The GA's, TB, and the Souls

May 7, 2008

I have been home for a couple days now after the 2nd run of the “An Evening With The Bouncing Souls” shows. This last run was only 1 week long and went by fairly quickly. I didn’t do any writing this run due to being fairly busy driving and working. Fargo to New Jersey with 1 week of shows means a lot of over night driving, and early mornings which means no time to write.

This second run was
The Gaslight Anthem
Tim Barry
The Bouncing Souls

I just read a review of the show we played in Brooklyn and it brought back the evening of memories so I have decided to write a lil something something.
The Souls I have said many many times and will say many more times straight up rule. They are straight up the best but I am also able to say this about a couple other bands that take me out on their adventures. This is about the Souls so that’s what I’ll concentrate on.

We all flew into Minneapolis to pick up the trucks and head to Fargo where we would play the first show of the run. This evening there was a big hockey game on between the Flyers and the Habs and everyone knew I was super pumped on this so once we got our luggage we hauled ass to Fargo to catch the last 2 periods of the game. No one else in the gang really cares about hockey but this evening they were all pumped to go out, drink, and watch the game with me…..Habs lost and ended up loosing the entire series….

The next day we played in Moorhead, MN at the University there. The show was held in a huge gymnasium that ended up having only about 400 kids in it I would say. Again we were in the middle of nowhere and college shows are always weird to begin with. There were seriously more cops at this show, and around the venue then I have seen in most major cities. Totally weird. This was the first time I had seen GA however it was also in a huge empty room so I didn’t give them my full attention because I knew there would be more shows, and a real show vibe.

The next day we played Minneapolis where Tim Barry was meeting up with us which we were all excited about. I was pumped due to him being a friend/ old neighbor from Richmond and getting to spend a lot of time with him on the road. Also I was looking forward to it for Tim because I knew this would be a good thing/ experience for him during these times/ emotions for him.

I wont go fully into because he actually reads these writings. About 2 months ago Tim found his best friend hanging from a tree. His name was Travis Connor and was also a friend of mine too from thee ol RVA. I had talked to Tim a couple times since our loss but very short emails wishing him well. After Travis’s passing Tim left Richmond to clear his head and cruised down to North Carolina where then his best friend there passed a couple weeks later while Tim was there. Emotions I don’t think many people will ever experience.
So hearing about this tour and knowing Tim was going to be with us really stoked me out because I knew it would be a good thing for him and all of us.

The show in Minneapolis was at the one and only Triple Rock Social Club which is run by the fellows in the almighty Dillinger Four. The Triple Rock rules the house in so many ways. A club run by punks, who have made it an amazing place for bands to play, and the kids to hang. Minneapolis is also amazing due to their food situation. Pizza Luce and the Triple Rock both have the most amazing food ever. Pizza Luce I usually get mock duck pasta with cheese bread and at the Triple Rock I always get their mock meat loaf, mashed potates and gravy. WHOA!!! A must for any visitor to the Twin Cities.
The show this evening was amazing as was expected and it was the first show for Tim on this tour. Right away you could tell he was super super nervous and he had even mentioned to me that “this was the most social I (he) had been in 2 months”. So this show was the ice breaker for him and he did well.
The GA’s also played an amazing set as they always did.

Next we head to Chicago, onto Pittsburgh, thru Brooklyn and finally ended in a parking lot at Giant Stadium for Bamboozle Fest.

Brooklyn was the raddest show ever as I knew it would be. We played a venue named Europa which is very very small place. The cap is 550 but it seems like only 250 people could fit in there. The load in sucks because its all upstairs and the stair case is super duper small so there was definitely a couple cases which were pretty rough to get up.

GA opened the show and played another great set.
Tim Barry played after them like he did every night and had a great set himself. Hearing kids singing along as loud as he was to his songs was great and always is not matter who is playing.
The Souls then came on to a very excited crowd. Kids were already loosing it for GA and TB and now the main event. Whoa!!! I sell merch for the Souls so every night I get too see and talk too wild and crazy kids who are beyond pumped. It’s super amazing because I am on the same page as them so know exactly what they are feeling. It’s such a treat to witness this every night and this night was exactly that. The Habs were playing a do or die game that night so I had my Habs shirt on and had people all night coming up to the table letting me know the score of the game which ruled. Habs lost but it didn’t impact my night whatsoever. The Souls destroyed the place and left smiles on all our faces.

0. Hopeless Romantic
0. Say Anything
0. That Song
0. Cracked
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0. Lean on Sheena (Avoid One Thing cover)
0. The Something Special
0. Kid
0. The Freaks, Nerds, & Romantics
0. ?
0. Headlights Ditch
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0. Joe Lies (When He Cries)
0. I Like Your Mom (downbeat version)
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0. Good Lookin' Out (Sick of It All ukelele cover)
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0. Hybrid Moments (Misfits ballad cover)
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0. Gone (mostly acoustic)
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0. Argyle
0. No Security
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0. East Coast Fuck You! (karaoke)
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0. The Ballad of Johnny X
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0. Midnight Mile
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0. Quick Check Girl (request)
0. Private Radio
0. Sing Along Forever
0. True Believers
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0. Encore:
0. Kids and Heroes
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Night on Earth (Greg's acoustic accompaniment)