April 18th, 2009.

Just to break the tension - we obviously DO eventually get to the Your Inner Vagabond Cafe in Pittsburgh, PA. It was one Hell of a fight, but I think we were still there before anyone else and got the creme de la creme of parking spots. Chris is hidden SOMEWHERE but that's Cherylann Hawk performing with the Weathered Road - and Heather playing along. She's one lucky duck.

Pittsburgh is like the model train layout in the basement of a man who’s obsession has outgrown his floor space. And so he builds up. Thousands of tiny houses stacked one upon the other, clambouring up the mountains, clamouring for space. Vertiginous stairways are never used but exist like crosshatched waterfalls and tiny switchback streets climb startling heights with cars crawling along them in second (and often enough first) gear growling in protest.

*Libby of the Weathered Road joins us for In the Water. And yup… that’s me playing a Taylor. Never thought THAT would happen, did you?!*

I Love this city.

Last night’s show at Your Inner Vagabond was everything I’d hoped and the perfect way to end out a tour. Sure, I wish it had been more packed – and a pretty merch girl could’ve probably gone a long way – but our performance was charming and high-energy, punching all comers and The Weathered Road flowed and flirted and powered their way through the night in a way that’s got me absolutely salivating for our upcoming Maryland show.

The members of The Weathered Road are perhaps some of the most friendly people I’ve ever met – they’d been a huge part of making me feel truly welcome at Club Cafe almost a year ago – and on stage some of the most talented. It was the first time I’d seen them as a four-piece and I was truly blown away. Derrick’s bass throwing down behind them, Chris’ charm and solidity, incredible guitar being burned out of Steve and of course Libby’s voice and violin… I can’t wait to show them off back home.

That night we crashed with our friend’s Mike and Kristy and ended up playing music till 3am. I don’t normally like to come home from a gig and continue to play – but they Live in a converted church and the space was just too beautiful to NOT grace with our noise. Cherylann Hawk sang along and I think hers is one of my new favourites when coupled with Heather’s voice.

After the gig (MUCH after the gig, we were all in full-out mutual admiration and everyone was so Lovely, it took forever to get out of the club) we went home with Mark (who’s birthday show at Club Cafe had introduced me to so many of these wonderful people) who Lives in a converted church overlooking all of Pittsburgh. We stayed up late playing his Taylors and playing with his cats, and generally just playing around. The acoustics in that space even lent beauty to MY growly mouth noises – what it gifted Heather’s voice and our friend Cherylann Hawk was exquisite.

Now it’s on to the ride home, headed for a gig in what will seem a horribly mundane-by-comparison venue in Columbia, MD. Rick Millman and Greta Ehrig though, performing with us, will be welcome faces, voices of home…. our native Maryland greats.