JPNSGRLS – 1st ROAD BLOG from their “2014 West Coast U.S. Tour”

The Canadian alternative/prog rock, JPNSGRLS, is currently on their “2014 West Coast U.S. Tour.” While they are on this tour, their vocalist, Charlie Kerr, will be writing an exclusive blog for our site. You can check out his first blog from the tour, after the break.

Fell in love with a girl…At the donut shop (Vancouver-Oregon)

On the morning of August 15th, we packed up the enterprise with our instruments and bags. Then drove to the U.S. border, where we had to wait for three and a half hours.

Our trip’s soundtrack consisted of J Dilla, Gorillaz and the wise words of a never scared-era, Chris Rock, stand-up routine. We arrived in our hotel in Portland around midnight. I was starving and the rest of JPNSGRLS wanted to get a drink, so we went our separate ways. I asked the hotel manager what I could eat nearby. He told me to go to Voodoo Doughnuts, the big pink building across the street. What else do they serve? I asked. “Absolutely nothing.”

So with that in mind, I entered Voodoo Doughnuts. As soon as I walked in, I saw that a woman in her forties was riding one of those machines that children put quarters in that seizure for thirty seconds outside of grocery stores, while you wonder why you paid. This particular machine was shaped like a cartoon elephant and was stationed next to an equally age inappropriate pinball machine. The woman’s whole family watched on the sidelines and took photos. It was 1am and her family looked tired and bored. It was weird, Portland-weird.

I was ready to give up on the shop and the city. Then, it was my turn to order and as there was no discernible menu, I asked the beautiful bleach blonde pixie behind the counter what she recommended. She asked me if I liked peanut butter in a tone reserved for telling Santa what you want for Christmas. I’m not crazy about peanut butter, but her energy was contagious, I couldn’t help but say I loved peanut butter. She asked my name and I asked hers. Madison. She then asked me where I was from and she wanted to know why I was in Portland. I told her I was in town for my band’s first U.S. tour. She told me to write down my band’s name on the donut receipt and that she would listen to us when she got home.

After being told our band name she simply thought it was a cool name for a band and did not inquire as to how we got the name or reminded that I was not Japanese or female. So, basically Madison if you are reading this you are marriage material.

The next day was our first gig of the tour in Bend Oregon. We played a beautiful room and had a killer opening band that night called Patrimony. Seriously, you have to see these guys live. The lead singer was like the lovechild of Page and Plant. They delivered a phenomenal guitar driven set that pumped us up like crazy to play our set to the crowd of about fifty dancing music lovers. A highlight for me was getting the whole room to sing along with the hook of southern comforting. But even though it was an amazing show and we met some really cool people, I couldn’t get my mind off that donut shop.

-Charlie

Keep up with JPNSGRLS on Facebook and Twitter! If they’re coming through you’re area, make sure to head out to the show (remaining tour dates listed below).

Aug 16 – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
Aug 17 – San Francisco, CA – Milk Bar
Aug 18 – San Jose, CA – Caravan Lounge
Aug 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Molly Malone’s
Aug 23 – Long Beach, CA – The Prospector
Aug 25 – Sacramento, CA – Marilyns on K
Aug 26 – Olympia, WA – The Northern
Aug 27 – Seattle, WA – The Highline