Day 10: Sunday Morning Coming Down Again.

Thanks again to all the great people who gave us a warm welcome at The Brew Skies Festival. We hope to come back and see you all again next year. Before we left, Noah hit the general store and picked up a hand buzzer and even a bill snatcher. We left Thomas, WV after breakfast at The Flying Pig, and headed towards Pennsylavania. 


When we arrived at The Bear's Picnic Music Festival, the weather was perfect, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage where on stage. Buddy Cage sounded better than ever. We saw many of our old dear friends and family and played a great set before Mickey Hart took over. What a great way to end the tour.

As for now, we are heading back to Vermont for a few days before we return to NYC this Thursday to play at The Living Room. 

We have taken many positive things from this tour. We have learned very much, but have probably laughed more. We feel this has been the best tour that Waylon Speed has done to date. When we express our gratitude to each and every person that has helped us along the way...we truly mean it. We hope to see everyone back in Burlington, VT for the Grand Point North Festival with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers and Dr. Dog and more on September 14th and 15th. For more information, you can check out the website here.

See you all next time around, and enjoy the last series: 

'Club Hand Dryers'

Love,

Waylon Speed
08/19/2012

Day 9: Bury Me in West Virginia.

The trip from Philadelphia to West Virginia was smooth and rainy. We made it over the hills and through the valleys into the beautiful Davis, WV. It was nice to breathe fresh air and actually see the stars last night for a change. What a wonderful gathering of people and music.

The set flowed well and we couldn't be more grateful for the crowds support. We decided to encore with Nirvana's 'Breed', and it went surprisingly well. 

After the show, Noah reflected in his hotel room back at the resort with a C-minus.

We are off to Pennsylvania to play at The Bear's Picnic. We are psyched to see our friends and family. We are opening for Mickey Hart, and Justin hopes to hang with Mickey and get a few pointers.

We will have a recap of the tour tomorrow, and we head back out next Thursday. So long, and thanks for all the shoes.

Love,

Waylon Speed
08/18/2012

Day 8: Meet Me on South Street.

We had a quick trip to Philly from Asbury Park, NJ. We arrived very early, and had plenty of time to soak up Philly in all of it's glory. We met the guitar player from early skate-punk band McRad, hung out with Lita Fords touring drummer, and spent time hanging out in one of the oldest tattoo shops on the east coast. Kelly got a new piece, and Chitwood disappeared into the Gold Club for three hours after he finally got the transmission back in. He was covered in grease from head to toe and didn't seem to get much attention from the 'performers'. Oh well, there is always next time.

The Legenday Dobbs is a fantastic venue, founded on and known for showcasing bands in their early years such as Nirvana, Oasis, Rage Against the Machine, Bo Diddley, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam and Green Day. We were lucky to get the slot we did at their festival, and we provided them with a real taste of our music. Thanks to our friends and family that came out. It truly made the show an all around success. 

After the show, we got soft pretzels in the ghetto, and headed south on 95 into Maryland. Kelly was sleepy and started napping in the passenger seat. We took a few wrong turns, ended up on the wrong route, and Kelly told us to "just keep going" in his sleep. 

We can't wait to get down to West Virginia for the Brew Skies Music Festival. All Noah can talk about is what kind of fireworks he wants to get. Thanks to everyone for the continued support. Until tomorrow.

Love,

Waylon Speed
08/17/2012

Day 7: Play With Fire...Sure to Burn.

We made it to Asbury Park, and had a great show at The Saint. We saw Kurt Cobain's signature in the green room, and sound checked behind a curtain.

After the show, we decided to check and see how flammable spray paint really is. We were pleasantly surprised.

We are off to Philadelphia, one of our favorite cities. We play at The Legendary Dobbs as part of the First Annual Liberty Music Festival. Before the show, Kelly is going to visit the famous Philadelphia Eddie for a new tattoo, and Chitwood is pulling the transmission out of the new van just to double check the power bands. In the meantime, brush up on your line dancing skills with Noah.

Love,

Waylon Speed
8/16/2012

Day 6: Forgotten Drums and Jersey Slums

Today we officially moved in to our new van. It feels great, and we even got a new 44 Mag suicide knob to maneuver the trailer. We also installed new valance lights and lost a bench seat.

We even added a newly sealed funnel without any drilling. So far, so good.

While Chitwood was rewiring the trailer harness and Kelly was connecting to wireless in the bathroom of the hotel room, we realized that Justin had accidentally abandon his snare drum and briefcase in Manhattan. No amount of money could have replaced what was inside. Fortunately Noah and Justin made a successful mission back into the city from NJ and found both in the club. They are both back safely at home.

We are off to Asbury Park to play at The Saint. We hope to run into Bruce again this time around, and look forward to seeing the family we have coming up tonight.  Talk to you all tomorrow.

Love,

Waylon Speed
8/15/2010

Day 5: Double Zeros and Unsung Heroes.

On our only day off, we hit the roulette wheel and put $500 down on 00. Long story short, we turned it into a new tour rig. 

It was a good day...plain and simple. Tomorrow, we will throw down even more. What fun is it to stop when your ahead?

After a heated and almost confrontational visit to Uhaul for a new wiring harness for the trailer, we took off for New York City with only brake and turn signal lights, temporary tags and no running lights on the trailer. We did score a new harness that we will have to wire outside of the venue. Considering Chitwood can hot-wire a new car in thirteen minutes, that means he can wire a trailer harness in three.


Farewell to our old Chevy van. You were good to us in every way, piss funnel and all. Kelly slept in it one last time last night making it four consecutive nights in a row. Noah cleaned the trailer while we all stood around him and told him the right way to use a scrub brush.

Until tomorrow... New Jersey, here we come.

Love,

Waylon Speed
8/14/2012

Day 4: Freeway Views and Vacant Pews

The show at The Blue Mermaid was a healthy change from what we are used to doing. We decided to go acoustic. Doing an entire show in this fashion was not only fun, but really helped us examine the songs for what they truly are under a different light. It was a great experience, and we will do it again. Hell, we even did an Elvis cover. Our friends Geoff and Angelina came from Portland for the show, and we had a blast hanging out with them.

This picture below was taken by Jim Lockridge. We ran into Jim and his family in Portsmouth, NH. What a great surprise.

The van is still humming just in the key it should and the new trailer panels we installed before the tour are holding fast.

 The Bukowski continues.

We are off to New York City for a show at Pianos on Tuesday night. We always look forward to going back to Pianos. We will have the opportunity to get more chickens for the van in Chinatown, and hit the tattoo supply store. We also discussed going to Atlantic City to wager all of our earnings thus far. We will keep you posted on the outcome, but we know we can at least double it. See you all soon.

Love,

Waylon Speed
08/13/2012

Day 3: Seacoast Rain and Cowboy Camping

We made the rainy trip from Manchester, VT to Dover, NH without much trouble. The wipers stayed on and we witnessed some great lightning over Dover. We had the chance to play with this great band from Boston called Never Got Caught. The bass player and drummer played in Boston hardcore band Tree. They were all really great guys, and we look forward to inviting them to Vermont for a show sometime soon. We played a great set, and the monitor mixes were impeccable (thanks to Al, a very trusty engineer). It was nice to see the Telecaster that Kelly gave to the Brickhouse hanging nicely over the bar. Next time it will be signed glossies.

We left Dover late and could not find a hotel anywhere in the surrounding area, so we drove to Portland, ME and scored a room at a Travelodge that has obviously seen a heavy flow of many types of people for years on end. The pillows smelled like cologne and we had a handicapped room with a floor level shower. One bed lit up by the lights from a 24 hour Denny's and room for a cot by the lockbox in the corner. Not great, but not too bad either I suppose. Until tomorrow, thanks to everyone who gives a shit about what Waylon Speed is doing. We love every bit of it, and feel fortunate everyday to have this opportunity as well as the support. Without you on the other end of this, we simply couldn't do this.  

Love,

Waylon Speed

08/12/2012

Day 2: Lipstick stained cigarette butts.

We made the trip from Manchester, NH to Manchester, VT. Plenty of Manchester in the past few days. We stopped off in Concord, NH and visited a cowboy store. Noah and Kelly both purchased a pair of cowboy cut Wranglers. The jeans make up in proper fit for what they lack in look. The pictures prove it. Chitwood and Justin went for the default stained sleeveless shirts.  

We made it to the Perfect Wife early and had ample time to setup. It was the one show of the tour we needed a PA and had left our speaker and microphone stands on the dock of the warehouse. Fortunately, the bartender by chance, had exactly that in his car. Nice save. We played a great lengthy set, and pulled out all kinds of old songs, and began road testing the new ones. It felt great and we hope you enjoy the new song, "Walk Your Line". The crowd agrees it might just work out.

We had some of our family come down for the show, and it was really nice to have this group in the same spot at once. We stayed up really late and watched Noah dance to reggae on the porch. Good ole' fashion entertainment if you ask me. We finished out our stay at the "Red Sled Inn" with a dip in the pool this morning. Kelly went right for the cannonball in the shallow end and scraped his tail bone. All while Noah was brushing his beard, Waylon was cleaning the pool and Chitwood was fixing the van window (which must just be afraid of heights).

We are off for the Dover Brickhouse tonight. We love this venue and all the local support Dover offers. As for now, it has stopped raining but the windshield wipers won't turn off and Chitwood is sittin' in the bad smokin' seat.  

Love,

Waylon Speed

08/11/2012

Day 1: The Streets of Ill Repute

We had a great show last night at The Shaskeen in Manchester, NH. It was our first time playing in this interesting town, and we were lucky to land a spot like the Shaskeen. Before the show, we witnessed some very interesting conversation between a man and his grandmother. Check out the video below. We also enjoyed some fancy drinks in the van while listening to Bukowski.

We discussed putting music to "Bluebird" and experimented with a few lines during the show. We look forward to going back there next month. After the show, we ended up getting lost in a seedy neighborhood, and asked a rather cold strumpet for directions. Regardless of the plan, we never seem to encounter a dull moment. All things considered, we had a rather smooth night.

We are off to The Perfect Wife tonight after we visit the local gun shop here in Concord, NH. Like any touring band, a little protection always fits the bill. Gene insists on a Stoeger coach gun, but the rest of insist on a 357. He is a bit short tempered today because he passed out last night before he could get tattooed. His loss I suppose.

Last but not least, we would like to wish our extraordinary manager Leah a very happy birthday today. You truly rock!  Until tomorrow.

Love,

Waylon Speed
8/10/2012

Day 0: Locked and Loaded

Dear All,

We are packed up, fueled up, and loaded down on smokes. We even scored an electric cooler for the "sodas". This will be the first tour in quite awhile that it is just the band traveling in the van. We look forward to spending the next few weeks doing what we love, and meeting new family wherever they may be. Tonight we are in Manchester, New Hampshire at The Shaskeen.

We hope this different view into the travels of Waylon Speed will serve you as both entertainment and a way for us all to travel together in a way. Stay tuned for updates and and a true look down into The Gene Machine's soul. We look forward to seeing you all!

Love,

Waylon Speed
August 9th, 2012

Waylon Speed is on tour. Stay tuned for updates, pictures, videos and other happenings from the road.