After such a globally groundbreaking tour last year in Europe, the Aires had no idea how to further change the a cappella community forever, so they instead decided to keep it cool and spend Spring Break this year on the sunny coast of California. Due to an early morning plane flight, in true Aires fashion the group decided to kick off tour in a non-alcoholic manner in the Tabard basement before the ride to the airport. Already more grizzled than possible, the crew of 13 (Deko had some unfinished business in la France, and showed up en retard) boarded the plane in Manchester with a mission to enjoy the next 14 days in a way only a group of singsongsters can do.
And that they did.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Cujomom was eagerly awaiting the group with no clue what was in store for her and the rest of the folks that would soon encounter the terror of the Aires. After a drive down the sandy coast, the group arrived at Cujohome where most of the guys immediately jumped in the pool while others attacked some guacamole and coronas donning their new matching sandals. Later that evening, the guys caravanned down to Long Beach where they rented two boats to cruise the channels. A few jellyfish later, the team scarfed Mexican food, almost got arrested, and then headed back to pass out.
The next eight days in Southern California were full of adventure and mayhem. The group hit up some clubs downtown (or at least tried to), strutted down Venice beach with sexy henna tattoos and a new, sweet kite, shopped for dollars on Melrose, and played a good deal of Airesvolleyball on the beach.
A lot of time on tour, however, was spent hanging out with some dirty old alums around the house. Cujofamily had never seen such grim sludge accumulate in the filter system of their pool, but thankfully the Jacuzzi was always hot and ready hours before use. Just ask Jojo. The TV was also usually broadcasting the most recent bball game, and the ping-pong table outside served many uses throughout the tour. Even a few monumental songs were written during nights of VIRGIN margaritas and days of cruising in the coolest rental car ever created.
The last four days in the southland indeed marked the arrival of the Dekster; however they also were full of even more traveling all over the Los Angeles area and beyond. After a night at Expo's beautiful abode, the group sang at the Harvard Westlake School and followed up a day at the beach with a night of delibs slightly less painful than death. The next day brought a show at USC with the co-ed Reverse Osmosis that was followed by a party and sleep, if you can call it that. With the following day's sunrise, the group headed up north to Santa Barbara where they performed for the non-profit organization run by the Macmannis Family and stayed overnight in their wonderful home (Hilo unfortunately couldn't make it: he's too busy renting cars to people). On the way back down to LA, the team stopped by a paintball park where a lot of built up aggression was released by shooting virtual holes through one another. If only the guns had been real...
Then, on March 24, as Cazzo headed east to DC and Cujo headed south to a place with good air, the rest piled into their three trusty rental vehicles and trucked up the coast of that big state with the smell of salt in the air, an adventure in their hearts, and granite in their brains.
The remaining singsongsters unfortunately only had four days up in the bay area, but as we all know, the Aires really know how to make a lot happen in a little time. On the way up the guys stopped by a deliciously Italian restaurant in Santa Cruz owned by the father of Aimee Barnes ('04, Rockapella, and intimate friend of the Aires). After stuffing their faces full of food, they continued on up and made the last stretch to San Fran.
Once in San Francisco, the city of dreams, the group split and stayed with two incredibly gracious alums and their families: Al Henning '77 and Linda Swenberg '89. Their homes were beautiful, and the group can't thank them enough.
As for shows, the days were packed with them. First, a private show at the Pacific Union Club that not only blew the group away in terms of the beauty and splendor of the building itself, but the pounds of delicious food and the gallons of free, non-alcoholic beverages that ended up in our gentlemen's stomachs were also quite impressive. Then on to the Greater San Francisco Alumni Club. With a picturesque golf club as a backdrop to the show, the group serenaded guests with D-tunes and old and new favorites. It was also quite a treat to see a large handful of recent alumni in the audience. Finally, the group sang for the Palo Alto Alumni Club right around the corner from the Henning's home. All three shows were really a treat, and certainly a blast, as always.
As for "social activity," the group saw one of the worst movies in the history of the world, "The Hills Have Eyes." Most of the group either fell asleep or amused themselves in a different way, but afterwards the group soothed their souls with a few good non-alcoholic drinks. The group also took some long walks through the city, checked out the Golden Gate Bridge, a sight to behold, and explored the many harbors that line the bay. The group also drove down the nation's most curvaceous road, and others that evening fixed their eyes on a different type of curve (Hi, Milo!). Adam Ballard '00 acted as tour guide for a day, leading the group around the fashionable area of Haight-Ashbury, and the guys shopped for sweet new trou, easily finding a few new pices de resistances amongst the mounds of vintage gems in the area. That evening they chowed on some delicious Italian grub, and the next day, they watched their newly conquered territory disappear through tiny airplane windows.
In the end, tour ended up to be a wild and crazy time, as expected, and none of the guys looked forward to school as they pulled into the Manchester airport at midnight the day before classes started. Nevertheless, after a shower and a shave, the Aires were ready like the sober army they are to head back out into the world, spreading joy and song everywhere they go, but the memory of California will always hold a special place in their sweet little hearts.
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