Tag: gig bag

Gig Bag: Big Thief

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, we look at what Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker has to have handy when she's out on the road.

Essential oils: I keep lavender, frankincense, peppermint, titri, cedar wood, coconut, and my friend Mary Remington's handmade beeswax and comfrey vitamin lavender Olivia oil salve. They are medicinal and healing, and help me control my personal environment in the constantly changing paradigms of touring. 

Camping gear: I always take a full rig of camping gear on tour in case there's a chance to sleep outside or hike. I use a Gossamer Gear backpack which is super light, a down sleeping bag, a water purifier, butane stove, ZPacks Duplex tent, air pad, waterproof jacket, warm wool layers, and a knife. 


Down sleeping bag: In addition to camping, this comes in handy for crashing on couches or in the van. 


Collings SoCo guitar: I keep one photograph, a pen, a whittled necklace from my Texan friend, a piece of Labradorite from my brother, an extra set of strings, a guitar strap my dad gave me when I was six, a capo, a dollar bill I made busking when I was 14, a rattlesnake rattle, and thumb picks.


Magnatone Twilighter amp and my pedalboard: I think this is the best amp in the world. I use a Strymon Capistan tape echo pedal, an Analogman Prince of Tone, and a tuner. 

Lede photo by Mikey Buishas. All other photos by Adrianne Lenker.

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Gig Bag: Mandolin Orange

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, we look at what Mandolin Orange's Emily Frantz has to have handy when she's out on the road. Check out Mandolin Orange's tour dates here.


Compression socks: Whether we're plane-hopping or cruising from San Diego to Portland, compression socks are a tour must-have. They're great for circulation and prevent any leg fatigue or feet swelling that some of us are prone to. I wear them almost every day. 


Long-ass charger: We've recently upsized our van and this ultra-long USB charger cable is a life saver when you're holding it down in the backseat. 


Folding yoga mat: Last summer, we played at a yoga festival. I picked up this super-thin but super-grippy yoga mat and I haven't gone on a trip without it since. It folds up to be just the size of a pair of jeans. Game changer! 


Siminoff strings: Andrew has been a proud endorser of Siminoff mandolin strings for the last couple of years. We always pack loads of extra strings … both for the mandolin tones and to share with the world of mandoliners who we meet along the way. 


Pick sack: In true acoustic musician form, we are lost in the pick-nerd abyss. We're pretty dedicated to Wegens and Bluechips, but there's a constant evolution of weight/thickness/shape preference, etc. We come prepared. 

Lede photo by Scott McCormick. All other photos by Emily Frantz.

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Gig Bag: Aaron Lee Tasjan

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, we look at what Aaron Lee Tasjan has to have handy when he's out on the road.

Silver Beatle boots: I got these silver Beatle boots as a gift from my friend, Kim Buie. They are essential for traveling, especially where we go, like Wisconsin or Gatlinburg. You gotta have style and it helps to have class. Obviously these boots fall under the "git you a girl who can do both" category.


Goldie: Goldie, as you may have noticed, is a van … but not just any van. It's a custom, like-brand-new-for-sale-as-is van that I bought off a fake minister in East Nashville. Fake ministers are the only people you can trust when it comes to buying a vehicle. What are some of the custom features? How about an original Nintendo "Minister" Terry said we could have but then took out of the van secretly before we picked it up? Or how about power locks that work almost most of the time? Would you care to listen to the radio? We wouldn't either and, thankfully, we don't have to because it doesn't work. Also, there used to be a custom hole in the gas tank, but we changed that custom feature to a different one with just a regular gas tank. 

Brian Wright: Whenever I go on tour, I try to take Brian Wright with me. He is one of the best songwriters I've ever heard and he loves to eat third-rate Mexican food and mad dog anyone who crosses him. I've seen him do the following things just in the last three months: break his finger from partying; use a piano as a foot stool; quit smoking; start smoking; come up with the idea for John Mayer to go skydiving and have it photographically documented by world famous sky diving photographer John Mayer; invent a can't-lose fighting move called 'The Elephant of Surprise.' All true. 100 percent.

The Tailgater: The tailgater is a 50-watt speaker that we use to listen to music in the van and make general announcements on because it came with a free microphone for some reason. These babies are $119 at Walmart and, let me tell you, it is a tour ESSENTIAL. What do you think Mick Jagger uses to warm up for every Stones gig? The Tailgater. Plus, you don't have to feel lame at the drive-thru anymore because now you have a mic, too. The Tailgater. Know it. Love it. Own it.

Lede photo by Curtis Wayne Millard

Gig Bag: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, Nathaniel Rateliff gives us a look at what he has to have handy when he's out on the road. Check out his tour dates with the Night Sweats here.

An acoustic guitar: I always bring an acoustic guitar with me for any down time in the green room or late-night sing-alongs on the bus. My Gibson Dove has been the guitar of choice the last few tours. 

A notebook: Writing new music on the road isn't easy, but when inspiration hits, I like to have a notebook and pen handy. The big, soft cover Moleskines are my usual, but there's a small company out of Detroit called Shinola that makes a good one, as well. 

Hats: I'm usually wearing a hat — whether it's my stage hat, my day off hat, or my hat I can put headphones over. I've been lucky to have a friend over at Stetson that always helps me find the right one, and provided this sweet hat box for traveling. 

A Polaroid camera: It's convenient that everybody has a camera in their pocket, but you can't beat the look and feel of an old Polaroid.

This Is Spinal Tap: Band favorite, right here. We watch it at least once on every tour. Never leave home without it.

 

For more on Nathaniel Rateliff, read our interview with him.

Lede photo by Brantley Gutierrez

Gig Bag: Yarn

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, Yarn's Blake Christiana gives us a look at what he has to have handy when he's out on the road. Check out Yarn's tour dates here.

New song ideas: Gotta have some with me. Sometimes the road is your only rehearsal. 

Gibson B25: My dad bought it new in the '60s. It's the only guitar I use. Eventually, I'll get another B25 as back up, but for now this is it.

A great pair jeans: The kind you wear every day and don't take off until they're a shredded mess. And that's what I do. I think these have another four months left of everyday wear. We'll see. I'm a bit of a minimalist, I guess. 

A good pair of stage boots: They have to be comfortable enough to wear all day, in case you have to. These have been good to me.

Socks: I can never have enough socks. It's a strange phenomenon: No matter how many pairs I bring, I'm always running out. I prefer Farm to Feet. They're good people.

All photos by Blake Christiana, except lede photo, courtesy of the artist.

Gig Bag: Rayland Baxter

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, we look at what Rayland Baxter has to have handy when he's out on the road.

Sabah shoes: "These shoes here are called Sabah shoes. I wear them in the van … easy slip-on, slip-off action. Super comfortable. Handmade in Turkey. They work well in the gas stations or in a fine dining establishment."

Goodie bag: This is my goodie bag. I can't tell you what's in the bag, but it goes with me everywhere. Hint: It's full of fairy dust and time travel gel.

Trader Joe's Habanero Hot Sauce: This stuff is fire, fire, fire for the mouth. Very tasty on most everything. Burns the hell outta my mouth. Keeps life exciting. Makes boring food less boring. Find it at your local Trader Joe's.

Party hat: This is a party hat. My buddy B Moore makes them in his garage in Colorado. It's important that the party hat stays close by … cuz you never know when you need to be the disco ball. It happens almost daily. Party hats are important to have around. Be the party. Spread the love.

Mason jar: I like to bring an empty mason jar on tour for many reasons. I can fill it up with an assortment of things … coins, guitar picks, lightning bugs, caterpillars, dreams, memories, fairies, tomato soup, orange juice, Red Bull, water, sand, sea shells, motivation, wings of a miniature dragon. Ya know … It's nice to have a storage space for all of these things. 

Photos by Rayland Baxter. Lede photo courtesy of the artist.

Gig Bag: Brett Dennen

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, Brett Dennen gives us a look at what he has to have handy when he's out on the road.

Brett Dennen is something of a road warrior. A fixture on the festival circuit since releasing his self-titled debut album in 2004 (as well as his breakout record, So Much More, in 2006), the northern California singer/songwriter has likely earned a sizeable portion of his legions of fans at his own lively headlining shows and through opening slots for folks like John Mayer and the Avett Brothers. 

Now, Dennen is about to hit the road again, this time in support of his brand new album, Por Favor. Helmed by Americana super-producer Dave Cobb, the album shows Dennen at his most vulnerable, both lyrically and sonically. "I think the songwriting is top-notch, compared to my previous work," Dennen says. "The depth is subtle. The melodies flow easily and everything feels peaceful. I'm most excited about the rootsy feel of it. It's natural. Nothing is forced." 

Dennen and Cobb recorded the album in Nashville, with Cobb's quick, no-BS approach to recording setting the tone. "[It was] fun. And fast," Dennen says of working with Cobb. "There's no bullshit with him. He doesn't like to do any second guessing."

The new tunes are road-ready, too. "We'll play them pretty much the same way they are on the record," Dennen explains. "At least right now. Maybe by the end of the tour, we'll work up some jams."

Check out what Dennen carries in his Gig Bag, and peruse his tour dates here.

Coconut oil: For multiple uses. I rinse with it in the AM (oil pulling), I eat it, put it in my hair, use it as sunblock, and as moisturizer. 

My knife: My girlfriend gave it to me. I'm a pocket knife guy. So is my dad. 

NutriBullet: I use it multiple times a day, mostly for smoothies. I get a lot of vegetables on my hospitality rider, so I blend them all up and drink them. It's much easier than chewing. 

 

 
 

Gig Bag: Elephant Revival

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, Elephant Revival's Daniel Rodriguez gives us a look at what the band has to have handy when they're out on the road.

Bowerman Dreadnought Guitar: My friend Jayson Bowerman made me a fabulous guitar that I have been playing on stage and at home. It sounds really incredible.

A nice hat: I never think about how my hair looks, and seldom do I look in a mirror. So a nice hat is an easy problem solver in this case. “Oh, you have bed head at 8 in the evening? Put a hat on.” Come to think of it, that's probably why every singer/songwriter I have ever seen wears a fedora. It may be a little trendy, but it looks nice, is a great problem solver, and you could busk with it if you have to.

A book: There’s a lot of drive time out there on the road, and a good book can help stir the mental forces. It’s a great activity before passing out in your bunk, too.

Some good albums: I always like to BUY new albums before hitting the road, because I know I’ll have the time to listen in and get inspired. There’s a great deal of good music out there, from the past and present, and it feels good to buy records. 

Headphones: Not earbuds, but some good over-the-ear headphones. It's a superior way to listen to those albums.

All photos by Daniel Rodriquez, except lede photo, courtesy of the artist.

Gig Bag: Stephen Kellogg

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, we look at what Stephen Kellogg has to have handy when he's out on the road.

When singer/songwriter Stephen Kellogg, a Massachusetts musician also known for his work with the Sixers, set out to make his latest solo album, he didn't want to do your run of the mill LP. Instead, he hit every corner of the United States, recording a 20-song double album — appropriately titled South, West, East, North — that draws inspiration from each of the four major regions of the country. 

"The idea was to record each part of the record in a different section of the country with different co-producers and different groups of musicians," Kellogg says. "To engage with the different genres that I like to operate in: folk, rock, country, pop. The regions ended up being a bit less important than the process of making each part of the record, but seeing that many different ways to make a record in such a short span of time was a tremendous and wonderful learning experience."

Though the regions played less of a role in the final product than did the folks who worked on it, Kellogg still found himself drawn a little closer to some regions of America more than others.

"Each of the processes were incredibly distinct and had both challenges and benefits," he explains. "I think, at the end of it all, I was slightly more drawn to the West and North processes. In both of these cases, there were fewer folks in the studio and the recordings tended to start with me and go from there. For that reason — win, lose, or draw — they feel a bit more true to what I think my distinct 'sound' is. I didn't know that was as important to me as it was, until after I made the whole thing though."

Kellogg says translating these new songs to the stage has been an organic process — that he's been "playing the ball as it lies." A longtime touring musician, hitting the road is one of Kellogg's favorite parts of his job, despite "next to no sleep, tons of vocal demands, changing weather, and a series of questionable eating decisions."

"My favorite part of touring is when all the tickets have sold, the band is firing on all pistons and has the routine kind of down," he says. "The sweet spot before burn-out sets in, but after things have kind of been 'sorted,' so to speak. The waking up in the morning and thinking, 'What songs do I feel like singing tonight?' The fun of anticipating the possibility of that miracle that is a 'great show.'"

Look for Kellogg out on tour here, and pick up your own copy of South, West, East, North here. Check out his Gig Bag picks below.


Red Daily Planner: I pretty much live and die by the daily lists in this planner. I've been using it for two decades now, and something about the fact that it requires no batteries or technological prowess speaks to my soul.

Journal: The act of writing in my journals on a daily basis has helped my state of mind much more than I can ever convey — so much so that we started printing our own journals. On tour, there is frequently little privacy and plenty of tired vocal chords, so the opportunity for a "brain dump'"can be few and far between. Enter my friend and yours … the journal. A non-judgmental third party to listen to all the craziness.

Sleep Machine: Originally, I got this white noise machine when my daughters were born, but I recently grabbed it for tour, and it's been a life saver. I had to laugh when I was watching that great History of the Eagles documentary one night on the road and Don Henley says, "Back then we had to SHARE rooms," as though that was the absolute roughest thing in the world for anybody to do. My touring roommate and I looked at each other and started cracking up, but it's probably because we have the sleep machine to keep us from driving each other crazy.

A Photo of the Family: iPhones are great, but I still need an actual picture I can hold in my hand of the people I love the most. It's important to remember on tour that whether you crush it or struggle, that these people's love won't change. Having their photo ever present keeps that idea front and center.

Abe Lincoln Belt Buckle: The beacon of integrity. I feel a little extra rush when I get dressed after a (way too short) night's sleep. It's one of a handful of material items in my life that I really value.

Photos by Stephen Kellogg. Lede photo by Will Byington, courtesy of the artist.

Gig Bag: Damien Jurado

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Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, we look at what Damien Jurado has to have handy when he's out on the road.

For an artist as meticulous as Damien Jurado, touring can be tough business. Translating his intricate, layered arrangments to the stage is not always an easy feat, and pulling it off night after night is even less so. That doesn't stand in the way of the Seattle musician, though, who takes great pains to bring fans of his music the most loyal live incarnations of his songs possible. 

With a new album, Visions of Us on the Land, releasing March 18, Jurado will be on the road again soon enough, kicking off a European tour in the Netherlands on April 7, and he's been hard at work preparing the songs for performance.

"I am very much looking forward to it and, at the same time, frightened, as to just how I am going to pull this off in a live setting," Jurado says of performing his new album. "I have always considered myself as a studio artist and nothing else. My history of live performances rarely represented what I did on record. But, that being said, fans of the albums want to hear the songs live. So, then, I am continually left with this challenge."

Though touring is a challenge and he occasionally finds himself homesick — "Least favorite [part of touring], without a doubt, is always missing home," he says. "Most every musician says that, but it is so true. No good." — Jurado still finds inspiration on the road and takes pleasure in meeting new people and visiting favorite cities, like Amsterdam, Nashville, and Portland.

"My favorite part of touring is meeting new faces and seeing familiar ones," Jurado says. "I do truly love that. For a time, I was just using touring as an excuse to see people. I also love the food. Not gonna lie. I love it."

Visions of Us on the Land is the third album in a trilogy (preceded by MARAQOPA and Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son), one that feels premeditated both sonically and thematically but which came about as a happy accident. 

"I wouldn’t say there was much of a planned process … or process at all, really," Jurado says of the trilogy. "Nothing I do is preconceived or planned. The songs show up, and I give them voice. I honestly didn’t see anything else happening after I made MARAQOPA. The trilogy itself took on a life of its own, and it ended up being quite the journey. It really challenged and changed me as an artist, forever."

The resulting group of albums is a stunning collection of songs about a mysterious town called Maraqopa and a traveler who stumbles upon it, the final album bookending the trilogy with some of the best work of Jurado's career. Listen to the album's first single "Exit 353," and scroll down to see what Jurado has to have with him when he hits the road.

Leather bag by Restoration Hardware. "I got this beautiful leather bag from my girlfriend, not long ago, as a gift. She knows me well. Being a self-proclaimed fan of RH, and loving just about everything they put out, this travel bag was a must-have. Really looking forward to having it with me this year, as I am out touring the new album."

Diana F+ Camera. "An homage to the 1960s medium format camera, this lomo camera is easy functioning, small, and will fit perfectly in my travel bag. I am a firm believer in the analog format of film (yes, it really does look better). I like the mystery of not knowing how a picture turned out. Waiting for the satisfaction of finding out, and yes, the tangibility of holding the photos in my hand."

Hand-held cassette tape recorder by Radio Shack. "This will be a welcome-back addition to my tour travels. When I first began touring in 1997, I brought along a cassette recorder to capture the sounds around me. Upon return, I would find myself giving my music library a rest, and listening instead through the weeks of recordings, hearing back all that I recorded while on the road. I also plan on sending a few audio letters, as well.  For me, it all goes back to tangibility, holding it in your hand, and listening to a familiar voice."

Paperback books. "Easy. Flexible. Classic. I love being able to bookmark a page. And, when traveling, you find what you can use for a bookmark; it can get quite creative. A match, a receipt, a bus ticket, a photo of a loved one, a coin … On this next tour, I will be bringing a few old sci-fi novels and some "Peanuts" collections, by Charles Schulz."

Photos by Damien Jurado. Lede photo by Elise Tyler, courtesy of the artist.