Tour Journals
November 2005

Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Toronto, Ontario Canada

What a wacky wacky day we had in the "ronto", thats what i call it, the "ronto"... "ronto"... we were just driving along, on our way to canada for some french fries and gravy, and we got pulled over by a state trooper. after 3 hours of interagation, he let us go. We finally arrived at the border, where our bus almost got siezed because of hoopes' BB gun, that he HAD to bring with him. to make a long story short, we made it to the kool haus, where we played the show. the show was a show, but THEN... on the last song of the night, matt got held captive by jango fett, some storm troopers, and none other than darth vader. our guitar tech ryan got his right arm shot off, and our stage manager eric got into a light saber fight with darth himself. they agreed to let us go , on the condition that we purchase the newly released dvd from george lucas... we told them we would, but we spent the money on canadian bacon, and milk in a bag... silly storm troopers... theyll believe anything you tell them with a wink and a smile. jon schneck

Wednesday, November 02, 2005
East Lansing, MI

A few of us did a very bad thing today. Hoopes, Schneck, Ryan, and I went to a Best Buy (not the bad thing). Afterwards we hit up a Taco Bell drive through. Our culpable act was in not asking the rest of the guys what deliciousness they would want from TB. So we came back to the bus, our bag off goodies in hand, and snuck off into a corner to enjoy our Grade D Meat and tortillas. Thiessen got by, though. As a $50 dare he downed a cup full of gravy (not for the weak of stomach). I guess the story goes he had to take it at two goes since it was extremely hot, so he voluntarily lessened his reward to $30. What an honest fellow. This was probably my favorite show of the tour so far because the crowd was so "jazzed". They even sang along to a few of our numbers. Good stuff.
John Warne

Thursday, November 03, 2005
Big Rapids, MI

Michigan is a hand. I never know if its my right or left. I never know if its knuckles out or knuckles in. Tonight, the lovely audience in Big Rapids showed me how it was done. I held up my hand, and they showed me where Big Rapids was. I drew a smiley face on it, and then made a smiley face on my own, personal face. Before we played tonight, I went on stage and sung "I'm Okay, You're Okay" with Mxpx. I couldn't tell you the amount of times I have been in my bed at night and day/night dreamed about being on stage with Mxpx. Tonight it happened. They "Let It Happen". The only bad thing was that I couldn't really hear myself, and I sang pretty bad. Haha. Oh well, at least the mischief-maker in me enjoys ruining other people's songs. Tonight we drive across Michigan's palm to the thumb-side of this handy state. Hee hee. That tickles. Matthew T.

Friday, November 04, 2005
Detroit, MI

Today was by far the most anticipated show of the tour for me. I have this thing on my computer that counts down the days to whatever you want it to count down the days to. I had it counting down today. Why? I'll tell you why. Later. So, we played a show. Took showers. Met nice kids. All that good stuff. I went to a restaurant where I saw the end of the Piston's game. Detroit scored a game winning shot with .8 seconds left on the clock. I was definitely the only person in the whole place who was trying to use the force of the Jedi to make the Piston's loose. Obviously, I am still in training. I kissed a beautiful, forty-something woman on the cheek tonight. It was almost the highlight of my day. Matty T.

Saturday, November 05, 2005
Cleveland, OH

Greetings Cleveland! (Hmm....not quite) Hi Cleveland! How've you been!? (no, thats not it either) I've got it. HELLO CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!! I had some of my beloved siblings and sibling-in-laws in my company this evening. It was a lot of fun to talk about them during our show. The infamous 'Jeremy' from 'In Love With The 80s' was present, and I let everyone know it. We played the House Of Blues today. I've never been to the one in Cleveland, and it was nice to see it. Its a good place for a show, and I can see myself going there to see some bands during our off-time. The weather has been really warm and beautiful for the last few days. Its November in Ohio, and we didn't have to wear our Subthermal Anti-freezing Neo Temperamental Arctic suits. Also knows as SANTA suits. I bet we'll have to crack them out when I'm home again around Christmas. I got to see a bunch of old friends today too. Makes me wish I was home so I could actually have some time to hang with my buddies. At the same time, we've got a bunch of rad shows coming up soon, so I'm excited for the rest of the tour. TAKE IT EASY, CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!!!! Matthew Arnold Thiessen.

Sunday, November 06, 2005
Chicago, IL

No joke, the basement of the venue at tonight's show scared the bajeebers out of Hoopes. It was the unfinished basement to end all unfinished basements. Like if you have an unfinished basement you might want to go ahead and finish it because brother you ain't got nothin' on the unfinished basement of the Congress Theater in Chicago. Hoopes said it reminded him of "Saw" or "Seen" or whatever that movie was. I found it quite pleasant, but perhaps that's because the insanity has already begun its stranglehold on my mind. "No TV and no Mountain Dew make Johnny go something something..." Ahem. It seems like every tour journal we say this, but seriously tonight's show was probably the best of the tour. Chicago never disappoints. I saw at least two to three people nodding their heads at one point or another. One dude on the side was tapping his foot as well. The low point of the show came for me in the form of a miserable shower. I felt like a bunch of teens were pulling the ol' flush-the-toilet-so-the-shower-will-alternate-between-hot-and-cold prank at 15 second intervals. Unnerving, I tells ya.
John Warne

Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Milwaukee. WI

i woke up in complete darkness in my bunk, on the bus, and i knew that today was going to be different. as i walked into the venue, in wisconsin, where buddy holly sang his last ode to peggy sue, and the irony of that'll be the day, i knew i was in for a treat. luckily, i had a full charge on my PKE meter, so upon learning the venue was haunted, i began exploring... i walked around for about 2 hours, looking for any signs of extra terrestrial life, or anything unexplainable, and found nothing. i resorted to the "for emergency's only" use of the Giga meter. yet another 2 hours of explorations led me right back to where i started with nothing. i was a bit relieved, because my ghost trap wasnt clean, and i wasnt sure how much of a charge my proton pack had, and i didnt want to chance a total protonic reversal, which could lead to bad things... i went on about my daily routine. i played some PSP, i checked my email, i talked to my wife, i had some oreos. i was sitting in the dressing room, when all of a sudden my pke started to indicate something was happening. i was getting massive readings... i knew i was close. i began to follow the meter readings, and it led me to our bus. oddly enough the only person on the bus was... matty t. i noticed an odd smell coming from the back lounge, but he insisted that there was nothing back there, and that he needed me to go do an interview. i obliged, and by the time i was done, it was time for our show. As we were back stage, it occurred to me that i there were only 4 of us. john warne was no where to be found. eric, our guitar tech had decided he would be the one to go look for him. matty suggested he look in the back lounge of our bus. he ran off to find him while matty looked at me with seemingly empty eyes... he whispered in my ear... "do you know the songs on bass?" i took a step back, wondering why he would ask me that. i mean, im sure john will be right back, right? it was at least 3 or 4 minutes when our road manager came over and asked what was going on... he said he was going to look for john, and i said no... ill go. i knew something was wrong. i could sense it. i headed for our dressing room, knowing that there wasnt going to be anyone there. i knew they were in the back lounge of the bus. but what was going on back there? as i completed the circle back around to head for the tour bus, i saw matty closing the door. he just beat me there... why did i hesitate... i should have went straight there... i went to check on the other guys before i went inside the bus... no one was back stage where they were just minutes ago... i asked our other stage tech ryan where everyone had gone, and he said matt said he needed to see everyone in the bus... i told ryan to go get my proton pack, because i knew that i was going to have to do some blasting... i opened the door to the bus, entering complete darkness... something was wrong with the power. luckily, i had a mag-lite. i began to walk through the front lounge, into the kitchen area, to the first door.... i opened it slowly. the smell hit me like a ton of bricks... i was 20 feet away from the back lounge... but where was ryan with my proton pack. i couldnt wait any longer... i had to open the door, because i knew that my friends were in danger... i took a few steps, hesitated, and then took a few more... i was there. nothing was between me and the back lounge but one door. i reached for the knob, it was warm. i noticed a glow coming from under the door. my heart was pounding a mile a minute. the moment was there... i had to open the door. i slowly turned the knob, pulling the door open.... anyways, enough about that. it was a cool show. there were like 8 local bands there, the kids were amazing. thanks! jon schneck.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
St. Louis, MO

"Touring with Over It is something I'll never forget. They're called Over It, but I'm not over it yet. Peter, Nick, James and Seth. They're called Over It, but I'm not over it yet." Those are the lyrics to a hit song that I wrote on the fly at our show tonight. The chorus brought tears to the eyes of a crocodile in the audience. It was Over It's last one with us, and brotherly love was in the air. During their set, a bunch of the crew dressed up in costumes (Santa Clause, Sombrero Man, Captain America, Tarzan @ Mardi Gras, and the construction worker from The Village People were all represented) and paraded around on stage during Over It's final 2 songs. It was CRAZY. We'll miss being on the road with those guys. As far as our show, it was probably my favorite St. Louis outing of all time. Thats nothing to scoff at. Unless you're sick and have an uncontrollable scoff. We'll let you get away with that. Matty.

Thursday, November 10, 2005
Des Moines, IA

Another amazing crowd tonight. Des Moines really came out and supported the tour tonight. A huge thanks is in order. And I mean HUGE. It was probably the sweatiest show of the tour for me. I was so gross. Whenever I would sing at the piano, I would drip sweatiness all over the keys. By the end of the show, I didn't even want to tickle the ivories anymore. I wanted to bathe them. Tonight was Go Betty Go's first night of the tour. I actually haven't met them yet, but they seem like a riot. (I don't really know what I mean by that). Hey! I like you. Matty

Wednesday, November 11, 2005
St. Paul, MN

Hometown show, baby (for me, at least). The beauty of hometown shows to me is the plentiful availability of Caribou Coffee, perhaps the best coffee in the land. The only bummer is that I couldn't find one when I ventured out with my buddy Joe and so had to settle for a meagerly Starbucks. Yeesh. I got to hang out with a bunch of family and friends tonight which was cool. I saw my baby niece Grace and got to wish her father Joe a happy birthday. The show was fun. I was feeling a bit "jumpy" which was due perhaps to too much Red Bull. Speaking of which, I just found out online that for a person with my exact weight the absolute limit is 127 cans of Red Bull. The 128th can would kill me. So drink up, but be careful, kids. John Warne

Saturday, November 12, 2005
Fargo, ND

Fargo north dakota.... what can i say about fargo north dakota. Today was the beginning of the Panic with a K semi-annual, bi- weekly no limit texas hold em tournament. We set up a 32 person bracket which included members from all of the bands, and crew. Ill keep everyone updated as far as who takes the prize of a years worth supply of battered and fried cheese curds. As far as the weather went for the day, it was hardly sunny with a high of 75. it was rainy with the high of 35... it was kinda a bummer, but the kids who showed up for show, totally made it worth it. we had a really good time with the north dakota-ins. Im sorry for everyone that got upset at my previous tour journal... it wasnt meant to be mean. for anyone who would like to know what was behind the door, please send $9.95, check or money order to "whats behind the door" 555 relient k drive, white plains, NY 23467. okay, please dont do that, it was a joke. its actually $14.95... okay thats another joke... its actually $21.95.... NO really. ...3 easy payments of $39.95. you guys are like jon, please stop. $45.... okay... back to a serious note. there were 2 kids that hung out for 3 hours after the show, in the rain, and cold after the show, to get all of our autographs... and when i dont recommend that, you guys were awesome. see ya next year. love always, jonathan david schneck.

Monday, November 14, 2005
Denver, CO

So tonight was kinda sorta another hometown show for me seeing as I live in Denver now. I basically moved one thousand miles horizontally and one mile vertically. That's an overall .1% grade, so you'd better switch to a lower gear. I was fortunate to get to hang out with wifey today as well as some of the Five Iron dudes and their wives. We ate at some kind of "Joe's Diner" type of place and it rocked my world*. Racking my brain here to think of anything else of moment that happened tonight.... um.... hmmm... oh yeah, I sprouted wings and flew over a cornfield.
John Warne
*world = stomach

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Pheonix, AZ

It was kind of a surprise to find out we were playing outside on the November 16th show. Turns out, I couldn't be happier that we did. The weather was PERFECT this evening. It was to the exact specifications I would create if I had weather creating abilities (with one exception... I would've had a small whipped cream storm somewhere between 430/530pm). I don't know if we've talked about the tour's poker tournament or not, but the winner was decided today. Out of 32 players, Jon Berry of Rufio came out the victor. Second place went to Betty Go of Go Betty Go, and third and fourth place went to Relient K's own Scott Cannon and Jonathan Schneck (Mxpx was not represented in the final four). I had a rough show on the account that I've been steadily loosing my voice over the last three shows. I thought the days off would get me back on track, but no. Now I've gotta drink water instead of Diet Coke, and water is caffeine free. That makes me smile free. :-( Matty Thiessen

Thursday, November 17, 2005
San Diego, CA

I was hanging out with my good buddy Jon Foreman on our bus, and he explained the San Diego rock and roll scene as "chill". That was evident during our show. Though we were plagued with technical problems early on, (I was having guitar issues and forgot to sing about half of High Of 75), we had a fun show. The one thing that was kind of bugging me was the difference in the crowd in comparison to our previous 30 some shows. They were (as previously noted) chill. During our set, the impression that I received was one of lackluster disinterest. However, the people here were just being true to their San Diegoan selves. My BFF Joe Marlett was also at this evening's show. He engineered our record and then befriended me for life (hence the BFF). To our surprise, Go Betty Go dropped off the tour today. We don't know why, but rumor has it that they will be calling it quits. Over It has rejoined us for today, tomorrow, San Fran , and Seattle. House Of Heroes will be doing SLO and Portland. This tour journal was brought to you by the letter "E" and the number 3.14. Matty T.

Friday, November 18, 2005
Los Angeles, CA

Today was a crazy day. We could see the iconic building in which resides Capitol Records from the venue. Hello run on sentence. We went over there and recorded a bunch of liners for radio stations. Basically I sat in a room and said. "Hey, whats up. This is Matt from Relient K, and you're listening to 108.4. The place for all the hits." One of them was funny. They wrote... "Hey this is the guys from Relient K, and you're listening to the station that plays us back to back with Kanye West". After that, we got to hang out with all the nice people over at Capitol, and some of them even high fived us. We stayed pretty busy all day, meeting with our friends and stuff. Before the show, the sound system was being weird, and the lighting board crashed 3 times. We went on about 45 minutes too late. Thankfully, nobody in the crowd threw a brick on stage with a message that said "I was supposed to catch a bus home about 15 minutes ago. You owe me $4.35 for the bus ticket and a new brick." Matthew

Wednesday, November 30, 2005
SLO, San Fransisco, Portland, and Seattle

Sorry for the lack of tour journals. As soon as tour ended, I jumped on to a plate of turkey and never looked back...... Till now. So... The last four shows were a ton of fun. Portland had an amazing crowd, but a TON of technical problems. My apologies go out to those that had to endure my frowny face. The Seattle show was amazing for several reasons, but mostly because for Mxpx's second to last song (Heard That Sound), there was about 20 of us out on stage playing with them. Banjo, Bells, Acoustic guitars...soooo many instruments. John Warne fulfilled a life-long dream of playing bass w/Mxpx. I sang back up vocals. It was SO much fun. I know we always say it, but this tour was our favorite of all the 5 years worth of touring that we've done. We love all the bands and crew that we were on the road with more than anything. I'd mention all of them, but I don't think they read our tour journals :-). Big props (like the kind Carrot Top uses) to everyone that came out to catch the Panik With A 'K' Tour. We heart you most of all. Matty T......

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