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Abigail's Tour Diary: My life as a baller + The end of an incredibly successful Tom Morello tour!
Now this was a happy surprise to see the BALL4REAL Streetball tour bus out in front of the same hotel Tom Morello, Pete (tour manager) and I were staying at in Detroit, July 10, 2007.
BALL4REAL features top basketball stars made famous on ESPN's "Streetball," the best streetball players in the world:
http://www.ball4real.com
Why was this such a happy surprise for me? My first love was basketball--my life growing up was consumed with it. My mother constantly asked me not to dribble the ball in the house...
There was this one spot on our kitchen floor where I loved to bounce the ball--next to both the refrigerator and the door that led to our music room. That spot had such a nice feel and sound to it. For me, it was also the perfect location to hang out with my mom while she was cooking and my dad who was in the music room...
My dedication to the game paid off when I accepted a full athletic Division I basketball scholarship to attend Old Dominion University. We won two consecutive CAA championships during my junior and senior year.
It was the start of a dynasty. March 2007 marked our 16th straight CAA title! http://odusports.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/oldd-w-baskbl-body.html
Strength coach Andy Zucker spots me. What? I was training to win back to back "Iron Monarch" awards!
Cutting down the net after winning our second consecutive CAA championship my senior year ('93):
The start of a dynasty...
ODU alumni game with WNBA superstars Sheryl Swoopes and Adrienne Goodson and my ODU asst. coaches, Alissa Scott and Anne Donovan.
Hall of Famer and three-time Olympian, Anne Donovan is now the head coach of the WNBA Seattle Storm and the 2006-08 head coach of the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team for the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
I've been so fortunate to have strong, positive influencers in my life...
OK, so now onto the start of The Nightwatchman's second leg of the tour... We just returned from a 10-day break.
Schedule:
7/10 Detroit, MI @ Shelter
7/11 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
7/12 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
7/13 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
7/15 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
7/17 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
7/18 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café
7/20 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish Hall
7/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
I flew into Detroit the morning of the 10th and was excited to see Tom and Pete again... As I was waiting in the hotel lobby, chatting with some of the BALL4REAL Streetballers, I heard the ding of the elevator--it was Pete. As soon as he saw me, he did a cute little jog over to me and gave me a "Cat Nap Lewis" hug. (Well, I mean when you're traveling with someone for three weeks straight and get along as well as we did, of course you're gonna miss 'em). Awww... next up was Tom's bright eyes, smile, and welcoming hug. Yup, the threesome was back in play! ;)
Sound guy at the Shelter, Detroit, 7/10/07. Look closely at what's on the board...
The Fuzz postcard! And no, I didn't put it there.
First show with the talented Ike Reilly, opener for The Nightwatchman:
SOLD OUT Detroit show!
Tom Morello/The Nightwatchman at Schubas, Chicago, IL, 7/11/07. Note the change in attire--Axis of Justice t-shirt and no hat. Since we were in Chicago, Tom went straight to his mom's house (Mary Morello) in Libertyville, IL to spend the day. Well, unfortunately when he arrived at the venue with his mom, he forgot his "uniform", the black button down shirt, black pants and hat.
So, this is one of those rare moments to catch him performing as The Nightwatchman looking like this. Tom didn't miss a beat though... The crowd loved him!
First of two SOLD OUT Nightwatchman Schubas shows, Chicago, IL:
Mary Morello, Maureen Herman, Tom and I after Schubas show:
Chicago was one of the most beautiful cities on our tour schedule. It's the only one that reminded me of San Francisco--good looking downtown skyline, professional, active people, beautiful water (Lake Michigan), nice sunny weather (not too hot) and a vibrant energy in the air... I was so moved, I had to go for a run to soak it all in. It was a good one!
Since this was the start of the second leg, additional merchandise was shipped to Detroit and Chicago. We were also flying the next morning to Minneapolis, MN not driving. This meant that I had to advance the merch--calculate what was needed for the upcoming shows, then box and ship everything in advance of our arrival. Can you hear the rolls of mailing tape late at night and into the wee hours of the morning?!?
I didn't get to sleep until 7:30 a.m. Yes, that's right. Worst part--I had to request a 9:15 a.m. wake up call to make my 10:00 a.m. lobby call and flight to Minneapolis from Chicago at 12:45 p.m. UGH!!!
On to Minneapolis, MN...
Ike jams with Tom at 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN, 7/13/07:
What a fantastic crowd! I remember having goose bumps at least twice during this show. Tom and I talked about it afterwards and both agreed--it was a special night.
Hangin' with Tom and Lori Barbero (drummer, Babes in Toyland) at 7th St. Entry. Not only is Lori a kick ass drummer and close friend to bandmate/bassist, Maureen Herman, but she is so sweet. We had fun at dinner with Tom and friends after the show. Plus, I got a break from having to stay in a hotel, thanks to Lori. Thank you for hosting me at your house, Lori! When are you coming to SF?
The Nightwatchman rocks the Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO, 7/15/07:
Damn right, Morello--you rocked it!
Ike performs for his adoring fans at the Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR, 7/17/07:
Tom and Ike jam at Doug Fir:
On WED, 7/18 I was able to spend the morning with my sister, Beverly and brother-in-law, Larry in Seattle. Perfect timing as they were visiting Seattle at the same time we were touring through. Here we are at the 5 SPOT (best place for breakfast) in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood. I had banana/blueberry pancakes... Yummy!
We stopped the car to enjoy the beautiful view of Seattle's Space Needle. At a height of 605', the Space Needle boasts fabulous 360 degree views that include Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, the beautiful city of Seattle and beyond.
A visit to Seattle just isn't complete without a trip to Pike Place Market, "The Soul of Seattle". Here I am in front of Pike Place Fish Co., world famous for entertaining its visitors as fishmongers throw fish and have fun!
They asked if I wanted to catch and throw a fish... I said, "No thanks! I'm getting ready to catch a plane to San Francisco!" Could you imagine?!? I would have smelled wonderful... ;)
On FRI, 7/19 we flew into San Francisco, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Wow, was I happy to be home (even if it was just for two days)! That night we had sushi at Tokyo Go Go with fellow Fuzzies, Jeff Yasuda, Maureen Herman and Arin Sarkissian, as well as Boots Riley (The Coup) and friends. Fun times... Sake was tasty! ;)
The Nightwatchman Swedish Hall show, San Francisco, 7/20/07:
Tom asks San Francisco fans if they are READY!?! And YES, we were!!!
Tom and Boots Riley (The Coup) jam at The Nightwatchman show, Swedish Hall, SF:
The Coup is performing at Rock The Bells with Rage Against The Machine in San Bernardino, 8/11 and San Francisco, 8/18!!! Don't miss it. http://www.rockthebells.net
Ike, Swedish Hall, SF:
Boots, Tom and Ike jam at Swedish Hall, San Francisco, 7/20/07:
SOLD OUT San Francisco show!
Fuzzies, Mike Eldredge, Jeff Yasuda, Maureen Herman and I with Ike:
Jeff, Boots, Tom & I hangin downstairs at Cafe du Nord after the show:
SAT, 7/21 we flew from SFO to LAX for the last show of the tour at the legendary Troubadour club in West Hollywood. Tom and Pete now had the joy of being in their home city!
Two words: Hollywood Hills.
Hangin' with actor, Breckin Meyer and Denise at the VIP After Party:
Ben Richards, guitarist of Porcelain (I LOVE this band), Tom and I at VIP After Party:
Ben kept me company at my Fuzz/Nightwatchman merch table. So sweet! If you're in LA, check these guys out. They're playing at the El Rey Theatre on AUG 17th, 10:15 p.m. Don't miss it. Porcelain BLEW ME AWAY at this year's SXSW! Badass!
Check out ther Fuzz page: http://porcelain.fuzz.com/
The Nightwatchman Touring Team: Abigail, Tom and Pete after the last show of our tour at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, 7/21/07:
Before we said goodbye, Tom gave me this:
What an amazing tour it's been. To have been part of this incredible team and have the opportunity to tour with Tom Morello during his first Nightwatchman Tour has been an honor and a blessing.
Special thanks to Tom's management team, especially Blair at Boom, our very own Maureen Herman (Tom's dear friend and my boss, Fuzz Sr. Director, Business Development) and Jeff Yasuda (Fuzz Founder/CEO) for making this all happen. This was an experience I will never forget--ever.
Do not be saddened my dear Fuzzies... There is more Fuzz and Tom Morello to come! This is just the beginning. Stay tuned.
Hell, Rage is playing in just two weeks here in San Francisco!!! Let's go see Tom shred his shit in front of 70,000+ screaming fans! Who's coming?!?
Fuzz love,
A.
BALL4REAL features top basketball stars made famous on ESPN's "Streetball," the best streetball players in the world:
http://www.ball4real.com
Why was this such a happy surprise for me? My first love was basketball--my life growing up was consumed with it. My mother constantly asked me not to dribble the ball in the house...
There was this one spot on our kitchen floor where I loved to bounce the ball--next to both the refrigerator and the door that led to our music room. That spot had such a nice feel and sound to it. For me, it was also the perfect location to hang out with my mom while she was cooking and my dad who was in the music room...
My dedication to the game paid off when I accepted a full athletic Division I basketball scholarship to attend Old Dominion University. We won two consecutive CAA championships during my junior and senior year.
It was the start of a dynasty. March 2007 marked our 16th straight CAA title! http://odusports.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/oldd-w-baskbl-body.html
Strength coach Andy Zucker spots me. What? I was training to win back to back "Iron Monarch" awards!
Cutting down the net after winning our second consecutive CAA championship my senior year ('93):
The start of a dynasty...
ODU alumni game with WNBA superstars Sheryl Swoopes and Adrienne Goodson and my ODU asst. coaches, Alissa Scott and Anne Donovan.
Hall of Famer and three-time Olympian, Anne Donovan is now the head coach of the WNBA Seattle Storm and the 2006-08 head coach of the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team for the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
I've been so fortunate to have strong, positive influencers in my life...
OK, so now onto the start of The Nightwatchman's second leg of the tour... We just returned from a 10-day break.
Schedule:
7/10 Detroit, MI @ Shelter
7/11 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
7/12 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
7/13 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
7/15 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
7/17 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
7/18 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café
7/20 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish Hall
7/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
I flew into Detroit the morning of the 10th and was excited to see Tom and Pete again... As I was waiting in the hotel lobby, chatting with some of the BALL4REAL Streetballers, I heard the ding of the elevator--it was Pete. As soon as he saw me, he did a cute little jog over to me and gave me a "Cat Nap Lewis" hug. (Well, I mean when you're traveling with someone for three weeks straight and get along as well as we did, of course you're gonna miss 'em). Awww... next up was Tom's bright eyes, smile, and welcoming hug. Yup, the threesome was back in play! ;)
Sound guy at the Shelter, Detroit, 7/10/07. Look closely at what's on the board...
The Fuzz postcard! And no, I didn't put it there.
First show with the talented Ike Reilly, opener for The Nightwatchman:
SOLD OUT Detroit show!
Tom Morello/The Nightwatchman at Schubas, Chicago, IL, 7/11/07. Note the change in attire--Axis of Justice t-shirt and no hat. Since we were in Chicago, Tom went straight to his mom's house (Mary Morello) in Libertyville, IL to spend the day. Well, unfortunately when he arrived at the venue with his mom, he forgot his "uniform", the black button down shirt, black pants and hat.
So, this is one of those rare moments to catch him performing as The Nightwatchman looking like this. Tom didn't miss a beat though... The crowd loved him!
First of two SOLD OUT Nightwatchman Schubas shows, Chicago, IL:
Mary Morello, Maureen Herman, Tom and I after Schubas show:
Chicago was one of the most beautiful cities on our tour schedule. It's the only one that reminded me of San Francisco--good looking downtown skyline, professional, active people, beautiful water (Lake Michigan), nice sunny weather (not too hot) and a vibrant energy in the air... I was so moved, I had to go for a run to soak it all in. It was a good one!
Since this was the start of the second leg, additional merchandise was shipped to Detroit and Chicago. We were also flying the next morning to Minneapolis, MN not driving. This meant that I had to advance the merch--calculate what was needed for the upcoming shows, then box and ship everything in advance of our arrival. Can you hear the rolls of mailing tape late at night and into the wee hours of the morning?!?
I didn't get to sleep until 7:30 a.m. Yes, that's right. Worst part--I had to request a 9:15 a.m. wake up call to make my 10:00 a.m. lobby call and flight to Minneapolis from Chicago at 12:45 p.m. UGH!!!
On to Minneapolis, MN...
Ike jams with Tom at 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN, 7/13/07:
What a fantastic crowd! I remember having goose bumps at least twice during this show. Tom and I talked about it afterwards and both agreed--it was a special night.
Hangin' with Tom and Lori Barbero (drummer, Babes in Toyland) at 7th St. Entry. Not only is Lori a kick ass drummer and close friend to bandmate/bassist, Maureen Herman, but she is so sweet. We had fun at dinner with Tom and friends after the show. Plus, I got a break from having to stay in a hotel, thanks to Lori. Thank you for hosting me at your house, Lori! When are you coming to SF?
The Nightwatchman rocks the Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO, 7/15/07:
Damn right, Morello--you rocked it!
Ike performs for his adoring fans at the Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR, 7/17/07:
Tom and Ike jam at Doug Fir:
On WED, 7/18 I was able to spend the morning with my sister, Beverly and brother-in-law, Larry in Seattle. Perfect timing as they were visiting Seattle at the same time we were touring through. Here we are at the 5 SPOT (best place for breakfast) in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood. I had banana/blueberry pancakes... Yummy!
We stopped the car to enjoy the beautiful view of Seattle's Space Needle. At a height of 605', the Space Needle boasts fabulous 360 degree views that include Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, the beautiful city of Seattle and beyond.
A visit to Seattle just isn't complete without a trip to Pike Place Market, "The Soul of Seattle". Here I am in front of Pike Place Fish Co., world famous for entertaining its visitors as fishmongers throw fish and have fun!
They asked if I wanted to catch and throw a fish... I said, "No thanks! I'm getting ready to catch a plane to San Francisco!" Could you imagine?!? I would have smelled wonderful... ;)
On FRI, 7/19 we flew into San Francisco, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Wow, was I happy to be home (even if it was just for two days)! That night we had sushi at Tokyo Go Go with fellow Fuzzies, Jeff Yasuda, Maureen Herman and Arin Sarkissian, as well as Boots Riley (The Coup) and friends. Fun times... Sake was tasty! ;)
The Nightwatchman Swedish Hall show, San Francisco, 7/20/07:
Tom asks San Francisco fans if they are READY!?! And YES, we were!!!
Tom and Boots Riley (The Coup) jam at The Nightwatchman show, Swedish Hall, SF:
The Coup is performing at Rock The Bells with Rage Against The Machine in San Bernardino, 8/11 and San Francisco, 8/18!!! Don't miss it. http://www.rockthebells.net
Ike, Swedish Hall, SF:
Boots, Tom and Ike jam at Swedish Hall, San Francisco, 7/20/07:
SOLD OUT San Francisco show!
Fuzzies, Mike Eldredge, Jeff Yasuda, Maureen Herman and I with Ike:
Jeff, Boots, Tom & I hangin downstairs at Cafe du Nord after the show:
SAT, 7/21 we flew from SFO to LAX for the last show of the tour at the legendary Troubadour club in West Hollywood. Tom and Pete now had the joy of being in their home city!
Two words: Hollywood Hills.
Hangin' with actor, Breckin Meyer and Denise at the VIP After Party:
Ben Richards, guitarist of Porcelain (I LOVE this band), Tom and I at VIP After Party:
Ben kept me company at my Fuzz/Nightwatchman merch table. So sweet! If you're in LA, check these guys out. They're playing at the El Rey Theatre on AUG 17th, 10:15 p.m. Don't miss it. Porcelain BLEW ME AWAY at this year's SXSW! Badass!
Check out ther Fuzz page: http://porcelain.fuzz.com/
The Nightwatchman Touring Team: Abigail, Tom and Pete after the last show of our tour at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, 7/21/07:
Before we said goodbye, Tom gave me this:
What an amazing tour it's been. To have been part of this incredible team and have the opportunity to tour with Tom Morello during his first Nightwatchman Tour has been an honor and a blessing.
Special thanks to Tom's management team, especially Blair at Boom, our very own Maureen Herman (Tom's dear friend and my boss, Fuzz Sr. Director, Business Development) and Jeff Yasuda (Fuzz Founder/CEO) for making this all happen. This was an experience I will never forget--ever.
Do not be saddened my dear Fuzzies... There is more Fuzz and Tom Morello to come! This is just the beginning. Stay tuned.
Hell, Rage is playing in just two weeks here in San Francisco!!! Let's go see Tom shred his shit in front of 70,000+ screaming fans! Who's coming?!?
Fuzz love,
A.
Comments
Michelle
1. You bring alive what music-making is all about: talented musicians, passion on stage, magical connection with fans, and hard, hard work behind the scenes.
2. Music is no longer just about easy listenin' to some mellow tracks at home [although that is OK too], it's about touring, personal engagement, and "the scene".
3. You energize The Nightwatchmen, you energize his Fans, you energize Fuzz - and more.
4. You bring home the point that music is, yes, all energy in fantasmical bursts, but also thoughtful, planned, and quiet.
5. The music motor needs gas to run and a team to drive the machine.
6. While many of us noodle about music, you make music happen.
7. There is a lot goin' on here that we experience vicariously with your word-pictures and your picture-pictures - you have a talent.
8. We need to have more of the above, naturally the continuing story of TM and, now, Rage; and perhaps a similar series about your life at Fuzz. Help us out here, so we can "get it": Music Uprising...to...whatever meets our expectations.
Most of all, thanks for sharing.
J