What Being On Tour Is REALLY Like.
Vložit
- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- This is my reaction to a video of some well known musicians speaking about what it's really being on touring and being a touring musicians. Is there warning valid? Let me tell you from my experience what it's like for me.
Thanks to @LoudwireMusic for making the original compilation I'm reacting to: • Musicians Warning Fans...
My Patreon (it's excellent): / jushawk
- Group Zoom Calls
- Live Stream Podcast
- One-on-One Lessons or Chat
- My private demos and music no one else is allowed to hear
Instagram: / justinhawkinsta
Merch Store: thejawsofvictory.com/
Cameo: www.cameo.com/justinhawkins
I'm on tour in the USA & Canada with The Darkness this year - get tickets here: www.thedarknesslive.com/tour-...
#reactionvideo
#touring #music - Zábava
I'm on tour in the USA & Canada with The Darkness this year you can get tickets here: www.thedarknesslive.com/tour-dates/
You guys playing Toronto?
I'll be traveling from Philadelphia to see you in Kansas City because I won't be in Philadelphia when you're playing here. Can't wait!!! VIP and everything.
Please!! Play OPEN FIRE in Tampa FL. Thanks Justin 😁🤙
Bought my tickets back in December for the Charlotte show! What a way to kick off a Spring Break trip. Heading to the mountains directly after to soak in some hot springs with ears ringing from the Darkness show. Heavenly.......
I suppose if your backs start hurting, you could do some carefully coached exercises to build up your back muscles, I think that would happen. I remember having a bass that was really heavy and unbalanced, I had to keep pulling up on it to keep the neck from pulling me down. Very tiring.
heat: Play Iowa in the winter, you might get a night where you step off the bus and it's 80 below with the wind chill. 🤣
Any Spinal Tap experiences?
As AC-DC once said... "It's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll".
Yes. In a roundabout way....
Never a truer line was sung, especially a vegan roll.
Bloody oath son 🤟
Us Aussies also had another version of the sausage roll line..... "It's a long way to the top if ya wanna f*#k a mole". Just sayin
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🐨👍
Our little band had a fabulous time touring many years ago. Contracted by the American Government to tour U.S. airforce and army bases in Germany for months on end, we played to enormous crowds of servicemen who were all up for a party. We couldn’t have been treated any better. Very well treated at every venue (and rodeo), meals provided in all the bases restaurants, accommodation was in small German tourist hotels (We were a country rock band). Cocoa-cola was free ha ha, but beer had to be paid for. On the road in our beaten up transit van - we were a bit cramped for space, but it was like one very long holiday which I look back on very fondly…those were the days, great memories.
I worked as a house manager for many years at a performance venue. I always used to make it a point of pride to treat the act well & with great care for their needs. It wasn’t always easy, and sometimes you weren’t necessarily treated with the same professionalism, but it was always so important to me because I knew these guys were away from the comfort of home. Maybe it came from being a theatre actor myself, but I just felt it was really important. Kindness breeds kindness & all that.
Love this. Not treating them good because of who they are but because they are human just like us. Made me smile ❤
@@reginageorge8080 ❤️
Well said.
Love this! Great insight. It's incredible to have someone who's really been there, done that (and still doing it!) doing youtube, patreon, and telling it how it is. Keep on keepin' on 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Omg can't believe you are here too, I watch you everday 💜🙏 Could you please do a Guitar Tutorial for MGK's Drunk Face?
You sound like an old trucker from the states , keep on keeping on big red!
Yeah man ! I couldn't agree more 🎸🔥🤘
Love your channel too buddy. Living in NZ, I always appreciate learning a new tune with your dulcet northern tones and great instruction.
Interestingly fun.. The only point I can semi-disagree with is Justin's love of weighty guitars... I've just made my first prototype of the world's smallest and lightest full scale (25.5 inch) guitar that's only 20 inches long!... Sound's impossible?
--
The body slides out from under the neck, taking the scale length up to the correct 25.5 inches and also houses a sliding tuner system crafted out of a set of acoustic tuners with the nobs cut off and slots cut in. Tunes via a screwdriver or key crafted from one of the cut off knobs.. The tuners slide so when the body slide the strings can be kept tight, not flapping around loosely..
--
The body follows the neck so it looks like a stick.. It's headless too, with fixed acoustic pickup and detachable electric pickup that can be. slid from the neck to the bridge, held on by magnetism, for nice tone control... It also has a volume and tone knob + socket taking up 1 inch at the bridge... World's smallest, lightest guitar...
--
Makes Justin's skinny little lovely Martin travel aoustic guitar seem GIANT! Surprisingly robust and very simple to maintain... Total cost - £40 (though necks have just gone up in the UK due to short supply).. I have another system to prototype with tuners inside a spindle at the bridge end... Bit longer but potentially thinner, without the need for sliding tuners (strings wrap around the spindle when the body slides up into storage mode..
--
6.5cm x 8 cm x 51cm box with enough free space for a small effects box / headphone guitar amp and small set of headphones. The box lid doubles as a bolt on stand so the guitar rests on your knee nicely. The balance is good. The body is heavy enough considering it's a headless guitar with no hardware at the head end other than 6x 2mm nail shafts in 6 holes just big enough to house the string ends that hook onto the cut off nails.
--
blah blah..... More for people going on holiday and travelling than touring bands that should have their full stage kit with them.
Until losing my eyesight, I was a touring guitar tech for most of my adult life.… It is long days with little sleep; lots of hard work and heavy lifting. Insane travel schedules… Attitudes, egos, language barriers and, maintaining a proper diet… Not glamorous at all.
Wouldn’t change a thing about it. Well, maybe the whole losing the eyesight part… Great video, Justin!🤠
How did you lose your eyesight?
Genetic condition that I was born with.
My eyesight is dimming but still okish . I echo everything you said here , my life too.
@@dangolguitartech consider an elimination diet dude. Cut out ALL processed food (grains and dairy too) and see what happens after a month. Good luck to you ✌️
@@ht8083 wish it was that easy… Genetic disorder passed down by previous generations. Two of my three sons also have it.
A producer I worked with once said "It's a privilege to entertain"
One of my pet peeves is musicians who bitch about being musicians, if you don't like it 'do something else', there are so many people who desperately want your job. I'm sure it's hard and can be monotonous but as Justin said it's the payment for doing the bits you love.
If people are paying money to see you, bring your A game regardless of how you feel about the touring experience.
I would trade my routine of getting up, going to work for 8 hrs, five days a week, 50 weeks a year for the past 40 years for whatever you guys have to put up with.
The grass is always greener, sir...its fun for a while.
Oh no! Sometimes their guitars are too heavy! Give me the 50 weeks busting my balls instead lol
Preach man.
LOL... You'd think so........ but you'd be wrong
You'd be trading your 8 hours for like 16hours or so and your 5 days for like 6 or 7 days
and then there's a tonne of legal shit you need to handle
You'd do it for a while then you'd give it up and go back to your job and say... thank fuck i'm back here doing this stuff with no real responsibilities
I'm sorry but no. I'm a dancer and part of what was so fun about dance when I first started was that the rehearsals were only once a week and the performances were 4 times a year max. in the pro world, you're rehearsing 10+ hours a day, AND performing 3-10x a week (which means hair and makeup 3-10 times a week). I cannot imagine being a musical artist (the addition of press junkets, photoshoots, etc).
dance drove me back to academics and now I'm about to go back to college so I can have a "boring" normal career lol. and I teach dance once a week
"No band has ever done this before!"
"THEN WHY THE FUCK ARE WE DOING IT!?"
I died XD
I love seeing your subscribers increase every time I come back. It is truly enjoyable to hear your insights. Thank you for creating this channel and producing so much content!
This is a really interesting conversation for a music lover to hear. I know I would like to hear more behind the curtain stories or tales from the studio etc.
I'm in Justin. New fan, love the honest format. You rock this thing!
Justin. It's good to see you here on CZcams sharing your life. I've watched interviews with you and your brother and had some good laughs at times when I need it. The humor you guys put out is creative and enjoyable. I listen to your music a lot. You guys are truly talented, and the ride isn't over. You are probably the best rock singer out there right now. And you write very deep songs. The songs of addiction definitely hit home here. You tell it like it is. Thanks for sharing your life. I believe the best is in front of you and not behind you. Cheers from Zurich!
Found this, and love it, like the fact that you are so down to earth, keep doing what your doing, nice that you give an insight into reality.
loving your channel mate, good stuff. Keep it all coming!
Thank you for the plectrum Justin, memento from your Leeds gig 😊 🤟🏼
Thank you for giving us such a private sneak peak behind the scenes. Greetings from Denmark!
I like this one. Commentary on lifestyle and industry within music, not just the music. Wonderful!
Love this channel!! You have a great perspective
Really digging your discussions ~ Thanks for sharing
New Zealand and Australia tour for next Christmas Justin. It's Summer time baby . . .
Justin my guy, your a major influence on my guitar playing, you was the first rockstar I saw on the telly as a young kid. You rock man, 22 years later and I'm watching you again. Thanks for the influence man your the reason I love the Gibson les Paul custom.
Love this, really interesting to hear the reality of it all from the horses mouth! Was fantastic to watch all the behind the scenes stuff on Patreon while you were touring made it all the more exciting and kept the tour going for all of us longer than our individual shows! If you are going to American dates definitely sign up to Patreon it made the gig even better if that was ever possible, and meeting new friends at every venue was just brilliant!!!
Great shout out to tuts, Scottish hospitality at its best, always comes with a stroke warning 😂 x
Justin, no matter how rough touring can be, you are the best live show I've ever seen. I wish your brother got more credit for holding it down, but when you can crowd surf AND nail your encore guitar part...
First time i have watched one of these podcasts, great insight delivered with a grounded personality; WIll definately watch more!
Hello there mate! Super stoked on the fact that i found your channel! Im from Argentina and been following The Darkness since "Permission to Land" (brilliant work as all that followed, by the way).
I've heard all your music, even the solo and collab work. Even went to London on 2015 to see you guys at camden Roundhouse and was certainly an awesome gig!
Sadly i tried to catch you guys on Roundhouse 2019 but after hours of driving from Wales to London i was so battered i had minor car crash and missed the show :( .
Keep on riding and rocking the s#%t out of music!!!
Love your observations. Didnt really know your music and you seem like a genuine nice person
I am SO happy I stumbled across your channel!
Always insightful one way or the other. Interesting topic!
More vids like this please Mr Hawkins! Love hearing your insight on being on tour or in the the Darkness in general. Could you talk about whether you get sick of playing the hits? Are there tips in keeping them fresh for yourselves? Do you have any deep cuts that are faves to play for the band?
That was a really enjoyable watch - thank you Justin.
One of my earliest memories is banging out I Believe In A Thing Called Love in my grandmothers living room when I was three years old. Seeing you now doing this channel, touring and still making the music you love, through ups and downs, is phenomenally inspiring. Thank you for continuing to be an absolute legend ❤️✌️
Nice that you acknowledge the obvious perks Justin, it's all very well these successful musicians sitting there looking like pantomime dames, telling us what an awfully hard life they have...I was in a moderately successful band during the 80s and I too was a spoilt fop, complaining about substandard hotel rooms 'gruelling' photo sessions, tour buses with just ONE toilet, no cashews in the 'Executive lounge' at Heathrow etc etc...I'm now a Farrier, getting kicked and bitten by stroppy horses (and horse owners) in all weathers, every day...Give me a rider with no caviar and a ridiculously early soundcheck (1.00 PM) any day.
chris payne who was in the gary numan band at the height of his success says similar things, that looking back it was such a lucky life to lead and be part of
I’ve never been in a (proper) band, but I can’t help but think most of the people who whine about touring have no real life experience to compare it to. As you say you didn’t until after you were that soldier. As Brett Anderson once said, stop complaining and f**k off and become a plumber, or words to that effect.
Try a comeback mate most modern music is not as good
@@SteveGad Very similar! Except I'm dealing with equine feet!
@@thebouncinghearts My drummer is an equine podiatrist. Must be a rock n roll thing 😂
Another great video Justin! It would be good to see one of these kind of videos with another member of the band!
Justin - this has quickly become my favorite channel.
Also, I’m in a band - and we tour - there’s no alone time in the VAN haha.
The energy that you and the lads put into a show is manic! I would LOVE to see a ranking of bands that put on the best show…The Darkness would be tops!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hi Justin, I've always been interested in your band's early success in the UK, especially when you headlined Leeds & Reading festival in 2004. I'd love to watch a video of you maybe talking about that period in the band's career. Anyway, I love the openness and transparency you evoke through your CZcams channel.
yes, do
Yes I had some friends who saw the darkness very early on and I wish I had! First time was tenants vital 2004!
@@cc_1983 I saw them there, I was 15
YES!! Please talk about Reading 2004 - that was an amazing experience
I remember walking around the campsite and every stereo was playing Permission to Land, good times
Great video! Quickly becoming one of my favourite channels.
This just popped up on my homepage and I didn't realize it was you at first. Instant sub and I'm buying Permission to Land ASAP! That album was a banger!
Thank you for a really really interesting blog. And really admire your attitude I think you've got it spot on.
Best video yet. Youre really finding your groove. Really enjoyed it.
Not that it matters, but I would love to hear some of your touring stories. You've had dinner with the greats, been all over the world, it would be cool to hear some of your favourite experiences/venues and shows, favourite reactions live, stuff like that.
Hooroo!
Great channel Justin I'm really enjoying this! 👍😀
Just stumbled across your channel, and it's refreshing. You have a wonderful way of putting things, even the unpleasant. And the insight into the business is fascinating, and the insight into songwriting and producing is equally enthralling. Thank you. Nice to see a video where the host doesn't have to "put on" false enthusiasm, or "HEY GUYS!!!!, It's ME!!! Don't forget to hit that..." etc. Well done sir. Also, love the Darkness.
I've been reading Neil Peart's (RIP :-( ) stuff lately. I really like how he accommodated his introversion and how he managed tours, doing it his own way, biking between gigs.
As a Christmas band, we are chuffed you made an epic tune that we take great pleasure in playing during the festive season
Justin, I found your channel a day ago and have been binge-watching! I absolutely love how refreshingly honest it is. As an older gal who is almost 50y/o, I think you are a breath of fresh air on YT and so self-effacing! Just wonderful. (King Tuts is the Tits, Venue-wise) - All the best from a Glasgow Lass! xxx
"Wield the axe with impunity". Love it. Hope you can still do so for a long time to come!
enjoyed this one, you are a super symphatic dude! :)
saw you once in Munich at the Rockavaria festival some years ago
it was a great show, really enjoyed it!
My Mrs is in a big touring theater show, she may look all glam and like she's kickin' ass in stage but she'll tell you it's not the crazy fun time everyone thinks it is. It's a lot of travelling, getting there early for sound check, having to hang around all day, do all the fan stuff at the end of the day, not getting on with the rest of your crew sometimes, and never being at home with the animals she loves so much (and me I guess) t's a hard life
You got me at "and me, I guess" 😅😅😅👏👏👏
I've got to say, I love coming home from a shift at the hospital to see there's a new Justin vid. Great way to chill out and wind down. It would be awesome to see the band over here in NZ at some point, hopefully before the next millennia with COVID and all that.
Apparently they gigged NZ in 2017.
Wow! Who knew that you just sat down talking about shit would be such compelling viewing!! Loving it so Keep it coming. Loving Motorheart btw.. 👏🏼
Love this channel Justin Rock on my man
My uncle was the bass player for Kenny Loggins back in the 70s (George Hawkins) and I remember the first time going backstage after a concert. I couldnt understand, then as we waited to see him, why he had ran off to take a shower. The most impressive backstage experience for me was when he was on tour with Mick Fleetwood, there was fantastic catering and a nice comfortable setting for everyone to hang out and visit. This is when Mick and my grandpa became instant best friends and grandpa traded his belt for Micks hat.
I was working as a tech for a band that was doing a film with fleetwood. It was micks 60th birthday as I recall. He was so very nice.
Your uncle likely has the greatest stories. And videos of him?
George was great.
@@waynedeadder664 Mick was very good to my uncle, so much so that he is my cousin's godfather. Sadly my uncle passed away a couple years ago.
New subscribers, and loving the stories. Cheers.
Informative video.
Thanks.
Keep it up.
Great video.
Very informative.
Keep it up.
Man! "Permission to Land" album changed my life forever. Just want to say love you guys so much!!!
Hey, coming to see you in Calgary on the 22nd
Looking forward to see you
What a breath of fresh air this channel is man! Darkness are up there for me as one of my favourite bands since my late teenage years. Seen you many many times and you never dissapoint live! Lost my misses on the 30th December 2021 and she leaves me alone to raise our four children under 10 and you're music helps still helps me today man.
Sorry to hear that Naval, must be absolutely awful for you mate. Luckily you have the wonderful Darkness family (myself included) at hand if you ever need to reach out...we are survivors, the ones left behind. Defenders of our legacy, the last of our kind. Big love dude.
@@punchyb1 beyond tough time mate but there is always the Darkness family. I am getting through it the best i can. Much respect and love for that comment.
You're such a natural at this.
Cheers man.
So happy I found your channel 🏆
You´re so right Justin. Having an audience singing your song back at you must be one of the single most incredible feelings a human being can experience. How lucky you are. For us mere mortals we can only dream about what that must feel like. Oh, great to see Tom & Mark in your video. Love to hear your take on Blink 182......pretty please! Thanks for the music and laughs.
☝️ What the moose said.
Thank you so much for touring. It is obviously very tiring and even when you go to exciting places you don't often get to see anything they have to offer. I think I speak for all fans when I say how much we appreciate it, especially if you place close to where we live. I don't mind travelling to see a band but I can't always afford the train and hotel costs. Always an added bonus when I can see the live music within an hours' drive of home.
Ive been binge watching all your videos for the last few days and have been so entertained and educated. Dire Straits... thank God you did them justice x
Always good to see you at the Birmingham venues I work at .
Hope we always make you feel welcome .
i really like you justin, your music is fun and your good live, my partner went to see you in norwich and enjoyed the show so keep playing and making music and i love these blogs, totally agree with everything your expressing, ignore the hate and keep being you, your nailing it, much love - h x
Mr. Hawkins, you are a diamond. Love the channel.
Great stuff sir! Be well!
I may be one of the few people who knows you from the CZcams channel. It was only after watching a few of them I realised you are the frontman of The Darkness. My friend recommended the band ages ago but fell out of my radar. Just wanted to say I love watching your videos and hear your opinion on music and different artists. You’ve got a great voice. Took me a while to get there but I now love the darkness 😃 Keep rocking mate 🤘
As a musician myself there’s not much I hate more than loading out gear in the middle of winter! But I look at it this way; we play for free but get paid to do all the peripheral stuff that makes the gig happen!
Love the intro - so heart felt 🤣
Can’t find the video I was going to write this in, was the one about trolls. I remember when you first came out, distinctly. I am now 35. I thought you were great. Now when I watch you I think you are even better on this channel, so funny, a great sense of humour, musically very intelligent and interesting to learn from. If you have haters, there is no other words but envy. You are remarkable and your channel is fantastic. You remind me a bit on russell brand, who I love, but you have your own uniqueness. I personally think you are great and I share a lot of your points of view. Keep them coming Justin 🤟🏽🤟🏽🎸🎸
Touring sounds like a love hate relationship, with the plus of seeing the world. Really enjoyed listening to how touring treated you.
Thanks,great stories, see y'all in Houston
Might be one of my favorite videos. Love to see someone explain how it’s really like. I’m sure there are times that it’s very rewarding, but I do not envy famous people at all. It would literally kill me.
Hey Justin! Just wanted to say thanks for being a bad-ass, and for the inspiration. You brought Rock N Roll back at a time that it was nearly dead. "Givin Up" is my go-to song when I feel like I just can't take anymore shit from the world. You fucking ROCK bro. \m/
RESPECT.WELL SAID..
Excellent segment Justin and cool shirt 🤔👍🏻
Yo Justin and the rest of The Darkness!
I will slowly work my way through your back catalogue, one album at a time. I started with Easter Is Cancelled. Just came here to say that I really like it! The production feels more colourful and open with all the synths and twelve-strings and mandolins sprinkled all over the songs, also the nice reverb. I gave some of the other albums a cursory listen, and Easter stood out to me so far. I'm holding off on Motorheart for now, but I have the feeling that this one will be great too. I like the artwork style of both this and Easter more than those of the albums before. They have more depth and richer atmosphere imo. Good job whoever did them, and good creative decision!
Keep on rocking!! :)
Edit: Okay, most of the other albums have a somewhat similar artstyle. But something about the last two speaks more to me.
This channel is brilliant! Love ya, Justin, since I believe in a thing called love. ☮☮♥♥👌👌 xxx
I agree with most of those comments, I used to be a Roadie.
I did 6 months touring with one band, and I had no idea where I was most of the time.
Sleep, travel to the next Gig, sleep, travel to the next Gig, over and over again.
Some great memories, but most of it was just a Blur.
Great craic! And nice to see Michael Monroe in this video! I live in the same town as him here in Finland, and I just saw him on the street this week!
New subscriber here, came across your channel by accident. Not really The Darkness fan (though I do respect them and you) but after watching a few episodes, I gotta catch what you gotta say when I am at a loose end or whatever. Such a dude!
New subscriber here Justin! I'm loving your content and this video was killer! Great insights to what "the life" is really like. Cheers mate from New England, USA...Matthew Street
Love the haunting new theme melody!
Great insight into touring, I did a smidgeon of it back in the late 70’s early 80’s. I hated it because of family and the routine. But working a 9 to 5 job ( construction ) it has it’s pitfalls as well. But my construction job had me away for months as well living in camps or motels that sucked as well.
Same here been on the road for 5 years working construction… I would much rather be on tour with my band
Psyched for the Toronto Show (April 19th)! I hope Eastbound is in the setlist for this tour.
Just watched this video and I was a bit sad about what you said regarding “Christmas time…” I have been a HUGE fan of TD since 2003 when I started uni and I’ve been privileged enough to see you multiple times and I would come and watch you in the Summer/Spring/Autumn or Winter!! I think it’s great having that Winter/Christmas spirit and knowing I can watch you guys just makes that time of year special!! I listen to “Christmas Time” and “I am Santa” all year round as they are TD songs, I don’t care if they are specifically for a certain time of year! P.S why don’t you play “I am Santa” as well, when you do tour at Christmas, I love it!! Thank you and keep rocking (Say hi to the rest of the band for me 👍)
On first i was like, damn he looking kind of familiar. And then i heard your intro. Holy shit The Darkness is alive baby =D Love ya and your channel !
Super fun watch!!
You're not a hater Justin, you're a discerning punter. Many good wishes and this is an enjoyable show you've got here!
very insightful! Cheers!
If you think it's easy doin' one night stands
Try playin' in a rock roll band
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
Totally unrelated but just wanted to say your running the game series got me back into D&D, dming for my son and wife now and your insight and advice has been invaluable.
Thank you Matt.
@@nickchivers9029 Yay! Awesome!
not the same meaning but it reminded me of
When we started this band
All we needed
Needed was a laugh
Years gone by
I say we kicked some ass
brilliant
Yeah it's a mighty long way down rock 'n' roll
From the Liverpool docks to the Hollywood bowl
long live Justin. I've been listening to you since I was 15 and now I am 33 ahahaha still enjoying your insights! god speed Mr.Hawkins
Love the AL Jourgensen And Justin Hawkins connection!! Nice dude
Good info man. 👍👍 Safe touring '22
I believe in a thing called love!
Hell yeah, man! That’s a famous song of theirs! And you’ve written it here under a video of that artist! Awesome!
@@BP-or2iu 🤣
lol Damn that Christmas Hit! Lets get Summer Time (Don't Let the Surf End) to number one this summer!!! loving the Vids Justin!
Who knew ya had a podcast ?? I have subscribed
Going to see you in Dublin later this month, 19 years after the last time I saw The Darkness live 😯 Can't wait! Hopefully you can keep touring for another 20 years so I can go and see you for a third time in 2040.
Ok, So…. Love to you too man 😎
The amount you had to say was immensely well appreciated. What a golden piece of content. You never surprise me tbf!
I’m not jumping ship, I m with you, LOL
The wild hearts, ha, I remember seeing them live in Torquay! Remember there muppet skin album? LMAO.
So…. On the road, A dad of five would be tough.
But for the bigger picture I’m willing….
Anyway the amount your putting out says you’re enjoying this as much as most of us are.
Thank you Justin. ✌🏼❤️🌈
Never stopping & pushing on Day to day.
BOOM.