so - you’ve all been eagerly reading about the goes cube tour, and now we have a special treat for you. The band has released a video for Song 30 (premiering today at stereogum) so you can now look and listen for yourself. (over and over and over again). The video for Song 30 was shot in 16mm b/w and does all sorts of neat stuff with film speed and lighting. It is a perfect gritty visual accompaniment to the the raw intensity of the song. Check it out.

The homecoming show at the Mercury Lounge was better than expected. And, trust me, we had some very high expectations. Especially considering the occasion, the bill, and the fact that the Mercury Lounge is probably our favorite venue.

As nearly all rock shows do, the show ran a little late. The band who played before us (Pilot To Gunner, who is awesome, and who we’ve all liked for a long time), started playing at 9:20, and their set was over a couple minutes after 10. We set up our gear as soon as they broke down. By this time, I wanted to run to the bathroom (had two beers before our set). So I ran downstairs to the “green room,” where there were a lot of people hanging around. The bathroom was occupied, but a guy who appeared to be waiting as well said, “No, I’m not waiting. They’ll be right out.” A few minutes later, I discovered he used the “they” pronoun not because he was unsure of the user’s gender, but because there were two people in the bathroom - an incredibly coked up looking girl, and some guy. I mention this because I then proceed to have one of the strangest and most annoying exchanges I’ve had in a while:

Unaware Coked-up girl: (clutching the guy around the neck; they’re both still in the bathroom) Are you Kurt?
Confused Me: No, but I’m supposed to be on stage right now, would you mind if I got in there for a few moments?
Stupid Coked-up girl: Is he Kurt?
Sensible Other guy: No, but he’s performing right now. Let him in.
Disgusting Coked-up girl: Where’s Kurt? Are you sure you’re not Kurt?
Annoyed Other guy: He’s not Kurt, but get out of there so he can get in!
Stupid Disgusting Coked-up girl: Not if he’s not Kurt (giggle).
Incredibly Aggravated Me: Jesus Christ.
[Repulsive Coked-up Mess closes door, as I turn and go back upstairs to the stage where I’ll sweat the beer out]
Scene.

So then I get back on stage, and Matt tells me “It’s 10:20, and we just got told we have to be done by 10:45.” Now I’m pissed off. It’s standard that rock shows run late, but it’s entirely unreasonable that our set should be cut short. For one, we didn’t do anything to make the show run late. For another, it was a very important show for us. Kenny came over and said, “Don’t worry: If the crowd loves it, they won’t yank it.” At the point, I actually thought he was simply relaying a message from the soundguy, but as it turned out, he was just stating his personal theory. Either way, it was enough.

Oddly the experience I had in the green room, and then being told our set might be cut nearly in half was kind of perfect for the set. It made me angry, which is good for the music we play. And I think it caused us to play faster and with more urgency than usual. Always a good thing.

We barely paused between songs. Just enough to occasionally thank people and say the next song. But really, our goal was to start the next song before they could make a determination that it was time for us to stop. In the end, though, the crowd was almost as amped up as we were. Really amazing to see the Mercury Lounge, almost at capacity, just going nuts.

On the tenth song, I switched over to the custom Squier Stratocaster I had purchased in Kansas City. We played “Goes Cube Song 33.” The guitar didn’t survive, but some friends and fans got to walk away with some mementos from the show.

Afterwards, we got some exciting news, but I can’t post about that yet. Nothing is for sure. However, if all goes well, we’d consider it to be part of the tour. So, when I can, I will.

This isn’t the tour wrap-up post, so I won’t go into my fear about how I’ll feel as I re-adjust to playing shows once every three weeks, rather than every night. Suffice it to say, though, touring is something we all fell in love with.

More on that later.

Check out a really awesome review of the show here!

Also be sure to check out EarFarm today or tomorrow, as I’m sure he’s going to be posting something soon.

When we got to Columbus, we were greeted by Bo Davis of the excellent band, Necropolis. Once again, he and his wife, Emily (also a member of Necropolis), opened up their home to us. We had a couple beers, watched some Simpsons, Bo and I changed our guitar strings, and then Bo re-soldered some wires on a backup guitar I picked up in Kansas City.

That night, we played Bourbon Street with Necropolis. Bourbon Street is all of about 200 feet from Necropolis’ house. It’s an awesome little divey kind of venue that also has cheap Mexican food. The sound wasn’t fantastic, but it was a really fun show, and we played for an interested and eager handful of people. Necropolis played after us, and were just awesome as they always are. Noisy and energetic and catchy. That band rules.

Afterwards, we watched some Comedy Central, ate sandwiches, (Jimmy John’s, I’ve missed you), played with their cats, Ash and Ella (8 months old) and went to bed. We had a leisurely morning filled with fresh coffee and World’s Wildest Police Videos. Then we we took Emily out to lunch at a really cool little place she recommended and actually got FRESH FOOD!

Our drive out to Pittsburgh was kind of awesome because Goes Cube Matt and Kenny watched “A Mighty Wind” in the back. EarFarm Matt and I had just watched that movie the day before, and it was hilarious, so we ran the sound throughout the van, so we could enjoy it up front. That movie is awesome even when it’s just the sound.

Pittsburgh wasn’t a stellar show. Their fault: We played with six one-man guitar-bands. INCREDIBLY mismatched. Our fault: We opened with “Goes Cube Song 27,” which is probably our slowest song. Don’t get me wrong, I love the song, but it’s just not a good opener, I think. Or at least, not for a crowd who doesn’t know our music. So, it was a rough start. However, I think things started clicking on our 3rd or 4th song. Unfortunately, we played a short set, so by that time we pretty much had to wrap it up.

Our goal was to get an early jump on our drive back to NYC - maybe stop off in Harrisburg, PA for a state cap picture. But once the mini-van hit the Harrisburg city limits, we all had New York City on the back of our minds. A quick show of hands determined that, indeed, we all wanted to go home. So, I grabbed a 20-ounce cup of coffee, topped off the tank, and we headed eastward.

Four hours later, at around 5am, we were waving goodbye to Matt EarFarm, and moments later, crossing the East River, Brooklyn-bound. Anyone who lives here and who’s been away for a month knows what I mean when I say that’s an incredible experience. Despite the fatigue, despite the feeling of not wanting something to end, it’s just unmatched.

Neither Kenny nor I got any sleep, though. We were just overtired. But yesterday was relaxing anyway. Saw a couple friends. Spent some very quality time. Rested. Last night, I actually slept and I feel great today. Which is important because:

THE TOUR IS NOT OVER. Tonight, is the last night of the tour. We play our homecoming show at the Mercury Lounge. It’s an awesome bill, and we expect a hell of a turn out. So with that, I have to go change guitar strings, resolder some wires, and get ready to pack the van.

I’ll definitely post a wrap up of tonight’s show, and maybe some other post-tour compendiums (of pictures, bowling recollections, etc).

A quick note to all who are thinking of coming out (and you should!): Get there early. Like beforedoors open. Like 7:30ish. There are no advanced ticket sales, and the general feeling is that this show may sell-out, and it may sell-out quickly. It’s at the Mercury Lounge (Houston and Essex).

Last night, we played Chicago with Constants, who we have determined are an absolutely amazing band, and who are really awesome guys. They drive a school bus fueled by vegetable oil. That’s just a side note for you. We played the Town Hall Pub, and it was a fun show. There was a pretty decent crowd. Our old friend Andy and his wife Julia put the show on, and it was great to see them.

Today, we’re back in Champaign. We had to buy the engine oil pan from a Honda dealership in Oak Lawn (suburb of Chicago), because the one down here didn’t have it (shock). Goes Cube Matt and Kenny drove down in the borrowed car with the gear and the oil pan. Goes Cube Matt’s dad picked me and Matt EarFarm up and drove us and our luggage down to Champaign. Incredibly generous. It’s staggering how generous people have been to us.

Right now, we’re just waiting around for the mini-van to get fixed. I hope it’s soon, because I want to leave Champaign. Being here feels like we’re back-tracking.

Can’t wait to hit Columbus tomorrow to play with and see our friends, Necropolis.

So, Kansas City - if I can remember it - was pretty below average. We had a lot of fun hanging out with another band in the parking lot, though. The sound was awful in the big echoey room. And the people who put on the show (who were really nice and good to us) put the highest-drawing local band first. If they had it to do over again, they’d have had them headline, they told us. Ah well, we had a good time anyways.

Described to us by someone, as “the Brooklyn of St. Louis,” Belleville, Illinois was a bit better than KC. First of all, we roll into town, and it’s a real cute little place, and we stayed at a motel that 375 yards from the venue. We were concerned about what kind of venue would be in a town that looks like it is dominated by antique and candle shops.

But then we go to this place called the Ground Floor, and find a venue that looked a hell of a lot like the now-closed Rothko (of NYC). A great space with a nice stage. The sound system was definitely too weak for the room, though. We played for a decent size crowd (seeing as how it was a weeknight in a sleepy little hamlet), though only a few of them came up to the stage. I liked this show, because all of a sudden “Goes Cube Song 42″ clicked for me, performance-wise.

Kenny slept with his eyes open that night, which was an endless source of entertainment for EarFarm Matt and me.

The next day we rolled into Champaign-Urbana, where I was initially overcome with nostalgia. (Me and Goes Cube Matt went to school there, at the U of I.) We went to where we were staying: One of our best friend’s brother’s house.

The house turned out to be the “senior frathouse,” meaning all the seniors from the frat live there. Fourteen people. Furniture included couches, a big screen tv, beer pong tables (multiple), and things for playing a game called “bags,” which as far as I can tell is a hybrid between miniature golf and horseshoes, and probably includes chugging beers.

We rested up for a bit, then went to the venue - yet another place with a shaky soundsystem (the vocals were mythical, in that no one could say for sure if they actually existed that night). We played well, though, and for a pretty good crowd. Our friends Mikey and Mark (we met them freshman year in the dorms) came down from Chicago to see the show, which was nice and as you will see in a bit, clutch.

After the show, we brought our gear back to the house. Side note regarding gear: It is dying. The bass drum head exploded (non beater side). I have no idea how this happened (sheer force of the drummer is our working theory). One of my pedals is failing, the other is about to fail (it’s occasionally not responding), and my strings broke (typicall not remarkable, but I change them before almost every show). Matt’s bass amp lost a wheel and makes a strange humming sound, and his instrument cable died, but we think there might be a bigger problem with the input jack. In short: Dear music industry, Please give us money so we can buy shit that works/fix stuff that doesn’t.

So we drop off our stuff, and we head out to… what was that we just ran over? Oh, rocks? Probably not a big deal, but let’s pull over and shut the car off to check it out. Wow, the car is bleeding all its oil out at an alarming rate. Sweet.

Nostalgia is immediately replaced by worry and concern. We call AAA and a tow truck arrives.

Worry and concern is immediately replaced by frustration and disdain as drunken 19 year old kids wearing khaki pants, plaid shirts, and flat-brimmed backward hats start shouting observant things like, “Wooo-hoo! Tow that thing! YEAH!” and even more astounding, “Honda! YEEEEAH!!!!!”

Things don’t change much. It’s a Friday night, and most of the guys who are out are looking for a fight. Same old Champaign.

AAA tows it to the Honda dealership in nearby Savoy, which will surely be able to fix it the following day, Saturday.

We head back to the house to attemp to dig up a keyboard that was used in the band I had with Matt and Mikey. We buried it seven years ago. Mikey sees a tree and says “five paces to the north, three to the west.” I plunge the shovel in the soggy Earth, and after two scoops of dirt, I hit something that feels strangely Casio-like. A few more shovelfuls, and we have unearthed the keyboard. It is an oddly amazing and euphoric moment.

We turn in for some sleep, looking forward to getting the mini-van back.

Matt wakes me up at 9am with a quick tap to the forearm and says, “Honda’s service department isn’t open on the weekend.” Nissan’s, however, is. So, the car is towed next door to the Nissan dealership.

Two or three hours later, we get a phone call: We need a new engine oil pan. Problem is, that part has to be obtained from the Honda dealership. Problem is, Honda’s service/parts departments are closed in Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Danville, Normal, and anywhere else that happened to be within a 90-minute driving distance.

So, the car can’t be fixed till Monday the earliest. Now it’s problem solving time. We identify our options:

1. Rent a mini-van to get us to Chicago until van is repaired.
2. Pack half our gear with Mikey and then find another car to drive the rest (and ourselves) to Chicago until the van is repaired.
3. Stay in Champaign until van is repaired, missing all shows till we get the van back.
4. Stay in Champaign until van is repaired, and then go straight home.

We research mini-van rentals. There are n0ne available. U-Hauls are far too expensive (mileage charge). We don’t want to cancel the rest of the tour. We don’t want to miss Chicago. So, we need to find another car.

The guy who we’re staying with is a close family friend of Matt’s. He has a Dodge Intrepid. We get the nod to use it till Monday. Amazing!

So we bring the cars to the dealership, transfer our equipment and go to Chicago, tired and frustrated.

We go to the home of Mikey and his wife (Andrea). It is spacious, it is clean, it is familiar, it is fucking wonderful. We have a beer and a shower and some food. We are absolutely exhausted. I have no awareness that it is my birthday.

We get to the venue (the Elbow Room), and wearily begin the process of loading-in. It’s a really cool room, and our name is writ-large on the marquee, so our spirits are lifted ever so slightly. Then Matt Goes’s brother shows up unexpectedly. Awesome!

We park the cars, and the boys go in to have an Old Style.

I hang outside in the rain, finishing up a phone call. I am exhausted beyond words and though I’m excited to play and expect the show to be OK, I miss home.

I say goodbye, and I open the door to the venue. I pick up a copy of the Reader, and begin my ascent up the five stairs, which I am looking down at. When I look up (about midway up the stairs), I am stopped dead in my tracks, and my brain has a hard time processing what I am seeing: Tammy and Andrew (of 423smith fame) - two of my closest friends from Brooklyn - are sitting in a both, smiling at me. “Happy birthday,” they say. Tight hugs all around. It’s going to be an amazing night.

An hour or so later, we take the stage to pretty much a packed house, consisting of old friends and family and a surprising number of faces we’ve never seen before. EVERYONE is in the mood for a rock show.

We are not exhausted. We are not frustrated. We play a ten-song set that ranks among the best of the tour.

The rest of the night is spent catching up with people and them putting birthday drinks in my hand.

Eventually, we have to pack it up, and we go back to Mikey’s house for one of the best sleeps in a month.

Today we are relaxing and Matt is seeing family. Tonight we play Chicago again, and though we expect it to be a rather intimate affair, we think it will be fun, as we’ll still have some friends in attendance, and one of our favorite bands from the tour, the Constants, joined the bill. (We played DC with them - our first show of the tour.)

Last night gave us a new shot of energy that we’ll need to finish out the tour.

Unfortunately, because we have to make another trip to C-U to get the mini-van tomorrow, we have to cancel our Ypsilanti show. But the plan is that we’ll be back on track to rock out with our great friends, Necropolis, in Columbus, OH (which I stupidly failed to mention in my last post, as Bo pointed out). Then, we hit Pittsburgh. And then…

…home.

Not much to say here. Yesterday was our last day off until we return home. We spent it driving for the most part. Today, we’ll be spending our time eating Kansas City BBQ and seeing the city. Then, tonight we play El Torreon.

There are some people back home who I really miss. And after seeing a lot of the country, Brooklyn is still my favorite place. So, I am definitely looking forward to our homecoming. But, at the same time, it’s also a little sad that our last day off is gone. So far, this has been really tiring, and we’re certainly not getting rich (quite the opposite), but it’s been so much fun, and it’s only confirmed for me how playing music is my life. Being on tour has been better than I ever imagined.

Of course, it’s silly to talk like the tour is over. We’ve got our most punishing leg ahead of us: Kansas City tonight, then Belleville, then Champaign-Urbana, then Chicago, then Chicago again, then Ypsilanti, then Pittsburgh. And then we’re home where we can relax just long enough to change our guitar strings before we hit the Mercury Lounge for our homecoming show with Pilot to Gunner, and Bang Camaro (4/6). So, we’ve got a lot to do before we’re snoozing our way through a Sunday at Lido Bar in Red Hook.

In an unrelated note, the Onion AV Club gave us some press. It was their Denver/Boulder version, who I must say is kind of rough. Out of respect for people who we admire, our friends with, etc, I don’t want to point out the AV Club’s harsher moments.

They were mostly positive about us (”Goes Cube will roll in from New York to pound and howl…” “great band” “honest and intriguing”), but they did say that we are “in need of a better singer.” I’ve certainly never thought I was a good singer in the technical sense. But, I will say that I think my voice (which is mostly my scream) fits with our music. But, hey, maybe I’m wrong. It was the first time we’ve gotten any sort of flat-out negative commentary from the press.

I knew we’d get it eventually (negative press). But I must say I am REALLY happy it was about me, and not my bandmates, who I think are absolutely the most talented people I know. I’m way too protective of them, probably, but I’d be enraged if anyone said anything bad about the bass or drums. As far as their remark about my singing - yeah, I’d rather they just liked all of us. But, really, it’s kind of funny.

OK, Kansas City: You going to treat us as well as Denver or Memphis, or are you going to play us like Bakersfield?

This was, hands down, our favorite show so far. We played the Laramir Lounge last night in Denver, and it was incredible. A quick tip of the hat to two of the three bands we played with: Skull Orchard (it was their second show, which was a shock considering how good and loose they were), and We Are! We Are! (these guys were tight as hell, and they sounded - to me - like an instrumental Q And Not U - Different Damage era).

We got on stage after midnight, on a Monday, and we played for an amazing crowd. People in Denver just really like to see rock music, and they have no qualms about how they look when they dance and thrash about.

It was an amazing feeling having so many people dancing and shoving. We even played two encores. After the show, we met a ton of great people, who insisted on buying a lot of CDs and t-shirts.

After the Bakersfield flop, and the San Francisco let-down, this show was olympic in how great it made us all feel.

A quick note:

Goes Cube is probably the easiest band in the world to do sound for. First of all, half the venues we play don’t even have a sound system, and we still happily play. But when we do, all we ask for is that it be loud and thick. We mostly ask for it to be just guitar heavy. We never ask for EQs, or for effects. We never ask for different mixes for different monitors for different band members. Occasionally, we’ll ask for a small adjustment after the first song when we don’t do a soundcheck (seeing as how the first song kind of IS the soundcheck).

So, last night the sound guy left before we even started. And he stayed gone for two songs. Multiple people in the crowd INCLUDING THE PROMOTER were asking for someone to turn up the vocals. So I said, “Is there a soundguy here?” But that wasn’t what pissed me off.

What pissed me off is when he finally came back, and I asked very nicely, “Can we get a little more vocals?”, the soundguy got defensive and caught an attitude. He sneered back, “Oh you mean like how your drummer said he DIDN’T want any vocals at the beginning of the set?!”

That’s when I said, “You know what, man, never mind,” and I kicked over the mic stand.

By the way, when Skull Orchard was playing, you couldn’t hear the vocals and the band asked him to turn it up, he said back, “Why don’t you try singing in the general vicinity of the microphone instead?” instead of doing his job.

So, yeah, the guy was kind of an asshole.

Not that I expect many people are following these posts, but sorry for the delay. It’s been busy, and Internet access has been scarce. Good stuff, bad stuff…

So, first of all, our show at the Viper Room in LA, was really great, I think. Big thanks to SESAC (specifically Josh) for organizing the event and making sure plenty of people showed up. We met a lot of nice folks, and played for an enthusiastic audience that was significantly larger than what we’ve had so far on tour. Also, the sound was extraordinarily good.

We played Bakersfield the night after LA (Friday 3/23). Polar opposite. First of all, Foreign Islands couldn’t make the show, and the venue wasn’t notified (which is understandable, considering they don’t have a phone). So, while we were supposed to play 4th of 5, we ended up having to cover FI’s slot in the bill, and played 2nd of 4. The first band stuck around and watched us, while the crowd of locals hung out outside, drinking beer (it was byob) and smoking cigarettes. One guy from the third band watched us, and was very cool.

But it was frustrating because, well, it’s like you find these places around the country where people just don’t seem to like outsiders. I mean, I’ve been trying to be really nice on these posts, but it’s kind of fucking frustrating, to be totally honest. In Memphis, we played last on a Sunday night with bands we sounded nothing like us, and people were INCREDIBLY open-minded, and we had this amazing show. In Bakersfield, people left and went out to their pick-up trucks before we started playing. Aside from the first band (who we estimate had an average age of 15), not a single person even bothered to say hello.

New York has a reputation for having an exclusive scene that’s nearly impossible to break into - and that’s mostly true. It’s true that it takes a lot of time, a lot of persistence, amibition, etc, to gain any traction in NYC. But it’s also true that most bands in NYC will say what’s up to you. Most will stick around and watch you. And when we have bands from out of town show up, it’s the NYC bands who are first out of the gate to help unload vans, offer places to crash, etc.

So it’s odd to me that when we come to a town like Bakersfield, which as far as I can tell doesn’t have a very big scene, they act more like NYC is rumored to be than NYC actually is.

I should say, though, that the guy who ran the venue was very cool to us, and made sure we got some gas money.

And then we went bowling: The alley was open till 1am (all you can bowl $18/person from 10pm to 1am), but the bar closed at 11pm. WHAT?! What’s more, it was “extreme bowling.” That means, everything was black-lit, and we had to bowl to the sounds of terrible music. I’m fairly certain we haven’t found an alley yet that’s met our expectations. For the record, those expectations are: Decent ball choice, decently maintained lanes, decent prices, and Budweiser availability.

Finally, we bedded down in a shit motel that reeked of mold, and I fucking woke up sick. We weren’t disappointed to leave the next morning.

Next up was San Francisco. I’ve never been there, but I’ve ever heard how cool it is. I must say, it immediately has a different feel than anywhere else in California that I’d been to (El Cajon, San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield). It feels more like…well, it feels more like New York or Chicago. Immediately I liked it. The people also act totally different - again, more like NYC or Chicago.

Foreign Islands met us at the venue - a combination cafe/beer and wine bar/laundromat (awesome) called Brain Wash. They’d been suffering transportation problems, and it finally came to a head: They told us they were packing it in, spending their remaining money on train tickets back to NYC. They had to spend the rest of the night bubble-wrapping their gear, which would be loaded on to 2 separate trains, and then they would get on a 7am train, which would take them to Penn Station about 65 hours later.

Of course, we feel terrible that their van died (and the engine seized). They are our friends, and they are great to hang out with, and an honor to play with. Selfishly, it also sucks because we really would have liked to have played all those dates with them. But there were no other alternatives. They even attempted to buy two vans out in California, but that didn’t work out.

I will say, though, that having the drummer of Quicksand (who now plays drums for Foreing Islands) give you a hug after a set, tell you how great your set was, and then proceed to take your setlist, put it in his pocket and tell you he’s putting it in his tour-scrapboook, is something that’s just really amazing. That’s a not a knock on anyone else in Foreign Islands (all of whom have been in great bands). It’s just that Quicksand is one of those bands I’ve been listening to on a consistent basis for almost 15 years.

Well, so anyways, there it was: before we even had a chance to play with them in San Francisco, our tour with Foreign Islands was over. We wished them restful train rides, sketched plans for some NYC shows, and said goodbye.

With that, it was time for us to play a show. And we were all pleasantly surprised when old friends showed up in support of us. A quick hello to my old friend (since grade school), Meg: great to see you!

Sound-wise, the venue was a disappointment. They had a broken PA, no sound person, and very little space for a band (looking back, it’s probably better suited for the singer-songwriter types). But we were in good spirits, and played the show anyway. For how bad it should have sounded, it actually sounded pretty good, and those in attendace loved it, including the staff, who sent us away with food and water that will continue to last us for days.

But we didn’t have much time to hang around SF. In fact, we had to immediately leave and take a bite out of our 1200 mile drive from SF to Denver. We did just that, and stopped in Reno for the night.

We got to sleep around 3:30am, and were up by 11:00am - me feeling sicker than the day before.

I took some medicine, a ton of vitamins, and we hit the road. I took the first driving shift, and it was such an absolutely gorgeous and interesting drive that I didn’t let go of the wheel till 530 miles later when we hit Salt Lake City. The guys took over from there and got us into Rawlins, Wyoming where we crashed for the night. We covered approximately 800 miles in a day, and fell fast asleep by 2:30am.

I had one of the most vivid nightmares I’ve had in a long time. Which is kind of cool, in an way.

As I type this, we’re making our way into the Rocky Mountains. I feel 90% better, health-wise, and despite the dreams, I feel really well-rested.

Tonight, we meet back up with EarFarm Matt (he’s spent the last couple days with his family). Also, we get to see Kenny’s brother, who now lives there. And we get to play the Larimer Lounge - a place we’ve heard great things about. I am interested to see what the turnout is like this evening, as the Westword (Denver’s version of the village Voice) did a nice article on us, and they supplemented it online with a full transcript of their interview with me. Maybe people will be interested to check out the show. Or maybe it will make no difference, and we’ll play for 3 people.

Either way, I think the mood among us all is a rejuvinated excitement. We had some great shows in California (San Diego and LA) that’s earned us some some great press, and we’ve got some exciting shows coming up (tonight, Champaign, Chicago, and Columbus in particular - not to mention our homecoming show at the Mercury Lounge on 4/6).

Sure, it would have been awesome to have our friends Foreign Islands with us. But, really, this entire tour happened with little to no support from anyone but ourselves and our fans. So, it only makes sense that we go it on our own. We’re used to that.

New Mexico was a beautiful place to visit, but the show really sucked. Sorry to be so blunt. We met wonderful people, but in addition to bad sound (the PA was broken), we suffered some equipment problems: Kenny snare head completely exploded, and Matt’s bass amp mysteriously checked out for a few songs (it’s since fine). I suppose we were too loud for the coffee shop folk, because even though they watched and listened, they did so from outside.

But let’s get to the good stuff: San Diego.

San Diego marked the start of our tour-leg with Foreign Islands. We get along really well with those guys, and they consistently put on a great show. Last night, we played the Beauty Bar in San Diego and opened up for them.

I think it’s unanimous that last night was our favorite show of the tour: we played well, the sound was tremendous, and the crowd REALLY responded well. Foreign Islands took the stage after us, and did their thing quite well, too. Overall, everyone was in high spirits and feeling like it was a hell of a Wednesday.

But it didn’t end there. After the show, Matt EarFarm took us to his folks’ house where we’d be staying for the night. But sleep didn’t come before his parents treated us to a feast (buffet style) of miso, sashimi, baked manicotti, sausage, baked chicken, wine, and beer. Amazing.

Then we woke up to fresh coffee, mimosas, breakfast burritos (from scratch), fresh fruit, and more. The Matts took a spin on the PCH, Kenny rested up, and I hit the hot tub.

It was very tough to leave (especially after staying in a disgusting Motel 6 in El Cajon).

But when we did leave, Matt’s Mom (now dubbed “Tour Mom”) sent us away with an assortment of crackers, soups, chicken, energy drinks, Easter Candy (which we are to hide in the van come Easter weekend), and then cards. “Just a little something to help you out for the rest of the trip,” she said. We hugged her goodbye and left in our van. Shortly thereafter, we opened the cards. Whatever shred of good taste I have (or remains after being in a van with three other guys for nearly three weeks) prevents me from saying what was in the card. But I can say that their generosity was enough for us to be speechless for the next 30 minutes.

There’s little we can do to express our gratitude. We just hope they understand how much it means, how much it helps, and how truly thankful we are.

Tonight is our big show at the Viper Room. We play third of four, and Foreign Islands is also on the bill. I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but - of course - it’s tough to do that. I want it to be more than just a show. I want it to be more than just a good show. I want it to be a turning point.

I don’t think that’s as crazy as it sounds, though. In addition to how long this show has been planned, how large the guest list is (well over 100), we’ve also gotten a bunch of great press lately including…

A review from PopMatters.com

A Review from the North County Times (California)

An article in the Westword (Denver)

A blog posting on the Westword with a full interview transcript

A review of our San Diego show on a blog called Cat Dirt

Exciting to say the least.

Our first two shows in Austin were somewhat disappointing turnout-wise (very much, actually). But we got to leave on a good note, when we played on 3/16 at Ruta Maya with Takka Takka (they sounded absolutely amazing, and all three of us love the new songs), A Place To Bury Strangers (always incredible), and Foreign Islands (who we’re touring with from 3/21 to 4/1). We had a good crowd, and I (and everyone else we spoke with) really thought our performance was strong.

After the show, I spent time with my family (specifically, my brother, sis-in-law, niece, and nephew). It was doubly nice because A) I feel like I never see them (it’s basically 3 times a year); and B) it was nice to relax in their big, comfortable house. I then spent the night there, and the rest of the guys came over the next afternoon. My brother grilled an assortment of meats while my sister-in-law laid out an endless variety of snacks. My niece (though initially shy) ran around showing off her hat, and my infant nephew napped peacefully through the bulk of it.

And though they insisted we stay, we decided to head out that night and take a bite out of our nearly 700 mile drive to Las Cruces, NM, where we have a show tomorrow (3/19 @ The Bean).

We planned on only driving to Fort Stockton, but Fort Stockton had other plans; all their motels were full-up. So, we pushed on into the night (a very dark night out in the middle of unlit and unihabited west Texas). We ended up driving well over 400 miles from Austin till we hit a place to stay: Van Horn, Texas. Van Horn is a one-street town with a lot of motels (some open, many closed), and little else aside from abandon and demolished buildings.

Last night, we had no idea what the landscape looked like (none of us have ever been to west Texas). But this morning, after a decent sleep, we opened the door to crystal clear skies, desert and to our shock a gorgeous mountain range.

We packed up the car, and took our time heading westward with only 170 miles left. There was a scenic overlook we stopped at (pictures are from there), where Matt EarFarm got some nice footage.

Now, as I type this, I am sitting in a spacious motel room next to a pool in Las Cruces. It’s hot and beautiful out. We have the day and night off. We will swim, we will bowl, and the restuarant next to this place has karaoke tonight. We got a great deal on the room to boot. Our spirits are high as we feel like we’re on a vacation today (as if we weren’t already vacationing by leaving our jobs to go play rock music for a month).

All of us hope this is a good omen: a strong sign for the post-SXSW portion of tour (the portion we’ve been most excited about). But, also, for today, we’ll just have a great time and not sweat it.

Let me preface this post by saying that I really enjoyed seeing the guys in the Midgetmen again. They’re old friends, and we appreciate them setting up the show and having us. Also, it was great to see the guys in the Black Tie Revue again. And meeting Reykjavik! was great. We hope to see you in Iceland (or in NYC).

Now let me say that yesterday I was really hoping the show would be great. It was downtown, it was free, and there was free beer.

But what a letdown. Something went wrong. Something happened. I don’t know. People are frustrating and flaky. I don’t want to go into it. Sorry. This is a pointless post. I’m just frustrated.

Today we play w/ three of our favorite bands: Takka Takka, Foreign Islands, and A Place To Bury Strangers. Here’s my expectation for today: it will be fun. That’s all.

We played our first Austin show last night. It was a pretty fun show, and we played with 4 other NYC bands, all of whom were really good. A band called Beat The Devil played. Their second song is still stuck in my head. I’ve got to make sure to see them again so I can hear it.

We’re staying at my good friend (and ex-roommate), Darryn’s house. He even still has my old cat, Syntax. Syntax is currently staying at Darryn’s girlfriend’s house, but I’ve been told I’ll get to see her at some point. It’s so great to see Darryn. He’s a good friend, and funny as hell. I don’t see him enough.

We were in Dallas the day before yesterday, where we got to see another old friend and roommate. His name is Ben, and he used to live with both Matt and me. Ben is now a family man with a house a 4.5 year old. They were incredibly good to put us up, and it was great to see them. It’s striking, though, to see how much has changed.

Went bowling before the show. This time at a huge alley in Dallas, and again… no beer (they didn’t start serving till 5). How is it we’ve been to two bowling alleys, and haven’t been able to have a Bud? Weak.

We’ve got two more shows in Austin. I also get to see my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew. My brother said my niece is in a phase where she yells at everyone and isn’t social at all, so she’ll probably yell at me. I’ll probably think it’s really funny. I can’t wait for that.

I have to say, I’ve been more excited about the post-Austin portion of the tour than anything. Most of it is with an amazing band, Foreign Islands. And we’ve got some exciting shows (like the one at the Viper Room, in LA). But also, we’re going to be heading to Champaign and Chicago - two old hometowns for me and Matt.

I am learning this: I’m not a huge fan of the days off. I like playing. I like moving. I just want to keep going. My concern about Austin is that it will be just one giant mess of bands, too much schmoozing, too much “yeah, you’re awesome, we should hook up in New York, you should come out to this city or that city, we should have a meeting, let’s set a call up…” All fucking empty talk.

Today we’re playing the Rainbow by Rainbow West (RXRW) fest. It’s at a gay bar called the Chain Drive. There are two stages, an indoor stage and outdoor stage. It’s free, and there’s free beer. There are bands from all around the world playing it, and it’s to raise awareness.

I have high hopes for it.

Oh my. Oh my. Ohhhhhh my.

Well, we played an art gallery. The space was awesome. Our friend Keenan at SESAC was awesome.

Something happened, though. People got REALLY into the show. REALLY into it. One guy got so into it, he tore down about 7 or 8 paintings and a sculpture and smashed them. At first, we were confused and actually thought that maybe the dude was smashing his own work (he DID smash his own guitar and watch, and he is a local who performs at the gallery). But then when the cops showed up and hauled him off to jail, we realized that he had gone too far.

He had the opportunity to pay the gallery for the art he destroyed (about 1500 bucks), and get himself out of trouble. Instead, he called the cops “fucking pigs” and “communists.” Not good.

We feel bad because one of our closest friends (and Kenny’s and my roommate), Nick, is an artist. In fact, he did the cover art for our record. I know he’d be heartbroken if that happened to his work. Even if someone wrote him a check for it.

Hey, we’re all about just letting go and going out of control, but sometimes shit goes too far. This was a DIY show at a local art gallery showcasing underground artists’ work. Not trying to be righteous about it. It was awesome to see people go crazy, but we don’t want to see damage done to artists or people who support artists.

Ironically, the gallery owner said to us, “Well, that puts a dagger into live music here.”

He had no idea our EP is called “Beckon the Dagger God.”

Louisville:
Not too pleased about Louisville. But, on the bright side, the soundperson (Celina?) was VERY accomodating and complimentary. Lindy was very generous and cared for all our food and drink needs. Actually, everyone was super nice. It was just an empty room. We opened for a girl who danced around in her underwear and lip-synched to Tori Amos.

Pre-Nashville
We stopped off at the Maker’s Mark distillery. No tasting? That’s weak. Fifteen dollars for a small bottle of whiskey? Weak.

Nashville
We’re crashing at our friend Keenan’s house. Actually, we’ve only met him once, but he’s super cool and he’s putting us up tonight. His apartment is comfortable, we’re having some beers, and spirits seem to be high. Hey, we even got a write up in Nashville’s All The Rage (a weekly paper).

I’m really in the mood to play a great show. Come on, Nashville.

Come on.

Today (Friday, 3/9), we hit the 1000 mile mark on our way from West Virginia to our show in Lousiville. But more on that stuff in a bit.

Chapel Hill
We played with yet another really cool band. This one is called Red Collar.

But I think what really stuck out about this show is the fact that my parents were in attendance. This marked the first time my parents have ever seen me play music live. I was a little nervous. But not nervous about my performance. I was nervous that there wouldn’t be a lot of people there, or that the response would be lukewarm. Ideally, I’d want to them to see how well Goes Cube works.

It turned out to be a fairly strong show. The turnout wasn’t huge, but it was also a Wednesday night, and it was late. The club was fairly small, though, so the twenty or thirty people in attendance really did seem like a crowd. And they were into it.

I didn’t have a chance to talk to them after the show very much. They called the next day, but I couldn’t pick it up, and I haven’t called back yet (I promise I will!). We’ll talk more about it, but they seemed to really enjoy it. Or, maybe, they seemed to understand what it is we do when I say we play a show.

West Virginia
We had a driving day between Chapel Hill and Louisville. The night before, we got the royal treatment from EarFarm Matt’s friend, Graham, who put us up and even bought us dinner. We lounged around the next day, but then finally shoved off around 1 or 2. The goal was to drive until a bit before 7 so EarFarm Matt could watch his alma mater, North Carolina State play Duke. We made it as far as Kawahna, West Virginia. We got a motel, turned on the game, drank some beer, and ate some food. The game went into overtime. That’s when Goes Cube went to the bowling alley for a game. NC State won, and we reconvened back at the room where we drank more beer and watched the Daily Show and the Colbert Report.

Some weird things about West Virginia: We go to Kroger’s (a huge food store), and go to their deli to get sandwiches. They wouldn’t make us sandwiches. “They have to be ordered a day in advance,” we’re told. What? You can slice me a pound of turkey, ham, salami, Swiss, and provolone, but you can’t slice a quarter pound of turkey onto a fucking slice of bread?

Then we go to the bowling alley: No beer.

Bowling alley. No beer.

And we thought that Bowlmor in NYC was un-bowling-alley-like. Man, at least you can have a Budweiser while you roll (but the no hat rule pisses us off).

There was a strange flag on the bowling alley wall. All white. Blue square in the upper left corner. Red cross (not like the red cross plus sign; the religious one) in the blue square. Anyone know what kind of flag this is?

The woman at the Kroger’s carded us all ‘cos we said we’d all be drinking the beer we bought. She doubted we were old enough by the looks of us. Then when she saw our ID’s, she said “y’all look great for your age!”

“Want to know our secret?” I asked, “We’re unemployed.”

She told us she loved that answer and laughed hysterically. I was only half joking, though.

Louisville
So it looks like we’re playing our third of three shows tonight without a full sound system. Not a big deal, but I’m looking forward to getting some mics in front of our amps, ‘cos louder is better in our opinion.

Other than that, not too much to report. We just rolled in after stop-offs in Versailles (Woodford Distillery: go there. NOW!), and in Frankfort (we’re doing this thing with state capitols - look on Ear Farm for more, and I’ll write about it more myself later). Frankfort was beautiful and people were really friendly.

The guys are off getting dinner, and hunting down some miso soup for me. My stomach bothered me yesterday, but I’m all better now (just a little tender). I was kind of hoping I might see a couple old friends tonight who live within a hundred or so miles of the club, but it looks like that won’t happen, which is OK.

I really hope tonight’s show is awesome. I’m in the mood to really turn some heads.