June 15th, 2007.

We’ve been staying in Putnam for the last couple of nights, just up the street from the Victoria Station Café in a beautiful old house that matches our concept of the town as a whole as pretty damned close to perfection. Wednesday we played the Victoria Station Café’s open mic and played two songs to a room packed with all sorts of people, and last night we hung out for the Thursday night jam – a slower night but one that grew through the night as people passed and listened and were slowly seduced by the mix of old pop tunes and Celtic reels and guitars, fiddles, mandolins.. That one lone guy from ilyAIMY looking foolish trying to keep up with a slip jig.

The open mic at the Victoria Station Cafe in Putnam, CT – all sorts of people showed up- from hitchhiking banjo players to saw players to Mike and Ari on the right. It was a great night and we showed up 10 minutes after our slot – but because they’re awesome they let us play anywho.

It’s been a good couple of days, and I like hanging out with Dave , the owner. He’s reeling from success daily, making plans to move into another, much bigger building – so pleased that he’s accomplished it all without advertising. I’m impressed too, and try to take credit for little things. Watching his list of performers grow, it’s nice to see some names of people who I’ve suggested the Café to. It’s good to see that there are some people who take my word on things, and beyond that, agree with my aesthetic.

The next night we went back to the Station to join in with their Thursday night jam. I was REALLY impressed by the musicians that came out to THIS thing – sort of like a mini-PLOJ with a focus on traditional and Celtic music. An amazing mandolin player and a frenetic tambourine man stole the evening away. I’ll have to get more names cause the kid on the left of the photograph had some really awesome original tunes too. I’m frankly kind of sad we’re going to miss it next week.

The Vanilla Bean isn’t too far down the road, and is known as “the place to be” “on the circuit” by “serious performers”. and every time we play here, there’s at least one person who comes up to me and whispers “well, you know where you OUGHT to be?” And the Vanilla Bean wasn’t even polite enough to answer my emails before, and I LIKE it here. I’ve got a couple of people eager to give me advice right now on what I SHOULD be doing – and the moment that lines up with what I WANT to be doing and who I want to be, perhaps I’ll start taking that advice. but in the meantime, I don’t want to be the person who throws away a venue or people that treat me well in favour of a venue with a bigger name that frankly, probably won’t even pay better. There will be a better guarantee, but at Victoria Station, or the New Deal Café, or any number of other incredible secret spaces people appreciate you, and with that appreciation comes tips. we’ll often make more money that way than we will from a bar that wants to pay us upfront, AND we don’t feel like whores or like we’re asking our friends to support an establishment that’s learned that treating musicians like crap is okay. I like being a guest at a friend’s place. I hate being an employee.

Before settling in to our show at the Riverside in Danielson, CT, I went for a walk to the river just appreciate the glory of a perfect New England day. Crisp and gorgeous with warm sunshine and beautiful breezes.

Shainia & Janelle Alston opening for us at the Riverside in Danielson, CT. They were gorgeous – great songwriting and incredible harmonies, I was really, really impressed with them. Frankly, if it wasn’t for them, we’d have played to an almost empty room – they filled the place with family and friends and grandmothers who tapped pleasantly along to our tunes.

Just musing. just musing.

Yeah, so – this is the bed I’ve been sleeping in at Dave’s house. Shh.
Before we got to our show at Mill Street Brews, we stopped to do some grocery shopping, and of course, when you see a Big Bunny Marker, you’ve GOT to shop THERE!!!