After a great first day off in SF, it was time to resume the fitness program. I leap out of bed at a satisfying 9:30 and don the running shoes etc. It's time to visit the gym voted by Richard Bennett the best hotel gym of the last tour - the LA fitness center. I enter the complex which is located within the hotel building of the 4th floor, sign the book and have my hotel key swiped. For some reason, this is my first visit to this gym. It's huge, virtually an entire block with more treadmills than I've ever seen in one place. Perfect. I run and then thought I'd try the pool, a cut-down Olympic lane pool. Obviously this place is well used as there is quite a funky odour, rather like a public swimming baths. To be absolutely honest, it mings! I think it needs a good old wash and brush up. I swim a few lengths (not telling how many as it's a pretty pathetic showing) and shower. The smell is even worse in the showers, so bad in fact, I just end up rinsing and trundle off to the room. There's quite a nice feeling when I slot the room key into the entrance door to the hotel elevators as there is a huge tray of free water, something not on offer in the gym. Crazy I know. You'd think there would be water..messing with dehydration is dangerous shit.

Richard Bennett chats with Bo Ramsay who plays with Pieta Brown, our fabulous support act.



As I have the family (well most of it) here, I arrange a rental car and drive to the venue early with Danny and Glenn. I've arranged a hook-up with a chap called Andy Leary, the DSP Engineering manager from Korg research and development. He contacted me and kindly invited Matt and myself down to their R&D center in Milpitas. Unfortunately there wasn't time for the trip so he kindly bought a Korg M3, their flagship workstation to the venue for a pre-soundcheck exploration. I love this synth, it has everything that my trusted Trinities have and a whole lot more. Definitely the next evolution. A very cool modular design too which will be extremely useful in various work modes, ie. touring and studio.





The venue here in Oakland is one of the finest art deco theaters I've ever seen, a true delight to the eye, 'built with confidence' as Mark commented.





We had a great show once again, although there were some low-end issues on-stage which probably affected the first few rows as well. I'm only guessing here. We did have a little cabling problem just before the start of the show which delayed the start slightly, by about 10 minutes I think. A fantastic, knowledgeable crowd as always in Oakland (not San Francisco, as Mark announced). It actually is very easy to forget where you are when touring, and I know Mark said this because we're staying over the bridge in the city. At some point during the show, there are shouts from the auditorium for us to play songs, this goes on a while until one guy shouts out "play everything" at which point everyone including Mark the band laughs! After-show it was a runner for the band and my wife Laurie drove one of the cars in the convoy. I couldn't believe how swiftly we got back to the hotel. A few drinks in the hotel bar rounded off a fine day's work.

Tom Calcaterra (TC) tunes one of the many Martin acoustics pre-show. TC is kept busy by Richard and myself, it's quite tricky dealing with so many varied acoustic instruments.



It's been a great start to the tour and after 5 shows, the band is having an absolute ball on stage every night, the show is still evolving and I'm sure will keep on doing so as we head down the West Coast and then Eastward across this fine country.