Kevin Bronson on October 14th, 2008

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Chapter 6: We arrived in Athens to a blast of heat that was absolutely delightful. The tour’s kickoff show was surprisingly packed, and we were taken aback by the warm welcome.

The next day, we were Acropolis-bound. We got really lucky — it was off-season and the weather was windy and bright.”  And the view … The whole city is visible from the stone walls, stretching from the sea to nestle against the hills.”  I was overtaken by a deep sense of calm, and I think we all felt it, each wandering off on our own like lost ants to take it all in.

The next morning, we headed for the airport to meet The Bus. We’ve only done van tours, so you can imagine our anticipation in seeing the vessel in which we would live for the next month and a half. Anthony and I were skeptical, because we’re very pro-clean shower, and with a bus you’re depending on the venues to provide the amenities (which can be frightening).

We arrived in Germany, and there she was, black, beaten and morose. We piled in to explore and immediately depression set in: Straight out of 1981, the bus was an homage to every hangover I’ve ever had: essentially a big fat bitch. The back lounge had tiny strips of acetate table, the outlets were covered in a puddle of water from some hidden leak (so all the wiring was sopping and readying itself for the kill), the lights would sporadically cut in and out, creating a pathetic disco effect. The door to the bus wouldn’t even lock.”  And that was just the short laundry list. We were immediately on our knees begging the gods to give us back our van, clean showers and early wake-up calls.

Lotje Hovers, our tour manager, and Patrick Walsh, our front of house engineer, are with us, as theyhave been from the beginning, and unfortunately Lotje ended up bearing the brunt of the situation, knowing we were grossed out, uncomfortable and desperate to escape the death trap. Then, not 10”  kilometers outside of the airport, in the pissing rain, the engine coughed and were stranded on the roadside, waiting for a mechanic. So here I am, in my tiny, questionably clean bunk, fully clothed and praying that tomorrow we’ll be back in a van. I’ve been meaning to buy a flask, this could very well be the perfect excuse.

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