In episode 2 (an Audioboo podcast) , I talk with Neil Alexander on how he not only plans to take his synth rig “off the grid”, but also powering his gigs with a solar array/solar generator on a haul-able trailer. This is TRULY a ground-breaking idea that’s actually doable. Neil says “imagine the freedom of touring like this. You’de no longer even need clubs to play in. You could set up in a field and have at it”. I predict Neil will be featured here many times in the future as his story unfolds.

Neil Alexander is jazz pianist, synthesist, and composer living in up-state New York. You can find more about Neil at http://nailmusic.com and of course, you might want to follow him on Twitter here

Episode 1 featuring Daryl Shawn. Solo-instrumentalist Daryl Shawn tells us how he tours the US as green as he can.

About Daryl Shawn

Daryl is a solo musician based in Oaxaca, Mexico who tours the United States 5 months out of the year, coast to coast. Classically trained, he specializes in Flamenco, African and experimental sets using tape loops and a dictaphone.

DarylShawn.com

Download Video (iTunes MP4)

Mobile viewers watch here (YouTube)

Crikey! This was done in 2007? This Seesmic post (one of the only ones I’ve done there) kicked it all off. Got me invited to do an interview for BBC 5’s Pods and Blogs and the idea to do Tour Small. Can you imagine that? From Seesmic to BBC with 1 post? Mental.

Daryl Shawn tells us how he tours the country greener in 68 seconds.

Mobile viewers click here (youtube)

Daryl Shawn rolled up to his gig in a Toyota Yaris. I thought I’d give him a hand by helping him unload his gear. After all, he was kind enough to grant me an interview and let me hang out for the day. Turns out, he didn’t need my help. Actually, he didn’t even need the car. He slung two small bags over his shoulder, picked up his touring guitar, grabbed another small tote bag and said “ready?”. Here’s Daryl setting up.

Mobile viewers click here (youtube)

Daryl Shawn is Tour Small’s first guest. This was shot (played in reverse) just after we wrapped our interview at the Pharaoh’s Den, Riverside, Ca.

Youtube

One of the reasons I wanted to do a show on musicians who gig green was to learn how to apply what others are doing to the band I help manage, Televox. Televox are a Paris-based art rock band but they rarely play in France and get booked mostly in England. And that’s the challenge; how do we get these guys across the channel in a way that’s not only cheaper, but more environmentally friendly. The first set of tours saw the boys hiring a big-ass van and just chucking in every piece of kit they owned, then making the journey from Paris to England. Past few tours have been different. They now drive a small car loaded with essentials then hire bulky items (amps, monitors) locally in the cities they play. Not perfect, but definitely a step in the right direction. Here’s a video diary of one of these trips.

Televox: From Paris to Manchester (youtube)

Recorded this while driving around in the middle of the night. This is what the show is about in a nutshell although I’m sure it’ll morph and change as I go along.

This is Tour Small (Audioboo)