Montana to Michigan

I don't mind waking up to views like this!

After our days off there was a show in Missoula, MT. They’d never played there before, it was a Tuesday night, there weren’t many ticket pre-sales, and there weren’t any local openers billed until the day before, so we weren’t expecting a big turn out. While it wasn’t a huge crowd, they were very enthusiastic. Run 2 Cover had a lot of friends and family come out for the show, and that helped a ton.

Sound check!

Ahh!  Riggs has no face!

That night after everyone but the crew and a couple of guys from the venue were gone, we were loading out via the elevator (the show was in the basement). Erik went to take a load to the elevator, and found a guy passes out in it. Luckily the guys from the bar went to take care of it. Apparently they couldn’t wake him up, so they dragged him out onto the street where someone from the 1st floor show claimed him as their drummer.

Next we were off to Billings, MT. Kim and Jr had an interview while we were setting up. Kim said it was one of the best interviews she’d ever done. This guy had gone through old interviews to make sure he didn’t ask questions that have already been asked a million times, something Kim has talked about before. 

The Billings show had a better turn out than Missoula, crowd was awesome and it was a fun night :)

We then had a day off to get to Des Moines, IA. On the way, at some place in South Dakota, we stopped for food at a place called Shooters. We ended up stopping at the right place on the right night at the right time! They had buy one get one free burgers after 8pm, half off drafts all day, and our waiter Scott was SUPER awesome! 

That night we drove through some super creepy low hanging fog. No pictures of it though :(

The next show in Des Moines was at Vaudeville Mews where we’ve been several times before. Des Moines is always a little awkward because they have a REALLY early show, then a curfew where they kick out all of the minors, then have a late show after we leave. Despite all of that, there was a good turn out and the crowd had great energy!

Ahh! Riggs has no face again!

Just as we finished packing up the trailer, a couple walked up asking if One-Eyed Doll was playing tonight. We had to break the news to them that they were already done :( Kim and Jr were on the bus with a couple of VIPs that couldn’t get off of work in time to make it to the pre-show VIP, so they invited them on as well. The guy had just started listening to them a couple o months ago and this would have been his first time seeing them. Instead, he got some one-on-one extra special time on the bus because Kim and Jr are so awesome and really care about their fans. It sucks that they missed the show, but what a way to meet a band you like for the first time :)

After that, we had to do the mandatory stop at Zombie Burger, especially since we missed it last tour.

My "bun" is actually grilled cheese

On the way out of town we stopped at the creepiest truck stop ever! Where we were first parked we had to walk like a mile to the actually building, all the while not seeing a single other person. We got there, and the laundry room was up on the second floor. We put some laundry in, and wandered around a bit. Down the hallway there was a random ticket booth with a mannequin in it.

Kim braving the scary hallway alone.

Walking down the hall to check it out, we came across crazy mirrors at weird places that make it seem like a fun house. The mannequin is across the hall from 2 doors that don’t have handles or hinges. If you make it to the end of the hallway, there’s a random booth seat. Then, around the corner the hallway to the showers. There were dusty foot prints on the floor (they were doing construction) that just suddenly ended! Past all of that is a little balcony lounge with a couple of TVs. Flipping through channels Riggs came across the adult toy home shopping network. I didn’t even know that was a thing……..  Behind the balcony is a weird little ledge with 2 diner booths randomly set up on it.

Downstairs was the main store area, so I went to down to find some hot tea for me (I rhymed!) and cream soda for Riggs (rhyme fail). Erik came down in the elevator and discovered a secret lower level! He took me down there after I bought my drinks. There were flickering neon lights, sounds of dripping water off in the distance, a bad smell, and empty crates everywhere. We did not go exploring…  

After our laundry was done, we picked up the bus from it’s oil change, got the trailer washed, and got away from the scary truck stop.

The next day we were in Danville, IL at Vintage Villains playing a convention. It was an AWESOME comic book/toy shop with a second room that had pinball machines and a stage. I’m kind of regretting not splurging and buying the $120 Pee Wee’s Playhouse set. Not only was this place, and the owner, cool, but Psychostick was playing as well. It was nice getting to see them again. It was not nice having to deal with the fans that got too drunk and were obnoxious :(

Stage full of helpers

Ghost friend :)

Kim mid air after jumping off of the drum set

Our (Blurry) Friends, Psychostick!

After Danville we had 2 days off on our way to Detroit. We were passing through Battle Creek, so we stopped by so I could see my parents. I haven’t seen them since the end of the Mushroomhead tour back in December 2013. We got in late, so we just went out for dessert (I ate lunch/dinner) and sat at their house catching up for a bit. Then I met back up with everyone and we watched the lunar eclipse. Clouds kept blocking it on and off, but we could see enough of it to be cool.

After we had our fill of staring at the moon, we stopped by a Battle Creek must, Sweetwater's Donut Mill. I've gotten Jason addicted to their fritters, which are literally the size of his head. They also made us some fresh maple glazed long johns, let us sample their experimental "dough-gasm," put up with our crazy photo shoots, and I got my favorite New York Cheesecake donut and bought a travel mug (it was the first one the cashier had ever sold).

I stole this from Jeff...

After playing there for too long, we went shopping at one of my favorite Mid West places, Meijer!!!! Not only did I finally find string lights that look more purple than pink, but they had my juice!!!!! So far this tour, every time we stopped somewhere (Walmart, local grocery store, truck stop, etc.) I’ve been looking for Bolthouse Farms C-Boost and NO ONE has carried that particular kind. But Meijer had it!!! :D :D :D Meijer is awesome!!!

Beginning of the Halloween Tour!!!!

HIIIIIII!!!!! The One-Eyed Doll Halloween Tour has begun! I’m going to be honest, it got off to a rough start for me. Work’s been pretty crazy and stressful since last tour. I gave myself a few extra days off from work before leaving, but because I haven’t had any free time in the past 4 months, it was a few days of me stressing out trying to get merch made, things packed, and everything in my life inorder so I could be gone for 2 months. I did make sure I took some breaks and went to do fun things so I didn’t completely stress myself out. I feel super unprepared for this tour. I haven’t even had a chance to dye my hair in the past 6 months (though a guy on the street in Seattle complimented me on it), so I wasn’t feeling like my usual, shiny Snork self.

The clouds look so fluffy!

I got to OED headquarters Wednesday. This tour with have Potato Erik doing lights again, Ben Riggs from Arcanium stage teching, and the super awesome Jeff, who took us to NASA last tour, driving.  That’s right, we finally have a full crew! There are also a few other surprises that I don’t want to ruin for you. It was really nice to see everyone, but we still had to finish taking inventory, packing up merch, figuring out what we still needed, then load up all the merch and gear. I think we were up until 4:30 am before we finally took a break to get a little bit of sleep. Jr woke me up at 9:30 so we could finish. Then, after all of that, we had to go get the bus and load the bus. THEN the trailer needed new tires. We were originally hoping to leave for Portland at 4 am, we finally left the area at 10 pm. Luckily we’d given ourselves an extra day.

The work wasn’t done when we got there though. Jr had all of the new merch shipped to Portland. Luckily he talked the venue into giving us a really early load in time so we could deal with all of that, plus other first day things like how the stage is going to be set up, meeting the new bands, etc. Speaking of which, we brought friends along this tour! We’re touring with Run 2 Cover and Stitched Up Heart this tour :) Be sure to get to the shows early to check them out.

Finally, once (almost) everything was set up, some familiar faces showed up (Hi Ben!) and the show got underway, I started to get into the groove and enjoying myself. Still sad about my faded hair, but it doesn’t look terrible.

Got to see Ed again and meet Natalie for the first time in person!

First show was a bit rough, as is always with the first show. There were mistakes made while working out the kinks and getting into the groove, but Kim always makes it entertaining. There was one point she was wearing a witch hat and Erik had her lit in green. She looked like the witch from The Wizard of Oz. My picture doesn’t look as cool as it actually was in person, so you’ll just have to pretend.

Portland over all was an awesome turn out, good crowd (and good merch night). Great way to kick off a show, especially in a city they haven’t been to in a few years.

Next we were off to “SeattHELL”, another first for me. There was an awesome little VIP girl at this show epically head banging along. Kim also got distracted at one point which spiraled into completely messing up a whole song. Kim however made the awesome analogy to a Hockey game or NASCAR race. You go to see the fist fights and wrecks, just like how you come to an OED show not for the good music, but to see them mess up :P

Ben is AWESOME!!!!!

Later in the meet and greet line, Kim broke out into New Orleans. I don’t know what started it because I was working, but suddenly everyone was quiet and she was singing to a fan. He was on the verge of tears the entire time and may have cried a bit at the end. Watching him enjoying it so much almost made me cry. I keep telling Kim she needs to stop doing things that turn me into a crying fan girl because it makes it really hard for me to work for them.

The next day we had a day off in Seattle. In true OED fashion, we slept until sometime after noon. We then went into town and the first thing we did was end up in a toy store. I bought a “Plumpee” Bumble Bee stuffed animal. Sadly we didn’t have much time to look around because they were closing :(

Collecting friends! :D

Seattle Skyline

Sunset on the pier

Ivan is the "flounder" of the Seagull Society

Next, we hit up the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory across the street. Why do all RMCF’s not sell frozen cheesecake on a stick? *pouts* Despite no cheesecake, we ended up gorging ourselves on chocolate and ice cream. We then walked down to the pier. The rest of them got some fish and chips and fed the sea gulls french fries, then we found this really cool museum/gift shop, "Ye Olde Curiosity Shop."

"Sylvester" the mummy.

"Silvia" another mummy.

Tiger rug :(

2-headed calf

4-legged chicken

After that we rode the giant ferris wheel.

Looking up from below.

Coastline + The Space Needle

Coastline the other direction.

Looking down from on top.

Blurry Ferry and a Blurry Me!

Then we had to walk back to the bus in the cold and rain :( I fear I may be getting sick, so I’m trying to get lots of sleep, vitamins and drinking tons of tea. Anyways, drove to another area, got some food, and as we were driving down a side street to leave, SOMEONE JUMPED ONTO THE BACK OF OUR BUS! He was yelling something about Jesus and hanging onto the ladder in back or something. We didn’t want to keep driving around with him there, especially on the highway, but we didn’t want to go out and possible be attacked by a crazy person. So we carefully drove around town until we didn’t hear him yelling anymore, then stopped and the boys got out to check and make sure he wasn’t still hanging on somewhere. So we’ve officially had our first Bus Pirate. We didn’t even know that was a thing.

Crosswalk in Seattle

The next day was another day off. It was mostly spent sleeping and relaxing. Erik, Jeff and Riggs did some laundry at the truck stop, we picked up some groceries and more merch tubs, and Jr made copies of the bus keys for everyone. We managed to stop at Chico’s Pizza in Moses Lake and got some AWESOME pizza from Riggs’ childhood. No pictures because we devoured it too quickly. The veggie one was COVERED in veggies, you couldn’t even see the cheese, and the meat one was COVERED in bacon. After that it was on the road and off to Montana.