Got a hotel once doing a gig in New Hampshire, it had a waterbed, I thought that would be cool till the middle of the night the waterbed blew the fuse and cooled off. Sucked all the heat out of my body and I woke stiffer than a board, had to roll out of the bed to the floor and then get up. Took me all day to recover from that, never sleep on a waterbed again.
good tips! always order 2 amps for your stage. I flew into a gig in Memphis this past winter on my off night, the guitarist in another band had the rental Hot Rod Deluxe take a crap on him, his managment ran to another venue to borrow and amp! I hate those amps. Luckily my venue had a 65 Deluxe and a 65 Super Reverb reissues and yes I plugged into both! We flew in the day before and the flights were all delayed 12 hours because of a snow storm and de icing. Our drummer arrived the day of our first gig because of the delays and his bass drum pedal and snare drum were on a later flight! We had to find a drummer that would loan us his stuff and we did which was a blessing. The airline actually dropped off his stuff at the hotel in time for the next gig. Memphis also had a terrible ice storm and Beale Street looked like a glacier, not a snow shovel or bag of salt to be found. I told the hotel if we found a shovel and salt we would clear the ice and snow ourselves. they said good luck finding those things. The Orpheum theater pipes froze and they had porta potties set up across the street because they had to close the bathrooms and it was 10 degress outside, What a trip! Have to be prepared mentally as well as have a back up plan for when everything goes sideways. I remember those vibrating mattresses back in the old days and we got a kick out of them when we were kids. Great stuff Bad Brad, safe travels!
Using someone else's rig seems risky but you had a system that worked. Never travelled for music but travelled for technical work, motels but often to remote camps 100s of miles from any road in Northern Canada. Flying into rugged mountain airstrips on single engine planes in fickle weather was hair-raising at times. I just missed one flight due to last minute supply change which crashed and killed everyone. Not the only crash I avoided. I'm single parenting two kids during all this flying, one who was in hospital lots. Those were the days.
Brad, love your channel. I am a older musician from the day. I played throughout the 80's and 90's, I didn't really really tour cross country, but have my share of stories from playing local gigs as a singer guitarist. I did a one man show in the 90's with midi backing which was appealing to a lot of bar owners as people could dance and I had good control of the volume not having a live drummer. I know there is no comparison to the real thing but if I set the mix right (I was roadie, soundman, guitar tech and musician all rolled into one) I could get what people described as a loud radio blasting more than a band, but people generally enjoyed it. I also had to pull out my acoustic certain times which depending on the size of the crowd worked out really well, especially early in the night. You could imagine using the midi system I had, I would run into my share of issues, especially old clubs with bad wiring that would screw up my sequencer. Oh yeah and the time I spilled a beer on my keyboard with a large crowd that was starting to get into the music. Amazing what a screw driver and hair dryer can do in a situation like that. I was back up and rocking within less than a half hour. Again wanted to say I really enjoy your channel and hearing about your adventures. You certainly got a lot further in the game than I did, but I can still relate to a lot of the things you talk about. Keep making videos and I will keep watching. Great stuff for sure!
As a former "diesel sniffer", I enjoy your road stories. Only those of us who have been nuts enough to try the road will ever understand. I have to say that on the better bus gigs, it was a welcome relief to get "clean up rooms" to shave, shower, etc. Keep up the good work and have a safe trip! John from Tennessee
Came here straight from the X5 podcast. Great pod and fully relatable episode. Terry(X5) and I have been friends since the early 90's when we both toured on the same circuit. It's refreshing to see people surviving the road grind and remaining humble!
I remember I played a Thursday-Sunday run of 4 gigs that were local BUT far enough away that we just got a hotels in the areas we were playing at. 1st time doing a run like this and I brought my wife & I thought it was the COOLEST until the 1pm checkout and now what do we do for the next 7hrs before we play? Thats when I figured the "road" wasn't for me :)
Plastic cups 🥤 and a ice 🧊 machine is the bomb 💣! 😂
YES!
Duuuude. Keep up the good work, Brad
Appreciate it, man!
Got a hotel once doing a gig in New Hampshire, it had a waterbed, I thought that would be cool till the middle of the night the waterbed blew the fuse and cooled off. Sucked all the heat out of my body and I woke stiffer than a board, had to roll out of the bed to the floor and then get up. Took me all day to recover from that, never sleep on a waterbed again.
wow!
good tips! always order 2 amps for your stage. I flew into a gig in Memphis this past winter on my off night, the guitarist in another band had the rental Hot Rod Deluxe take a crap on him, his managment ran to another venue to borrow and amp! I hate those amps. Luckily my venue had a 65 Deluxe and a 65 Super Reverb reissues and yes I plugged into both! We flew in the day before and the flights were all delayed 12 hours because of a snow storm and de icing. Our drummer arrived the day of our first gig because of the delays and his bass drum pedal and snare drum were on a later flight! We had to find a drummer that would loan us his stuff and we did which was a blessing. The airline actually dropped off his stuff at the hotel in time for the next gig. Memphis also had a terrible ice storm and Beale Street looked like a glacier, not a snow shovel or bag of salt to be found. I told the hotel if we found a shovel and salt we would clear the ice and snow ourselves. they said good luck finding those things. The Orpheum theater pipes froze and they had porta potties set up across the street because they had to close the bathrooms and it was 10 degress outside, What a trip! Have to be prepared mentally as well as have a back up plan for when everything goes sideways. I remember those vibrating mattresses back in the old days and we got a kick out of them when we were kids. Great stuff Bad Brad, safe travels!
That is one crazy story. You are right about being prepared, on the road you never know.
Using someone else's rig seems risky but you had a system that worked. Never travelled for music but travelled for technical work, motels but often to remote camps 100s of miles from any road in Northern Canada. Flying into rugged mountain airstrips on single engine planes in fickle weather was hair-raising at times. I just missed one flight due to last minute supply change which crashed and killed everyone. Not the only crash I avoided. I'm single parenting two kids during all this flying, one who was in hospital lots. Those were the days.
Wow that’s quite a journey!! Rental rigs are always risky but not as harrowing as landing in a rugged mountain airstrip!! Wow!
I'm ready for x 5 bro! 😊
Let's goooo!
Congrats again, Brad! Nice to see that bead-head wig, lol! I can't wait to see the whole podcast. I subbed to their channel, as well. Be safe!
Appreciate it! You know it.
Brad, love your channel. I am a older musician from the day. I played throughout the 80's and 90's, I didn't really really tour cross country, but have my share of stories from playing local gigs as a singer guitarist. I did a one man show in the 90's with midi backing which was appealing to a lot of bar owners as people could dance and I had good control of the volume not having a live drummer. I know there is no comparison to the real thing but if I set the mix right (I was roadie, soundman, guitar tech and musician all rolled into one) I could get what people described as a loud radio blasting more than a band, but people generally enjoyed it. I also had to pull out my acoustic certain times which depending on the size of the crowd worked out really well, especially early in the night. You could imagine using the midi system I had, I would run into my share of issues, especially old clubs with bad wiring that would screw up my sequencer. Oh yeah and the time I spilled a beer on my keyboard with a large crowd that was starting to get into the music. Amazing what a screw driver and hair dryer can do in a situation like that. I was back up and rocking within less than a half hour. Again wanted to say I really enjoy your channel and hearing about your adventures. You certainly got a lot further in the game than I did, but I can still relate to a lot of the things you talk about. Keep making videos and I will keep watching. Great stuff for sure!
Kazwell.....Thank you so much. Man you got alot of great experiences man. Very wise. Thank you!
Planning and preparedness definitely are the keys! Good luck today! ✔️
Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
Thanks Brian.
As a former "diesel sniffer", I enjoy your road stories. Only those of us who have been nuts enough to try the road will ever understand. I have to say that on the better bus gigs, it was a welcome relief to get "clean up rooms" to shave, shower, etc. Keep up the good work and have a safe trip! John from Tennessee
Yeah man I hear ya! Those clean up rooms were life savers.
Came here straight from the X5 podcast. Great pod and fully relatable episode. Terry(X5) and I have been friends since the early 90's when we both toured on the same circuit. It's refreshing to see people surviving the road grind and remaining humble!
Sounds like you two have seen alot.thank you so much!!!
Love, Hate relationship, with living on the road.
me to
Dude, Dude, I love hotels, but my credit card 💳 goes up in flames 🔥 😂
I hear you!!
11 am tomorrow , listen while packing to move. Tired of moving..it's expensive on disability. Gas in upstate ny is expensive.
Yes 11 am on the X5. I hear ya bro.
I remember I played a Thursday-Sunday run of 4 gigs that were local BUT far enough away that we just got a hotels in the areas we were playing at. 1st time doing a run like this and I brought my wife & I thought it was the COOLEST until the 1pm checkout and now what do we do for the next 7hrs before we play? Thats when I figured the "road" wasn't for me :)
I see you are utilizing the lamp with the outlet to charge the devices 😂 been, there, done, that 😂 I love hotel rooms 😉 until I want to go home!
Hotel room life! 😂
“I live in hotels, tear out the walls. I have accountants pay for it all”.
- Joe Walsh
Love that song.
Most things in life are much cooler with a backup plan. Duuude 😊
Ain't that the truth!
Love these videos Brad!
I appreciate you!
The next time you are near Birmingham please let me know, I would love to take you to lunch sir! Grace and Love
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!
I’d love to hear about your gear, especially your first guitar and amp, pedals, etc. I’m digging your content.
I'll try to do a gear episode in the future.
Same being a fan going to a show of ones fave singer, have to go back to a hotel room afterwards alone.
True.
I'm the back up king 🤴 rental equipment sucks, and always damaged 😂
You know it!
Al- a- BAMA!
Yes!
Fender Tweed Bassman but make sure the speakers are NOS original old stock or re papered correctly. Lol
Tweed Bass man are killer...but probably would be reissues from a rental co.
@@badbrad yeah. I was just being funny. I am with you on a fender twin.
Hello!
"coming back to a silent hotel room"? What about the "special new friend" you met a few hours earlier?
It’s not all sunshine and bimbos on the road.
Did you ever tour Canada
Yes opening for Eric Church
Did you have to drive to Huntsville from Birmingham listening to what you saying trying to figure out where you going
?
What is X5?
It is a Podcast on RUclips I'll be on it tomorrow at 11 amEST. X5 Podcast is the channel name.
Shaky light .. Alabama Shakes? Wait isn’t that a band 😆
lol