tour rehearsal

i remember when i was little i watched Mr. Rogers. he died a few years back and i have no idea how long he stayed on the air. so basically i don't know if everybody reading this knows who he is. anyway, every now and then he would have a little segment that showed a montage of how something was made in a factory. i vividly remember the one that showed how crayons were made. i was and still am fascinated by that stuff. sooooooo, for those of you who don't know how a tour is put together, i thought i'd throw a few pictures up to show you our tour rehearsals.

for most tours, there is a full tour rehearsal with full sound and lights before the first show. there are specialized rehearsal spaces for rent that are basically just big warehouses that can accommodate setting up the full sound and lighting rig. and then other times the rehearsal will be held in an actual space. today we held our tour rehearsal at a venue in nashville as you can see above. there's so many kinks to work out and things to get set up that a tour basically needs a dress rehearsal. the idea is to be completely ready to go for the very first show.



Here you see our tour manager at the FOH (front of house) console checking the lines and the lighting tech doing fancy schmancy lighting stuff. that's technical speak for i don't know what he's doing.



The console that you almost always see at the side of the stage is for monitors. some bands use stage monitors and some use personal in-ear monitors. we happen to use the in ear monitors. a good part of the rehearsal is spent getting a good monitor mix. this can be saved on the console and recalled for every show.



Here's our tour manager extraordinaire (@TFKTourMGR) mic'ing and setting up my guitar rig. we have two rolling set carts that we use. it's pretty cool because we just strap our gear in there and it stays there for the whole tour. the cart just rolls on and off the stage. it's very important to minimize the time between bands so being able to get our gear on and off very quickly is a big deal. the other benefit of the set carts is that we can put a scrim with our logo on the front to hide the gear and make for a much cleaner look on the stage.



And then there's the actual rehearsing. we just basically work out the kinks and try to be as tight as possible. here's a thing i've learned. any sort of entertainment that really captures you has probably got a LOT of hard work put into it. whether it's a concert, play, movie or baseball game, there are probably many facets that we could never think of that go on behind the scenes to contribute to the bigger picture.

Anyway, i'm very excited for the tour. we've been flying to shows every weekend since february so it's going to be nice to get on a bus. and i must say that i am totally blessed to be able to do this. i LOVE it. it sucks that i have to be away from my wife for a week or two at a time, but overall i consider myself incredibly lucky. well, i hope to meet a lot of new friends on this tour. if anybody reading wants to come check out a show, we've got the dates posted on our website and myspace

www.myspace.com/thousandfootkrutch
www.ThousandFootKrutch.com

Ahhh, Minneapolis. I really like when we play that city. A lot of it probably has to do with the fact that we usually are playing a show that is hosted by the Club 3 degrees people. And they always treat us better than we deserve. This time it was them putting on the show, but we actually played at Northwestern College. I didn't get my normal shot from the stage, but here's one of a bunch of kids in the signing line. recognize yourself??

This was the first time we played Masquerade live and it went over very well.

The next day we flew to Fort Smith, AR and played a benefit for the Hannah House which i think is an unwed mother or battered women shelters. one of the two. i know that sounds heartless but i had different people telling me different things.

We ended up driving back to Nashville the next morning which was quite the adventure. Best joke of the day winner is:

What do you call a black guy with a Ph.D.? A doctor, you racist!

Ok, so you might not find that one inside of a laffy taffer wrapper. but i thought it was pretty funny. Ok, so this is a short post, but don't worry. we start our tour in a couple days and i'll be posting my complete guitar rig as well as a few other goodies. Ok, i'll talk to you later.

covers

cover songs. we love them. we hate them. some more than others. the stereotypical heckler from the audience wanting to hear freebird probably does want to actually hear the song. a bad cover will instantly call down fire and brimstone from above. and by above i mean everyone in the crowd. but take a mediocre artist and give them a good cover and it will propel them higher than they will ever be able to get on their own. but why is that? why are some better than others? is it just a matter of one being recorded or performed better? well, kinda. i THINK i have the answer. not sure, but i think i do. a good cover song is when the new version brings a different viewpoint to the song that has yet to be realized.

you can't just rehash the old one. people will ALWAYS like the old one better. even if it's inferior recording quality and inferior musicianship. why? because you're just copying an original spark of creativity.

One example is Copeland.



Don't get me wrong. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE COPELAND. seriously. i have all their records. i've played shows with them. i've talked with them. they're good guys. aaron marsh's voice is amazing. beneath the medicine tree is one of my favorite records. but i think their Achilles heel is when they do covers. and not because it was done badly. it's because they didn't bring anything new to the table. when they covered black hole sun, they took a dark and brood original and decided to make their own version dark and brooding. they covered take my breath away. they took a slow ballad and made a slow ballad. sure, they added a couple cool things here and there. but there was no fundamental new idea brought to the table. they do everything else right. they're great musicians. it's well recorded. they're just missing the part about bringing a new idea to an old song.

On the other hand, there's Ingrid Michaelson.



I saw her play in nashville about a year ago and she was amazing. it was kind of a weird tour. she was blowing up with that The Way I Am song yet she was on a tour with some other writers that nobody had ever heard of and it was kind of awkward and obvious that everyone was there only to see her. ANYWAY, she did the most AMAZING cover of radiohead's Creep that i've heard. just her and a ukulele. here's a link for it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcoj5PWFMZg [be warned, there is some swearing]

Anyway, the reason her version is awesome isn't because she has a phenomenal voice. it's because it's a completely new idea that put a whole different take on a really good song. the original had huge overdriven guitars. this isn't just about making an acoustic version. the ukulele is such a bright and whimsical instrument. to pair it with such a creepy (how appropriate) and dark song is a really good idea.

Think about this. Has anybody heard of Me First and the Gimme Gimme's?? it's a side project of a few punk bands that do punk rock covers. they've got a winning formula. they just take good songs and make punk covers. some are better than others. after so many years it's become a formula, but the point is that they are bringing a fundamental change. and i believe that's why they've been so successful and turned what was probably meant to be a one time project into multiple CDs.



and on that same note, has anyone heard the When Punk Goes Crunk compilation CD? it's just punk bands doing rap and r&b songs. some of the bands just tried to do their best approximation of a rap song and failed miserably. the songs that are good are the ones that bring a new element. i've heard a LOT of bands cover this song, but All Time Low's version of Umbrella by Rihanna is the best.

And here's my best example:



do you have any clue who these guys are? no really. don't cheat and skip down below. take a look and guess. you probably have no idea.

But if you heard any of their hits you would instantly recognize the songs. ok, give up? this is the reggae band UB-40. they had a few hits back in the 90's. Red Red Wine. I Can't Help Falling In Love With You. The Way You Do The Things You Do.

Every single hit they've had were cover songs. they took a great song and made it reggae. it's a simple formula, but it satisfied the requirement of a good cover and brought a new element that made the song fresh and new.

I'm not sure why i'm up so early and i'm not sure why i decided to write about cover songs. it was just in my head when i got up. i hope you all are doing well. i've got shows in minneapolis and arkansas this weekend. come out and say hi. i'll holla atcha later.

P.S. if any of the guys in copeland somehow happen to read this, I'M SORRY. i seriously do love your music. i'm not slamming you. it's just an objective analysis. although a wise man once told me not to analyze. because it just makes anal of Y - Z - E. wait, that didn't quite work out like i planned.

skymall

i've been flying every weekend since feb. so me and the guys have become quite familiar with the skymall magazine. for those of you who don't know, it's a periodical found in the seatback pocket in most airplanes and is a treasure trove of comedy. truth is stranger than fiction and sometimes the best comedy comes from things that aren't meant to be funny. for those of you who aren't familiar, here's a few examples:

1. Jumpin' Jammers Footed Pajamas - FOR ADULTS


I mean, how is this NOT a good idea?? skymall sees a genuine consumer need for full length footed pajamas and when they see a need, they deliver. for the guy in the middle, i'm sure right after this picture he put on a pair of underwear over the pajamas and tied a towel around his neck to he could complete the superman outfit. and of course, what better outfit to wear if you're going to be lounging around doing the splits before bedtime. i need to call my stock broker to see if i can get in on the ground floor of this company.

2. Bigfoot: "The Garden Yeti" Lawn Sculpture



If you're the type to decorate your back yard to the nines, then we have something for you. you've got everything - a koi pond, finely pruned trees, fountain, pristine garden, etc. BUT no garden is complete without a garden yeti. it used to be all about lawn gnomes and pink flamingos. but no, you've taken it to the next level now. shown here in the classic caught-on-home-video form, he watches over your plants and keeps the critters away.

3. Truck Antlers



Here's something for those of you who are not satisfied with their camo paint job and truck nuts. Truck antlers. I mean, that makes sense. make your car look like something that needs to be chased and killed. it might as well be a bullseye for cops. And hey, what better way to show people that you like to hunt and kill deer than to make your primary method of transportation look just like one.

4. Lawn Aerator Shoes



ok, this is just a downright lawsuit waiting to happen. but think about this - how crazy will you look to your neighbors when you're tip-toeing through the tulips like some escaped and drugged up mental patient for a few hours. GENIUS.

5. Powerlung



I have no idea what this does. And i don't think i want to know either. NEXT ITEM.


6. Neckpro Traction Device



i can't count how many times my wife and i have torn the house apart looking for some way to put my head in traction. i mean, who really needs doctors anyway?? got a neck injury? no need to go get it checked out. just take matters into your own hands. it's the same as changing your own oil to save some money, right?? what could possibly go wrong?


7. Dual Sided Electric Tooth Brush



This one looks pretty benign. That is, until you get a mental picture of how you will look while using it. And that's all i'm going to say about that.




I feel like i could keep going for hours. What's crazy is that the people who invented this stuff are probably making crazy money. If you think about it, it's a win-win. We get a nice chuckle when we look at this stuff, and the people who make it are laughing all the way to the bank.

P.S. New TFK record drops today. GO BUY IT.

Lifelight Fest

Ok, so before i get into to the meat of this post, let me say something about a more pressing matter. there's a law and order marathon on USA today and i'm loving it. that show has a winning formula that has been working for years. except now the people on USA bought the rights to the show and have made a crappy version called Law and Order: Criminal Intent. i hate it. if the real show were an armani suit then this show would be a cheap handbag knockoff. and here's why: law and order had realistic characters and realistic situations that presented moral dilemmas with both sides represented. in criminal intent, the detectives are these all-knowing hero characters who can do no wrong. puh-lease. as soon as you make a character perfect, it immediately ceases to be realistic. i want a show to make me think. not an ego-centric cop drama. although on the other hand, SVU has ice T so that's one strike against its legitimacy.

Anyway, i just got back a few hours ago from our show in Sioux Falls, SD at LifeLight festival. The show was great. we had an 11 o'clock spot and the stage was packed out as people piled in from the main stage. TSA somehow managed to break open my tuner pedal causing it to not work. thanks guys. there's another $90 down the drain. we got a late start because of a few technical issues and we had to stop a song cause a kid got hurt, but other than that it was a lot of fun. here's a picture i took from the stage. see you if you can find yourself:



Also, if by chance anyone booking festivals happens to read this, how about booking TFK and superchick on the same day?!? it seems me and trish are always playing the same festival but a day apart.

Oh, and check this out. these guys are friggin' committed fans.



yes, those are the TFK logos tattooed on their arms.

Anyway, we had a great time. the people providing catering for the souled out stage were awesome. we definitely appreciate their ministry.

So the end of this weekend means that we have only one more weekend of fly dates until the tour starts next week. we've been flying almost every weekend since february and i am ready to get on a bus. i am so thankful that we're able to be on a bus on tour. we are definitely blessed. anyway, remember to buy the new record on tuesday. i hope everyone had a great weekend.

Welcome To The Masquerade

Ok, so enough about the subtle self promotion. let's just get downright obvious with it. We have a new record coming out on Tuesday titled Welcome to the Masquerade and it's pretty good if i do say so myself. and of COURSE i say so because when you buy the record it benefits me (well, indirectly). so basically, i'm just gonna have to declare a good 'ole conflict 'o interest on that one. i am a tainted source of information. don't even think about trusting me on this issue. if i were a CIA operative, my status at Langley would be COMPROMISED. so since it's clear that i do not have a trusted opinion, i've provided a few quotes from reviews.

“‘Welcome to the Masquerade’ is like a greatest hits album for Thousand Foot Krutch, every song on the album IS a hit! I would highly recommend this to anyone who has been a fan of TFK as well as FM Static." --Absolutepunk.net

“‘Welcome to the Masquerade’ takes TFK’s hard rocking anthem songs to a completely new level. If you loved past efforts like “Rawkfist” and “Move”, you won’t be able to sit still for this new album. It’s clearly one of the very best albums of the year, hands down.” - CMSpin.com

"Simply put, if you are a fan of arena rock or a long time TFK listener, you should be excited about this, as it blows away anything else I’ve heard in the genre all year long." --CMZine.com

“‘Welcome to the Masquerade’ is a nearly perfect album, it is filled with a few simply wonderful and noteworthy songs. Fundamentally it is an excellent work that has stunning production and a crisp, rich sound.” --Kyle Kiekintveld, Staff Writer, TheChristianManifesto.com

“On their latest release, Thousand Foot Krutch presents one of their edgiest and most diverse projects to date. On Masquerade, TFK acknowledges their strengths and builds on them to create one of the standout rock albums of the season – if not the year. If you can only afford one rock record in the weeks ahead, there’s no mistaking that Welcome To The Masquerade delivers and does not disappoint.”

--JesusFreakHideout.com

“‘Welcome to the Masquerade’ covers a lot of ground – and covers is well. It tackles weighty topics with depth and intensity, but also dishes out plenty of fun in the form of 'big, crunchy adrenaline rock,' as McNevan calls it.” -- Stars and Stripes

“Thousand Foot Krutch have finally created the masterpiece we all knew they were capable of...Welcome To The Masquerade takes everything you've ever loved about TFK in one well thought out and hard rocking package.” --Underthegunreview.net



So there you have it. seriously though i think it's a good record. it comes out on Tuesday, September 8th. i think pre-orders are available now on our websites. a few of the songs are actually on our myspace now. i'd be curious to hear what everybody's fave song is so far. hit me back with comments ya'll!!

soooo, um...

I've never been very good at subtlety. whenever i try, i think that i'm being coy and slight. but the truth is i'm painfully obvious. just ask any girl who i had a crush on in high school but was too afraid to ask. so instead of trying to figure out a clever way to say it, i'll just say it.

Go buy Britt Nicole's new record When The Lost Get Found. Right. Now.

why would i need to be subtle about this? because it would be a veiled attempt of massive self promotion. Britt, Josh Crosby and I wrote a song called Glow that is on the album and i'm pumped about it. she's a great singer and i hope she does well.

now if you are reading this and you are from springfield, IL, then you probably already know this. how? well, because my parents are probably the best publicists ever. i have an awesome family and my parents are so proud of me that they still have my kindergarten coloring book pieces of artwork adorning our fridge. well, ok, they don't really. but you get the idea.

which brings me to my next thought. connection with art.

i went to a fancy recording and music business school. before i dropped out, a professor once told my class that the reason people like certain music is because they have a connection. i was instantly repulsed by the idea. good music is good music. if it's good, then people will like it. but over time i've realized that he was completely right.

there's a lot of good music out there. probably more than any of us could listen to in a lifetime. but we stick with the stuff that we have a connection to. that connection could be almost anything. the obvious example is when you see a band live and then afterwards you seem to like their music even more. or maybe there's a certain CD you listened to on spring break, and now every time you hear it, it reminds you of that time. there have been many artists who have broken through to a new level because their song was featured in a popular TV show. remember when green day's Time Of Your Life (or whatever the official title was) was in the emotional last episode of ER? a SoCal punk band broke through to moms and dads because that song connected with so many people.


5 or 6 years ago i lived in chicago and was a youth leader at my church. our worship band was a good group of guys who spent of lot of time together. in that period of my life, i listened to a LOT of worship music. Hillsong United, Tomlin, Crowder, etc... I listened to that stuff because i had a connection. a big part of my life was centered on that. but once i moved to nashville, i stopped. i'm not ripping them at all, but honestly, when i hear that stuff now, it seems boring and lifeless to me. and before you start accusing me of a wavering faith because i don't listen to worship music, let me say this. the new glorious unseen record is awesome. they're a worship band i listen to. but those dudes are good friends and two of the guys used to be room mates so there's my connection. oh, and i did some additional engineering for the record. well, there i go again with the shameless self promotion. i'm not sure how to wrap this one up. i'm probably distracted because i'm watching charlie wilsons war and i absolutely love Philip Seymour Hoffman in this movie. he's becoming one of my favorite actors.



it's entertaining and also very educational. it's portrayed as the incredible achievement that it was at that time in the early 80s. but the whole movie makes it obvious that our meddling in other countries' affairs were not really in our best interest in the long run. we won the battle but lost the war. ok now i'm ranting about politics so i should just stop now. bye.