Acorn Project Tales from the Road

BAND: Acorn Project
Where: WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, CO, CA, UT
When: Sept. 12 – Oct. 17, 2009
Number of shows: 25

After five years of hard work in our devoted Ford E350 “short” transit bus, countless overnight hauls tackling 12-hour shifts, and close encounters driving eight deep without seatbelts, Acorn finally decided this fall it was time to purchase a new touring vehicle. So we shopped around and to our delight found a 2006 Freightliner Sprinter that had been originally customized for band touring. We made the purchase, and at last, fall tour 2009 was going to be so much more comfortable, reliable, and efficient in our new ride. Or so we thought.

Let me just throw out a disclaimer here to anyone working in the insurance or auto mechanic world: we do not intend to slander your industry, but just to lay down the facts regarding the most outlandish shit-show ever.

Our new vehicle had a simple AC problem when we bought it, and before we took to the road we wanted to have it fixed, as California is still often hot in September. We took it to a local establishment to fix it up. They had it for 10 days, and after being misdiagnosed several times, ordering less parts than needed, and not completing the repairs properly, they gave us an improperly fixed vehicle that “should make it through the tour no problem.” They also promised to fix it completely for a reduced price when we came home.

We were skeptical, but had no choice but to take it on the road. We set off in high spirits on our way to Eugene. With a little 2-Pac on the stereo we were bumpin’ when we dropped down into the Sedro area, and then it happened.

Bam! Warning lights were flashing and all systems failed. We pulled off the freeway and examined the damage. A busted serpentine belt thrown by the crappy makeshift repair job on the AC! We called the mechanic and laid into him, and he promised to get us on the road ASAP. He sent a tow truck to pick up the bus, and was going to disengage the AC completely when it arrived. He said he’d throw a new belt on for free.

The tow truck arrived promptly and began hooking up the new Sprinter. We watched as the 13,000-pound bus dwarfs the tow truck as they link. I asked the driver if he thought the tow truck could handle the load. He said it wouldn’t be a problem at all. So we went with it. Kale and I jumped in the truck, and headed back to Bellingham with the rig.

We cruised carefully the whole way without a hitch, and then as the tow truck driver went to exit on Iowa Street the unbelievable happened. He took the exit way to fast, overshot the turn, and BOOM! He slammed into the guardrail with our new van and all our gear on board! The accident tore up the undercarriage, rear end, and side of our brand new vehicle. In complete disbelief we dealt with the cops and got it untangled and towed back to the dealership. We still had to get on the road, and pulled some quick moves to rent a van. Somehow through all the anger, stress, and shock we still made it out, but we had to cancel the first show in Eugene. So it was time to haul all the way to San Francisco, eight deep in a small cramped rental with all of our gear.

From the road I began dealing with Walt, the tow truck company’s insurance rep. This guy is a total douche. He is still trying to say that the entire rear of the vehicle shouldn’t be covered by insurance due to questionable doubts about the damage. So Acorn threatened a lawsuit. We still don’t have our new vehicle back, it’s been three months, but luckily our insurance company is fully backing us up, and we will make out pretty well. Rentals covered, lost gig revenue reimbursed, vehicle repairs covered and all that. Walt will pay, oh yes, Walt will lose.

Once we made it to San Francisco we left the horrific experience behind and had the most memorable tour to date. We covered 5,000 miles, had capacity shows in San Francisco and Denver, festivals in California and Colorado, played at the University of Oregon home football game in front of 5,000 people, sunny days in Santa Cruz, mountain shows in Crested Butte and deep Montana, heady drives through the sticks and Yellowstone, disc golf all over the place, made new friends in Boulder, Fort Collins, Grass Valley, Lake Shasta, Portland and Sacramento. We even had Kreestoe ripping the drums on the Colorado leg (thanks Kev).

We closed it all out with a sold out Halloween performance at the Wild Buffalo. We love everyone that supports music in this community! It was so sweet to make it through such a long tour, with such crazy circumstances, and be able to throw down for everyone back home. We love Bellingham and we love our fans!