Dear fans, friends and families! Here is the first part of the tour blog coming from Pagans Mind doing our first US tour!

TOUR LOG PART I

Friday, sept 11th
Left Skien Rock City at 6 in the morning and checked in instruments and personal stuff in at Gardermoen Oslo airport about 9.00. Manager Frode Johnsrud left for Atlanta two days in prior, carrying 10 bags of merch, instruments and other stuff for the band all alone himself!
Landed at Newark Intl Airport 8 hours later, and the transfer with customs, immigration, rechecking our bags in 1 hour and 20 minutes made us nearly miss the plane to Atlanta. We ran like hell and were just able to enter the plane before they closed the doors being the last of the passengers on the plane. Landing in Atlanta in sunny, warm weather was nice though despite of the tiredness of travelling. Checking into the luxurios Artmore hotel just a minute walk from the venue was just IT after an exhausting journey. Some went to sleep and some walked around the city for a while. Nils were to sing two songs with Crimson Glory that same night with their Midnight Memorial show, featuring the creme de la creme vocalists of the festival and some others too:-) Our very own Nils ripped it up of course, even though he´d been been awake for 28 hours at the time he went on stage.

Saturday, sept 12th
As the boys were tired from the journey the day before, all got to bed early and therefore rose pretty early, and were rested and ready for the big show at Prog Power X that same night. Soundcheck was 11.30 and with our excellent soundguy, Mr. Pontus Norgren (guitarist for Hammerfall and ex-Poodles) travelling with us for half the tour, the sound issue was taken care of and Pagan´s Mind could do what they do best, and that is to SLAY on stage:-))) Signing for the longest line of fans wanting their autographs and pictures ever about 4.30, good friends Norwegian colleagues Circus Maximus was first off on saturday and as always they did an excellent job. Pagans Mind went on stage at 8 that evening to a packed house at Center Stage Atlanta, which is a beautiful venue btw! This was our third time at ProgPower US, but definately the best one in every way for the band. Everything was perfect. The sound ripped, the band was tight as hell and the audience totally took off. Once again our american friends gave us lifetime experience....this is what music is all about: the incredible joy and energy you experience on stage - it really cant be traded by anything for sure! Of course the party afterwards was a blast as well, although we are not 18 years old anymore the bed was calling pretty early for some us at "decent times" that night.

Sunday, sept 13th
Our manager Frode Johnsrud kicked us out of bed at 9:30 which is an early rise for musicians he he! The tour bus were at the hotel at 10:00 and we had to load all the gear into it and get ready for our first tour in the United States of America ever...
The single-decked PREVOST tour bus is a really nice and luxurios ride with everything you need. Need to be safe and sound when you are touring for weeks and use your energy as hard as we do every night! The bus driver Phil, was said to be as good of a bus driver as a body guard - if you saw the man you would understand. A big strong black man with lots of humour and as you all would understand makes best friends with Steinar almost just out of Atlanta...:-))
The first of our headline shows was that very same evening in Charlotte, New Carolina, a four-hour drive from Atlanta. Really nice venue at Amos´South End made us experience a friendly welcome! Sunday evening is never a good day to do concerts but after two local supports that evening, a pretty small but crazy crowd made this night also a great experience and Pagans Mind gained more fans once again. Some there had travelled for up to 8 hours to attend our show. As all over the world, PM fans are extremely dedicated and breathes and lives everything we are all about:-) One fan had even painted our logo all over his car!:-)

The crew and band on the bus so far:
Nils K. Rue, Vocals
Jørn Viggo Lofstad, Guitars
Ronny Tegner, Keyboards
Steinar Krokmo, bass guitar
Stian Kristoffersen, Drums
Pontus Norgren, Sound Engineer
Frode Johnsrud, band and tour manager
Leah Burlington, Photographer, journalist and general helping hand
Wayne Petrosky, hard working stage hand, in-and outloader and "do everything guy", this man is amazing and makes life on the road SO much more comfortable for us....we owe you big time every day dear friend!
Phil - bus driver

A FANTASTIC TEAM!!!!!

TOUR LOG PART II

Monday, sept 14th
Day off and what a spot to have a day off at: Washington DC! We were to gig in Springfield which is just outside the American Capital the next day so we decided to get a room at the same hotel our driver was at (to get showers and such) - this was in Springfield though, and after Nils tortured everyone with a 1 1/2 hour walk to the train station, after realizing that a cab into the heart of DC was just about the same $$ as the price for all of us going by train, we finally got on it. Went straight to the White House to get pictures and such and walked around for a while, then headed straight for a restaurant recommended by our very own Wayne Stagehand, we had a long and nice dinner the american way!! A great and relaxing day and thats when when we decided that our next three-week US tour will be named "The Day-Off Tour" with TWO gigs, starting off in NYC on the first and in LA on the last date. In between, only days off!!! I love days off, thanks - Nils.

Tuesday, sept 15th
Everyone got up at decent times and went to a local BIG (as everything in the US) mall and did some shopping. Compared to Norwegian prices the american is like ha-ha so practically shopping for us in the US is all fun. Like Nike Air shoes for 50 bucks? Hilarious! Got into the venue Jaxx at around 4, doing soundcheck. Good venue and Wal-Mart and 7-11 just across the street so everything is good! Anyway the show went well with again, a small but very dedicated crazy crowd in Springfield. We just have to realize that doing a US tour for the first time ever (when headlining) means good, but small crowds. We know though that the shows with Stratovarius will be at a bigger scale so thanks again to the Stratovarius team for having us in on this tour and making our name bigger in the biggest music market in the world:-) Met fans after the show which were - as said - extremely dedicated and SO glad to get to meet and greet us, getting pics and autographs! All in all a good night and as always, the greatest ambassador of all times, our beloved bassist Steinar makes special friends all along the way:-)

Wednesday, sept 16th
Unreal moment, the start of an all-unreal day. Pagan´s Mind rides their tour bus into the heart of New York City, city of cities on our first gig there ever. Really it "wakes us up" realizing the fact that our music has gotten us so far we´re going to play the NOKIA THEATRE in the middle of Times Square tonight. Jeez, thanks parents, friends, God and bully classmates haha. Reality Check: this is a big thing for us. Parks the bus just outside the venue doing a quick load out and Phil (by the way sounds JUST like Eddie Murphy when talking) he parks near to Hudson River which has a parking spot for trailers and buses. No problem as the Nokia Theatre venue is the most luxurios, beautiful venue with staff you could ever dream of holding a backstage area totally lined up with everything a band could ever dream of - drinks, food, snacks, you mention it! Really top-line all the way. Did soundcheck with pristine sound and Pontus (Brother of Sound) smiles from ear to ear knowing this night will be memorable. We had some hours walking around in the big apple but preparations for a really important night were taking hold of the guys anyways. Nils and Ronny had to get back to the bus because of an adapter Ronny needed for his keyboards (and some unnecessary makeup stuff Nils needs) and tried to catch a cab outside the venue. No cab stopped but a 10-meter long Limousine did, and Barby, the driver, a big black guy took them to the bus and back during an hour of heavy traffic for $40 - hilarious! Well I got to drive a limo in the big big apple for an hour and be a real rock star that afternoon (thanks - Nils!!!) We shared the backstage room with local support and theyre were really nice guys! Going on stage, the place were packed (which by the may were the venue where the MTV awards were being held the very same next night - think about that!) and people SCREAMED as we were entering the stage. A magical moment. "We´re far from small stinky clubs" hehe! Anyway the mosh pit, the fantastic crowd, the energy and pristine sound is what you call a moment in life. I sometimes think I can be proud of this and lay down my swords being fully satisfied with what I´ve done in my life though I´m still hungry (thanks, Nils:-)) Yeah, I really think reality checks are healthy fo you every once in a while!:-)
The crowd made us feel like heroes in the middle of New York City. What more can you ask for as a Rock Band? When Stratovarius got on stage we felt that the New york crowd loved us even more and the signing session after the show made us believe that. Everyone wanted pictures and autographs and told us we were heaven sent. Bus call was not until 4.00 in the morning so we got to experience what "New York, New York" is all about. Made it to a open restaurant, had a big long nice dinner and did walk in the neon lights for some hours until Phil the Great picked us up ,comforting us with our nice bus and comfy bunks. Drove through the night and the lights of New York City making us reflect about this very magical night which will remain in our hearts forever. WE LOVE NYC!!!!!! 

TOUR LOG PART III

We wake up to Phil driving us to upstate NY, to Buffalo, where we decided to see Niagara Falls on this day off. Pontus wanted to go to the Anchor Bar and have the official first real Buffalo Wings. So we get a motel for Phil and rented two cars and got the guys together for a road trip of our own. Thank God for GPS or we would have been screwed with Frode trying to lead the pack of metal heads up to Niagara Falls. We drive for about 30 minutes and see this mist and know we are there. We walk quite a ways and get to see one of the most awesome wonders on the planet. It is truly incredible to see and it was my first time seeing it! There were squirrels everywhere that would have jumped in my hand for goodies if I had them. The place is beautiful. We all loved the majesty of the falls. I lagged behind because my back was killing me. If it wasn’t for that, I would have kept up with these crazy Scandinavians the whole time. We got some great photo’s and drove onto to the Anchor Bar for the most amazing bar food. They ordered so much food, I thought they were crazy. The wings and homemade blue cheese were so good! After gorging on food, we go back to the bus and I pass out from sheer exhaustion and a full tummy. This was my last night with the guys, so I really savored it. I woke up at 7am to a bus all a flutter as they had to get ready for their next show in Toronto, Canada. So I said my goodbyes, got hugs and took off to the airport to fly home for 5 hours with a sore back. That was fun.
I have to say that those were 5 of the most amazing days I have ever had. Just imagine being on the road with one of your favorite bands and being able to experience being in that presence and energy non- stop. They had me laughing so damn much that my face hurt and so hard, I threw my back out. It was ok though, as it was well worth the pain of being able to be there with them and see them live 4 times. They are all sweet and kind men with the utmost respect. They were totally dirty as boys can be but they knew to be respectful of a woman on the bus as much as they could be. I really love them and the music more now and totally respect their talent. There is no one out there that sounds like them and no band that is as funny and talented as they are. I will never forget them and cant wait to see them again on the Triton Power Cruise in April of 2010. I wish to thank Nils, Steinar, Stian, Ronny,and Jorn Viggo for putting up with me being there and Frode for making a dream come true for me. I wish them good luck in all their future gigs and the new CD they are working on. Make sure to get the new live DVD/CD that is coming out in a few weeks.
We would like to thank Pagans Mind for allowing us into their world for a short time. Go to http://www.pagansmind.com/ for more info on this amazing band!! Also they are involved in a cruise in April 2010 too. For info on that, you can go to: http://www.tritonpowercruise.com/
www.pagansmind.com - the official site
Source: www.pagansmind.com
PAGAN'S MIND has just completed work on its first DVD, to be released by the band's own label and distributed by Indie Distribution. A street date will be announced shortly.