Dog's Eye View Notes From the Road 3-27-96
Notes from the virtual road. March 27th, 1996
Michael Kroll and I are enemies. We hate each other more than you might ever
know. No, that's actually not entirely true. We're sitting here in a
dressing room in Washington, DC writing this together. It will appear on both
of our web sites. Yee-haw. How are we going to do this? We're not sure yet.
Peter: what is your hair doing on this tour?
Mike: Well, it started out a little too long, it took on that awkward
mushroom quality--then, mercifully in New Orleans, I got a haircut,which took
me back to my more natural Leonid Breznhev look.
Peter: Really, from my perspecitve, it's more of a chris isaak bad hair day
all day every day.
Mike: Well, Pete, not to pick nits but I see that you've dealt with the
whole hair issue by avoiding it. Anyway, what I really want to know is: Do
you find that traveling on the bus disconnects you from the whole touring
experience? The bad food, drinking coffee until you puke, all that good
stuff?
Peter: Well, Van Boy, I do wish I was packed in a minivan with three other
people, a big, horrible blue bag on top, a hamburger stuff holder, an
alligator and a leprachaun... But Sadly we've been forced onto a bus by
schedules. In reality, the main thing being on a bus disconnects us from
(aside from lots of money) is distance. I've done bunches of tours of the
U.S. in vans and rental cars before and the country is huge. When on the
bus, we sleep through lots of long journeys, so New Orleans seems like it's a
few minutes away from Florida.
So, Mike: How are you and your band getting along on the journey--are you
learning too much about each-other. (as if you can answer this honestly):
Mike: Well, there have been a few alarming discoveries: Matt's narcolepsy,
Andy's prediliction for expletive laced outbursts (though he does not suffer
from Turrettes Syndrome), and of course my inability to to resist making
obscure jokes and reading Raymond Chandler aloud (the band LOVES that.) But
otherwise I've realized that I tour with three really talented but shallow
people. So Peter: You're a real risk-taker in performance. Has it ever just
blown up in your face?
Peter: I'm wondering whether you're talking about musical risks or stage
antics--be more specific, please.
MIkey: Stage antics, of course.
Petey: Oh, hmmm. Well, I guess I like to try to make each night different,
and some shows just won't come together without some event that breaks the
normal show, audience boundary. Yes, I've definitely had nights where the
whole shebang has leapt out of my control. I think you were along for the
show in St. Petersburg where I tried to mock a guy into silence and he was a
glutton for attention..quite a tense moment or two. Speaking of being a
glutton for attention... No really, Mike, do you ever get on stage in the
middle of a tour and think--Didn't I just do this--why are all these people
here?
Mike-O: Mostly I stand up there and think: My God! I'm a flautist! No,
seriously, I've been loving the opportunity to play in front of the crowds
that you have drawn. Every night, as you know, presents a different set of
circumstances so it never seems the same. Sorry, Ive gotta do my show know
so I'll leave you with this question. When we're out there playing, do you
ever think-- Why are all these people here?
Pete: Ha ha ha. have a good show Mike.
I guess that wraps it up. See y'all soon.
Peter and Mike