Chris Suffolk, Gin Blossoms bassist Bill Leen and guitarist Jesse Valenzuela
Over the next few days, Fender vice president of organizational development Chris Suffolk is living out the chance of a lifetime as a roadie for his longtime favorite band Gin Blossoms.
Suffolk will tag along for the Gin Blossoms upcoming shows in San Diego, Snoqualmie, Wash., and Las Vegas, and share his updates from the road in this Fender Front Row blog. He’ll also be shooting a video diary that we’ll get up once he’s back!
Sunday afternoon - End of the Road
When I walked through the lobby this morning someone stopped me and asked if I was with the Gin Blossoms. My first thought was “You talkin’ to me?” And then I thought, “Yes, I am!”….and then I got a little bummed when realized my “fantasy camp” would soon be coming to an end.
I did stop writing last night so I could hit the after-hours party, and I promised a recap. The band had a terrific suite filled with lots, and I mean WAY more beer, wine, pizza, chips, dips, salsas, deli meats and cheeses than any group could possible eat. When I arrived, Bill and his girlfriend Sandra (an absolutely delightful person who has a smile that lights up a room) were sitting on the couch watching the George Lopez show. I thought this was a little too laid back for what I expected until I figured out the suite had multiple rooms and they were filled. While I don’t know everyone’s relationship to the band, it was pretty obvious they were all fans.
As I started to take mental notes to report on, I remembered the slogan “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” and realized I had a quandary! So here’s how I will share my recap –– the rest of the evening had something to do with all of the following: an in-room hot tub, bottle openers, smoke, a deer head and lots of smiles! Sometimes the imagination can assemble the pieces better than the written word!
For those who were wondering if John and Jesse got past their “proper way to open a bag of food,” argument, I’m happy to report Jesse was very pleased that John opened the peanuts properly. After inspecting the container and seeing some peanuts left over, Jesse asked if I wanted to take them home so I can feed the squirrels at my cabin –– he just doesn’t like wasting food!
On Sunday we met at 10 a.m. for shuttles to the airport. McCarran airport was empty ….not! What an ocean of humanity! Darryl made another TSA friend as he went through airport security; I guess his pedal bag filled with metal boxes and wires peak attention everywhere!
Three days, three cities and three shows in what now feels like the blink of an eye. Bill and Jesse tried to get me to call my wife and tell her to “sell all” so I could live life on the road! I quickly hide my cell phone (I like my life!) Instead, we decided a bus trip with the band this spring would be a good next step.
What a great couple of days! So here is where I get sappy…While I’ll be forever grateful for the chance to get closer to the music I love and those who make it happen, it’s time for me to go back to my day job and let the real pros do what they do. But being a part of this, seeing up close and personal just how talented the Gin Blossoms are, and equally, if not more important, how they are just really great people was a special experience. At the core, that’s what it is all about.
A special thanks to Jesse, Robin, Bill, Scotty, John, and of course Doug and Gary, with a special thanks to Bryan and Darryl (for their music mentorship). Here’s Darryl and me.
To my brethren at Fender, who make music possible world-wide, keep putting your heart and soul into it every day. YOU are spreading the spirit of rock-n-roll!
SHAMO! (We really don’t know what that means, but Jesse says it a lot!)
Sunday 1AM
People who come to Vegas don’t really need a reason to party, after all that’s what’s on their minds when they hit the town. But give them one, and they run with it. From the opening note of “Follow You Down,” the room was cranked!
Tonight’s set list was changed a little as the band decided to take a request to play “Cajun Song,” one of my own personal favorites so I was happy to hear it live, and it was terrific.
I was put to work trading out guitars. I did a little of that Thursday and Friday but honestly I didn’t do so well, especially with my tradeoffs with Scotty. I fumbled the strap (sorry, man), taking extra time, which you really don’t have when one song slips into the next. My goal was to get it right tonight. The truth is the task is really pretty simple, but the whole live element, and having to do so in front of lots of people makes it a bit tense. You start thinking, “Will I trip in front of a thousand people or will I drop the guitar?” So when Darryl told me I’d be doing all seven tradeoffs with Jesse and Scotty, I started to get nervous. So how did it turn out? Pretty darn good. I got it down where I snuck on and off stage pretty fast until Jesse and Robin kept me there to introduce me to the crowd. That was the first and very likely the last time a crowd will hoot and applaud me at a rock concert! Here’s a shot of Robin I took on my phone.
On Thursday, I briefly wrote about the new cut, “Miss Disarray,” which is on the much-anticipated new album. Having heard it now three times I can say that Gin Blossoms fans will really like it. It has a great feel and the vocals are terrific. The word is the new album will have a LOT of great stuff. I say bring it on!
I could keep writing or I could go to the after-show party. What would you do? If you are still thinking I don’t want your advice. Bye for now… :-)
Saturday mid-morning
Met in the hotel lobby at 8:15 a.m. (everyone was on time). Two vans took us to Sea-Tac airport; a 20 minute ride. Conversation varied from discussion about last night’s fans, next availability of internet (gotta stay connected), tonight’s venue and family - a topic that brings a smile to everyone. Conversation, screen savers and iPhones keep family close while on tour.
Breakfast on the fly covered the gamut––Special K for Scotty and breakfast burritos and coffee for Jesse and John. Better than yesterday’s junk food, but still not much of a healthy diet! Here’s Scotty and John.
Vegas flights always have an optimistic vibe to them. This flight was no exception. Most of the band headed to the back of the plane. After some staged airsickness to try to keep middle seats open, the plane filled. Bill and Jesse welcomed John to their middle seat so a family can sit together, an act of kindness the flight attendant rewarded with free drink coupons….how did she know?
It didn’t take long before others recognized the band and shared accolades for their music. Hand shakes, thanks and offers to buy drinks are appreciated but declined - well, most were declined :-).
The rest of the flight was spent catching catnaps. As sound manager Bryan put it, you learn to take them where and when you can!
Saturday 1AM
Getting Snowed on at Snoqualmie.
Dang! Seattle is cold! But heat was generated inside the Snoqualmie Casino! Another great show tonight! The venue’s stage and overall sound rocked…as did the fans.
Band members were loose and in the pocket. Being a Fender fanatic, I keyed in on the guitar work by Jesse on “As Long As It Matters” and “Allison Road,” and Scotty’s licks on “Found Out About You” and “Till I Hear It From You.” Bill worked the neck of his bass with precision (pun intended!). John’s drum intro on “Long Time Gone,” along with Robin’s’ connection got the whole room up and on its feet where they stayed all night. Seattle fans came out in force to show their love for the Gin Blossoms!
Band members had about six hours between their arrival in Seattle and the show. Bill and Scotty took the time to relax at the hotel while Robin connected with friends. Jesse and John hung at the casino, gambling a little (Jesse lost), and then chilled to the movie Ronin with Robert De Niro.
New inside learning: Jesse hates it when you rip open a food bag “’cause you can’t reseal it and it wastes food!” Will John get it right tomorrow??
Time to plug in the charger on my Blackberry and hit the sack. This guy is feeling the road after only two days––what a lightweight I am! Good thing I work in an office.
Friday Afternoon: (California to Washington)
Me and Scotty
Little metal boxes, wires and TSA - yep an invitation to be searched! Checking 14 bags including several guitar pedals and accoutrements to Seattle was not without notice, just edging out a women’s soccer team for the TSA’s attention. I let stage manager Darryl Icard take the pedals as carry-on luggage (hey, I’m a rookie but even I thought they would spur attention) and then I watched as Darryl endured a friendly and personal TSA screening. Darryl made a new friend :-)!
Everyone enjoyed a gourmet breakfast. Let’s see, I noticed band and crew fueling up on everything from muffins to cookies to lifesavers to a turkey sandwich (that was mine) and of course Starbucks and Diet Coke (mine also).
The news of the morning––everyone is still talking in spite of a bottle of wine breaking before all thirst was quenched last night. Like I wrote yesterday, just like family…
We arrived at Friday’s venue mid-afternoon to snow -– a reminder we weren’t in San Diego anymore!
Tonight’s stage is easily two and a half times bigger than last night’s show. Bryan spent the afternoon taking on the sound challenges of a room full of mid-range frequency, while Darryl and I set the stage.
Jesse will be playing his candy apple red Custom Shop Strat and his 12-string Strat tonight. Scotty will be playing his SRV Strat with his American Strat as backup. Robin will be playing his Fender cutaway acoustic and Bill will be keeping the low end together with a P-Bass. Sound check went flawlessly.
Jesse and John are hanging in the Green Room. The rest of the band is chillin’ before getting together for a meet and greet before the show.
Friday 1AM
Tonight’s venue was the San Diego Anthology Restaurant, an upscale dinner club with a long history of great musical talent.
As dinner guests arrived, the band gathered in the Green Room. You can see the chemistry between band members and their comfort with each other; it’s pretty much like watching family members gather. At one point, Scotty (Johnson) illustrated how close they were by rattling off each members’ birthday with accuracy –– something you do after years of traveling with each other. Robin (Wilson) began to warm-up his voice, singing songs as he played on an acoustic guitar. His distinctive vocals served as background to other light conversation.
A change in the start time was requested by the venue, and agreement was reached to start a half hour earlier.
The sold-out crowd was jacked up from the opening note of “Follow You Down” and continued for 16 songs including one encore.
For me there were several highlights. First was seeing just how good the band is. Robin’s vocals and charisma with the crowd, Bill’s (Leen) distinct bottom end, the way Jesse’s (Valenzuela) and Scotty’s guitar work plays off each other and John’s drumming that filled the room.
They also played a new track off the upcoming No Chocolate Cake album. “Miss Disarray” was greeted enthusiastically by fans.
As the night went on, the crowd left their dinner tables to get on their feet and start dancing; the upscale dinner crowd became a room full of rockers.Some crew members pointed out to me the significant number of richly tanned, attractive women who gathered at the foot of the stage (my wife should know I didn’t notice that on my own).
Another highlight was seeing an “all Fender” stage. It was a gas to see such great music come from instruments that my colleagues at Fender make with the pride and passion that is a part of every Fender employee. After an encore that included Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” the show ended and then the tear-down started…packing went pretty fast as everything was readied for Friday’s show.
Oh, I almost forgot, there was one more highlight –– I got to trade out guitars for Jesse between songs (after all, I had to at least try to be the guitar tech that I am supposed to be).
Tomorrow we head to Seattle….
Thursday 6PM
Taking off from the airport, Suffolk has his camera ready to record the action!
Wow! What a great day. Travel from Phoenix to San Diego was a breeze and used the time to catch up with Gin Blossom’s stage manager Darryl Icard, which is always fun; what a great guy.
We arrived in San Diego, got a van and headed to the hotel where Darryl and I hooked up with drummer John Richardson, tour manager Gary McIntyre and sound engineer Bryan Allinsmith to grab a bite to eat before heading to the venue for load in and sound check. Everyone here is a pro! Sound check accomplished what it needed to, including solving an issue with a wireless mic. It was fun to watch how the whole crew kicked in to extra serious mode as they went about problem solving and addressing the mic issue.
In the end, the sound check went great. For me the anticipation continues to build and I cant wait for the show. The venue is sold out and it’s obvious the employees are psyched about the show; who wouldn’t be!
We just headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and will quickly return for the show….more to come!
Here’s shot of Suffolk setting up for the show!
Wednesday evening:
Just finished packing for my big Gin Blossoms adventure. My boss called to wish me well; my daughter called; my neighbor called; heck even my mother called! Do you think they know I look forward to this? Top it off, Gary McIntyre, the Gin Blossom’s tour manager called to see if I was good with all the arrangements! Wow! This feels a little like the night before Christmas–– when you are nervous, excited and READY for the big day!
