November 2009
75 posts
Monday 11.23.09 - Bloomington
Sorry about the late post! The WiFi Drought Tour 09 has come to a close. We finished up the tour in our label’s homebase, Bloomington, Indiana.
We also have so much fun in Bloomington, and it was a great place to wrap up the tour. This is in no small part due to the wonderful SC folks, including but not limited to Chris, Coombs, Abe and Jackie.
It was sad to leave the Holiday Shores AKA...
Mid-hack conversation
Todd: One of my legs is shorter than the other one.
Kyle: How'd you determine that?
Todd: That's what my massage therapist told me.
Kyle: You have a massage therapist?
Todd: I did until she stopped returning my calls.
Sunday 11.22.09 - Chicago
We got to Chicago early and had time to check out the neighborhood around Schuba’s Tavern. I headed to the original Powell’s books where I picked up a book about rock n’ roll tee shirt design and a Michael Chabon novel. Great place! And so cheap!
Schuba’s is one of our favorite venues—a lively room with excellent sound and especially receptive audiences. Next door...
“I think I ate something bad out of the trash.”
– Todd Jackson
Saturday 11.21.09 - Cleveland
I awoke at Marty and Susan’s after a great night’s sleep and headed downstairs to help Marty get breakfast going.
Another great perk of staying with them is Marty’s cooking, and this morning was no exception. I cracked and beat two dozen eggs for a giant breakfast scramble that would eventually include cheese, avacado, tortillas, salsa, onions, peppers and tomato, which was...
Friday 11.20.09 - Buffalo
Ahh! Refreshed in a big way! Last night’s destination was Mohawk Place in Buffalo, which is a city that is always kind to us.
After the long hike from Boston, Austin, Josh and I went in search of food. Everything around the venue was closed but we found a nice gallery holding an art show with tasty finger food—meatballs, roast beef and wasabi sandwiches and a nice selection of cheese...
After the quote below, in a crowded art show with free finger food.
Kyle: Can I quote you on that?
Josh: (belching) YESSSS!
“I love the freedom to act completely inappropriate.”
– Josh Jones
Thursday 11.19.09 - Boston
Though listed at about three hours, the drive from NYC to Boston can easily take six hours. Though our personal worst is eight.
Luckily, my day started out wonderfully. This is in a big part due to dear dear friend and ex-Okie Amanda. She owns those crazy eyes on the front of our last record. She took me to brunch at Roebling Tea Room and proceeded to order all four of the specials!
This...
Wednesday 11.18.09 - New York City
Hey!
Another great NYC trip! We got into town late and stayed with our manager Tom. In the morning it was bagel sandwhiches and some hacky sack in Prospect Park. Todd’s signature move—the Toddy Tango—was in full effect.
We returned to Union Hall after a two year absence there. The bar has a nice menu and a bocce court upstairs with the venue below.
The show went well and I...
Tuesday 11.17.09 - Philadelphia
We woke up in DC and headed out to get some new tubes for Todd’s amplifier, then made the short drive to funky funky north Philly.
There we met up with our manager, Tom who joined us for dinner. You really can find great Mexican food anywhere in America.
It was our first time to play at Kung-Fu Necktie, and it’s a wonderful venue. Local brews are on tap and the house sound guy is...
Monday 11.16.09 - Washington DC
We started the day at the hotel before heading to College Park, Maryland, where Josh had a radio performance scheduled at the University of Maryland’s campus radio station.
While he was broadcasting a reverb drenched solo performance to the Terapins, Austin, Todd and I got down with an epic game of hacky sack.
Todd noticed a lot of attractive lady Terps on campus and his method for...
Sunday 11.15.09 - Hagerstown, MD
Off day!
After driving through the night, we finally broke down and got a hotelroom—though checking in at 9 am allowed us to sleep two nights there (and cash on on two continental breakfasts) for the price of a single night.
After much needed sleep and showers, Josh and I hit up the Chinese/seafood buffet next door. And it was decadent. Josh began with five plates. We had crab legs,...
Saturday 11.14.09 - Columbus, OH
Yesterday we left our plush accomodations at Glassworks and headed to Columbus, where we could hear fans cheer the Ohio State Buckeyes on to the Rose Bowl, defeating Iowa St in overtime.
Game day is as crazy in Columbus as it is in Norman, and there was a steady flow of foot traffic along with parties and drunken revelry.
We were a bit confused when we pulled up to Cafe Bourbon Street, our...
Friday 11.13.09 - Louisville
Hai!
Yesterday we had a leisurely morning with a short drive ahead of us to Louisville. We pulled up to Glassworks in downtown Louisville (and right next to the Louisville Slugger factory) and were in awe of the building. It’s part glass-blowing studio, apartments, hotel and art space with beautiful glass artwork throughout.
Big thanks to Mike & co. for putting on the show!...
Thursday 11.12.09 - St. Louis
Hello!
Apologies for the delay! Thursday began at Dave’s in Kansas City where he guided us to one of his favorite BBQ joints, Gates. The slogan there is “Hi Can I Help You?” and the ladies at the counter really drive it home. Todd was speechless when the phrase was shouted at him. Can’t be shy. My first choice, the “Burnt End Sandwich” (seriously) was...
Pranking the Starlight Mints...
As promised, a recap of a few of the pranks from the Starlight Mints tour:
Ryan’s computer heist -
The prank battle got started in Dallas when multi instrumentalist Ryan “stole” our computers out of the green room. We looked pretty foolish confronting strangers about their whereabouts.
Todd strikes back -
In retaliation, Todd did bassist Javier a “favor” by...
Wednesday 11.11.09 - Kansas City
Hi! Yesterday in Lawrence we had more time than we knew what to do with! The drive was approximately 1/16 of our average haul this tour so we kicked it around town.
First, coffee and internetz followed by some lunch at La Parilla, a tasty Latin American joint recommended by ex-Lawrencian Megan M. And it was delicious! Try the Brazilian Lemonade, which is great, though made with limes not lemons....
Tuesday 11.10.09 - Lawrence
Yesterday was an off day where we traveled from Denver across Kansas to Lawrence. Quite a contrast to the mountainous drives of the previous days.
When we finally arrived in Lawrence, we met up with Alisha who was putting us up for the night, and with nothing to do on the off day, I wandered over to the Jackpot Saloon to see who was playing.
And it turned out to be Oakland’s WHY?, a...
WHY?
Monday 11/9/09 - Denver
After another long drive, we made it to Denver just in time to see fans packing into Invesco Field for Monday Night Football. I’ll take Mello and the Nugs personally, but I assumed it wouldn’t get in the way of us having a nice time at the Hi-Dive, one of my favorite venues in the country.
Why? They’ve got a wonderful staff that seems to actually enjoy having bands in to play, a...
Sunday 11/8/09 - Salt Lake City
Sunday (and Monday) was an epic drive day! Although the route from Portland to SLC is a beautiful one, we didn’t make it to SLC until late. We picked up Todd at the airport after he was promised a ride and subsequently ditched by a young lady he met on the plane. It seems that she rethought her decision to “give a ride to a stranger” although the whole funeral/touring band/flying...
