wiffle ball round 2 happened today out in the grass field behind the stage. it pretty much was perfect weather for some band/crew wiffle ball, and also for the show. it was so nice out and a great crowd showed up tonight. super loud, and real fun. amarillo also means yellow. little known fact. ha.
hola el paso. como estas. today we were very near the border to mexico. so close that we could see the wall. it was muy bien. tim's bass kind of freaked out today so we had to borrow one from longwave. those guys rule, and its their last show of the tour with us. viva longwave y viva switchfoot!
arizona! today was hot hot hot. yeah, just like that song. some guys walked over to tempe proper and did some shopping, and then when jon and chad came back, we walked down by the interview and shot some cool interview stuff. later on in the day jon went back and did an aftershow down there too. it was pretty gorgeous. big ups to zach from jimmy eat world for stopping by tonight!
our first of a few shows in texas in the next few weeks, midland's 'rock the desert' festival is usually a pretty fun one to be at. last year here we all sat around in the dressing room watching the olympics, and this year we sat around watching action movies all day. it was good times. the guys switched up their walk-in music tonight to some explosions in the sky, in honor of friday night lights and west texas. so good.
ahh yes, back to the starbucks of venues. house of blues (houses of blue? i don't know how to pluralize that) are always kind of the same, but you usually know it's going to be a good show. the day ended with (no joke) a drew and chad dance party in front of the bellagio. don't ask. more details to come later.
the day started out with jon and tim cruising up the freeways to a producer's house and working just a touch more on a couple versions of the new songs. by the time they got back, everyone had re-convened from their time in southern california for soundcheck at the historic wiltern theater. there was much talk of all the shows people had seen there over the years. especially jerome; he saw nine inch nails and sting shows here back in the day. he wins. he always does. dinner, show, aftershow food, showers, hang out, sleep. good day.
last time we were playing in the room it was with relient k, and there was a sweet christmas carnival going on in the park across the street. there's definitely an excitement being back in california, even though we're in the northern part. the show tonight went great, and then in that same park where the carnival was last time, jon did an acoustic show after the set. back home for a few days!
portland is always awesome, especially with an early morning visit to mother's for breakfast with don miller. after that it was some wandering around to guitar shops and whatnot. after load in and soundcheck and everything, today was easily the hottest switchfoot show i can remember. it was so hot and muggy and sweaty. i'm kind of surprised no one passed out. other than that, tonight was great.
preface: seattle is one of the best towns in america. some of us went down to pike's place right when we got into town and had some clam chowder and/or shrimp cocktail. it was awesome. during the day, we saw the blue angels flying through the seattle bay, so jon and tim made a call and they all came to the show tonight! it was pretty fun having the blue angels people now get to come and have fun at Switchfoot's office. (although as far as I know, none of the blue angels pilots passed out or threw up during the show.) jon then had a sweet little aftershow tucked away in an entryway to an apartment building. good times.
the saltair is easily one of the weirdest and coolest venues in america. it's out in the middle of nowhere and sits on the beaches of the great salt lake. complete with salt flats, it kind feels like you're playing a club on mars or like the cantina in star wars or something.
