Rehearsals!
Hey there, m’little chickadees!
The SoPpies have all now safely landed in Holland, and we met up for our first rehearsal today at our usual not-so-secret location. Same room, same equipment, same smell of rock’n'roll, but it’s been refurbished with guitar stands mounted on the walls, groovy mood lighting, and a whiteboard (useful for writing up the setlist!). As usual, rehearsals went surprisingly well given the fact that we are not a “normal” band who can meet and rehearse regularly. Everyone practices their parts at home, so when we get together it’s really just a matter of getting used to playing at concert volume (and, if you’re shy like me, getting used to playing in front of people).
We’ll be rehearsing for the next three days, then we have a couple of days off before the first show in Copenhagen. I do have my laptop with me, but time is limited for Internetting, so I hope you’ll be understanding if it takes some time for me to respond to emails or blog comments. My first priority will be keeping you updated with any silly or fun tour anecdotes that I notice this time around.
I have to say that, apart from the chance to play HAUNTED again (my favoreeeeet) and some other songs involving CHUGGAS, the highlight of my day today was Diana showing up with a box of my favorite touring snack: Kellogg’s All-Bran Fiber Bars:
I got turned on to these on last year’s tour, but they are extremely difficult to find in the shops. I look for them in every shop I go in, and I’m always asking our tour manager to look for them for me when she shops for the band. It was so massively sweet of Diana to pick up a box for me when she saw them in Amsterdam. I love these bars — they are both tasty and, umm, useful. ‘Nuff said about THAT.
Signing off for now, but I will leave you with this photo, sent in recently by P.L.A.G. regular, IntGod. I highly doubt we will see any bananas at the upcoming shows that top this one:
Pinkie Respect m/
Lori
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Great to hear your back together! Hope to see a new CD/DVD of this tour, the last one was so cool! Rock On!
Hi Lori, nice post
And good to know that you got in Holland all safely and already went rehearsing.
Please don’t get sick from our shitty weather at the moment…
It’s okay about the emails. Take your time
Hugs, Rob
I’m glad to hear things are going well, have fun!
That is an excellent banana, but it doesn’t have a face
Welcome back in the Netherland. So it was you who brought us back the storm – your presence even affected us a bit more up north.
Finding you favorite touring snack should not be too much of a problem here in the Netherlands, there might even be people around who would be willing to help you’re not running out of supply.
Success with the rehearsals!
Yap, the banana is alright (I think is some famous one – bananas usually are very good guitar players). But who’s the guy behind him? He looks like… I don’t know… not real… some balloon toy
About snacks: you know – if you’re long waiting for something it taste better.
By the way: Thanks. It’s nice to hear someone who can play like you
ps. sorry for possible errors in spelling :7
Lori, that’s great to know ! – Thanks for the update !
Hey, Kristof – (Y’ okay ?!)
What’s this…? Are you instigating a “ME AND MY BANANA” page ?!
Take care !
OMG, the banana it’s even taller than Kristof. He may have to buy two tickets for the concert :-/
I can’t stand the All-Bran cereal. It’s tastes like cardboard to me
But I do like the frosted flakes!
happy touring!
have a great time here and rehearse until you drop hahahhahaha
have fun!!!
hugs,
Gwen
Bananas? Hear in Brazil, we have so much…Do you hear about the Republic of Bananas?
I hope the band keep on playing well and having fun…
But don’t forget you are our dear teacher…
many greetings
Ah, the smell of a rehearsal room at the end of the day…. not too pleasent at all!
Hope all is well, and that your rehearsal room isnt as craped as some of the ones I have been in…!
=) take care, hope to hear plenty of stories from this tour.
Oh, as for the Kelloggs bars…. we have them in the thousands here….!
From one rehearsal-room to another: greetings!
we’re over here working up a sweat as well for the 28th! Cant’ wait!
Joop#1
Good rehearsals !
Don’t be to much haunted by the bars…
Thanks, Robottony — no DVD this time, I’m afraid — bummer because there is some stuff I’d like to have included this time around
Thanks Rob. Actually, the weather is no worse here than in Sweden, but the high winds sure made for an eventful landing at Amsterdam. And I have to admit kind of enjoying the weird “Wuthering Heights” vibe in my room the first couple of nights — the wind was absolutely howling!
Thanks Mcophie — and I agree: the banana needs a face
Sorry about the stormy weather, Lars. I have to go back to Sweden tomorrow—will try to take it back with me
And I must have terrible luck with my fiber bars, because I look in EVERY shop I ever go in, and have only ever seen them once. That was last summer, and they were in the half-price bin for stuff that had been discontinued. I bought all 6 boxes. Maybe it’s just this local area that doesn’t get to experience the joy of All-Bran Bars…
Falcor, thanks for the nice comment. No worries about spelling—it’s not like I’m teaching English here or something
And I agree about the benefits of long periods of anticipation making the eventual gratification that much sweeter 
Stephen, “Me and my Banana” — don’t tempt me!
Juan, I agree that the cereal is poo, but the bars ROCK as long as you have something to drink with them (they’re kinda dry otherwise).
Thanks Gwen, see you soon!
Carvalho, I’ve not forgotten about my “students,” just haven’t had time to get episode 3 up yet. It takes about 6-8 hours of solid work to transcribe a conversational episode, make the vocab lists, and then code and proofread the whole thing. I do have everything I need with me here on my laptop, but just need a window of time to get something ready. I’m sure a lot more motivated to take the time if I know somebody’s waiting
JoeJoe, our rehearsal room is actually quite nice — the only real problem is that it’s tough to get the volume we need without running into feedback problems. I’d actually be disappointed if the studio didn’t have it’s characteristic smell — it brings back memories.
Joop — thanks for your hard work re. the 28th.
Sylvain, rehearsals have been good so far, thanks! Today’s our last one — I will try not to go getting all misty on everyone.
Oh you will definately get misty! but you’ll see them all again real soon so be brave
Greetz Taz
Hi Lori,
Good to hear your having a good time already and that rehearsals are going so well. And that you’re really ‘embracing the storm’
And, I know all about rehearsal rooms.. they got something comfy and cuddly right??
Hmm *contemplates buying all-bran bars coz theyre in shops around here*
What do we need to do, to let you all come to the SoP Fan Meeting? You’ll be the special touch which we can’t miss
Hugs, Rob
(or are you now afraid of all the people who will bring you all-bran bars?)
Watch out for those Cereal Bars Lori, they’re extremley addictive!
It’s a one way trip, take my word for it. Thank God the supermarket run out of stock before I OD on those. True story
hoi Lori
Thanx for the update have fun in copenhagen cu in rijsen
greats Lex
I’ll see what I can do with the face!
Is everything ready for Copenhagen tomorrow ?
looking forward to the show d8-)
see ya there
Per in Dinamarca m/
JEEEEZ !!!
The tour starts tomorrow ?! Is it just me, or does time REALLY fly these days ?! It feels as though these dates were only just announced !
UNBELIEVABLE !!!
I still can’t wait though – (lol !) Have a good time and take care everyone !
Enjoy the shows and have fun in Denmark and Finland! I’ll join in when they visit Belgium again…
@Stehpen: yeah, time seriously flies these days. I can’t wait either
Ciao & take care,
Rob
Good luck on the show tonight!
Good luck and have fun tonight! Don’t let the storm catch you!
Embrace The Storm!
hey lori,
hope you all made it in one piece, the storm was immense here, but then we are close to the sea
have a good one over there and give my hugs to everyone, especially the big guy hahaahhha
hugs,
Gwen
It says more about the height of IntGod then of the banana LOL