SUMMER TOUR 2003

             Bryce's first extensive way-out-of-Texas tour was in the summer of 2003, a few months after the release of Calendar Days. He went on the road with multi-instrumentalist Rob Avsharian, who mainly played drums while Bryce switched between guitar and keyboard. Bryce began the set with "Cross My Heart" (playing electric guitar), then "This Is Me" (playing keyboard) and then "Mean Thoughts and Cheap Shots" (playing drums, while Rob played keyboard)... and switched instruments throughout the set. The rest of the music was filled by a backing tape... which was nice, because the "She's My Baby" waves were included.  :)
             At this time of Rocket Summer concerts, confetti flew mysteriously from the ceiling at the first rock moment of "Cross My Heart" (after "cuz now we're here") and at the beginning of "Skies So Blue." No one could tell when it was coming.
             The summer 2003 tour began with shows with Copeland, Noise Ratchet, and Celebrity, and later on joining with Steel Train. Mid-way through, Bryce flew to Japan to play in front of huge crowds of enthusiastic Japanese fans. When he returned to the United States, he played more shows with Steel Train and then with The Format (featuring only Nate and Sam and one acoustic guitar, at the time).
             This tour was amazing because it was Bryce's first chance to introduce his live music to fans. It was small, but immensely sincere. There were Christmas lights wrapped around the keyboard and the drumset, a logo banner to cover the back of the stage, and confetti... it was a carefully planned, effortful tour. I don't know any other band who does such remarkable things on their first tour ever. Loved it. :)

 

 

 

with Noise Ratchet, Copeland, Celebrity:
July 10, 2003 - Gypsy Tea Room - Dallas, TX
July 11, 2003 - Fat Cats - Houston, TX
July 12, 2003 - Emo's - Austin, TX
July 14, 2003 - Cave 9 - Birmingham, AL
July 15, 2003 - The Beta Bar - Tallahassee, FL
July 16, 2003 - The Social - Orlando, FL
July 18, 2003 - State Theater - St. Petersburg, FL
July 19, 2003 - The Factory - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
July 20, 2003 - Jack Rabbit's - Jacksonville, FL
July 21, 2003 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
July 22, 2003 - Ace's Basement - Greensboro, NC

with Steel Train:
July 23, 2003 - The Ottobar - Baltimore, MD
July 24, 2003 - Knitting Factory - New York, NY
July 25, 2003 - Bloomfield Ave Cafe - Montclaire, NJ
July 26, 2003 - Webster Underground - Hartford, CT
July 27, 2003 - Glen Cove Bowling Alley - Glen Cove, NY

...over to Japan!
July 29, 2003 - HMV Record Store - Tokyo, Japan
August 1, 2003 - Tower Records - Osaka, Japan
August 2, 2003 - Summer Sonic Festival - Osaka, Japan
August 3, 2003 - Summer Sonic Festival - Osaka, Japan

with Steel Train:
August 5, 2003 - Chain Reaction - Anaheim, CA
August 6, 2003 - Warehouse Project - San Diego, CA (show was shut down, played at Denny's parking lot instead)
August 8, 2003 - The Troubador - Hollywood, CA
August 9, 2003 - a random hotel ballroom - Lancaster, CA
August 10, 2003 - The Bottom Of The Hill - San Francisco, CA
August 12, 2003 - Solid State Cafe - Portland, OR
August 13, 2003 - Graceland - Seattle, WA
August 16, 2003 - the Bronco Bowl, with Bowling For Soup, Chomsky, more - Dallas, TX

with The Format:
August 17, 2003 - Jack Quinn's - Colorado Springs, CO
August 19, 2003 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City, IA
August 20, 2003 - Hi Pointe - St. Louis, MO
August 21, 2003 - Optimist Club - Morton, IL
August 22, 2003 - Bottom Lounge (w/ The Stereo) - Chicago, IL
August 23, 2003 - The Cactus Club (w/ The Stereo) - Milwaukee, WI
August 24, 2003 - Triple Rock Club (w/ Duvall, The Stereo) - Minneapolis, MN
August 26, 2003 - The Grog Shop (w/ Limbeck) - Cleveland, OH
August 27, 2003 - The Mission (w/ Limbeck) - Toledo, OH
August 28, 2003 - Smalls (w/ Limbeck) - Hamtramck, MI
August 29, 2003 - Charleroi VFW (w/ Limbeck) - Charleroi, PA
August 30, 2003 - Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, MA
August 31, 2003 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
September 2, 2003 - Ace's Basement - Greensboro, NC
September 3, 2003 - The Echo Lounge (w/ My Hotel Year) - Atlanta, GA
September 4, 2003 - Rcktwn (w/ My Hotel Year) - Nashville, TN
September 7, 2003 - The Green Door (w/ Limbeck, The Working Title) - Oklahoma City, OK