Passing through Germany and Austria on our way to a festival Italy. The view is great. We were watching 'the last samurai' when Matt said he needed to pee, so he grabbed a bottle and prepared. Mike ended up pulling into a truckstop shortly after that, much to Matt's happiness. The parking lot was on a sting upward slant, in fact, we had been traveling uphill for white a while now. As we pulled in, the van stalked out. Mike tried to put it into gear and make it into the parking space, it stalled out again. We ended up all exiting the van and pushing it as far as we could into a nearby parking space, with the steep incline, and the amount if gear we had in the back, this was no easy task.
We eventually got it most of the way into a space, but it still stuck out a bit into the driving lane, whatever, we didn't care. We figured the engine overheated and we needed to just wait for it to cool off. Waiting was not a fun idea, mostly because of the heat, but also because the fact that we're only ~30 minutes from the show, and already running late.
We kept warning to wait to open the radiator because it will likely explode from the pressure of the boiling engine coolant. Lo' and behold, Eric ended up popping the cap off, and liquid came spewing out like a geyser spilling its contents in the engine, then out the bottom and down the hill. Eric says afterwards, "well, that was a bad idea." We all agreed.
We purchased a few bottles of antifreeze and filled with water some miscellaneous bottles we had lying around the van. We then needed the van just to sit and cool off for a bit. There was a pretty swanky McDonalds nearby, so we went in and got some lunch. Eventually enough time and worrying had passed that we could return to the van and cross all our fingers hoping. It started, and we all were happy. As Mike pulled the van up, he noticed the coolant light was still lit, and we got worried. We bought another bottle of antifreeze and filled up the water bottles again, filled her up and we were off (fingers still crossed).
The van made it alright. We had a couple of scares, but nothing really directly related to the van. We were more afraid of falling off the side of a cliff, hitting something or someone, or broadsiding another car. The views were absolutely beautiful. I got a bunch of pictures that hopefully I'll be able to post later, but it was fantastic. When the venue for the festival was in view, we were awestruck. The shear size of it, let alone just the stage were enough to make us all worried and excited.
Because of our predicament, as we predicted, we had to load straight to the stage and start playing (well, city of ships had to, but you get the idea, 'the touring package' had to play right away). The load was awkward, and there weren't that many people there as we were doing it, not that we expected to play for thousands of people. City of ships sound checked and they started playing. There were people that started to wander over once they started playing. Many left after a song or two, but most stayed and either rocked out, or just stayed cause they had nothing better to do.
When they finished, the crowd dispersed and we started modifying the CoS stage setup for Rosetta. Once we were ready to do a line check, we had to wait another 5 or 6 minutes, because the sound guy was mysteriously MIA. Eventually a dude went and found him, and we were under way. We only had a 30 minute set time (every band up to and including us had that same time. Every band after us had a 60minute or longer set) so we only played three songs. I wasn't really nervous, I couldn't have given a s**t about anyone attending, or any of the other bands watching from the side stage, but I still messed up on a couple parts, mostly because it was foreign to me to play on such a giant stage, but also, because I could her everything that was going on that I was playing (and that's very rare for most of the venues we play), so I started over thinking certain parts, and ended up just messing them up.
I wasn't too worried, I still had people shaking my hand and telling us how good we were even up to when we were leaving. Even the tour manager (or I assume that's what he was, he just said he was 'with' them) for Terror said he was looking forward to hearing us, and was pleased with what he heard. He called it a, "breath if fresh air." Terror was up after us. I had never heard them before, but had heard they're name, especially Scott Vogel. I only actually got to speak with one of the guitarists and the bassist, as the rest of the band retreated to their bus directly after the show.
Caliban was after terror. It was starting to get dark enough for the stage lights to actually be worthwhile. I had never heard caliban before either, but didn't really like it much. Very hardcore/metal thing, but in a very pop-punk/cheesy sort of way. All the members if caliban retreated to their bus directly after they played.
Last, and certainly least, 'Lordy.' Apparently this band win some form of American idol, but in Europe and that's how they became famous. They look like Gwar, but sound like Bon Jovi...well, if Bon Jovi had been gargling glass for a few years and took on a horrible German accent.
We had a bit of trouble getting our merch out, and us with it. Gwar mark II decided, they want to be bussed up to the stage,and sling with that, tighten security so not even the bands that are supposed to be there can through to their respective vehicles. We were, at first, asked if we could move our van so the bus could have room to pull up for Lordy. Matt and I said we would find Mike and have him move it. Literally 3 seconds later, as we turn the corner around the van to start our search for Mike, we see 2 dudes with our drivers side door open, rifling through all the pockets, and dashboard, in our van, our home, without permission. I was about to kill them.
I could go off about how you just don't f**k with another bands van, their home, their safe spot for their personal items while they roam your s**ty festival. Rob later gave them an earful, which didn't really accomplish much, but probably made him feel a tad better.
The meal was good, spaghetti, hot sauce, rolls, and sandwiches. We're staying in a hotel 5 minutes from the venue, it's way swanky, and I'll have to post pictures of it once I can. I forget where we are tomorrow, but it's a short drive, which is nice.
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