As if becoming addicted to an inanimate object seems impossible, falling in love with an idea is as dangerous as falling in love with that blonde who sits across from you at work. Touring is a rambunctious aspect of the music industry and one that plenty of people strive for. Contributor Sean Gonzalez is one of those individuals who fell victim to the heart of the road, and is back out on tour, this time with Las Vegas act Alaska.
Two.
Summer is an entirely different animal to tour in. I think I can speak for all the members and I when I say humidity sucks not only the water from your body (in the form of sweat), but the energy of the day. Maybe I wake up too early, maybe they sleep more than I do. In comparison, being a band from Las Vegas has it’s downsides, and upon Nick showing me the weather of Las Vegas as of now — currently sitting at a burning the ripe off of fruits 113 degrees Fahrenheit — I can tolerate the pit of body moisture that resides across my entire body.
I thought the Midwest was a pure drinking culture, and then Buffalo decided to enter our lives. I have never had a bad night in the city, often being fueled by various strangers willing and wanting to have a better time than the next individual, including you. The first show took place in that wonderful city with Del Paxton. It was the perfect tour kick off because around the middle of the day we realized the show in Pittsburgh the next day was not happening. As the night carried on that mindset was twisted into our heads like a screw through a plank of wood. Joel and I were perched on top of a parking garage drinking beers when a cop decided to do a random sweep of the garage. What he said may go down in history as funniest things I have hear, “Just don’t make a mess.” Your wish is my demand.
After the show, about every member save for Tyler had participated in enjoying themselves, as Nick looked me in the eye and said the dangerous words of the city, “I want to experience this city.” Your wish is my demand.
Fast forward a few hours and a rambunctious bar appearance. Rewind to the part where Steve Michiche was at the same bar we were at, to the portion of the night where I took a cat nap before waking up at Niagara Falls. It is five in the morning, my eyes were forgetful of what had been happening, my head was corroding in a delusional haze but Alaska took care of seeing Niagara Falls. The sun rose that day, I saw it; it happened. By the time the night decided to come to a close it was seven in the morning. I hope it was an experience, Nick. Due to this, our off day was spent relaxing the lethargic mindlessness of exhaustion before deciding to go camp that night. It was nearly 12 hours too late till I found out that a KOA has faster wifi than my mom’s business plan, but seeing Lake Eerie in the blur of night and the grogginess of the next morning was pure beauty.
This is what Lake Eerie looks at six in the morning.
On to Akron Ohio. Alaska has been here plenty of times, so I am sure this feels routine to them. To me? This feels like a new opportunity to attempt to be a person in an entirely new place. Here’s what I mean; they are heavily respected in this D.I.Y. scene, but I just got recognized from a follower on Twitter, so who’s famous now? Watching them at least survive in this lack of a stable industry is inspiring, enough to force me to continue salivating over any idea of travel (even enough to spontaneously purchase tickets to another destination soon after tour). Maybe one day I will be as efficient as George Clooney in Up In The Air. Alaska sure have their shit together when it comes to walking the same footsteps from months or years before. These are four (five including Chris Houser, an exceptionally talented photographer) individuals who have spent enough time on the road together that their stories could fill the ears at campsites for days. Many people would be at the edge of their seat listen to what they have seen, as many of the world hasn’t even seen. Their level of casualness is masked by their raw talent, their intellectual care for music and more importantly, an awareness of love between each other. I feel at home here.
Seeing Del Paxton play is a wonder. They are a bit more wise in terms of years in bands but they rock just the same. Greg is a school teacher. Imagine that, having a secret life away from the school yard where the kids will have NO idea what it even means to be in this moment, standing in a basement of above 90 degrees Fahrenheit enjoying the one passion that has brought the 50 or so people into this basement. It’s almost at a day and age where saying you are in a band is an immediate loss to any conversation. The culture has flipped into this cram packed basement with lights where people go to escape life with their closest friends. Alaska blew a fuse tonight in the house in Akron in which they were playing. That’s punk as hell; that’s the raw passion people seek in the problem that has to have an immediate fix. The show must go on.
