Dirt Jake Replicas: Zombie, Zombie (Norwich)-- Local Cut

Dirt Jake Replicas: Zombie, Zombie (Norwich)

August 10th, 2008 [9:24PM] Posted by: Dirt Jake Replicas | 1 COMMENT

June 28th
Zombie. Zombie.
(Day 12)

Why do people love cover bands? I can’t think of even one person I know that has ever said to me that they love a cover band or a tribute band. But somehow shows are always PACKED when one is playing. This happened today. But unfortunately the “packed” venue was connected to our venue and our crowd was less than last nights show! After our set was complete we could hear over a hundred people screaming and clapping—but only because the band on the other stage had just finished playing a Cranberries cover.
This is something that, I would think, gets a lot of bands playing original compositions bummed out. I’ve grown to laugh at it more than get upset by it lately but today it is really odd. We even talked to half the crowd before we went in to setup our gear and gave them free CDs and fliers and let them know we were on tour from the states and not a single person came in. As for the musicians in these style bands, I totally understand that some people just want to play and have fun and are not out to “change things.” And some people play instruments for 20 years and never attempt to write their own song. I know this happens and if that is what someone wants to do then great. Whatever makes you happy. But I guess it would be great if the FANS were more open to new music. There are so many great bands out there that could blow you away if you gave them the chance. This has happened so many times, even on this tour. EVEN AT THIS SHOW! A band called Kill it Kid just knocked me down and kicked my face in. I am a fan for life. To all of the people out there that do give musicians creating original music a chance: thank you. It is the greatest feeling going into a room full of strangers and playing a show for them and not seeing anyone leave.Or hearing people clap. It makes all the hours spent everyday working on our art worth every second.

Today was really just another day in the “normal” tour grind. We played in Norwich, which was a MASSIVE drive. We continued to speak to as many people as possible and pass out tons of merch. Ashley showed me a place to get some wicked hummus which was awesome. But the best part of the morning was remembering that we had the football! We tossed it around the parking lot for a while and then Andy Slade pulled in!Andy Slade is a promoter/ pit-viper label owner. He was not at all what I pictured him to look like. I like when that happens. This man is incredible. Full of positive energy and excitement. He actually worked his ass off to get us in town at the last minute because a venue that we had previously booked had burnt down. He worked nonstop during the night—running back and forth to take pictures and videotape then to cheer and right back to the door to check and see if anyone wanted in. The stage was really cool and the sound man Jake was great too. The whole night went perfectly and again it was exciting playing to just a few people…and people that really enjoyed what we are doing. After the show we spoke to Andy for a little while. Just relaxed and laughed at all the people missing out on the three great original bands that had played tonight. When we pulled out of the parking lot, it was asif we were again leaving a great friend behind. It is great when you can become so attached to someone after just a few hours of time spent together.

The drive home was pretty rough today. Very long again, and having to keep my eyes out for the millions of rabbits that were on the side of the road eating! Maybe I only saw 8 or 9, but that is still a ton! Oh, I also had a freaking owl swoop down right in front of the van and fly in front of us for a little stretch of the backs roads! That was cool—probably not for the bunnies though. The road we were traveling had signs along it declaring the amount of people that had been killed on it in the past year. Great news. At one point there was a semi truck that had begun to swerve just as I was about to pass it. The whole back end came whipping into the lane I was in and then slammed back in line with his lane only to fling its ass out once more towards us. It freaked me out because it stopped as far as the center of our lane!!! Not just a drifter here. All in all it woke me up a little bit and helped me make it home. “Woke me up” might be a slight understatement.