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SHANE SPEAL NEWS - The End of the Dive Bar Tour (as witnessed by seven people in a Philadelphia dive bar)

The Shane Speal Newsletter: The end of the 2014 Dive Bar Tour...which means all the tour merch is on sale now! Git it fast

We just had a photo shoot on Wednesday for the album cover. I'm currently going thru the proofs. This is just one of the 900 shots taken. The album should be ready in a month.

The End of the Dive Bar Tour
(as witnessed by seven people in a Philadelphia dive bar)

Back in November of 2013, I decided to target nothing but dive bars for my solo Winter/Spring tour dates. It was a way of connecting with a rabid section of my fan base...those people who like local watering holes and loud music.

The Dive Bar Tour finally came to a close this past Saturday night at a tortured little place called DeLeo's in Philadelphia. There were seven people in the audience.

I have played to some packed dive bars throughout this tour. Others were medium size crowds. This place was just empty.

But dammit, I had a blast.

DeLeo's had their own sound system and a soundman who actually knew how to run the electronics. I got up on the stage and the guitar sounded like the Voice of God. The foot stomper felt like a combat boot to the chest. And my vocal mic was dialed in so perfectly, I think the soundwaves brightened my teeth as a smiled.

Give me an empty house but good sound and I'll be a happy man. However, there have been times where I played to a packed dive bar with wretched sound so bad, I felt like I was fighting the air around me the entire time.

I love music. I love playing music. I love the fact that other people want to hear it too. Now I'm about to start the Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band "Holler 2014 Tour" in bigger festivals for the summer. The sound will be great and the audiences will be massive. It's everything I've been working toward.

...But I'll always remember last week in DeLeo's, "the diviest dive bar in Philly." I sounded like a friggin' orchestra in there.

Stay primal.
Shane Speal

ps. All my "Dive Bar Tour" merchandise is on sale now at http://shanespeal.bigcartel.com . This includes the Dive Bar Tour shirts ($10 till they run out!), Mother Leeds guitar slides and the Rust-O-Phonic beer can mics. Git em while they're still in stock.

The Shane Speal Newsletter is sponsored by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply

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Comment by TN Twang on June 9, 2014 at 11:31am: With thousands of guys buying mammoth sound systems and printing up business cards, you'd think at least one or two would read a book on the subject--or at least read the manuals that came with their gear.

I'm glad you got to work with one of the good guys. Treasure the experience.

I look forward to hearing you in person when our paths cross.

TN

Comment by Uncle John on May 30, 2014 at 10:32am: Good on yer, Shane. Glad you had fun. Will be interesting to see what you do next. I'd like to hear and meet you at a fest.

Comment by the anonymous pick on May 30, 2014 at 10:11am: awesome man .. ! heck i preferd to drink in dive bars for the same reason . more personal , more memorable , less background bullshit ;-)