Tasmania!

Last weekend we did the first leg of the Grinspoon tour in Tasmania. We started off in Launceston, checked in to the accommodation and went for a few frothies at the local, or as they say down there, some "Tenners of Boooags". We then met up with Grinspoon at the venue whilst they were doing their eardrum-bustingly loud soundcheck. It was a definite eye opener seeing how a band of their size and vintage is such a professional unit. It is very educational, i make regular notes in my journal about what we have learnt.  They even had a crew member whose sole job it is to wipe down any surfaces that Phil, Joe Pat & Kris may come into contact with (with antibacterial wipes) as they are all a bit funny about germs.

No Big Buck Hunter in sight yet, but it turns out I'm quite adept at that game with the blue squares where you have to build up in a row to win the hanging prizes. After $15 or so I win a cardboard paddle with a bouncy ball attached to it, which keeps us entertained for a record 3 minutes 46 seconds.

When we return, Kris (Grinspoon's talented drummer) is having very loud words with the tour manager to the effect that his tour lanyard "felt dirty" and demanded a fresh change of clothes. I get out my journal and ponder the correct spelling of "surrounded by a confederacy of dunces", when Jeremy advises me that our rider has arrived. Turns out it is four Grinspoon shirts (extra small) and a half finished plate of chicken parma. Being vegetarian, i pick out some chips with the least amount of cigarette ash on them.

We eventually get onto the stage and make it through to the end of our set. After Jeremy makes a joke about us being "a Hard act to Follow", i die a little inside and Grinspoon rappel down onto the stage from ropes up in the ceiling, which seems a bit over the top for the size of the venue.
The next day we arrive in Devonport, and while London tests out the sleepability of the accommodation, Jeremy Cougar and I head off for a game of bowling. We then headed to the venue "The Saloon Bar" after some pizza and beers. The doors aren't even open for the public yet but we spend about 40 mins signing autographs, and put them aside to save time later in case people ask for them.

The next day we end up in Hobart playing at the Wrest Point Casino. Phil from Grinspoon is quite the gambler, it turns out the reason we ended up on the tour is because he rolled snake eyes when trying to get a double headliner with Mumford & Sons. People keep putting Grinspoon songs onto the casino jukebox whilst we're having an inter-band poker competition, and I feel glad for our fans for being too respectful to do the same to us. I manage to almost get us kicked off the tour with my hilarious "Little Lion Man" parody comparing them disfavourably to Jebediah which offends Phil no end. Cougar and I make a timely retreat to McDonalds for a late supper and cop some anti-semitism, probably due to the beard and/or moustache. It makes an interesting change from the usual muslim/terrorist gags. We try to pay for our burgers with leftover Snowdroppers autographs which doesn't end well. I cry myself to sleep wishing for a real job and am up at the crack of dawn for the flight home. Overall it was a good weekend.

Paul

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