In the depths of the steaming Sri Lankan jungle, Brett & Danimal poll the locals, surfers and YOU about shaving his 4-month tour beard. Help decide the fate of his face in the poll below. Thanks to Drive Thru Surf Camp for putting us up.
Starting Count: 9 Yes 14 No
The polls close promptly at midnight on the New Year so spread some propaganda. [poll id="3"]
The Danimal and I are cooped up in a chicken shack in Sri Lanka, counting stars under the central Asian sky. Here, there are bats the size of bald eagles and spiders the size of a Vin Diesel fist. We have two more weeks in Asia, writing and recording a new album. This week we set out on the vintage Sri Lankan railway to film more Crusty Adventures through bizarre terrain covered by water buffalo, jumbo crocodiles and people who really suck at driving. Much love to our new friends at DriveThru Surfcamp for putting us up. I strongly recommend checking them out if you're a surfer person, they treat their guests well and show them a killer time on the island. This week's episode is a totally wack holiday treat shot in Prague, CZ. Merry holidays, jabronies!
Brett & The Danimal
After 56 shows on European soil, we are posting-up in Sri Lanka for the holidays to write songs and new episodes of Crusty Adventures. Meanwhile, the countdown to the OZ leg of the tour is quickly approaching. This mission includes 12 tour dates in the land down under, including MONA FOMA FEST in Tasmania, curated by fellow Milwaukean and Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie.
Thu, 7 Jan - Yarra Hotel | Melbourne Fri, 8 Jan - Soundbar | Rye Sat, 9 Jan - Saints & Sailors | Port Arlington Wed, 13 Jan - Ararat Live | Ararat Thu, 14 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Fri, 15 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Sat, 16 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Sun, 17 Jan - MONA FOMA Festival | Hobart Fri, 29 Jan - Mr Falcon's | Sydney Sat, 30 Jan - Mr Falcon's | Sydney
Time is standing still here on the southern shore of Sri Lanka. We're staying next to the equator for three weeks with our pals at DriveThru Surfcamp (even though we suck at surfing). Three days ago a local dude got eaten by a crocodile, so I think I'll just to hang out in the swimming pool. Last night was our first Sri Lankan show with the surfcampers and local beach chum, followed by prompt party execution from our gracious hosts. Before shipping out for OZ, we play here one last time at the Surfcamp's New Years Eve Super Party. Time to regroup and unwind in paradise after the big haul through Europe. Looking forward to a few weeks off and our debut appearance in Australia.
Much respect, Brett & Danimal
Bad news if you're a goat...
We are back on solid ground in Kamburugamuwa, Sri Lanka following two straight days of trains, planes, taxis and tuk tuks. The Danimal and I are slowing things down over the next three weeks at DriveThru Surfcamp, decompressing from 2.5 months touring across Europe. We will miss all our Euro pals and Chuck Ragan The Car, slated to return again in the fall of '16 to see you all again!
much love, Brett & The Danimal
As rations run thin, Brett and Danimal chow nasty food and loiter their way across Germany, messing with locals and playing bizarre venues every step of the way.
We've been without Internet for several days, hindering our efforts to bring you this week's Crusty Adventure. But we're plowing through our last few days in Italy, bringing our European tour to a close before three weeks in Sri Lanka over the holidays. It's been a stellar run in Europe. We've made legendary new friends and epic stories, experiencing the full-frontal, ups and downs of tour life. See you again in fall.
much respect, Brett & The Danimal
Vibes have gotten pretty weird over in Europe the past few weeks. After the Paris attacks, it was found that several of the terrorists had been living in Brussels, so the entire city was on high alert as we strolled into town for a Wednesday night tour stop.
We're approaching the end of the Hi-Fi D.I.Y. European Tour. Thursday we return to Rorschach, Switzerland on our way to Italy to wrap up two and a half months here. This has been one of the craziest tours to date with epic highlights and amazing allies to some of the scariest, soul-crushing moments we've ever crawled out of.
If you enjoy Crusty Adventures as much as we enjoy making them, please share them with your friends & family and send us any ideas for future Crusties.
much respect,
Brett & The Danimal
At the age of 13, I began employment at my local McDonalds, flipping burgers and greasing the fry-o-later after school. My mission was to take my $5.15/hour and buy an electric guitar. Working at McDonalds was a really fun gig, and in this episode of "Crusties", I go back to my roots to experience if that fast-food still tastes like the gold of old. Nostalgia plays tricks on you...
The blackmail situation is finally behind us. A massive wave of support from friends across the globe helped us recoup the losses within two days. It's that caliber of camaraderie that digs us out of the soul-crushing lows that inevitably surface when touring. Thank you for keeping the tour alive, we'd be well fucked without you.
Much respect, Brett & Danimal
This is the scariest shit that has ever happened to us on tour. Witness the fear instilled upon Danimal and I as we weave thru the German legal system to maintain ownership of Chuck Ragan The Car and avoid the "slammer". The entire tour inches away from coming to a screeching halt.
Support of any kind is greatly appreciated. Even if you're in a tough spot like us, sharing this story with others goes a long way. We can't thank you enough for all your help from far and wide.
Much respect,
Brett & Danimal
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Brett & Danimal plow huge drives across Norway & Sweden where they run out of money, light their brakes on fire, & drink skunky beer with insane Norwegian lumberjacks. The Hi-Fi DIY World tour continues...
We've been back to Berlin four times on this tour. Once for shows, thrice to register Chuck Ragan the Car with the German auto authorities. Long story short, we now own the right to bear Chuck Ragan The Car on the roads of Deutschland. Morale took a big dive earlier this week, but things have returned to normal following the successful mission to Berlin, topped off with an amazing Death Cab show (Thanks again Zarah and Eve!)
We're having a lot of fun making Crusty Adventures for you. It's still very new, but it's the best way for us to share travels and weird misadventures with our friends & family around the world. If you enjoy these as much as we enjoy making them, please share them with your friends & family and send us any ideas for future Crusties.
much respect,
Brett & The Danimal
Upon beginning my 2015 Euro tour, I acquired a 2002 Skoda and named it "Chuck Ragan the Car" in honor of Chuck Ragan the man. Chuck's ethos is raw, hard-working & brutally honest and I've always reveled in that. Chuck is also one of the few acts I'd seen in 2015 that didn't use backing tracks live. The man sings it like it is. May Chuck Ragan the car be as immortal as Chuck Ragan the man. Chuck and I met at our Ramones Museum show in Berlin. I traded him an LP for a future sabertooth muskie fishing lesson (and future 1st round draft choice). Chuck, I'd like to invite you to open for me on my next DIY living room tour ;) Have your people call my people.
Matt Vasquez once asked me if I had any weed. While I could not be of any assistance on that fateful evening in Madison, I'd like to take this time to punt Matt's work and let you know what a human genius this dude is. A fearless performer who provides swift rock n' roll justice by staring down jabronies who text in the front row of a Delta Spirit show, Matt has just released his first solo EP into the cold harsh universe for everyone's listening enjoyment. Try not to pirate this one, okay?
Frank is a dude who gives hope that road-rugged songwriters can indeed take over the world town by town. The road is fucking hard and discouraging, and Frank Turner is the trailblazer who has weathered the beatings of DIY ethic and proved it's possible. His band has also been fighting the good fight against robots taking over the music industry. While 90% of festival acts struggle to perform their albums without loops, backing tracks, or Mac Books on stage, Frank's band does it all live, displaying iron ballsack in a world of empty ball bags and sackless wonders.
5 years ago, my roommates and I were sipping PBR’s in our college shit-hole, listening to garage rock on the stereo. I plugged in my bands first EP. My punk-savvy roommate told me I sounded exactly like the dude from ‘The Thermals (Saddle Creek Records).’ I said “who is this dude and who are The Thermals?’. Turns out he is Hutch Harris, who has been sounding like me longer than I have been sounding like me. Hutch and I have kept in touch a little bit over the years, swapping a few garage rock tracks here and there. In addition to the occupation of rock n' roll, he is doing standup comedy around Portland. Follow Hutch on the internet. There is no Twitter page that builds Sleater-Kinney shrines & 90's pop culture jokes better.
BNL was the first band I ever loved. They are the reason I started working at McDonalds at age 14 so I could buy a guitar. After six months on the fry-o-later, I bought a ghetto 6-string and immediately learned 9 Barenaked Ladies songs. BNL just finished an amphitheater tour with the legendary Violent Femmes. Listening to BNL still reminds me of working at McDonalds and smuggling chocolate milk shakes out of the restaurant via my pants.
My friend Sue Schrader once told me "Newski, you're a young Steve Poltz". Immediately I had to find out who Poltz was. Turns out Poltz is the most famous guy no one's ever heard of. Poltz is 55. Poltz is still crushing the road. Poltz is perhaps more insane than I am. Poltz is now my god damn hero. Poltz 4 life. Listen to Poltz.
Teddy is the godfather of indie rock in my opinion. He's not afraid to be a power-hack on the guitar or scream out-of-key to make a song more genuine. A dude who has always stuck to his guns, he's never let the availability of technology crowd his stage setup with 9 MacBook Pros like neighboring Pitchforkers. Ted has been flying under the radar for the past few years, but look for a fresh TL punk rock onslaught in the near future. Respect.
Not many dudes champion young bands better than Duritz. He's a man for others & shares his wisdom to the full effect. When I was 8, my dad and I signed up to one of those mail-in record clubs where we obtained "August and Everything After". It's a mighty timeless LP and most baby boomers own at least two copies. In addition to primo pop songwriting, Duritz just looks fucking sweet, rocking a 70's ABA afro that makes Julius Erving look like a semi-pro.
Sean is the bravest songwriter I know. The guy will sing about anything, from making fun of his own depression to contracting an STD. AJJ is a fearless band and the most medicinal of all music. They deserve massive success no matter how much they try to avoid it. Sean and I have run into each other a few times on tour and he is a kind sweet dude for putting up with all my annoying power hugs. Check out their latest album Christmas Island via Side One Dummy Records.
I've always been a huge fan of "singers who can't sing". Ezra's raw and wobbly voice is just that. He wouldn't make it past the security guard on American Idol, but his songs are undeniable and his voice cuts thru you like no polished pop Idol chump ever could. His first record "Banging down the Doors" changed my life. He wrote that shit when he was 17. (High respect to Matt Gerding at the Majestic in Madison for letting me steal his copy of it.) Check out Ezra's latest LP, "Perpetual Motion People" via Bella Union.
Tom Petty may or may not be Jesus.
Danimal here. If you broke touring into a pie graph, "glory" would be the smallest piece of the pie. Most of our time is spent driving across foreign terrain, plowing apples, pretzels and nuts to sustain and save money. Brett isn't the most advanced driver in the game. Despite above-average driver's ed scores, his "maneuvering" on the road has managed to piss off European drivers far and wide. Enjoy all the road rage we inspired across Germany, Denmark & Sweden.
One week into the German tour and morale is good! Since our return from Scandinavia, we've hit Lübeck, Kiel, Weimar, Halle and Essen. Tonight we're at Café Lichtung in Cologne, day two of an 8-day tour with David Blair (Canada). On the horizon, we're excited to return to Switzerland and Austria
Tue, Nov 3: Cafe Lichtung - Cologne Wed, Nov 4: Zum Csikos - Dusseldorf Thu, Nov 5: Vinyl Café - Wetzlar Fri, Nov 6: Hafen 2 - Offenbach Sat, Nov 7: Extra Blues Bar - Bielefeld Sun, Nov 8: Tübingen Barn Show - Tübingen Tue, Nov 10: TMS (University of Hohenheim) - Stuttgart Thu, Nov 12: Kultur Stadl - Worleschwang Fri, Nov 13: Uncle Satchmo's - Kaufbeuren
We're having a lot of fun making Crusty Adventures for you. It's still very new, but it's the best way for us to share travels and weird misadventures with our friends & family around the world. If you enjoy these as much as we enjoy making them, please share them with your friends & family and send us any ideas for future Crusties.
much respect,
Brett & The Danimal
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