Wednesday, April 24

The DRIVE Tour Rolls On

By Mike Vallely
Special to EXPN.com

10:42 AM - San Luis Obispo
...Sitting in a hotel room, about to start the day after sleeping in for a bit. It feels good to catch up on some rest after going hard for really the past few weeks leading into this tour and then the first five days out here.

The last two days have been good but sometimes I feel like Willy Wonka being confronted by Grandpa Joe after the chocolate factory tour. I don't like to focus on the negative and really there's just so much positive going on out here that I shouldn't, but some people are just a real bummer. Everyday I put it all on the line, I commit myself to making these shop visits and video premiers the best they can be regardless of how many people show up. Whether it's four or four-hundred people I'm consistent in how I handle myself and interact with the skaters. I strive to make these tour dates days to remember in the communities I visit and I grin and bear it through some awkward situations. Last night in San Jose after jumping through some lame hoops that the promoter there had put me through and then getting yanked off stage before I was done, I had to deal with an older skater connected with the promoter getting in my face and being confrontational with me out on the street in front of the kids. This guy wanted the life time supply of chocolate even though he and his associates stole fizzy-lifting-drink and bumped into the ceiling. I was willing to let it all go and stay focused but this guy couldn't. He was un-informed and when I did fill him in he didn't want to believe what I had to say. So he stood there on the sidewalk questioning me every step of the way trying to insinuate that my name in San Jose was being tainted. Whatever man. I put in my time with the right people and I walked away feeling good about it. Alternative emo-coffee house elitists aren't my audience anyway and aren't even a bump in the road for me. I'm moving on.

Even though the last two days have seen some poor promoting and weak turn outs at the premiers, everything has been great. The people that have shown up are good folks and the time I get to spend rapping with them means everything to me. I'm happy to be out here doing my thing and am glad for all the support and kindness I've received.

The DRIVE Tour rolls on... Bring it.