Back in 2007, CBC Radio 3 had some fun with the Dudes when they made an audio version of their infamous and hilarious tour diary on Episode #91 of the CBC Radio 3 podcast. Well, the rough and tumble Calgarian rockers (or should I say the rough and tumble barbers, thieves and bartenders?) are back on the road touring Barbers, Thieves, and Bartenders, the first album in a trilogy. Since they’re on the road again that can only mean one thing: the tour diary is back!
Lead singer and charming gentleman Dan Vacon writes all of the posts, and you should really head to the Dudes’ website to read it in full. But here are some excerpts to get you interested.
http://music.cbc.ca/play/artist/The-Dudes/American-Girl
[Listen to the Dudes' new single "American Girl."]
The Dudes’ Dan Vacon on:
Whistler
“We played at the base of the hill to a couple thousand cautiously interested sports enthusiasts. Only rule? No swearing and no beers on stage. We kept sneaking behind the bass cab between songs to cuss and get more loaded.”
Kelowna
“Dearest Kelowna, you are all of the rad. I’ll have to remember that when we play Sault Ste. Marie and I want to stab myself in the eye.”
“They’re like, my favourite dorkestra ever.”
A new guitar pedal he just purchased
“It’s cute and colourful and tiny but it sounds like if an eagle traded his wings in for fists.”
O’Hanlon’s in Regina
“We haven’t played Regina in forever. O’Hanlon’s is a rad venue now. Last time we were there, a table of middle-aged ladies scarfed down wings with their backs to the openers. I’m pretty sure it was the City Streets. And I’m pretty sure it was rude. And I’m positive it was disgusting. Hot sauce and ranch double chins and Wind River sweatshirts. This time? Handsome fellas, drunken mini skirts and endless bar tab. That’s just a crazy thing to offer the Dudes. We partied like it was a Mexican wedding.”
A memorable pit stop
“We stopped for a whiz in Salmon Arm, this dude saddles up to the urinal beside Bob and says, ‘Hey man, cool hair! Do you longboard?’”
Soundmen
“The soundman, Mickey, (heck of a guy) wore sweats with rad leather strips down the sides. (I don’t know why, but soundmen who wear sweats totally have their shit together. Scott asked him for his business card but then retracted: ‘Guys like you don’t have business cards.’ ‘What do you mean?’ It hurt his feelings. He totally had cards.)”
On driving through the Canadian Shield
“Last couple days have just been driving, driving, driving. Shotgun, shotgun, shotgun, whiz, shotgun, whiz, shotgun, whiz. It’d be boring if the middle of Canada wasn’t so G.D. beautiful.”
Related links:
#StarWarsBands: When music and sci-fi collide
Japandroids, the Dudes, PS I Love You, and David Myles and his Best Song of the Year, Podcast #317