Vancouver to Minneapolis

We have a few days off so we can get from Vancouver to…Minneapolis.  Almost 2000 miles.  Overnight stops in Butte, MT and Fargo, ND.

We hit snow – first of the tour.  Few things are as terrifying to me as guiding our big rear-wheel drive van through snowy mountain passes, in the dark.  And every time the snow briefly lets up…it gets foggy. 

Finally, we reach my cousin's arts complex in Butte.  It’s a huge, 6 story building for artists, build into an old YMCA.  Complete with basketball arena.  It is just another surreal part of an already surreal day.

We again cross endless plains of snow, trees covered.  Aside from the stray truck, we seem to be the only car on the road.  Vague shapes appear in the blinding white haze -farms and boxcars, or the ghosts of farms and boxcars.  We could be the only people left in the world, for all we know.  

Vancouver

We've got Miles in the van with us today – his band is staying in Seattle with their broken van, so he'll play solo.  Also, we decide not to risk getting Colin across the border today (long story for after the Toronto shows), so we leave him with a friend in Bellingham.

And then, paperwork all printed, passports in order, we head to the border.   Even with everything in order and no reason to worry, its hard not to worry when you're sitting in a huge building with fluorescent lights beaming down and you and the armed border crossing officers.

The show in Vancouver turns out to be the best show of the tour.  Justin and I switch off on bass, and we dig out some older songs and arrangements.  The Media Club reminds me so much of playing in the UK – a small, intimate club with lots of candles and an incredibly attentive audience.  We end the show by playing "End" completely acoustic in the middle of the room.  And our host Ingrid makes us an incredible meal.  For a place we've never played a show, it’s a total success.

As a result of all of this success, I am also incredibly hung over.  And in the middle of the night, someone scrawls "CANADA RULES" on our American-flag-bedecked spare tire cover.

Seattle

Just as we're pulling up to the venue, we get a call from the Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson crew.  Their van is broken down, about 10 blocks from the venue.  We go into full problem-solving mode.

1)      All of the bands are going to share our backline, including amps.

2)      We start our soundcheck while Jesse goes to get the MBAR crew and as much gear they can toss into the van.

3)      Jesse gets onstage, checks vocals.  Our soundcheck is done.

4)      We make sure the MBAR crew have enough time to get set up and familiar with our amps before their set.

And all goes well, and as on time as ever.  It might not be as extreme every time, but this is the kind of stuff we deal with every day.  Always an interesting job, for certain.  Big old vans and so much gear and so many miles to go in such a short time.

Portland, OR

Mississippi Street, Portland, OR

Arcata to Portland

Got back from the show around 2-ish, up at 8 for a quick shower.  Sarah shows up with bagels, Craig just barely awake in the cold and foggy dawn.  We stumble into the van, and we're off, through the fog.

The waves crash near the towering redwoods.  I want to wake everyone up, but there's no shortage of scenery, and there's always a shortage of sleep.  Robby fully extended on the back seat, Colin and Jesse slumped over in the middle.  Justin fitfully dozes in the passenger's seat.  "tour brain" has fully set in – the lack of sleep and unhealthy habits of being on the road.  The hardest question you can ask a touring band is "where were you two days ago?"

San Francisco

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge:

Santa Cruz to San Francisco

The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz is one of my favorite stops.  In addition to incredible crepes and a great staff, both shows we played there were memorable.  Its just a tiny room where you set up on the floor.  No separation between audience and performer.  And because of that, the set is incredibly visceral -  you're face to face with people, watching them respond to what you're doing (and vice versa).  As the saying goes, you build your audience one person at a time.  In this case, it couldn't be more true.  And that's a really special thing to be a part of.

After the show, the message not to take the 17 up to the place we're staying gets lost in the shuffle.  So, I take route 17 in the middle of the night…through the mountain passes and the rain and fog.  It is just as harrowing as ever, but we make it.

...and then we're in San Francisco.  I love the city.  But I also love that we have so many friends here.  Its hard to feel lonely when you're surrounded by old friends (one of my college housemates lives here) and new friends.