I’m so very, very tired. I really ought to climb into bed with a book and read myself the very very short trip to sleep. Unfortunately, my book’s in the car and I just can’t bring myself to go get it… so I clearly can’t go to sleep.
Shit.
Last week in California was one of my favourites ever. We’re getting closer and closer to thinking of that little town as a second home, but Bish and Jay just haven’t built that shower yet, or I’d already be there full time. Our friend Corey’s moving out of his place and I took a LONG time trying to work out whether or not I wanted to pick up his lease.
Wednesday, Heather and I stayed in California and went to play the California University radio station – getting a little interview with Crystal, just like our first time up there… except we were really, really tired and slightly incoherent. Later we hooked up with Keren Lee over at Jozart’s for their open mic, and I ended up staying the night there, listening to the creaking pseudo-footsteps in the ceiling and talking late into the night.
One of the nice things about having a shiny and near-indestructible camera is that when the inebriated front table gets their hands on it, you don’t worry about it getting dropped either on the bar or on the floor, and you an easily track it’s glittering progress from person to person as they take pictures of us. They were also shooting with a flash from behind their ash tray, which makes for a pretty cool effect.
It’s kind of funny – as we become more and more acquainted with a town, it’s like more and more of the activities become not Journal material – not for any succulent and racy reasons (though as a rockstar, I really ought to attempt to accumulate more of these and for the moment, let me just assure you that every SECOND not discussed in the Journal is taken up by me shooting up heroin through the red-painted fingernails of volutuous teen-aged hookers), but simply because I don’t post that much stuff about personal time spent with friends (unless there’s a good picture, of course).
Our first hint of snow outside the Brown Hotel in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
In any case, Thursday night was our show at California University – and not only was it a homecoming for us, but a farewell to Corey – I’m not sure how long we’ve known Corey, but I’m kind of crazy flattered that we ended up playing the night of his last Underground. He now graduates from Cal U and gets married and gets on with being a grown-up, which is frankly almost impossible to imagine.
A beautiful and slightly creepy tunnel on the way back from Indiana to California, PA- I had plenty of time to photograph it as the light we were sitting at cycled around twice without giving us a green. Kimmy eventualy decided to go ahead and run it… going the wrong direction- so we had to turn back around and do the whole thing again..
Tonight I start having nightmares about Corey’s potential brood.
Heather – armed and fine and dangerous at Alex and Crystal’s. Oddly enough whereas most of my ricochets just sort of whizzed around the room, her’s invariably hit Alex..
As always – a great night at Cal, and though I was my usual mood-swingy self, it wasn’t over the usual reasons. We actually had an even better audience than usual – it seems that Alex and Corey rocking out make an excellent opening act for us. Holly commented on it later that night – that we’d performed well, but that we’d had an especially good audience that night. It really does make a huge difference – completing the circuit and playing your heart out. Le sigh.
Heather strutting down the streets of California like a woman who’s recently learned to shoot an air pistol.
So, tomorrow it’s supposed to be MAYBE 30 degrees and Holly has us slated to play OUTSIDE while kids pay money to beat the fuck out of this car with either a sledgehammer or a guitar. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I’m sure the pictures will be good. I also plan to wear eye-protection.
Before running over to Jozart’s for the open mic on Wednesday night, Crystal invited us over to the Cal University radio station to do one last interview before she moves on. I even got to press buttons!
We also got to perform with Erica on Thursday night – she’s a fan becoming a friend becoming a wonderful co-singer. She fills in the missing harmonies beautifully and adds her own as well. She’s slowly growing comfortable on stage with us and nearly had me in tears by the end of “In the Water”. To be honest, she DID have me in tears somewhere in the middle. There was just something about the mesh of our voices (“No Place is Home” – full fucking three heart part breaking harmony) and the absolute Love that she has for the music that has been making these performances with her absolutely beyond description.
I have a lot of pictures of Peter Wright running the open mic over at Jozart’s in California, PA – but this is the first time since we had Keren Lee out on the road with us, and now he’s back in his familiar context. I have a bone to pick with them, however – since they covered “People Are Strange” by the Doors I haven’t been able to get the damned song out of my head. It’s Peter’s fault because it’s his voice… but then it’s Keren’s fault because it’s the bass that won’t leave my head – “BOM BOM BOM”!!!
GAH!!!
Erica’s dad even came out on Thursday night, and it was cool to see him simply glowing with pride. He had good reason to be proud. And I ain’t talking about her beautiful hair…
Heather and Erica and I all practicing a couple of songs for our California shows. I can’t even describe the feeling of singing with her, but I’m going to try because I’m supposed to be a communicator. There’s just something about hearing another harmony with Heather; and beyond that – someone who’s actually a SINGER rather than someone like me, who’s voice is merely a second instrument. I think a huge part of the joy also has something to do with how special it is to Erica – watching her fall in Love with being a part of the music is exquisite. We got some recordings, but they’re kind of bootleggy. I’m hoping I can clean them up, because it really was wonderful.
Friday, exhausted, we had to leave California long before we wanted to in order to get to a show in Westminster, MD. It was Heather’s mom’s birthday show, but I fear we were somewhat lack-luster for her due to our absolutely fatigued states of mind.
The beautiful Keren Lee and the talented Kim Koast. And vice versa at Jozart’s open mic.
Still haven’t recovered. Because the next day was PLOJ. And today somehow I STILL had a schedule to keep to… but now it’s 1am and I’m running off batteries just to make SURE I can’t lie here and type all night. So soon, very soon, I shall begin a Monday Devoted to Sweet, Sweet Sleep.
Poor Heather – she’s all Jewy – so it’s not till NOW that she finally gets to wake up to a Christmas Tree! In any case, Alex and Crystal’s place was all made up with lights and mistletoe. It was almost perilous.
And then it snowed! Does it get any better?!!? My friend Brandi came out to lunch with Heather and I and got stuck in full-out rob mirth. It was terrible. The day was only saved by battered shrimp.
Brandi helping carry mic stands to and fro as we break down from playing the California Student Union. Because it snowed, Holly didn’t make us play outside – she has a warm and feeling heart afterall!
Snow coming down thick on the Monongahela River in Coal Center, Pennsylvania.
