Ljubljana, Slovenia
The 11 hour van trip went quickly, broken up by sights of the alps, the oppressive Italian heat and cheap food from rest stops. As we loaded in to the venue the hours in the van faded quickly into excitement - the venue was amazing and everyone we met was awesome and friendly. The squat has been running for some time now and is fairly established so I was itching to get going and play. The start time kept getting pushed back as not many people were there and things didn't even get going until well after 11pm. There was only a few people at the show and I was a bit bummed that we had driven so far and the show was hardly even promoted but we played well and I can say that I did my best. My mood passed while we strolled around the city till 3am and crashed back at the squat. We met a guy from Leicester who moved to Slovenia to be a dancer. He could do the robot and after seeing him bust some robotics at 2am in the centre of the capital, the whole day was redeemed.

Graz, Austria
The show was packed and the last few days of disappointment have moved to the back of my mind.  We stayed at Toms house who was in Antimaniax and everything right now is awesome for us. We don't play tonight, so we're taking some time to charge our phones, ipods and cameras while hanging with the dogs and being in awe of how great this house is and how friendly everyone we met has been. A really, really good day. I wish every show was run like this, we have been looked after beyond what I could ever expect and I would love to stay and hang out for longer.

Geneva, Switzerland
This city is, without doubt, one of the most expensive places I have been, it seems the prices of food and beer are directly proportional to the quality of the beautiful view that surrounds the city. Before the show we walked around the parks and tourist sites of the city and I am in awe of how pretty it is and how amazing the giant water fountain by thee lake is. We were to play late because of the football, which Switzerland drew and subsequently bombed out of the world cup. I'm not sure of this had an effect on the turnout, but it was quiet in the back room at Tikis and I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Tikis though, is great and the guys take care of bands really well and I cannot wait to come back. We stayed in dorms above a nightclub across town that Luke and Fab had arranged for us and so we spent the night dancing to the wind-down of what appeared to be a pretty decent club night and called it in at 5am. It was Pjs birthday today, he seemed to have a good time while hardcore-dancing to some european rave music. 4 hours sleep.

Davos, Switzerland
Myself, Joe and Josh just got in, at 3.30am from trying to ascend a mountain, I'm not sure we made it even a tenth of the way, but without provisions, hiking gear and sobriety, we didn't stand a chance anyway and I feel no shame in coming back unsuccessful. The air here is clean and the views are stunning of snow topped mountains and clear lakes. The gig was fun despite everything running so late, Imadethismistake didn't play till almost 1am but people stayed and danced and drank and bought records and shirts. Jurg put us on, once again letting us stay in the venue on his mattresses and giving us free roam of the bar. Tonight though, our focus was on ascending mountains rather the drinking and I think we made the right choice. The tyre blew today and tomorrow is Sunday, I am crossing everything that the spare holds out till we get back to Gland for tomorrows show.

Switzerland
After driving back towards Gland, Switzerland,  for close to 7 hours we find that tonight's show is cancelled and that all the driving we did was wasted. Everyone is bummed, especially as this means the drive to Slovenia tomorrow is longer than necessary and carries further expense in petrol and tolls. Nothing is open on a Sunday, so the spare tyre remains flat and its almost impossible to find reasonably priced food. We sleep in PJs old practice room and try to get an early night before getting up as early as possible to get the tyre replaced before the estimated 11 hour drive to Ljubljana. Not a good day at all.

Dijon, France

We got stung over 60 euros for toll roads today. It didn't help ease the 6 hour journey from Laval to Dijon at all. It was hot and stuffy in the back of the van and the longer I sit in the rearmost seat the less comfortable it feels. Still, France is beautiful and the view from the window is worth the discomfort. The bar was called "Deep Inside" and we played in the small basement with disco-ball style curtain behind the drums. It was hot in there too and I sweated my way through the show, powered by Hoegarden and feedback and I was happy with how we played. Everyone here is, without fail, friendly and willing to give our band all their attention and I'd love to stay a few more days to play some more dates here. My french is slowly improving too: Bon Soir, un Bier sil vous plait? Tomorrow we see Luke and play Tikis in Switzerland again and I cannot wait. The van is creaking on right-hand turns and it needs some work. Dan Postin wonders if we can complete the tour by just turning left. We are traveling anti-clockwise around Europe and so it seems like a possibility. I hope it doesn't become a necessity. A good day today,

Laval, France

For some reason, I didn't look out the window till we got to the venue and I didn't take in my surroundings until we had loaded everything into the small wood panel basement. We decided to go for a short walk before the show started after eating. Laval is really quiet, everything except bars seems to shut down by 6pm but the area is pretty and I can see why people would live here, it is the complete opposite of Hackney, no noise, no attitudes, and sometimes, no people. People don't seem to arrive at shows until 9pm in Europe, which is about what time many London crowds start thinking about which bus they are going to take to get home. It's kind of nice playing a little later, being able to push through till 12 if needed. There's seemingly no-one rushing at all here. The show never seemed to get off the ground for me, but the people there seemed attentive and happy to listen to us for 30 minutes and I was grateful for their friendliness and attention. Bart, who put us on, let us stay at his brothers apartment which he has just moved out of. Staying the night in a completely empty apartment with literally nothing in it was actually kind of refreshing and I feel positive about tonight's show in Dijon, despite the 5 hour drive (probably 7 in reality). Time for breakfast now. Thanks Laval.

Caen, France

The venue was downstairs from the bar, a dark, low-ceiling room with no stage and simple lights. It was just the kind of venue we've played so many times before and will probably play so many times again. Everyone we met was friendly and despite the language barrier I hope I managed to let them know how grateful I was for their hospitality in having us play there for them all. Pj speaks fluent french and so he takes care of the communication for us, both on and off-stage and appears to be hilariously funny when speaking in a language I cannot understand.  Simon, who put us on, treated us like kings and I cannot thank him enough. The 11 hour journey from Hackney to Caen started taking its toll around 1am when I felt my concentration and communication skills descended into shouting popular songs, but replacing the words with variations on Dan Postins name. I worry that this will be a trend for the next 16 days.

Dan

The Homestead is closing

The Homestead is, as far as I know, being sold. What this means is that the UKs number one house/venue is closing and there will be no more shows there after this weekend. This is a sad, sad state of affairs and whilst I am gutted that it will be closing, I am really happy that not only did we get to play there a few times, but that everyone there feels like a friend and I always felt welcome there. So many good people have played there, so many good times. I can't think of anywhere with the same atmosphere and welcoming attitude.

The residents are having one last event this weekend and I really suggest going if you can. Not only will there be like 30 bands across 2 days, but it will be full of your best mates and the cheapest cider and cakes. Read more here: http://www.punktastic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=87584

We were asked to play, but so close to tour and with so many other last minute things we all have to do, we just couldn't make it happen. I hope someone manages to film this, but I'm not sure i want to know what I missed.

RIP Homestead.

Dan

Excuses, je n'en ai pas

Yeah so it's just another Wednesday and I'm hanging out at work, wondering how blazingly hot is outside while computing with my hood up wondering if i have any idea if I am hot or cold, hungry or tired. This room is really starting to mess with my head and it's not even lunch yet. Speaking of the overpriced lunch I have to buy because I didn't bring anything to eat today, I checked my bank balance online this morning and shit is not looking good at the moment. I kind of wish I hadn't checked you know? Sometimes the daunting feeling of having an unbalanced financial life is preferable to actually knowing you are totally and utterly empty for the next week. Good job I am not working for 3 weeks while I drink my way around Europe and buy overpriced fancy snacks from foreign petrol stations. Shit, this time next week I'll have played 2 shows in France and offended dozens of French people by attempting to speak French. Bonjourno.

Punktastic reviewed our 7" and gave us four stars. 4 out of 5. 80%. B+. I'll take that. Have a look at the review here: http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3705 Thanks Punktastic. If that swayed you into wanting to buy a record, click on "Shop" now!

Come see us in Europe (if that is convenient for you)

Merci Bowcoop.

Dan

New merch.

I'm having one of those days where I get concerned I can find all the things in myself that annoy me about other people. I hope it passes and I don't have to re-evaluate myself or anything like that.

Aerosmith are playing and I can hardly be bothered to go and watch them. The idea of seeing them live has completely outdone the desire to actually follow through and I have been reading tour blogs and shit about the new 3D nintendo handheld that I will never buy instead. What a night.

At least we'll have new merch for tour. Thanks Em (as always). All sizes, including girls, and XL, as well as bags, ready for tour, if all goes well.

Till tomorrow, 

Yours,

Dan Bond.

edit: Just saw the last 4 songs of Aerosmith. It was awesome. I should have watched more of it. They were awesome, despite silver leggings and some ugly guitars.

Yesterday was a fucking day.

Neil Sutherland and Imadethismistake borrowed Joshs van for the UK leg of their tour and it broke down yesterday in Cardiff, wales. Kyle talks about what happened here: http://stopdropandbreathe.blogspot.com/

For me and Josh, still in London and at work, it was the exact type of headache that we didn't want, and basically a worst case scenario we wanted so depserately to avoid. No one wants to drop shows. No one wants to pay to fix a van. No one wants half your band and all your gear in another country with a show that night.

At the gig we were supposed to play with Neil/Imadethismistake, me Josh and Joe slowly realised that with Joe needing to leave by 10pm and us having all our gear and bassist in a van thats was limping it's way into Brixton, that the show just wasn't going to happen this time despite the fact that 2 people had travelled from Brighton to see us though and I felt horrible. We decided to play a short acoustic set, borrowing guitars from Torn Out and Limited Means, but as soon as Joe said he was happy to drum using the house kit, we decided to do a short electric-set using house amplifiers, without PJ who was still on route, it felt like the least we could do. I plugged into the miniscule 5watt practice amp and turned it up full volume - you could talk over it, it was so unbeleivebaly quiet. They mic'd it, we played and it actually sounded fine, obviously drastically missing bass and PJs dancing feet.

Halfway through "Joiners and Windmills" Pj starts loading his bass stuff on the stage and joined in mid-song and we finished the set as a four piece and despite only playing 4 songs it was fun and far better than not playing at all. I'm glad we finished as a 4, it feels weird without everyone there. Thank you to the soundguy, everyone who lent us leads and everyone who seemed to enjoy the set regardless of the bullshit that surrounded it.

Public transport home was the typical ballache, compounded by carrying gear home and then emptying the van that had been dropped off on the street by our house at something like 1am.

A long day of stress and stressing.

Tomorrow brings its own challenges now, fixing the van for us, and getting a new van and getting to Scotland for everyone else. Good luck guys.

Dan

Europe tour

Hi. Kylemadethismistake made it to London safely this week and has been holed up practicing with Dan and PJ for the UK leg of his tour at the studio and at our house. It's apparently going really well so hopefully you'll go check them out tonight in Cardiff Tonight, London with us tomorrow or some other time when the location is suitable for you and fits with your possible other commitments. It is dawning on me this week that we booked a tour when the World Cup was on and for some reason we didn't think this would be a problem when deciding to tour at the start of the year. I hope people come to shows and if they do we can have a game of football before and after the show if that helps? I'll bring the football, you bring your shinpads and keepers gloves. Jumpers for goalposts. ROONEY!

Some more details about our europe tour are up on the gigs page, but the tour is looking like this now:

Caen, France, Tue, 22 June
Laval, France, Wed, 23 June
Dijon, France, Thu, 24 June
Geneva, Switzerland, Fri, 25 June
Davos, Switzerland, Sat, 26 June
Gland, Switzerland, Sun, 27 June
Ljubljana, Slovenia, Mon, 28 June
Graz, Austria, Tue, 29 June
Oberwart, Austria, Thu, 01 July
Wiener Neustadt, Austria, Fri, 02 July
Kiel, Germany, Sun, 04 July
Paris, France, Thu, 08 July

Needless to say I am starting to get panicky that I don't have everything I need, that I'll get the first show in france without my leads, or spare strings, or worse, without any fresh underwear. I will almost certainly wear the same jeans for all the dates. Thats just how I roll. I must buy new shoes.

ps: Got a TC Electronic Polytune pedal last night - its awesome! Expect much spaffing about how awesome it is in subsequent blog posts in the future.

Peas

Dan

Top 5 flyers.

I have decided to share my top 5 flyers of all time that have our band name on them. This top 5 is not related to the show itself, but just to the flyer, and is in no particular order. Just to make it totally clear, I love cool flyers.

I think this poster for the pre-fest show in Dorking was done by Joe from Calvinball. Despite our band name being what appears to be last on this flyer, and clearly in smaller text than the Buvvems, I think this is awesome. Joes other stuff is here and you can usually see me playing shows with his art all over my shirts.

May lives in Leeds and has put us on a few times now. Her flyers are beautiful. Whenever I see awesome hand-drawn flyers like this I get really positive about the show - I figure no-one is going to do such a great flyer and then put on a half-ass show. Every show we have done in Leeds has been really fun without fail. She also makes a great cake. May for Mayor! Check her stuff here, including some more flyers with our name on (!)

 Lisa Lives in Swanage and seems to be a really prolific drawer. This poster was done as an "alternative" flyer to a show we were doing in Bournemouth because the official flyer was a pretty uninspired affair using a banksy image and "arial" text or some shit like that. It sucked. I love that you can literally see how much work and time has gone into this and it made playing a slightly awkward show a little easier on us that someone cared enough to do this for us. Needless to say, we rocked hard that night, for sure. Not that anyone in the crowd noticed. Lisa is awesome, check her shit here.

Dan Allen plays as Ducking Punches and has done a bunch of flyers and his own art for shows, records and whatnot. He is the guy who did the new Leagues Apart record too. This flyer was watercolour and ink on A3 and the original was being sold at the show. A great idea and awesome detail and stuff. I don't think Dan has a website, so go listen to his band instead.

Ema is my girlfriend and I think any accusations of bias are totally unjustified (!) when including this in my top 5 roundup. I freaking love this poster. Ema hasn't finsihed her website yet, but when she does, it will be here.

So thats my roundup of flyers and the artists behind them. I should also mention that Jamie from the Arteries does awesome art for shirts, flyers and posters, you should check his stuff out too: http://gotvitaminc.blogspot.com/

Peas.

Dan

Rock Sound Radar

Yo. We're in this months Rock Sound with a little "radar" piece about us, they wrote some nice things about our band which is pretty awesome. When they asked us for a band portrait I had to tell them that there aren't any photos of the four of us except live photos of us at gigs (which tend to look crappy when they are shrunk down in print) and that the only photo of us in existence where we are all facing the camera and posing, is this one:

They printed it.

Even the cover boy Matt Tuck from BFMV could only muster fire for his portrait. We managed to get a semi-endangered animal for ours. 

Apologies i have none - 1

Bullet For My Valentine - 0

Dan

Hi. I've been in Cornwall all week. I can sum it up in 3 words. Hot. Pasties. Hilly. It was pretty awesome down there,  got in some serious skimming in the sea and drank some serious cornish cider and had a real cornish hangover. I'm back in London to the sounds of sirens and angry bus drivers, but its ok. I'd rather be here than most places, at least I can get wifi.

The Euro tour is nearly completely booked and we have a tour flyer. Check it out.

I have more details about the europe tour to share pretty soon but we're just finalising some details, I'll post everything here though.

Dan