The set was so spot on that night and after being in the photo pit we got to witness “Heart’s Alive” from side of stage with Troy’s partner and daughter. You could see the emotion on their faces watching Troy, and made me think of my family back home and how much I missed them, but it really put you in the moment which is why this gig was the most special for me.
 

After the show we hung backstage and Brent and I had a heart to heart chat and found a Warner’s rep handing out the Capillarian Crest lithographs and in my (drunken) state asked if I could have one and sure enough ended up with one. While Brent and I were chatting he just leant over and signed it for me and as soon as he finished Andy who was bringing Brent a whisky promptly spilled it all over the lithograph, but it was so funny and we just licked it clean and all was perfect hargh hargh hargh.

We spent another hour or so with the guys and then decided to head out to a bar and have drinks with Darren Sanders. We found a bar and a few more drinks were had and we decided to find food. John’s Pizza, a name that will stay with me forever. The best Mushroom pizza ever and at 4am in Chicago surrounded by good friends is was a great way to finish a brilliant day.

Detroit Rock City.
September 15th 2006:
We started early and boy did my head hurt. You see I’m not really a drinker anymore…I used to be, but now it fucks me sideways, so after rising and showering I felt slightly better. We went to a café next to the Empty Bottle in Chicago and feasted on buttermilk pancakes, which soaked up most of the alcohol. And then it was time to hit the road again.

We were headed to Detroit, to which I had heard many stories about and frankly quite was scared of the place already! We had a really good trip down from Chicago and I rested quietly in the back of the care due to the Guinness Revenge, but I was like a puppy looking out f the back window as everything seemed new and wondrous. We arrived in Detroit and headed straight into the venue and ordered some late lunch. Brent joined us and we chatted about everything and nothing. I drew him a map of Australia and explained a little about the geography of the place and was just really nice to get to know him a little better. He really is a champion geezer!

Time really flew past and it was gig time already. I stayed at the back of the venue to get a different perspective of the show and to nurse my stupid head…damn Guinness!!!! The show was at the Majestic and is a huge ballroom, with molded ceiling, which on occasion fell onto the merch stand every now and again. This summed up Detroit perfectly. Nice enough place but no-one seems to care, just garbage everywhere…sad really. The Bronx and Converge were well received but Mastodon were again on form tonight. The bigger stage really suited them and the PA was really cranked (hence some of the ceiling falling!) The same set list as the previous shows but Brent seemed really fired up and having a blast (but when doesn’t he?) Highlights were Sleeping Giant, Bladecatcher and a blistering Hearts Alive. It was amazing to still be at the back of the venue but feel in the palm of the bands hands…the music just seemed to wrap you up and was all over before it had even started. The set list was the perfect mix and just flowed beautifully from one song to the next. Seamless and with passion.
 

After the gig we decided to leave Detroit and hit a hotel for the night. With Andy’s help he had booked a little place down the road and we decided to eat as we hadn’t had dinner as yet. BIG BOY’s! I had never had this before, I only knew of it from Austen Powers (!?), so we ate our way through our burgers and as we were on our way out and paid the bill, the chick behind the counter noticed my accent and asked where I was from, I said Australia and she asked how Andy and I met. I said we had met on the Internet after exchanging photos. I didn’t help that I was hamming this up by rubbing Andy’s shoulder. Poor girl didn’t know where to look. Well it was either that or Andy’s Goatwhore shirt!

Back to the hotel and crashed out fairly quick but not before discovering a variety of interesting brown stains on the ceiling! Watched an episode of “Midget Wars” and fell asleep.

WKRP in Cincinnati
September 16th 2006:


We were on the road to Cincinnati today. The show was at Bogartswhich is a venue I had seen on a bootleg Mastodon DVD and was quite excited about this show. We got to the venue early and sussed it all out, but decided to head to the hotel and freshen up first.

Stayed at the Radisson in Kentucky just over the border and grabbed our gear and went and had lunch at a beautiful Mediterranean Restaurant and had some traditional cuisine, so much better than greasy crap. As we walked down to the venue we met up Andy’s friend Si who was recording the show tonight and hooked him up with a pass.

We got into the venue after fighting off the crack whores and bum yet again (I look more like a bum than they do!). The venue felt like an old school hall, but was ok. There was a signed Alice In Chains poster that Matt H pointed out to me that I wanted to take home.

The Bronx and Converge played good sets but Jake from Converge seemed to battling the PA a bit too much tonight and didn’t seems on fire as normal.

Mastodon once again started with the same drug induced intro and straight into Iron Tusk. Once again it was a fairly flawless performance. The guys seemed really relaxed tonight and Bill referred to the place as Sincinatti.

Brent’s dancing through out was a highlight. I know Brann was a little tired from his performance at the Modern Drummer fest the day before but you would have never known. He is such an inspiration not only as a drummer/musician but also as a person. Such a genuine guy and has all the time in the world for you. It was such a pleasure to get to know him a little better as well.

It was a day off the next day so Troy asked us what we would like to do after the show. He knew a very quiet bar where we could talk and have a drink together. So Troy, Brent, myself, Andy, Matt H & Darren hit this small bar and talked for a couple of hours. Brent and I stared planning the Australian Campaign in secret and discussed what the best tactic should be hargh hargh hargh. We actually spent a good half hour coming up with a Mastodon rating system for gigs and having a board on the bus to see how they go each night. The Mastodon Horns-Up Meter shall be designed with all the intention of giving each member a kick up the arse if needed. I think that’s the plan we came up with.

Brent decided it was time to dance but he needed a beer and had spent all of pocket money for the day so it was my privilege to buy him a Heineken and it was wonderful to see him head off to the make shift dance floor with beer in hand and smile on face. Troy and I discussed all things about Australia and their upcoming tour of the UK and Europe. He seemed to be over the moon about what was coming up and shared it with me, but things have changed for the better. But I do hope the original idea still comes off for them. He was over the moon at being able to share something really special and an honor that it was me he was able to share with. We talked about many other things and as were on our 4th or 5th beer Brent shared an amazingly funny story that involved Japan and a shampoo bottle. That’s as far as I am going with that story. But I nearly wet myself…it was that fucking funny.
 

After 2 hours or so we headed back to the bus and I got smacked on the arse by Troy on the way back!?! and we said our goodbyes until the next show. Troy asked if I needed a laminate for the rest of the tour and was happy to give me his, which I thought was simply amazing, but I already told him I had one, but that just goes to show what sort of guy he is. A really caring loveable guy and can’t thank him enough for his generosity and compassion.Andy, Matt H and myself headed off to the hotel, but not before indulging in White Castle. I had heard about about this mysterious exotic food (cough!), but I had to try it at least once. We ordered a bag of "sliders" and well...I shall probably never have them again, but while in Rome (well Cincinnati).

The Wizard Of Oz
September 17th 2006:
It was a great drive back to Chicago after Cinci show and I was truly thankful to Andy and Matt for all of their generosity and friendship and with all that they did for me while I was with them. If it weren’t for them the trip would not have been as amazing as it was.

But it was time to leave the windy city and head off to Kansas. I was really looking forward to this show. I knew that Lawrence, Kansas was a college town, but didn’t expect to be it as beautiful as it was. I checked into The Eldridge Hotel, which I later found out is apparently haunted, but it is a great hotel and I deserved a bit of pampering!

   

I went for a wander and discovered that the venue was only 5 mins walk away. I met up with the band while they were soundchecking, well most were. Brent had found a BMX and bought himself a new Fez and was flying about the streets of Lawrence showing it off to all and sundry. The man is a whirling dervish, so so funny! I grabbed the last of my signatures and pics of the band. I really wanted to snap as many pics of the live show tonight, so I got all of my stuff back to the hotel and just had my camera in tow. Converge were awesome tonight. The crowd went spastic for them. The new songs from the forthcoming album “No Heroes” sound superb. It certainly will be an “album of the year” contender. I spoke to Nate from Converge between sets. Really awesome guy and we chatted about them coming to Australia. He mentioned hopefully on this album, but nothing definite, but he said fingers crossed!

Mastodon were once again greeted with a huge roar as they made their way onto the stage. Straight into Iron Tusk and segue into March. The sound, performance and crowd made this a very special show. Everyone was right on the money.
 

Even though the set was the same as the previous shows it showed no sign of being stale at all. The interaction between Troy’s and Brent vocal parts always make shows more interesting, but there interplay on the Blood Mountain tracks is simply outstanding. The amount of work they put into the performance and into their art is breathtaking and no better place to see it other than this show tonight. Highlights as always are hard to describe because I am blown away every night, but Sleeping Giant is just one song among many that lifts your soul so high, especially when Bill kicks in with that melody line…you know I’m talking about. No Heart’s Alive tonight because of curfew boo hiss, but the band seemed really happy with the show. After the show we said our goodbyes and said we would all meet up in Denver which was going to be my last stop /gig on this tour.
 

Rocky Mountain High.
September 18th 2006:
Flying into Denver was amazing. To see the Rockies from the air was quite breathtaking and to see the snow covered mountain was a huge scenic change after the flatness of the Ohio/Midwest area. Checked into my hotel and made my way down to the venue with a crazy but very cool cab driver. Met up with Darren and watched The Bronx soundcheck. Hung out with Bill for a while, we chatted while he was surfing the net. He was really pleased that the show had already done over 800 presales., even though really small the venue had a really good vibe. I met Shannon from the Warners Street team and his trusty sidekick Andrew. Andrew was really cool and passed on some Mastodon goodies that I didn’t already have. Converge were so “on” tonight that I had really grown to love this band. The crowd was probably the craziest I had seen for them so far on this tour. The band was really in the zone. Once again Jake was just a whirlwind, but so passionate and intense. I took a heap of pics of Converge that when it came time for Mastodon I had no battery power left, so I decided to film the show instead. It was a little weird seeing them through a lens but it didn’t stop the amazing feeling. They really seemed fired up tonight. Weather it be the combination of tiny stage and ever so crazy crowd or the heat but it was an intense gig. Everything was a highlight. I still look back and wonder how they hell they play what they do. I mean Capillarian Crest is all over the shop as far as musical parts go, but it works so perfectly. I don’t know how they do it, but I’m just glad they do.

As the dying notes of Heart’s Alive echoed through the room I knew that my Mastodon experience was over, at least for now, and I shed a few tears, just like I had at Cleveland. This was such an emotional adventure and I would not have swapped it for anything in the world. I waited for the venue to empty before saying my farewell to the band. Each and every one of them hugged me and thanked me for the work I do for them. It is an honor to be in the company of artists who inspire you to greater things. With the amount of beauty Mastodon put into my life, it makes it easier to reflect that out into what I do in life and that my friends is priceless.

Being on tour with Mastodon for 2 weeks was a life changing experience and I am so proud to have met these guys and have been able to be part of their lives for a small amount of time. I cannot put into words how well I was treated by all in the Mastodon camp and I hope the band continue with their well deserved success and enjoy what they do, because the art they create puts so much beauty into this world and I thank them for doing so.

I would like to thank Troy, Bill, Brann & Brent, Andy (tour manager), Andy Dixon, Matt Hawk, Nick John, Dan Hague and especially & most importantly Pat Egan. I must also mention my beautiful family, because without the help from these wonderful beings this would not have happened and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.