September 10, 2002

2:04 PM

One Less Tourbus. Singer/songwriters tearing down the Oil Economy one gig at a time. Next time you're at a show and the musicians are all winded and sweaty before they even start, this is why.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders (12 comments total)

Next time I'm at a show and I smash the singer/songwriter's guitar before they even start, this is why.
posted by turbodog at 2:16 PM on September 10, 2002

It's clear that their hearts are in the right place, but what if one's musical act intails more than a backpacker guitar?
posted by mikrophon at 2:20 PM on September 10, 2002

I'm all for getting rid of tour busses in the name of activism, but I'd like to ask that nobody else get rid of their tour bus the way Eminem did on Sunday.

And if they must, at least take it far enough from my house that I don't have to smell it.
posted by frallyth at 2:24 PM on September 10, 2002

I'd have been impressed if the Ozzfest lineup was moving about on an army of Schwinns and Huffys, but since it is just artists who can't afford, don't rate, don't need tourbusses, then I'm not so impressed. The act is noble, but not nearly as attention getting as Ozzy Osbourne riding on a pair of handlebars to curb oil consumption.
posted by Mushkelley at 2:26 PM on September 10, 2002

I'm sure this flash of genius will catch on like free sex here in Canada; I foresee basically every band will forego vans and such for the wonders of bicycle travel, especially during the winter months.

And left wingers wonder why no-one takes them seriously.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 2:29 PM on September 10, 2002

Can't find a reference on the web, but supposedly either Ralf or Florian from Kraftwerk is an avid cyclist and, when on tour with the band, bikes a substantial part of the way from show to show. But that's hardly the same thing as these hippies are doing.
posted by hilker at 2:50 PM on September 10, 2002

The act is noble, but not nearly as attention getting as Ozzy Osbourne riding on a pair of handlebars to curb oil consumption.
If you have never toured by bicycle I can imagine the concept of this "movement" is lost on you. When you commute or travel by bicycle the real benefits are personal rather than societal. I thought Jeremy Fisher summed it up nicely. ""Biking your tour makes it an adventure that builds self-esteem, confidence, stories, connections." Oh, I also rode my bike year round when I lived in Montana - I don't think the weather is much worse in Canada.
posted by rotifer at 2:50 PM on September 10, 2002

Party on the tour bus with the band and a bunch of groupies or ride my bike by myself with my guitar on my back? I'll get back to you on this one.
posted by milnak at 3:16 PM on September 10, 2002

So it's not for every musician. I'm amazed some of you have time to post comments here what with all the time you must spend playing for the people in stadia and entertaining groupies in the back of the Ozzfest tourbuses. Keep on rockin' in a sheep's world.

Nice handle btw, stupidsexyFlanders (couldn't resist).
posted by liam at 3:33 PM on September 10, 2002

Exactly, lupus. To spell it out, imagine Winnipeg - Regina - Calgary - Edmonton - Vancouver on bicycle for a swing through western Canada for your latest tour. What's that, 1200 miles? (Rough estimate.)

Now imagine that in winter, through the Rockies, with 50 pounds of gear on the back of the bike. And the kick drum and bass cabinet are really going to wreck your aerodynamic profile.
posted by alex_reno at 11:09 PM on September 10, 2002

Fail to practice what you preach and get waylaid as a hypocrite; resolve to practice what you preach instead and get derided because the solution won't work for others. Sheesh.
posted by youhas at 4:08 AM on September 11, 2002

Fail to practice what you preach...

Solution: don't preach, or alternately, when you do preach, don't congratulate yourself so damn much.
posted by turbodog at 9:58 AM on September 11, 2002