Hayden’s Blog

Temporary border crossing - 12 hrs in Canada

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So last night I got to experience Canada for the first time - all be it for 12 hours.

We started the day with a trip to Sub Pop (our US label) HQ on 4th Ave in Seattle. Everyone was super friendly. It seems they’re pretty used to hosting bands who pass through. And they’ve got some great bands on their label, so i guess hosting wouldn’t be too much of a drag. We got brought into the stock room and got to raid their massive catalog of CDs and band shirts. Heaps of fun. Got myself a couple of Sub Pop shirts and a Fruit Bats one. They also had a photo booth which they encouraged us to use as much as we could. I’ll try post some of the results if I find a scanner.

After a couple hours we had to leave for our 2 and a half hour drive to Vancouver for our first show of the American leg of the tour. We spent what seemed like an hour waiting to be cleared through immigration at the border. While waiting to be cleared, Canadian band Wolf Parade walked in (also trying to enter Canada). It was pretty obvious we were both bands, so we had a bit of a head-nod “gidday” moment. Even though they’re Canadian citizens they all got personally searched, before their van got rummaged through by customs. With a few girls in our group (and a few less tattoos) we had much less fuss getting though, and left the carpark wondering if customs would indeed find what they were looking for in Wolf Parade’s van…

Arriving in Vancouver was a really strange experience. I wish I had a camera because it is hard to explain, but all of the tall buildings on the outside layer of the inner city all looked exactly the same. Something about it reminded me of communist Russia. Don’t ask me why.

The venue we were playing was a small little 200 pax place called the Media Room. It happened to be right across the road from a huge stadium, which we later found out was hosting a Justin Timberlake concert at the same time we were on. After soundcheck we were treated to a lovely Singaporean dinner courtesy of head of Sub Pop, Jonathan Poneman. He’s a great down-to-earth guy for the head of such a big label.

The gig went really well. Had almost 200 people come along, and we sold a bit of merch (which is pretty crucial on this tour if we want to make some money). Afterwards we packed the van, ready for our late night drive back across the border. But when Milly (our tour manager) turned the key, there was nothing. It didn’t even turn over.

Long story short, after about 45 mins of trying to jumpstart the van we finally figured out that the alarm system had immobilised the van, and all it took to start it was a quick lock and unlock.

Arriving back in Seattle at 5.30am was pretty grim. We all hit the bed and didn’t rise till 2pm today.

At the moment we just finished soundcheck for tonight’s gig at the Crocodile Cafe, Seattle. Probably the best soundcheck we’ve ever had. The venue is really great, with a cafe out front and a room for bands out back that’s decorated with what look like a whole lot of old B-Grade movie props. The sound setup is amazing.

Only problem is I’ve just found out I’m not allowed in the venue (I’m under 21). So I have to be escorted into the venue just before our set, the escorted out 10 mins after we finish. No boozy backstage nonsense for me tonight - I’ll be sniffing glue in the carpark.