The Whiskey Daredevils just returned from a road trip in Europe. Frontman Greg Miller fills us in on what happened.
I feel absolutely terrible after that German wine. I should have known better. Anything in a big giant bottle that was willingly served with a comp meal can’t be too good for you. I make the resolution to go “straight edge” for a while as I foggily try not to puke during my morning grooming ritual. We all get together after several phone calls are made to our rooms to make sure we leave prior to Noon. (They must be really concerned at the front desk, because they call every ten minutes from 11:30 on…)
The short walk back to the club seems a lot longer in the morning. There was no attempt to load out the gear last night as the scene had descended into complete and utter madness. It was like a Mad Max New Year’s Eve before Robert busted out the vodka. What happened after that is only rumor and conjecture.
After the brutal load out, we finally get underway to France. I have never played in France, and wonder how we’ll go over. On all my previous trips there I have only heard the really shitty techno music that gets played exclusively in Euro dance bars and low budget porn movies. Various bottles of all sizes begin to clink and clank around the back of the tour van. Gary has been dubbed “The Squirrel” as he has taken to collecting all the leftover food/drink from the backstage areas. He then stuffs it into any available area in the very backbench area where he has taken up residence on all the drives. I think it is because he has about four Euros to get him through the next four weeks, and is stockpiling for the long winter ahead.
The Squirrel, at this point, has taken bread, various sodas, water (still and sparkling), individually wrapped “fun size” candy bars, a banana, an apple, beer, pate, and perhaps fittingly, some nuts. I don’t know for sure because he won’t answer a direct question with a direct answer. In another interesting turn, it appears he isn’t keen on sharing any of his ill gotten booty. For example, when Leo asks him for some snacks during the drive, Gary feigns sleep despite being engaged in a conversation only moments before. Strange…
This article appears in Jun 24-30, 2009.