Floater: Tunnel Vision Takes Over (Spokane, WA)
7-19-08
We set off at the ass crack of dawn for Spokane. Nobody in the van thought this was going to end well. We have had a road manager for years now and for the first time since any of us can remember we don’t have one. We all laugh and say that it reminds us of the days before we had any crew. But beneath the laughter is a gnawing fear and uncertainty.
Tom, our last road manager was also our sound guy and without him we felt like we were hiking through the Mojave missing a leg. He got snagged, as happens to anyone who works for our band, by a major label act. A bit of warning to all you indie musicians out there: the acts who get signed get everything. And when I say “everything” I don’t just mean, money, radio, lawyers, groupies, quality drugs and Carson Daly’s cell phone number. I mean they get your crew. “Our mix will sound like shit tonight” is what we’re all thinking, but not saying. We cannot give that thought a voice.
The second we pull up in front of the Knitting Factory in Spokane the local crew guys are staring at us. They can tell instantly that we’re “in the band.” When the production manager approaches (Knitting Factory has things like that) he asks, “Who do I talk to?” and everyone points to me because I’m the tallest.
“You were supposed to be here at 4,” he says.
I say, “I thought it was 5. We don’t have our road manager.” He shrugs and walks away.
We set up our gear and sound check with such speed our fears are reinforced. The sound guy is done with us so fast we know we must not matter much. We get off the stage and hit the bar.
One incredibly kind soul buys us a round, which might very well have saved the entire evening. Once that first round makes its way into our blood, we are feeling like a well oiled machine. We strum our way through the set backstage and have a few more shots. The band before us is done and off the stage but nobody tells us about it. I look at the guys and say, “Does it seem really quiet?” Then we hear people chanting “Float-ER, Float-ER, Float-ER” through the backstage wall. Usually there is some kind of five minute warning before our set is supposed to start. Not this time. We’re on our own. We all leap up and run for the stage.
When the show starts that familiar tunnel vision takes over and my whole body is humming. After the first song I look back at Pete and he blows me a kiss from his drum throne. We are locked in and going full steam. All the uncertainty melts away like waking up from a strange dream. After an hour and a half of playing they chant for an encore and we happily oblige.
When the show is over we realize that one of us will have to sleep in the van while the others walk to the hotel because none of us can drive that night. We all wish the Warped Tour would come to a sudden and tragic end so that we could have our road manager back. But there is not much time for wishing because we know we have to be up at the ass crack of dawn to start heading for Seattle.
-Rob Wynia
Links:
FloaterSpace
Floater’s official site
Photos courtesy of Rob Wynia
Related posts:
- Boy Eats Drum Machine: Spokane Doesn’t Give it Up Easily (Spokane, WA) With Lizzy
- Floater: Of Amp Disasters and Good People (Boise, ID) The Knitti
- Floater: Floater + King Black Acid = Romantic Explosion (Eugene, OR) 11/22/08 W
- Floater: Models of Preparedness We Are Not (Southern Oregon to Chico) Rogue radi
- Floater: One Dumb-ass Has to Wreck it For the Rest of Us (San Francisco, CA) It was a b
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Jason
says:Thanks for the insight into the life of the best band on the planet. Hard to believe that you guys could possibly be vanning it with no roadies and no sound guy. Sounds like you made it through. A set list would have been sweet just to give us an idea of what you played. You guys always mix it up so well. Thanks for rocking harder than anyone else.
Jason Ray
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 2:53 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkBeth McKinney
says:For a longtime Floater fan, this is great insight of the inner workings and thoughts of a band you have seen on stage a hundred times but never really understood everything that goes into it.
Bravo!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkBeth
Matt Skeels
says:I love it! You’re style of writing is great and have always enjoyed it. On to the next diary post!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 3:27 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkRowan Ashe
says:Did some one say setlist? Here ya go:
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkGhost In The Making
Cinema
Weightless
An Apology
Cannonball – new!
Minister
Danny
Thin Skin
Simplest Way O f Life – new!
My Burden
Siva – Smashing Pumpkins Cover
Watched Over By Crows
Clean Plastic Baby
Encore:
King Rabbit
tavia veschio
says:awesome! it’s great that we can get a little glimpse into Floater’s tour life……even that we get to hear your preshow jitters. For me, it definately helps me to remember that not only are they one of the greratest bands of all time, but that they are very real, very normal people as well. But, guys, remember, you can never suck!
hope to see you boys soon in southern oregon
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 5:34 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinktavia
Brad Jones
says:I am amazed that Floater isn’t signed, and have felt that way for 10 years now! Possibly more! They are truly one of the greatest bands on this planet, and to hear this diary of a band with not enough help baffles me! Big props to one of the best!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 5:39 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkFaith
says:Very cool!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 6:21 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkYou guys rocked Spokane that night. Even without Tom, that was the very best I’ve heard you ever.
So nice to hear Thin Skin and Watched Over by Crows as well as the new songs…and the rest too, of course.
Can’t wait for the next time.
Scott
says:its amzing to me after hearing you guys for the last 12 years or so that its been so hard to keep the machine going. You should be the one taking the other guys help. I really hope you make it to Reno soon so i dont have to drive 200 miles to catch a show!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkThe Earclops
says:Lol. Rowan, always trying to help out. Love ya. But seriously, I think this blog is the best thing eva!!! I mean, it gives a good insight into the hard work and dedication these guys have to give us a great show every time. But for fans like me and the rest of the street team, it gives us more of something we can’t seem to get enough of. It gives us the vision from behind the curtain, or what it’s like to be so great to so many, yet, still insignificant to the rest. Keep this thing going. It’s a work of poetry.
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 7:22 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkFyesty_bb
says:You guys still shove me into absolute awe. It just tickles me periwinkle (I hate pink) to know that even after all these years and all these wonderful songs, that you still have the lust for it. I love you all and keep it going!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 11:49 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkRey
says:Here’s a big thanks to Willamette Week for hosting this blog, it’s a fantastic insight for fans!
Posted @ August 5th, 2008 at 11:57 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkAP
says:Hearing that you still have doubts when taking the stage is amusing as hell. I would love to take the stage as one of you just once, with or without the sound guy. Worried I would not be.
Posted @ August 6th, 2008 at 1:24 am (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkGreg Alderson
says:Good stuff, fun to read…keep it up!!!
Posted @ August 6th, 2008 at 10:22 am (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkShavon
says:I am going to have to agree with most everyone here–Floater is one of the best bands and I can’t believe you are not signed!! I also can’t believe I missed this show!
Posted @ August 6th, 2008 at 1:28 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkapril
says:I love this diary, I have always wondered what it was like for you when you play and this gives me a wonderful insight. Thanks so much for doing this Rob!!! Can’t wait to see you in concert again!!
Posted @ August 6th, 2008 at 4:19 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkLeech
says:Thanks Willamette Week for doing this! Floater is the greastest band on the whole damn planet and it is hard to believe they are not on a label (Elemental isn’t a “label” anymore). Thanks Rob for sharing this and if you read this good luck on the next tour!!
Posted @ August 6th, 2008 at 7:48 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkNicol3
says:If Willamette Weekly continues to post awesomeness like this, I just might have to order a subscription.
Oh yeah… it’s free.
Well this still rocks! Keep it going, Rob!
Posted @ August 7th, 2008 at 7:24 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkNick
says:This is a great insight into my favorite band. I love reading posts like these, because once you think you have this amazing band figured out, you read something like this and feel like your back in school. Thanks WW!
Posted @ August 7th, 2008 at 10:58 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkThe Keeper
says:Hey WW, thanks for inviting Rob to do this! Please continue to have them do this in the future again. Best band of all time, seriously!
Posted @ August 8th, 2008 at 8:39 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkjesse james
says:having been a dedicated, nigh obsessive floater fan for almost 15 years ( feels like more)..
and having cherished every small moment i get with one of the guys… you know, that personal conversation you sometimes get at the bar before the show…
this… this is just awesome. i am humbled.
Posted @ August 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkLauraK
says:“and everyone points to me because I’m the tallest.” hahahahahhahahaa ahahahah
Posted @ August 31st, 2008 at 9:17 am (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkLauraK
says:Holy crap, that set list is absolutely insane…god!!! Thanks for making me jealous, Rowan…
no actually it just makes me more determined to get to out-of-state shows. I love you FLOATER, and thanks for making this tour diary. I’m stoked to read more!!
Posted @ August 31st, 2008 at 9:20 am (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcaution Hat (alum.)
says:Miss you bro’s, would love to do it again. Sh*t, I’d rent a bus if I had the dough. Keep on keepin. You guys creamed your jeans over the HighEnd systems DL2’s yet? you will.
Posted @ October 30th, 2008 at 9:05 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalinkkat
says:Floater has been there for me through every step of my childhood, and as I step across the threshold into adulthood in a few mere weeks I just think “thank you”. Thank you Rob, Dave, and Pete for refusing to sell out. Thank you for gaping generations and breeding peace into the souls of those who hum your music in dark hours and in those of joy. You men are inspirational, and I cannot say it any other way for all of the things you have done musically :thank you.
Posted @ December 1st, 2008 at 11:08 pm (July 31st, 2008) | Flag this Comment | permalink