Apr 4
We get a headstart on the tour and stay at family residence in the band's original hometown of Windsor ON. I am again a willing recipient of the grand hospitality of Mark's parents, who have graciously donated their basement whenever needed. I didn't realize that this would be my last night for netflix, as my Canadian subscription only lets me watch in Canada. Who would've known? I thought that you should be able to access their Canadian website from any country, with the same usage restrictions abroad. Nope. You are an American now Stephen Pitkin (though that should theoretically allow me more "freedom"). I get through about half of Crazy Heart, but start drifting off shortly after Jeff Bridges character Bad Blake begins his affair with the young interviewer. Maybe I can finish watching this with my wife when we return to CANADA.
Apr 5 Chicago IL
Schuba's - Builders and the Butcher, with Damian Suomi and the Minor Prophets
A great night for a Tuesday. We had several friends come to the show, including new acquaintances we had met during the Ships & Dip cruise hosted in February by Barenaked Ladies. Thanks, Will, Sallie and Meg! Plus a special shoutout to Thales Exoo, who managed to make the effort to come out while her partner took care of her 9 mo newborn, and dentist Kim, who had to get up early to drill out some teeth.
Apr 6 Carbondale IL - Hangar 9
about 4 hrs south of Chicago, Carbondale is a stop on a trainride to the "City of New Orleans" in the famous song by Arlo Guthrie. Kind of a college town, but also a trains are really loud here town. The trainblast sample at the end of "Chuckwagon" came as no surprise tonight. though it is the loudest part of our set, our audience remained unfazed. The crowd was a nutty contingent of drunken dancing football players and tattooed alt rockers who gave this town a signature cool in a club that was built to withstand any strong wind. The former one in this spot was blown down at some point by a tornado, somewhat of a foreshadow for us, as this tour we will be unknowingly be just ahead of a couple of deadly weather fronts.
Apr 7 Iowa City IA The MILL
Today's drive takes us up hwy 61 (the one "Revisited" by Dylan in 1965). It snakes up alongside the Mississippi river, which, anywhere south of St. Louis is already abloom with spring buds. The day is sunny, but by the time we hit the club in Iowa City it is raining. I enjoyed the downtown of this city, which has been saved with a creative pedestrians-only strip. Should be a sister city to Brisbane, AU, which shares a similar vibe. This one's a bit newer and nicer, but Brisbane has way more old character. The club was an older sort of jazz club, and will definitely make the tourbook again sometime. I imagine this town has potential for us, but with little or no radio support right now we're at the mercy of word-of-mouth. That kind of equals hand-to-mouth. Thanks for the spaghetti dinner!
Apr 8 drive west. we slowly climb across the prairies. Not apparent to us, the prairies are climbing higher and higher, and by the time we hit Denver we are "Mile High". Buckle your seatbelts because the next 90 minutes brings us up to 10,000 ft Breckenridge snowboard country.
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