December 9, 2009 - Wednesday

Russian Tour Diary!
OK so we got home yesterday after a long 6 weeks on the road. Im dazed, confused and It appears i have left pairs of pants in various conutries around the world, as i returned home with only 2 pairs....

So im going to start with Russia and hopefully build on it from there, so here we go...

DAY 1
We jumped on the train from Lahti (Finland) and waved goodbye to lovely Alex from Toy Bomb Records. we were collectively filled with a mix of excitement, intrigue and fear. The train took about 8 hours, and we basically spent this talking about who is the most likely to get arrested. Turns out it me. Sweet. When we arrived in St.Petersburg we were greeted by the lovely Alex. From the get go this city was extreme, people everywhere, lots of snow, 5 lane traffic. We finally got to the promoters house where we drank our first russian vodka of the tour. vodka tastes just as bad in russia as it does england, and i nearly puked after 1 shot. this was by no means the last puke of the tour. We then travelled and partied the night away at a very soviet style house the rest of the night. more vodka was purchased and i woke up half spooning Mikey and half under a table.

DAY 2
Today we spent our time being tourists, and exploring the beautiful city of St.Petersburg. we saw lots of beautiful buildings/churches. The architecture here was really beautiful. we all decided to purchase Russia hats, which are practical and look great. I had a long coat and apparently i looked like a native. We played at a place called Flat, the venue was awesome and the promoter got us some vodka and cheese toasties which is an awesome combination... The show was great and loads of really ace people showed up. We played Fall Back Down by Rancid and i was mobbed and held up in the air which was awesome and scary at the same time. After the show we jumped on the night train with lots of good people from the show. we spent about 6 hours in a small carriage drinking and talking about Russian punk rock history and heritage, which was really intresting. we also drank alot and smoked about a million cigarettes which explain why we felt so collectively awful when we woke up.

DAY 3
We were greeted off the train by our tour manager, Vladimir. At this point he was just another friendly person. We had no idea how much of a legend he would turn out to be... We walked to his friends house to drop off our stuff and made our way to the show, on the Metro we met Conus, who booked the tour, and he turned out to be a great dude too. Tonight we played in Moscow, at a restaurant. I was a little sceptical at first, but Vladimir assured me everything would be good. And it was, loads of people turned up, and the place went off when we started to play. we had some awesome circle pits and even a wall of death. Its always so nice when people from different countries want to talk to you and make you feel welcome in there city. After the show we went back to the house we were staying at and had a vodka party with Vladimir. It was tonight we started to realise how awesome he was. A sentence i will remember forever was when he explained to us "In Russia, you must always carry 2 things. Your Passport, and your Knuckle Dusters" he then proceeded to show us his large Knuckle Dusters. It was the funnniest, and most surreal thing anyone has ever said to me. It was made even funnier when we discouvered that the Russian translation for Knuckle dusters is "Custard". Priceless.

DAY 4
We woke up and made our way to Igor and Pollina's flat, which is where we were sleeping tonight. We didn't have a show tonight, so we spent it being generic tourists with our new friends. We saw Red Square, the Kremlin, and that crazy church which you see when you complete tetris, and even Lenin's tomb. This was all by night, which made everything look unbelieveable. walking round it really hit home how lucky I am and how crazy it is that Punk Rock has showed us all these amazing things. After this we went to a cool bar with Vladi, his girlfriend, Igor and Pollina. Getting to know these guys better was really awesome and it became apparent we had really found a great group of people. we played alcohol chess and drank cheap cocktails, we showed igor lots of awesome UK school games like Slapsee's and Thumb War. Needless to say i kicked his ass at Thumb War. After a few drinks Igor showed us some of his tattoo's and he definately has some sweet tattoo's, especially for a University Lecturer. We made our way back home on the metro, which is a complete blur. The next thing I know i wake up in the bathroom, being looked upon by the strangest dog i have ever seen.

DAY 5
Today we were playing in Tula. Max started the day with 3 shots of vodka which looked awful, but he took it well, so i tried to be punk rock too and had a beer first thing, which too was awful. We get to the train station and meet up with Conus. We brought lots more beer and started our journey. The journey took abut 4 hours, but good conversations and beer made the whole process enjoyeable. When we arrived at the venue, we were greeted with some awesome pizza and strange red vodka. The venue was ace, and there was a sheet of plastic infront of the drum kit. I guess this was to stop peole throwing stuff at max when they realise he has ginger hair. The show was awesome and the crowd again went nuts. After the show we went back to a small house party. This is all abit of a blur again, but apparently I accidnetly put a cigarette in someone's unfinished dinner, and before anyone knew what was going on some nutter is waving a knife. there was lots of shouting and Vladi was brandishing his Knuckle dusters. everyone piles out of the flat quickly and we end up at the station. having to wait 2 hours for our train. Grim.

DAY 6
Today's show was in Belgorod, which is on the border of Ukraine. We arrive early. Vladimir was really sick, and as soon as we got off the train he was being violently sick, there's a great photo we will put up soon of him puking whilst wearing a giant crucifix. we then take a very strange bus to the venue. The venue was really nice, albeit being owned by a very creepy guy. we sit down to a bizarre meal of water with mushrooms on as a starter. The main course was a plate of mash potato. Not eating meat in some places can be hard, and this was one of them. The show was really awesome. we had a stage invasion, stage divers, crowd surfers and one hell of a wall of death. It really is amazing to be so far away from home and have people going nuts to your music, so thank you everyone who came to this show for making it a really special one. After the show we hung out with loads of awesome people, and got some great photos. We jumped a cab and got the 12 hour night train to Moscow. I love travelling but this was one of the worst train rides i have ever taken. the thing was filthy and really dusty, and there was a little old lady who was staring at me for the whole journey. I slept opposite Vladimir, whose snoring literally sounds like an earthquake. As everyone else struggles to sleep, I just gave up and spent 12 hours thinking about different variations of omelettes.

DAY 7
We made our way back to Igor and Pollina's place in Moscow, and Pollina made us some delicious pasta, which was really needed. We all washed the smell of the night train off us, and made our way to the show. Tonight we were playing in a small place which name I have forgotten. But I do remember its a subburb of Moscow, and we were the first western band to play there which was preety crazy. On the train we met another guy called Igor. He too was awesome. When we arrived the place looked really sketchy. we had to walk down a dark muddy alley to the venue which was a bar, in the middle of the woods, surrounded by dis-used garages. With open minds we made our way inside, and we were greeted by free vodka and salted mushrooms, score! We meet Lemon for the first time, and drink with him. The show is cool. An old crust punk actually filmed it so hopefully we will one day find a video. We talk to some locals and sample there local beer, and head back to the house for a well deserved rest.

DAY 8
When we wake up, we are told that during the night, a big anti-fascist leader in Moscow was murdered outside his house, by a group of Nazi's. This situation was made even worse when we realised he was friends with all the people we are with, especially Vladi and Conus. I cant imagine what it's like to lose a freind, especially in such awful circumstances. Before visiting Russia we had no idea about the problems this country has with racial prejudice, and Nazi's. It's so sad to think that in this day and age people can still be so bigotted and close minded. Our hearts and respect goes out to everyone fighting racism, not just in Moscow, but all over the world.

Anyways, tonight we were playing with CKY from America. In Russia un-licensed taxi's are the norm. so we jumped in a dodgy car, which clearly had no tax or insurance. weaving in and out of speeding vehicles, i literally nearly passed out with fear, but thankfully we arrived safely. The venue turned out to be absolutely awesome, with a huge stage and an awesome sound system. The show was cool, about 150 people showed up but the place still looked preety empty as the venue was so huge. The sound was awesome and it was great to play with such good sound. After the show I went searching for vodka, and my search led me to a really preety, intresting girl called Ksenia, who was working for the venue. After trying to negociate free vodka, we exchanged numbers and arranged to meet the following night. During CKY's set we raided there dressing room trying to find beer. we didnt find any so just created abit of mayhem and left. After the show we made our way back to our freind Tanya's house for the night. We continued to drink, and a combination of drinking and fatigue led to a sweet band argument. There was screaming, shouting, confusion and finally sleep. We woke up and none of us could remember why we were even argueing.

DAY 9
Tonight show was cancelled, out of respect to the guy who was killed the previous day. We left Tanya's place and headed in to town, to meet some friends max made when he toured Russia previousely with All Or Nothing. On the way we spotted a man lying on the pavement with his pants down. This was surreal enough but then we realise he is lying on his side trying to take a poo. There's a great photo somewhere, we will upload soon. people were just walking past him not even noticing. I guess its normal in these parts. We grabbed some good Pizza and salad and made our way to Red square with Genner for a few drinks. After an hour or so we arranged to meet Vladi and the rest of the gang at a cocktail bar. It was so nice to have all our favourite Russian's all in one place, drinking together. The nice girl, Ksenia turned up too and I spent the night drinking intense cocktails and hanging out with her which was great. I ventured down stairs to find Vladi shouting at people, it turns out that he is standing in front of the TV and people cant see the football. He turns to them and shouts "F*ck you pussys, I have Custard (knuckle dusters)" as funny as this was there was alot of commotion, and before we know it the police have turned up, whilst making our way out we notice one of them is brandishing a silenced machine gun, and he looks preety pisssed off. After escaping safely, everyone jumps taxi's back to Tanya's place. We eat some awesome asparagus and teach Ksenia some english jokes, and in return we learn some Russian ones. We stay up and party and good times are had by all.

DAY 10
Todays show was suppose to be in Vladimir City. Lemon was in charge today as Vladimir had to work. we met a great guy called Max who plays in a anti-fascist band called Kids of the Street. He tells us his story's about on going battles with fascists and the struggle everyday life in Moscow can bring, when your fighting Nazi's and the police treat you as the criminal, what are you suppose to do? Your a good person Max, keep doing what you are doing.

We get on the train to Vladimir City. when we arrive at the station, we meet various people and there's a strange atmosphere in the air. No one can really talk english and no one seems to know what is going on. we eventually discover that the venue has changed at the last minute. we walk for about 45 minutes until we realise no one knows where we are going. after frantic russian phone calls we get to the new venue. it turns out that the original venue was closed by police because last time there was a punk show there, Nazi's turned up and there was a huge riot, and the army had to be called. The bad atmosphere is still apparent as there is no equipment to be seen. eventually equipment does start to show up and people are loading in. Before we know it the Police have turned, there's shouting, commotion and pushing. we are taken to a backstage room away from the commotion. Its at this point we make the collective decision to leave quietely and get the hell out of this city. we quickly make our way to the last night bus to moscow and jump on with minutes to spare. We are told that your not aloud to drink on the bus, so Mikey and I hide at the back and have a few secret beers. We spend the journey talking about how lucky we are to live in a safe and open minded community, back in brighton. Then we filled up 2 cans of beer with piss as the bus didnt have a toilet. the 2 cans looked like 2 old friends silently travelling on buses together, we miss those boys. We travelled 14 hours today, not to play a show. so when we got home we purchased 4 litres off vodka and everyone drank til they forgot what had happened.

DAY 11
We wake up and have a bizarre breakfast of noodles and hummous. Today was the last show and it was in Moscow. We arrive to the venue which is preety sweet, meet the guys frim Unbreakeable from Norway who are good guys. Lovely Conus turns up with some good food for us. He's clearly sad about hid friend who died, which was really upsetting for us to see. He still took the time to talk, drink and laugh with us which I have so much respect for. If a friend of mine had died the last thing on my mind would be feeding a band, but he showed up and took care off us, which goes to show how much of an awesome guy conus is.

The show was awesome and the perfect send off for us. everyone went nuts and there was a great circle pit. To make the night special i decided to wear a gold thong and get naked during our last song. people lifted me up in the air and i was holding on for dear life. it was a truly special moment that i wont be able to forget, especially as someone kept on slapping my bum. After the show we were rushed to the night train to Helsinki. we panic buy some beers and say our goodbye's, and before we know it, it's just the 4 of us, drinking and reflecting on what had been the nuttiest 2 weeks any of us had ever been through.

This tour was truly unforgetable, our hearts, love and admiration go out to the following people:

Vladimir, for taking care of us and being totally crazy and caring at the same time.
Conus, for having faith in us and booking the tour, it wouldn't have happened with out you dude.
Igor and Pollina for letting us crash so many times. we love you guys and you always have somewhere to stay in the UK.
Ksenia for helping with the show, and being so lovely.
Nicoli and Tanya for there accomodation, and Lemon for being awesome.
And anyone who we met on the way, who came to a show, took time to talk to us, danced, sang and partied, you all helped make it something we will remember forever.
We will be back next year.
Ed and the Boys xxx