At some point, my new band will need to find out how we are going to get all of our musical equipment to our first show. Here are the options:

Airstream meets two-ton truck.

Economy – The Sedan. Each band member throws their individual junk in their pathetic little car and arrives at the gig separately. This saves the most time, but there is no camaraderie.

Deluxe – The Van. Think Ford Econoline or Chevy Astro. Something ugly, cavernous, practical, nostalgic, and fun. You can raise hell in the van. Crack jokes, be obnoxious, blast your favorite music. Vans are the way to go. The only drawback is that they suck fuel and tend to break down at inopportune moments. When you arrive at a gig in a van, it’s like a bunch of outlaws arriving into an Old West Town at the same time. Ask anyone who has ever been in a band and they will confirm that sometimes, getting to and from the show is far more fun than the show itself.

Road Trip – The Tour Bus. This is a photo I took a couple years ago of what I deem to be the ultimate in band transportation. It’s a perfect marriage of high and low brow. I don’t know who owns it, but I want it. Whoever modified this vehicle did it with great attention to detail and intended it to be permanent. Notice that the wheels have been removed from the trailer, and a special device is attaching it to the truck cab. A basic Airstream costs about 20K. The truck cost about 10 bucks. So for $20,010 you are living the life of luxury and are ready for your first tour. A roadie (aka, gear sherpa) could drive while the rest of the guys smoke cigars and play poker in the back. No need to worry about crashing on someone’s couch after the gig. There would be no stopping a country band in a vehicle like this. They would be on their way to stardom – possibly even outselling Hannah Montana in total album sales!

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