The Boston On The Road Tour was put together by the Bosstones to showcase Boston area bands. Lineup: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bim Skala Bim, The Amazing Royal Crowns, and The Dropkick Murphys.
At this point in 1997, The Bosstones were the biggest band in the land with a #1 single, and every show on this tour was completely sold out. The Crowns ended up playing arenas, school football fields, ice hockey rinks, huge clubs, sheds, you name it.
The tour ran from September to November 1997 (for exact dates check our Gigography) and went all over the US and into Canada. It was a big operation with multiple Big Rig tractor trailer's setting up full stages with flown PA and lighting rigs one day ahead to cut down on set up day of show.
The Crowns shared a bus with Bim Skala Bim for this tour. This was the band's first time traveling by bus, and a great (if not crowded) time was had by all.
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Images 1-2: Jason's All Access laminate.
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Image 3: Jack sound checks for the security detail.
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Image 4: Backstage production shot of the Crowns bass drum carried to stage.
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Image 5: Jack and friend backstage.
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Image 6: Johnny backstage.
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Image 7: Johnny and Nate at soundcheck.
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Images 8-19: Crowns onstage.
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Images 20-21: Jason talks with fans backstage.
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Image 22: Video of Crowns set from 10/22/97 at the Spectrum in Montreal.
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Image 23: Video of Jason singing "A Little Bit Ugly" with Dickie at the Spectrum.
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Image 24: All Access pass for the Raleigh, NC stop of the tour.
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Image 25: Boston On The Road poster art.
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Image 26: Spectrum, Montreal Poster.
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Image 27: Cain's Ballroom flyer.
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Image 28: Bozeman, MT flyer.
"So many crazy memories of this tour. One that comes to mind is Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, OK. We were so excited due to Bob Wills, Hank Williams and so many other legends played here. They still had the spring-loaded dance floor! I took a nap on the couch that Hank Williams slept on, plus I got to see the Sid Vicious signature in the dressing room from when the Sex Pistols played one of their last ever gigs here.
Another was playing The Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI. The busses arrive early so we were looking for something to do, a few of us got flashlights and started exploring the hallways and stairwells in the dark (the place is huge). We found ourselves a few floors below the ground in an abandoned bowling alley, walking behind the lanes, then we went another floor down and ended up in sort of an old, abandoned spa, complete with showers, snack bar, seating etc. As we fumbled around in darkness, we found ourselves almost falling into an abandoned in-ground pool! This thing was HUGE. It was super fun and spooky. In the ballroom where we played, there is a shrine to Buddy Holly, as he had played the venue 12 days before he died in a plane crash. We didn't know it at the time, but the Eagles Ballroom is known as a haunted destination." -Jason
Video of Crowns set from the Collection of Andy Mak
Video of Jason singing with Dickie from the Collection of SkankTime
Photos, Posters, Passes, and Laminate from the Collection of Jason Kendall
