1.16.11 - Omaha

Hey look! It's my video from Minneapolis!

Today ruled! I woke up early enough to go for a run on the treadmill in Chicago. After a quick shower, it was about time to say peace to my lovely hotel room. I brought just enough things on this tour to look like a pack-mule trudging through the lobby on my way out. Turns out I was an hour early with my bags. Thankfully, the van was early too.

Sunrise at 7:00am. You almost thought I started my day this early.

Back inside the lobby I got my bill for the room (just the incidentals). My only charges were for the fax machine, which charged $10 per fax! The ironic part was that I was faxing a receipt to someone to get reimbursed for a purchase, and the receipt was for less than $10. I’m not even mad, that’s just funny.

Everyone was in very high spirits on the plane today. The sun was shining through the windows, which was probably a big contributor to good moods across the board. We hadn’t seen sun since the start of the tour, and I had almost forgotten about it to be honest. Upon sitting down, I found a tray of sandwiches, at which I lunged for one. I also had some delicious pasta with a cesar salad. Most of the flight was spent playing Angry Birds with the audio engineer. Jacked some peanuts on my way out.

Plane food. Pretty rad.

Inside the plane. Band guys.

Omaha. Office furniture capitol of the world. Google it.

Omaha was even colder and windier than Chicago, but provided the biggest turnout so far out of the three shows we’ve done. Something like 8,000 tonight. When I initially got to the venue, I found out that I only had a small corner of a room to set up base camp. It’ll do. I immediately went to the room where all the VIP ticketholders were hanging out. This room exists for every show, and always provides some interesting folks. These are the people I love mingling with. Everyone gets geeked out because I have a camera, and they get real friendly. Some even took pictures with me (why not?).

Tonight I felt comfortable enough with the band to ask if I could be in their dressing room to film some stuff. Drummer Tommy Clufetos said, “Yeah man, that’s what you’re here to do, right? I’m pretty sure none of us give a shit” (as in, they wouldn't mind).

Stoked.

The band members are just hilarious, and Adam Wakeman offered me some English breakfast tea while I was hanging out. I said, “Yup.” He asked me how I wanted my tea, and I had no idea how to respond. In a cup? He then briefed me on different ways English tea was served. Who knew? Folks from England, I guess.

The show was a ton of fun tonight, as it always is. The energy of the crowd is all too contagious, and I can’t keep from smiling ear to ear while shooting.

Quest Center pre-doors. This place is HUGE.

8,000 fans thrust lighters to the sky during "Road to Nowhere." Spectacular sight!

Tonight I sleep in Los Angeles after a 3.5 hour flight. It’s been a long day, but tomorrow I hope to have some time to explore my surroundings. I’ve never been to L.A. before! Our hotel is on the Sunset Strip, and the place was absolutely crawling with nighttime scenesters on our way in. We even passed the venue for the Golden Globes (which was tonight?). I might fall in love with this place.