH, UK @ QUEEN CHARLOTTE w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 18 GLASGOW, UK @ BARFLY w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 20 NEWCASTLE, UK @ ACADEMY 2 w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 21 MANCHESTER, UK @ CLUB ACADEMY w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 22 SOUTHAMPTON, UK @ JOINERS w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 23 LONDON, UK @ UNDERWORLD w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 24 DERBY, UK @ FIRST FLOOR w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 25 LEEDS, UK @ SLAM DUNK FEST w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND, AND MORE!!!!
May 27 PLYMOUTH, UK @ WHITE RABBIT w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 28 BRISTOL, UK @ CROFT w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 29 EXETER, UK @ HUB w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND

May 7, 2008 Posted by: bigd

Touring, Touring!!!!

Hey everyone! You all have been asking and asking what we would be up to this summer, so low and behold, it will be touring! With some FANTASTIC bands too!

First up is our return to the UK, with THE RUDE AWAKENING TOUR w/ Sonic Boom Six, and Random hand. This may be our only trip to Europe this year, so DO NOT MISS IT!!

July sees us traveling across the US, with a quick stop in Toronto, the tour is the 2nd Annual SHOUT IT OUT LOUD TOUR. This years tour will feature Less Than Jake, Goldfinger, and Suburban Legends!! We heard this was a great time last year, and cannot wait to make this years even better!!

And right before we get back to writing the new record, RANCID has invited us to do a handful of shows in the Northeast!!

Come on out and enjoy the summer months with us!!

-Big D

May 4 CLIFTON PARK, NY @ NORTHERN LIGHTS w/ SAVE DARFUR BENEFIT
May 13 KINGSTON, UK @ THE PEEL w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 14 BRIGHTON, UK @ FREE BUTT w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 15 LEICESTER, UK @ CHARLOTTE w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 16 BIRMINGHAM, UK @ ACADEMY 2 w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 17 NORWICH, UK @ QUEEN CHARLOTTE w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 18 GLASGOW, UK @ BARFLY w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 20 NEWCASTLE, UK @ ACADEMY 2 w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 21 MANCHESTER, UK @ CLUB ACADEMY w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 22 SOUTHAMPTON, UK @ JOINERS w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 23 LONDON, UK @ UNDERWORLD w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 24 DERBY, UK @ FIRST FLOOR w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 25 LEEDS, UK @ SLAM DUNK FEST w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND, AND MORE!!!!
May 27 PLYMOUTH, UK @ WHITE RABBIT w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 28 BRISTOL, UK @ CROFT w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
May 29 EXETER, UK @ HUB w/ SONIC BOOM SIX, RANDOM HAND
July 1 ROYAL OAK, MI @ ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATER w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 2 CHICAGO, IL @ CONGRESS THEATER w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 3 MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ FIRST AVENUE w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 4 MILWAUKEE, WI @ SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 5 OMAHA, NE @ SOKOL AUDITORIUM w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 7 ST. LOUIS, MO @ THE PAGEANT w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 8 CLEVELAND, OH @ HOUSE OF BLUES w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 9 TORONTO, ON @ KOOL HAUS w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 10 BUFFALO, NY @ TOWN BALLROOM w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 11 HAMPTON BEACH, NH @ CASINO BALLROOM w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 12 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY @ THE CHANCE w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 13 ROCHESTER, NY @ WATER STREET MUSIC HALL w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 14 RICHMOND, VA @ TOAD'S PLACE w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 16 NEW ORLEANS, LA @ HOUSE OF BLUES w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 17 HOUSTON, TX @ MERIDIAN w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 18 DALLAS, TX @ HOUSE OF BLUES w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 20 ENGLEWOOD, CO @ GOTHIC THEATER w/ LESS THAN JAKE, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 21 MAGNA, UT @ THE GREAT SALT AIR w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 23 TEMPE, AZ @ MARQUEE THEATER @ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 24 LAS VEGAS, NV @ HOUSE OF BLUES w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 25 SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ REGENCY THEATER @ THE GRAND w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 26 LOS ANGELES, CA @ THE WILTERN w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
July 29 SAN DIEGO, CA @ HOUSE OF BLUES w/ LESS THAN JAKE, GOLDFINGER, SUBURBAN LEGENDS
August 10 PHILADELPHIA, PA @ ELECTRIC FACTORY w/ RANCID
August 11 WASHINGTON, DC @ 9:30 CLUB w/ RANCID
August 15 NEW YORK CITY, NY @ IRVING PLAZA w/ RANCID

April 28, 2008 Posted by: bigd