One Night of Queen

Howdy from the US !!

So, here we are, near the end of the US tour, and this is the first time that i've blogged, should have done this weeks ago !!

We arrived into Austin, Texas, two days before the show, to give us a chance to get rid of jetlag. Spent those two days just doing a bit of sightseeing, and preparing for the shows ahead. First show was great. Remembered this one being good from last year, so it was a great start. Next it was onto the bus, and on to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for two nights. First time here, and it was a great couple of days. Quite a chilled out start to the tour, we were all warming up slowly, and pacing ourselves.

Back into Texas for the next one, Tyler, to be precise. Got to admit, loved Texas. rocking crowd, and again "Fat Bottomed Girls " went down a bomb. THE song of the US tour again. New Orleans was next, best show i never did !!! Met Kevin and Robert, our bus and truck drivers, and they had an ice daiquiri, and went and got a LARGE one. Was so drunk, that i don't even remember the show !! Note to self.... NOT AGAIN !!!! Woke up on the bus in Richardson, Texas, when we should have been in Waco. Turns out that the show was cancelled, because the venue went bankrupted over night, so no show !!! Turns out that the venue has since reopened , so we got an unexpected day off. The Richardson gig was one of my favourites, lots of fun. Houston House Of Blues was next, one of favourites from last year. A really cool vibe in this venue, and a rocking good show too. Had a couple of beers in a bar across the street from the venue, and sat down at the front of the bus on the way out, chatting to Kevin, til the wee small hours ..

Next port of call was Texarkana, Texas. I have never seen streets so deserted during the day in my life !!! But come showtime, the venue was packed. 14 people left the show, because i took off my t-shirt , didn't think that i looked that bad !!!! that made us laugh. On to Norman Oklahoma, and The Riverwind Casino. A 90 minute power set, which was rocking, and then we went out to have some beers on the casino floor. Great fun people watching. Wichita Kansas next , and an old ballroom, which caused a headache to Andy and Brad, our lighting guys, due to the height of the ceiling. They got it sorted, as always. Fun show. Had a couple of days off in Denver, so we went out one night to a line dancing bar, which was fun !!! aspen was next, and it was COLD . Lack of oxygen was fun again, back the show was all good.Funniest moment of the tour happened here. Word got back to us that a couple in the audience were thrown out, after having sex at the back in their seats ... Brilliant !!! Heading up to Beaver Creek, we almost hit a herd of dear... scary stuff on a mountain road in a blizzard !! Billy and i did a funny TV interview in Beaver for the show, near the ski lift, was great fun. The interviewer then asked us to do the weather, which we did, in our own unique style ...... another fun show, and a really interesting drive back down the mountain in another blizzard... Lincoln, Nebraska, and Steve's 30th birthday. We presented him with a lovely birthday cake onstage, which later , on the bus, and after much beer , we had a cake fight with, it wasn't pretty ... Davenport , Iowa, and a near disaster !!! The show went without a hitch, but on the loud out, a pice of the lighting truss fell off the hydraulic lift, and severed the main gas and water pipes. We had to evacuate the building until the fire department arrived, and we all had to watch helplessly as all the equipment got soaked on the stage. Miraculously , the next day everything worked when unloaded in Joliet, Illinois, at the next gig. This venue is stunning. We played it two years ago, and also the staff are so nice. Great gig again , as it was the last time.