Day 19 – Total Breckage.

I feel like this blog might be weaker than some of my other posts.  Not because we didn’t have a great time in Breck.  In fact, it was one of my favorite shows.  More or less it’s because the days are all starting to blend.  I have no idea what day is what, or what time zone we’re in, but I can tell you where every belonging of mine is and what the other 5 guys are doing at all times. I think it’s mid-week sometime.

The plan is to get in to town and find a place to stay.  We find out that some Denver friends and some Durango friends will be joining us tonight.  We stay outside of Breckenridge in Frisco because it’s a little cheaper.  When we started this tour, we were really careful about getting a room and only going in a couple people at a time, but now we don’t seem to give a shit.  I’m a little curious what the front desk person thinks after they book the room and then 6 guys, 12 various suitcases and duffel bags and 3 sleeping bags come piling in, but not curious enough to wait in the truck.  Our hotel room is lined with mirrors.  The ones behind the bed look rather tinted and suspicious.  I think the walls are going to come up and we’re going to be in a Dominos commercial or something.  Note to self.  Keep pants on and look surprised.  Tell them you had no idea and their pizza is delicious.

We get to the venue and it’s in a basement. I like it.  It’s dark, small and smells like old beer.  I’m too big for the green room though.  The ceilings are only like 5 feet tall.  Jeff gives me a pep talk.  Jeff’s pep talks have become a source for great amusement.  I don’t even know where it started, but if you see him back in Denver, you’ve gotta ask him for one.  It’s actually really tough to explain in writing.  Think a pirate without the pirate accent, more like an army colonel.  Last time I needed one, he told me something like “Hey there sniffle-upugus! Those keys aren’t gonna type themselves, so grab a Kleenex and get back into the game!”  He’s also called Drew “Little Honeybee!” and Mike “Mr. Sings-a-lot!”  I can’t tell you how much we laugh at that.  We load in and of course have more stairs to deal with.  These ones are a little better though.  They’re made of metal and have built in spikes for traction. 

The opening band is great.  They play a lot of fast aggressive songs and have a great sense of humor.  I miss that kind of punk rock.  We get on for our set and win over the crowd fast.  Small shows with small stages are the most fun places to play.  We play the Gina Go Faster cover again and an old friend from Denver jumps up and sings it with us.  Seeing familiar faces goes a long way when you’re on the road and surprises are even better.   Mike, or the crowd (not sure which one) knocks a microphone into my nose and it starts bleeding.  Drew gets the same treatment a few songs later.  It’s a perfect ending to a great show.  We finish to a great crowd and Guttermouth gets up.

I know I haven’t talked too much about Guttermouth sets on this blog but they’re all great.  Tonight’s though is epic.  It’s everything that punk rock should be.  The room is small, there’s a packed crowd, and right before they hit the stage there’s almost an uneasy feeling because everyone is so close to each other.  Punk rock isn’t comfortable and although I like that punk rock bands have become successful I feel like it is best translated to places like Three 20 South.  Also, our bond with Guttermouth has grown considerably since we started and tonight it is crowned.  Mark calls Mike up on stage to start ‘Bruce Lee vs. kiss army” with them.  It’s an honor.  Although he also said he was looking for the “chinkiest mother fucker in the place” and then said Mike was “straight off the boat”.  Mike returned the favor by starting the song in his native tongue to great amusement by Mark.  It worked great and everyone loved it.  I don’t know how to end this blog so I’m turning it over to Jeff for a pep talk.  Goodnight Breck.  You guys fucking rule…