6.30.08....R.I.P. Halen

Put your hands up for Detroit!


RIP HALEN
Anyone who has enjoyed a vehicle for more than 200,000 miles can relate to the special bond one feels. Your vehicle is more than just a gas thirsty plastic and metal machine that countlessly drains your bank account with $4.00 gas and oil changes what seem like once a month. Whether it was a first date with your future wife, a cross country road trip with friends, or performing over 600 shows in over 30 states, that vehicle represents so much more.

We had a special bond with the 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 van we lovingly named "Halen." Halen crisscrossed this country from Burlington, VT to San Diego, CA to Key West, FL and back again a couple of times over. With over 260,000 miles on our beloved Halen, we were forced to leave her behind in Hays, KS because o f electrical issues on Thursday June 5th while in route to Wakarusa Music Festival following highly successful sets at Summer Camp Music Festival and rousing shows in Denver and Boulder, CO.

This difficult decision kicked off a trying month that included 16 hours of traveling with two members of the band rotating in the back of a rented box truck in 90 degree heat and the irony of killing ourselves to get to Wakarusa to only experience the largest storms in recent history wipe out our Thursday night performance. We persevered through it not missing a single gig and are very excited to announce that we just recently made our maiden voyage in our new 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 van! With 210,000 less miles than Halen, this body double has yet to earn proper naming, but we figure after another couple thousand miles and the forging of new memories a name that seems fitting will present itself!

CHILLAXIN SUMMER PLANS

We're going to take it a little easy on touring this summer to do some recording. We just recorded a four song demo that is the start of our next album. With two albums worth of material to sort through we're excited to put our our first studio work since Incredible Consequence.

BIG SHOWS THIS SUMMER

While we aren't traveling as much this summer the calendar is still filled with some huge shows! We're very excited to perform for the first time at Comerica Cityfest! We will perform on July 2nd on the Pure Detroit Stage from 7:30 pm - 8:15 pm. This all ages and free set is five years in the making and will be our first opportunity since Metro Times Blowout to showcase some new material to the hometown crowd. This should be a special night as some of our good friends will also be performing Wednesday night including: The Silent Years and Nomo. What better way to start your 4th of July weekend off than coming downtown for some beers, food, and some of the best music in the Midwest?

We have an exciting July mini run that will take us through Moline, Chicago, and Grand Rapids. Thursday July 17th marks our first return to the "Quad Cities" since Summer Camp as we play Bent River Brewery. We're excited to see all those new and old fans and share a couple pints of some of the strongest and tastiest beer around! Friday July 18th we return to one of our favorite Chicago venues, Martyrs for a reunion with our good friends Kinetix. Chicago is our home away from home and we can't wait to see all those familiar faces!

We will make our debut at Hoxeyville Music Festival in Cadillac, MI. We perform on Saturday July 26th in what is one of the most fun grassroots/independent festivals in the Midwest. Also performing are our good friends The Ragbirds, My Dear Disco, The Macpodz, and many more!

Dunegrass! Located in beautiful Empire surrounded by the great Sleeping Bear Dunes we head up north for two sets; Friday August 1st and Saturday August 2nd! Other prominent bands at Dunegrass include Leftover Salmon • moe. • Steel Pulse • Arlo Guthrie • the Sparrow Quartet Feat. Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn • Del McCoury Band • Grace Potter & the Nocturnals • Buckethead • Railroad Earth • and others! Help support MICHIGAN based festivals and get your tickets today!!!