Welcome to Gig Bag, a BGS feature that peeks into the touring essentials of some of our favorite artists. This time around, the Deslondes give us a look at what they have to have handy when they are out on the road.
Sam Doores: This is my 1950s Kay acoustic guitar, DeArmond sound hole pickup, and harmonica rack. These are the only possessions I have that go everywhere I do. They’ve met my whole family and most of my friends. They’ve survived many long nights of trading tunes around the fire as well as seven+ years of touring with the band. It’s the warmest and most comfortable guitar I’ve ever played and, when plugged into a small tremolo amp, it sounds so good that it often distracts audiences from the fact that I can’t play very fancy. It’s the best $400 I’ve ever spent. I love it and can’t imagine my life without it.
Riley Downing: I usually take the same basic stuff on tour with me — socks, toothbrush, 44 Magnum/box a shells. But if I had to, I would pick my new guitar strap that my Aunt Cathy made me. I love it more than my guitar. It was like getting a quilt from grandma. She also makes some other amazing things out of leather.
Dan Cutler: Here’s my diddy bag. I guess it’s my favorite thing to bring on tour. It’s definitely my most hygienic thing. Personal hygiene can feel like a fleeting dream sometimes on tour, so my diddy bag helps to keep me on a cleaner path. It originally belonged to my big brother, so it’s kind of a family heirloom now. Nothing special about it really, though it is pretty remarkable that I’ve managed to hang on to it all these years!
John James: This is my tour stuff — books … I’m into short stories, poetry, novellas. My bucket is the shit. It keeps everything dry and protected. It’s my seat and sometimes table. This is a rare bucket cuz it’s six-and-a-half gallons, which is the perfect height for my pedal steel and legs. It’s seen better days … notice the duct tape job. I don’t fly with it anymore. A carton of smokes is crucial, yet not ever usually enough. It’ll get me a handful of days into tour.
Cameron Snyder: I don’t have a picture, because it lives in the van, but I never go on tour without my trusty cot. It was inexpensive, it’s easy to carry around, and it doesn’t take up much space. It’s nice to have a dependable place to sleep for the nights when our accommodations don’t include enough beds for everyone. My home away from home.
Photo credit: Tamara Grayson
