YOTWs First Tour!!!

WOW!!! Just returned this morning from our 5 day tour in the Northwest as Year of the Wolf.  Holy hotdogs where do I begin? Okay well I"ll start with the members. Me, Gnarles (of course), Drelinger (who replaced bonnie after she got married & left the band), Ferro (our tour drummer), My Paulie, and Cole. Paul & Cole came along for the ride to help in gas money & turned out to be so damn helpful along the way. They helped load & unload gear as well. Paulie actually was the star roadie. He drove so much in the cold in the early morning- nice Pal.
So we took this beautiful van that Karley scored from her Grandfather, owner of the pawnshop where she works. He donates to charity often, and was able to let us borrow a 15 passenger 2002 Dodge Van.  It was sick I over estimated the amount of money that we were all to pay individually per Karleys request. I calculated 10 miles to the gallon at $4.5 a gallon. We each paid up $130 before we even hit the van and in that after tonight we all got paid out $40 plus the band fund made some money. We are a punk rock band. We are DIY (Do It Yourself) so any money coming in is always a bonus, and that's the way we like to do it. Its for the Rock N Roll, not the paycheck.
This van had "The Charity Anywhere Foundation Bountiful, Utah" written across it, haha so we joked we were a Christian Rock band here to spread the Good Word in the Northwest for the New Year. HAHA.
It was Friday night, December 28th & we were set to hit the road. After me and dad (thankfully) got "Bertha the Beast"s oil changed and her fluids topped off, we were ready. Paul and I happily loaded all the gear (one of the only times Ive been happy to load by myself thanks to the anticipation of tour). Drel and Gnarles returned with Cole (who was wasted they picked up from Wilies), about the same time Ferro showed up ready to go. We had to make a couple stops in Bountiful -to get the drop box and to say bye to Kris & Cori-our moms. :) We ended up hitting the road by about 11:30 pm. Gnarles and I were the first team to get some road behind us. She drove & I co-pilted. It turned out the Anti-Freeze we filled up was the missing link for why Bertha had been spewing cold air instead of warm, and in the middle of December it was a risk we weren't willing to take. Heading up north through Utah & into Idaho proved to be very VERY cold. The van frosted up on the inside of the windows, so Paul bought a scraper we would have to periodically clear the windows just to keep driving. The de-frost worked to an extent up front, but by the end of the trip the best seat in the whole van came to be the very last row, it had consistent warm air blowing on ya. If ya needed to sleep, that was the row to do so on.
We toughed it through till Boise which we made in about 4.5 hours. Gnarles (being "Gnarley" of course, she lives up to her name time and time again) driving the whole way was pooped & hit the hay after that point. Paul stepped up to the plate to keep us going through Idaho and into Portland. I co-piloted that stretch which also proved to be quite miserable for me as well (all of which would melt away when we hit the stage later that night in Portland). Paul was such a trooper, so cold, those two front seats were freezing. Luckily no one got sick and we hit the Wild Horse Indian casino in Oregon a few hours after dawn (around 8 or so). Thinking we could hit some booze and gambling on our Rock n Roll tour we stopped. "Daddy wants a cocktail" was the repeated phrase Paulie expressed as to his desires at that moment.
To our dismay they didn't start selling booze till 10 or some shit like that so Cole played a few rounds of Blackjack & I resorted to the van hoping to cash in on my much needed sleeping shift. After the gang reconnected Ferro took driver & Drel took passenger as we made our way into Portland. My beautiful little friend Tuesday (who hooked it up SO HARD all throughout our Portland stay) suggested we check out the Hungary Tiger Too for some b-fast. After filling up we headed that way and to our pleasure it was a bar that served decent vegan biscuits & gravy. I got the vegan ones and Paul got the regular. Both were pretty decent more of a mushroom type base - a darker gravy, whereas I prefer the lighter gravy, but was satisfying either way.
Saw a couple of metal heads and punks in the bar drinking and playing pinball at noon like we were doing so we all became quite interested. One was wearing a "Mob Rules" Black Sabbath baseball tee which is a beautiful album feature the one and only Ronnie James Dio. I dont know if it was Portland or just the weird time of day or whatever it was, but the people were not too friendly. I mean whenever any of us Punk Rockers see another punk or metal head, to me at least, it means instant community. Especially such a specific album with beloved Dio on it, I must have assumed to much in assuming that we would right off the back be friends.
I mean that is one of the hugest reasons for an underground community. Not only is the machine of it all oiled & powered by the best music every known to humanity, but there comes a kinship to those to are part of the machine. Of the independent underground machine, which I see to be of potential under organization. This preconceived notion of "immediate" brotherhood  upon seeing a metal head or punk will prove to have been challenged throughout this entire trip. So I introduced myself and told them to come out to the Red Room that evening if they didnt have anything else to do. They seemed open minded in talking to us, after I made the first move (before then we could have been conservative idiot republican mormons by the way they were ignoring us). Alas we didnt see them that night and had a smoke and continued on our way.
Drelinger hit up his friend Sean and he invited us over for nap time and drinks. I guess him and his lady friend whose name was Kaela and WAS A COMPLETE BADASS from first impression had had an impressive acid party the night before and twas a house of recovery by the time we arrived which was around 3. They showed us to a couch where we could pass out. Kaela offered us bagels & water which just tickled me and Gnarles' fancy just fine. So they went to the bar and we napped. In the middle of our nap this cutie pie of a rather large long-haired black cat found her way into my lap where she decided to nap with me. Such a little precious pie, I knew a creature had found comfort with me, but it wasnt until the boys returned home did I wake up to notice the cuteness of this little gal. We layed around for a minute longer, and then decided to get up and get going. Had a couple beers & smokes with the crew and were on our way to the show. On the other side of town we met with Tuesday and her boyfriend Chris who was responsible for setting up the show. We hung for a minute, bowls were smoked, makeup was applied and we decided to head out to the venue.
By this time Ferro and Drel had passed out due to massive alcohol intake and were sleeping in the van.
As soon as we showed up the nice guy told us where to park and loaded us up with awesome drink and food tickets. We loaded in, I got myself a brew, and began tuning. Krix was the first band-AWESOME!!!!- Martha was all distorted because of the coldness of our travels so it took extra long to tune her plus she is set on springs and they are sensitive to weather conditions. Jackie was easy to tune and by the time they were done and they second band Chase the Shakes began I was warming up with a couple brews getting ready to do what I love most.
Chase the Shakes were fucking awesome. The bartender actually came out from behind the bar and played bass for them. Two guitarists, one bass and a drummer, they had a real cool sound. The bass player had a great shrilling shreek and she sang a couple of the numbers - what a cuite pie. The guitarist on the left was rad. He had a great voice, and wasnt screaming but sining. Devo mixed with Jello Biafra is how it came out. Plus a good strong punk rock n roll back bone.
It was finally our time to play! I was all tuned, couple of beers deep I was ready for the whole reason for the trip! We set up getting ready and were all so excited. Especially me and Karley. We have been playing in bands for 3 years together now and we have been through the gamit. Dionyx ended in a bar fight where she got knocked out by previous members. YOTW lost our bassist which kicked our dicks in the dirt - as Gnarles would say- and to be there on tour with her, to look over at her and we both knew our minds were exploding with what we were doing and where we were. Started the set and everything went swimmingly. Because of the high volume of shows we have been playing since the first of December (Nov 30-Burts, Dec 3-Metro, Dec 6-Willies, Dec 8-Flipside (ID), Dec 20-Willies, Dec 27-Burts- then tour starting that Dec 29) we have become significantly better at performing live. Comfort is the main factor that spawns it all. We nail songs plus go wild while doing so. Drelinger and Ferro were both wearing Wulf masks while we played so if ya saw us, itd be two girls and two Wolves representing SLC- quite a show to see.
Set List.
*Begin with Standard E tuning on Martha
1.Through the Eyes of the Wolf (Katie Guitar, Drel Bass, Gnarles Drums & Vox)
2. Iron Youth (Katie Guitar & Vox, Drel Bass, Gnarles Drums)
3. SLUG by The Ramones (Katie Guitar & Vox, Drel Bass, Gnarles Drums)
4. Death Before (Katie Bass, Drel Guitar, Gnarles Vox, Ferro Drums)
5. More (Katie Bass, Drel Guitar, Gnarles Vox, Ferro Drum)
6. Killing Machine by The Partisans (Drel Guitar & Vox, Katie Bass, Gnarles Drums)
*Switch to Drop D tuning with Jackie
7. Chicago (Katie Guitar & Vox, Drel Bass, Gnarles Drums)
8. Hunt or Be Hunted (Katie Guitar, Drel Bass, Gnarles Drums-  Everyone Vox)
9. Goombay (Katie Guitar, Gnarles Vox, Drel Bass, Ferro Drums)
10. Year of the Wolf by Motorhead (Katie Guitar, Drel Bass, Gnarles Vox, Ferro Drums)
Quite fucking epic. That set list alone was premeditated like a BITCH! haha AKA we spent a lot of time perfecting just how we were do to this show:)
We ended, were given free weed, lots of compliments, and love. Loaded the van, grabbed another beer, some grub, and got ready for General Nasty. General Nasty was such a sick band. Talk about having a sound down and together!  Lead guy look like a chubby Halford, but knew what the fuck he was doing. Rock and Roll, Metal.... Shit man I got one of their CDs (Stoked!) Ill listen better & write in revue.
Paul sobered up and took the job of driving us back to Chris's house that night. Bar closed we closed out our tabs, Gnarles was HAMMERED. Haha we were all loaded up & ready to get to get back to sleepy time at Chris's, and she all popps in the van and says, "hey guy do ya mind if I take more shots with these guys?" Not really giving a shit as to what our response was, and probably bordering blacked out, she pretty much was telling us- hold on for a sec I need to party with these guys more. A strict ass Class A party animal is the Gnarles. Plus she puts out so much love for her project and the people she is doing it with, at least in my mind, and I'm sure in all the dudes minds, there is no room for anger or resentment for the situation. :) Plus while we were waiting some guy came and gave Ferro in the passenger seat a couple of nugs because he was so stoked with our performance. We made out like bandits on the door they so graciously gave us. Plus other Grade A badasses, the guys from Krix, donated to us their cut of the door so we walked with a solid bill.
Got back to the house and crashed hard.
The next morning one of the best quotes of the whole trip was uttered. Gnarles was in her sleeping bag so she toughed out the fridgid-ass Portland weather through the night, but Cole and Drel had passed out at the venue and had continued to just sleep in the van till they woke up bitter cold.
"I was so cold I wanted to slit my wrists just so that I could feel the warmth of my own blood." -Chris Drelinger. EPIC!!! And that's how it was, the coldness sucked major ballage that trip. Paul and I found our way to the couch where we hit the lights fast. Dudes and 18 packs & taco bell showed up later but there was no party to be had, we lit it up and the show and was time for recooperation.
The next morning I realized I forgot my food card at the Fred Meyers we were by which took a solid $70 from me I was planning on eating and feeding everyone with, so that sucked. But I got over it wandered in a brand now house that was still only plywood. Mom taught me that trick. Explore a house in the midst of its progress. Its so fun to play in your mind what all the rooms are, where the bathroom is, and according to my calculations, the master bedroom was going to be DANKKK!
We gathered up the troops after a very slow start and headed downtown to Marys. It had been a long time goal of mine, through the urging of so many friends and acquaintances telling me the level of dankness Portland strip clubs offered was bar none, to engage in a full blown (haha blown) Portland Strip Club adventure. I decided to take role of sober driver that day to get it over with, and we were off. Marys was tiny plus it was only 3 in the afternoon but somewhat unimpressed. Gnarles & Ferro enjoyed a burrito which I partook of & thoroughly enjoyed. We were off to an arcade bar where Paul had visited months before when his band Deathblow toured Portland. Something Kontrol was the name of this bar, which didn't start serving booze till 5 which was fine with me cause I was sober anyway. Went outside to make sure Gnarles knew where the bar was (she was lost in phone conversation with her cohort Lonny who booked us our Bremerton show). Told her where we all were and ran into Ferro who was just checking out the city. We went into this rad coffee shop around the corner where they were having an all day festival to save their shop. A 5 piece, 3 guitar, experimental wussy type band was playing but they were alright to watch, but damn that guy should have never opened his mouth except for to sing. The dumbest shit came out with the least amount of confidence and the longest awkward silence after each time. We were there 15 minutes or so, helped the shop out got some tea, Ferro got coffee & went back to meet up with the rest of the pack.
*Had read on a little facebook meme to drink less alchol and more tea, and I knew I would just be drinking a lot on the trip anyways, so I actively combated my alcohol intake with a surplus of tea. Wow. What a difference. Felt so much better. Except when I smoked with tea, tea is not meat to be smoked with- at least not for me, and at least not the cigarette type of smoke.*
The pack was together again and me and Gnarles headed to the van in order to let the boys finish up their games. We had coincidentally parked outside of Chris (our host)'s work at Blindside so he saw our "Charity Anywhere" van and decided to come out and talk to us. Told us about a 8 foot deep skate bowl we could come hang out at later that night if we choose.
Rose City Strip was our next stop. Paul Navigated & I drove & we showed up. SO COLD! We walked in forgetting its 8 pm on a Sunday night and was surprised the club was kinda dead. Only one stage was open. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but very most of all I appreciated the music. Anything from Sabbath to Danzig to Slayer to Queensryche. These guys did not mess around. Henry from Witchhaven told me to check out that strip club because of the music and atmosphere and I made sure to follow him up on his suggestions. To my delight!
Had a beer & Paulie bought me a veggie burger & himself a cheeseburger (what a sweetheart). We enjoyed our meal, beer, pool, HEAVY METAL and the naked ladies. Karl was getting tipsy and so was Cole so we decided to bounce to the strip club with the wildest reputation we could find- Casa Diablo. We walked in and you could tell this joint was ran on a very tight schedule. The girls knew when to get on to dance move to the next side and then get off the stage for about an hour to get ready for their next 2 songs. It was like a factory in there. So much order. You could tell it was a place where high rollers most likely identified in the drug gang or other organized crime would meet to discuss business. A large sign on the front door said "No Gang Colors". It was a quite the place. They didn't have one dollar bills either, only 2 dollar bills so you had to pay the girls more. It was an efficiently run club thats for sure. So much different then Utah strip clubs, they take everything off and can touch you and you can drink- check out Utah strip club laws its like going to the zoo to see odd creatures behind bars.
Our time was enjoyed by all and we were all holders of a scense of accomplishment as new connoisseurs of the Portland strip club scene.
Upon leaving, at this point broke, we decided to hit up Chris's offer to go to the skate bowl. I knew we would see Tuesday there too which was to my benefit. Paul was excited to skate as well. Tuesday was such a little lovely. For her short stay in SLC she helped out YOTW when we just began by taking some of the best band photos we've ever seen. Always a supporter, you can't help but want to pay back that love. Only at 19, she has such a bright future ahead of her. With supporting parents who have quite the name in the Salon industry (the Teals), she has been put to the test but has flown through with flying colors. An avid drummer she enjoys the shit out of heavy metal (Good metal- classic metal) which is where our paths inevitably met. She took a glamour photo of me last year that I still have not been able to outdo. Completely full of talent and a thirst for life, I see a lot of myself in her and well as I'm sure she does the same with me, which is why we've kept in contact across state lines. I look forward to seeing her through our lives and all the exciting things we will be able to share!
To the hotel from that point we went, I took a much needed shower (as hot water has always been my saving grace) and went to bed. The rowdy drunks were up for a minute but soon everyone's tiredness got the better of us and we succbomed to sleeps sweet embrace.
It was the morning of the 31st and we were due in Bremerton Washington later that evening. I decided to take the comfy back seat position and slept through some of the 3 hour commute up to Washington from Portland that Ferro braved through the winter wonderland none of us were expecting. We hit a McDonalds to stretch our legs and Cole so proudly and boldly went into the street and claimed for all the world to know the his smoking of his weed, legally and openly. We all had a good laugh and with him enjoyed the freedom that that beautiful plant is beginning to see in this nation.
A couple hours later we hit Bremerton, Washington and met up with Drellingers friend Rodney. I had met him briefly at Libertatia, but was happy to spend more time in his city. Waiting for him to finish a tattoo, we wandered into a smut shop where every single person, expect perhaps Karley, was genuinely disturbed at a particular section. Old people porn made Paulies stomach turn where Dude-Lady and midget bondage porn grossed me out. But there was Karley genuinely enjoying laughs at every corner of our disturbed society.
Rodney finished his tattoo and led us to a top notch bar in Bremerton. Gnarles, Paulie and I ordered a large vegetarian pizza which was KILLER, and enjoyed their "$3 local draft Monday". Man that is one thing I love about traveling SO MUCH! Is the beer in this great nation- I know I haven't even dipped my toes in European beer- THAT'S THE NEXT FRONTIER! But From Asheville, NC- beer city #1 3 years in a row- to checking out Northwest Yummy delicious handcrafted brews, it truly is a pleasure of mine.
The bar, Rodney, and his friends there was such a spark of warmth. The type of warmth I was searching for on the trip. After leaving Portland and everyone's rather "Well I'm a complete fucking badass and if you don't know that then your the biggest idiot in the world" attitude, I was so pleased to be kicking it in the smoking section with old black dudes cussing out the Navy, and enjoying some real laughter from some real people. My hopes were high that the concert we would be playing that night would reflect our hearty laughs at the bar. A sense of warmth that every human HAS to have in order to live any kind of life. To have a show surrounded by open minded accepting people who are just there to enjoy life with those whose paths have crossed theirs (AKA Kit & his brother Barry Taylor in Pocatello, ID working the Flipside lounge- now there is some good natured down to earth humans who are there to enjoy life with the ones they are with. Bless you two).
We shared a bowl with our friend behind the bar and headed up to the venue. Grabbed some beers and were looking forward to an awesome time with our friends in the Pyrate Punx and their local Bremerton Chapter.
The show started out so cool, but would later be a memory that would bring tears to my eyes. For no other reason than I am a sensitive open-hearted person, and when I offer my all and no one, not even one, responds to me, I am a sad panda. Sometime I know that will harden wit more travels :) All in a days work.
Thrust played first which was Rodney's band. THEY WERE SO COOL! A tatted Psychobilly guitarist, with a overall punk rock ginger on bass, a super alfo-overll bearing punk rocker (love those types) badass on vocals which turned out to be a good ally for the pack later in the night, and a rad guy on drums. They were so cool. So much melody came out of those four guys, music really is evolving and I've said it many times before, and I know I"ll say it many times again, but true good music exists ALIVE in the underground. I mean these guys had it- a sound, that KILLED! They covered Keep on Rocking in the Free World by Neil Young, to which by the end of the song and punk rocks innate ADD they changed to "keep on rocking on my nut sack"  and many different varieties of this statement suck as "Keep on rockin yea suck my dick" and "Keep on sucking on [other member of the band]'s asshole". I was impressed I really liked em. The next band was Dreadful Children. Legendary Lonny Bristle's band from Seattle Washington. We really didn't want to follow them cause well...um...they FUCKING ROCK.
I remember meeting Lonny at the Pyrate Punx's Libertatia. After reviving Karley out of a Cocaine coma and leashing mostly naked also Coked-out Bonnie to play the second to last slot Saturday night- the most drugged out set probably of our lives EVER, Lonny was the guy to let us use his equipment. So friendly and charistmatic he helped us get our shit together amidst the jaw grinding and alcohol induced shakes to "pull off" our set. Hahah, him and Gnarles hit it off quite nicely as well and had been talking for 6 months since Libertatia. It actually was this show that was the original reason we set up tour in the first place. Karley wanted to see Lonny, Lonny put us on a killer show, and here we were!
I remember sitting in my tent in the SLC campground at Libertatia and this band started to play. I remember thinking how good their sound was. "They have to have to guitarists to maintain that full of a sound" I remember thinking. So I wandered down there and Dreadful Children were playing. ONE guitarist! Lonny ran his guitar through two speakers, one of which was a bass amp I'm pretty sure. In any case, especially in the punk rock world, it was impressive to see what a great sound this three piece came out with. So at the show New Years even in Bremerton, Lonny offered to let me use this sound. Was NOT going to let that good of an opportunity pass me by and I obliged. The Wolf pack was ready to perform again, and we were pumped big time. I had even planned what I was going to say as soon as we hit the stage.
It was a three car garage, with a stove heater, transformed into a venue- which throughout my travels has become quite commonplace. All of Portland was so dense in forest and moisure. Everything was alive, the moss between the concrete, the greenery surrounding, its the landscape that I love so so so so so so deeply. Up in Bremerton it was the same damp coldness so inside the garage or outside where ya smoked it was really not much of a difference in temperature. The stage was on the ground with everyone else and it took up about an entire car spot. They had a PA and it was cool I noticed there was a screen printing station someone had set up to the side, and a little homemade bar you saw immediately as you walked in to the right.
It was cold which I think added to my dismay with the crowd during the performance. But we stepped on stage ready to go and nailed it! Paulie said we seemed much more comfortable on stage then we were the first night in Portland. Like Portland was our first show so we kinda had the "first show on tour jitters" but this night in Bremerton we were all warmed up and ready to go! Killed it that night but half way through the set I realized no one was fucking paying attention. Everyone was either outside or fucking off. In the name of never sacrificing the performance of the show I diverted my attention to other things. I had been in a trance with Seattle as soon as we entered Washington, the place of true existence I had experienced 6 years earlier. That magical time that I had been trying to figure out just what it was about that time that freed me and set a standard for living at the same time. So I turned towards the corner and began to commune with what I would imagine a Seattle spirit would consist of. A deity that is androgynous but more feminine than male. Of native American decent, similar to one I would assume the Natives prayed to back throughout time before the settling whites divided & conquered like a bunch of pricks.
I communed with the essence whilst playing guitar singing and dancing to the music that I love so much with the people I love so much in the band with me. Asking it how to get to that place again, what was that place? I knew it was inside me, but I also knew there were other factors.
The show was fun. It was a lot different than I thought it would be. The overall idea I kept upon the entire tour is one that I will continue to keep. It is an ideal. An ideal that is worth reaching for, and ideal that is worth fulfilling at a future point. The ideal is to reach human connection across the West Coast and the world. To be with open-minded people and share eachothers secrets, pasts, knowledge, jokes, humor, sadness, happiness & understanding of the entire human condition.
There were some piece of shit pre-judgements that were especially visible in Bremerton. At Liberatatia, Trevors girlfriend, later dubbed "Moron Megan" decided to put Skrewdriver (A white power band, that began as a sweet rock n roll band turned shitty white power, that is still for some reason still listened to amongst the skinheads (racist & non-racist alike) and punks, myself included... perhaps a debate to be had at a later time). Anyways Libertatia being a non-racisit, non-sexist, non-homophobic etc. etc. place to exist, and at 6 am on Sunday morning when everyone was still hammered from the night before, city captain and chapter leaders came from all around the camp to the disheartening sound of Skrewdriver to beat the shit out of Trevor. Instead of apologizing and retracting his girlfriends mistimed taste in music he defended her and upon Stevil (our SLC captain)s orders, SLC was to leave Libertatia immediately. Thankfully of course YOTW got to play the night before, even if it was heavily drug induced haha:)
So we got some shitty flak for the whole way mis-represented white power name that Moron Megan deemed for SLC, but there were no real threats. I think just a bunch of punks who could see our validity as a band, but had questionable approaches to us because of the mishaps in Libertatia. But especially for this tour and us being the rad fucking folks we are, that erroneous title will soon be forgotten.
Like most of the crowds on tour, no one was going to come out of their safety bubble to talk to us. If there were conversation to be had, most the time - not every time- but MOST the time, it had to be through me piercing through and building a conversation. Which turned out beneficial, because there were a few cool kats in particular that were interesting as fuck to converse with. We passed out in Barbie's house (what a great hostess- thank you Barbie). Me & Paul after falling asleep in the ice cold van, made our way inside. To our dismay all of the three bedrooms and 5 mattresses were occupied- it was about 4 in the morning. But as I remembered Barbie saying there was a little naughty kid room that we could stay in if all else fails.
Luckily I opened the door and the little tiny  "bad kid room" at the top of the stairs was empty and me & Paul made a happy little bed where we caught up on some well needed- WELL HEATED- sleep.
:) We were even lucky enough to not get the cat pee room- TITS! Pauls presence on the trip was multi-fold beneficial. For this instance, with us both together, our body heat was able to warm up the rather chilly room.  With our body heat, holding each other, and the blanket, that night turned out to be of decent rest!
I awoke to Gnarles calling for me, which is always a happy way to wake up. We slowly gathered all the SLC wolves and were looking forward to the ferry trip into Seattle. Ian and his sweet girlfriend Lauren decided to join us on our trip and not only that but show us around a little. Before he hit the van we were all standing around smoking, and Ian told us about his band "Airpocalypse". And all air -instrument band. The jokes came rushing about getting air head from air groupies. Haha them being unable to play because they forgot their instruments. HAHA! What a genius idea!
We followed Ian's PT Cruiser (fresh with a Year of the Wolf sticker on it) through Bremerton towards the ferry. We were aiming to catch the 3:00 ferry but knew one would come at 4:20 as well. As you do with vacationing, we weren't trying to rush anything and we arrived at the ferry second in line for the 4:20 one. Us all being quite hungary, and me needing to quench my coffee addiction, we left the van parked second in line and were to return in about an hour to catch the ferry to Seattle.
As we were getting out of the van, Cole stepped out and broke his pipe. Being one of the few people I know addicted to weed, a sour grimace of dismay melted over his face. Little did I know that this would be the last time I'd see Cole in a long, long time.
Being that it was New Years Day, the cute little chain of independent shops accompanying Bremerton Ferry stop were all closed. It was a brisk 3 in the afternoon. Chilly, but do-able with a hoodie, leather, long pants and gloves. Thankfully the Taco Del Mar was open and we hopped in. Reminding me of those benevolent days at Seattle U, I was quick to approve of the large burritos that Taco Del Mar offered. We ordered, ate, enjoyed eachothers company, then off to Starfucks to share a Mocha with Karley. As we sat outside the Starfucks smoking and drinking coffee, there were happy laughs amongst us. It was the type of camaraderie I had been looking for. With Paul & Karleys familiar faces by mine, and searching new ones that were welcoming and familiar we shared stories of touring and playing in bands and random bodily fluid stories. But we all got it. After just meeting them the night before, we were enough alike- because of love for music and debauchery we all equally enjoyed, there was a sense of brotherhood- the sense of brotherhood I had hoped for. Bremerton offered two warm moments. One at the bar with Rodney the night before, and that moment with Ian and Lauren at the ferry.
It was reaching 4 o'clock so we began to make our way towards our van- which at this point was locked into the terminal with about 7 or 8 cars behind it- concrete columns on the right and another 9 or 10 cars lined up to the left of us. We popped into a few bars to look for Cole and he was not anywhere to be found.
We sat in the van panicking, not knowing what to do. By this time we had been accustomed to the van although not necessarily being much warmer than the outside, but with blankets and pillows and other wolves around, it was a tiny little safe-haven from the cold. Paulie jumped out to run back and check for Cole. The gates lifted and they started ushering the cars onto the ferry. Being that we were the second vehicle, we waited for a moment for Paulie, case we could see he was rushing back towards the van. He jumped in right at the nick of time and we pulled onto the ferry.
Distraught we (me limping because of mosh-pit abuse to the right foot I endured the night before- which as I finish writing this in Florida Jan 7 still fucking hurts- thanks you GIANT FUCK who doesn't know the decency rules of being in a fucking pit. If someone shoves you YOU DONT PUSH THEM TO THE GROUND AS HARD AS YOU CAN YOU USELESS PIECE OF SHIT BRAINLESS BREMERTON FUCK).
As soon we we parked on the ferry we locked up and headed up stairs. Still although it was cold, the northwest goes really lightly on their bitter cold. Especially compared to the 9 degrees we were used to in SLC. It was much easier to survive outside in the Northwest. Still everything is wet, but since its the coast instead of bitching into the frost and make the cold paralyze you down to your bones- like it does in Chicago- it rather just melts away any type of edge frost you might ensue. Making winters in the Northwest - still cold and shivery- much more bearable.
We took the stair up into the passenger car and made a little wolf pack seat where we took picture and never let the smiles wipe from our faces.
Ian Gnarles and Lauren insisted on exposing ourselves to the real elements by going to the upper deck. HAHA which Gnarles thought Ian and Lauren meant they were going to "upper deck" the bathrooms on the ferry--- hahaha totally different things. They lead and we followed, I hobbeled, and Paul was my crutch, another priceless move on Pauls part. We went up there and the cold wind in my face reminded me of an earlier time when mom Kristin and I took a cruise to Alaska from the port of Seattle. Still it being a damp air, but brisk, I decided that "Grandma wolf is going to go inside."
Paul and I (in separate bathrooms) enjoyed the novelty of shitting on a ferry, then relaxed into mid-deck seating where he watched Captain America and I napped on his lap.
As the giant ferry easily pulled into the Seattle harbor we collected ourselves and made our way into Seattle. Still looking at no hope about Cole we retreated to Georgetown where the legendary Morgue was located. Ian and Lauren were nice enough to show us a venue that I had been hearing about forever now. It was awesome- another garage-type venue where countless memorable events had gone down. Toxic Holocaust had played there with not to mention countless killer fucking bands. YOTW placed our name throughout the venue appropriately like we had been doing the entire tour, all in hopes to one day grace the stage of the magical place.
Then to the party we headed. I was tired, cold, wet, hurt and ready for some relaxation at this point.
About now is where half the tour was officially over and I knew what I wanted to stay the same about next tour, and what I wanted to change. A hot tub would have officially brought my everything back up to perfect pointage. So as the wolf pack was partying with these rad Seattle-ites, I was digging digging digging as fast as I could to get us somewhere to stay for the eve. These people at the party were also badasses. They were warmer perhaps because of the environment- it being their personal house instead of a venue where I guess showing off was a part of the way of things. Everyone was pretty relaxed and pretty fucking rad. Dreds and Rue Pauls weird ass drag show was on, so I felt my time would be best spent finding us a place to stay.
HAHA only when visiting punk venues throughout the west have I understood what would be called a
"bad part of town". The ninth ward in Oakland when we went for Stevils birthday in October, and part of Seattle that I would have never dreamed to go to until I was taken here. Lonely streets with little to no trees or grass, its so weird how "bad parts" of town lack trees much more than "nice parts" of town. If youre ever traveling or even in your own city, notice the lack of shubbery in the "good" versus "bad" parts of town.
I also wanted to meet up with my friend Jessie, and since the wolf pack was getting loaded again, I figured that between Paul and I (and a donation from my mom to help us get into a decent hotel that night -THANKS MOM), we would let everyone get a little sloshed at this party to where they wouldn't care where we went and then to a hotel room for the duration of the night.
And this is what was cool about the trip, is that everyone desires were pretty much fulfilled. This night in Seattle the entire wolf pack- not including Cole unfortunately- would make it to a rather fancy beer bar in downtown Seattle for me to talk to my dear good old friend Jessie. The next night we would be in Boise Idaho and we would spend extra hours into the wee night so that Drelinger would be able to spend him with his dear old friends from Boise. Karley got laid HARD by Lonny which was a long term goal for the both of them, and Ferro, well that guy was in for the ride, killed it at every show, and enjoyed his time meeting with his old friends across the Northwest as well. As for Paul, he walked into the tour with big bright open-minded eyes, which I just fell in love with. Being a metal head, he remarked much on the punk scene. Especially its "rule book" that often times leads to elitism. Quite the contradiction for a movement that is supposed to be against the pro-rated order, and all for individuality, all of the points which I could not dispute.
After securing a place, we bid our adieus, hugs high-fives and thank yous all around, we packed up and went to a nice beer bar downtown. Positives and negatives about this bar, well first we were bringing a car load of punks who were reaching a decent buzz, a combination that as we have found can be quite trying and usually ends up in ruin. The room was big enough where we didn't get much gruff, and on the positive since they had over 100 beers on tap, the cheapest ones were not shitty as bud light or pabst blue ribbon, it was a locally handcrafted IPA. Called Pike IPA after the famous Pike Place Market.  $3! For a pint! Great Deal!!!
And then of course as I had to let all my best mates fade into the background, there was my good dear friend of 6 years ago. Haha the way I'm talking about it you'd think we were both in our 40s and hadn't seen eachother in decades! But the amount of closeness we experienced and the time travel and reality-bending fun we enjoyed together, it had seemed like decades had slipped between the two of us, and this moment we were embracing eachother in our arms, was a moment of forgiveness, excitement, and benevolent recollection on the amazing times we had together, and the bubbling anticipation of times we could have in the future.
More than anything, to see her talking to me, the same Jessie I knew, with the Asian-type eyes on this Norwegian tall white woman, looking up to the ceiling at a point that meant true happiness to her. We reminisced on times we had up on Broadway in the winter and spring of 2006. She told me of a story where in the black of night after our quick visit with our best mutual friend, Mary Jane, we were like bubbles of air dancing on Broadway- the street that was ours. She told me we had taken a harmonica out that night, and not ever playing harmonica in my life, somehow I knew exactly how to play it. She  amidst bursts of laughter recalled we had run into a guy and seemed to have pissed him off, and in his angry stomping away from us, I played for me and Jessie a tune that spoke to his disgruntled steps in a way that is perfectly aligned with all that was in that moment. We laughed then and we laughed again that night about his cartoonish way of exiting thanks to the comedy music I supplied. She told me of a guided mediation I gave her and I in the meditation room at our college. We went to Seattle University- a Jesuit institution. Jesuits have a particular reputation for knowledge and in its search for knowledge they enable their students rights to any time of knowledge they could find. Or that was the way I interpreted it.
Diving into all sorts of mythologies and religions, thoughts and meditations, practices and ways of life, I explored them all. Just after discovering yoga, I remember in that dark but warm chapel that was open for any student to use, but me and Jessie were really the only ones I ever knew of taking advantage of it. I can recall exactly the vibration and waves we traveled through in that chapel to understand our bodies and to understand connection to our souls. Such a magical time, with Jessie's laughter and smile in that bar, our memories brought back to life, I understood that we were molding reality through and around us. We were so powerful and creative that what we fancied came to life right in front of us. It gave me a taste of something I have been searching for for the last 6 years straight. Thank you Jessie! Thank you for reminding me. Upon leaving with hugs out side of the bar, she said something to me that encouraged me on my chosen/destined path. After saying to her, lets not make it another 6 years before we see eachother, she said well then keep doing what youre doing, and next time you tour through Seattle, we will get together again. And to me, I hope we go up to Broadway, our old stomping ground, visit our friend Ms. Jane again, and practice the practice of true human upper evolution.
With my feet landing solidly on ground again, we huddled up our wolves, which a could of local Seattle punks had met up with us, we were ready to head to our hotel for some serious R&R.
The Days in about 15 miles south of Seattle took us in rather easily and Paul and I rushed to the bathroom where I began to run our bath. Like I had said, if there were a hot tub, I would have been revitalized for the entire trip in maybe 2 hours of soaking- water does something to me. It makes me feel so relaxed and comfortable, it brings me to a place of pure awakened mediation, it is and always has been a safe, serving force for me at every point in  my life, distressed or not.
I think me and Paul spend 2 hours in the bath room, soaking, holding eachother, maybe some mommy and daddy time, but most of all, being warm admist a happy surrounding of hot replenish able water.
We all fell asleep that night, and in the morning after I rose for the free breakfast, which I always do, we checked the hospital and jail records in hopes of finding our friend Cole.
Alas there he was, booked for "Assaulting a Police officer" Which was later reduced to "resisting arrest" for a 50,000 bail.  Knowing even a bonded version of that price (5,000) was a laughable number to the Wolf pack at that point, we decided to fulfill our obligations in Boise, and regrettably leave Cole in the cold damp prison of Bremerton, Washington.
Ferro, Karley and Drelenger were pilots and co-pilots for the duration from Seattle to Boise (approximately an 8 hour drive). HAHA I guess Karley was going 85 in a 70 mi/hr zone and we got pulled over by a Washington cop. We all noticed he took a long hard look into the tinted windows of the van as he walked up to the passenger side of the van where Ferro was sitting. I CAN"T BELIEVE THIS! But Ferro actually pulled it out of his ass to reply to the cops question as to what we were doing. "O we're just a Christian rock band from Utah on tour for the New Year." HAHAHA HE ACTUALLY SAID IT TO A COP!! HJAHAHAH AND expecially if he just looked at Drel in the seat behind Ferro's the cop wouldh've laughed so hard at the oxymoronic statement that just came out of Ferro's mouth. The guy (I accredit to be a Washington cop and not a fucking Idaho or Utah cop) nicely took the ticket from 15 over to only 5 over reducing the ticket to only $100- thanks COP GUY! I was in the sweet spot on the last bench of the van with Karley's sleeping bag and hot air continuously  blasting on me, I was in for some good shut eye. Paul was napping on the bench in front of me, and the other three were up in the front navigating.
We got into Boise a little late and there were some palpable stress because the show had started around 7 and it was getting to be 8:30 and we were fucking up on directions. Finally we made it to the Venue and lovely lovely Pyrate Punx came out, greeted us, and began to take our equipment out of the van, while me and Paulie enjoyed a much needed cig. We walked in while the captain of the Boise's band was playing. Him, his wife and this awesome excited drummer were playing for a crowd of maybe 10 people in the whole venue. This was not disheartening, in fact it warmed my heart up just right. I could tell right off the back by the level of gentlemen that were helping us unload, this was going to be the type of warm, open-minded show I was looking for. Our last gig on the road, they told us we were to go on after the current band and then a band from San Diego Break The Cycle, would be on last. I went right to tuning Martha, again because of the chilliness of the ride, and she had been getting ahold of where her strings were meant to be. It didn't take me much time at all to tune her and Jackie, and I was all ready for the show! Admist great conversation with the local Boise Pyrate Punx,  one of the dudes from Break The Cycle asked if they could go next. Of course we obliged, explaining we were here to party & have a good time. Being an all ages venue there was no booze, but that was not a problem, one night off of booze felt really good for a change. We danced and enjoyed the dudes from Break the Cycle. They were awesome kids- being Arabic punk rockers, they explained throughout their set how punk rock was the one place they felt accepted, to which rang true to my heart. This is what I had been talking about the entire time. A place where like hearted and like minded individuals could get together and be themselves. They encouraged a round of shouting "Unity" with our fists in the air, and continued to pump out great punk rock with a little hit on ska for their set.
Man, one of the things I love about the Pyrate Punx is they sometimes feed the bands. This sweet little lady cooked us up this rice gumbo sausage and hot dog masterpiece with salad on the side. I ate enough for me and 3 others as 711 food doesn't really hit it that hard as far as satiating the belly goes. Then we stepped on stage. Immediately I am comfortable, not only has playing unfamiliar stages become familiar at this point, but I really liked the kids there. They were just little town happy guys, like we are. No attitude, no "holier than thou" bullshit. Just us kids that have come together to enjoy this thing we like to call punk rock. The first three songs I could barely feel my fingers, not yet thawed from the icy drive. Haha as soon as Karley came up to the front of the stage she remarked she had finally peed after her bladder defrosted. Always quick with witty shit up on the mic, she is a great, no GRAND frontwoman. I love playing guitar as she rips the crowd in half with her tiny yet powerful essence. We made jokes, we had fun. Usually I'm not really one to talk on stage, I'll say little upfront there, but when Gnarles is up there, damn she knocks em down as soon as they are up! I love working with that woman!
Towards the end of the set, I rarely tell the audience to sing along to a song they have never heard before, but I took my time, as well as my space, because there was enough of it, and explained the chorus to Hunt or Be Hunted. Upon which as we begun the song, the four dudes standing up in front of us, all began in chorus alongside us, "HUNT... Or..Be... HUNTED!" It was a magical night and we ended with Motorheads Year of the Wolf as strong as ever!
It was a great set, and even though it was only 10 kids, it was the most fun show on the trip. If there was ego's they were left at the door, but I didn't smell their stinky stench anywhere, just good kids looking for some good punk rock.
We went over to Drel and Karley's friends house and preceded to drink till 3 am. Me and Paul were staying sober because we were to haul the gang into SLC later that night. Good laughs were had and friendships were made, and re-established. I about fell asleep 2 or 3 times, at this point just wanting to be in my own bed.
As I remarked to Karley earlier that night. I was only anxious to get home because that was the pre-ordained destination. If we had had another 12 cities to go, I wouldn't have even thought along those terms. After about 4 hours of laughing and catching up, Momma Wolf had to pull the gang and told them it was time to go.
We hit the road with Paul at the helm to do the last stretch into SLC. It was a good 4.5-5 hours ahead of us so we stopped for gas and coffee. The rest passed out after being properly liquored up by their Boise mates, and me and Paul got ready to set it in for the long haul. I was co-piolot, meaning I checked in on him periodically and put it on the particular songs the driver commands. It was I-84 into Utah then onto 1-15 South to our beloved cold little homes in the city. I downloaded Solitare on my apps which is an impressive way to kill time, and we were off. Girlschool, Bathory, Blue Oyster Cult, Motorhead, and Nihilist helped us all the way home. Paul, being the SUPER TROOPER he is, drove us into to SLC. We drove through the dawn which we hit right close to the Idaho/Utah border. Quite ominous as there was a thick layer of fog we were driving through, but as the sun rose, if you looked up about 15 degrees on the horizon there was a break in the clouds you could see baby blue sky. Peaking at about 20 degress I assume, It was a cold, yet beautiful morning. We knew that we had just about touched home base and we had almost secured in our first successful YOTW tour. We pulled up to my house in SLC around 9 am , to which point Pauls feet were frozen, and we were all delirious due to the extremes one endures on such a beautiful trip of self/band exploration.
Straight to bed to pass out for hours, Ferro and Drel grabbed their car & bounced. What a trip we had.
The one thing that went array was loosing our friend Cole. Still in Bremerton a week later I am sad to report, hopefully the law uses lube and care as they enter him from behind and proceed with the rapings. Cole we love you and are sorrowful as to your fate on this otherwise glorious trip.
YOTW had made it. We survived. And with little to no altercations. These people care for eachother, and then at the same time, dont care enough to make any ripples in the natural order of the trip.
We now know what to expect and new things to strive for on our next trip. No other combination of wolves could have pulled off what we pulled off with such ease and grace. Love and trust guided us the whole way and those sparks of relaxing and meeting the true ones along the way, made it even that much better. So grateful are we for everyone who has helped along the way. We love all who we have met, and are forever thankful! Till next time! Best New Years A Wolf could ask for ! 2013 baby watch out!!!! & Out Come The WOLVES!!! AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!