So we're a few days into our jaunt from Orange County, California, out to the east coast to begin the Social Distortion/ Chuck Ragan/ Suedehead Fall tour. This is a familiar yet strange journey for me. Having done a couple years of heavy touring with a previous band, getting the chance to ‘get (back) in the van’ and ‘live it out’ all over again leaves me feeling a heavy sense of déjà vu, combined with overwhelming feelings of appreciation and gratitude. To do something like this once is amazing. To get to do it all over again is insane. (Click through for the full rant and photos from the road)
To say I’m thankful is an understatement.
Having spent the first 25 years of my life living and working in Bromsgrove, a pretty blue-collar town situated on the edge of Birmingham, England, I frequently visit home inside my own imagination. But during the first few days of this road trip, I’ve found myself truly missing Orange County (where I currently live and work at Hurley). While driving relentlessly through blurred scenery, the downtime can be hard for someone who likes to stay active. I find myself itching to be busy back at work amongst my Hurley colleagues. Then today while Driving through St Louis, Missouri, I was frequently reminded of the grey industrial landscapes of the west midlands region of the U.K, that are so familiar to me.
I often wonder what defines our nationalities, despite the obvious being our countries of origin. I mean, take away your place of birth, your language and accent and it seems like everything else can be replaced. Of course your home -- culture will always have a primary influence over what you consider to be your roots. But over the last few days while driving across the U.S.A, I realize more than ever that there really is no other place quite like So-Cal and just how ‘So- Cal’ I have become… I love Mexican food.
Everyday I hit my local Starbucks, drinking way more coffee than tea most of the time. I love to play the healthy eating game and am addicted to acai bowls and vegan cuisine. Not a day goes by that I don’t take a minute to stop and appreciate the blue skies and palm trees. And even though I love the English pub culture, I don’t see any resemblance in Californian bars, let alone any resemblance in society's opinion on social and recreational drinking, so I’m now very much a tea-total work-a-holic thriving on the busy and creative atmosphere that I’m surrounded by all day at the Hurley H.Q.
So, when I think of home during this trip, I’ll mostly be thinking of Hurley -- the biggest point of reference for my ‘American life’-- an incredible brand, an incredible place to work, with some incredible people. And so with every East Coast city we visit, every stage we walk out on, every friend or fan we make, I’ll be telling my )( Hurley story… ‘There’s no place like home… there’s no place like Hurley…
Shaka for life mate!
-- Davey Warsop
Davey and Suedehead at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, tagging cars with Hurley and Suedehead stickers.
More fun at Cadillac Ranch.
Hurley X Suedehead van.
Birthday lunch for Chris in St. Louis, Missouri.
Old factory in St. Louis.
Stay tuned for more of Davey's Tour Rants.
