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July 21st, 2004
You gotta be a little nuts to agree to spend somewhere around
70% of nearly everyday, for just over a month, inside of a rented
soccer mom mini-van with five dudes and a bunch of gear. The
road is starting to take its toll abit. no fights yet so thats
a good sign.
I got a nasty ear infection that sprouted around the second
day in Philly. We were staying with a friend of Liams, Rob,
who is know a saint in my eyes, Saint Rob. He put us up, let
us stink up his really nice house and use his computer and shower
and went with me to the Hospital Emergancy room to get my ear
checked out. I was told that some membrane that surrounds these
little bones in my ear was infected and all swollen up, my jaw
and throat were startind to get swollen to. It hurt really bad
to just open my mouth, so i was prescribed antibiotics and sent
on my way. Im feeling much better now.
We headed out to NY for for the weekend. what can i say its
New York. North Six with Sam Jayne was great, it was awesome
to hangout and see Sam again, it had been alongtime. You can
ask us about NY when you see us, it would take me days to type
all that went down.
We're staying in Chicago right now, day off, with our good friend
Drew. We're off to Minneapolis in a short while, then to Moorehead.
Chicago is very humid, we did eat at this really amazing place
here called Vegetarian Soul East. A must if you ever get here.
i got a bagel waiting for me do im done for now. take care folks.
Simon/TDC
***Correction: Boudins is actually called Boudin Kind in Jennings,
Louisiana .....Boudin (boo-dan)
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"Man, you guys drink alot."
July 13th.
Im gonna make this one kind a short cuz im in desperate need
of a shower and a shave....and we just finished eating a big
ole Cheese Steak at Ginos here in South Philly.
We played in Atlanta the other night with Sufjan Stevens and
it was an awesome show, againt the venue and the people there
were top notch. Something funny happened that night too. While
waiting to play, we were to play first at about 10pm-it was
about 9pm, we were informed that we got free well drinks and
free domestic beers for the night. we werent given an actual
limit, just told that the bar tender would let us know when
we had hit our limit, but we were assured that it shouldnt be
a problem cuz bands dont usually run through their tab. So we
processed to dive into our complimetary drinks. After roughly
an hour we'd knocked back a few, by our standards, and then
were told it was time, so off we went. It went really well,
played our 30-35 minute opening set, and thought about heading
back to the bar and hangin out at the merch table for a bit.
About half way from the stage to the bar i was greeted with
a hand shake and a smile from Alex, the main guy booker there
at the Echo. He told me, with a smile, " wow , that sounded
great, nice job," tthanks i replied, thank you very much. "Uh...i
do have some bad news though" Oh great i thought, here it comes.
He had this sort of odd smile on his face like he was thinking
of some nice way to say something that wasnt gonna be good,
then he just said it..."Man, you guys drink alot!" "You already
went through 18 drinks....well you each have one more, then
i can give any more after that half price" Oh man we'd never
been cut off before. It was exciting. He was very nice about
and seemed oddly amused. We all thought it was funny. im off.
Simon/TDC
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07/09/04
The Dining Californian
Well as you all know, or maybe you dont know, we all like to
eat. So we've been making an effort to avoid the generic fast
food while on the road and partake in the local foods if possible.
Up to this point that has only been two places as the majority
of our time up to now has been spent mostly in the van.
The Salt Lick, just outside of Austin Texas is a godsend for
all you carnivores out there, Texas BBQ like you've never had.
Boudins in Louisiana is another must stop for the folks who
are a little more daring in the eats catagory. While id never
heard of Boudin before i was curious and excited to try it,
until i saw it. It looks very much, well, exactly like a really
pale almost white steamed sausage. Not the prettiest thing to
look at. But damn did it taste good! and the thing is you dont
eat it like a normal sausage, you gotta squeeze the filling
outta the casing....like toothpaste. It tastes very similar
to a cornmeal/chowder/rice sorta thing. quite good,ill think
of a better discription later.
Ohyeah the shows! i thought we were goin on an eating tour of
the US. The shows have been really nice, like i mentioned before
its been mostly driving. The folks in Denton,TX at Rubber Gloves
are exceptional really great place i hope we can get back there
again. Austin is like a party all the time, and when your staying
with Johnny and Silvia it doestn stop. Liam was so inspired
by the Desert night he tried to ride the snake.....but fell
off....in Johnnys back yard. Johnny and Silvia thank you so
much for your hospitality and all the Loneys! Off to Baton Rouge
at the Red Star Bar, the thing about college towns in the summer
is everyone wants to get away from school, as far away as possible.
So the crowds have been lean at times but the folks at the venues
have been way to nice to 5 smelly guys. Red Star Bar was no
exception, really really awesome. Into Athens at Caledonia Lounge,
where we played to, count them, 3 people! But you know what,three
of the most friendly cool people we've ever met. Ryan and Kevin,
who ran the place and did sound, respectively, we're just downright
cool, friendly,nice and ready with a good story and lots of
beer. The venue is great, cant wait to come back when school
is in session. Thanks a ton guys we really do appreciate it,
and that goes to everyone who we've met out on the road so far
that have been to kind.
Well we got a day off here in Athens gonna get some rest, eats
some good food and hang out with Ryan and Kevin.
Well ill have more soon, hopefully before to long, east coast
is a bit more gentle on the drives. and some pics soon too!
take folks, talk to yousoon
Simon/TDC
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