Poitiers, France

Wow. Sorry for not posting for a few weeks. Tour has been grueling but amazing. Long drives, late shows, always trying to take a nap any chance I get. Italy and Spain were unbelievable. So many highlights. Rome is chaotic and beautiful. Aqueducts around the city thousands of years old. Torino and Bologna were smaller towns with a very relaxed feel. Milan a bit cosmopolitan. In Torino we played in the courtyard of a museum. Stunning. Bologna was also an outdoor show, in the center of the university there. The trip to Catania, Sicily was crazy. We played in Torino, then drove to Milan and parked at the airport, flew to Catania, were rushed to the venue which was thirty kilometers outside of the city in a cactus field. It was 100 degrees (at least). We went on at 2:30am, went back to the hotel, slept for two hours, and then flew back to Milan. So insane. It really took a toll on everyone but was mind-blowing. Spain was beautiful. Vitoria-Gasteiz in Basque was a cute little city. Then we went to Madrid, which I imagine is something like Mexico City. Sprawling, chaotic, beautiful. Barcelona is a beach city that doesn't feel like a beach city. We went on stage at 2:30am there as well. Before our we went down to Italy and Spain, we played in Berlin. It was great to go back there. I got to see Lisa and my good friend, who just had a baby. Prague was beautiful but the weather was horrible. Driving through Switzerland is picturesque beyond belief. One more week until we return home. I'm ready. It's been an amazing experience.

Malmo to Stockholm to Copenhagen

We just arrived in Copenhagen. The show in Arhus was fun. A really cute coastal city in Denmark. Next we played in Malmo, Sweden, which is right across a body of water from Copenhagen. It's the second or third largest city in Sweden. The six hour drive from Malmo to Stockholm is beautiful. Moose country. Looks kind of like Maine with some Washington state thrown in. Stockholm has been the highlight of the tour for me. A strikingly beautiful city. We had a bit of time to walk around the old part of the city. There is a lack of anxiety in the people in much of Europe that is refreshing. Stockholm is definitely a place that I would love to go back to and spend some more time in. Just sound checked in Copenhagen and we're headed out to get some dinner with the promoter. I'm very excited to be here.

Bremen to Arhus, Denmark

We played a really great show in Bremen last night. We arrived in Bremen a bit early and had a chance to walk around for awhile. Bremen is a beautiful city. It's fairly small (450,000) people or so. Being back in Germany felt very familiar and comfortable. I have the day off driving today (after my long spell through the UK) so it was nice to relax in the van today on the way to Arhus, Denmark. It was a short drive... 4.5 hours. We're in Arhus now and just soundchecked and are the venue are about to feed us. Bands are treated really well in Scandanavia. The facilities are very comfortable. Arhus is a tiny, tiny town on the central eastern coast. Feeling tired and a bit road weary but I'm very excited about this portion of the tour.

Southend-on-Sea, Ipswich to Holland

Played two shows in Southend-on-Sea and Ipswich, two small English towns on the eastern coast. The towns were very quaint and the people were excited to have a foreign band come through their towns. Two really fun shows at great spaces, put on by gracious hosts. Yesterday we took an early ferry from Bathwick, Enlanf over to Holland. It was a six hour ferry ride. For a such a huge ship I was surprised at the amount of swaying on the boat. We parked our van inside the ferry and they had several floors of public space to hang out during the ride. Landed in Holland, and we drove two hours east and stayed in an amazing hostel in Grossel, Holland, a tiny town in central Holland. A bit of a long travel day but fortunately most of it was on the water. Off to Bremen, Germany today.

Leeds to London

After the Glasgow show we headed down to Leeds and played at a great spot there called the Brudenell Social Club. Leeds was a really cool city. A proper college town but a bit industrial. Drove down to London yesterday from Leeds. I've been doing all of the driving in the UK and will be looking forwards to getting to the continent in a couple of days to have some downtime in the van. London has been really fun. Got a chance to catch up with some old friends last night at our show (in London). We're staying at a friend's flat in Hackney (northeast London). It rained most of yesterday but cleared up in the evening and today it's beautiful out. We have a short drive to our next destination (Southend-On-Sea) tonight so we'll get a chance to walk around London a bit.

Manchester to Glasgow

Had a great two days in Manchester. Stayed with friends in their beautiful home in Sale, a small town six miles southwest of Manchester. Having a day off helped to catch up on some much needed sleep. The weather was beautiful and we walked around the town and generally took it easy. Played last night in Manchester at a place in the city center called the Castle Hotel. It was a fun, sweaty show. Drove today up to Glasgow (220 miles). It took a little under four hours. Crazy downpours (some of the heaviest rain I've ever driven through) would come out of nowhere... Blue skies here now in Glasgow. We're playing tonight at a great spot downtown, called Captain's Rest. They fed us and we're relaxing before the show watching Champions League soccer on the tv.

Wales to York, England (second show of tour)

Did my first bit of driving on the (wrong side) of the road yesterday. We drove from Wales up to York. 220 miles. It took us around four hours. It took a couple of hours getting used to driving on the left... some of the roundabouts are the most difficult parts, but so far, so good. Funny how small the distances are in England. We basically spand the country from the southwest to the northeast and it's like driving from DC to NYC. Played at a club in York last night. Hot and sweaty but fun and the people were excited and enthusiastic. We sheepishly played an encore because they demanded it. :) Day off today... we'll drive to Manchester (90 minutes away) in a bit and take it easy. It's been beautiful the past two days weather-wise. York is a really quaint, old town. Feels a bit like Colonial Williamsburg with older buildings and cathedrals.