Moustache of Insanity goes to Vienna

I've been neglecting this blog for the last month or so. Reason? Well, to be honest, I just haven't felt like writing about anything. But, this morning I thought it was time to get back into it.

First, some tour stories. The band I'm in, Moustache of Insanity, went to Vienna last weekend to play a couple of shows.

We left London horribly early on Thursday morning, meaning we arrived in Vienna feeling like shit. We got to our hostel, had a nap, drank some beer, practised some songs and wrote a set list. I also realised that my keyboard was not doing that well after August's blood-soaked album launch party. Fake blood and keyboards just don't go that well together.

In the end it didn't really matter. My keyboard was probably the least of our problems that evening, the biggest one being a drunken audience member. I can't remember her name, but she decided it would be hilarious to keep grabbing the mic, dancing on the stage and just being weird. I suppose it was pretty funny, to a certain extent anyway. In the end it was just annoying. She seemed to prefer our faster songs. Or at least I assume she did. During the slower ones she kept shouting "This is conventional bullshit". Anyway, I guess she did manage to divert attention from our set and obvious lack of practise.

We made it through the set, feeling reasonably satisfied. It wasn't great, but far from the worst show we've done. And people seemed to like it. Even drunk girl, who assured us that if she hadn't liked it she would have left the gig early.

In the end it was a great night. We met loads of lovely people and drank loads of Austrian beer. We even sold some records. Success!

On Friday we went exploring. Highlight of the sightseeing was a shop called Elektro Popp, run by a man called Konrad Popp. How awesome is that?

We also saw a bunch of awesome graffiti and a levitating man.

The levitating man was slightly more impressive before we figured his trick out. Well, at least we assumed we knew what was going on.

On Friday evening we played in our friend Costa's living room. This was an awesome show, much more relaxed. It probably helped that there was no weird girl shouting abuse at us during songs.

Jad Fair Drew Me A Duck

And Bill got to play an axe! A real axe. AXE!

Another day, another hangover…and more sightseeing. On Saturday, we saw a flak tower, bought some records and Bill wore a rather colourful cardigan.

That's about it. Sunday was spent recovering and wandering around Vienna…again. It's a cool place. We had loads of fun and hopefully we'll be back.

Some scandi-tour mobile pics

So, I spent last week on the road with Allo Darlin' and The Smittens. It was all very lovely and I'm a bit sad being back in cold and miserable London. It always takes some time adapting to "normal life" and I haven't quite settled into work and things yet. I took alot of photos, but haven't got round to developing them yet. Come to think of it, I haven't actually unpacked my bag yet. Anyway, this is a quick recap of the week consisting mainly of low-res pictures taken on my phone.

In Copenhagen, Bill Moustache found his new favorite poster.

Slutspurt! No you are! Really, this is most definitely only funny to a non-Danish-speaking person.

In Malmö we played in a cafe called På Besök (meaning 'on a visit' or 'visiting') and they had amazing artwork in their bathroom.

Awesome lamp!

They did not, however, have more than one mic stand, so Katie had to be like an indiepop MacGyver and save the day.

Mic stands are over-rated anyway.

Then we headed to Gothenburg....

...where Max Smitten joined Allo Darlin' on stage for duet duties on Dreaming...

...and The Smittens sported some unusual on-stage foot fashion. From left to right, that's shoes, socks and bare feet.

Eventually we made it to Stockholm, where Paul found some time for a quick snooze in a cafe.

Zzzzzzzzz

David Smitten

Eventually it was time for The Smittens to head back home and for the majority of Allo Darlin to drive to Amsterdam, leaving just me and Bill in Sweden. The final Moustache show was at infamous punk venue Gula Villan in Haninge, just outside Stockholm.

Gula Villan backyard.

I met up with an old friend I hadn't seen for around seven years. He showed me this tattoo of the first "proper" drawing his daughter ever made.

It's an owl!! Pretty much the best tattoo ever!

Me and Bill had to get back into Stockholm, so we had to leave early. We left just as Tiger Tape (formerly Moofish Catfish) hit the stage.

Completely awesome as usual!

Another fun summer in Sweden. It really is a lovely place.

On the road with Allo Darlin' (photo diary, part 2)

Here it is...part 2...apologies for the delay. Some camera issues.

Soooo…..after another night at Casa Skipping Stones we headed down south towards New Jersey. By now, the driving, touring and eating habits were lowering morale a tiny bit. We tried boosting it by getting some doughnuts, but when you're used to Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts just isn't cutting it…proved here by this rare photo of Paul 'Thunder' Rains struggling to look excited, even with a doughnut in his hand.

Sadly, I didn't bring my camera for the Allo Darlin' show in New Brunswick. When I say "didn't bring" I really mean "I stupidly forgot" so there are no pictures from what was really a great evening.

Next up: WASHING DAY! Oh the excitement.

Round and round and round and round
On Friday it was time for another NJ show, this time in Jersey City, in an art gallery across the road from this rather impressive mural.


Allo Darlin' did their thing and it was all awesome. Go New Jersey!




Early rise againa nd off to Smittenland, or Burlington, Vermont if you like. The Satnav took us the scenic route, which involved.....

A BEAR...


...apple pie (and more doughnuts)...


...a ferry...and eventually...


We headed straight to one of several Smittens HQ's in Burlington, where an abundance of amazing food and booze was waiting for us. Yay!




The evening show in Winooski was loads of fun and, once again, Moustache managed to get through our songs.

Bill Moustache setting up

Moustache of Insanity

A Smile and a Ribbon

David Smitten kicking my ass at some arcade game

Allo Darlin'


The Smittens

In the morning we had pizza and Blood Mary's for breakfast...calling it flatbreads makes it feel alot healthier. Cheese and booze, cheese and booze, cheese and booze.


Then after alot of panicking about Canadian border crossing, we headed to Montreal....for more music....again

A Smile and a Ribbon

The Smittens

Allo Darlin'

Canada was nice....or the little of it we saw was nice. People looked exactly like they do in South Park The Movie....pretty much.

Then back to Vermont....for a final brunch....and then..

GOOD BYE....end of tour...


But not before we stocked up on SWEEEEEEEEEEEETS!!!!

Lemonheads!!

We also had a bit of an accident after a run-in with a dickhead in a pick-up truck....and even got to meet a real State Trooper!!!

He had a cool hat and everything!

Back in New York, we had a few hours to kill and went to Ghostbusters fire station.

If there's something strange in your neighbourhood...
I bet they get plenty of prank phone calls.

The rest of Allo Darlin' left town , leaving me and Elizabeth to be tourists for a few days.

We did Coney Island, which was smaller than expected but awesome.






After a few days of shopping and doing nothing, we felt ready for some live music again. Two awesome bands playing in a house. It was a perfect way to end our New York adventures.

Eskalators

...and Nana Grizol, an old personal favorite

Eskalators myspace

Nana Grizol myspace

That's about it, really. We had a horrendously long journey back to London and will never fly American Airlines again....mainly for pretty much forcing me to watch The Tooth Fairy, something I wouldn't do to my worst enemy. I'm still jet-lagged and just want to sleep all the time. But it was a lot of fun. Alot of fun. Apart from The Tooth Fairy. Awful, awful, awful film.

Big massive mega thanks to everyone who came to the shows and said nice things to us and who helped out, by feeding us and letting us crash in their houses etc. You know who you are. There are spare beds all across London waiting for you when you need them :)