Why Am I Doing This? (A Film About Touring)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- 100% Dave Grohl free! This is a film about touring musicians who don't care about making it in the music business and all of the hardships they face without the fame. Directed by Eric Fundingsland.
Featuring members of Shellac, Visqueen, Police Teeth, Silkworm, Bottomless Pit, Tight Bro's From Way Back When, Nudity, The Young Evils, The Bismarck, Helms Alee, Lozen, Sunn O))), The Most Secret Method, Beauty Pill, Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends, Melvins, Thrones, Racetrack, Straphanger, Out, Wimps.
Cast - Steve Albini, Cristina Bautista, James Burns, Andy Cohen, Eric Fundingsland, Dave Harvey, Cody Hurd, Chris Jury, Nate Marshall, Hozoji Matheson-Margullis, Tim Midyett, Dan Mohr, Ryan Nelson, Conan Neutron, Matt Nyce, Joe Preston, Quitty, Dave Ramm, Chris Rasmussen, Rachel Ratner, Isaac Turner.
I toured in an all bagpipe Genesis cover band for over a decade. I saw things that I will never unsee.
I believe it.
Is there any footage of that cover band on here?
i bet you guys played a mean supper's ready
I need a CD
WOW...... I got nothing.....
I was just thinking the other day how documentaries have become these soulless sensationalistic entertainment vehicles for outfits like Netflix, and how much I missed documentaries that just explored a topic without any flash or CGI or cheap attempts to manipulate emotions. You've given me that genuine pure documentary experience and I appreciate it.
This is, as I said in my comment, "A perfect film." Echoing the statements in the film, "If you haven't done it, you can't really understand it." This is a 101 of touring. It is the same for all who endevour to take their music to the people. The big budget tours have some of the same situations albeit, on a different level. This is the touring I remember in the 80's. Raw, unexpected, insane, no glitz or glamour, just a group of people against the trials of the road in all it's unavoidable glory. It was fun. I would do it again if I were not 61...........and tired.
in the doc there are legends like Shellac (steve albini, ancient menber of cult band big black who recorded In utero by Nirvana) Melvins, Blone redhead.... not really D's...
Some of the best documentarians are on RUclips now. Check out Folding Ideas
Thank you, made my day!
Agreed!
I was told a tour is anything over two weeks...and anything under is just a trip. My fav story on the road- 1996 we played ocean something New Jersey and it was a heavy thunderstorm. Only like 2 people came to the club. The owner came out to our van after the show and said he couldn't pay us but wanted to at least give us 6 pack of Coke for the road...after looking in and realizing there were only 3 of us, he took off 3 cans and handed us the remaining 3 cans for the road. Big time!
Your comment made me chuckle
@@tangyorange6509 looking back that whole tour and many others make me laugh. Heck in L.A. (city of over 3 million people) we played a show in front of 1 person. 1. The odds of only getting one person to show i think is harder than getting like 10 people. What a night.
People gave us a lot of coke on the road too.
Wtf? You guys didn't take cases or anything ? What you got a manager paying you? Or u doing door only and u owe him 60 bucks for the beer drank on stage? Yea been there..but folks generally do share .. got shroom, lil microdots,blotter, weed, weed, weed ( every where..even grand canyon chick hooked us up) that alone was worth that trip. Got robbed in Denver..buddy had last of my cash and I knew dude was fuckin wrong. But he wanted bud soo bad and shit gotta listen to him for 4000k miles more.but thank u women.
U guys must have booked your own gigs. There are tough days..but I'm support for artists..and there was sex and drugs with rock and roll. And yes I can get u a pass. Yes. If you do me I will introduce you to the guy you want. But he will be polite to you and ur going come back to me..know this b4 u start. And they think I'm lyjng..till they see guy with his girlfriend or something..then she's back to me but I can't do u on bus unless u want to fuk everyone else there. And no pooping on the bathroom in bus! Pee only. No tampons or other stuff in the potty! No snoring. No drinking others booze,or asking for there shit. Cold pizza at 4 am if lucky u til commissary @ venue..then we kicking it again!
Any other 'retired' indie touring musicians here find this a little hard to watch? This is hitting home in so many different ways for me.
Not hard to watch. Validating
Not hard really. Still doing it after 30 years
1:29:30 - Everytime I hear crazy stories about OKC, I always think to myself "Yep, that's the birth place of THE FLAMING LIPS... lol
"Tour changed me, maybe for the worse" can relate to that
You know how after playing your set and someone that really enjoyed your band comes up to talk to you and at some point in the conversation tells you how they wish they could play music and be in a band, and in that moment you forget about all the struggle, the hours and hours of practicing, the hardships and abject poverty, the bubble-guts from eating Taco Bell for too many days in a row, you forget all that and you realize how fucking great it really is to do this.
I will never feel that I wasted my life, because I toured with my band.
Well said....while I must say that I feel my life took an alternate route because I never toured with mine. We might have gotten around a bit, which could've opened some doors for some or all of us. I'm happy, but I can't help thinking, "what if"?
I took the opposite. I warned anyone I could haha.
Your Mom's Daddy....I know exactly what you mean, I was a lead guitarist in a band for 6 years, we toured with other musicians across the us...I miss those days but im happy now,working a normal,stable job, loving life with my wife and kids. I look back and reminisce about all the good,the bad, and the Ultra Bad and say to myself, "Damn...I really (we really) did all that! Lol!?!?!?!?!😁
Fuckin Eh!
i never even gotten that far. i can't even find people as serious as I am.
Anyone in HR this is why you should hire someone in a touring band, you can throw ANYTHING at these people, and they will not fucking blink.
I fought for my work to hire someone who had toured a few times. Best employee ever. Got promoted a bunch. Awesome dude
Yes! Great observation!
@@joepopprocks Well I have been in a shit eating band for 20 years, played a ton with the film makers band.
I find it is best to find someone that has toured as opposed to a straight musician.
i always try and think of a way to fit it into my resume lol
Been touring since 16, I'm 29 now and still actively touring on big and small tours. It's the worst decision I've ever made in my entire life, but its def a lot of fun lol.
Why is it the worst decision you've ever made if it's so much fun?
@@jessiehermit9503Did you not watch the doc?
Not a single lie in this, nor an exaggeration. More fans should know these stories so they'd support live music more.
@@chestyvulva Subjects doesn't seem to be a bad decision, sounds great
I’ve supported many touring bands in my life. I wish I had some of that time back.
I think the real issue is all the ways venues and promoters (not to mention the labels, management, etc) exploit the bands while generally do a crap job at what they’re supposed to be doing - musicians just be stepping into bear traps without knowing any better. Working musicians could really use a union!
Stuff like this is why I always buy a tshirt and will always by albums by the bands I love.
Hell, I still use itunes lol I'm the only person I immediately know who does. My friends tease me but its harder and harder to be a musician and I want to support however I can.
This randomly came up in my suggested videos and it turns out I know several of these people. My two cents regarding the worst bands you had to play with is, always remember YOU are someone's most hated band. Your band is a big joke to a group of people somewhere having these same conversations. Everyone's band is. I always think about that. I might love my stupid music but I'm fully aware of how stupid it is.
Chris Jury in the film read in the tour journal of a band they played with that Imipolex-G (the band he was in at the time) was the worse band they had ever played with on tour. So yep, that is totally true.
But my band, Alley Mattress, really was a laughing stock to the Punk Gatekeepers in Vancouver. Whatever.
This isn’t true at all lol. If someone thought The Beatles or Jane’s Addiction were the worst band, they would just be wrong and their tastes too arbitrary.
The band names and members being interviewed should be in the description
They're in the intro, but yeah they should be in there too
YES YES
yes
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock n roll. Where these punk bands? That would explain a lot. I never experienced shit this bad. Actually most of the people and places where cool. Their were a few sketchy events but few and far between. The end for me was my equipment was stolen.
Absolutely
Driving for hours and hours and hours, playing the show and staying in a motel that Norman Bates would be afraid of....... ahhhh those were the days.
Meliah Rage has a song called Bates Motel. Now I understand !
Anything under 5 days or 500 miles is a "jaunt".
If you have ever wondered what it is actually like being in a touring band, or if you have played in a touring band and never seen it accurately depicted. This movie is for you and is a MUST SEE.
65 year old retired musician here. In my day, touring could be a nightmare but there was truly so much venue you did get paid.......and laid, for as long as you could stand it. Some did it for decades!
But toward the end, like when the Internet and that ^%$$^^^^ Napster came along, it got to be exactly like this video for all of us except Lynard Skynard.
I love this video! Thanks so much!
Thanks for the film Eric. Loved it. In the early nineties when touring our Am Rep releases we would rent a new Ford Econovan and once across the Hudson, crawl underneath and disconnect the odometer. Our bass player Henry paid a speeding ticket once heading north in California but we avoided paying for tens of thousands of miles over the years.
Oh, that's a good story!
Helmet guitarist correct?
@@andrewlee563 Correct
Stick it to the man at the van rental 😛
@@hotchiwitch-h1f great band!
This film resonated in my bones and immediately after watching it, I reached out to everyone I've ever been on the road with to tell them I love them and cherish those memories. Thanks for making this and sharing it, Eric. Love to everyone in the movie. We're all in the same club.
Gotta give credit where credit is due. The director promised no Dave Grohl and delivered! (Plus, this was a great film!)
If you think being "on tour" in a bar playing, road band is "glamorous", watch this video. Exactly what it's like to a "T"! I did it for almost 30 years. So much I have related with and have only been watching a half an hour.
I love the 100% Dave Grohl free! mention
I am a female sounengineer and I did a couple of tours around europe. even if those tours where a bit more comfortable with sleeping situations and getting payd and the quality of the venues and all that stuff I recognized every single situation you described in that film. It is all true and it made me laugh so hard. everytime I got back from a tour I thoth I never ever gonna do this again- it is so stressfull- I am too old- I don‘t want to be away from home again for such a long time-blah,blah. after a month I think yeah maybe one more time.…I know it is different to be the sound person because your not a full member to the band but I understand myself as a transmitter from the band to the audience and we are also part of the energy exchange and your going through all that situations and becom real friends to the members of the travelling party. I also worked in a club for many years as the local sound person and understanding what the band is going through on the road makes me want to feel them really welcome at the venue and everything is well prepaired when they arrive.
more people shoud watch this and estimate the efford of playing live music!
I was not in a punk band at any point, but for 40+ years I made my living playing in mostly cover bands in animal clubs (Eagles, Moose Clubs, local dives, etc) 4 to 6 nights a week. also did tours like this doc shows with original hard rock bands, and this doc hit it on the head.....Thank You for posting it!!
"Animal Clubs" would be a great band or album name!
Love this! This was my life for over 20 yrs. I have similar versions of all these stories. The phone bills, the smells, the vans, the band houses, the restaurants, my bandmates, the drudgery and stress and danger and joy and teamwork and successes, the hours of travel. all of it. I fully relate to where these artists are coming from. LOL. Dave Grohl's movie left me feeling like "where are all the real bands". Well... here that are. Liked and subscribed. Thank you for making this movie.
Oh my god, the band houses. Sometimes sleeping in the van is the pragmatic option. The van often smells better than the band house. No way am I sleeping on the bed, nope...😮
@@terrystowers6085 I can remember every house where I opted for the van. Because they were insanely gross. lol. Sleeping in the van, shoes on with a baseball bat.
@@terrystowers6085 just thought of the name "bedbug itchies."
It could be a ska band.... 🤔🤣
20 years ! Highway Pirate !
What a brilliant, true to life film this is. My own stories raced through my head watching this.
Now I need to hear the Mississippi Hippie Killers.
...no you don't. But still not the worst band I have ever play with. That distinction goes to a band from Fort Collins called Trash Cannon.
That might be the best band name ever!!
I'd buy the T-shirt.
On the topic of early days shows: Christmas Eve 1981 my band played with two guys with a reel to reel, microphones and some audio visual. We once played a night in a Hot Dog Cafe that was closed. Played a gay bookstore once, but got shut down and moved the bands and 250 people to our house, which was a riot. Literally. :) We played a gig with Men of Clay and The Injections (San Diego bands) at a place called Uncle Sam's BBQ in East San Diego, and we were the only white people for blocks. Everything went cool. They thought we were nuts.
What an amazing documentary! 👍 I always wished I'd have been part of the R&R world, rather than the ultra dull corporate world, but the rock life is definitely a harsh, cold, cruel mistress. That these small, barely known bands submit to this painful existence in the hopes of making it big, says much about their heart, dreams, passion, & endurance. After all, how DOES a band break out into the big time, what does it take? Well...a lot of this stuff in this video, and even then, there are never any guarantees. You have to be a VERY driven type, very passionate about your craft. It's a brutal life for sure. God bless *all* these folks. ❤🙏💔🎤🎸🥁
I just typed “why am I doing this” in the search bar and came across this. I clicked on it of course but.. now that I’m watching this, I really am wondering.. why am I doing this..
Great documentary! Glad to see more DIY docs about music being made. My band and I made a doc covering similar territory a few years ago, where we filmed out road travels and a bunch of musician interviews for a whole year. It's called "Drive. Play. Sleep."
I will check it out!
Just watched your doc. Glad that you put the part in where women players encounter all of those stupid comments about their playing ability, experience, or even if they are ACTUALLY in the band. I had a part like that but cut it because I couldn't quite get it right. But you definitely nailed that subject. It's amazing how similar our films are and how touring bands kind of go through the same hardships/success. Also, local bands giving 100% of the door to the touring band(s) should be common courtesy, in my opinion. My band does it whenever someone comes through town and we are on the bill. I wish more bands would do that! If you are sleeping in your own bed that night, you don't need those ones.
@@ericfundingsland Glad you enjoyed it! Let's definitely play a show together sometime once touring starts up again.
And yeah, that part was definitely tricky to get right, but thankfully it seems most people who experience that agree with it. There was one guy in a review on Amazon who said he turned it off then because the film got "political", which I think is funny because it's just people talking about their personal experiences, but hey, I guess everything is a stance now.
The whole reason we made it is because we felt like no other films out there really captured the experience of small time touring. And now, a few years later, there are at least 2! We did it! We filled a niche!
@@PocketVinyl Maybe our movies can kick off the Touring Cinematic Universe!
@@ericfundingsland now THERE'S an idea....
The Oklahoma City story of not being able to be easily mugged because you are too wasted, priceless.
I felt every bit of pain sorrow and laughter that was portrayed in this documentary while describing touring LOL really good documentary glad I got it thank you algorithm
I've done sound for Thrones in Vienna some 15 years ago.....really enjoyed that evening!
You had me at "100% Dave Grohl free".
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Wait I'm confused why does everybody hate Dave grohl in this comment section?
Suddenly van stories are all the rage. Wonder why ?? DG
@@johnhoffmann947 no, it's because no one has been able to tour for almost a year and a half.
@@madisonkaylee6013 you know that guy who no one really likes that's always hanging around and weaseling into everything? That's Dave Grohl.
We should never forget, musicians are ARTISTS! They are not usually business-minded people. They just do what they love to do. Artists are notoriously lousy at the business part of the gig. That's why you need a manager who doesn't play in the band and does nothing but the business end of the gig. And he (or she) get paid when you get paid. This is a very cool documentary. From personal experience, touring has to be planned well in advance before the wheels start rolling.
I remember playing in Memphis Tn around 95 ish....we stayed at a house the club had for bands, as I lay in the bottom bunk wide awake from hearing one of our techs snoring I started to read all the names and quotes previous musicians had written on the bottom of the bunk above me . The most profound quote I read asked this question...."what the fuck am I doing with my life?"
It was a fun time of my life but damn, it wasnt easy at times!
Oh, man, you won the internet with that quote! I'm cryin' ... and you ain't lyin.
Was it A club called the stage stop? Right by some railroad tracks… Shitty band house in a run down residential neighborhood. I stayed in that place more times than I care to remember.
I honestly don’t remember the named of the club but yea the house was a hell hole
Amazing doc. So relatable for any DIY musician.
Fully in the spirit of what I remember it to be... a little of (almost) everything. This is going to be watched in full soon- good on you Eric, for making this!
Just want to say, I'm obsessed with your channel. Long live The Bismarck and all the bands featured.
I’ve only done “jaunts” in my past playing in a few different bands. I got enough of a taste to know I really didn’t want to “tour”.
Lol - someone hooked up me and my pal to roadie “ The Hysteria “ tour Def Lep.
After 2 days - we were done with everything. And we were tough 20 year olders. Lol.
I used to watch live music all the time. I talked to the band and bought rounds. They were always getting screwed over by the club owners. The math never added up right.
Really enjoyed this. Love the end credit, those guys were killing.
"Why am I doing this?" Is the exact same question I asked myself while I was setting up my rig at my very first gig at Mojos Bar in Fremantle. When we finished the first song I was like, "that's why."
fuck yea
I love this! It reminds me of tours I went on. We only went on a few. It was a blast and it was terrible and I'd kill to do it again!
I enjoy hearing guys that know very little about Automotive mechanical fundamentals.
Brilliantly done. As a long time touring band, we can relate to EVERY story in this film. 5 Stars plus an extra star for having a ton of footage of Hozoji Matheson-Margullis (crush)!
The tour we did- we were set to play oxford where Radiohead were discovered & Birmingham- in a place where led zeppelin played and a biker’s bar that’d never had a live band before. The ‘stage’ was mainly taken up by a massive Harley Davison & a biker leaned in and warns me in a thick Brummie accent ‘whatever yaw daw- dawnt touch the Harley!!!’ I shat myself. I then realised that the pool room at the back had speakers through which ONLY my vocals went through. We played anyway- once one guy started clapping - the rest of the crowd joined in. Leaving the show..we were loading the last cab when kids started throwing bricks at us; so I had to jump in the back & shut the doors as the van had started moving. I felt soo dirty during that entire tour- two bands in a hire van- snowing outside..guys pissing in cups- it wasn’t pretty- but I wouldn’t change it for the world
Touring seems rather different in the US than it is in Canada. That said, I've experienced some of these awful things - and others, besides, but my experience has, on the whole, been a lot better than what I've heard in this doc. I will admit that I haven't toured much in quite a while, but I was on the road fairly steadily from the early 80s into the early 2000s. Until Covid, I was still able to make a living playing music... it's the only job I've had in 33-odd years.
But good job on the documentary, Eric... most enjoyable in a masochistic way... ;-)
Amazing ! 33 years !
thank god i toured in the 80's. lots of money, decent hotels, never hungry, great shows. i'd never do what these people were doing. lol
The one dude was talking about Chris Jericho’s band Fozzy. 😂
Being a touring musician is about as fun as digging a really deep hole that you can't climb out of.
Umm this was amazing and brought back a ton of memories. I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING
thank you, that was interesting. all the best from switzerland
This video popped up in my suggestions and I just wanted to share my appreciation of it! as a tourist myself! Definitely going to check the bands out that appeared (minus Steve's bands, already knew them). Loved the "how long is a tour" section. FYI My record: 212 days (across 3 continents).
Watched this 3 full times now. You guys absolutely nailed it. The first totally honest film about touring. Well done!
Watched twice. I missed half the movie - it moves so fast.
The hardest road dogs I've ever seen are so unexpected: The Dicks and Tori Amos. They both stayed on the road 3/4 of the year, doing 4 hour sets, for decades. Incredible stamina.
One friend of mine always liked to say "The Dicks went on tour one year and never came home"
Tori isn’t that surprising. She’s a tough cookie!
Talk about Punk..lead singer of The DIcks, Gary Floyd (RIP) was a gay communist playing Punk music in Texas during the 80's and not giving a Fuck!
Mary sent me to this video. I can't wait to finish!!
Totally relatable for myself. Love it.
Vic!
Mary Spender sent me here, and I'm so glad she did!!! This is awesome
Thanks!
You had me at “100% Dave Grohl free.”
No kidding!!! Can he just go away for a few years???
Wait what’s the issue with Dave, this is the first time I’ve seen people who hate him
@@leek6927 everytime there’s a “rock” mini doc he’s like the only person interviewed as if he’s the only musician who plays in bands with distortion
Haha! Not just me then! 😅
Yeah, what's the deal with that? That dude shows up all over. In interviews for documentaries, a guest on stage at tribute shows.He played drums for Ghost a few times.Fuck, I saw him @Lemmy Kilminster's funeral doing the friggin' eulogy. The day his next album is released, he's gonna be a greeter at the door in Best Buy. If there's any music event that you don't see him, take a look backstage. He's probably doing the catering or something like that. Dave, you gotta give us all some space, you're smothering us.
I would totally join the Mississippi Hippy Killers. They are probably better than my band.
This is all so very accurate & amazing. Everything from “Oh your little band put out a little record” to everyone asking how NY was when you barely saw any of it to figuring out where you’re gonna take a dump. Great documentary!
Punk music has always had a unique special audience, it's not mainstream, so it has a tough following.
already laughing my ass off in the first 10 minutes, Ahahahah
GREAT job
EDIT: "ALMOST FAMOUS" VS "THE ROAD" OOOOOOOOHHH MY GOD AHHAHAHAHA
Edit #2: This is legitimately the funniest and best documentary I have ever seen on ANY subject, EVER. THE. BEST.
Thanks!
@@ericfundingsland bro thank YOU for all the work making it (the artists too)
Appreciate this straightforward honest documentary.
As much as I love music, touring sounds like a very specific/special type of hell that I would never be able to do... I suddenly don't regret trying harder to get my band going.
This was a incredible film
Thanks!
100% Dave Grohl free! \m/
Thank god
SOLD!
Wait why is everyone hating on dave grohl? What did I miss 🙈
@@madisonkaylee6013 No hate, he's just in basically every rock documentary. BUT NOT THIS ONE!
And the recent one docu about the same subject. Touring and vans. Dave Grohl is playing the regular guy.
Touring is sleeping in cars and on strangers floors. It's not eating much, if at all. The drugs run out quickly. The sex is the same as it would be if you weren't on tour. Trying to keep your gear from being stolen. Hoping you don't break down constantly. HATING your band mates. And you'll absolutely hate most of it. But... 10 years later you'll miss it dearly.
I have only been on audience side, but in early 90s there was a great music scene in Baltimore where there were 3 venues and all these different bands would roll throught tow, "on tour" and catching a good show of a band you did not know was the best, definitely crowd, often small, and band would feed off of each other, nothing like it, so thank you to all those who put up with monsense to delicer that spe ial hour or so
I'm nervous to say this because none of the musicians have brought it up yet and I'm afraid of what they'll have to say . . . but your comment reminded me of some amazing little venues in Salt Lake City. I've had some great nights grooving to random bands who were passing through. It's a big enough city with people thirsty for entertainment who typically respond positively. I can't tell you how many times bands have been shocked at how enthusiastic SLC crowds were.
I had almost exactly the same experience going through the Monida Pass. However, I was driving a cream puff colored 30 year old Cadillac! I thought I was gonna’ die from either being blowed up or exposure (or both!)
As the cop who rescued us said: You better watch yourself in Montana boy!
Three components ABSOLUTELY necessary for remaining sane on tour: Adaptability , Patience , Sense of Humor.
Lots of theraflu too...
This is fucking BRILLIANT. I never toured but have had lots of friends who did and told me these exact same stories. I'd never do it now but I sorta wish I'd have done at least one tour when I was young.
You had me at ""100% Dave Grohl free"
Really really good film. I made many tours playing Jazz in Europe and there are parallels with rock tours in US. We musicians play because we have to and in the end it is the music that is important. I loved this film. It is really inspired and deserves to be seen and celebrated.
Tell that to SXSW!
First time out in '93 we did roughly 11,000 miles in just under 6 weeks. 9 guys (2 bands) plus a shared set of equipment in a van. Only 1 punch thrown the entire time. It was in my face. Went out again the next year with the same guys. Next 2 years by ourselves, just the 4 of us. Every tour was absolutely fucking horribly awesome. Some of the best times and memories in my life.
Maximum Rock and Roll, Book Your Own Fucking Life started it all.
What made you quit? Do you miss it?
@@videostoragechannel We broke up when we got home from the last tour in '96. Dumb band personality conflict stuff. Nothing major. Silly to look back on. It wasn't the punch. That came from a guy in the other band towards the end of the first tour. Everybody was wiped out by then. Shit happens.
I do and I don't miss it. I live a different life today. Without writing a novel I'll just say some of who I am today doesn't exactly align with what some of the band was about. We were heavy on the politics. Rather opinionated. It's not that I even disagree with those politics but I couldn't do it today in good conscience. And while I met some awesome good people at shows that scene and crowd just really isn't for me anymore. Nothing against them and I still listen to us and similar bands. I just see things differently now. For the most part. Kind of, sort of, maybe.
But I definitely have very fond memories because of it. And I'm certainly not ashamed of it. It was what it was. And I got to go places and see things that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for being in the band. Haven't talked to any of them in two years but they will always be my brothers.
Edit: Broke up the wall of text.
93 my fav year !!! never been a band if ya heard me pick a guitar you would understand , but did follow AIC around a bit that year. did you get in on any of the palozza action ,? i aint gonna try to spell it i guess ya know where in going here
@@brianpinion5844 No we never did any shows of that size. We've sold places out a couple times but nowhere near that scale. Tops for people at a show was about 800 or so. We also played in a storage unit once. Think the kid that set it up broke in. People stood in the parking lot. He handed us a frisbee they passed around after the show. In it was maybe a couple bucks in change, a guitar pick and a cigarette butt.
We didn't make a living off the band. We all had 9 to 5s. But things started to pay for themselves, kind of, after the 2nd tour. New(ish) van and some equipment. Recording and tour costs etc. There was still some out of pocket but it was just getting to where the band paid for itself. Which was cool.
Oh and we ran in a different circle than Alice In Chains. Shows and fans consisted of mostly spikey hair people and or skinheads.
@@videostoragechannel mmmmmmmmmm
25 years of playing on and off in a band with one 120 mile mini tour. Yep, never went on tour. Knew it would be crap. You get the same experience in a big town, crappy shows, no people...dick in the dirt no need to frive hundreds of miles for a crap time...played to 3 people james dean was there.....oh ya most muscians hate the other bands, everybody thinks there band is the best too😂
As soon as he said, 'This van was a piece of shit', I cancelled my plans and settled down for a couple of hours of top class entertainment 😂. Can someone tell me who was playing over the opening credits?
A band called Nudity. The song is called "The Nightfeeders"
@@ericfundingsland Thanks 😀
Absolutely sucked me in as well @Kim Levy
I was a FOH AND TM during no internet era….I was fortunate because starting with my first band on they were on big labels and had management
So that was done booking I mean…however no cell phones I was given a beeper a calling card and we used fax machines…and guess what it all got done…
Remember printing out mapquest directions?
My band from Seattle did this west coast tour... Seattle, Eugene, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Fran, Inland Empire (I forget the town), Portland, Arcada CA, Vancouver. In that order. 🤣
😅
That’s some terrible planning
😂
I like the “ego check amongst” yourselves who’s going first. There’s a stream for ya.
Lemmy knew how to tour. He never knew any other kind of life. He did all the regular crazy stuff but after the 80's he had some infrastructure and it became a business. The Motorhead name is golden and he could and would end up touring his entire life.
These gas prices nowadays must devastate potential profits
Very good. The musicians were articulate, funny, thoughtful and brave hearts. I wish them all the best - keep on truckin’ and Bruce Springsteening 😉.
Great comment !
The 70s was a great time to work in the music biz. Lots of clubs and the scene was exciting. Two of us rode in the back of a Uhaul type bobtail truck with the roll up door secured with a rope for ventilation and we had an ice chest with some ice and a case of Miller light beer's. The beer's helped to ease the heat, bumps, and exhaust fumes.
Hey...we were working and paying our bills. Live music is the best!
I have to say being in a mid level touring band living around Vans, Friends, Floors.. I am still laughing at the the name of the video. Its perfect. If you've lived it, it will hit home. I asked myself that question many many times on the road. I would be saying to myself "Im still broke, but now Im lost, Im in a shitty van and about to get shot at. Wheres the club?" Then I would show up and they didnt't put the posters out.... I ask for the payment right away and get the "Its on they way down" then dude tries to wheel me a gram of coke... I knew what type of night it would be. It would usually be at that point I would say "Why am I doing this again?!". Another time we played a hall with 200 people but we sold 35 tickets. PS - I love the 100% Dave Grohl Free Disclaimer. Amazing guy, and its more of the media side but he's fucking everywhere.... I cant get a glass of milk without hearing or seeing something about Grohl.
The 100% Dave Grohl free line is what the British would call "taking the piss" out of him. No offense meant, just a fun jab that he is in basically every rock documentary. Plus the fact that he is releasing a doc very similar to this one.
@@ericfundingsland Im certain he would be the first to laugh.
Great movie Eric! I also discovered we went to the same high school
Small world!
Is this also a picture of the caboose sailing by? Could rock and roll, in any form, ever be as relevant again as it was, even in the era that this was referring to? Hard to imagine that the same kind of stories or experiences described here could ever come from the bubble-gum pop, hip hop crowd.
You wanted to make a documentary covering the experience of beginning bands on tour. But you may have gone much further than that by creating a timeless, historical record that will be frequently referenced well into the future. You may have done that, just in the nick of time.
"The place smelled like 200 year old piss" had me crying.
Working the door back in the late 80's, used to charge $12/15, and regularly pull over a grand for several local bands.Ironically, these unknowns used to draw harder than up & coming national acts like Blues Traveler or Phish (prior to their becoming big).
On the other hand, I remember Metallica drawing 20 people in tiny NYC and Connecticut clubs charging $5 ; the scene was much different before social media.
I never harbored any illusions about touring with my own band, and at the time, it was a hindrance to moving forward.I like travelling, and seeing the country, but touring just sucks unless you've got the money to do it right.And you have to find the right people, or it's about as cool and romantic as drug addiction.It's hard to get excited when it's costing more than you made; you can't lose sight that in this case, economics aren't the proper measure of success.
Some good general life advice, and advice for keeping a band together.Endeavor to be the guy who lets everything roll off; talented people are usually quirky, and often outright neurotic or annoying.Look at it like test to become the better person, and make it a goal to try to help others be better.Playing out is an unbeatable, addicting, experience,- but you do have to commit and be willing to pass up standard operating procedure.Most give in early, and return to the world of marriage, mortgages, and kids, thinking they're missing out.Personally, I could never relate to such concerns.
I watched a documentary about a bridge from which people would sometimes jump. This is more depressing. A few good laughs though and nicely produced. ❤️
Maybe the jumpers were punk rockers !
@@seagullpoet Lol!
@@seagullpoet one of them was a metalhead. Ive seen it too i think if its about the golden gate bridge. It has the people they knew talking about the person that killed themselves, WHILE playing footage of them actually jumping. Some depressing stuff
'Almost Famous' totally perverted the idea of what touring really is.
Agreed!
Some actual live concert footage would have elevated this film. Five seconds of a song doesn't cut it. Some live tunes would help the viewer experience some emotional connection with these groups. None of them were household names. They sort of come off as almost irrelevant with only distant memories to share but no examples of what they were really up to on stage. Music docs without music are always sketchy.
I was probably fortunate doing merch for a relatively established band during the last portion of their 30 year existence. A few less punk house stories, a lot more Motel 6 check-ins and reasonable turnouts every night. Except Fargo. It was 30 below. The band played to the bar staff and 5 other people (including one guy who came down from Canada). The comments on Fargo hit hard.
And vans breaking down in Montana (which happened a couple days after Fargo).
Although I was not a musician, I am so happy I got the touring experience across the US, Canada and western Europe. I wouldn't want to do it again, but it was a very special time of my life that I'm amazed ever happened. Get in the minivan!
I'm dying to hear which band it was! 30 years is pretty significant.
@@MikeP2055 It was Nomeansno
I once went to record a demo with my best friend at the time Izaac. We drove to this guy named Vision's apartment. We recorded our vocal parts in a closet, had to use a keyboard for drums and only had my guitar. The guy even burned us a few copies for a very reasonable price considering what all he did for us. It was like maybe two hours. He made multiple copies, provided some equipment for the tracks, played our drum tracks and only asked for $60. Fun fact, I taught his little brother piano in high school! That definitely helped knock the price down a lot. Networking can help when you least expect it! So, the demo sounded like shit lol. Very basic. Izaac wasn't that great of a vocalist and I wasn't that great at guitar or vocals. Very amateur stuff. Vision made it sound better than it really was in my opinion haha. It was a fun experience though. We were living in the back of a thrift shop full of junk at the time. We'd go out and bring stuff back, refurbish it and sell it. I'd play my guitar in the dark most of the time since there were limited working lights and no windows where I stayed. It sucked but, it helped me grow into who I am today though. It also taught me to be honest with people when asked about their music. Stop saying it sounds good if it doesn't. It'll help us all get better. The guy who said, "I like to be honest. You guys had a lot of energy. You looked like you were having fun." Aka it wasn't good but, you had the energy lol. Love this documentary!
I have certainly been on the receiving end of the "You guys looked like you were having a lot of fun up there" response. I always think of it like someone saying that, although they didn't really enjoy your band/music, they appreciated that you were out there doing it.
Incredible work! Cheers
This is so good and so packed full of truth. Kudos to the creator. Essential viewing for anyone who has bitched or complained about....... well......... anything!
No matter who's in a Van on tour,If Watt still does it and Loves it we can all get through it with a grin
Great to hear their stories! Admire their passion for the grind.
Albini is in it. That’s all I need to watch something. The stories of them going to random houses to sleep are great