From Matt Brasch:

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Friday - April 22, 2011
Fireworks rejoined the tour on this date and I think they played the best show that I’ve ever seen them play. They absolutely killed it. My friend Jamie from Australia was vacationing in California and ended up coming to the show with his friend Natalie. It was so amazing to see him. After the show, I hit the town with Landon and Bill of Living With Lions and we got sloppy. Bill and I bought guitars filled with 88 ounces of margarita and Landon bought a whole bunch of 4 Loko’s. We hit up Paris, MGM, Hooters, and a few other casinos throughout the night. We met up with Josh, Casey, Kennedy, Jamie, and Natalie later in the night and played video blackjack for a few hours. At around 5AM I decided to stop gambling. I had only lost 20 bucks. It was a good night. I ended my night watching the sunrise while I was in the hot tub at the Hooters Hotel.
 
Saturday - April 23, 2011
After about 3 hours of sleep we left the Hooters hotel Grand Canyon bound. We arrived at the Canyon around 4PM and spent 5 hours or so there. It was one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been to. We scaled rock faces that we probably shouldn’t have. If we were to slip at any moment, we surely would have fallen thousands of feet to our deaths. Luckily no one died. I took some great pictures. We left after sunset, got some food at the local Mexican food joint, and then drove 5 hours to Tucson.
 
Sunday - April 24, 2011
It was a weird Easter for me. Though it was nice staying with Josh’s aunt and uncle, I was a bit bummed out that I didn’t get to spend my Easter with my extended family like I usually do. Scrappy’s isn’t really near anything in town but luckily Brooklyn Pizza was open on the holiday. After the show, we embarked on yet another drive. Luckily I didn’t have to drive until morning. 
 
Monday - April 25, 2011
I got up at 8AM and drove until 1PM. It was beautiful out so I had the windows down for the drive. I listened to a lot of music including Led Zeppelin, Stay Ahead of the Weather, Make Do and Mend, Green Day, Grownups, and a whole bunch of other artists that I can’t remember off of the top of my head. We got a couple of free drinks at the show so I indulged. I only had 3 beers throughout the course of the night but didn’t feel good by the time we got in the van to make the next drive. I ate some food in hopes that it might settle my stomach but it didn’t really help too much. I passed out 5 minutes into the drive so I didn’t have to deal with the nausea. 
 
Tuesday - April 26, 2011
We arrived at Amber’s house in Midland, TX around 8AM. She was not home but was nice enough to let us crash on her floor for a few hours. I couldn’t fall back asleep so I took a shower, did some wash, and edited some video. We left her place around 4PM and ate at Buffalo Wild Wings. I got 5 Honey BBQ and 5 teriyaki wings. We then stopped at Walgreens, where I picked up medicine for my awful cold.
At the show, I set up my new guitar. It took forever since the neck needed adjusting and it needed a full set up. I used this guitar for the first time at this show. Though it felt great, I wasn’t a huge fan of the pickups. I think I’m either going to put a Seymour Duncan JB’s or Invaders in it when I get the money to do so.
Post-show we started our drive to Austin. I slept for the whole trip.
 
Wednesday - April 27, 2011 
We arrived at Zack’s place in the early morning. I went to bed fairly quickly since I was feeling very sick and drained. The sleep did me well. I felt a bit better when I woke up.
We stopped off at our friend Ashley’s work to pick up Kennedy’s new cymbal since it was shipped to her. She offered us free coffee so I got some kind of frozen coffee drink and it was a perfect way to cool down in the heat. We played at Emo’s and I had so much fun. My voice went to shit because of my cold but I don’t think too many people noticed or minded.
I drove about 4 hours after the show and then we stopped to get some legitimate sleep for the night.
 
Thursday - April 28, 2011
We hadn’t played Oklahoma City in quite a few years so we didn’t really know what to expect at the show. It turned out being a really great show though. There was a soda-pop/record store next to the venue where I purchased some black cherry soda. I forgot how awesome black cherry soda actually is.
After we played our set, I felt like complete dog shit. I passed out in the van until the show was over to try and rest up. Post show, the whole tour package played tag, which I wish I had played, but I just felt too shitty to bother.

From Matt Brasch:

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Friday - April 15, 2011
Since there was a last minute venue change, we didn’t really know what to expect with our day. When we got to the new venue in Wichita, KS, we were surrounded by fields and a lot of open space. The place reminded me of the VFW hall that we played our first couple of shows in. It was actually a bit nostalgic.
Marc needed some medical attention directed towards the abscess on his left armpit so we drove to the urgent care. John went in to keep him company. Meanwhile, the rest of us ate at the Wendy’s across the street. I must say that Wendy’s really stepped up its game. I haven’t been there in a while but the food was decent. I got a BLT Cobb salad with avocado ranch dressing, a small natural cut fry with sea salt, and a small Dr. Pepper.
When John and Marc returned, John had a video of the whole procedure for us to watch. I couldn’t believe how much pus came out of Marc’s armpit. It probably could have filled a small shot glass.
Before the show began, the guys in Make Do and Mend created a four square court inside the venue with gaff tape. We played for about 20 minutes until doors opened.
After playing the show we embarked on a night drive. I was scheduled for shift 2 that begins at 3:30AM, so I went to bed fairly quickly when we got in the van.

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Matt Brasch is not only writing text updates for our new Road Blog feature with The Wonder Years, but he is also shooting video updates of the Manscout Jamboree Tour as well! Matt’s first video takes us through the first week of the tour and includes footage of the band recording b-sides for their new album, Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing. Read the first written update here, and watch the tour video below!

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We’ve been lucky enough to do Road Blogs with fantastic bands from Transit, to Mansions, to Such Gold, among many others, but PropertyOfZack could not be more stoked to welcome in The Wonder Years as our next featured guest. Matt Brasch will be sending us in one blog every week detailing the band’s journey across the States on the Manscout Jamboree tour with Make Do And Mend and Living With Lions. In his first update, Matt takes us from the beginning of The Wonder Years’s trip up to Michigan from New Jersey all the way to Nebraska. Enjoy the first blog, and check back tomorrow for a tour video as well!

From Matt Brasch: 

Thursday - April 7, 2011 

The day before tour is always hectic, and this tour is no exception from any other. I awoke at my girlfriend’s house in New Jersey around 10AM with bittersweet feelings: ecstatic to be back out playing shows, but not so excited to leave the comfort of home. Knowing that today was my last day of normalcy and that I had not gotten enough sleep over the course of the night, it took me a while to roll out of bed. Eventually I got my lazy ass up and said my goodbyes, gave my farewell kisses, walked out of her apartment complex, and drove off. My first stop was at the Chili’s by her house where I met Johnny who had gotten a ride there from Long Island. Luckily, Adrienne was able to drive him so I didn’t have to travel north to Long Island just to turn around and drive south back home to Lansdale.

It was nice to have Johnny on the ride to PA since I normally do the hour and 45 minute commute by myself on a fairly regular basis. We shot the shit and talked about what has been going on in our lives since we hadn’t hung out in some time. We also listened to the Hostage Calm self-titled album. When we were near my stomping grounds, John spotted a Play and Trade. We absolutely needed to make a stop there since he probably loves games more than almost everything else in life. I purchased 2 used DVD’s for a total of $5 and John bought a bag full of games, controllers, and accessories for a low total of $40.

We met up with Josh for lunch at Panera. I ordered half of a smokehouse turkey panini and an asian style chicken salad since I wanted to eat a moderately healthy lunch. As I finished my order feeling happy that I made the right decision about eating healthier, the cashier informed me that all bakery items were 99 cents with the purchase of a meal. I couldn’t resist and caved in to the amazing deal. The cinnamon roll had my eye.

Post-lunch we split up into 2 cars. Johnny rode with Josh and I drove separately. Josh and Johnny went to pick up merch at the Cold Cuts Merch warehouse. I finished drying my wash at home and packed up the final items that my bag was missing. Josh picked me up around 5:30PM, then Nick at his house shortly after. Around 6:00PM, we got to Josh and Soupy’s house where we packed our bags into the trailer and left going westbound towards MI. A few trucks stops later, I passed out lying down in the back row of the van.

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