Alan's From The Road : Tour Diary - June 5, 2008

Tour Diary - June 5, 2008 - Vacation

What do think of the new digs? New Site looks pretty grand to me. I can brag about it of course, as I had almost nothing to do with it, given that I am essentially illiterate in the world of design and the visual arts in general. Check out some new stuff like Tosh (tells no) Tails when you get a chance. For a Basset/Beagle cross he sure does have a purebred take on things.

GBS Cast and Crew have been held up at Club One in St. Johns for the past eight days rehearsing for the new set and tour. We hope to perform 12 or 13 of the tunes from Fortune’s Favour, as well as some of the bonus tracks like Gallows Pole, and a few more fun covers as well. All hands should still get to hear many of the faves from the catalogue, but the new tunes should allow us to switch up the set quite a bit from night to night.

The plan is to do a promo tour in a few weeks around the launch of the CD and to spend most of the summer chasing festivals and special events, many of which are already posted online.

The honest to God Fortune’s Favour Tour per se will actually start in September and take us all over North America well into 2009. We hope to do a two set show again this time as it gets us more stage time to play the zillions of tunes we’d like to perform. Is that cool? I sure prefer it, myself.

You’ll note the word ‘vacation’ listed in the top line of this entry. As I type, I’m on an airplane with the fair one, brother Bern and his lady, as well as a couple of other friends. All hands are headed for a weeks respite before the GBS madness begins. I’ve become attached to my Google Calendar, you see. Like most online calendars, you can assign different colours to different calendars. You know, green for Alan events, blue for Family events, and bright red for GBS. The months remaining in 2008 and the first few of 2009 are a sea of red with not much green and hardly any blue. So we are heading for a week in the blue.

Really looking forward to it.

Only a few days till the new GBS Progeny is born onto the world making anxious parents of us all.

Cheers,
Alan

Published Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:29 PM by nicopop
Filed Under: ftr2008

Comments

	Ann Bauer said: Will you be coming to San Diego? It's been a LOOOOOOOOOONG time since you visited here, and we miss you! June 11, 2008 1:19 PM
	TexasAngie said: I think it's wonderful that you and your family get (at least, but wish for ya'll it could be more) a week to spend some time together before the new season begins. I can't imagine how hard it is to have the pull between 2 great loves! We fans really do love it when ya'll come around our towns (some I know of go around to different countries! and my family thought I was weird for going to another state!); we love the shows, the songs (of course!), the great comradery that exists between you and the other "boys"! It's just that when we're at the show, and having such a great time singing along with you and dancing, after the shows when we're on a total high walking back to our cars, we don't stop to think about when you guys come down from your "show high" and think about the next city/state/country you play in and how it's another night away from your families- kids grow up fast, as I'm sure you're learning (I haven't even hardly hit my mid-30's and already have a 12 & 13 yr. olds!), at least we're here in this day and age, and it's easier to be closer to home what with all of the live video talks and cell phones that are getting better and better coverage! Back to being a fan- with "life" getting busy and running me over, I haven't been to a show since before Darrel left, but I fully plan on going to the next one that comes close to where we are in Michigan (after our 3 week vacation back to my home in Texas!), especially since my 12 yr. old son is a total GBS fan now! He loves your songs! And thinks you're the best singer in the bunch! He can't wait to see you! I've met you boys twice and have 1 pic with you, but have had to break it to him that ya'll are getting so popular now that it might be a little harder to get to meet you, but he's ever the optimist! So, after I made this "comment" waaaaay longer than I meant to, enjoy your vacation and have a blast! Cherish ever bit of time you have with your family- then years later, like my Matt and I do (after 15 yrs) we smile and tell each other how we're "getting old", but we both know that even though illness has kept me in the hospital many, many more days that your average person, and I feel I've missed a lot, it's all a part of growing and life- we wouldn't change anything, it's made our kids who they are today: kind, considerate, caring, and (though our daughter goes everywhere hoping to "see a cute boy") sensitive people who will (hopefully) have a happy, successful life ahead of them! Cheers, ya'll! Angie (also know as the Long Lost Texan; when you boys signed my Play cd cover you all said, in 1 way or another, to Play in Texas or Play Loud in Texas, and 1 of you told me how much Texas "rocked"- I'm sure they'd love to see you too!) (my mom also called me "Chatty Cathy", can ya imagine why? LOL) June 11, 2008 1:26 PM
	Fran said: Glad to hear that you guys will also be playing some of the bonus tracks. Can't wait to see them in action. Have a nice relaxing vacation before the true madness starts. June 11, 2008 2:25 PM
	Helenwheels said: So, I guess that would make my clandar a lovely shade of Purple - my Vacations and my GBS times, more often than not, are one - a little bright red, a little blue, there you have it - color me purple! And I am so looking forward to my "purple days" ahead! I am thrilled to hear you'll be including Gallows Pole in the standard set - you guys did an amazing job with that piece! As for bearing the new progeny into the world: you have raised a fine family so far; the new babe is in the great and well experienced hands of it's fathers - it is one Fortunate Son! It is already loved by your "extended family" of fans. We welcome it into the world! Cheers! June 11, 2008 2:32 PM
	Jenn said: Hello All!!!! Just a wanted to say enjoy the time away. Relaxation is key to sucess. I'd know as a mother of three boys. LOL...Love your music. Love You's Take Care xoxo June 11, 2008 2:33 PM
	ErinB said: Enjoy your vacation, Alan. We want you ready to rock out for the tour. And I'm so excited to hear you guys do "Gallow's Pole"! Leadbelly did a great version of it, and I'm anxious to hear how you guys interpret it. June 11, 2008 5:01 PM
	gbsgirl said: Excited to hear you'll be playing some of the bonus stuff! Hoping "Wandering Ways" and "Belong" will be among the selections. Can't wait to see you all on this tour. Have a great vacation! June 11, 2008 5:57 PM
	Horatia said: Google Calendar Rocks My World! I'm glad its found you. It only found me 8 months ago, but it has rapidly become an indispensable member of my organizational family... so much so that I push it on practically everyone I work with / for. Sharing calendars is great too... my mom (and friends... yes I do have a few of those) just write in where they want me to be & I don't even have to think any more. I print off the calendar over breakfast & then its just one foot in front of the other until I go to bed... LOVE IT! Okay... I will cease to be a dork now... nice to hear from you again. Hope to be reading another FTR shortly, its been too long. June 12, 2008 12:19 AM
	TinaMack said: Woohoo. You're back. The new digs are cool, two set shows are fanfriggintastic, and FF has is pre-ordered and eagerly awaited. May actually get to see a few GBS shows this year. Wha happen...? So excited. Haven't been able to do a proper road trip for years. :D June 12, 2008 8:30 AM
	annathepiper said: Oh, SWEET, another two-set tour! Very much looking forward to this! :) June 12, 2008 12:42 PM
	alan-rocks said: I second everything TinaMack said. Hope the vacation is great...you'll need it with the cd coming out and a tour coming on...busy times for you guys...happy times for us! Can't wait for the new album; heard a few songs and they sound great (Straight to Hell- can't wait to hear that one on the cd!). Glad to see you back with a new FTR. i kinda missed reading these little blurbs from you. Looking forward to August! See ya then! June 12, 2008 7:50 PM
	opietaylors said: Hope to come to sunny FLA again soon, St. Petersburg or Orlando. It has been a while since GBS has performed here in Florida. June 13, 2008 11:01 AM
	Seven said: Hello! I hope Norfolk, Virginia will be one of your stops on your North American tour. We saw you last year at the Attucks Theater and your concert was endlessly entertaining and fun. We hope to see you here again. Love the new album. Cheers. June 14, 2008 7:49 PM
	HOLY HOT PINK G-STRING BATMAN! said: hello lads! thanks for the wonderful music & merry-making in support of the Gainey Foundation. Hats off to ya. Or in this case...undies off to ya! You were in fine form, as per usual. Hope you got a laugh from the g-string I so...brazenly catapulted onto the stage. It was all in good fun & for a good cause. I confess, I was a bit nervous as to when to let fly. Didn't want to brain you, Alan. Not sure cotton undergarments can be guilty of that though. When you announced your latest offering's entitled, Fortune's Favour, I thought, perfect! How much more fortunate can you feel! Well, I suppose a couple of million thrown into the bargain might help. And after seeing "Fortune" on your album cover, I couldn't help but be tickled by the notion that given half a chance she might have done the same. In fact, truth be told, she put me up to it! All the best with the album & tour. Have loads & loads of fun! Bonne vacances & blessings, anna m. berlyn @RT!$t(e)-@rt!$ta-Kun$£er!n MTL, QC p.s. GO HABS GO! just a wee hint as to the flight path of the "arse is outta'er"...look forward to someday thanking-you all in person for pursuing your passion...until then, "Once more onto the breach dear friends, once more" - the Bard (from somewhere in Henry V, if I'm not mistaken...) June 25, 2008 1:43 AM