Kevin Bronson on February 16th, 2009

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[The Henry Clay People – singer-guitarists Joey and Andy Siara, bassist Jonathan Price and drummer Mike Hopkins – are doing their first national tour, as the support for fellow L.A. band the Airborne Toxic Event. The brothers Siara are sharing their adventures in a tour diary for Buzz Bands. Here goes:]

Day 1: House of Blues, San Diego
First show of the tour.”  I give it a B-.”  House of Blues is a business institution.”  It was fun, though, and nice to see everybody. We have tasty burritos the next day.

Day 2: The Music Box @ Fonda, Los Angeles
This was the biggest show we’ve played, ever.”  Andy and I had dinner with our parents before the show, and I got blackened tofu, which proved to be a big mistake.”  We set up with Spaceland efficiency, only to wait 20 minutes for our actual set time.”  As we are waiting behind the curtains, we make a pact that if I crap my pants on stage then nobody in the band is allowed to say anything.”  Then Andy disappeared to the bathroom for a few minutes.

I wish I could be more articulate in describing what it felt like to have the curtains pull up and see a crowd that large looking at the stage. Airborne is probably getting pretty used to it by now, but we aren’t. It was a rush. Andy, Mike, and Jonathan had big goofy grins for the first few songs. I’m sure I did, too.”  Towards the end we had Noah Green and Eric Scott (our original bassist and drummer, respectively) come up on stage and sing some Operation Ivy, along with temp-to-hire HCPeeps Jillinda and Joe. This wasn’t really planned. Then Mike handed over the drumsticks to Eric (a class act, if you ask me), and Eric got to play one last song with The Henry Clay People.”  It meant a lot to everyone who knows the history of our band (all 14 of you). Playing to a sold-out Fonda? It’s going to be tough to top this show.

Day 3:”  Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco (FRIDAY THE 13th)
I’m not terribly superstitious, but … Let’s preface this by saying Mike Hopkins got his passport and all his clothing bags stolen from his car last week.

8 a.m. – This was when we were all supposed to meet.

10 a.m. – This is when we actually meet.”  I put my passport in a book and forgot to pack the book right away.”  Lucky catch.

10:30 a.m. – I take off the driver’s side mirror of my parents’ car backing out of Mike’s driveway.

11 a.m. –”  We scramble to find a body shop to repair it.”  Safety first, kids. Can’t drive without that mirror. $200 leaves my small bank account. Andy is driving and tries to check his blind-spot.”  He face-plants into the drivers side window and makes a loud thud (and leaves a nice grease spot).

12:30- 2 p..m. – Snowstorm on the Grapevine followed by hail in Bakersfield.

Fast forward to showtime: Airborne is running a few hours behind because their van needed a hitch for the trailer. Jonathan gets mad at us because our nighttime arrangements are changing in inconvenient ways.”  We compromise.”  Band tiff No. 1. Everything is cool right? No.

The bartender tells Mike that his driver’s license expired two days ago (his 30th birthday). No passport plus no ID equals no Canada for Mike. Good thing that Monday is national holiday. No government buildings are open.”  DMV is closed til Tuesday (like the band) and we are leaving California today. We have our work cut out for us. Bad stuff.

The actual show was fun though.”  A little sloppy and preoccupied at times but give us a break. I ended the night drinking martinis at my uncle’s house until 3:30.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Photos: Top, ex-bandmates join THCP onstage at the Fonda (by Jeff Koga). Middle, the gang – Mike Hopkins, Joey Siara, Jonathan Price, Andy Siara and Yukon Promotions guru Dan Sundseth. Above, snow on the Grapevine.