 |
| Phantogram
with friends |
Our
Band Is Your Life
Two
local bands went on tour and all we got was this stupid road
diary
Phantogram
The
Saratoga Springs duo had an eventful year, to put it mildly.
Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel have spent much of the last
seven months on the road. At the end of their recent U.S.
jaunt it was announced that Phantogram had signed to Barsuk
Records. That news segued neatly to a victory lap at the CMJ
Music Marathon, which included tapings for bi-coastal public-radio
station KEXP and ABC News’ “Amplified,” an interview with
MTV’s John Norris, and a sold-out Brooklyn show with School
of Seven Bells (SVIIB) and buzz-heavy English band the xx.
Immediately thereafter, they boarded a plane to Europe for
six more weeks of shows. Here, Josh and Sarah reflect on the
excitement and mundanities of their recent tour with SVIIB.
Sept.
23
JOSH:
Flew out to Seattle. Arrived late at night. Our manager, Wes,
picked us up at the airport and took us out for some Mexican
food. I couldn’t hold any of it down, because the Percocet
that I’m taking for my recently pulled wisdom tooth makes
me nauseous. We headed to his place and I was out like a light
as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Sept.
24
SARAH:
Rifflandia Festival in Victoria, B.C. We went to this incredible
food stand down by the water. An oyster wrap as well as fish
and chips hit the spot. Poor Josh was only able to eat soup
because of his mouth surgery a couple days ago. I tried my
hardest to pretend as though my meal was “just OK.” We are
opening up for Beach House tonight in Victoria B.C. Possibly
the best slot we could imagine for this event. Thanks Mike
Mori!
JOSH:
We got up today around 5 AM to take a ferry from Seattle to
Victoria, B.C. It was a beautiful trip, but again I was puking
my guts out every 10 minutes. We arrived in Victoria and it
is a beautiful city. Our hotel is amazing and it overlooks
the harbor. Around lunch time, I started to feel better and
I decided to stop taking the Percocets. A good decision on
my part.
Sept.
25
SARAH:
7 AM. We are riding back to Washington on a ferry. I feel
guilty sitting in front of a computer right now while picturesque
scenery is floating by me. I’ll make this short and sweet.
Last night’s show was a fucking blast and Beach House brought
a ton of people, as they should. They were incredible. We
are headed back on a plane to start our tour with SVIIB. Baltimore
here we come.
Sept.
26
JOSH:
Today we drove from Brooklyn to Baltimore to play at this
place called the Ottobar. I am upstairs in the green room
waiting to hit the stage. We met the people from SVIIB and
they seem friendly. I am in a room by myself to escape from
being around others. Fact is, my mouth is hurting too much
to converse with other people. I have a splitting headache,
and really just want to play this gig and get it over with
so I can lay down.
Sept.
27
SARAH:
Don’t ask me why I thought it was a good idea to leave our
lights at home for this tour. I’m regretting that decision
more and more. Now that we are only working with our strobe
light at the shows, I’m afraid it’s going to send someone
into seizure land. Agenda for tomorrow: breakfast with the
band, drive a hybrid, play a show in Chapel Hill, watch Dexter
at Alex’s place.
Sept.
28
JOSH:
Chapel Hill was a nice little town. A friend of mine, who
I haven’t seen since high school, took us out for dinner at
an Italian restaurant before the show. Pretty awesome of him
to do so. Good show, good crowd. Another friend of ours that
we are staying with just outside Chapel Hill recorded Dexter,
so we are gonna watch the first episode of the new season.
I can’t fucking wait! Probably one of my favorite programs
of all time.
Sept.
29
JOSH:
Dexter kicked ass last night. We drove to Atlanta and played
a show in this place called the Drunken Unicorn. I got harassed
by some crack whore across the street from the club when i
went to buy cigarettes at a liquor store. I felt like I was
gonna get robbed. Bunch of sketch-balls hanging around.
SARAH:
Hotlanta. Drunken Unicorn. Once again, an outstanding venue
living in a scary neighborhood. If someone tries to break
into our Prius, I’m going to cut them in places that will
make them worthless to a woman. Red Stripe. Sound Check.
Sept.
30
SARAH:
Day off. Tip of the day: Don’t listen to any book-on-tape
involving rape, murder, and psychopaths while driving through
Texas in the middle of the night. It may cause some unusual
behavior.
Oct.
1
JOSH:
Got to Austin, Texas today. The drive from Atlanta was a bitch,
but Sarah and I had a good time. We ate at a Shoney’s. Shoney’s
never tastes good, but we had to stop anyway just for the
hell of it. Austin is a cool city. It’s our first time here
since SXSW. The hole in my mouth is killing me. I think I
have what they call “dry socket,” where the hole doesn’t really
heal properly. Maybe I should go to a clinic for some painkillers
that don’t make me puke.
SARAH:
Tip of the day: When you arrive in Austin, immediately find
your way to a Torchy’s Tacos restaurant. Do yourself a favor
and order the Baja Shrimp, the Republican, and the Dirty Sanchez
taco. It might just change your whole perspective on shit.
We got to hang out back stage at Austin City Limits today
while SVIIB played. Got a little starstruck when I walked
by Robyn Hitchcock and Daniel Johnston. I need to learn how
to cool it when I see famous people. Tip of the Day: While
hanging out with well-respected artists, it would be smart
for you to keep your staring problem at a minimum. Also, don’t
think that pointing your finger at the artist and jumping
in place will make the situation any better. I promise you,
it won’t.
Let’s hope our equipment is safe outside in the parking lot
tonight. I haven’t seen any hooligans around, but this hotel
is a shithole. No offense SVIIB, we are very thankful for
you to put us up for the night in your room but the carpet
smells like piss and there is a unusual dark-red stain between
the toilet and the bathtub. I think I’m going to take an Irish
shower tomorrow.
Oct.
2
SARAH:
We are on our way to San Diego with sort of a late start.
Texas is beautiful. While we keep driving west, I feel more
and more like Paul Reubens in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.
The stars at night! Are big and bright! Ch Ch Ch Ch!! Deep
in the Heart of Texas!
Oct.
3
SARAH:
New Mexico. I think I just saw a dead gremlin on the side
of the road.
Oct.
4
JOSH:
San Diego. Southern California is pretty enough, if your idea
of “pretty” is miles and miles of suburban homes, strip malls,
and just about every chain restaurant in america. Gonna hang
out in the city for a few hours while we wait to load into
the Casbah. Hopefully we can go to the beach for an hour or
two.
Oct.
5
SARAH:
Yesterday we were in San Diego. In-N-Out Burger was top priority
on our list. We were also able to travel out to Sunset Cliffs.
At the show, we met a guy who could have been Josh’s evil
twin. They even shared similar mannerisms when they realized.
Off to L.A. to play the Troubadour and eat again at In-N-Out
Burger. I’m really looking forward to seeing some old friends
at the show. I hope they recognize me.
Oct.
7
SARAH:
Last night we played our last show with SVIIB at Slim’s in
San Francisco. The venue was incredible and we were able to
play in front of a ton of people. It was a great way to end
the tour with SVIIB. But, for some reason Josh and I didn’t
think that was good enough. Instead we decided to stay up
until 4:30 AM with the band at a house party. We took a quick
nap and had to get to a radio interview for 7 AM. I’m surprised
we were able to carry on a conversation with the D.J. Tip
of the day: Don’t be an idiot.
Oct.
9
SARAH:
Seattle with Starfucker. Sold-out all-ages show. It’s going
to be packed! We’ve got an interview in a few minutes. I think
I’m going to confess my love for Prince for the first time
on video. That’s of course if she asks who my favorite artists
are.
Oct.
10
SARAH:
Time to make our way back to upstate New York. Our wonderful
managers took us out to eat last night at this phenomenal
Thai restaurant. We love you, Wes and Josh. We were also able
to hang out at the Barsuk Records office while we were in
town. We are so excited to be working with such a wonderful
group of people. Forty-three hours in the Prius. Ready, set,
go.
 |
| After
the Fall |
After
The Fall
At
roughly the same time as Phantogram were experiencing the
In-N-Out of the American Southwest, decade-old Albany hardcore-punk
trio After The Fall were in Europe for the two-week Oktourber,
a co-bill with ATF and Dutch band Antillectual. Singer-guitarist
Mike Moak recounts his band’s wild ride.
Sept.
30
After
taking some sleeping pills and snoozing for eight hours we
arrive in Amsterdam. Our friend Gijs shows us around the city.
Like the tourists we are, we go to Dolphins coffee shop and
sample some weed and hash. We met a girl named Helena who
used to live in Saratoga. She went to Skidmore College. She
tells me she’s seen After the Fall before. Such a small world.
Oct.
1
Wake
up early in Amsterdam and take a train to Nijmegen. Nijmegen
is where Antillectual are from. They meet us at the train
station and we go have a split band practice. After that we
go to another coffee shop and then some bars and some punk
squats and we party way too hard since we haven’t even played
a show yet. Great city with great people; bad hangover in
the morning.
Oct.
2
We
drive to our first show in Bremen, Germany at the club G18.
When we arrive some nice people tell us to load in our gear
and merch and dinner will be ready after that. This is some
treatment you don’t get at your typical show in the states.
After looking around the club, I realize were playing the
same club as our forefathers had, bands like Lifetime, I Spy,
and Dropdead had their flyers posted on the walls from the
last 20 years. This is when it really sets in for me that
we’re out here, and were doing this! It may be a decade later
but it feels great.
Oct.
3
Berlin,
Germany. What a fantastic place this is. The city reminds
me of NYC and Boston. We show up to the club, Lokal, and are
greeted with beers and pizza. The promoter, Ky, runs the agency
Muttis Booking, which does booking for Lagwagon and other
great bands. The show gets packed and we start playing. German
kids are circle-pitting and singing every word. This was the
greatest feeling, to be a million miles from home and see
people singing your songs and going nuts. After the show we
meet lots of great people, including one guy who lives on
Hunter Mountain on and off. Once again, such a small world.
Oct.
4
After
Berlin, we leave for Prague. I am really excited for this
because I get to meet up with an old friend (Matt) from the
old Albany band, the Bell County Silence. He lives in Prague
now and teaches elementary school. We arrive to the venue
Klub V Jeleni and we park behind on top of a hill where the
view is amazing. Matt shows up with a selection of beers,
potato chips, chocolate, bread, and Fritz Cola. The cola was
disgusting, but everything else was great. We played some
songs for some awesome people. Later we went out for gyros
and beers in the city, had an awesome time, met some awesome
people.
Oct.
5
We
arrive at the club in Mannheim, Germany and are given a fridge
full of beer and some gross soup. I couldn’t really eat much
of that soup so needless to say I drank a lot and got drunk
fast. After opening act Screed, we start playing and once
again kids are going crazy and singing all our songs with
us. A carload of people drove two hours for the show and loved
every minute of it. I was really drunk that night so for some
reason I think we played a crazy set. At one point someone
got on stage with a harmonica and we played a song together.
Oct.
6
A
nine-hour drive to the next show. We watch Band of Brothers
and The Simpsons Movie and finally make it to Bandhouse
in Weiner Neustadt, Austria. Weiner Neustadt is the home to
many great bands and friends of ours such as Rentokill and
Astpai. The show is in a huge practice space for opening act
GPF. A guy named Ivan and his girlfriend show up—they drove
nine hours froim Croatia to see us play a 25-minute set. That’s
dedication.
Oct.
7
Club
Jegendhaus in Karlsfeld, Germany, feeds us burritos and beers.
ATF open the show, then Antillectual. Landmines, from Richmond,
Va., ended the night with an awesome set. We stay at the venue
and party with our friends from Richmond. Smaller show but
still a great night.
Oct.
8
We
leave Germany and start our drive to Switzerland. When bands
cross the Swiss border they must have all merch weighed and
counted. We had to pay the border $260 just to bring our merchandise
through. We arrive to Club Dynamo in Zurich. A lot of mohawk
punks and skinheads, which was cool. A rudeboy sold me some
weed which was also cool. After the show we stayed with our
friend Ian who lives in the city center and on his apartment
roof you can see all of Zurich which is beautiful. We then
went out for the best falafel I have ever had.
Oct.
9
Tiki’s
Pub in Geneva is an awesome club, very 1950s with car seats
and pin-up girls everywhere. They give us beers and “happy
meals,” which were like a veggie burger and fries in a cardboard
taxi car. We meet our friend Flow from Shattered Thought Records
who will be releasing our new EP in Europe. We play for a
packed room and kids go crazy, singing all the songs and dancing
the whole time. After the show we got some weed and hash and
then went out to “the club.” Insane. I’ve never been to a
rave, but this felt pretty close to it. We all get wasted,
meet some people from Montreal, get more wasted, dance to
some techno. As we’re leaving some dealers in front of the
club approached our drummer Chris and pushed him around a
bit. We decide to split before we’re killed.
Oct.
10
As
soon as we start driving Chris starts puking out the van window,
and I snooze for eight hours. We arrive in Paris to Club Le
Pix. There are three opening acts before us in Paris, including
Neckhole, dudes in their sixties playing fast punk. We stayed
in a hotel, woke up early the next morning and went to see
Notre Dame and the tower.
Oct.
11
We
leave Paris after some tourist stops, and head back to the
Netherlands. The show is at 013 in Tilburg. This was the closest
thing to a local show for our tourmates in Antillectual, who
live about an hour away. 013 is the nicest, biggest club we
have ever played. This was like playing the Times Union Center.
Before we play we make a trip to the Grass Company for some
pre-show activities. The show was great. A good ender to this
crazy trip. We go back to Nijmegen, smoke the rest of our
weed, get two hours of sleep and then after a long morning
and a long flight, we’re back in New York. Driving home from
Long Island someone sideswipes Chris’ car and doesn’t pull
over. We got the plate number, but the cop who shows up two
hours later says “Those are surrendered plates. Good luck
catching this bad guy.” What an ending.
>>
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