Paper City Summer Tour 2011!

Last night’s home show was awesome; you can say the tour...

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:56:52 -0400

Last night’s home show was awesome; you can say the tour ended with a bang! I can’t explain to you the feeling of being home after an epic trip like this. I still feel like I’m in a dream, and I can honestly say that I’m a changed person. This blog will remain as a time capsule—an online photo album. *sings* Memorieeeees… We have so many memories, so many stories to tell. This collection of pictures represents merely a fraction of the fun we had on this tour. Maybe next time we’ll hire a full-time photographer (or videographer!) to document the whole thing; to really do it justice.

Our last night was super fun. Played at one of my new favorite...

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:54:00 -0400

Make me feel good rock and roll band

Dance Party

The other band had a belly dancer

Cds, stickers, mailing list...

French do; wish it was a French Bathroom

Our last night was super fun. Played at one of my new favorite bars called the Lost Leaf in Phoenix (I’ll be back just to visit), and had an absolute blast. Met so many cool people—Phoenix’s scene is off the charts! It’s like Long Beach’s finest people exploded into another parallel, warmer world in the desert, creating long-lost cool cousins that look nothing, but act totally, like one another. Place is chill—gonna be back. On a bittersweet note, we return home today. I must say, I’m going to be happy to sleep in my own bed, but God, how I’ll miss the road.

Today we drive to Arizona for our final road show. Willcox was...

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:29:57 -0400

Both Captains, together at last

Double rainbow, almost all the way

The rainbow ended at our hotel!

Rainbow reflection

Truckstop squirrel

Today we drive to Arizona for our final road show. Willcox was fun because it was sort of in the middle of nowhere and it seemed like a hub for road travelers. After dinner we saw a rainbow that stretched from the mountains to our hotel—talk about a wink from the big guy. Since Phoenix is only 4 hours from here, we’re gonna take our time, kick it at the hotel, and play as hard as we can in honor of our last show away from home.

We hauled ass from El Paso to Austin only to find that our show...

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:06:00 -0400

Margarita Time!

Had to post around town--show canceled

We hauled ass from El Paso to Austin only to find that our show had been canceled! That didn’t phase us, as we took the opportunity to wheat paste the streets instead—El Paso will know that we were here.

Austin. The people are friendly and the food is the bomb. ...

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:23:57 -0400

At Beauty Bar; Houston, Texas

Beads from a Louisiana Thrift Store

Sassafrass

Booyah, the Band-O

Blurrsville-Ooh

Blurrsville-Ah

The glittery stage--just me style, matey

That's Dave with the "Waterman Stare"

Stickers have to get up there somehow

Austin Paper City Sticker sighting

Austin. The people are friendly and the food is the bomb. Chase Frank is awesome, and so is Austin BBQ—dry rubbing it UP! I love how the Beauty Bar is decorated; lots of glitter on the stage, silhouettes of a pretty 60’s lady all over, and a giant disco ball spreading light-deferent sweetness across the dance floor. In an hour we drive to El Paso to play a show tonight at The Percolator. We’re all splitting the 9 and a half hour drive; I hope to get some sleep in the car when it’s not my turn to drive—wish me luck, darlings!

HOUSTON WAS TOTALLY RAAAAAD!!! You know when you go out, and...

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 09:58:19 -0400

On stage at Super Happy Funland

California Screamin'

Tower of Sour (aka Sugar Fingers)

Come see the softer side of Moedog

This looks like it was taken pre-jump

Me and Anna showing our guns (and beer)

HOUSTON WAS TOTALLY RAAAAAD!!! You know when you go out, and you don’t think the night is going to be that fun, so you have no expectation whatsoever, but you end up meeting a bunch of cool people, playing an awesome show, and having the time of your life? That’s sort of how last night went at Super Happy Funland in Houston, Texas! And let me tell you, Super Happy Funland really is Super, Happy, and a Land of Fun. First of all, the stage is awesome (nice and big, with cool stage lighting and a projector flashing color-color-color), and second, the people are just REAL people. Like, the type of people that you meet and feel like they’re really not strangers at all, but people you may have known in another life; or perhaps they’re related to you somehow through a parallel lineage. Anywho, it goes without expounding that we had a night that was hard to close. In a little while we will be driving to Austin to play a show at a place called Beauty Bar, and I have a really good feeling about it. We’re going to be reuniting with Long Beach Native, Chase Frank, for a good-ol’ “Long Beach in Austin” extravaganza. Austin, here we come! <3

New Orleans was pretty fun. I loved hearing the Dixie music and...

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:37:27 -0400

Pope Beneficia Dei Moedog

Mississippi River Steamboat Ride

Two Jesus's and a Moedog

On the streets in the French Quarter

Our first restaurant in N'awlens

Hotel Le Cirque; good deal on Expedia

Elevator Ride

Snoring? Might get a pillow in the face.

All aboard the Steamer Nachez

You gotta jump from bed to bed

New Orleans was pretty fun. I loved hearing the Dixie music and jazz playing throughout the town. The French Quarter surprised me with how clubby it was—but we found refuge in a few places that had a vintage French vibe (along with some good live music). On Friday night we went on a Mississippi river tour on the Steamboat Nachez. It was really beautiful, and at one point we passed by a sugar factory that made the air within a half-mile radius smell like brown sugar. So sweet. In an hour we leave for Houston; playing a show tonight at Super Happy Funland—I can’t wait!

Had a GREAT time in Savannah. Rocked the Sentient Bean, and...

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:32:49 -0400

Had a GREAT time in Savannah. Rocked the Sentient Bean, and loved all the peeps who came out for the show! What an awesome vibe… It was Shelby’s last performance with us, so the pressure was on to deliver, and he did! We stayed up til 5am to take the Shelbster to the airport; it’s our first day without him in over a month and a half! Tomorrow we pick up our O.G. drummer Dave Waterman in New Orleans to finish the tour with us. We’re on the home stretch, folks; another week and a half, and it’s home-show time!

We stopped in Virginia to see my old friend Tommy. He treated...

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:38:37 -0400

Paper City plus Tommy!

Super Hero Action Figure Stance

Great cheese board NOM NOM NOM

We HAD to start skanking

C'mon Shelby, skank with us

We stopped in Virginia to see my old friend Tommy. He treated us to an awesome cheese/wine tasting at Cheesetique, a fabulous gourmet cheese restaurant in a really cool part of Alexandria. Afterwards, we went to a pub quiz with a few of our new friends from the restaurant (shout-out to Emilie and Mon Ami Stylo) and we won a bunch of farm-fresh produce for getting 3rd place! I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Next time we come to Alexandria, VA, we’ll stay for longer than 6 hours—what a great city!

Had a lot of fun today in DC. There’s so much to see,...

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 02:54:06 -0400

In front of Washington Monument

Dream

Entrance to the Lincoln Monument

The peeps on the steps

Oh Captain, My Captain

Impressed by the new MLK Monument

Captain America approves

We were laughing, but I don't know why

Me and Felice, both loving MLK

Hold hands, Childrens

Had a lot of fun today in DC. There’s so much to see, it’s impossible to do it in a day. Felice and Andrew toured us around the Monuments—my favorite was Thomas Jefferson’s. While there, I planked as many surfaces as I could to show my patriotism and devotion to this country. If y’all would like to see those photos, send me a message, and I’ll post them. I’m seriously tired—two all-nighters in a row, and I lost a stupid contact lense. I better get to bed so I can be on the ball tomorrow as we travel to Virginia and the Raleigh. Wish me luck on buying some more contacts—my prescription’s at home; D’OH!

Passed through New York for one more night to make good with the...

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 04:02:04 -0400

Times Square, NYC

Paper Mache building

Laughing through the city

More smiles

Cptn. America: Controller of all things

Yes

Paper City Sticker Sighting

Passed through New York for one more night to make good with the city. (Didn’t want the last thing we remembered about New York to be all about Irene…) Met up with my old friend Steve who just recently moved to Brooklyn, and ran about town being awesome. Captain America went along for the ride, making sure everything was cool in all corners of the Universe. Here you see him dancing on top of a Sapporo can—just one of his many talents. The next day we banged around the city a little too long; I thought if we left at 4pm we’d make it to our gig in Bryn Mawr with time to spare. But it took us two hours to get out of Manhattan because of traffic, so we almost didn’t make it to our next gig! Luckily, there were some acoustic acts before us which gave us plenty of leeway time to set up; and the venue stayed open later than normal so we could have a longer set! Thanks Milkboy, you’re the best! We’ll definitely come back to Bryn Mawr—hot treats and cool peeps.

Our theme song for the past 24 hours has been “Back to Boston”...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:05:00 -0400

For you Boston Natives

Our precious Captain America Protector

Planking a coffee table; Captain America

Ben almost talked me into a balloon

For you hockey fans

First restaurant in America--EVER!

Brass in Pocket

Creekin' in up

Our theme song for the past 24 hours has been “Back to Boston” by The Rosebuds. We love this city. Ben found a Captain America figurine that was “planking” the streets of Boston. Needless to say, Cpt. America quickly became our mascot and protector. After hitting the city and singing with a band at a bar downtown, we had a dance party in our friend Matt’s basement that started with “I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes, and ended with an episode of Star Trek the Next Generation at 6:30am. What do you call that? An EPIC DANCE PARTY.

Stopped in New Hampshire to play a house party at my buddy...

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:59:06 -0400

Representing the AKG C1000

Lakehouse party

Got sprayed with OFF in between songs

Good view of "The Pond"

Wanted to take this dog with me

Ex BMX champion

Downtown Keene was poppin on a Tuesday

Joe was sporting the OG Moedog shirt

Stopped in New Hampshire to play a house party at my buddy Joe’s house. He treated us to Dutch meatloaf and had a nice bash in his backyard to celebrate Paper City. Everyone was so awesome, and playing on the green with the lake in the background was a real treat. After the party we took a late-night bike ride downtown to check out the scene. The bars were going off because it’s the last week of summer and all the kids are getting their last minute drink-on before the semester begins. Today we go back to Boston to sit-in on a session at Mr. Dooley’s. I’ll be there with my uke!

We had so much fun in Boston last night. My friend Matt showed...

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:46:00 -0400

Norm.

At the ORIGINAL Cheers

Good friends, good times

Ciaran on the right--big-ups to Ireland!

Hong, Remie, Ben, and Risa-Roo

We had so much fun in Boston last night. My friend Matt showed us around the town, including some historical places like where they first read the Declaration of Independence to the people, and the first pub (where Paul Revere was likely to get his Ale, ha ha). Listen to this amazing coincidence: While we were at Dooley’s Pub we met a touring Irish band who happens to know our friend Conor (from the Irish band Mr. Biggles Flies Again) who we met at the Nebraska Pop Festival! Big shout-out to Conor, and also Ciaran Dwyer of Band on an Island! In 15 minutes we leave for New Hampshire to play a show; I have a feeling it’s gonna be a fun one! <3

Here we are in New York having a dandy time. It seemed like...

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:27:00 -0400

NYC Subway

Had just enjoyed street Gyros

Hotel bed air guitar sesh

I love my boxed water

Feeling Lennon Love in Strawberry Fields

Buh nuh nuh nuh!

Oh, the Miller High Life

Relaaaaaxing

Paper City Sticker + Statue of Liberty

Seriously, be nice, or leave.

Here we are in New York having a dandy time. It seemed like everywhere we went there were cool people that were really friendly. The hurricane warning has us in the Hotel all day; but don’t worry, we have plenty of water and protein shakes. Time for the 30g’s y’all!! Big ups to our new people in Brooklyn—we love your hospitality—including the Polish peeps at last night’s 2:30am bar crawl. You guys are awesome!

Baltimore is known as Charm City, and I see why. We experienced...

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:08:28 -0400

The Depot

Jukebox ate my quarter!

At The Brewer's Art

Panoramaaaaa!

Shel and I didn't plan that...

European tour?

Mosaics everywhere!

In the harbor

Me and my lovely cousin Felice

Seriously, no chickens.

Baltimore is known as Charm City, and I see why. We experienced such great weather while we were there, and all the people were really nice. The museums are amazing, and so is the food. My cousin Felice and her boyfriend Andrew showed us around town, and for the first time on our tour we felt weather that was close to what we have in California; warm, with a nice breeze. Although we hung out at the harbor, I have yet to touch the Atlantic ocean. At the advice of Felice, I will wait til we get to Coney Island where the water won’t give you an extra extremity.

Moe love at Club Charles. We’ll be there again tonight...

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:35:27 -0400

Moe love at Club Charles. We’ll be there again tonight after the show; come hang out, Baltimore!

Just got to Baltimore! My cousin Felice and her boyfriend...

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:20:55 -0400

Just got to Baltimore! My cousin Felice and her boyfriend Andrew are going to show us around tonight; I hope there’s a John Waters sighting *fingers crossed*. Tomorrow we play at The Depot—I’m really looking forward to it. The photo above was taken on one of our last days in Athens; WE MISS YOU, OHIO!!

These photos were taken by Sam Girton at A.J.’s...

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:12:58 -0400

Me and my brother, A.J.

Shredding

These photos were taken by Sam Girton at A.J.’s party—thanks, Sam!

It was just brought to my attention that Paper City is an...

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:08:03 -0400

A.J.'s house party show!

Lot's of good people

Sang to each person individually

I was feeling the love

It was just brought to my attention that Paper City is an anagram for Epic Party. This blew my mind in Ninja slow-mo. Athens has been so rocking for us—everybody’s been wonderful, and last night’s house party was in such Epic proportions, that I can’t explain it here. Use your imaginations, darlings!