Benefits put tour money in The Makai's pocket

Originally published Feb. 06, 2008 in The Orion.
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A smaller band usually prepares for tour by rehearsing, getting a van ready, saving money for gasoline and loading equipment. Buying plane tickets is not usually in the equation.

For the first time, Chico metal band The Makai is crossing the Atlantic Ocean for a European tour. The self-booked tour will begin Feb. 27 in the Netherlands and take the band to Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Before the band leaves, it will play two benefit shows to help cover tour expenses. Nick's Night Club will host the first show Friday, featuring a diverse lineup of metal, indie-rock and folk music.

While some band members have been to Europe as tourists, guitarist Ian Makau, guitarist Zeke Rogers, drummer Jesse Shreibman, vocalist Brandon Squyres and bassist Jeff Worrel are excited to travel to Europe as a band, Squyres said.

The Makai formed in 2004, but it was not until 2005 that the current lineup came together and started touring.

The band has booked tours in the United States, but arranging a European tour is much more difficult, Squyres said. The Internet has made networking easier, but some language barriers still exist.

"In e-mails some people wrote in broken English," he said. "Sometimes, I wasn't sure if we had a show or not."

Not being familiar with venues or bands in other countries requires more time to plan, but Rogers had help from contacts he established in the Netherlands while touring Europe with former bands, Rogers said.

The band leaves in less than a month, but it hopes to add at least 10 more shows to the 15 that are already confirmed for the tour.

"It's like an Easter egg hunt," Rogers said.

The band has already dealt with language barriers through e-mail, but that issue will diminish when speaking with people face to face, Squyres said. However, audiences may have a hard time understanding Squyres' caustic, screaming vocals.

"Nobody understands me anyway," he said.

Grinding vocals are typical of metal music, but along with grueling guitars and changing tempos, The Makai engages audiences with its high energy. Band members really get into playing their instruments and seldom stay in one standing position.

High energy will fill up the various European venues. Band members know some shows are scheduled at pubs, but other venues will be a surprise, Rogers said.

Europe has a big "squat" scene, he said. Squatting is when show organizers or bands make use of abandoned buildings and fill the empty space with live music.

The idea of taking over an abandoned space may seem second-rate, but hospitality is actually superior compared to a lot of established venues, Rogers said. The "do-it-yourself" aspects of music are cherished, and show organizers take care of the bands by providing them with meals and a place to sleep.

Meeting hospitable people on tour helps save money, he said. Renting a van, gasoline, borrowing equipment and plane tickets add up to roughly $8,000.

The Makai do not have high hopes for raising a lot money at the benefit shows, Rogers said.

"A few hundred dollars helps," he said. "But we just like playing with our friends who play good music."

Sleazy Earl Ray and the 2 Drink Minimum is one of the performers on Friday's bill and the band expects the show to raise enough money for The Makai's members to enjoy themselves in Europe, Sleazy Earl Ray said.

"We'll make, I'd say, probably about $40 worth of free drinks," he said.

The shows display more of the band's excitement for the European tour, Shreibman said. While Chico's P.A.W.N.S. and Gruk have also toured Europe, The Makai hopes more Chico bands will see they can tour outside the country, too.

Sleazy Earl Ray and the 2 Drink Minimum would like to tour Europe in the near future.

"I've heard they have good beer there," Ray said.

Regardless of how much money the band makes, touring Europe will be fun, Rogers said. The band will play a second benefit show Feb. 16 at Monstros Pizza.

After returning from Europe, The Makai wants to venture to Japan, South America, Australia and Iceland, he said. More benefit shows might be needed for those aspirations.