We are in a motel in Chehalis, WA. I am sitting in front of a mirror, completely surrounded by tootsie roll wrappers. The movie playing on the television is rife with over-acting and bad accents. "Something is going to happen to someone near here!" Exclaims the child in the back of a taxi. Cody "Mumrah" Rivett is sitting directly behind me commenting on how clubby his newly broken finger is. Yes, our bassist is down a digit thanks to an unfortunate load-in accident. He played the entire set with blood running down his right arm and leg. The fall would have been of less consequence had Cody not used his body to break the fall of Jack's piano amp. Way to take one for the team, Cody.



Derek made it to day seven with his mustache!! Congrats on the victory, buddy. As stated in the agreement of Wichita, Kansas I now have license to shave Cody's beard into whichever Civil War era mustache I please. The Mutton-stache is still leading the polls.



We have but three shows left with Brooke. It will be sad to see her go, and we are all grateful she could stay as long as she did. I am interested to see how we sound as a four piece. Portland is our next stop. My brother lives just south of there and is coming to our show. I am giddy to see him. Take care.

I am sitting in a coffee shop in Lincoln, NE. We are trying to get ourselves figured out. By this I mean we are strategizing. Our first plan didn't pan out, but in no way is it a coup de gras. You can only be responsible for yourself and we are all learning this. I am just happy I have such a lovely band and beautiful family.


Pep talk from Mommy and Daddy

We played a house show last night, which was incredible. The house we played is right in the middle of the college campus and has apparently played host to a good number of my favorite bands. We are trapped in Nebraska. Trapped!!!! but I like it here.

The Study Band is ready for practice tomorrow. We have a lot of work to do in preparation for the tour, and we are extremely excited to begin. We got a good bit of our equipment into the practice space tonight and will transport the remainder tomorrow. I bought a Vox AC30 guitar amp yesterday. Oh boi!! Pictures will go up as soon as I get a camera.

The last few days have been spent packaging a promo copy of our cd. We burned, stamped, folded, glued, tied, and wax sealed them all. The project was complete at five thirty this morning. Again, pictures will go up soon.

I can't express how lucky I feel to be where I am, with the people I am there with. To me it seems that that is the only thing you can ask of this life. Also, I just shaved my mustache, which gave me an upper lip rash. Have fun with that image, goodnight.

Go to http://www.last.fm/music/The+Study+Band to hear the full-length "From a Limb."

So, I have been all over the place lately. My life is shifting like the tectonic plates, ok, that may have been a bit melodramatic. With the full band tour approaching, and the album on its way, there is much work to be done. Tomorrow, I am finally going to Philly to practice with the band. Obviously, playing with a band is the real reward of all of my efforts. It has been four years since I last played with a group, and boy howdy, I'm ready. Also, there is a new Telecaster somewhere on this planet with my name branded on it's soul.

Here is some exciting news. Go check out the July issue of Alternative Press magazine (AP), cause we're in it! neato.

Where have I been? Well, I finished the tour, yes. I went to San Diego to visit some friends, yes.

San Diego

hopefully, they don't get mad at me for putting this up.

I hung out in Pittsburgh, State College, Warren, and Philly. I am leaving State College for good. It has been an awesome two years, but I've got to move on. TTYL

If I just kept these posts more frequent I wouldn't have to spend an entire evening writing them. Tonight I played in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I am finally starting to get the hang of this performing thing. I really feel on point. I have been singing well and remaining relatively calm during shows. That is a big step. The prospect of keeping a whole band together has me in the running for a Dubious Award, though. This has been stressing me out for a long while. Given that I am usually staying with musicians, I have been able to pick their brains and get a few answers, but have found little solace.

Going back a ways to Wichita, Kansas, I played the Vertical Violet, which couldn't have been a better experience. Amazing people, food, and tunes. The Barnharts open their home for shows. This is the Vertical Violet



The following day I played in Mulberry, Kansas. I didn't get any pictures and the crowd was tiny. It was nice to see kids come out and leave as soon as their friend played. The remaining bands didn't even get the benefit of the doubt. Oh well, say la vie. Not a bad evening all in all, though.

Kansas City was conveniently tornado city during my visit. Everyone stayed home in their cellars...cowards!

Kansas City, Busy Skyline.



Gallery in Kansas City



I started posting a blog here, but ended up chatting with the man sitting next to me. He and his family are moving to Chile. Close that computer now and again.



The next day was the Lemp Neighborhood Art Center. This was another cool venue. Mark who set up the show was good to me and I rocked it with no PA. El Natural. Apartment 5 played superbly.

The center


Walking about St. Louis


There was some drama in Omaha and I didn't get to play. Once your standards are gone you stop getting upset, trust me. On an up note I stayed with some splendid people, Keith, his girlfriend Leah, and their daughter Violet Love. I feel like such a mooch staying at people's home and not giving anything back. Luckily, Keith is redoing his deck and I got an opportunity to be almost less than useless.

Keith

Eric on deck

Baby on Board. Violet Love


Box Awesome was extremely receptive. I loveeeee crowds that get into it and talk back. The road it was on was completely closed off, so finding it was a bit tricky.

Hidden Box Awesome

A message left for me on my merch table. I laughed out loud.


I went straight back to Omaha to hang out with Keith and Leah on my day off. I get to see them this summer, and that makes me happy.

Flash back to Iowa and I'm in the guest room bed of this man's house feeling content, and excited to see family tomorrow.

Nick and his snake skins...uber deck!



Good Night

Woo, Big Post Today. I have been MIA for 9 days, but I'm back, and I've got the pictures to prove I existed for the unaccounted days. Let's see, I was in Daytona Beach after my show in Jacksonville. I walked by the ocean for a while which was the most relaxed I have felt on this tour. The water on my feet and the sun slow cooking my face meat, oops over-done. Luckily, it wasn't bad enough to peel.

Daytona, Beach, FL






my travel companion.

I left Daytona and went back to Orlando, because I was playing The Haven in Winter Park that night. Here is a link to some live videos from the show as well as an interview. I couldn't bare to watch the interview, so I will assume that I am extremely awkward in it. Enjoy, watching me squirm.

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=eric+morelli&search_type=

I stayed with my friend Erin in Orlando. We went to a whole bunch of malls! Aww, malls.

The following day I drove to Clearwater, because I have family there. It was so nice getting to see everyone. I had three days off and by coincidence it coincided with the birth of my cousins son Anthony Robert Morelli IV. Here are the kids!

Millie and I



The Morelli's with brand new Anthony Robert


It is always sad to leave family, but schedules are schedules. While I was in Florida I used some of my time off to built a merch display. Check this bad boy out! I debut it at the Nick in Birmingham Alabama.


The Nick


I stayed with the guys from Baak Gwai for the next few days. George and Chris were extremely generous and we had a pretty fancy time. Nuff said

Bible Belt Birmingham a.k.a Murder City a.k.a The Pittsburgh of the South a.k.a Pagan Town(I made this last one up). Aww, irony. Chris Z between Pan fountain and church.



I am currently sitting in a Cafe in Wichita, Kansas. I have a show tonight here at a cool little house. I am super excited for this one! The drive from Birmingham was fourteen hours. I drove nine hours last night, I slept for a few hours in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and then drove the final five hours this morning. I need sleep.

It's a day off. I am in Daytona. Let's recount the last few days....(cue harp for flash back)

ATL


Atlanta was completely dead. I played to the staff. That always makes me feel like a complete failure, which is nice. I left that night and drove halfway to Orlando. I stayed in an Econo Lodge. Nights where nobody comes to the shows are the worst, not only because it's a waste of time, but I can't find a place to stay. Bye, Bye money.
Orlando walk

Brewmeister

I woke up the next day feeling surprisingly upbeat. I reached The Orlando Brewing Company by three o'clock. I took a tour of the brewery which brews a wide variety of organic adult beverages. I tried a few and my favorite was the Blonde. I realize drinking and touring are a bad marriage, but I was at a brewery, give me a break. The show was really fun! There was a decent turnout and the band I played with (An Introduction to Sunshine) was incredible. I ended up crashing with them. The next morning they were coming here to Daytona to play a festival. Thanks to the festival format I got to come and watch them before driving to Jacksonville for my show. The show in Jacksonville had no turn out, but the venue was cool and the bands were all ridiculous. I've never seen people get this into playing a show, let alone for no one. I can't even describe the energy of these people. I am so thankful for that experience. Check them out. All Get Out, Ski Club, The Devil and the Lion. All Get Out will be playing Erie in July. If you are in the area and don't go to see them you are unfit for your eyes and ears. Seriously.

An Introduction to Sunshine