More Secrets of the Beach

A look behind the scenes of the illustrated tour diary published in the August issue of City Arts Tacoma.

My main focus on this trip was to lay low and observe. Stay so professional that the musicians I was touring with would barely know I was there.

I think I pulled it off...

Through snapshots and sketches, I recorded almost too many good scenes. Way more than I could decide what to do with.

Snack time

"Log dance"

Late night jam, resulting in threats of eviction

I also got to know the members of the bands really well. Maybe too well?


Allan Boothe - lead singer/guitar

Carson Churchill - guitar

Geoff Weeg - drums

Ryan Holbrook - bass

The tour wasn't all about the band playing music. That's probably no surprise. But there were some pretty incredible moments - some which made it into the print story, and some which didn't:

At the Ivy House...

Carson, myself and the rest of the crew rocked the trampoline in the backyard.

Gautier almost made it in to the perfect picture...

At least he inspired a cool picture.

Along the way we joined up with the French band, the Fat Beavers. Hanging out with us, they learned about shot-gunnin' beers, which I thought was universal, but apparently not. They were also surprised by bikini baristas, which surprised me. I thought in France everyone was naked all the time.

Fat Beavers front man Eric had a broken arm the whole time. It didn't seem to bother him though.

Humble Cub drummer, Geoff Weeg, got a brand new skateboard for the trip. He hadn't skated for a long time, but it seemed like it was like riding a bike for him. He was shredding every time we had a spare minute.

I loved watching Eric and Julie of the Fat Beavers when they had to share a mic. They would face each other and rock out. Their guitars would be inches away from each other while they screamed in each others faces, usually smiling.


Eric

Julie

The Fat Beavers all together, with Stephane Delevaque, photographer, author of the popular French punk zine/blog Rad Party and lead singer of the Crippled Old Farts. He took photos along the way, too, and shared a lot with me for this post.

The best scenes are always the most random.

Carson enjoys an ice cream cone.

Geoff Weeg enjoys seeing one of his designs tattooed on Julie's leg

I enjoy skating through south Portland

Geoff Weeg enjoys the creative spelling habits of taggers. (Even spray cans need spell check!)

All the people on the trip were fun, good people, and I was thankful to be able to tag along.

Here I am front and center. Super fan.

Here I am juggling a hatchet, a machete and garden shears on the beach.

And here I am juggling on Gautier's shoulders...accidentally upstaging the band. But just for a minute.

The whole experience reminded me of camp as a child, and when we were saying good-bye I cried like a 5th-grade girl saying goodbye to her new best friends, while everyone promises to stay in touch.

Headless Dude popped up along the tour, too. Of course.

Make sure to pick your free copy of the August issue of City Arts Tacoma to read Jeremy's complete illustrated tour diary. And look out for more behind-the-scenes action on his blog, The Art and Antics of Jeremy Gregory.