This is Tour Diary, where artists give us a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road. Earlier this year, Pool Kids hit the road with Militarie Gun, Spiritual Cramp, Death Lens, Spaced, and Roman Candle, moving audiences to scream along night after night with a setlist largely consisting of cuts from their powerful, and very emo, self-titled album. Here, the band gave us insight into their freshly wrapped spring tour.
Read more: 20 greatest Fueled By Ramen bands
After loading out our gear in the coldest night air, we discovered the puck locks on our van were frozen shut. We doused the lock and key with hand sanitizer to no avail, so I then had to spit hot salt water directly into the keyhole of the lock. It opened right up after we snapped this pic.—Christine Goodwyne / Photo by Caden Clinton
Austin definitely sits among the most high-octane shows of this tour. I ran up onstage to snap this pic of Ian as the final chords of “Do It Faster” rang out and subsided to raucous applause. —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
Christine and Nico backstage at The Masquerade in Atlanta prior to our set time. I think we’ve played there a total of eight or nine times. Familiarity in a venue is deeply underrated, and it always feels good landing at The Masquerade. —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
This is Death Lens, who joined us for the first leg of tour! Tony, Matt, Chloe, Ed, Jhon, and Bryan, we love y’all so much! —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
Nicolette with that singer fool from Spiritual Cramp. —Christine Goodwyne / Photo by Andy Anaya
I’m not sure where Jaake got his hands on so many bottles of bubbles, but they seem to be in endless supply. He loves bubbles because he is “full of whimsy,” which we all know to be true. —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
Nico taking a turn with the cherished sailor hat that had made it all the way to Canada at this point. I think she pulls it off. —Christine Goodwyne / Photo by Caden Clinton
Like clockwork, every single tour I get sick with a terrible sore throat that absolutely ruins my life for a few days. I’ve started packing one of these vaporizers for temporary relief. This is me vaping on the floor of First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia while Militarie Gun soundchecked. —Christine Goodwyne / Photo by Andy Anaya
Mike Bingham of Spiritual Cramp and Ian Shelton of Militarie Gun at First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia. These two are so fun to be around. —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
Apparently we drove through some of the iciest, low-visibility conditions we’ve ever driven through on the way to SLC. I was on TikTok protecting my peace in the back of the van and did not even notice. —Christine Goodwyne / Photo by Jaake Margo
Matt from Death Lens catching some feedback by his speaker cab. They were always a pleasure to watch. —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
Spaced! Far Out! They joined the tour package in Raleigh after parting ways with Death Lens. What a treat to watch them tear it up every night. —Andy Anaya / Photo by Andy Anaya
