One of the advantages of travelling by tourbus is that, in general, the “days off” are genuine “days off” and not “travel days”. The bus takes us overnight to the new city, and then we have a full day to unwind and walk the streets, rather than losing most of the day in an airport or on an aeroplane.
Milwaukee had a wonderful atmosphere, and the seafood bar in the public market was a real treat: mussels, oysters, scallops. We only narrowly managed to restrain ourselves and not move on to lobster and crab. The lake front also proved an ideal place for jogging, which can so often be difficult in cities. And I found time for a long overdue haircut. A wonderful city for a day off.
When we planned this tour, we endeavoured to avoid inside venues as much as possible (although back in May/June, this was not a particular issue as there was a general belief that Covid was in retreat in the USA). For whatever reason, the Miller High Life Theatre was the only option in Milwaukee. The ambience of particular rooms makes a big difference to drummers in particular, and I know that Joe Travers of the Zappa Band particularly enjoyed being back inside. Both bands went down very well, and the show was much better attended than we feared.
