Slide Show: I'm With the Band
November 13, 2012
Day 1: Flying over Texas
I (along with our sound engineer Alejandro Iragorri fresh off a tour with The Head and the Heart) flew to meet up with the Helio boys Benjamin and singer/guitar player Brandon Summers who had driven the to
Day 1: Austin, Texas
Austin's airport greets you with music whether you want it or not.
Day 2: Austin, Texas
In the morning, boys played a radio set for KUT the University of Texas’ station, which is an NPR affiliate. The show was a thank you to sponsors who donated a lot of money to the station and somehow this led to an entire room of men that looked like Gov
Day 2: Austin, Texas
A very capable looking attorney.
Day 3: Somewhere in northern Texas
Gun shows galore.
Day 3: Somewhere in northern Texas
Driving through northern Texas to Oklahoma was about as far from Portland as you could get. The car was leaking differential fluid and we knew the axle was broken. Thanks to some Yelp searching we found a place with an incredibly helpful staff of polite
Day 3: Oklahoma
With the van fixed, we headed to the University of Oklahoma for an outdoor show in freezing weather to meet up with our friends and opening band Ramona Falls singer Brent Knopf, violinist Lauren Jacobson, ba
Day 2: Austin, Texas
Portland girls and Austin girls could easily have a fashion exchange program. Way to work the vintage denim.
Day 3: Oklahoma University
I wandered the halls of the pretty campus with photos of different tribes in the areas and snapped a pic of Benjamin in front of this gorgeous hand-woven tapestry. As the show began I saw a clear cultural divide. The dudes with baseball caps and girls i
Day 4 (Election Day): Oklahoma/Missouri
The first thing I heard when we got into the car heading from one red state to another was the radio saying “Liberals hate American Energy” then a number of talk shows discussing at length how Romney was guaranteed to win by a landslide. We Portlanders w
Day 4: Missouri
I bought three.
Day 4: Columbia, Missouri
The election was called a few minutes before that night's show began. Half the camp was thrilled, but there was definitely an unusual energy in the venue. But this happy young Missouri gent rocking suspenders was pleased with the whole night.
Day 5: Unknown
Nothing like blowing out a tire in the middle of nowhere
Day 4: Iowa City
One of the club employees in Iowa City reminding me music venue attires across country blend together.
Day 6: Wisconsin
This castle was (sadly) not actually made of cheese. Sigh....
Day 4: Iowa City
Unexpected glitz and glam in Iowa!
Day 5: Iowa
Sums up a large portion of Iowa.
Day 5: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Mosaic mural in Saint Paul glittering in the freezing cold.
Day 5: Saint Paul, Minnesota
One half of Ramona Falls rocking the fooseball pre-show.
Day 5: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Who knew the Saint Paul men were bringing such style?
Day 4: Iowa City
Cute midwest gals in glasses.
Day 5: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Some daring backless behavior for the temperature.
Day 6: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
We found a spot called Nona's cafe where the owners were so excited to have Oregon traveler's they took our picture and I responded in kind. (Home made raisin bread too!)
Day 6: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Again the people of Milwaukee are so incredibly kind. After I took this photo of Paul Alcott with a local fellow I had told I liked his Badgers shirt, he literally took it off his back and gave it to me. I couldn't convince him to take it back because "e
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Hitting Chicago on my own personal Expressway!
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Hmmmm.
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Raise your hand if that flower is too big.
I thought so.
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Heading to find a cup of coffee we stumbled upon a red carpet event for what I believe is a gym that teaches pole dancing.
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Ramona Falls' Brandon and Lauren camera mugging.
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Hundreds of enthusiastic fans came to Chicago's Lincoln Hall to listen to Helio (and one screamed over and over they wanted to buy them a burrito?). An excellent way to send us out of the US into our Canadian tour leg.
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Cute indie rock couples were all over Chi Town.
Day 7: Chicago, Illinois
Truth.
Day 5: Iowa or Minnesota
Awaking in another themed hotel means I was lucky enough to see a series of this "art" before I even had breakfast.
