I saw Austin Dutmer, drummer of the Milwaukee band and Sub Pop-certified Jaill, pop up on my Google chat this morning and remembered the band had just started its European tour. He was kind enough to give me a quick rundown of their first few days there.
Me: Hey Austin, want to do a quick chat interview about Europe for OnMilwaukee?
Austin: Uhhh, how quick?
Me: As quick as you want!
Austin: Whaddya wanna know?
Me: Where are you?
Austin: Paris.
Me: How's tour going so far?
Austin: EXHAUSTING ... no, its fine. We just got shocked into Euro time this morning. Had to catch the Eurostar train from London to Paris at 7 this morning, so right now I'm on two hours sleep, and the front desk clerk at the sh*tty hotel we're staying at was not friendly to Americans at all.
Me: Were you scared being in the Chunnel?
Austin: I was trying to sleep through the Chunnel! Get this: the stupid English broad across the aisle from me WOKE ME UP to ask me to turn down my iPod. It was on half volume already. "Turn it down a wee bit could you?" Well, her two friends in front of her never once stopped talking about their iPhones so screw her ... You don't have to print that.
Me: Ha ha what a slag!
Austin: Stupid old bag.
Me: Where are you most excited to play over there? What country doesn't hate Americans and iPods?
Austin: The club here is real cool. It's like an old converted train station, Le F'leche D'or. Uh, excited? We're excited for Amsterdam.
Me: Ha ha, obviously.
Austin: We're playing a festival there called London Calling.
Me: So how long do you have left and where are you going?
Austin: We just started man, three more weeks. We go to Utrecht, Netherlands tomorrow.
Me: Whoa, you guys are covering some ground. OK, one more question, what do you hope to teach the people of Europe about American rock and roll, and have you taken any pictures there yet you could e-mail me really quickly?
Austin: Ah, sorry, no. Don't have that ability yet. Vinnie might, well, no.
Me: No worries, just thought it would be cool.
Austin: His iPhone cost a million dollars a minute. Yeah it woulda been cool. You just reminded me that I didn't bring the cord.
Me: but back to the Frenchies, what would you hope to learn them about Milwaukee rock?
Austin: Uh, guck man. I'm neither funny nor coherent right now. Ask another question.
Me: Is there something you are excited about buying and or eating over there?
Austin: Ha! FOOD. I've eaten twice since we got here on Monday, no joke. I went almost 28 hours between bites of food.
Me: Brutal, man.
Austin: Like I said, today was kinda rough.
Me: Well I hope it gets better, but if I learned anything from "National Lampoon's European Vacation" you are screwed.
Austin: I wanna buy some cheap knock-off Czech shoes when we're in Prague. My Adidas got a hole in the sole the day I left the country, now my right foot is all wet and there's nothing I can do about it.
Me: That sucks, man. This is not as glamorous as I had envisioned.
Austin: So yeah, I wanna buy me some Mike's, or New Nalance.
Me: Ha ha, rad.
Austin: Czike's. Czust Czo It.
Me: OK man, have fun and get some rest. I'll talk to you later.
Austin: Thanks man, later!
Me: Hah, adios.
Austin: Au revoir.
