Day 6 – Something borrowed. Something blue.

Well the good news is that the truck is getting lighter and lighter.  The bad news is that it’s because we lose some shit every day.  But then again, we keep acquiring random clothes that people leave behind.  It’s like our merch booth has become a one way coat check or the place unwanted clothes go to die.  Manny has begun rockin’ a Smoky Robinson look and I am rediscovering a “members only” phase that maybe never left in the first place.

We tried to drive through from Portland to Tacoma but that lands us at a rest stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere.  Ed shuts off the truck and starts up the 57 Chevy (see previous blogs) but I can’t complain.  We’re all exhausted and sleep deprived.  The next morning we make it in to Tacoma and find a Super 8.  We’re starting to find a living pattern.  If the drive is close enough, we drive at night, get a hotel the next morning, sleep during the day and then again that night.  Its sort of a self made BOGO and every buck counts.

We pull up to Hell’s Kitchen a little early.  It’s a cool place with a really great stage.  There are 7 bands on the bill tonight so Tacoma is going to get their moneys worth.  Learning previously that we need to be well versed in state liquor laws and business hours, we decide to take care of that early.  Since we’re going to the liquor store (then the beer store because Washington keeps it separate) we offer to stock up Guttermouth while we’re out.  They ask us to grab some stuff for Vodka sodas.  Easy enough right?  Here’s the thing.  Vodka no problem.  Soda water?  I’m guessing Tacoma is hosting the worlds largest soda water party somewhere and we didn’t get an invite cause it is nowhere to be found.  And the thing is, it’s not like it’s not carried in stores.  It’s literally sold out everywhere.  We have a better chance of creating bubbly water from scratch.  Oh well.  We’ll just get regular water, pour it into a pitcher and tell them it’s just a little flat…

Back to the club.  Drew comes walking out and hit’s a comedic home run.  He says “Dude.  Tacoma’s theme is big.  Everyone here is like 6 ft 14!”  Awesome.  And true.  I make a note not to start shit as we might not make it out alive.  We party in the truck with our good friend Evan Williams.  It’s important to point out that we left with a huge bottle of Jameson and 6 days later, have a fifth of E-Dub. 

The bands before us are all on point.  They’re all pretty hardcore too which combined with the overall size difference makes me wonder how they’re going to receive us.  Time to hit the stage.  Tacoma, I’m not just saying this because you could beat us down with one swoop of your giant hands, but this was one of the best times we have ever had on stage.  You guys are so fucking cool and made us feel so welcome.  Thank you Tacoma.

Now after the show?  Well that is a different story.  I really let my hair down in Tacoma.  I don’t know if it was just that I was psyched we were starting to hit our stride or if there was just something in the air that magical night in Tacoma, but I can tell you this.  Well. Actually I can’t tell you too much because the rest of the night was a blur that took us well into the early morning hours.  I remember this.  I had a cool conversation with Mark from Guttermouth about earning the crowd every night.  He told me he was in our shoes for ten years and that as a band you have to find what makes you unique and work at that every night because that’s what will make them remember you.  Even totally drunk that’s always going to stick with me.