Before leaving for the tour I was excited about the opportunity to see most of Canada by traveling on the road. It’s a big country and I usually fly if going a great distance. However, much like my father used to say when he went on business, when you’re always on the go, you don’t get to see too much of anything. While we always have a few hours to kill during the day, and can walk around a city, we have been traveling at night and I’ve been sleeping until we arrive at the next city. I’m not complaining, it’s a great way to travel, however it doesn’t feel like you’ve seen the country when you go to bed in one city and wake up in another.

That said, today’s show in Winnipeg, Manitoba should be part of a great day. The show is right downtown, so it’ll be easy to explore the city. Having a friend here means getting some tips on where to grab a good meal and look for some records. Winnipeg is a small city, but it’s got quite the musical community and has given birth to some of the country’s better known punk and punk-related artists such as Propagandhi, The Weakerthans, Greg MacPherson and, of course, The Guess Who. It’s also home to one of the most important events in Canada’s labour history, The Winnipeg General Strike. Give me a break, I work for a union.

Edit: I went out to find a good lunch place and came across the Royal Albert, which is a venue that doubles as a diner. The kitchen has only been open for six months now and it has a menu full of eclectic items. I ordered an Asian Salad, but they were out of the noodles required for it, so I asked for anything including lots of veggies and chicken. They ended up giving me a garden salad with cucumber, carrot, tomato, chicken and a simple, tasty vinaigrette. My stomach needed something healthy and they delivered. If you’re ever in town, be sure to stop by.

Last night’s show went well. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the club was small, but it was packed with people who seemed really excited to be at the show. I missed The Real Deal’s set but got a chance to see The Flatliners. They’ve come through my hometown a few times and I’m a fan. They’ve clearly gotten better on stage in the year since I law saw them. The songs off their most recent album, The Great Awake really standout as having developed a great deal on stage since the album was released.

One of the more eye-opening experience on the tour so far has been all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into putting on a show. The band’s tour manager is busy as shit, especially among coordinating the show, the in-store sessions and interviews with local media. Meanwhile, the crew who loads the gear in and out of the venue double as techs during the set and are always on the go with their day not coming to a stop until everything is put away for the night. Not to mention they’ve got me hanging around asking if I can help but not knowing much more than how to tell the difference between a guitar and bass. Their merch guy might look like he has an easy job because he just has to stand there (after setting it all up), but the dude never gets a break, usually can’t watch the show, and has to work until all the bands have finished.

After tonight’s show we’ll make the long drive to Thunder Bay and start hitting up Eastern Canada. Check back in for some interview material between the band and their fans.

Less Than Jake - Scott Farcas Takes It On the Chin from Ben Conoley on Vimeo.