Tour Prep: It's Go Week
The beginning of the tour is just around the corner. Here is where things stand as we pack the last of the gear into the Buick.
And so, it begins this grand adventure westward of mine. Just three days after this posting, I will begin the longest and most ambitious tour of my life. The journey will clock more than 10,000 miles of road, feature at least twenty five shows, and will traverse more than half of the states in the Union. This final tour prep entry will allow us a quick look at where things stand as I get ready to leave, and it offers us a preview of the first few stops along the way to get an idea of what to expect as I begin the tour.
All of that and a bit of last minute news. Let’s get to it.
Final Preparations
With a scant few days to go, I am slowly but surely getting my ducks in a row. I’ve recently streamlined my packing for the tour to save room in the car and to minimize trips in and out of venues. While I will still perform one last dry run to test all of the equipment, my gear is all packed up and ready to roll, save for the instruments themselves. Over the next day or two, I will give each of my acoustic guitars a bit of TLC in the form of new strings, a bit of polish, some lemon oil on the frets, and a thorough cleaning. Once that is done, the gear is good to go.
This past weekend, I began to organize my physical merch for the tour. I am still waiting for my newest batch of shirts to arrive on Wednesday (too close!), but I was able to get a full slate of CDs and vinyl packed that features my work in The Stick Arounds, Harborcoat, and The Pantones. I also found a stache of old buttons that I made for tour last summer, along with a small collection of Harborcoat stickers in a design thought long since expired.
The weekend was also filled with myriad loads of laundry. I am a notorious overpacker, but I am doing my level best to not take two full suitcases of clothing with me on this tour. That said, packing for this tour requires a rather wide variety of clothing and as such, keeping baggage down could be a challenge. I’ll be in the mountains, the desert, the notoriously chilly Bay Area, the damp Pacific Northwest, and the gorgeous but unpredictable Rocky Mountains.
Suffice it to say, I’ll need to prepare for a variety of weather possibilities. Over the next couple of days I will have the pleasure of trying to bring enough proper clothing for a series of disparate climates all inside one Moroccan carpet bag. We’ll see how efficiently I can roll.
An Unexpected Guest
In recent weeks, I spoke with both of my daughters about the possibility of joining me out west for a stretch of time. Maddie was very eager and excited about the idea, but a potential job offer and other commitments took priority. Hannah considered the possibility, but she too had work commitments and was also trepidatious about flying alone. As exciting as the offer might be, it was just not a practical option for the girls right now.
Late last week while having a toddy at my Mom’s in the sunshine of a glorious September afternoon, I asked my Mother rather nonchalantly if she would like to join me in California for a few days. I figured this was a long shot as well, since she will be traveling in Italy starting on October 28. Despite her other travel plans, she leapt at the idea and hurriedly asked for more details.
After some flight research and a cursory look at the California map and my itinerary, we booked a flight for her to join me for a few days in California! This will be her very first trip to the state. During her quick trip with me on the left side of the country we will visit Yosemite and make the trip to the California coast to see William Randolph Hearst’s castle at San Simeon. Having a partner in crime should be a wonderful way to break up the trip. I am really excited about this.
The First Week
The first of the show of the tour kicks off on Thursday of this week at The Harmony Bar & Grill in Madison, WI. I love the Wisconsin bar culture, and I adore the city of Madison. The first show is a two hour affair, which should be the perfect set length to shake off the cobwebs and find my feet the first night back on the road.
Friday night finds me at the Driftwood Char Bar in Minneapolis, MN. I booked this one through a friend who plays in a terrific Minneapolis band called Demolition For Progress. Sadly, BJ wasn't able to connect me with a band to headline the night, but we’re hoping to bring a few people out for a weekend night in Mill City.
Come Saturday, I’ll be making my first visit to either of the Dakotas. My show is happening at a hip little spot in Aberdeen called The Red Rooster Cafe. This listening room is a sober space with a regular crowd aching for original songwriters. Dan, my host has already offered me a meal and a place to crash for the night as well. I’m looking forward to my first Dakota foray.
On Sunday, I’ll continue the drive westward from Aberdeen to the town of Miles City, MT and the home of my friend Mike Dishon. Mike reached out fairly early on in my planning process and offered me a spot to crash and floated the idea of a house concert at his Montana home. Shortly after I eagerly accepted, Mike texted me a photo of storm damage that took out a chunk of the area where he planned to host the show. Undaunted, Mike got the back yard into amazing shape. By Sunday night, we’ll be rocking.
Cactus Records in Bozeman, MT will be my destination come Monday. I’ll be playing an early evening show at the shop on a Monday night, so a crowd could be tough. This one is likely not gonna net me any money, but perhaps I can sell a record or two and make some new friends along the way. The owner Mike seems like a good dude, and I am hoping for a good experience even if the night won’t pay the bills.
That is my touring schedule up through my first day off, which I plan to spend driving through Glacier National Park. Do you have any suggestions for these first few stops on the road? Are there cool roadside attractions along the route? Maybe you know of a great spot to stop for a beer. Is there a meal on this route that I shouldn’t miss? Let me know what I should be keeping an eye out for as I make my west for the first few days.
Thank You
Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement as I have gotten ready for this massive undertaking. I’m terribly anxious about how this thing is gonna go, but I’m so very grateful for each and every one of you out there that has been supporting, and rooting for me. I truly could not be doing this without you.
If you would like to help support the cause, please consider making a purchase at the Sheddio On The Road Shop. Or, you can make a donation via PayPal or Venmo to help cover tour expenses.
Be sure to check my tour dates for a full rundown of where I’ll be over the next six weeks. If you are anywhere near any of these spots I would love to see you. Thanks again, my friends. I appreciate you so very much.
Cheers,
Matty C
We…played it
Hey Matty— if you happen to have time and the spirit and wheels move you, it might be fun to visit the red ants pants factory in Sulphur Springs. RedAntsPants.com it’s a very cool company that throws a very cool music festival every July. Replayed it with Mary Chapin about 10 years ago and it was kinda magical! Godspeed brother!