Tonic Room (Chicago, IL) 9.16.2011, Plus Good Times in Champaigne and Decatur

Wow the days have just gotten by me here. Getting ready for our fall tour (kicks off this Friday!) has taken away from my all my precious blogging time. I sat down today and realized that it's been nearly a month since I posted pics from any of our shows. eeeyikes.

So here's the short and sweet of it.

Memphis on Main (Champaigne, IL) 9.10.2011
On Saturday September 10, we rolled into Champaigne for a show at Memphis on Main with Neoga Blacksmith and Devout Sinners. Both sets were really fantastic. It felt like a dark stormy night on a backwoods porch somewhere in Mississippi. Lots of talk of devils and moonshine, and amazing harmonies from Devout Sinners.

The fuel tank bass above was pretty awesome...I'm not sure if that's what it was, but it had one string and you had to wear construction gloves to play it... nice.

We toasted the night with beers in jars.


Tonic Room (Chicago, IL) 9.16.2011
Six nights later we were sobered up for our Tonic Room show in Chicago.  This was our first time at the Tonic Room and I have to say it might be one of my new favorite places to play here at home.  There was a "who gives a fuck attitude" to the night.  You were all clearly cramped and hot, and I'm sure all the dancing only made it worse.  You absolutely made it the kind of night we wait for.

Oakwood Block Party/LSB After Party (Decatur, IL) 9.24.2011
The following weekend we strolled into Decatur with guest bassist Patrick Byrd (back of head pictured below) for the Oakwood Block Party.  It was grand ol' time and always fun to catch up with our friends in Decatur.  We played an after part that night at Lock Stock and Barrel with Ashley Riley (big ups to Doosh Mcgoosh).  The good times rolled on through the night and we even made some new friends, one of which was an investigative reporter for the local news (I'm expecting a 10 PM news shout out, Paulina).

So that brings us to today...a little over 24 hours before we embark on our fall tour. Getting the bags packed and the fantasy football roster preset as we speak.  Check out all the dates HERE!  See you in Bloomington!

Off to Memphis on Main in Champaign, IL This Saturday 9/10!

Verona Red returns to Champaign this Saturday, 9/10 to perform at Memphis on Main!  We always have a good time down there.  Garbage picking, singing with the homeless folk, Tim Wilson...all good times.

Can't wait to get down this Saturday at..
Memphis on Main (55 E. Main St., Champaign, IL)

Saturday, September 10

Neoga Blacksmith: 11 PM
Verona Red: 10 PM
Devout Sinners: 9 PM

Doors: 8 PM

Cover: $5

(Backlog) Tour Day 1: Cowboy Monkey (Champaign, IL)

Backlog...yep I'm already behind with finding time at places with good free wifi to post these. So we'll have to pretend like it's yesterday afternoon again.

So night one of Pound tour leg 2 is in the books. We arrived in Champaign around 6 PM for load-in/soundcheck and to meet up with our good friend Tim Wilson on his 22nd birthday. This was our first time at Cowboy Monkey, which I have to say is a really really nice music venue. It's a little bit buried admits the curvy weird streets in downtown historic Champaign, but if you ever get a chance to check it out, it's a real nice find…

We had a great time bouncing around a roomy stage.

Major props to Neoga Blacksmith and Black Jack Radio, two good local bands two good sets.

After the show we went to Joe's and drank with the University of Illinois's finest/drunkest. It was a dance party sandwich.. normally I'd say we were the salami, but last night so we were more like the creepy side of french fries.

After a few drinks we ended up missing our connection for a place to crash, so we snuggled up with the laptop and some Super Troopers and fell asleep.

Brad, a good friend that came along with us to lend a hand/keep it real/hang out, made a miracle run to get 24 bottled waters, pizzas and pop tarts so we all went to bed well fed and whatever the opposite of thirsty is.

Today we're on the road to Arkansas to play in Hot Springs at Maxine's tonight. Drive has been pretty nice, lots of grass and rocks to look at. It's a nine hour drive and so far Adam has been rocking it all on his own. He's a machine, he is to driving shifts as Sting is to tantric sex.

That's pretty much it. We're excited to make our first Arkansas appearance later tonight. We drove through it on our way to Austin a week and a half ago, and really enjoyed variety of hybrid city names like Texarkana and Arkadelphia. Anyone know any other cool ones down here? San Antonasa? Arklehoma? Las Vegasaw

Oh yeah I almost forgot the most important part. We started a contest yesterday to see who could guess which band/artist we would hear the most on the radio over the next 7 days. The winning band from the last road trip was Aerosmith, Phil Collins was the one before that. So far most of us aren't doing so well on this trip. Steve (playing the bass for us on this tour) is the only with a mark on the board after 14 hours of drive time already logged.

"Adam Rubs America Radio Challenge" Scoreboard
Chris - Doors - 0
Mike - Foo Fighters - 0
Adam - Creedance Clearwater Revival - 0
Steve - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 1
Brad - Metallica - 0

If anyone else wants to get in on the ARA Radio-Merica Challenge. Send us your picks and we'll you enter you for a chance to win the grand prize…. a full massage package from Adam, a $45 value as gift from us to you.