White Lion Tour Diary – Entry #1, 3/2/05

 

By troypatrickfarrell

Episode 1

Tramp’s White Lion getting ready to hit the road

Holy Fuck Sludgers… who would’ve thunk a fucking tour diary would be so difficult?… I guess I have to start from now and work backwards… you’d think that if two fucking 80’s bands can co-exist on a bus and tour for 6 weeks, we would be able to find some internet that might work so I can do this thing. We had no problem finding a 96 oz. steak for free if you eat it in one hour..but internet??… I haven’t had much success..so that’s why this 1st edition is many days late..and I apologize to all that were dialing up on their AOL looking to read this shit…

As I do this, I battle between being too mouthy and at the same time too brief… so I’ll error on the mouthy side..and hope you hang for the ride… and I promise not to (try to) bore you… but to be honest..I’m already fucking bored…

Before we go on… I’m troypatrickfarrell..I play drums for Tramp’s White Lion… it’s Mike Tramp doing the original White Lion with nobody’s… No, Vito is not w/ us… and won’t be… (Despite all of the misleading ads you’ll see out there). This will be the only White Lion you will ever see..and yeah..Vito is a big part of that sound… he is sadly missed… .until you see Jamie… who makes you not miss Vito so much… Claus is on bass guitar..a native of Denmark..he is now my blood brother… I knew fast why Tramp had him around… we’re rounded out by Henning on Keys..who is so happy to be playing w/ Tramp..but he’s from Germany… Joe Rega (Cheap Trick, Spacehog, Aretha Franklin, and many more) is running (ruining) our sound on a nightly basis..and Adam is forgetting gear in Sacramento… so to say the least, it’s a Skeleton crew of Die Hards… why else would we be here?? Maybe because Chip smells so good…

Right now we’re in Amarillo, Tx and I just got kicked out the the “business center” of the Ritz hotel… w/ a PC that is running at a stunning 100 MHZ and had a zillion pop ups, with an expired pop up blocker program I might add…thx for keeping up with the times (that comes from a guy drumming 80’s hits with Mike Tramp..(yeah..White Lion had 4 of them go top 40).

This Arab fuck (okay… he was actually Indian) got all pissy because we weren’t staying there, (he should be so lucky)..he didn’t request we leave because we weren’t actually staying there (we are housing our driver there)… he just got 7-11 on my ass… wanted to call the cops..blah fucking blah…

So… let’s move on… we started our night from Alb, (no… i can’t spell Albuquerque) New Mex @ the boom boom cabaret..yes… ”strip” bar… It was a failed attempt at a Titty bar… (When a chick is trying to rub her C Section scar in your face… sexy is not the 1st thing that comes to mind).

It was Eric Donner’s (Znuff drummer) Birthday (speaking of birth..we saw a lot of evidence of prior births amongst the Boom Boom staff)… and Chip Znuff and Big Ron got Eric a lap dance… .when he got back… he told me about trying not to vomit… yet Chip said… ”tell me you don’t love me bro”… Fuck Chip… I can’t love you when you do that to your drummer… .

FYI..Eric is sitting in for a recovering Ricky Parent on this tour… and doing a fine job… just help w/ the fucking drums already..forget the pussy..you’ll save yourself grief down the road… trust me…

SHOW 1:

Let’s go back to where this train wreck started..shall we?… San Diego… we played @ Brick By Brick..we did modest there..actually a bit better… it was a good 1st show… other than driving 3 hours in the pouring rain, stopping for 30 min for an accident and falling asleep with the car in Drive, and getting woken up by the Califorinia Highway Patrol in the middle of I-5, nothing else to note… so let’s go to my favorite place…

SHOW 2:

The Pound SF… I got fucked there by my pal Jimmy A. (promoter) when I did a Dizzy Reed (of GnR) show w/ our band Hookers N Blow… he mentioned not drawing well… etc… (no posters we made or emailed were up and no weekly show ad’s included our show)… he then said that he sent our deposit to the Agent… which was a lie..we had him re-issue a check..that was “honestly” stopped the night he wrote it…

So we arrive @ the Pound early to find out they’ve had no Power for 3 days… .2 hours became 4 which became, 10pm..we pulled the plug. We set up merch to salvage the night and maybe extend the possibilities of playing, but to no avail.

When it came to collecting the fee, it was DeJa Vue..and no, not the titty bar. They tried to cut our fee almost in ½. I battled for nearly 3 hours and I think Jimmy actually stood up to fight me. Eventually, I got all but a nominal amount out of them… it sucked… we wanted to do the show..but they knew the power was an issue (for 3 days)… they did hook up some rooms and did everything else… so overall, I’m over it..but I knew from when the Pound was on the itin, it would be something to remember…

Mike Tramp waits for the crowd to show up.

SHOW 3:

The Roadhouse… . a great venue, Mike kicks ass… but anyone can play there, and the draw is always okay… that’s fine..he’s happy, we’re happy, and gear got left there…

SHOW 4:

We got to Concord and found out we (joe) had to rebuild yet another PA. This gig was doomed… it turns out Adam, our film/vid guy took a proud picture of the “pack” the night before, and forgot the most important item… .Tramp’s wireless mic and rack in Sacramento… .we had a bro from Sac meet a sis up there ½ way to get the item to Concord… .the tour was done if this didn’t happen… and fortunately or not… I’m the point man on this run..and when shit goes wrong… me or not… ..it’s me that deals w/ it… but Adam sucked it up..made the drive..funded the fuel..and got the mic rack to Concord for a Sold Out Show… and it was… so fuck off! Okay… Sold Out means 200… but hey… it is what it is…

SHOW 5:

Tailspin, Las Vegas..it’s the only game in town..I don’t know why, but it is… then you meet the staff, then you know why..Ryan is kick ass… treats the “talent” well and the only thing lacking is a PA. A very small stage, no PA, the amps overheated and shut down… how does one operate this way??? It sucks..when the Elk Lodge can get a PA that won’t overheat…

Vegas is always great… but I’m bummed I didn’t gamble other than on the gig… .we did well, and people were very cool… ..and I met Jizzy Pearl… He left abruptly when the horrible cover band started playing Candlebox.

SHOW 6:

LaunchPad, New Mex… I played here w/ Tramp on the 01 solo tour..and didn’t remember this one last time… and probably won’t remember this time either… actually not really..they treated us great this time and the last..and actually saw some nice looking people… but that’s not difficult when your last few dates included Concord (no, not you Ette) and Sacramento…

We did well here and had a good show… almost sent a crew member home, and just when the things were worked out, he managed to clog up Tramp’s toilet w/ a huge pile of shit and toilet paper… it wasn’t funny when it happened, but I can’t help but laugh now… Adam is still with us for now… I hope he sticks it out..

For Now..that’s it… we continue this “tour” March 2 in Dallas Texas until March 27th @ the Malibu Inn… all dates are @ www.miketramp.com. Expect to See Tramp, Chip Znuff and a pretty cool package… it’s a couple of bands that had a few good tunes… and we’re not taking this too seriously… just enuff to deliver a good show… rock n roll…

Until episode 2… .

troypatrickfarrell

(tell me to shut up @ tpf@drummertroy.com)

MORE PICS

Tramp’s White Lion and Quiet Riot members converge at rehearsals prior to the tour! Good thing no one was packing heat.

Mike Tramp at rehearsal

Tramp signs some chick’s t-shirt

troypatrickfarrell and some of those other White Lion guys rip it up at a raging aftershow party

Johnny Monaco displays the Enuff Z’Nuff setlist for all to see. Yes, it really is written on a styrofoam plate. Perhaps it serves dually as a rolling tray? You just never know with those guys.