Ft. Lauderdale & Miami, FL

Jan. 14th @ Broward/Radio Active Records/ Churchill's
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We got back super late last night and slept for a few hours at Peggy's again. We had to leave early in the morning for a noon show at Broward. We set up outside, tried to donate blood (denied), and played to tens of students.
We took the Blaze to Sears afterwards for some tuning up....it took FOREVER! We all walked around the mall for a couple hours and got really bored....one of my nick names is "Fest-O" because i maintain the belief that banana peels thrown on soil is not technically "littering." However K believes that whatever i throw on the ground will "fester." You decide.....


We were bored. this was our only form of entertainment...

We missed the big dinner Peggy made for us so we headed straight to Radio Active Records....This place is REALLY cool and we recommend everyone take a trip there...

Mike hooked us up with some Jets pizza and beers....Pat heard the latest Dungen record and freaked out. Immediately bought it for constant Blaze rotation...After the show we drove to Little Haiti.

Back at Churchill's! We love this place.....it was great to see Eric, Kris, Matt, Christina, and Zach come out....we all hung out till 2am when we jumped on stage for a couple songs....If you live in Miami you need to hang at Churchill's. we love it.


We got back to Peggy's and turned the fridge over. Sorry we missed dinner, but it tasted great at 4am...thanks!

Another 3 show day put to rest....

D

FAT CAT's in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

January 13th @ Fat Cat's
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We met our new favorite club owner, Eddie, and set up on stage around 10pm. We had a bunch of great people come out to this show...Dana, Matt, Peggy, James, Mercy, Vicky, Stephanie, Teddy, Samantha, David, and some I'm forgetting. We seriously had the best time playing here...all you guys made Tuesday night feel like the new Friday. Ari from anti-fascion was there taking pics and did a review of the show here:

http://anti-fascion.com/content/category/reviews/

D

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

January 13th @ PBCC
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I woke up the guys at 9am to hit the free continental breakfast. This place made the Carlos Fontecha fiasco seem like child's play! The buffet had everything a starving band could dream of. After strolling in from the parking lot and eating ourselves into oblivion we got back into the Blaze for a 10am Skype Interview. The journalist was in Liverpool so we had a good time making him talk like Ringo. (that never gets old)

We had a noon show at PBCC so we headed straight there to set up and play. Still in the previous days clothing and looking we slept in a van all night...cuz we did. The students were awesome and we pissed off the cafeteria by announcing on the mic "Tater Tots are Half Off!"
After the show we headed straight to James and Peggy's for a shower and nap...Her friends Daryl and Chiemi offered to make us dinner so we made a move for casa de comida and couldn't believe the feast that awaited. After weeks of Subway sandwiches it takes a minute to comprehend lasagna and meatballs....oh yeah. (Brownies with toffee in the middle too)


Only problem was getting past the dog...


The food was amazing and Daryl made us a banner with the original "Jupiter 1" spaceship from Lost In Space as the model...(for those who don't know the Jupiter 1 was a failed mission. It never made it. The ship from Lost in Space was the Jupiter 2)


In addition to being an artist, Daryl also happens to be an avid Maimi Dolphins fan....taking the word fan and expanding it to new heights. He has what Chiemi calls an OCD Room.....

Thanks for dinner guys!


D

Gainesville, FL

January 12th @ Backstage Lounge
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We woke up in the morning with an agenda. Sent a "Response Video" to Jeff Taylor and friends. He's on the road right now with a band called "The Spring Standards " and they sent us a video of their tour van called "The Lead Sled."

Pat got all fired up, woke up early, and created this video in response....

We're not sure if this is how wars between rappers start, but it might be headed in that direction.

We hung out in Toebutt's house for most of the day before driving up to Gainesville. The great Florida weather seems to be taking a turn for the worse....

The first stop we made in Gainesville was a record store where Zac bought a double "Wings" album...then we got hungry and stepped in Pita Pit. Ashley was working and came to the show with some friends. The promoter, Ed, was SUPER cool and told us about his good 'ole days working as a tech on shows with Led Zeppelin when they were "just another rock band." Can't even imagine that!

K found a boxing bag at the bar......

According to the chart he's a "Superman", but would Superman need gloves??????

Ever since I took him down in the studio, K's been training for a re-match....

After the show we got back in the blaze and drove to Ft. Lauderdale....we had no place to stay so I drove us through the night with the help of my trusty co-pilot. Thanks for keeping me company K!

We arrived at an Embassy Suites parking lot around 6am. Another night sleeping in the driver's seat for 2 hours with a water bottle as a pillow.


D

Orlando, FL

January 11th @ Central Station
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We left Yabo's in the morning after the whole crew got us Breakfast and headed out to ORlando. The ride was pretty smooth and we were excited cuz Eddie and Dave were right behind us from YABO. Thanks for making the 3 hour trip! We also had a special visit from Allyson, Ariel, and Toebutt & Co. We met some new people like Gina, Row, Justin, Nichole, and Patrick from PNR. Radio Down opened up the night and we all had a good time.








After the show, Toebutt took us back to his place for a patio hang.....we kinda felt bad cuz the night before was so Bacchanalian that we were in no shape for a repeat performance. Toebutt showed us his prized "Broken Turkey Head Trophy" for throwing the Party to end all Parties last year.....

He wound up with a tapped out rock band (Booooooooooring). He and his friends were drinking all night keeping the Sunday night hang going while Pat and I sat on the couch making this video:

K was wasted by 11pm and making a mess of things...passed out on the chair...Zac was the only one actually representing the band with some drinking and conversation...

Thanks for hanging with us Toebutt! Sorry K set your carpet on fire....oh yeah. And thanks to Kathy whose in Japan and doesn't know Pat and I slept in her bed....

D

Fort Myers, FL

January 10th @ YABO
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Last night we all went home to Peggy's house...raided her pantry....and crashed on the couches watching Animal Planet. We woke up in a beautiful house with a pool, donuts, coffee, and a Mickey Mouse toaster that plays "It's a Small World" when the bread pops up. Thanks for the hospitality!

We headed out for Ft. Myers and drove down "Alligator Alley" to get there. It's a scary long stretch of highway (I-75) that rests right between two marshes on either side filled with Alligators. There's no gas stations or anything so you have to be prepared, but there are high fences to keep the gators in......


Today is by far the most beautiful one...the weather is perfect and we got to YABO early, so we're just lounging on the patio with our books. So are the geckos.....(just no books)

The owner, Ryan Kida, is such an enthusiastic/talented guy and he made us feel like royalty. First he got us pizza while we loaded in...then he started drowning our bellies with wine.....

He hooked us up with a hotel room around the corner, so we came back later for some dinner. That's when shit got out of hand...Ryan and his crew can cook up some serious 5 star meals....none of us had any idea what we were in for. It was like a feast at the knight's round table. Yellow Tail Snapper, Gnocchi, Scallops...more wine...then some more wine....we love this place!


Pat's biting his nails in suspense...

...even Gordon got special attention...

We set up on an intimate stage and played our favorite Mallards Unite! Show yet....


Thanks to everyone for the amazing energy that night....Ryan, Sean, Eddie, Mitchell, Kevin, Heather, Sarah, Eric, Ryan (atlanta), and Sammy....you guys are great. We'll definitely be back!


(sorry i bailed on late night Denny's)

D

Miami - Delray Beach

Januray 8th (DAY OFF and big breakfast scam)
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We woke up in an abandoned parking lot and drove to the local Mariott for some "showers" in the bathroom sink. Pat suggested we try to score the free Continental Breakfast. They didn't have one. So we drove around till we found one that did. Zac is feeling sick so he's still sleeping in the back bench doped up on NyQuil. K is still sleeping in the back too, because that's what he does. Pat and I found some no-name joint and just walked in the lobby at 9am looking like we just woke up. Cuz we did. I asked for the free continental breakfast and she asked what room we were in. Wasn't exactly expecting that but I quickly replied, "Room 426." She looked it up in the computer as Pat and I just stood there wide-eyed. I just kept my fingers crossed that:

A) Such a number actually EXISTED in this hotel

and

B) that it wasn't "vacant."

She looked up from the computer screen and said "Okay Mr. Carlos Fontecha. Here's a voucher for 2 free breakfasts."

wow...we couldn't believe that actually worked, but here we are in the hotel restaurant redeeming poor Carlos's free breakfast.
It turns out the free breakfast sucks anyway. You only get coffee and toast.....but it hit the spot after a long night in the van.

We looked for a little coffee shop to shave and brush our teeth. We had the whole day to kill. We spent it inside this place called La Isla with the sweetest Puerto Rican ladies ever. They just let us screen and bullshit in their diner ALL day.

K was asleep for the breakfast heist so he got a Cuban Sandwich....

We admired the placemat which suggests one can simply kick off their sandals and go scuba diving with the parrots...

After about 4 hours in La Isla (Zac still sleeping in the van) we decided to drive down to Delray BEach a day early and find something to get into there.....Of all K's ideas....this is by far the worst. Delray is for old people in rehab. Sorry if that offends anyone....but Jupiter One finding action in that town was like the cops finding Harrison Ford in The Fugitive....it just can't be done!

In actuality the ONLY excitement was when we had to sneak Zac and I into the cheap motel we found. Yes, we could've slept in the Blaze again, but Zac's sick so we wanted him to have a bed. This place had some interesting characters and the management was running a TIGHT ship. They charge extra above 2 people so K distracted them while Zac and I rushed inside. Getting out the next morning also involved some stealth A-Team Van placement combined with Hardy Boys Hand Signals....we got out and ate next door at the "80's Diner." We received Dan Konopka's album sequence today too. Dan is a friend and the drummer of OK GO. We sent him the final mixes of our new album and he did "extensive research" to place each song in the best order. Most people don't think about it, but when you listen to an album from top to bottom it should feel like a good book. Dan really likes the first album and we're glad he helped us with this new one.

Tonight is a show with Fire Zuave and The Pretty Faces at City Limits in Delray Beach


Our NY friend Lisa introduced me to the bassist in Fire Zuave, Chris. Very good band and very nice guys (toured a bit with Of Montreal). You should give them a listen when you can. Our favorite song of theirs is on YouTube and it's called "Fought It a Long Time." They got us onto this festival and we had a really good time.....

Pat's friend Helen came out to hang too....she showed us where the Publix is for some sushi and Old Crow. She also gave us a skull and crossbones band aid for the Blaze's steering wheel.

It was a calm and peaceful evening with a shiny full moon...

...until Pat yelled "Pa-diddle!" Boosh.


We had a dramatic evening cuz we thought Gordon had died...I dedicated Prince's "I Would Die 4 U" to him and we all mourned...but when I plugged him into a different socket he came back to life!!! Hooray! :)


Thanks to Peggy(sorry about your calf), Daryl, and Chiemi for coming out , all of Lisa's friends, Steeve, Fire Zuave and The Pretty Faces...

D