Koror, Palau - July 1-7, 2001

The Seabees CAT team was very helpful in getting us situated and acclimated to the region and customs. Unfortunately, we arrived during a major tropical depression, and our luggage and equipment was left behind in Guam. All phone lines were down throughout Koror, as was the power and water.

We made the most of this downtime by walking around town in ponchos and meeting the locals. The Palauans were very friendly and were always ready to offer us any assistance we needed. Our equipment arrived two days later. Due to the rain our show with the USS Fredrick was cancelled. We were able to play two successful shows in the Olympic Gymnasium. As was predicted the local people were shy at first, but their response to the show was warm and enthusiastic.

To future entertainers, we would recommend the Café Palau for a great breakfast and Sam’s Tours for kayaking the rock islands.

Chuuk, Micronesia - July 9-11, 2001

The CAT team on Chuuk was experienced and most helpful in every way. Accommodations were excellent. Mason Fritz, the manager of the Blue Lagoon Hotel, was very informative and gave us a historical overview of the island.

We were scheduled to play a single show at the airport. However, when the USS Fredrick arrived in port on the same day that we flew in, we decided to make up for Palau by playing a show for them that night on the pier. It was an excellent party. We had a few Navy officers join us on stage, and everyone had a good time. The show at the airport drew many locals, and went over very well.

The people of Chuuk are poor, and there were rumors of anti-American sentiment. However the people we experienced were joyful and happy to welcome us to their island.

To future entertainers, we recommend the 50-cent chilled coconuts available everywhere.

Pohnpei, Micronesia - July 11-13, 2001

The CAT team on Pohnpei, was helpful in getting us set up. We got a rental car because the CAT camp was quite far away from our hotel, and the guys were busy building a hospital. SPC Justin Willis took us sightseeing to some ruins and waterfalls around the CAT camp. Pohnpei was very clean, the people very friendly, and the show went great. It was convenient that our show was right in our hotel

To future entertainers, we must advise you that the coffee at the PCR hotel is terrible. Go to the Village Resort for a proper cup.

Kosrae, Micronesia - July 14-16, 2001

The CAT team here on Kosrae was new to the island but still very helpful. Accommodations at the Nautilus were good.

Apparently there is not the same separation of church and state in Kosrae that we enjoy in the USA, and there seemed to be some sort of religious / political issues surrounding our show there. For example we were told that the CAT team was forbidden to advertise us on the radio, and we were asked by one official not to play our show at all.

After some negotiation between the CAT team and the Lieutenant Governor, we were able to play our show. We added a few statements from the stage about the importance of education and staying away from drugs and everyone seemed to be satisfied.

The people were receptive and seemed to enjoy themselves. Many of the locals sat in cars around the field perimeter and honked their horns as a form of applause between songs.

Future entertainers should be aware that it is forbidden to walk on the streets on Sunday in Kosrae, unless you are en route to church.

Kwajalein Atoll - July 17-21, 2001

Our POC Steve Snider was extremely professional, and had everything scheduled perfectly. Accommodations were outstanding. Meals in the dining hall were definitely a welcome change of pace.

Our first show was in a nightclub on the island of Roi, and the crowd was energetic and friendly, with lots of dancing. This was also quite welcome after playing shows in the Micronesian states where dancing is discouraged or forbidden due to religious reasons.

Our next two shows were on Kwajalein Island, one outdoors on the beach, and the other in a restaurant / bar. Both crowds were awesome and the music well received, with the exceptional "Free Bird" request.

Our advice to future entertainers is to learn Free Bird.

Johnston Atoll - July 20-24

We were tired when we arrived on Johnston Island, after having to wake at 4am and travel for a good part of the day. Fortunately the MWR crew had already set up a full sound system for us when we arrived at the club for sound check that night. This made everything a lot easier.

We played three nights in a row on JA, Saturday being our strongest night and best crowd. We had a couple of talented Army engineers play a few songs with us, which everyone seemed to enjoy.

Future entertainers should be warned of smelly bird guano on the outer islands!

Summary

Overall our Micronesia tour was a total success for us both personally and professionally. It was a pleasure to meet and get to know many fine people, both American military personnel and local inhabitants. We learned a lot from this journey, both about ourselves and the about the world around us. We would like to thank American Forces Entertainment for giving us this great experience.