I got to spend a couple days on the road with the Reverend Horton Heat last week. Saw em in Vancouver and Seattle while up there on vacation. A couple days after I got home I flew up to SF to be there for the 25th Anniversary DVD filming and hopped on their bus down to SD. I had a complete blast and the thing I think I enjoyed the most was watching everyone, all three bands, get along and have fun. It was like a rock n roll summer camp. Yes it’s hard work and tiring being on the road, but well worth the friendships you make. Pulling into each town the guys didn’t know which of their friends they would see later that evening and when they did see em they time they got to spend catching up was cool. I could only imagine how many friends they have made over the 25 years of touring. As you can see in the photo Lemmy and Slim Jim Phantom showed up to the show and decided to do a song with Jim and Jimbo. Random stuff like that is always a surprise not only for fans, but the bands themselves.

I loved both opening bands, Split Lip Rayfield and Hillstomp. I had seen Split Lip Rayfield before when they opened for the Rev way back when. I didn’t really pay attention to them back then cause I didn’t really “get it” back then and by that I mean I didn’t appreciate the Country/Folk style of music they play. Now that I’m older and wiser I completely appreciate it. Hillstomp I had never heard of before but they kicked ass. Just two guys playing banjo, guitar, washboard and plastic bucket drums. Pure energy with these guys. You need to check em out.

So yeah, it was a great few days and interesting to see the “other side” of a touring band that you’ve seen too many times to count and have been a fan of for almost half your life. Crazy to think about.