Today was a day off from shows. Off doesn’t mean rest. We had a ten hour haul down the highway to California.  We’re a week in. All our bodies aching. Begging for sleep. Close proximity every day. Neck and neck.  I could feel the need for a little more room. Maybe it was just me, and that’s ok.  We stopped for gas in rural towns in South Oregon. They looked to be up to no good. Burnt around the edges, like they’d been blown up decades ago and are still plotting their revenge.

Here's a list of things that went wrong today: I was awoken at 5 am by loud banging coming from the floor above our shitty hotel room. I didn't eat anything until three pm become a barista in Portland gave me a bacon and egg sandwich instead of the vegan food I ordered. I lost my beanie. I can't find my ear buds. My instrument cable crapped out during our set, and I couldn't play the last song. Later on, the cashier at an Italian restaurant in Seattle also misplaced my order.

Who most needs to hear our message?  The message itself is simple enough (I think): Hispanic immigrants (or anyone) in the United States should not be subject to racial profiling and the absence of due process.  It’s what this whole mass of land is supposed to be about. At least it’s what’s advertised.  I say it through the microphone everyday and I’m wondering who needs to hear it the most. Is it the crowd like the one in Portland tonight? Completely on board and ecstatic th

We asking a lot of or bodies. We've been getting 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night. We drive most of the day, perform, then we drive some more to steal a few miles from tomorrow. Touring is demanding like that. Yesterday's miles no longer matter today. While my body takes a hit, my minds has to sharpen. It's unforgiving. I listened to a podcast on I-84 today. It was about resilience. I'm keeping it close to my chest. They said you gotta believe you can do hard things, and stack

On the third day after leaving Chicago we finally played a show. Everything about Today was a success and I want to breath those wins in slowly.  First I ran 3 miles with two of my bandmates. At altitude, I was slower, but I finished. Success. Then came a reunion. We linked up with the headliner;  Strung out. These are guys I met over 20 years ago when I was still a kid living in the Island. I felt their love for me and my crew. Genuine care from your peers is a precious gem.

The me from ten years ago wouldn’t understand the me from today.  We had another respectable drive today, 6 hours from central Nebraska to Denver. That's already pretty brutal, yet I willingly agreed to add another hour past our destination, then to backtrack an hour to Denver, where the tour finally starts.  Why?  To go visit Rocky Mountain National Park. That's why. It made no logistical or financial sense, but that wasn’t the point. The point that the me from today wants t

"The before photo" Touring is a battle to keep your habits. I go into it knowing I will fail, but still… I try. The last 2 months have been crazy busy with band duties: mixing new songs, a trip to Colombia, a local show, preparing for this West Coast tour we are now on, all while working my nine to five and being there for those who need me. What people see is the stage. What people hear is the music. That’s only about 10%. The real iceberg lies underneath. It is mammoth.  C