A long day. Such a long day. Up so early, and everyone is a bit grumpy on the bus. I'm happy because I've just discovered tea. Tea is amazing. Herbal tea...can't get enough of the stuff. I'm 36, how has it taken this long?
2 shows today, the first one took just over 5 hours to get to. At the services, I got tea instead of Red Bull. Richards is fucking growing up!
First gig in the afternoon in Xiangshui, a college (they don't have days off at college in China, apparently... but then again, neither do touring musicians). Biggest room of the tour I think, must be over a thousand capacity, and there was barely an empty seat. No soundguy, though, so collectively between us, both bands did the sound for each other and it was fun... the equipment was there at least, as were people trying to help. Musically probably the weakest we've played on this tour and the drum kit kept sliding - we had a carpet below it, but that slid too. We're tired, it's showing. Still, they couldn't get enough of us! Biggest audience response yet to the extent it was almost uncomfortable, Leo and Mr Dong had to usher us away at the end because we were in danger of missing our next gig.
Quick (if typically excessive) lunch and then 1 hour trip to the next venue. Massive billboards of our faces outside! Bit weird, but my ego is exploding. Huge venue, stressful soundchecks, you could just feel the tension in the dressing room. Both bands are tired. Our set (apart from one show, we've been the closing band on this tour) was more than fine - much tighter than earlier, but lacking the buzz of the shows from the start of the tour. Sold a record amount of CDs afterwards; feels like we can't do a thing wrong over here. Even back in the hotel a fan wanted a selfie in a lift, there's no break from these enthusiastic people!
After two gigs, a lot of miles and a long day, the evening was...well, long. In a great, great way. It was our chance to wind down and our hosts ordered us to, "drink as much as you can," so we did. Oh boy, we did. At the meal we drank countless (I stopped counting at 11) shots of the 42% rice wine, and lots and lots and lots of beer. I remember drinking wine from a jug, and I remember us all shouting "kampayyyyy" and toasting everything possible. Lots of singing, lots of banging on the table vaguely in time to those songs. Lots of hugs, lots of selfies but this time between us, the two bands and our hosts, not 'fans'.
The evening ended in a karaoke, and a few people being sick. My stomach remained strong, as did my vocals chords for a frankly heroic version of 'Like a Virgin', that I imagine a few people will still be talking about.
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