Tour Diary: End of Week 2: Chicago, Dayton, and D.C.
Well into week two of tour now, I’m feeling more in control of my voice thanks to some help with getting some rest on Saturday, and also learning how to manage the swelling. I’m feeling way better than I did, though Saturday was a wake-up call since I’ve been hanging on to this infection for a few weeks now. Learning how to sing with a sick voice isn’t ideal, but it’s a reality I have to accept and learn to manage for a successful tour. One of the things I’ve learned from this tour- and there’s always a lot to learn each time.
So here we are, Saturday night in Chicago, and I know a good friend and music blogger who hasn’t seen the band in a long time is coming to the show. I’m excited, but also a little worried about how I’ll perform. Still, I can’t wait to play. I live for it. I have to tell you, it’s a super painful thing in every way–emotionally, physically, and mentally–to not be able to do what your absolutely love when the opportunity is there.
I won’t forget to be grateful for the voice I have, in all its wounds and all its glory. I didn’t know how much it meant to me–how much I value it– until this tour. Honestly, I didn’t.
So we go to Township on Saturday night. Great show, I fell off the stage (I do this more often than I’d like to admit–or generally just fall), but I know I put it all out there that night. Only thing is: the band and I were separate because the best sound was in front of the actual monitors. That being the case, I stood out in front of the band–which made me feel a little separate, but was necessary.
Still, I put it all into it, and my friends kill it always. In a burst of emotion and frustration, I spoke to the small audience that was there: “I got the best band in the world. I love them.” It was how I really felt, and I’d wanted to say it for a long time. It felt good to finally let it out.
Great show, a little bit of a struggle again for me, so when the guys said they were going for a “Metal Burger” after, I joined them. Now, I don’t normally eat like this. I don’t. But that night–I needed a god damn good burger. So off went to “Kuma’s Corner” in Chicago: The “…Bar and burger joint with a heavy metal attitude….”
Best damn burger I’ve ever had, and all metal music. And their fries are to die for. No lie.
Sunday, we headed to Dayton, OH to play Blind Bob’s Bar, another familiar place since last tour, and a great place to play on a Sunday definitely. Amazing energy from the crowd, and a show I much needed, being the last few days were such a struggle. Really needed that gig–and we played some Hangman to lighten the load before set time.
Seriously, enough people were so acknowledging after the show. Dude, for real, that makes a show for me. When people come up after to personally tell you how affected they were, or how much they loved the show–man–it makes it all so worthwhile for me. Nothing beats that for me ever. So Dayton=win win.
Monday was a travel day off for getting to DC. It was super long ride, but great conversation and always fun with my band. We were staying with our guitarist Mike’s mom in DC, and we’ve been here ever since. Great show in DC at Slash Run Tuesday night. And we had a photographer from The Washington Post out, as well as meeting Brendan from Fugazi who now — I believe — is a serious Soraia fan. He loved it! And –of course — he loved our drummer, Brianna Sig, too. Always so great to see my band getting the attention I know they both deserve, and have earned so hardcore. They’re a tough bunch of characters in their spirit. So glorious. So rare. So precious and valuable. I can’t say enough about these ones.
Anyway, the DC show was immense–so another great show and so fun, and surrounded by people who care about us.
With all this said, I still have to admit it’s been tough having the thing foremost on my mind being vocal health. But it is what it is–and it’s getting easier to deal with and accept. And I know it’s only this tour, and I know it’s not forever, but sometimes your brain focuses more on what’s wrong than on what’s right…and that downright sucks.
Next stop are our last three shows, starting in one of my favorite places ever to see a show (I saw The Detroit Cobras there last about a year ago), and I’m super honored to be making our Soraia debut at WFMU’s Monty Hall.
Can’t wait to tell you about it in our next entry….
Can’t wait to tell you about it in our next entry….
Signing off and both excited and sad about these last three dates of tour—talk to you guys again soon!
xx ZouZou
PS–While in Washington DC, we stopped at The Zoo before our DC show Tuesday night. Here’s some pics below from our trip. Just so you know—we have a thing for llamas, snakes, octopus, and pandas. Along with every other creature on the face of the earth….
