Day 3 -The Saloon Bar, Launceston

29/7/2010
Got up and went into town for coffee. One large soy flat white later, and the fog is beginning to clear. Run into Phil & Kris on my way back to the hotel. They're looking for somewhere to have breakfast so i point them in the direction of the place i went yesterday.
Get back to my room and my phone rings. Shit, it's interviews for the tour that I've been putting off. Oh well, now or never.
"Do you prefer playing festivals or your own shows?" "So, where does the name Grinspoon come from?" Seriously, how many times do you think I've been asked those questions?
There must be a book of standard snoozfest interview questions out there, and both the guys i talked to had read it cover to cover.
I get a call from Kris and he's keen to play tennis.
We take our racquet's on the road, and if we get a chance to play we do. We are of a similar standard (shit), but the matches are always competitive...
Today was my day! We got through a set and a bit and I'm up 6-4 & 2-1. This will be continued at a later stage (i will give score updates).
Back to the hotel.....


Kris and i decide to head into town and grab some lunch, then swing past the gig and annoy the crew. Our sound guy Tony Brian (Brown Arm, Toby) has arrived from Perth. Tony has just had a baby girl so he's in good spirits, but lots more about him later....


The Saloon Bar has changed a lot since we last played it. Before it was a piece of kitch wild west fantasy, bar stools with saddles on top and wagon wheels strewn around the room. Now it looks like an RSL, abeit a new one, but the same harsh lighting and ringading of the poker machines. We'll still get a good vibe out of the place, but it's a shame, i liked it the way it was before.
After surveying the scene for a while Kris heads back to the hotel, and i decide to go for a walk around Launceston.
I head down to the seaport. Its an industrial part of town, but it's old, and has plenty of character.
The hill looking over the marina is crammed full of huge mansions. There must have been some money here once, fishing maybe, but the houses now look run down, the gloss taken from their former glory.
I make my way back through the city and down to the Boags brewery, then meander back to the hotel.
I have a new camera that I'm in the process of learning how to use, so here are some Launceston tourist shots. Trying to set the scene....


We all pile into the Tarago at 4.45 to head off for a 5 o'clock sound check. The crew have finished setting up the gear and we run through 3 songs. Everyone is pretty happy with the sound.
Meet the guys from the Snowdroppers. They are doing the whole tour with us and they seem like pretty cool guys. I think i will go check them out tonight.
The venue is providing us with dinner, so band and crew order, then grab a big table so we can break bread with our brothers. The food is actually pretty good!
After the meal we head back to the hotel to get ready for our 11pm show.....


Oh yeah, and Krisso couldn't finish his steak.....


Back in the car and back to the hotel. Have a few hours to kill so i get organized for the gig, then watch a program about the Australian dream on the ABC. It's an interesting show. Part of a 4 part series, i will have to suss it out when i get home.
Lobby call is for 9.50, and it's back to the saloon bar.
Watch the Snowdroppers. There really good. People are loving it. They look like Elvis's love child being backed up by Mumford & Sons, but the noise they make is great. A real party band, they will be fun to have on tour.
It's our turn next, and we take the stage to rapturous applause.
The gig is good, a little rusty in parts but all in all a pretty good start to the run. I need to work on my sound more in tomorrows check, but apart from that it's an 8.
Joe broke his ribs snowboarding a few weeks back and looked to be in a bit of pain after the show, it's gonna be a tough first few gigs for him (not much jumping around!)....


We get a few locals backstage after the show. Everyone is heading to the Hotel New York for an after party...fucking dry July! I shouldn't really let that stop me from going out, but i do.
One of the guys from the poker night shows up (Chow) and I have a bit of a laugh with him, then it's back in the van and back to hotel.
At least i will be fresh for the drive to Devonport......