GUEST BLOG: DARKEST HOUR’S MIKE SCHLEIBAUM

Our Thrash and Burn tour 2008 saga continues…

Day 14: New York City
The last day on the RV. Yeah, it’s true, tonight our knight in shining armor, Darrel from Baltimore, showed up with the sickest tour bus we have ever been on. A welcome change from the RV. Let’s just say we were stoked. Oh, but it didn’t go off without a hitch. Turns out when Darrel was pulling into New York City he got a flat on the trailer! In true DH style, we don’t have a spare! Our good friends in Misery Signals saved the day and donated a tire so we could make it to the next show. And the show in NYC, it was sick. The Thrash and Burn tour killed, great sets from all the bands including killer sets from Stick to Your Guns, Winds of Plague, and the mighty Parkway Drive. Emmure was the night’s special guest—only they weren’t on the show; they just showed up to party, and party they did! Let’s just say NYC did it up with style.

Day 15: Huntington, West Virginia
OK, so I admit it: I saw shady dudes doing meth in the alley behind the club, and there were signs that said, “Only girls allowed on the dancing poles.” So you know the sketchy vibe is in effect in Huntington, West Virginia. Brother Von Doom showed up as the special guest and tore kids’ faces off (it was pretty sick, we had to get mops and shit to clean all the blood). Oh, and if you want to face some rough justice in the morning, make sure to grab a burger from the Rally’s across the street. It goes down smooth but the burgers fight back hard.

Day 16: Long Island, New York
Long Island saw yet another party/hang sesh with Emmure and boy, did we take the Thrash and Burn tour down with style tonight! The show was killer, the kids were down to hang, and dude, you’re not going to believe this, but we had an amazing time at the Crazy Donkey! Yep, Long Island was a blast. Of course Emmure brought all their friends and tons of that kill (if you know what I mean). We turned the parking lot into a backstage and everyone got down. Special props to our boy Anthony for doing the show up right!

Day 17: Worcester, Massachusetts
All I can say is one word: Motörhead! That’s right, tonight’s concert in Worcester was headlined by the almighty Motörhead! OK, so we didn’t get to meet Lemmy, but their tech did give me a tour of all the Marshalls they have onstage. Oh, and if you’re wondering whether the quote, “Everything Louder Than Everything Else” is just a gimmick, trust us, it’s not. Let me just state for the record, this shit was fucking loud! It really puts things in perspective to see a band as good and relevant as Motörhead still rocking. Watching them is the truest form of inspiration. It was a good mix of young and old fans, and the good people at the Palladium made sure DH had all the extra Jack Daniels we (and our sound man, Johnny) needed. The tour was split into two stages and both got rocked hard by the Thrash and Burn bands. Stick to Your Guns, Winds of Plague, Arsis, Arsonists Get All the Girls, Misery Signals, Abigail Williams, and Parkway Drive all crushed it hard! Just one question…how do you forget an 8x10 bass cab at a venue? Ask the dude that one.

Day 18: Baltimore, Maryland
Not only are we partial to Baltimore because it feels like our DC away from DC, but let’s just say that we always can count on Baltimore to bring it DH style! The show was amazing. It’s always nice to play shows close to home and see familiar faces and friends, especially when you’re on tour for so long. So it was a little mini hometown party and needless to say the Baltimore dudes blew it up! I got to dip out and eat at my favorite spot in Baltimore (the Taqueria in Fells point) and as if that wasn’t enough, Outer Loop Management, TKO, and the organizers of the tour threw a sick-ass party (OPEN BAR, BABY)! Dudes got so drunk, fights happened, nakedness, Stu from Misery Signals wore fried rice, there was a circle pit to Queen, dudes were carried out, and we’re not naming names but at least one band member went home. What can we say: That’s a sick-ass party for sure! So special thanks to the good dudes at Outer Loop, TKO, and Thrash and Burn for setting Baltimore on Fire!

Day 19: Norfolk, Virginia
A lot of people don’t know this, but the headliners’ dressing room at the Norva has a hot tub, a sauna, and the nicest game room (complete with an impossible version of Donkey Kong Jr.) that I have ever partied in. All these factors make the Norva the place to play. Yep, it felt like vacation. We were all lucky enough to get a brief visit from the Captain (a.k.a. Paul’s little dude) so we knew that, with one VIP sitting at sound check already, the day would be a success. Surf’s up at the beach, and I’m not talking about the ocean, I’m talking about the mosh’n! Parkway Drive showed everyone at Norva that if a “best body on the beach” contest broke out, they would win hands-down.

Day 20: Raleigh, North Carolina
Local promoter Mitch is the man, and every time we play in NC he puts the show on right. Tonight was no exception. The show was killer, kids were stoked, and in true NC style we had a circle pit in the name of Dale Earnhardt! It’s nice to finally be entering the South. Now, don’t get me wrong, a few of us are Yankees all the way, but there is just something to be said for how mofos in the South party. It’s like the difference between sippin’ on a Manhattan or chugging some Wild Turkey 101.

Day 21: Atlanta, Georgia
Hotlanta! Man, we love the ATL. We have been coming here for years and it always gets better. Some of the best concerts DH had when we first began touring were in Atlanta. The ATL has always had a rich and very supportive scene. It’s just a cool place to play, man. The vibe is always spot-on. No appearances by Mastodon or Norma Jean I am sad to say, but when all your friends are rockers you got to “see ’em when you see ’em and miss ’em all the rest of the time.” Had our favorite meal in Atlanta, burritos from Elmyr and an ice-cold Corona to wash it down!

Day 22: St. Petersburg & Pensacola, Florida
An “act of God” is what they call it, but all it means to us is that our St. Petersburg show just got canceled. Seems like this whole global-warming disaster means that now, every time we try to play a show in Florida, we have to deal with a hurricane! Since we had already fought one tornado in Chicago and everyone in St. Petersburg doing the show was really freaked out, we decided to move it, with two days’ notice, to the Red Door in Pensacola. Let me say the weather was perfect (albeit a little hot at times) and we felt no repercussions whatsoever from the dreaded hurricane. The show went well. Surprisingly, the turnout was pretty good for one day’s worth of promotion, and all the kids seemed stoked we had managed to make itto their town. I can honestly say we hadn’t played Pensacola in 8 years or so, but it seems like they got a killer scene a-brewin’ down there!

Day 23: San Antonio, Texas
Goddamn! Texas! Hell yeah! When I write about Texas for some reason I always seem to want to put an exclamation point at the end of every sentence! It’s just that much of a party down there! The White Rabbit might not be much, but it’s always a good time! Our good friends from Pit Bull Daycare always party down at the Rabbit, and let’s not forget the after-party that always spills over to club Lit after the show! The good dudes in As Blood Runs Black joined the tour today as Parkway Drive had to fly to Europe to play Leper Fest in Belgium! For the record, Leper Fest rules, and so does San Antonio! ABRB killed it Texas-style, and in case you’re wondering, the BBQ place next to White Rabbit is to die for! Make sure to get the brisket!

Day 24: Houston, Texas
So, remember when I said I had the best food of the tour in Connecticut? Well, that was before I got to H-Town and had some of mama and papa Picon’s homemade comida (that’s “food,” for all you non-Spanish types)! Tour manager Tito Picon’s family hooked it up buffet-style with some of the best beans, rice, plantains, and brisket you will ever have! It’s worth going to H-Town just for that meal. Oh, but don’t get me wrong: The show was sick as fuck. Outdoors Java Jazz, well, the power generators couldn’t handle the rock, that’s for sure, and many a guitar amp was blown up this day. We managed to make it through the technical problems and hot, hot, heat together and by nighttime we had ourselves a full-on Texas rager. We had a special appearance by Goatwhore, who made sure to show up after rocking hard with Priest, Heaven and Hell, and Motörhead. I mean, those bands are so good we forgive ’em for their late arrival!

Day 25: Dallas, Texas
Ahhh, our vocalist John Henry’s birthday. What can we say? He’s the king of the tour. And as lead singer of the headlining band he gets to: Not do shit, get anything he wants, freak out whenever he wants to, and celebrate his birthday in style. So what did we get him? Well, not much, but if you consider how much it would have cost to pay all the members of the tour to get onstage at once to sing “Happy Birthday,” then I guess you could say John owes us money! Great sets by After the Burial and As Blood Runs Black. They may have had Gospel Brunch in the morning at the House of Blues, but that night they had a Metal Mass!