Nashville Boxing After Dark

As is quite often the case, we have let a week expire without updating our blog. However, while we understand this can be frustrating for all those who are disappointed daily by our lack of content, one must admit that it is precisely our failure to supply new blogs that allows for the entries that do see the light of day to be packed to the brim with rock n’ roll hilarity and heartbreak. And I assure you, this past week suffers little in comparison to weeks past.
When last you heard from us, I believe Matt explained to you the unfortunate experience of attempting to sleep in our van in Tallahassee, only to barely catch a wink of sleep due to the intense humidity the lovely state of Florida gifted us. So, sweaty and sleepless, we emerged from our “beds” and prepared for the show, one which we looked forward to with great anticipation, for not only were Young Love and the Giants not on the bill, but Playradioplay had a show elsewhere that night, thereby bequeathing unto us the coveted headliner slot on the bill. Now, while this may normally be considered an honor and a privilege, having never played before in Tallahassee, we were uncertain as to how the show would turn out. And, as it happened, despite only playing for a crowd of 10-15 people (and this is perhaps an inflated exaggeration), we had a great time, sold a couple t-shirts, and ate KFC Bowls, an act which was categorically regretted almost immediately after. Go Seminoles.
Up and out, we make the move to Jacksonville, which, if you have been keeping up with your CNN, was not an uneventful drive thanks to the Florida wildfires which helped light our way on our midnight drive to the coast. And yet, it was all for naught, as we discovered soon after arriving at our destination that the show had been canceled. Flustered, we hopped back on the road and trekked it to Nashville, once again blazing through the Floridian fires, smoke clouds, and Wafflehouses. We have the pictures to prove it.
Hence forth it gets interesting, as it was in the great city of Nashville where Young Love joined back up on the tour. Fresh faced with freshly purchased t-shirts, the boys put on a great show, happy to be back on the road, and we were equally happy to have them back. Reunions and rock and roll aside, it was AFTER the show in the parking lot where the action really happened.
And away we go….
Upon exiting the club, it was brought to our attention that a nice young girl named Renee had unfortunately locked her keys in her car. Being the gentlemanly good Samaritans that we are, and not wanting to leave her stranded in the dark of the Nashville night, we decided to set up shop in the parking lot to wait for AAA to come unlock her car for her. It was this act of selflessness that served as the powder keg for the most ridiculous display of ridiculousness we had yet to encounter. In short, after we had been waiting only 5-10 minutes, two eager gentleman approached us, both about 30-35 years old, and both dressed moderately better than your average bum. We conversed with both a bit, and one of our two new friends wished to play us a song on one of my guitars. After much deliberating, I finally consented and allowed him to do so. Here is where the trouble starts. As he was playing (and he wasn’t half bad), his friend started accusing him of ripping off other songs, claiming that he had heard the song before on the radio. Not wanting to piss him off while holding my guitar, I berated his friend for being such a jake (which is Liam and Me speak for jerk), and collected my guitar before disaster struck. Yet, things didn’t end there, and the two started arguing again over the 33 cents that McKenzie had given them. Then it turned ugly. The singer of songs, now fed up with his critical companion, took a swing and cold clocked his opponent with a rock a had strategically had hidden in his back pocket. They then proceeded to brawl before our eyes, with articles of clothing flying off in every direction, including at one point a pair of trousers, temporarily leaving the undiscovered songster in quite the embarrassing predicament. Now, not wanting to see anyone get killed, O’Dowd and myself, both apparently blessed with a momentary surge of courage, as well as a complete lapse of common sense, ripped the street fighters apart from one another, forcing them to opposite ends of the lot as they now searched for planks of wood and rocks to throw at each other. With much force, and the help of a nice middle aged man who emerged from left field and convinced one of the two men to go with him in search of all the vices Nashville has to offer, we managed to diffuse the situation, hop in our van and hightail it out of there.
Needing a breather following this debacle, we swung into a gas station for a cup o’ coffee and perhaps a greasy meal. And, as fate would have it, upon our exit from the mini mart, the Krispy Kreme delivery man pulled up in his truck. Our magnificent merch man Mikey, never one to be shy, introduced himself and asked if the guy could help out a starving band on the road by bestowing upon us his good graces, which happened to be in this case delicious glazed doughnuts. In a surprise move, he consented and dropped into our eager hands 5 full boxes free of charge. We considered it monies owed by the gods of karma. Things are now squared.
In closing I realize this has been a long blog, and even though we have the entire state of Texas to discuss, I feel as if I should save it for later, and give y’all a rest. We will try and stay a tad more diligent, but to be honest, I don’t really see it happening. Time will tell.

-Dan