Punch Brothers - Now In Stores: The Fisher-Price "My First Blog"™

HOME NEWS TOUR SHOP FORUM CONTACT LINKS THE BAND p-BINGO PUNCH BLOG

Upcoming Shows

Aug. 1st - Newport, RI
Aug. 3rd - Ketchum, ID
Aug. 6th - Portland, OR
Aug. 7th - Portland, OR
Aug. 9th - Salt Lake City, UT
Aug. 12th - Helena, MT
Aug. 13th - Alta, WY
Aug. 15th - Commerce City, CO
Aug. 26th - Los Angeles, CA
Sep. 4th - Mohawk, NY
Sep. 10th - Austin, TX
Sep. 24th - Lexington, VA
Sep. 25th - Berryville, VA
Sep. 27th - Billings, MT
Sep. 28th - Laramie, WY
Sep. 30th - Denver, CO
Oct. 2nd - Lawrence, KS
Oct. 15th - Stanford, CA
Nov. 11th - Shippensburg, PA
Nov. 12th - North Bethesda, MD

Punch Brothers' Flickr

Band

Now In Stores: The Fisher-Price "My First Blog"™

Saturday, 14 February 2009

By Arco Paulo, aka Arco, Arcoslav, Arcoslaw, Arcosaw, Arkansas, Pizzburg, Apple Drink, Paul Kowert.

I’m writing from Chico, CA.

For those of you who are new to the band, I’m new too. I started playing bass in the band in October 2008. Now I’m nearing the end of my second tour and have moved into my apartment with Critter in Brooklyn, NY, just a few blocks from the rest of the guys. Our apartment got broken into already.

Touring has been really fun. I’d never done it before. As those of you who read the last couple of blogs can tell, the guys are a constant source of entertainment. They’re a great bunch to be on the road with. Here’s an overview of life on the road:

We do as few flights as we have to (it can be a real pain to fly with our instruments) and do the rest of our traveling mostly in a rental fifteen-passenger van we christen “Xplorador” with a magnet labeled as such. On our drives between cities we listen to the board tape of the show from the night before (to see how we did) and other recordings. Pickles has brought some interesting “radio lab” shows on his iPhone. We’ll do a few consecutive show days with short drives between them, and then a travel-only day for a long drive or flights (flights usually at the beginning and end of the tour, and one in the middle). We might have a day or two off with no travel during a tour too. Tours last about three weeks.

After the show we’ll find dinner (which is late), and retire to the hotel where we check emails and sleep. Maybe some drinking and socializing will also occur. We’ll leave about 10 minutes late from the hotel the next morning, stop for coffee and a bite, and arrive at the next venue for load-in and sound check, usually around 3:30. We’ll either stay at the venue until the show or go back to the hotel if we got there before load-in to change. Spare time in the morning before departure is the best time for exercising, and time during load-in (while Sinky Si our trusty sound man is setting up the system for sound check) and after sound check is the best for practicing, at least for me (bass carries through hotel walls).

There’s a lot of Xplorador time. As a bass player, traveling on the road is much happier than flying. However, it can also be frustrating, because we can’t listen to music through the Xplorador speakers when somebody is on the phone. It’s hard anyway because of road noise, and volume levels in the different parts of the van. It’s hard to read with music or conversation around, for me. It’s difficult to have a whole band conversation, those in the back usually not hearing what those in front are saying. Sometimes, sitting in the Xplorador is an exercise in patience and serenity despite idleness. That said, my band mates are easy to be with in a van on long trips.

We like to find good coffee and food in the cities we stop in, but often have to settle for Starbucks and diner or bar food because of time constraints and our late night schedule. However, there have been some really enjoyable meals on this last tour, like a top-notch sushi meal and shrimp and grits in Baton Rouge, LA, and last night we were at the Sierra Nevada Taproom and Restaurant in Chico, CA. Tonight I had my first In‘ N Out Burger.

I really enjoy checking out different halls, how they sound and feel. Also, experiencing different cities has been cool, and seeing friends around the states that I wouldn’t normally see has been great, as well as meeting new friends.

Ultimately, performing our music for people is the reason we tour and my favorite part of it. I’m really enjoying playing this music the best I can every night.

Band idiocy is central to our lives, especially on the road. Here are some of the ways we entertain ourselves:

--Pull pranks on each other, like stealing Holt’s wallet and phone (texting each other embarrassing messages from his phone), tying each other’s instruments to chairs and tables, unbeknownst to the owner. Stealing each other’s shoes.
Nota bene: most of these pranks are instigated by Pickles and directed at Holt.

--Reference band member lore. Add details to lore, and expand upon each other’s nicknames.
Nota bene: most of this is instigated by Pickles and directed at Holt.

--Talk about women.

--Play with the iFart application on Pickles’ iPhone.

--Fight off inconsolable sadness.

--We just had a snowball fight at the Lakehead rest stop yesterday. I started it by hitting Judge square in the back of the head. It was his first snowball attack.

I think that’ll do for now.

Happy Valentine’s Day Mom and Annaliese,

Arco

Users' Comments (30)

Posted by Erin, on 25-02-2010 22:02,

The front row seats tonight in Montgomery were a blast. Don't forget to come to Mobile. ;) I'm looking forward to seeing you in Baton Rouge. Next time I'll have you all sign my Martin instead of just a CD.

-Erin

Posted by Tiernae Salley, on 12-02-2010 19:49,

Radiohead cover... that just made one of the greatest concerts even greater. It is obvious that you all love the music that you play. The Richmond concert was wonderful, fantastic even.

Happy Valentines Day.

Posted by A. Song, on 31-01-2010 21:37,

there's no point in saying, what i've been praying
do you still believe in santa clause? you wont believe me, but i dont want to keep this all for myself. There's a fountian i live in,water I swim in.. life found me one day. now all through the day water surrounds me, i drink up life, cleansing and dear to me, Oh how He's near to me! it's alive. Water that is life ,alive and around me..who'd believe that? its a fountain of youth, and no one believes me..what to do? What would Jesus do? just drinkin water, feelin loved more and more...maybe ill tell somebody new.

Posted by Phillip Aijian, on 31-01-2010 16:53,

The world is waiting—yes, the world—for a bluegrass cover of "Evil Eye" by Yngwie Malmsteen, and only you can possibly deliver unto our eager ears the song as it was meant to sound.

Posted by Ariel, on 19-10-2009 11:42,

Hi Paulo you rocked massively in Boston last Saturday.
Um, I was just wondering if you guys could maybe cover an Of Montreal song sometime. Then I could die happy. It's all I want for Christmas!
Thanks, keep it real,
Ariel

Posted by Dan Loftin, Nashville,TN, on 28-08-2009 19:11,

Noam: I just found out today that you had moved to NYC! I am really on top of things! Take good care of your 7; I'm getting mine back from Magic Dave's repair shop Monday after three years! Let me know when you are in town if you want to hear it! Dan

Posted by Ryan Tillotson, on 29-06-2009 21:56,

Chris, this is your cousin Ryan . . . lets hang out

Posted by renee, on 02-06-2009 18:46,

i know this is not the appropriate location, but may i just say the show at the lime kiln was breathtaking. thank you all. we drove 8 hours to be there & would happily drive it again, and then some.

Posted by Norm-charlesnr, on 23-04-2009 22:43,

It was great to see you with the band at
DuPage college and meet your family. Now there are two classically trained musicians in Bluegrass-related world bands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Ben_Sollee

Posted by , on 01-04-2009 20:07,

So what is this about Paul Kowert marrying his bass?
http:// bluegrassintelligencer.com/? p=778
You have made me very sad.

Posted by Meg, on 30-03-2009 17:27,

Just saw you in Chattanooga. The sound was incredible! You guys really worked together. Got home, read your blog. For good coffee, head to Chattz Coffee on Market Street. The best. For sure.

Posted by Christy, on 30-03-2009 10:54,

Hi guys! I drove up from Jacksonville, FL to see you play at the Savannah Music Festival. Wow! I stood in line at the end of the show, trying to muster the confidence to say thanks for the inspiration and hope that your music gives me, but alas...I was only able to mumble thanks to Gabe while my friend talked with Chris about A-tonal music. Thank you again for a beautiful night of music!

Posted by Maria, on 28-03-2009 11:47,

Thank you guys for an awesome concert last night at the Variety Playhouse. Come back to Atlanta soon!

Posted by annette, on 04-03-2009 11:29,

wow...i was in Chico and Davis and loved the new guys sound! Its me, BYW, the one who declared myself as everyones Valentine date. I had dinner at Sierra Nevada Taproom also that night in Chico-good thing we missed you, otherwise there may have been a scene! A good scene, but nevertheless, a scene. Is the photo of me, Chris T and my golden retriever in the van too..or was it only in the tour bus? See you in April at DuPage College. Looking SO forward to it.

Posted by your other MOM, on 04-03-2009 09:17,

Really looking forward to seeing you in Glen Ellyn and hearing the band. I'll bring bread. Ben and Michelle are planning to come too. Hannah will see you in Minneapolis. I loved reading your blog. Love to you.

More comments...

< Prev