E35 A Tribute at Hyde Park and Hotel Fiction

What happens when a free concert transforms into an unforgettable tribute? Join us as we recall the Rolling Stones' historic Hyde Park performance in 1969, just days after the tragic passing of Brian Jones. We unravel the emotional complexities, the debut of guitarist Mick Taylor, and the release of "Honky Tonk Women." Plus, we'll touch on the Atlanta International Pop Festival's influence, featuring legends like Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin. You'll learn how these events shaped the music scene and left lasting impressions on fans and artists alike.

Next, we take you to the heart of AthFest and its electrifying performances. Experience the intensity of bands like Ancient Infant and Everyday Dogs, and the lyrical prowess of Cannon Rogers. Get to know Hotel Fiction through an engaging chat with members Jess Thompson and Jade Long. They share stories about their name's evolution, including some hilarious misinterpretations. They give us a glimpse into their artistic journey and future aspirations.

Finally, immerse yourself in the personal stories behind Hotel Fiction's music. Jade and Jess and dive into their early influences, instruments, and the creative processes that fuel their songs. Learn about the excitement and logistics of planning a national tour, including navigating new markets and connecting with fans. We'll also discuss the nitty-gritty details, from selecting local openers to choosing destinations. This episode is a treasure trove of music history, personal anecdotes, and a celebration of an ever-evolving music scene.

Learn Something New or
Remember Something Old
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Transcript

Music Festivals of 1969

Speaker 1 0:00

Hi, this is Jess and this is.

Speaker 2 0:02

Jade from Hotel Fiction and you're listening to Music In my Shoes.

Speaker 1 0:27

He's got the feeling in his toe-toe.

Speaker 3 0:35

He's got the feeling and it's out there growing. Hey everybody, this is Jim Boge and you're listening to Music In my Shoes. That was Vic Thrill kicking off episode 35. As always, I'm thrilled to be here with you. Let's learn something new or remember something old. So back in July of 1969, july 5th of 1969, the Rolling Stones were going to perform a free concert at Hyde Park in London. Unfortunately, two days before Brian Jones, the former Rolling Stone, himself died in a swimming pool accident. He was found drowned in a swimming pool. So this free concert for July 5th that the Rolling Stones were now going to introduce their new guitarist, mick Taylor, now turned into a tribute concert for Brian Jones.

Speaker 3 1:36

We talked a little bit about his last performance with the Rolling Stones on our Rock and Roll Circus back in December of 2023. And he got kicked out of the band in June, june 8th, and he was you know, drugs, alcohol, you know kind of unstable, wasn't really adding much to the band and unfortunately they had to meet with him and kick him out. They had to meet with them and kick them out. This free show that they did, they had practiced at the Beatles Savile Row Studios because they hadn't played a show in two years. So they were doing what they needed to figured out 14 songs that they were going to play, came up with it and the mood was just so different than what they expected. And you know, I can't even imagine what it would be like. You know, you kick a member out and it's difficult enough to do that, I would think, because that's like family but then to have that person pass away it's absolutely insane. Yeah, and they say there was, you know, roughly 250,000 people minimum. They're not really sure exactly how many, but everybody seemed to want to come out and see what the Rolling Stones were going to do. And you know, from everything that I've heard or seen, it actually came off really good. They did a good job in the tribute, a good job with introducing Mick Taylor, who was fantastic. He did a lot of great things for the Rolling Stones and he was definitely a good addition. But it's sad to see when someone's not with a band anymore.

Speaker 3 3:15

So July 3rd Brian Jones passes away. July 5th they do this free concert at Hyde Park. So the day before the concert they actually released a single, Honky Tonk Women, which was a new song at the time for us. We know that song. It is a song that everybody seems to know loves that song. I actually got this 45 when my father-in-law passed away. It was one of the ones that he had. It was still in the picture sleeve and I got that, and you know something that I cherish. I think it's pretty cool having it. But you know what a great song. Again, I think, the emotions where you go. The third Brian Jones passes away. The fourth you release a single that goes on to be one of their biggest songs. July 5th you're going to introduce someone that now becomes this eulogy to somebody. It's just crazy. I really can't think on how they were able to pull that off. So, jimmy, you know a little bit more about the Honky Tonk Women's single, right?

Speaker 4 4:18

Yeah. So they had originally written a song called Honky Tonk. That was a little bit more of kind of a country song back when Brian Jones was in the band and it actually was his final recording that they did, just doing a demo of it. Then he left the band. By the time Mick Taylor joined, they had already written and started to record Honky Tonk Women as we know it now, and he added his guitar part, which, according to the other members of the band, he really added a lot to that song when he came in and added that guitar. So right from the get-go, mick Taylor was making things happen in the Rolling Stones.

Speaker 3 4:52

I definitely think so. I definitely think he's an unsung hero. We know the main guys, the five main guys. They're not all with the band anymore, but Mick Taylor definitely added something that I don't think the Rolling Stones would have achieved, that success that they had 69 to 72, 73, 74. I think he left the band around 74. But what he brought to them was just some fantastic stuff he really did to them was just some fantastic stuff. He really did so at the same time, over here in America, in Atlanta, georgia, as a matter of fact, was the Atlanta International Pop Festival, pop Pop Festival.

Speaker 3 5:42

That took place at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which is in Hampton, georgia, south of the city, and this is, you know, a little bit more than a month before Woodstock, and you had bands such as Blood Sweat Tears, the Butterfield Blues Band, canned Heat, chicago, joe Cocker, credence, clearwater I mean just a ton of bands Led Zeppelin, janis Joplin, the Staple Singers, johnny Winter and this is before Woodstock. What an opportunity to have a great group of bands. And it was something in 69. It seemed like Atlantic city was having a show and texas had something and, like I said, atlanta and you had um, woodstock, that happened, and woodstock is actually the biggest thing everybody knows and, and I think it comes down to, they had a bunch of rain and a bunch of mud and it just changed the whole uh persona of the festival when they ended up now not being able to get food and water in and all the local people had to help them out. But there were a lot of other good festivals. This festival was also partly produced by Alex Cooley, who went on to have what Alex Cooley's electric ballroom here in Atlanta.

Speaker 3 7:03

Yeah, a big part of the whole Atlanta music scene. So it would have been cool to be here in 1969 to be able to go to this festival. But what was even cooler is a couple of days later, on July 7th, they ran a free concert over at Piedmont Park, supposedly because they felt a little guilty about making money by having the Atlanta Pop Festival. The Grateful Dead showed up. The Grateful Dead they wanted for the Atlanta Pop Festival, but they were actually playing in Chicago, I believe it was. So they came down, spirit played, I think Bonnie and Delaney played. There was a few more bands and they just did a free show. Back in May of 69, the Allman Brothers would start playing free shows at Piedmont Park.

Speaker 3 7:55

I'm not going to say it was every weekend.

Speaker 4 7:57

but it was maybe at least every other weekend, and so they just kind of fed off of that, and I think those were totally grassroots, like they would just go and find some electrical plugs and then people would gather around.

Speaker 3 8:07

Yes, yeah, kind of like what they were doing out in San Francisco in like 67, here in Atlanta in 69,. All of a sudden, allman Brothers Band, they come up from Macon and they're, you know, kind of making Piedmont Park their home. So that would have been a really cool scene. Again, that was something that was free 1970, they did the festival one more time and had a ton of bands as well. But you know, when you look at it, 1969, july, the same weekend over in England you have Brian Jones pass away and you have this free Rolling Stones concert. Over in Atlanta is the Atlanta Pop Festival happening at the same time. What a couple of days that are fantastic for music. When you look back in history, yeah, it's amazing. So, jimmy, a few weeks ago AthFest took place in Athens, georgia musical festival. I've not been there, I know. Not only have you been there, you have played in it, I believe, correct.

Speaker 4 9:19

No, I've played in Athens a million times, but they didn't have AthFest back when my band was in Athens.

Speaker 3 9:23

Oh, okay. So why don't you tell us a little bit more about AthFest back when my band was in Athens? Oh okay, so why don't you tell us a little bit more about AthFest?

Speaker 4 9:28

So I went up there. It was my birthday on Friday night, the first night of the festival, and I wanted to go to Athens and see a bunch of bands.

Speaker 3 9:35

Relive your youth.

Speaker 4 9:36

Yeah, my life is reliving my youth. I love it. So I love going to see bands, I love trying to stay young, young man.

Speaker 3 9:49

You do a good job of it, thank you, you're welcome, you do as well.

AthFest Highlights and Hotel Fiction Interview

Speaker 4 9:53

Yeah, so I put a bunch. There are all these overlapping bands because they have two stages that are outdoors and free and those end, I think, 930 or something. And then around that time, all the clubs in town that have music stages. You get a wristband and it's very affordable it's like 25 bucks for the whole weekend to get a wristband to get into every club in town, you know. So you can just hop around band to band. It's really fun and but there's a lot of overlap because there are always, you know, 10 bands playing at any given time. So you got to have to kind of pick and choose what you can see and what you have to miss.

Speaker 4 10:36

But, uh, the band on Friday night that I really liked, uh, there was, there was a band called ancient infant, uh, and I liked that. They played in a tiny little place where there wasn't even really a stage, it's like a three inch tall little platform area, you know. But they're, they're, they're kind of just on the floor with you in this shotgun bar, and I love that kind of stuff. So ancient infant played and then everyday dogs played. Uh, they were a real, real fun highlight. Uh, they do a mixture of originals and covers, but they just they have tons of energy it was. It was a great kind of uh, midnight on my birthday kind of thing to do so then jimmy feeling good at midnight yeah feeling good at midnight, exactly.

Speaker 4 11:23

Uh, we. Then the highlight for me I was excited about seeing my friend, david Barbie. He had a band called David Barbie because I really wanted to see Hotel Fiction. So I missed Dave Barbie and I also missed Sneakers, because they were at the same venue as Dave Barbie and it just didn't work out. But she, he, he, they're a really, really fun band. As the name implies, a female and two males in the band, they're kind of like I would describe them as somewhere in like the Joan Jett kind of modernized world. They're just uh, really really full of energy and guitars and they're full of energy and guitars and they're, they're a fun band. So, uh then, who did I see on Saturday night? Oh, pylon reenactment society played. So that is, I think it's a couple of the people from Pylon and including the lead singer. So, uh, so that's a cool thing too. But yeah, athfest is awesome thank you very much for oh, you know who I forgot to mention.

Speaker 4 12:51

On friday night I saw canon rogers at the 40 watt and he was amazing and just for our listeners.

Speaker 3 13:00

Some friends had gone to the show and kept sending me video clips so that I could keep up with what was going on, since I was not there, and it looked like Cannon was having a good time and doing a good job, I think he had his dad with him at one point.

Speaker 4 13:14

He brought his dad up. It was so cool. He is such a good performer. He's in complete command of that stage in a very casual way, and his songs are just so fun. His lyrics are really clever. I was looking forward to seeing Cannon and I enjoyed him even more than I expected.

Speaker 3 13:35

Well, that's saying a lot. I like that.

Speaker 4 13:37

So if you haven't listened to the Cannon Rogers interview. Go back and check that out.

Speaker 3 13:41

Living the Rock and Roll Dream is the episode that we speak of and it is a good interview by far so. Jimmy, one of the bands at AthFest, hotel Fiction I got a chance to see them this past weekend. They played up at Lake Lanier Islands, at the Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Georgia, and I know you saw them at AthFest. I saw them here. We're fortunate enough to have two of the members joining us via the phone right now. How lucky are we.

Speaker 4 14:11

Incredibly lucky.

Speaker 3 14:12

Yes, we actually have Jess Thompson and Jade Long joining us now. Ladies, how are you today?

Speaker 2 14:19

We're doing well. How are y'all?

Speaker 3 14:21

We're doing good. Thank you so much.

Speaker 4 14:22

So good to have you on yeah.

Speaker 3 14:24

So tell us a little bit. I'm going to be honest with you. Hotel Fiction the name just hearing that intrigues me. That made me want to find out a little bit more about the band. I love the name of the band. Where did that come from?

Speaker 2 14:38

Well, essentially, long story short, it's two words that we liked together. We actually had a first band name that when we started the band back in 2019, we had to pick a name before we played a show and we picked the name Tomorrow, today. But we started recording music and we had the summer before we were releasing it and we decided well, we think we're going to be invested in this thing for a while together. Maybe we should like take the summer to think about a better name, because we weren't totally sold on it and so we kind of just had a running notes page, would look at random things in the wild street names teabag names, things like like that and just try to find inspiration.

Speaker 2 15:27

Uh, ladies and gentlemen, earl gray, yeah, there was one I liked that was like youth berry. I thought that was kind of cool. Yeah, that is cool, um, but but yeah, and then eventually we picked the name Jade's Friend landed on it from our notes, page right.

Speaker 1 15:47

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 15:50

Well, that's good. So if there's problems in the band, is that called hotel friction? Ooh I like that.

Speaker 2 15:58

Yeah, We've gotten motel friction before too. Yeah.

Speaker 1 16:04

A lot of people switch up the name um as a joke. I'm sorry you're not the first one.

Speaker 3 16:10

No, that's all right I'm not the first one for many things. I'm okay with that, that's. That's not a problem. But in all honesty, I mean I really do like the band name, so that was something that intrigued me oh, thank you I looked a little bit more into it.

Speaker 3 16:22

You know I saw that at. You know some point you did a an east coast tour it. You know I saw that at some point you did an East Coast tour. It looks like in the fall you're getting ready to conquer America and I think that's like super cool. I really do and you know, went out, saw you guys play, was really impressed with everything. You know original music. You know I know that you played. You know one cover, but you guys played really really well Everything that I thought you guys displayed that I love people that write their own songs, I love people that take it seriously and I love people when they just are enthusiastic. And it really came across that way on the stage to me. And Jimmy, you know what do you think when you saw them at AthFest.

Speaker 4 17:02

Oh, it was incredible, you guys were so good. Know what do you think when you saw them at athfest? Oh, it was incredible, you guys were so good. Um, I've had the the privilege of seeing hotel fiction grow from their living room to headlining athfest, so it was. It was a very like proud papa moment for me.

Speaker 3 17:17

You know, because you guys, you know, you guys are friends with my daughter, lily and you.

Speaker 4 17:23

I just remember walking into the apartment and you guys were recording and stuff and there you are headlining. So it was awesome and you sounded amazing.

Speaker 1 17:32

Thank you, yeah, I was one of the first people to listen to our written music, actually. It's true, yeah. That's so cool. It's true, yeah that's so cool.

Speaker 3 17:43

So, speaking of your written music, what is, you know, your formula for writing? Do you both write together? Does the band write together? What is that that you do to come up with your songs?

Speaker 1 17:57

We always kind of say it changes, I guess, per song, but usually I'd say most of the songs we either start together or one of us will start it and bring it to the other um just to help finish it, kind of thing. But I'd say when we first start writing um, it's usually us two and we usually just start playing our instruments and seeing where it takes us we were doing that today actually.

Speaker 2 18:25

Yeah, and I'd say we're mostly music first. People like, yeah, there's definitely an occasion where like words will come first to one of us. Um, but I don't know, I'd say both of us find ourselves playing music first and then like fitting melodies and words with that music Totally.

Speaker 3 18:51

So I have been listening to some songs on a streaming service and looking at the words and it seems like your words, your music. You're pretty honest when you put your words down of how you're feeling, I think that it's pretty easy to pick up what each song is about. Do you find it difficult displaying emotions out to everybody, or do you find that easy?

Speaker 2 19:10

This is a crazy question because we were just talking about that specifically today. We were and we were talking about, we were wondering if our new album is as honest as our old music.

Speaker 1 19:25

Yeah, it's very metaphorical. So a lot, of, a lot of things we're saying are kind of like written in a story in a cool way, and I don't know if we ever try too hard to be honest or to hide from what the truth is. I don't know either direction, it's just kind of whatever comes out and what feels right. But I would say that we strive to be truthful and, you know, to our, to our selves and and vulnerable, true to ourselves and vulnerable. That's kind of what songwriting is to us, I think is something to kind of get those feelings and emotions out, and I hope that I don't know it comes across as genuine.

Speaker 4 20:14

Well, I can't wait to hear the new record. When does it come out?

Speaker 2 20:18

July 26th.

Speaker 4 20:20

Okay, it's coming up that is coming up soon.

Exploring Athens Music Scene

Speaker 3 20:23

That is coming up soon. So, Jade, you play keyboards. What got you into that? What was the whole start? Do you play any other instruments?

Speaker 1 20:32

Yeah, so my dad taught me how to play piano. He's a pianist and a piano teacher and also owned a music store when I was growing up, and so from a very early age I got to just be around music and instruments. And I think I got my first keyboard when I was four and just loved to play it. And I love to write and sing too at a young age. So I would say that's kind of where I got into it and then later on I started playing guitar as well, but piano is still kind of where my heart is Is that what you usually write on.

Speaker 1 21:12

Yeah, I would say so, but maybe more 50-50 these days.

Speaker 2 21:17

Literally when we were writing today, she was half the time on the synth and half the time on the acoustic guitar, while I was on the electric. True.

Speaker 3 21:26

And what about you, Jess? How long have you been playing the guitar?

Speaker 2 21:28

Yeah, so my dad taught me my first chords on guitar when I was nine, and then I might have been eight and then, I think for my ninth or tenth birthday, I got an electric guitar for Christmas and I was really inspired by like old rock music. I really loved ACDC at the time, also loved the Beatles, time also loved the Beatles. And yeah, I like started taking lessons from a blues player pretty soon after that and definitely started on the blues. That's kind of like my background in guitar at least, but also growing up I always really liked some pop too. So it was like kind of interesting playing blues but liking some pop music and liking old rock music, and I kind of feel like that's reflected in our music a little bit yeah, for sure.

Speaker 4 22:22

Yeah, I can hear the blues too and you're playing.

Speaker 3 22:24

It's great yeah, there's no shame in liking pop music either. I mean, I like some pop music, believe it or not, I do what kind of pop music are you into? Nothing that's new uh I like olivia rodrigo hell, yeah, yeah, we're.

Speaker 2 22:40

We're olivia rodrigo fans over here for sure I know she um performed with billy joel.

Speaker 3 22:46

That's about all I know. Billy joel likes her. I don't really know anything about her um she was popped back in the day, right. Yes, yes, he was pop back in the day. That is correct.

Speaker 2 22:57

This is true oh, that kind of puts it in perspective.

Speaker 3 23:00

That's interesting he's now just an old guy like me. He's not pop anymore, so you're a five-piece band. You know how long have you been playing with the other members in the band?

Speaker 1 23:15

I think three years. Yeah, but three years with our drummer and guitarist and then one year with our bassist.

Speaker 2 23:25

Yeah, he's newer to the group. But yeah, on the other note that you were talking about with writing, we're hoping to do some writing with the full band soon and we're excited to explore that with them too.

Speaker 3 23:37

Yeah, I'm sure that's a whole different dynamic. You know, going from just the two of you and then adding three more people, and everybody has their own opinion and their own direction. And you know, if I was to write and I was going to do something, I definitely want my perspective to come through, because it would be probably the only chance I'd ever get to do it. So I'm sure that there's going to be some hotel friction at that point.

Speaker 4 24:02

You can't go to the well twice, Jim.

Speaker 3 24:05

I did. It sounded much better that time, even though I'm not the first.

Speaker 2 24:09

We'll replay this soundbite for them when we're all on our writing retreat Sounds like there's some hotel friction.

Speaker 3 24:17

There you go, there you go.

Speaker 4 24:18

Yeah, just have it on. Like a key on the keyboard, you can hit hotel friction.

Speaker 3 24:24

I like it. I'm sorry, I do you know what? I am not apologizing. There's no reason.

Speaker 3 24:30

There's no shame no no, no apologies for it. Keep it coming. I appreciate that. Thank you very much.

Speaker 3 24:38

So one of the things that I really like, jess, you know I saw you again on both of you with the band. But then there was another band that came on afterwards and, jess, you were there for that, jade, I'm not sure if you were there for that, but then Kevin Kinney played and you know, jess, you were, you know, rocking out and hanging out and supporting and I just thought that that was really cool. And, again, I really dig that kind of thing where people are watching other bands and whether you're learning something or just enjoying it. And you know, we had a conversation afterwards, I mean extremely personable, and I think you guys have an opportunity to do some really good things just because of the nature of you know who you are and by writing about true things and being honest. I just think that's super cool and it's one of the reasons that I wanted to have you.

Speaker 3 25:32

You know, on the show we had Cannon Rogers, another Athens person. We had him on the show and he just came across as another very honest person. He was unapologetic for any music he liked. He told us his top five albums and they were fantastic and I really enjoyed that. Tell us a little bit about the Athens scene. Do you find that people are out there and they're playing and they're doing the best they can and trying to support each other and upfront, and what's it like today as compared to when I was a kid and it was, you know, the B-52s and REM and Pylon and all those bands?

Speaker 2 26:17

Totally. Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, I think the Athens music scene is the main reason that we've stayed in Athens. It's such a supportive scene to us. I think, like every music scene has its issues too. I think like every music scene has its issues too, but I find that, like the Athens scene, people are really here to support each other and lift each other up and say, like every time we see people in town, we're always like congratulating each other on the music that we just released or we're going to go play on each other's projects or help each other with our projects.

Speaker 2 26:55

And I think a lot of that is because, because of the seen as people, but also because of the athens community in general, the greater community, um, they put such an emphasis in athens on music. I think that was definitely paved by bands like REM and Pylon. Now the entire town of Athens just has such an appreciation for local music and so things like AthFest are possible because of that, people coming to our shows even. I think people in Athens are more likely to want to go to local shows than people in other scenes. Necessarily, they really put value on that, like business owners value local music. Our local newspapers and publications are always including bands every single week on the flagpole and exactly where they're playing. There's a whole section for that, um, so I think it's like the whole community here that's really supportive. I think there's more bands now than there were back in that time. Would you say so?

Speaker 1 27:58

Yeah, it's definitely grown in a lot of ways, but I feel like the whole time we've been here, it's been thriving in a cool way. But, yeah, I'd say more people are coming out of town to Athens that are our age, whereas before it was mostly just college bands. So that's cool.

Speaker 4 28:16

That is a cool shift and you guys are friends with canon rogers right yes, he used to oh, he played with you yeah, actually crazy story.

Speaker 2 28:25

I don't know if he talked about touring with susto, but the way he met susto was, um, he was touring with us to go open for susto and then he went up to them and was like, can I play Pedal Steel on a song? Like up with you guys, and just kind of cold, asked them at a show. And then Justin was like hell, yeah, you definitely can. And he played with them. And then pretty soon after they were like do you want to tour, manage us?

Speaker 4 28:51

And that's kind of like how he started oh yeah, he's definitely got guts. You know. He told us the story about going up to david lowry and asking him if he could play with him and yeah, I think if olivia rodrigo was around he'd go up to her and say I think you need some pedal steel.

Speaker 2 29:13

He can add pedal steel to anything. He's great.

Speaker 4 29:16

He can. He was so good at AthFest I had never seen him live before, so I'm at the 40 watt.

Speaker 1 29:21

I wish we could have caught his show. I know he's incredible.

Speaker 3 29:24

Yeah, I missed AthFest. I was out of town. It was actually my 40th high school reunion weekend Whoa. Yeah, I know I sound like now I sound like I'm 107. Um, it was a lot of fun. I definitely had a lot of fun, but I really wish I could have been at AthFest. I wanted to see Canon Jimmy had talked about. You know you guys were playing. I wanted to see Sneakers because we had Mitch Easter on the show a few weeks ago when he was playing with Sneakers, with Chris Thamey and you know. Hopefully next year there'll be a lot of good bands playing again and I will make sure that I keep that weekend open so that I can attend. So tell me a little bit about your fall tour that's coming up.

Speaker 1 30:12

Well, it's the biggest tour we've ever been on, which is exciting and also a little scary, but I'd say we're mostly excited about it and we're going to places we've never been before, like out west and canada, texas a bunch of cool places, um. So we're excited to to see some places that are new and also see some of our favorite southeastern and northeast cities that we love playing and yeah, I think it'll be a great tour. Yeah, we're excited.

National Tour Planning and Music Recommendations

Speaker 3 30:50

To me it says that you believe in yourselves. You know, when I looked at it, I looked at you know all the cities that you were going to and that means that you have to have some belief that you don't think that you're fly by night. And again, I think that's really cool. I think that we need to have more bands that are willing to invest in themselves by going out and being honest with a whole lot of people you know via Canada or the West, and that's really cool that you're doing that, that you're not trying to stay in one area and just become popular there and, you know, be happy with that, and I think that takes a lot. What was it like making the decision? You know you're talking about it being scary, but how did you come up to that decision that you needed to do that?

Speaker 2 31:33

well, we are super fortunate to have um an amazing agent and manager and, honestly, they look so much further ahead than we do so like we were kind of focusing on making this album and just like what the album was going to be, finishing the album, and as we're making the album, they're like so should we do a national tour on the album, um, and then we kind of like help decide the cities. I think, like it's. It's definitely always a risk to go to new markets and we're going to. We're doing about a month. The first month is mostly markets we've already been to, so it's like southeast, northeast, a little bit of midwest, and that's kind of like places that we know at least some people will be there to see us. And then we take 10 days home and then we do a second month. That is, uh, pretty much almost entirely places we've never been before. Uh, and I think we definitely got some confidence to do that.

Speaker 2 32:34

After our, we did like a small headline tour last summer and headlining is just in general a little bit scary because you have to sell all the tickets If the show fl people come.

Speaker 2 32:46

You feel a bit responsible and you just want as many people to be there as possible.

Speaker 2 32:58

But we played a few shows like Pittsburgh was one of them where there were 20 or 30 people in the crowd maybe less than 30. I mean, it was not a big show at all, but it was 20 or 30 people that really loved our music, like every single one of them knew all the words, all of them merch afterwards, like it was so intimate and so fun that way, and I feel like that gave us a lot of confidence to know that even if 10 people come to some of these shows out west, if they're people that actually like our music, it's honestly sometimes a lot more fun than playing for 200 people opening for someone else but they don't know any of your music and you kind of have to win them over more. Like it can be a lot more intimate and you can feel a lot more supported. Like you can take risks and like the people will receive you well that way, I guess. So I'm excited about it sounds fun are you bringing another band with you?

Speaker 4 33:54

are you getting local openers or what do you do?

Speaker 2 33:56

We're doing local openers for pretty much the whole tour, um, and we've found some really cool music, like it's been the biggest group of shows we've ever had. So we've listened to probably like two or 300 bands to find openers for all of the 35 or so dates. Um, and there's some really cool bands out there.

Speaker 4 34:18

Oh, that's great, and so you know, hopefully they bring some of their crowd and they discover your music and that's a great way to kind of get the word out there too. Now, have you ever looked at the statistics on Spotify and the other streamers to figure out who's listening and what towns did that play into the places you picked?

Speaker 2 34:36

We look at it. But Spotify is just an interesting beast. Like I know, we have a lot of listeners in Chicago yeah, atlanta, atlanta, a lot of major markets but, like you know, it's hard to tell how many of those listeners are just people that found our song, they think it's cool, but they're not really going to take another step to go to the show, and how many of them are people that, like, have it on repeat and are really excited to see but I know Chicago is a big one, yeah, and we see a lot of people.

Speaker 1 35:10

I am curious because I do think LA and like Seattle have been high, because I do think LA and like Seattle have been high and so we're not going to Seattle but just going out West in general, see if, like some of the Spotify streams transfer into people coming.

Speaker 4 35:24

I can't wait, you know, for what you guys are about to encounter. It's going to be awesome.

Speaker 2 35:31

We're really excited. Pray for our van. We hope that he's going to make the list.

Speaker 4 35:35

I was going to ask what kind of vehicle are you taking?

Speaker 2 35:38

Well, we have a GMC Savannah. It's got the towing package. We always take a big U-Haul trailer with us as well and it has served us super well for Northeast, and it has served us super well for Northeast.

Speaker 1 35:56

And it's definitely held up. It's held up. Lately it's not doing too hot, but we'll get it looked at.

Speaker 2 36:02

It's got a shake issue going on right now, where it just shakes back and forth violently as we drive.

Speaker 4 36:09

You might want to get that fixed before you go out west.

Speaker 2 36:12

Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 3 36:14

So who will do the driving?

Speaker 1 36:17

We all kind of split up driving. Jess is more of a morning driver, I'm more of a night driver but we try to split it up evenly between everyone. I would say it's pretty equal.

Speaker 2 36:32

Aaron is kind of our U-Haul parking guru if we ever get ourselves in a bind. He's like like once we accidentally went to this parking deck in the heart of New York City and we were not allowed to park our trailer there and he somehow like reversed us out of it and it was crazy so what market other than Athens or Atlanta?

Speaker 3 36:55

what market when you go out to play in do you have a lot of support? What cities out there really do like hotel fiction?

Speaker 1 37:03

Definitely New York and DC. I feel like there's a big flood of people graduating UGA that went to those cities. So I feel like those cities really feel like home to us in a way and just have a lot of our old friends that we don't get to see anymore. And yeah, just I think those two cities for sure, maybe Gainesville, florida, a lot of Florida, chicago, chicago, yeah, and North Carolina, yeah.

Speaker 2 37:40

South Carolina Carrboro, North Carolina.

Speaker 3 37:43

Oh, wow.

Speaker 1 37:43

We've got some support there, and maybe Alabama, yeah, I don't know. Birmingham, yeah, well good, good.

Speaker 3 37:53

So you know, I saw you play the other night. I don't know the names of all the songs you know, but in listening on the streaming service I really like that song. Athens, ga Love that song. I think that song is just fantastic. But I also like that song, margo. I just really like them.

Speaker 2 38:13

Thank you, you're welcome.

Speaker 3 38:15

So, for the people that are listening because I'm going to be really, really honest here Most of the people that listen to our show one are not going to have any idea who you are, but they will after they listen. Two, I think our listeners are very motivated by some of the topics that we talk about and bands, and they go out and they start listening to them and try and find out. So I think you're going to find some new listeners from being on here. I don't know if they're going to go to new listeners from being on here. I don't know if they're going to go to shows because you know, I'm not sure if that's what they do. They're not like me and jimmy. All right, not everyone can be like us right, we went to kevin kinney last night.

Speaker 3 38:52

We went to kevin kinney together last night. Yes, but what songs would you say if you're a new listener to hotel fiction? What songs do you think people should listen to to to really get the bug?

Speaker 1 39:07

the two you said were good. Yeah, those two are great. Um, I'd say monster too. Um is kind of one of our more like darker, but also more just feels a lot bigger, like I wouldn't say it's necessarily super rock, but it just feels like epic, I don't know. Yeah, allure. Allure, yeah, is also like pretty, pretty dark rock vibes, um, but I'd say, if you're like looking for something a little more angsty, listen to Enjoy your Stay. Rep.

Speaker 2 39:58

And then our first record is maybe more melancholic and nostalgic, but also both have elements of upbeat, happy vibes too, and if you're looking for purely happy and sweet, I would say Day drifter is a cool song, or um astronaut kids, and if you want something folky you could listen to ghost train um steady I love that one yeah, oh there's something for everyone, yeah I love so many of the songs, but yeah, I've forgotten that you guys put out ghost train.

Speaker 4 40:22

I remember liking that song, like when you guys first wrote it, yeah awesome but I think that's what you have to be.

Speaker 3 40:29

If you're a band, you have to have something for everybody. You can't be just one dimensional, because you'll have a group of fans that like that one dimension, but you're going to find that most don't like one dimension, they want multiple, and I think that that's something that you guys provide and I think it's fantastic. I really appreciate you both being on the show and we wish you nothing but success.

Speaker 2 40:52

Thank you for having us. Thank you.

Speaker 4 40:54

And the new album comes out July 26th. Yes, what's it called.

Speaker 2 40:59

It's called Staring at the Sun.

Speaker 3 41:01

Love it, love it. It's called staring at the sun. Love it, love it again. Jess thompson jade long from hotel fiction at athens, ga. Please give them a listen.

Speaker 1 41:12

They're definitely worth it well, thank you guys for tuning in. Yeah, thank you guys for having us on your podcast you're.

Speaker 3 41:20

Thank you for joining us. Hey, Jimmy, do you know what time it is Music in?

Speaker 4 41:23

my shoes mailbag.

Speaker 3 41:28

Yes, music in my shoes, mailbag time. So, don, in Houston, texas, great work, jim. And Jimmy Can't wait for each episode to come out. I listen Monday mornings on my exercise walk. I always learn something new and sometimes remember something old, like the story you told about when we were in California and you bought some Tony Hawk shoes. Well, I was at Ollie's Discount Store the other day and they had some Tony Hawk t-shirts on sale. Of course I thought of you and I bought a couple. So you are not the only old guy sporting Tony Hawk stuff. Funny stuff. That was really enjoyed.

Speaker 3 42:14

The podcast, haven't missed one yet. This Don is a guy I used to work with. That was with me in California when we were walking Past the skate park, past the skate park and I had the new Tony Hawk shoes on and the guy yelled out look at the old guy with the Tony Hawk shoes. And it's just so funny, don, I don't think I've talked to you since 2013. The fact that you listen to each episode, I really appreciate it. Thank you, it means a whole lot. But thank you for verifying my story to everybody and thank you for being an old guy with me.

Speaker 4 42:52

I thought we were going to get a new version of the story. They're like no, it happened this way, but Don concurs.

Speaker 3 42:58

Don concurs. Thank you, don. Thanks Don.

Speaker 4 43:05

Music Don concurs. Thank you, Don, Thanks Don.

Speaker 3 43:07

And Jimmy. The next thing I'd like to talk about, because I don't like to go too many episodes without it, is Minute with Jimmy. It's time for Minute with Jimmy. Minute with Jimmy. Minute with Jimmy. It's time for Minute with Jimmy.

Speaker 4 43:19

Minute with Jimmy. Minute with Jimmy Starting the timer. Okay, so today I'd like to talk about the 45th anniversary of the album the B-52s Great record. Athens Georgia band went to New York City and kind of got into the New York underground. They put out this record that didn't sound like anything else out there. Starts out with this really weird song, planet Claire, with Fred Schneider not singing in a way that you'd ever heard anybody sing before, goes right into 52 Girls with these amazing female vocalists singing in unison with each other. This cool song about all these great women through history. And of course it's got Rock Lobster on it, one of their greatest songs. It's got other really fun songs like 6060842 and Lava, and I mean every song on the record is fun and great to dance to and great to put on at a party. So B-52's Happy Ann anniversary from Minute with Jimmy. I'm going too fast on these. Oh, look at that.

Speaker 3 44:27

There it goes. Did I ever mention my introduction to the B-52s on the show?

Speaker 4 44:32

No, I don't think so, I don't know.

Speaker 3 44:39

My introduction to the B-52s was delivering the newspaper. I was a newspaper boy and I would go and give this physical newspaper, bring it up to people's houses, but you also had to collect the payments. So I think it was like $1.50 a had never heard of before and it was, uh, planet claire, yeah, and I was like, wow, this is just so cool yeah, it's got either a theremin or it's a keyboard that's made to kind of sound like that, just that really like sci-fi sounding thing and it was, and, and this girl was home, Her parents weren't home.

Podcast Thank You and Farewell

Speaker 3 45:25

She had her stereo blasting and I'm knocking on the door hey newspaper boy here to get my money. And I'm like what is that? That is so cool? And that's how I learned about the B-52s. That's awesome when it was Jimmy. When it was Jimmy. When it was Jimmy. Well, that's it for episode 35 of Music in my Shoes. I'd like to thank Jess Thompson and Jade Long from Hotel Fiction for joining us today. I'd also like to thank Jimmy Guthrie, show producer and owner of Arcade 160 Studios located here in Atlanta, Georgia, and Vic Thrill for our podcast music. This is Jim Boge, and I hope you learned something new or remembered something old. We'll meet again on our next episode. Until then, live life and keep the music playing. Thank you.