I reckin we’ve been back from the last tour for a few weeks now. Refueling, agitatin’, fuckin’ shit up, basking in the 63 degree overcast glow they call summer here in Seattle. But it’s almost been a welcome reprieve after testifying every night in the swamp water that passed for air in East Texas. Gabe was all man about it, sweating his face off through the live long day telling me shit like “I actually like it, dude”, that it made him “feel alive”, “awake in the world” or some shit. If I hadn’t contracted a crazy fever and 6 day head cold as soon as we hit the South I may have rubbed shoulders with him all the way to Dixie, but as fate would have it, it was all I could do just to pop Arlie’s Alieves and hunker down for the ride. We all five sweat like filthy hogs in a box rolling down that Texas highway, windows wide, no AC, no reprieve or comfort in any foreseeable future. And the show at Emo’s in Austin was even hotter. That place kicks absolute ass in every way except for the absence of AC or even FANS for the outside stage. What the fuck is up with that? Lord almighty, I thought I knew hot. I was so wrong. For so long. We managed to rub shoulders with some of Austin’s finest during and after the show too. Trail of Dead, or “The Dead” as they seem to be increasingly referred to as, which is downright scary if you think about it, were there in BLACK giving us friendly Texas-sized shout outs and drankin’, as they are wont to do. American Analog Set, and other local dignitaries made the scene too, I think. Austin is refreshingly cool after the standoffishness of the Pacific NW. People actually go to see shows there and the locals seem possessed of some friendliness gene that we are still missing.
Besides sweating, we also played some fresh shows with Rainier Maria and Unwound. RM were great tour mates and rocked the jam raw every night. The kids knew all the words and sang along in kind. Unwound were great as well. The 3 shows we did with them in California were the shit. They busted out all the new and old hits, driving me wild with all those weird and wonderful hooks from the new album. As punishment for playing “Over the hills and far away” during sound check, Justin’s amp broke halfway through their set at the El Rey in Los Angeles and he had to borrow my amp, which is already Zeppelin proofed, thank you very much. You can’t just bust out with Page riffs in the middle of tour, son. You have to start small and push a few chops through an amp to prepare it for the humiliation it’s about to receive. Word to the wise, folks.
The last few weeks have been mainly about practice and getting ready for our upcoming dates with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. We’re going out strong with full hearts and clear minds fortified for the last days of summer. Our friend Jason Lajeunesse is shirking his daily responsibilities at the Graceland to play bass for us on the road this time out. He’s learned 14 songs in 4 or 5 days and still shows no signs of fatigue. Besides that, he’s tall dark and handsome, Canadian, and a nice guy. Word has it he likes long walks holding hands round the lake, a tall cold one, and the occasional feathered boa. Strictly heresy of course, but you heard it here first.
What else? I saw Spoon and Those Peabodies at the Croc last weekend and it was THE shit. Those Peabodies kicked total ass, waving their crazy haircuts around and slicing the room in half with their meaty riffs and insane 70’s Muppet show moves. Then they shocked me by being really friendly, approachable people after the show. Go see them when they come to your town. Spoon delivered the goods in a way I wasn’t expecting. You know when you listen to a band and like their album but when you see them live they really blow? Well, Spoon wasn’t that band. Instead, I watched them play hit after hit off of most of their albums, nailing every song in its entirety. It wasn’t that they were the tightest band on the planet, but it was completely evident from seeing them in a live context that what they produce on album isn’t trickery. They possess genuine talent and Britt Daniels is the fucking man with those hooks. Plus Greg says their drummer is really nice. Thumbs up to bands saving the world with rock and roll.
In other news, there’s an interview with Arlie in the most recent issue of Copper Press, accompanied by photos and the usual rad contents of that fine magazine. As well, apparently we’ve been added to Urban Outfitter’s in-store playlist so you can hear songs off our new disk while shopping for the latest in Urban outerwear. Ladies and gentleman, we have arrived… Or something
That’s it for now. Come out and see us in August and September. Make your momma proud.
- Jason
My own private personal August Top Ten: