RYE COALITION TOUR DIARY 9/4/94 - KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN

9/4/94 - KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN

Shellac is playing their hometown of Chicago today. Not only are they simply playing, but it’s their first show ever in the city. So will I be able to stick around Chicago and witness this great event? No, of course not. Instead, I get to go with Rye Coalition to the last show of this tour in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Life is grand.

On the ride to Michigan, I discover the word “WOLF” written with marker on my tummy. Supposedly, Ralph wrote this on my stomach while I was asleep in Indiana a few days ago. This explains why everyone has been calling me “WOLF” for two days and the comments from Ralph like, “Are you going to be howling from the rooftops of Trenton when you get home, Wolf?” It also explains what all the giggling was about. It was about me!

For a last show on tour, this show is pretty uneventful and repeats like all the others. We show up super late while another band is playing, Rye plays and people worship them and this show is no exception except for Dave totally destroying his drum set. He broke the bass drum into tiny pieces and then demolished his snare after that. Pretty zany.

After the show, we are taken to a cheapo burrito place by the much talked-about Joel Wick. After that experience, we got in the van and headed back to lovely New Jersey. The ride home was as exciting as watching paint dry. We finally got into New Jersey around 11 AM the next day. We dropped Charles off first and the last thing he said was, “I don’t wanna see any of you suckers every again!” Sadly, he had no choice when we got a flat tire not a mile away from his house. We called him and as usual, he saved our asses. I got back to my car in Bayonne and headed back to Trenton with my leopard print pillow to find myself in debt with family issues and numerous other things to make my life hell. And now I take the time out of my busy schedule to tell you the tale.

Moral of the story: Never get in a van with Ralph.

Between revisiting this tour diary and other projects, this past summer has been a extremely deep immersion in 90’s nostalgia. Due to this, I think a wee break from the past is in order. So, expect more sick old man kvetching and a special year-end project that’ll end 2024 on a (hopefully) positive note. Thanks for reading.