We have seen the top of the mountain...

...and it was good. Days have gone by and we have played in a few more towns, the shows and people have been exciting. The northwest loves them some Union. After Missoula we rolled through the hills to Bozeman to the Filling Station, a dirty place whose walls still vibrate from years of music. We were greeted with a rainbow sunset and a approaching storm cloud. The show went with out a hitch to a captive audience who turned out also to include some old home town fans! More and more it is becoming a small world. The next day we passed through Missoula again on our way to Whitefish, one of my favorite towns, not only because of it's closeness to Glacier National Park, but it's bubbling subculture that keeps it from being just another tourist town. Just 2 blocks from the railyard on the main strip we played the Great Northern Bar and Grill, loaded with local culture, the stage warmed like a cast iron skillet, slowly but surely the place was hoppin'. We picked up and spend the next day in Glacier, we camped on the east side and spent the day taking in it's spendor.

The festival was the next day, it was my favorite slot early evening, the sun going down, a beautiful place. The festival was small and casual, and the stage was a open front trailer, all in all the sound was good and the band put forth a great show. We slept like rocks, those that didnt stay up for the rest of the nights music.

After another long day in the park we were sensory overloaded, simply amazing from the smallest flower to the grandest view. We camped as the stars reflected off of Lake McDonald. I have too many photos to even begin to post them.

Sadly we left northwest Montana at the same time earger for the shows ahead. After 6 hours or winding road we awoke in Moscow ID, a hopping college town with shaded streets and dozens of unique shops. The club had a great stage and crew, we loaded our gear in and set up. A typical monday at first, then the late night crowd showed up and the band muscled on. We had a great time the stage sounded great and so did the mix, and what a relief we have a day off in a cool town with a two night gig. So we are cleaning out the van, vacuum and detail, and an oil change. A friend of the band loaned us a house in town for the time we are here with a shaded yard and cool weather. Life is good. Gonna spend some time around town today, poking through the shops. Word is building for the Portland show and a show in Crested Butte has been added for this Saturday.

The Land of Milk and Honey....

...... apparently does not have much access to the internet, or cellphone service, but I can't say that I am complaining about that. With out delving into the pages of minutia that has transpired over the last few days i will illustrate the high points.

It was a long drive through rural Colorado out of Keystone, there was no highway to get us from there to Jackson, WY. The gig the night before was off the friggen hook, the little place was shakin and we played till they pulled the plug. Even then they did it regretfully. We packed up slowly and beat our way to the upstairs apartment. The next night 500 miles later in Jackson started slow. The place is a restaruant at the base of the Snow King ski area right in downtown Jacksonby 6pm it was filled with typical pastel shirt restaurant goers. We ate, checked into the hotel and enjoyed the sunset. Back at the club they had brought in a very nice PA and we move tables out of the way for the band. After a very mild reception to our first set, the place started to fill up. By 11pm it was PACKED



and we were helping to move it off it's foundation. People were pushing forward into the band's area in a scene only duplicated in a Brazilian soccer game. We had to move pedals, monitors and the guitar rack out of the way of the increasing crowd. It was a barn burner for sure. We walked out of there dead tired, with the possibility of returning through there on the way back.

The next two days were off days. Being just moments south of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone we worked them well into our schedule and route. We camped with friends two nights in the Tetons, did some day hiking, and even swam in the icy waters during a rainstorm in the shadow of the mountains. We ate like kings and howled like wolves at the giant white moon. Yesterday we rolled through Yellowstone in an obscene "Cliff Notes" fashion in a race to Missoula for the show. We saw Old Faithful, the mudpots and the painters pools, foxes, mule deer, bison, and bald eagles. Like I said obscenely short, but enough to want to come back and explore.

Missoula happens to be one of my favorite places on the continent. I wish the planets would align and I could live there. We rolled in through an insane thunderstorm, passing evergreen lined mountains. The gig was at the Elks Lodge downtown. Perhaps one of the funkier rooms I have been in. It was straight 1970's time warp: velvet wallpaper, dark oak slat room deviders, mirrors, chrome pendant lights, wood beams, funky. It was a tough night, a Tuesday, with only 3 place in town and two of them with bands, we had some competition but otherwise a modest turnout. We didnt hold back those that came got the full experience. The sound was good, the accoustics nice, and the hospitality perfect. Our hotel was right next door and we were right downtown close to everything. Every one that was there was REALLY into it and it helped pump the band up. It was an honor for me to play in that town, I have a great admiration for it, the funky culture, the active people, the setting, vibrancy, the little to no evidence of pop culture.

This morning we walked around downtown, they have and event each week in the summer called "Out To Lunch" where local restaurants set up in the park by the river, people turn out en masse listen to live music and enjoy the cool summer weather. They do the same thing for dinner on Thursday nights. I tramped the town, shopping and recalling past memories from the last few years, the rest of the guys went their separate ways to do the same.

We head back down the road to Bozeman tonight to play a place that usually has punk and rockabilly acts. I am looking forward to it, I havent been to that town yet and I am excited. Then it is back again past Missoula to Whitefish and on to Glacier.

Elks Lodge

Missoula MT
7/22/08
Motels and Highways
Downfall
Broken Rules
Sweet Freedom
Gotta Serve Somebody
Runaway Train
New Speedway Boogie
Deadline
California Eyes
Play Now Play Later
Long Haul
Soul Screamin'
Livin on the Open Road

From the big city to the mountains

Rolled through the Colorado plains to watch the Rockies rise in the distant haze. We got into Denver mid-day, gathered ourselves at J-dubb's brother house to a full cookout and wonderfull hospitality on the outskirts of the city. With full stomachs we beat our way back into downtown to the club. There was some confusion on exactly when and where at this place we were playing. There was a band on an outdoor patio stage, a sizable indoor stage that had a band set up, and there was a bluegrass band slated for the bill also. It made the boys uneasy, and even more eager to play and get set up. We had a good showing of Denver fans there when we did take the stage on the outdoor patio. We had plenty of people groovin and some watchers who could stand all around the band on the patio. The PA was a MESS! The monitors that looked almost brand new, werent hooked up and apparently couldnt be, they didnt have an amp for them. Wha? The mains, which were behind the band fed back and distorted all night. At one point the PA and instruments cut out, very frustrating. The band played on. We felt it was a great show despite having trouble with the vocals and the set time. Just roll with the punches. The load out was around a series of hallways, down some steps and at 2AM after waiting hours to play and playing for hours, proved a bit of an ass kicker. To top it off the club is one block from the Denver Rescue Mission and directly across from the club, a vacant lot where at 2am there was no less than 50-75 questionables gathered doing who knows what. They never bothered us but thankfully we had security of an ex-Marine with us. None the less waiting for payout with a loaded trailer and laptop was a bit tense. I got asked for change.... I told him to vote for Obama. After a long dead sleep in the high altitude we woke to a southern breakfast of grits, sausage, biscuits, and eggs. Off to Keystone up in the mountains nearly 10,000 feet. The club is a small place nestled in the ski resort. The best part, there is an apartment for bands above it, no need to drive! I am sitting here now on the couch with Over the Hills and Far Away on the stereo. The scenery is just the begininng for this trip, amazing alpine splendor! I have to remind myself of these days and hours when back at my dingy warehouse gig.


Owsleys Golden Road 7/17/08
One Set:
1000 New Ways to Fly>
Deadline
Great Day>
New Speedway Boogie
Motels and Highways
Downfall>
Broken Rules>
Sweet Freedom
Old Hoopie River Bottom>
Last Chance
Just Got Paid
Travelin Show

Across the Breadbasket

We drove through the night last night, fueled by excitement, I spent the majority of it on the bench seat asleep. It reminded me of my train riding tramping days, I would travel at night under the cover of darkness, sleeping through towns and cities. This time I have the comfort of AC and a pillow, as the motor whines quietly and the tires churn softly below. A big difference from cardboard and steel wheels. The only other similarity was waking up to being stopped. On my tramping excursions I would wake to the silence of being stopped on a siding awaiting another passing train or to do switch work, this time I would wake to the pleasure of a rest stop to use the bath room or grab a coffee or a cold drink. I remember it was moonlight at one point and then a colorful sunrise the next in and out of sleep to the soundtrack of Jerry Reed, The Meters, and Robert Cray. Around 8am Krispy Kreme in hand I took the wheel for the next 3 hours. Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl Ballads and Utah Phillips framed the backdrop of windmills and pastureland as the rest of band slept in their benches. We have hung velco'd panels of felt curtains over the windows, the long wheelbase van had the look of a cool dark cave in the rear view mirrow, even in broad daylight. We pulled into Hays KS to give the van a rest. Going west to denver you pick up 4,700 feet in elevation from Nashville, that can be quite a strain on a vehicle and on your gas mileage. We got two rooms at a crappy hotel and cooled off in their dingy pool. We watched TV and talked politics over some dinner. I read magazines at a bookstore and got a much needed shower. The anticipation to the first gig is building, we will be in Denver by lunch time tomorrow, our gig is at 11pm. We plan to sight see Red Rocks, visit friends and prepare for the first show.

Leaving the compound

Tonight is the night! The start of the band's Motels and Highways Tour. We pulled out loaded to the hilt after days of preparation. Everything is packed... I hope, my mental check list is worn out and the things I might have forgotten have been rubbed off by countlessly checking the list hoping I haven't left that crucial item. What a task, I had to pack instruments, clothes and camping gear.

Personally, I am on 3 hours of sleep, after working on customizing the trailer on Sunday, late night Monday driving to Knoxville to pick up a small PA, working 8 hours Monday and Tuesday and fitting in time to spend with the fam for the last few moments before leaving for 3 1/2 weeks. Exhausted before the first downbeat we are off riding in our new van. We decided on a 15 passenger model and the four benches sleep well, the two captains chairs for the navigator and driver. I fired up the old laptop now we have our GPS robomap upfont, and sprint mobile broadband networked throughout to keep us on the cutting edge.

We are going to drive as far as reasonable so to get a head start, and not roll into our first show in Denver late. We will be at Owsley's Golden Road. We intend to blow the cheese off the burgers. I hear the venue is a great one and the energy will definately be on stage.

I just bought an 8GB camera chip so I will also get some photos and youtubes up as well!

Here is to smooth roads and chipped drumsticks and nice cool weather!