One week to go!!!

Hello Boys and Girls

Its only a week now until brakesbrakesbrakes jet out to the northern american continent and I'm pleased to announce that, as of 2:30pm this afternoon, all 4 memebers of the band have now received their visas from those lovely people at the US embassy. Those crazy dudes love letting bands into the country so much that they let us apply first at the wonderful time of 8am. Luckily i dont find getting up that early so distressing but id definitely say im a minority. Observing hardened rockers and scruffy indie chancers, zombified and confused by the cruel morning whilst trying to fill in various forms can be quite entertaining. The celebs were a bit thin on the ground during our recent visit however. Two weeks before the south by south west festival and the waiting room resembles a morgue for british bands but last wednesday it was pretty sparse. One man made up for this though. Shaun Ryder, Gorrilaz collaborator and lead singer with drug soaked Mancunian baggy legends The Happy Mondays was there in a huge green puffer jacket. He didn't look impressed and when it came to his interview there were obviously a few "issues" that needed discussing. He went from being two in front of me in the queue to five behind, his mood visably deteriorating as we shuffled along. Poor old Shaun!
Id like to take this chance to thank all the people who replied to my last blog. Quite a few of you got back to us with suggestions of places to go and things to do in your towns when we stop by and in a few cases we'll be spolit for choice. Thanks to all those who took the time to reply, much appreciated.
But about half the towns are still unspoken for and in fear of feeling isolated and leaving a town behind without it making any kind of impression, i make one final plea. If you live in San Fransisco, Portland, Salt LakeCity, Omaha, Montreal or Cambridge, MA then please get in touch with some local tips for a band who hate to sit around.
Over the last few days we've been making an extremely DIY video for Porcupine or Pineapple. Its being edited in the following 4 days and will be available to view as soon as we hit US airspace. Not only do brakesbrakesbrakes like to have an occasional shot at their own promos, but they have recently taken to producing their own tour movies. A movie documenting brakesbrakesbrakes' US and Canadian adventure will be put together after the tour but look out for exclusive snippets of said movie that will accompany our on road blogs along with photos as well .
Well, its not quite time to start packing but a brief perousal of virgin atlantic's movie schedule might be in order. No sleep till LA!!!!
Marc
BRAKESbrakesbrakes