******************
After hanging around the Atlanta airport 8+ hrs in our layover, we finally got to board our Delta flight to Frankfurt. That flight itself was a little over 8 hrs and no one really got much of any sleep in those airplane seats. But,with a safe flight behind us, we arrived in Frankfurt on time and found our driver waiting for us and ready to answer all our questions about what lay before us:
We were most pleased to see an awesome tour bus awaiting us and loaded our gear up in it:
Inside the bus is equipped with two four-top tables, 8 bunks and a rear lounge area:
Our driver, Armin Hein, gave us his “introduction”. He had been a driver for Thom, Wade, Todd and Bob on previous tours and is a fun, easy going guy with a good sense of humor to keep us entertained:
We still had to wait to pick up Ben Adamson, the sound guy, who was flying in from L.A., then go to the bus company’s garage to pick up sound and drum gear (provided by Ben’s company), then head to our base accommodations, clean up and off to the venue for the first night’s performance.
The venue was an on base “Country & Western” bar complete with dance floor, pool tables and even a mechanical bull (no one in the band rode the bull). If it wasn’t on the base, you would have thought we were playing in a honky tonk in Texas. Sound check was 6-8pm, then a dinner break then the band began playing at 10.
Here’ Ben and me (Yes, that would be Ben & Jerry) finishing up sound check:
I’m impressed that no one let the jet lag take over. The sets went great, everyone got the first night bugs worked out. We were only scheduled to play 2 hrs unitl midnight, but time flew by and next thing you know the band was wrapping up its 2nd set at 12:45.
Here’s the stage at the gig:
And the base personnel on the Texas style dance floor:
In addition to copies of the band pic featured in an earlier blog, Thom brought over a ton of his cds to give away while signing the pictures:
We actually weren't able to load up the gear and get to our rooms until 2:30am. We agreed to meet back at the bus at noon and go grab a bite and see the sites for the next day which is scheduled to be an off day. I didn't wake up until 12:17 with John knocking on my door to find out where the heck I was.
More all about that in the next post. Go Titans!
2 comments:
Sounds like you all are off to an exciting start. Jerry, I wish I could say the same about the Titans game today vs the Colts. Oh well, it really didn't mean anything since the top seed is locked up anyway. But I will be following your blogs and will mention this in my newsletter this coming week so that others might follow it as well. So not only do you have "Ben & Jerry", but "Thom & Jerry". Anyway, it's an awesome thing that all of you are doing over there. I can't begin to imagine how much it means to the troops. Keep up the great work! --- Jeff Warfle
Dude!!! Wow that's cool!
What a trip man. It's great that y'all are doing this for the troops. It's something most of us artists have thought about, but never made happen.
And I'll bet it's great bringing a little America over there. Oh, and by the way, it is Christmas. And it's a reminder that many families are missing someone special around this time of year.
We ALL appreciate them, and you and your bandmates as well brother.
God Speed to them, and safe and uneventful travel to you all.
I will try and put this link on my website as well. Fans should know when musicians give back like you all are.
Keep the pics coming, it's really great to see the smiles!
Dusty Drake
ps - I think that tour bus is nicer than any i've ever rented...
pss - I was suprised I didn't see a Titan Flag on my mailbox after last week... :) See you in the playoffs!
Post a Comment