My name is Steve but also a man of several nicknames...AKA Nice, Lester Diamond, Em Neezy, Vibe Coordinator, Wildcat, Double J and lately pro football players are calling me Matt Leinart. I am a laid back person with a rather intense vibe, extremely well traveled; with an openness for new experiences.I profusely follow the world stock/bond/commodities & real estate markets(from an extreme bearish point of view since '06)As of March 28th, 2008 I embark on another tour with Rev Theory as the head of Marketing/Promotions/Street Team/Merch "among other things" on the road. I am incredibly fortunate to work with an amazing band/crew/label/mgmt and I am willing to do anything that is asked of me.We will be traveling the country, the world and soon rockin shows on the moon. Please see tour schedule below:
ROAD JOURNAL 2007 BAD BOYS TOUR
Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Steve aka Mr. Nice. A few months ago, as Revelation Theory was inking their deal with Intercope Records in Los Angeles, I accepted a monumental opportunity to work with Rev on the Bad Boys of Rock tour as their production assistant.
You will see me everywhere: hangin with the fans in the parking lot with my street team before the show, setting up/removing stage equipment
before/during/after the show to the tour bus after hours, officially holding it down. I am the "new jack" of all trades. I coordinate the Rev Theory Rebels street team and Rev’s merchandise. I’m Rich's fashion consultant. I set up autograph signings, sometimes merch,radio interviews, make sure the beer is colder than Winnipeg and more importantly, I serve as main assistant to the bands’ tour manager—Johnny Y.
We‘re two weeks into the Bad Boys of Rock tour featuring Hinder, Papa Roach and Buckcherry. This is my first road journal. It’s also the bands’ first road journal since they capped off a successful 06’ with a week-long tour with Sevendust. The band spent the intervening months living, writing and recording songs for their forthcoming major-label debut.
Right now we’re kicking it “grand†style in the parking lot of a Davenport, IA Days Inn (AAA rate, of course.) But there was no skimping on our new tour bus. It sleeps 12 – 14 comfortably. It’s fully equipped with two living rooms, two ceiling mirrors, a kitchen, bath, direct TV,XM, TV's in the bunks, plasmas,etc.
Our new Prevost H3-45 is a significant upgrade from the Allegro RV (aka, The White Pony) which broke down one last time mere days before the tour started. In addition to the bus upgrade, we added a few more people to this motley cast of characters. Ronny Page, a former member of Five Bolt Main, was invited to join the band as a touring guitarist for this run. His good friend Alex Cando, a former member of Alston and Five Bolt Main (with the gift of beard) joined the crew as Ronny’s guitar tech. And last but not least, the lovely Rachelle (Ronny’s girlfriend) has joined the crew as our incredibly friendly and talented merch girl.
Each night, the Richie/Dave/Mattie5/Jules provide a super- exciting show which stimulates and scores the 6000+ person audience every night. The crowd is already singing and clapping along to "Light it up" like it is a classic.
So far, this new road job for me feels like I am in a parade with
interesting people causing debauchery drinking vitamin water vodkas and jager bombs chased by come cheap light beer every night. And the greatest part is that when you wake up the next morning, you are in a completely new city and venue, and you do it all over again.
On my first night, I learned the importance of bus call. I was hanging out with a new Brazilian friend and the bus left without me. If it wasn't for the emergency brake on the trailer getting dislodged which locked the tires, I would have had to find a way to get from Cleveland to Columbia Maryland with no credit card and very little cash.
Our road crew (johnny, bong,alex and myself) handle what many bands have a dozen people handling; which makes us pound for pound, round for round, night after night, the sickest crew in the biz . Richie and Dave seem to be entertained by ridiculousness, I hope. At times I feel like a model scout; scoping out all the exceptionally pretty girls who I’ve met along the way. It feels like I’m building a farm team for an upcoming season of America’s Top Model.
I could only imagine what the next three weeks will bring. To the fans in the cities we’ve yet to visit: We look forward to seeing you during this unbelievably, jam-packed and exciting Bad Boys of Rock tour. Fasten your seat belts.
Until Next Time…
Mr. Nice
