Knoxville was as close to perfect as I guess we could have asked for.  It was my fourth visit to this particular wing of THE GIANT UNDERGROUND PUNK ROCK TRIBE, and, although they usually party pretty hard after the show, the kids are generally fun and respectful of the music going on. 
I don't mean to say respectful, but it's the first word that comes to mind.  If I were to use words like "respect" and "decorum" in the same sentence as "punk rock,"  I think I would be deluding myself.  But I do think that, with gas being what it is, you should recognize the guy driving all the way across the country as a stalwart, tenacious dude.
Anyway, the kids were fun, and down with what we were up to.  I played a long long set, and this kid named Avery tried to get me to play "Rock and Roll Hemingway," for the third consecutive visit.  I tried, and couldn't.  Most of the kids scattered the moment the show was over.  It was a Monday, and most of the Knoxville punx are in some form of academia.
I shot the shit with Zack and Emerson about what's going on in Knoxville, what good shows are coming through, their cool, punk rocker landlord, etc.  All of their fliers are metal as fuck.  I make dinner, Anna Lou offers a bag of mushrooms she found on the street.  We ate them and laughed for hours about every little thing we could think of.  I fell asleep thinking bugs were crawling under my skin, like those cautionary videos they played us in elementary school.
I woke up late.  Super late, like 2pm.  I think I'd been needing it.  I borrowed a bike and rode to Kroger for coffee filters and candy.  Although I dabble in psychedelics from time to time, I quit drinking over 8 months ago, and have become decently caffeine/sugar dependent.  The bike ride was down a long hill, which I loved-then hated on the way back.
We rolled in to Nashville around 630pm.  I had great trepidation about the show, as I hadn't played in Music City since my first two tours in 2004.  The scene was pretty desolate as we rolled up, no one inside the house, and maybe four kids that couldn't have been over eighteen sitting on the porch, drinking a space bag, waiting for the show to start.  We leave to find a bathroom (in a Krystal, kitty corner from its biggest competitor, White Castle), and when we return, the crowd has doubled in size and drunkenness.  Eight drunk teenagers might not sound like much, but it was a pretty sordid scene.
That scene didn't become any less sordid when our hosts arrived (although the hosts themselves were very gracious and cool).  One girl got on a cell phone and started screaming at a girl on the other end: "This is my boyfriend's phone.  You call here again, I'll put my foot up your ass."  Then starts screaming something about her pussy, which I couldn't make out.
I opted to play first.  The local bands were talking about going first, to get the crazy noise out of the way, so the cops wouldn't show up.  They were setting up and really dragging things down, so I got out my guitar and played. 
I only made it through four songs.  Of the twenty people in the room, about ten were listening, the other ten were talking louder than I could hope to scream over.  Out in the yard, there were about twenty five other people, managing to talk louder than the people inside.  By the third verse of "Lick," I felt as though I was channeling Barry-the veins on my neck were standing out, ready to burst.  And then I broke a string. 
I screamed FUCK, put down the guitar and walked out.  If I hadn't, I'm certain I would have smashed the guitar.  I'm not exaggerating.  No one even noticed that the music stopped, or so it seemed.
I have played probably 2000 shows, open mics and jam sessions in the past ten plus years.  I have dealt with mean spirited drunks, indifferent frat kids, meat marketers who just want some noise to shake asses to.  Christian coffeehouse employees/patrons who just want you to shut up so they can have some fellowship.    Every single demographic has been the enemy.  The other night in Nashville was the first time I've been compelled to put  down my guitar and walk away. 
If a drunk seventeen year old girl guzzling box wine and screaming about her pussy is my peer, then I am truly fucked.
The other people in the house (our hosts) and the other bands turned out to be sweethearts.  No one listened to any of the music, really.  No one really cared.  The next day was much easier.  We opted not to go to Columbia, MO, and instead took Food Not Bombs to a non-violent seizure of abandoned property across town.  We stayed and protested the cops arresting the squatters, then stayed so the squatters could be interviewed by local media affiliates.  I tried very hard to get to know our hosts, even though I was miserable and exhausted.  I slept on a couch that was way too small for me, and therefore did not sleep very well.

Becoming friends with your mechanic is a mixed bag. You know you are taken care of but you also have too many problems with your van. I put a lot of money into my minivan before I left for tour. We fixed the whole front part of the suspention and stearing on the van. It is day 7 and this morning we had to replace our two front tires. Other than that, tour has been amazing.

Brooklyn was a solid show at sealab. We met John, our tour photographer and person we are driving to the west coast. He is also the designated blogger but I am not sure how much that will last. He is 20 and fascinated about life outside nyc so he is quite entertaining. Pat played around 5 songs and then stopped because his throat hurt. It turned out he had strep but we will get to that later. we drove back to the Crafty Records house and hung for a bit.

Day 2
We drove to Buffalo in a straight shot. It was a rough first drive. The show was "canceled" Thats what the sighn said. It was just moved upstairs to ska central. There were a bunch of nice kids in a cramped living room. It was a quaint show and a great start on the road.

Day 3 Indiana PA
Endless Mike and The Beagle Club.  Well Mike, Lacey, Laura, Davis, b man and a few more at least. We found out that a nurse could let you know how much Cow antibiotics to take based on your weight. They are inexpensive and eventually made pat better. He did not play this show. Brook played to a full bassment. Mike played new beagle club songs. The next morning we ate at a coney island for breakfast.

Day 4 Cleveland, OH
We actually played an awesome show in Ohio. They normally don't agree with us. We played a livingroom show in a local punk house. The kids were down and clapped and sang to brooks set. they got it. Pat continued his antibiotics but got nicotine withdrawal.
Two nyhc stle bands played the bassment. The house shook. It was great.

Day 5 The Trumbullplex Detroit
The show wasn't confirmed but they totally took care of us. More people showed up than the last time we played there even though there was nothing on the calendar. Pat played guitar and brook sung dishwasher songs. People went nuts. Brook had a bunch of people at the show. We got organized with Matt and Kelly. They always take care of us. we love them. Debbie was away. Hooray

Day 6 Kalamazoo Michigan
Pat was healthy. A coffee bar show actually went really well. Young kids in Kalamazoo. Brooks friends are old and moved away. It was a nice surprise (the young kids that is) Shirts and cds are going away. We are moving units as pat likes to joke.  We stayed with Crazy Laughs josh. His wife was am x train hopper. She got along well with Pat. I left my pillow in Detroit. We have been fed well all around. I am getting fat.

Day 7 Bloomington
We only play bloomington with Delay. This time defiance ohio joined us as well. It was a beautiful day. We wondered town on n sleep. The show was fun to be at but it was more social than productive. It was nice to see our friends and spend time with new ones. It was my favorite DeFiOhHi sets in a few years. We went to breakfast with Hanna jones. She makes me smile. We replace our two front tires. 140$

Day 8 Chicago
We played the lowercase collective. It was the best show of tour so far. Lots of sweaty kids cramed into a rather large bassment. I ran the show. Got it started. Collected money, Set up PA. I felt like I earned my keep today.  A lot of kids showed up. Toby foster played first. He is our friend from the suberbs. I like his new songs. He is about 16. This punk band played second. They were late and we set up crazy fast. with all the amps and our PA, it felt like and old school house show. I liked it a lot. Brook played 3rd and everyone was real into it. They laughed and clapped at all the right points. I have video I will post when I figure out how. Pat played to less people but they knew every single word. He broke 3 strings. The show went exactly right. Lots of kids left with shirts and cds in their hands. I wish I was better at writing and knew more words.

dAN

Hi. I'm in Chicago at the Lower Case Collective house. Theres gonna be a show in a while.

Yesterday, we played in Bloomington, Indiana. That was pretty cool. Defiance, Ohio, Paper Lanterns, Delay played also. They were all magnificent, but the downside was it got way hot in the place.

I ate at the Chocolate Moose and bought a shirt for 2.50! Fuck NY! Bloomington Rocks!

The day before we were in Kalamazoo! That was cool. I got free cds from the Western Michigan University radio station. I ate bacon. I have not eaten bacon in months.

At the show there was a banjo, some college students, coffee, lots of zines!

My head hurts. Maybe next time I talk to you all: my adoring audience; I'll have more to say.

BYe!

Hey, I'm Jon Glovin. I'm hanging out taking photographs on this tour with Brook Pridemore, The Wingnut Dishwasher's Union, and Crafty Dan.

The first show of the tour was in Brooklyn, NY: my hometown. The show was at Sealab/John Bosch. There were a lot of bands. Horn and Tusk and T.C. from Richmond, Virginia. Daniel Bernstein, Toby Goodshank, Elizabeth Devlin, Feral Foster, Brook Pridemore from NY. The WDU, of couse, is from Brattleboro, Vermont.

It was an awesome show. Good performances all around. I was still reeling from the ridiculousness of my birthday, the night before. I'm 20, woohoo! 

Oh, and I found out that Dean's Dream is a Dead Milkmen song not a Goodshank original.

At some point the show ended and we packed up and went to City Island, a strange isle that is somehow part of the Bronx. We ate dirty rice and beans and watched Adult swim and then slept the sleep of those that love life.

The next day we woke up and jumped into the Crafty Mobile head first through the windows and were off to North Tonawanda to play a show at Tom's house who will hopefully be opening some sort of record shop/coffee shop/ community center if everything gets worked out.

We received a very welcoming welcome. I felt pretty shy around all these people I didn't know, but eventually I loosened up a little and met some cool people. Yeah, you know who you are.

As I write this on the sixth day of tour I realize thats gonna happen every day, but it'll be cool.

Next, we went off to Indiana, Pa. Endless Mike of the Beagle Club played and I'd never really heard his music before and it was pretty awesome.

I think awesome is the adjective of the day...

... or maybe the tour. Who knows.

Cleveland, Ohio was a really positive, fun and, yes,  awesome! show. Three local bands played and they all were great. I don't know the first band's name. But the other two were Masakari and Hellkite, I think. There were dogs. They liked to jump on people.

Last night was Detriot. In fact, we're still in or around or behind Detriot. Its cool. Michigan is the most hiliarious state I've ever been in. It rocks!

Pat the Bunny is sick so he couldn't play some of the shows, but last night he played guitar and Brook sang some of his songs which was awesome.

The Trumbullplex is a cool place. Thanks for the grub.

I think I gotta go.

Buh-bye.