Sasha & John Digweed’s Tour Bus

Sasha & John Digweed’s Tour Bus

2 April, 2008 | 3.51PM

• Section: Music News Topics: Sasha & Digweed Tour 2008
• Written by: Industry Boy

Parked on the street near The Estate club in Boston is the 48ft Prevost tour bus that will be our home for the next three weeks.

Tamarack Coaches is the company that Sasha and John Digweed are renting the tour bus from, and this is the bus’ maiden voyage apparently.

Patrick Tetrick, Sasha and Digweed’s manager for this tour shows me around the plush interior and lays down the law of the road.

“John, Sasha, the driver and me,” he says, pointing at the first four bunk beds which have more headroom than the rest.

“Choose your bunk from the other six.”

It feels like the first day of school, with Patrick playing the role of the older kid showing the noobie around.

He’s been Sasha’s tour manager for years and did the Delta Heavy tour back in 2002 so he’s a veteran of the road with a swagger to boot.

Each bunk is equipped with a Phillips fold down personal entertainment centre, and come with a DVD player, radio, satellite TV and an iPod dock.

There are six bunks left to choose from, all of them equally comfortable and proportionate in size.

“When you sleep, lie with your legs facing forwards,” says Patrick, indicating the direction with his hands.

“That’s because if we rear end somebody on the freeway it don’t snap your neck.

“Quite a lot of people have died on these buses over the years.”

I notice a bathroom to the left, that has a toilet and an almost full-sized shower.

On the toilet door are two pieces of paper with information for tonight’s gig in Boston and tomorrow’s in Philly.

The club tonight opens at 7pm, and Kazell is the warm up DJ. Sasha and John are due to spin at 10.30pm and will play till the club closes at 2am.

The bus for Philly leaves at 10am and then it’s a six and half hour drive to Philadelphia.

“No shitting on the bus,” says Patrick.

“If you need to crap, we’ve got to stop the bus because there’s no way we can flush it out.

“Trust me you do not want to be the guy that takes a shit on Sasha and John Digweed’s tour bus because we’ll have to live with the smell for three days.

“Plus if you bring anybody on the bus, like a girl, make sure they don’t take a shit.”

At the front of the bus is a lounge area with three couches, two giant Toshiba plasma screens, and an entertainment centre complete with a Marantz amp, a DVD player, a VHS player and satellite TV.

There’s a fridge, freezer and microwave too.

At the back of the bus is another lounge with more plasma screens and its own soundsystem.

There’s also WIFI on the bus.

All in all, this is more like a portable hotel suite for 10 people, than a bus.

Then Sasha walks in, carrying some shopping bags, a MacBook Pro and a LaCie external harddrive.

He’s beaming from ear to ear.

“Oh man, this bus is wicked,” he tells me, walking from the front to the back, counting all the screens, microwaves and bunk beds.

“Last time our bus had 18 bunks, so this is much better.

“Plus the last one stank of beer, fags, and cum but this one smells really nice.”

The first day of school so far, rules.

• (6) Comments
• (2320) Views