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Memory Cell Tour and Etc. Blog

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 04:01:03 GMT

Our first show since tour was a success. Grand Rapids never fails to make us feel right at home, and playing the Pyramid Scheme is always a treat. We played with Disco Doom from Zurich, Switzerland and Witches Wedding, also from Kalamazoo. Have you ever seen something so cool and get both upset that more people aren’t seeing this cool thing, and also happy that you’re a part of a unique and individual experience that you can then go tell others about? What about also having free sandwiches? Try it out.

-Levi

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 19:48:49 GMT

Rory here, wanting to at least briefly cover some tour stuff since I'm a sucker for reminiscing / archive.

Our drive to st. Louis was easy and wonderful, we could feel things getting warmer and sunnier quickly, and we made it there in great time. Our hiccup was that I had been informed of a potential covid exposure from housemates, and forgot to do my get shot, so we stopped at a Walgreens to get me a full medical rundown. I did my shot poorly while a lifted truck watched into my van, and my test came up good. Touring while trans is it's own little head trip that I love even when it sucks.

Hannah of The Hennen and Shady Bug hosted us and set everything up, and she's just delightful. Her solo set was very good, with a lot of new material. Before playing we all played some mean games of shuffle board at CBGB, which was a lovely divebar cozy punk feel. Hostile bathrooms but in a charming way.







We played what to me felt like a good and well received set, and it was good to see some people moving around.

After us was Furthest, who are somewhat new and are already very good and obviously heading in a really cool direction. St louis musicians always seem to keep busy, and Lucy from this band and I have old ties to the already dead tape label, always like to find connections like that. They were really fun and I did a dog shit job filming their set, but maybe the chaos will convey the driving energy and beautiful vocals well

We had a scare at the end of the night that the van was busted, but it was just a little technology error and we were set to go.





Slept well, woke up to a much colder, grayer time, just in time to head back north

Levi drove us all responsibly through the cold flat bleak. We encountered a terrible rest stop but survived. We made it to Chicago early, prepared to be as kind as possible to the empty bottle staff and our bill mates. I met up with my old friend Billy Cassette, and we talked about being elder artists in the time of covid, in the time of uprisings, in the times of genocide, in the times of our own tribulations. I'm lucky to have old friends.





Chaepter opened up, and they were lovely, ethereal, lyrical and tasteful. I was entranced by the not showy but very dense lead guitar much of the time, and regretdithat my Sony handycam was sitting behind a potted plant back in st. Louis.

Playing for a third day in a row feels good, and makes me look forward to what we can do with more time in more places.

Je'raf closed out the night and I was all smiles under my mask. I adore unbeatable technical prowess that worlds in with irreverence, comedy, hostility, chaos. Everyone was wildly talented and enthralling, and it's great to see PT doing some buck wild art once again. Danced my ass off with local legend Charlie, and got a humiliating call on stage to free style, which I solved with some mic-into-guitar noise.

Everyone was much too kind, and it was the high note I expected it to be to end tour.



Stayed with our pal Erin who is an unbeatable host. We awoke to a cold wintery world, a light dusting of snow, and a need to get back home. It's winter now and hopefully that means writing more, releasing our next EP, and planning for a busy spring/summer next year.




Sun, 26 Nov 2023 19:05:52 GMT

On the snowy drive through Illinois back to Chicago, saw two coyotes in the middle of a field (you got that?)

It's hard to decide on what the coolest part of tour is, between the regional beer, the new and old friends, and the great bands. The epicness of tour is greater than the sum of it's parts.

How do I tie this up. Haribo factory.

Dictated but not read

LEVI


Sun, 26 Nov 2023 16:56:49 GMT

Hey it's Kale the singer and other guitar player of Memory Cell :-)

We had a wonderful time last night at St. Louis amongst a welcoming and great community with great music.

One of my favorite parts about tour is exploring the world with my pals and being inspired by the incredible art that surrounds us all.

We're currently heading to Chicago for our show at the Empty Bottle with other great bands.

Peace and love no more fan mail pls

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 14:45:39 GMT

Writing this from Kyle from Social Caterpillar's apartment floor as Francis the cat purrs next to me and at least one bandmate snores.



The show last night was profoundly moving and fun, and I'd expect nothing less from Milwaukee at this point, especially for Gauss' album release / final show. Several of the musicians last night I've been seeing in many different music projects over a more than a decade span, and it's heartening to see them still continuing to blow my mind with talent and loving hospitality. Floored by both Gauss and Social Caterpillar this evening.





I'll have very few photos from shows because I'm filming entire sets with a Hi8 Sony Handycam.

Our travels were good to get here. It's a crisp but sunny late November. We'll be heading to st. Louis soon and so it'll be a little warmer. The new van is a treat to travel in and we've picked up some delicious local food along the way. I'm chugging evening coffee and still falling asleep in rooms with people having full conversations. We walked around the Milwaukee riverfront park before the show, but now we're starting the leg of tour with less downtime. We can't wait to see what st. Louis has in store for us, or I assume so, everyone else is still soundly asleep.
















Everyone is awake now, getting ready and in awe of gigantic cats Hector and Francis.



Fri, 24 Nov 2023 17:41:50 GMT

First post!!! :) Hey guys evan (drummer) here what’s up! we just left to go and play in milwaukee as it’s the first stop on our little weekend away. I’m really excited because milwaukee is always a lovely time and we have some very talented and kind friends out there. We like to call milwaukee the metropolis of the Midwest. Tonight is gauss’ last show and that band is freakin awesome here is a link to their new album https://gaussmke.bandcamp.com/album/whale-fall we’re gonna play a show with them, social caterpillar and DJ marr. So awesome. I’ll check back with you guys later. Peace love and please no more fan mail :)

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:05:35 GMT



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