Long-time New York Press favorite Semi Precious Weapons is touring with Lady Gaga in support of a just-released, self-titled EP, but the band comes home on Jan. 20 for a four-night stint at Radio City Music Hall.While most groups based in Greenpoint are criss-crossing the country in vans and packing those VFW halls we all love so much, the Weapons gets to play stadiums full of rabid fans—not exactly the norm for a group with one indie album under its belt.We couldn’t help but wonder what it was like for the four guys in the band, so we asked them to file reports from their time on the road. Here’s what we got.

ST. LOUIS

St. Louis is one of our favorite places on the planet.We arrived mid-blizzard to a gang of SPW fans led by our St. Louis wife, Cat. They drove us to the Atomic Cowboy and we signed autographs for all the kids who couldn’t get Gaga tickets.Then whiskey, then sleep. On show day, SPW raided a thrift store, where I got a leather poncho and Stevy got a wig called “scandalous.”

After a pre-show Jay-Z bus dance, we played an unruly set. Many lives were taken. Security tackled Cat for trying to get onstage. Sweet St.Louis, goodbye.

We watched Underworld and drank champagne on the snowy drive to Chicago. Say word.

— Cole Whittle

CHICAGO

Stevy [Pyne, guitar] and I are from Chicago, so it was a really magical homecoming. I mean, the last time we played Chicago we were driving ourselves around in a murder van playing amazing but tiny-ass rock bars. So, to pull up in front of my parents’ house in a mother-loving tour bus in three feet of snow was a moment to never forget. Not to mention they were gonna watch us open for the biggest pop star in the world.

We got to the venue at 4 p.m.-ish for the usual soundcheck-drink-makeup-dress situation.We only ever drink Champagne and whiskey, but we had to track down an insane amount of beer for my dad and brothers. Rock ‘n’ roll.

Walking out onto the stage at The Rosemont Theater was beyond amazing. All these fucking shows with Gaga have been a dream come true, but doing it in Chicago was extra, extra vamp.

— Justin Tranter

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Semi Precious Weapons
Jan. 20-21, 23-24, Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave. (betw. W. 50th & W. 51st St.), 212-247- 4777; 7:30, $49.50 and up.