UPDATES FROM THE ROAD: THE WESTERN CIVILIZATION

FTW RACHEL FROM WESTERN CIVILIZATION IS SO HOT. HOLY HANDBAGS BY MONICA SHE IS EPIC! LOOK AT HER PLAYING THE MANDOLIN, LOOK! GREAT FRANCHISE OF BOND WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE CARVE HER IMAGE INTO MARBLE AND PUT IT IN THE LOBBY OF A BANK BECAUSE SHE COULD END THE MORTGAGE CRISIS AND CREDIT CRUNCH WITH ALL THAT VENUS. OK, WE GIVE, IT'S PARTLY 'CAUSE SHE WORKS WITH LEVI @ GUITAR CENTER.

But in other Western Civilization news, the fine fivesome has been on the road for a few weeks in support of high gas prices and their still perterbidly underappreciated and self-titled and debut and other adjectives LP. We got an update from Reggie, HE WHO SINGS AND STRUMS AND PRODUCES (including the WHPIS OF RACHEL debut Buxton LP, actually, which we will get around to review sometime between now and 2015), and we thought we would pass some highlight on:

Pretty much the whole first week was cursed with empty shows and no money to speak of. $90 stops at the gas station were not exactly helping moral at that point either. The fist show was in Baton Rouge, LA where we played with a band from Baltimore and no local band at all. Despite two blogs supporting the show and a radio interview there was still only about 10 people at the show (counting the other band). Birmingham saw us play with a blues band and a jam band. Atlanta was an acoustic show where we played to the other band and their girlfriends. There was an uplifting night in Greenville, SC where we came across the nicest club owner on planet earth at The Gypsy. We were payed $200, fed dinner, and given free drinks. Bless that man. Mostly empty shows in Asheville, Greensboro, and Chapel Hill, NC. Despite the disappointing shows of week one, we still met some pretty awesome people. We also got to revisit friends that we made randomly last time around. It is a really cool feeling to be able to revisit all of these amazing people. No matter how small the crowds have been, we have always been well received.

Oh damn dude. We almost didn't want to read anymore. Oh word, things turn a corner?

Things finally started to turn around in Greenville, NC when we played at a little know gem called the Spazzatorium Galleria. This really felt like the first show of the tour for us. You can tell when people are genuinely interested and excited to be at a show and we felt it in full force that night. People danced, sang, yelled, drank, fell down, lost clothing. The after party lasted until dawn. It was everything that a night on tour should be. Congratulations once again Greenville, NC on one uping every major city in the eastern U.S. with your pure awesomeness. The next night we played a house party for a bunch of cool kids in Fredericksburg, VA. There was a problematic college radio performance in Philly (they couldn't get half of their mics to work). The show that night was alright. Philly is dirty.

Philly only really got dirty since Brian McManus moved there. We miss that dude. Oh yeah, back to the East Coast - NYC! MAKE IT HERE, YOU CAN MAKE IT SOME OTHER NON-HOUSTON PLACES!

April 17th was our NYC debut at Piano's. There were actually a lot of people there. With the exception of a couple of technical difficulties with the P.A. during our set, everything went really well. We got lots of compliments. So far the comical highlight of the tour happened before our set that night outside the venue. There was a really corporate sounding local rap rock diva by the name of "Krista" that had a set in front of a bunch of industry invitees to kick off the show. After her set we were standing outside while she was being interviewed by some people from the Pandora site. Our friend Eric, in protest of her awfulness, pulled his balls out and nonchalantly stood behind her in view of the camera while pretending to talk on his cell phone.

This is funny because one evening Shawn Adolph (Fatal Flying Guilloteens) was watching the Western Civilization do a sound check, and he commented that he didn't think he could ever be into a band that had to check levels on a xylophone, yet i think this is a prank he would be proud of. Give em a chance, roomie.

The WC will be on the road until May 3rd, and after that will have a month off from shows until something decidedly wicked at Roc Bar on June 12th. Does your band tour? Why aren't you sending us your updates?

Photo by Jack Potts