The Man, The Myth, The Legend

I met Chris Steele when I was around 9 years old. Both of our dads coached a baseball team that we played on together called Green Machine. It was a strange start for Chris and I as we both were under the impression that we didn't like one another. Chris would give me blank stares which I interpreted as disliking me and as a result of those stares I refused to talk to him. We would play baseball together for a couple of years and barely talk. However, the last year we played together we would win the season undefeated and Chris would have the most stolen bases on the team.

Some time passed and Chris and I realized we lived around the corner from each other. We would see each other out skateboarding at St. Annes School or sneaking cigarettes by the corner store on Martindale Road. We first really spoke at length when we were taking the cross town bus home. Chris and I had both bought tickets to see the newly reformed misfits play the following weekend. We planned to meet up after school the following Friday and head downtown together. That night would change both of our lives.

It was the first big punk show that either of us had been too. Neither of us could believe that this world existed. Tons of weirdos with their faces pierced shut covered in tattoo's drinking, fighting, singing, dancing and being utterly reckless. It was an eye opening evening to say the least. That night I also found out that Steele had a band without a bass player. He found out I had a bass and a couple microphones. We set a practice for the following Monday and we have been playing music together for the last 11 years.

Chris is the energy of this band. He pushes us to play harder and to play better each night we step on stage. He often walks that fine line between brilliance and insanity. And he has even turned into a fine golfer.

Happy 25Th Birthday Steele,
wade.

Home Sweet Home

The Toronto show my god! The Toronto show my god! THE TORONTO SHOW MY GOD! Thanks for welcoming us back home with open arms. Just a big sweaty hug from all our Ontario friends.

Today in Montreal was the first day it has rained on the tour. It really came down. Fucking torrential downpour. Because of the layout of the site our bus was parked on the other side of the world. I'm pretty sure we were parked in Hull. However, the rain let up in time for us to play and after a couple of songs the sun even came out. Montreal is always crazy for us and today was no different. So, thanks for braving the rain, singing along and falling in the mud with us.

cheers,
wade.

Two Week Wrap Up

We have been on Warped for a couple weeks now. I've had a chance to see a lot of bands, and these in my humble opinion are the best ones. So, if you are coming out sometime to see us this summer make sure you check these bands out too.

1. GALLOWS www.myspace.com/gallows

The gallows play harder than everybody everyday (except for Chris Steele). They are crass, loud and brilliant. I haven't missed a set yet. They more than any other band inspire me to play everyday.

2.POS www.myspace.com/pos

I was introduced to Steph from POS the first or second day. I saw his set the next morning. He plays the whole show in the crowd and blows minds. He carries himself hard for a rapper. It feels more like he is fronting a punk band. I had always heard great things about him from The Bled and now I know why.

3.ANTI FLAG www.myspace.com/antiflag

Our favorite political punks from Pittsburg. We have toured most of the world with them and I even sing on their new record. Don't skin your knee's in the circle pit.

4.SHAD www.myspace.com/shad

Shad is a Canadian MC who we have been fans of for a while now. Him and his crew are on our bus. They spend the day making beats and Shad just starts freestyling every once in a while. Make sure you check him out he is the best.

I was planning on making this a list of 5 but I'm afraid I just can't. So, go check out these bands and save the rest for us.

cheers,
wade.

breakfast, eggs, rock concert

Lately, we have been opening the set with Young Cardinals. Dallas rings out a long stoner intro and then we blast into it. George summed things up rather well right before we crashed into the song. Standing on the stack off speakers in front of the stage George yelled "11:15 in the morning are you fucking kidding me?!" Thats right at 11:15 this morning while some of you were at work and others were still tucked soundly into their beds we were playing really loud. Something often feels strange when you take music out of clubs and play it outside when the sun is still in the sky. But, before noon give me a break!!!

We had a team meeting a decided that we would play some more chill songs in the set. We figured nobody would be there at all.
But, somehow in the 15 minutes from when doors opened up to when we played a few hundred of you managed to find us. It turned out to be a great show and we promptly removed the slow jams from the setlist. So, thanks for waking us up this morning Indiana.

wade and the boys

Memphis, TN

We had big plans to go to Graceland today, but after the amount of BBQ we ate not much got done. We met up with some friends and they took us to a little spot called Pig on Beale. According to them this tiny place is the best BBQ joint in Memphis. Beale Street in Memphis is tourist central. Half the street is made up of souvenir shops hocking Elvis memorabilia and the other half is bars boasting live blues and jazz. The street is closed down, so its just foot traffic. We breeze down the street poking our heads in the dive bars and eventually stop in a bizarre collectibles place. They have a pretty large occult section where you can buy anything from cemetery dirt for $6.00 to a mojo bag for the low low price of $9.99. We tried on some the goofy hats in the back and I left with a Cramps flyer.

Pig on Beale was just a couple shops up. We pushed some tables together and ordered a round of sweet tea's. The place is a little hole in the wall. It's just perfect. Most people either went for ribs or for the pulled pork sandwich. It was fantastic way to end our last day in the South.

Tomorrows show is in Indianapolis. A place we haven't played in at least 5 years. The only thing I can remember about our last time there is that it was St.Patricks Day. Steele had bought this dirt cheap 60 oz of corn Liquor and it gave him a rash all over his face and chest! So, tomorrow has to be better that that.

Love,
wade.

LIES

I'd say the most surprising thing about this tour is the amount of bands that are faking it. Straight up lip-syncing nonsense!
To begin with Millionaires don't sing at all, and the one dude from brokeNCYDE is up there just pretending. I digress...........

Todays show was the best one yet. Big crowd, big pit and everybody knew the words to This Could Be Anywhere in the World. Texas has been great place for us to play ever since George got into a fight during our set a couple of years ago. George had jumped into the crowd to stop a scrap and somehow ended up in the fight himself. He got in a couple of good shots and the guy got kicked out of the club. George triumphantly climbed back onstage proclaimed the was the most dangerous man in San Antonio and we kicked right back into waterwings. Ever since then our shows in Texas have been bananas.

I Name You Gamblor

Walking around Warped Tour we are running into more and more old friends everyday. Dallas was telling me how over the course of the day in Phoenix both Will and Angel from Aiden came up to him and gave him a hard time. They both asked if he was still taking everyones money playing dice. Dallas winning a huge roll in Buffalo off those dudes meant little to him. But, it was the last time anyone in Aiden gambled. From time to time Alexisonfire likes to roll some trips and we do tend to get carried away.

Angel said to Dallas, that he always heard you should never gamble with anyone whose first name is a city. I should have taken that advice because I just lost about $50.00 in twenty minutes.

Happy Belated Canada Day,
wade and the boys.