The Appreciation Post

Tour Video

2008-04-21T22:22:00.001-07:00

i need a hug, but i havent showered in 5 days.

2008-03-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hi blog-readers(mom). I'm sitting in our van with the guys outside of Sacred Grounds (the venue we're playing tonight in) Fallsington, PA. This is the 3rd to last show on our Spring tour. The past few shows have been pretty terrible. Weekdays are usually tough, but last nights show in Virginia Beach was exceptionally bad. The venue itself was pretty cool, but apparently no one in VA Beach knows it exists (even the kids skateboarding outside). We played a concise and instrumental set. Why instrumental? The sound system made the vocals sound like a helicopter. If we were Fatboy Slim, it would have been completely appropriate, but we're not, so I opted to focus on instruments that were functioning properly. Anyone who really knows us, knows that we're not a band to sugar-coat things. One thing I've seen over and over on this tour is bands faking it. For example... If you're playing to 4 people (2 of which are not in the other bands playing that night) on a tuesday night in the middle of nowhere, maybe you should drop the 'sing-along' breakdown. Read the crowd! Feel free to breakaway from what you're rehearsed in front of the mirror. Or if you ask the audience this (especially humbling) question: "Who here has heard of me before?" and no one answers, you probably don't want to follow it up with "Well sing along if you know the words!" There are just too many bands "playing band" these days. Regurgitating the same lame phrases and banter. The stage moves are just as ripped off as the guitar riffs. What happened to being honest and genuine? oh yeah, you want to "make it".

On a more positive note, we had a ton of fun down in Florida on the shows we did with Select Start. They stand out as one of the most genuine bands we've played with. They write awesome songs and kill it live every night. Check them out for sure.

Please come to the shows. It hurts to see myspace comments and messages saying "oMG you were in my town last night? wish i knew! i wouldve brought a bunch of people". We're not on Mtv or FUSE, so promoting ourselves is tough - we do everything we can. Feel free to help spread the word for us :)

thanks for reading and supporting what we're doing out here.
xojim

Convoy up to Ocala-FL

2008-03-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

(1.)Today is the last day of the three day shows with Select Start - http://www.myspace.com/selectstart and we're rolling up the highway right now.

(2.) Adam (select start) invited us and Go Radio over to his mom's house for Easter Sunday breakfast yesterday. Seriously, pancakes rule!

(3.)A few days ago I bought these patches in Alabama...

(4.) I started the tour with clean white sneakers and now they look like this... gross. Adam's dog also puked my on my left sneaker too. It was AWESOME

(5.) My laptop is about to die... Paaaaayce ked, I'm out dis beeatch *microphone hits the floor*

-vietnam

Veggie Ques-so-dillo

2008-03-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

I ordered a veggie quesadilla this afternoon in Tampa-FL. It was fucking GOOD!!! I was all like, "yo, can I have green peppers, mushrooms and onions in the Ques-so-dill-a" and the waiter was like, "Cool Brah" and then I ate it.

It was GOOD... good enough for a blog

-vietnam

12 miles a gallon...

2008-03-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

I have about 4 minutes to complete this blog before nams laptop dies. we're having fun on the road hanging out with all walks of life. have you slept in a Wal-mart parking lot? if not, i highly recommend it. heres a photo from that sweet OH garage party we played. We've had some long drives this week, but we're driving into FL now and the next 4 shows are all pretty close together - so we should have time to do more blogs and shit. check our dates on the poster a few posts below this one and COME OUT TO A SHOW!

9volt batteries make great gifts for bands as do showers at your house :)
-Jim

I am Iron man!

2008-03-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Last night we played in Ironton-OH (*insert Black Sabbath disc*) and hung out with some seriously awesome new friends. Jeremy and Jesse totally hooked up a sick party. I am definitely a lightweight noobie and couldn't keep up with Ironton's finest drinkers. Somehow we ended up at this restaurant called Peddler's sometime around 2AM. It was fun and later in the night Ted and I slept in the van, while everyone else slept in a warm apartment. Here's a photo of our sleeping conditions in the van... (not of Ted and I but it basically looked like this last night)

We played "Undone Sweater Song" by =w= and hopefully we'll have a video blog up soon... much love from the road.

-vietnam

Photo Blog! It's SHAMOKIN'

2008-03-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we played a show in Shamokin, PA.

It was a BIRTHDAY PARTY!

So we had cake :)

Played some pool

And then we got attacked by an octopus

But fortunately Ted was there to save us.

so to thank him for rescuing us, we let him sleep on this

Because we're THAT nice.

:)

From the Basement

2008-03-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

On wednesday, we got word from our promoter that our tour kickoff in Albany had been moved from the College of St. Rose to a basement just off campus. At first I was a little apprehensive, we haven't played that many houses/basements, and certainly not the types of places that, as Dave, the promoter said "were home to some of the most epic punk and hardcore shows in Albany."

We left boston around 2:30 or so and got our first glimpse at the new amenities that ted installed in the van. These included a new captain's chair, A/C and heat that work and a Sex Swing.

So we all took our seats/sex swings and took off for Albany. We arrived at the house and checked out the room, it was a bigger basement than I was expecting, all in all it was pretty cool.

One of our friends (pictured above) was spotted checking out our gear, which quickly filled up the room.

The show ended up being really fun, I think we finally found a way to relate to people our age: Bring a Keg.

So we're off to Shamokin, PA today. Have a good one!

-Rog

The "Too Fat For Porn" Tour 2008

2008-03-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

So we begin yet another Tour Blog for The Appreciation Post. We've had a few minor changes, we're now a 4-piece, unless you count my beard.

We look like this now:

Click Here to see more of our new press photos (By Graham Marley)

As you can see, I'm constantly crying, Nam has a fishhook caught in his mouth and Jim and Ted's heads have become warped. All of this is due to excessive rocking.

So here it is, the flyer for our "Too Fat for Porn Tour" (which was named through a contest on our Myspace Page.) If you live anywhere near these towns, please post this flyer everywhere!

Thanks, and we'll see you at the shows!

2007-10-13T15:54:00.001-07:00

update: Jeff Goldblum is dead.

Almost Home!

2007-10-13T15:11:00.001-07:00

Here's a picture of me. Um... yep.

Hey everyone! We've had a lot of fun sleeping in our own stink, but it's time for us to go back home for a little while. I'm sure that the rest stop/mcdonald's/24 hr diner parking lots will still be there for us when we tour again. Thank God, right?

Our show last night in Aston, PA got shut down before we got to play because some dummies decided it would be a good idea to smoke weed and kick a hole in the bathroom of a firehouse. Fortunately it was pretty close to our show tonight in Levittown, PA, so we just drove up into town and found somewhere to crash.

Jim, Nam, Brad and I were in Eugene outside of a store, waiting for Ted (the browse king) when a sketchy dude came up to the van and asked us if we'd "Seen a girl around here." We weren't sure if that was code for something, but we just realized that we had to get the hell out of that part of town.

So yeah, Levittown, PA tonight, New Bedford, MA on Sunday and back to work on Monday.

Boston folks, don't forget to check out our Halloween Show @ the Middle East Downstairs we're reprising our role as Rocket from the Crypt, horn section and everything, but this time around we're opening for Avail and Smoke or Fire, who aren't tribute bands, so this'll be fun.

2007-10-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

It's Friday here in Pennsylvania and we're driving through mountains to get down to our concert event in Aston, PA tonight. We're driving on a toll road, and apparently when given the starting ticket, we weighed in at over 7000 pounds (according to this ticket), so we might have to pay a $42 toll. That seems a little much for only driving on a 120 mile stretch, but apparently PA likes to fuck people so we'll see how this plays out. I think the scale thinks we're commercial big rig. Brad almost just drove us into a ditch. He does this a lot and then blames it on the wind. But last time I checked we weren't touring in a sailboat you maniac. So this tour is almost over - just a few more shows left. Our van is completely fucking rancid. It's like dog-shit meets iodine. We've had this one fly in here for a couple days now. We even named him: Jeff Goldblum. Have you checked out our tour VIDEOS below? We're including a fresh one with this blog post. It's really futuristic so I hope your tiny brains don't explode when you see it. Ted's did, and now we have Dr. Rhythm sitting in for the rest of the shows.

Oh yeah, we forgot to mention this... While in Nashville TN last monday, we were loitering at a Target store and this dude pulls up to us in the parking lot, jumps out of his car and exclaims "The Appreciation Post" (with jazz-hands extended)! It turns out to be Andrew Bargeron of Gimetzco designs (he designed Ozma's "Rock'n'Roll Pt 3" album cover and that Weezer lunchbox)! But fuck that shit, you should know him because of the sweet VIDEO GAME he did for us recently... "EXCITEVAN"! So how random is this!? ...that a guy I've been talking to/commissioning work to online for like 6 years finds us when we're in a city we normally wouldn't be in - thousands miles away - only recognizing us by something he had to draw... our ridiculously over-sized tour van! The world is way smaller than anyone realizes. Ok, back to the twilight zone. If anyones reading, leave us a comment we check on the 3's of each hour.

- Jim

The Appreciation Post: Old man Vietnam

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Video Blog #1

2007-10-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

Check it out!

The Appreciation Post Tour Blog #1

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DESPAIR :(

2007-10-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

So we finally get to do some laundry and my cell phone goes for a ride in the washer. There's a chance it's alright, but it's highly unlikely.

Fingers Crossed I suppose :(

-Rog

sunday funday

2007-10-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

Hey-yo! 12:47AM in Birmingham-Alabama right now... I don't have much to write about because I was asleep all day. I did wake up for breakfast at Waffle House... then back to sleep.

Bjork is on VH1, Brad is on my left asleep, Rog is finishing up laundry, Ted is sleeping in the next room, Jim is in the shower and I'm about to surf the web for internet smut.

Here's a photo of Brad and a super cool cat...

peace
-vietnam 'internet saavy' le

"I'm gonna blog about you tonight, so shut the fuck up."

2007-10-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

3:28am here in the van again and we've got another killer drive ahead of us. Tonight's show was at a venue called Transitions in a skatepark in Tampa, FL. Lot's a cool kids and all the bands were really rad as well. Big thanks to Select Start who set this show up (and lent us their shower before we hit the road for 9 hours to Birmingham AL)! We bought adapters to hook our video camera into the computer, but none of the 6 different USB attachments work! Sooo... we'll have to search harder - probably have plenty of time when we have our day off on Monday. Vietnam & I are thinking about getting tattoos in Nashville. I guess we'll have to see how much limit I have left on the old credit card first. I think matching half-heart locket tats would be cute.

Things got a little heated today and karate chops were given where needed. It's interesting how touring can make you want to want to kill yourself one hour and sell everything you own and tour for eternity the next hour. Being in a band is always a rollercoaster - emotionally, financially, physically but it's never more extreme than when you're on tour. I ran over a parking block today 30 seconds after touching the steering wheel this entire trip - which will likely keep me in a passenger seat for the rest of the tour... Apparently the guys don't want to die in a firey van wreck. This last photo is of Ruxbin taking a whore-bath in the venue parking lot. We're classy. We're from Massachusetts. See you in Alabama tomorrow - I mean, later this morning.
- Jim

2007-10-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank Al Gore for inventing the internet. It's about 1am and I'm sitting in our van traveling at 70 mph somewhere between GA and FL and simultaneously live on the web! Brad & Rog are sleeping, and Ted's driving as usual. Dude has driven every mile on this tour so far. Nice guy or control freak? I don't care. Vietnam is actually awake which is rare anytime of day. The show tonight in Marrietta GA was fun and sweaty. We shot some video of our performance, but we need to figure out how to get it into this computer - I hope we have the correct cable. We know you're waiting patiently by your computer for our sub-standard quality shots of random shit. It's a Tandy 200 I'm using here, by the way. 3 down, 7 or 8 shows to go. See ya tomorrow in Tampa Florida! ....(slept for some hours).... Ok so it's now 10:59am and we're about 5.5 hours through our 7+ hour drive to Tampa. We slept in the van for a while at some McDonalds parking lot and we're ripening even more as I type. Brad has pryed the steering wheel from Ted's cold, dead hands. (Ted had a good 1200 mile run though). It'll be nice to get into Tampa early and hang out and see the things that Tampa has to offer us. Like rainy highways. The first photo is of me in the van last night right before I started this blog. See I'm watching myself on youtube. Someone put up a video from our SUNY Purchase NY show a couple weeks back. It's sort of bleh, but apparently I'm a narcissistic tool. After I post this blog, I'm going to start inspecting our video camera situation and see about getting you all some moving pictures in the next update! Yeehaw. The other pictures are the first 3 venues of the tour. We should've called this tour the "Strip Mall Tour". Keep checking back, the next update will be soon and better somehow. We promise.

- Jim

2007-10-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

It's 2:23am and Vietnam has declared a pillow-fight in our shitbag motel here in South Carolina. We're Low Lifes drinking High Life s. Most of the first 3 days have looked like the picture shown here. The shows have been typical mid-week shows, so we're really looking forward to the (all-ages) weekend shows. Tomorrow we're in Georgia so that should be quite a spectacular concert. We feel bad about not updating the tour blog more often, but we always forget to take photos and video of anything worthy of mentioning. We'll try harder throughout the rest of this tour though. Feel free to let us know if you're even reading this thing too (like Courtney did). The Chicago show on Oct 9th was poorly promoted and we were basically left unsure of things for too long (as well as the other bands involved) so we've all decided to cancel it in the best interest of the universe. Ted and Nam are spooning now and I think i just heard Ted tell Nam "this is my favorite part of touring" (the completely platonic man-spooning). I'll make Vietnam, Brad or Rog take more pictures and video tomorrow. We're going to try to post something atleast once a day. We sure can't say 'there isn't enough time'. Touring is boring. Keep it real.
xo,
Jim

2007-10-01T03:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

I'm Jim and this is our new tour blog. We're leaving tomorrow night for Baltimore and to the other 10 or so cities we'll be hitting over the next 2 weeks. The show we played Friday with Cartel at The Palladium in Worcester MA was a blast. It was the first time T.A.P. played on a stage that big - it was sort of surreal and really got us pumped up for the rest of the tour. Thanks to the kids who were dancing and singing along. We see you motherfuckers ;)

So get this: Our (asian) bass player, Vietnam, has invented technology that will allow our band of brothers to update this blog with text, photos and videos while on the long and winding road! Yeah he's asian! So keep checking in over here at www.theappreciationpost.com/tour. You never know when we might update you with video of Roger playing naked chicken (facing the wrong way) on Brad's shoulders gleefully battling a totem pole with a pillowcase full of $50 dollar bills. You just NEVER KNOW. View our tourdates in the blog post below/previous to this one... If we're coming anywhere near where you live we'd love to see you at the shows, pals. Feel free to leave us comments here and quite possibly fuel our decision to further embrace this technology.

- Jim

2007-09-28T06:30:00.000-07:00