Kentucky!

Sitting on a chair with my feet up, sipping Makers, playing a banjo, watching fireflys.

Kentucky rocks.

4th of July show in Lexington! Crucial Funhouse.

Cairo Calling.

First off all, photoset here: http://picasaweb.google.com/presstheactionbutton/Cairo

Welcome to historic Cairo (KAY-roh).  A small town on the southern tip of Illinois where the Mississippi and Ohio River come together.  Years ago the town was expected to thrive, shipping routes and steam ships ran the economy.

Unfortunately the town was mostly left abandoned, as commerical use for boats turned from hauling goods to moving trash.

Walking into the town now may seem like any other highway strip town that you'd run into.  Something like Carrington for example.  While different from our standard of social interaction, it was still expected, living up to the expectation of a small American town.  If you head just east, however, walking to the river tells a completely different, and absolutely wild experience.

Cairo is often labeled as a ghost town by visitors.  The reason for this: just one block off the strip, you'll find shattered windows, collapsed buildings with no restriction.  As I took a picture of an old furnature storefront sign, bats flew out.  Not even kidding.

It takes a while to realize when something is missing.  There were a few spaypainted windows in the city (pictures following), but absolutely no tagging, or remenants from other travelers.  These were not slums.  This isn't left over excess that can be used to squat, salvage, dumpster, etc... the run down buildings only hold what people left behind.  Half finished soda, a few building supplies, whatever couldn't it was blocked off behind doors with unlocked chains.  Many of the barriers were not kicked in, but simply rotted off.

Up on the second floor of an abandoned theatre, watching for soft spots on the steps the sense of adventure was only matched by the sense of dispair.

So why have a festival here?  It is one of the most bold, and well intentioned of any DIY movement, headed by Chris Clavin.  Opening up a completely non-profit coffeeshop and bookstore, the hope is establishing new work, a stronger community, and a future for the kids.  Word is the mayor of the town told the high school that they need to leave for any hope of a future...  The town is essentially given up on from any political standpoint, previous elections only ended up in folks taking money for repairs and leaving town.

Whether the idea comes through, with a punk/music community opening new businesses, and bringing more resources to the town, or if the shop closes down, there is something fantastic about the work put in, and the sense of a special friendship with everyone who has visited that town, and wants to see travelers stop in a small town with a lot to offer.

On a lighter note, some fun media from the fest, and funny police stories are on their way.  The authorities there are complete sweethearts by the way. En route to Lexington to hang out with some new friends before heading to Chicago.  Also, we playedwith some amazing bands, and we had some good four square with Andrew Jackson Jihad, Vacation, and The Wild.

The Wild are our East Coast twins, by the way.

Stay well

Phil

OH NO! MINNEAPOLIS!

There is too much to write about Minneapolis in the few minutes I have before we have to get back in the van to head for Iowa, but I'll do a quick synopsis for now:

Drinking Hot 100 and writing "BAD A$$ DUDE" and "MR. NIPPLES" across our chests in Sharpie.

Swimming in filthy lakes in awesome 90 degree weather.

Eric's dog Boomer.

Nudity on BOTH show nights.

Someone hitting our van so that none of the doors shut! Ha, we have to all climb in and out the back door now.

5 dollar 12 packs!!!

Mixing the new album!

Hanging out in a practice space next to the band SOUL ASYLUM!!! (remember? "Run away train, never coming back"). They practiced that song, and MESSED IT UP!!!! Ha!

Update: Eric's mechanic-friend Ross fixed the doors on our van! We can now enter and exit is as we please!

Holy crap, gotta run! We're due in Fairfield, Iowa in 6 hours, and it takes 7 to get there! See ya!

Rob!!!!!!

This town is too ridiculous for a made-up blog.

So today opened with a groggy morning at the next gas station:

"Where are you all from?"
"Oh, Portland"
"You mean, like Ore-gone? What are you doing all the way out here?"

It was about then I realized how far from home I am.

Though some hang ups are expected, this one is still on the strange side. Two time zones away, in a town of about 2,200, it doesn't take long for people to take notice of you. We had a few approving shouts from passing cars (one fine lady gave Noah a total of 3 Heyyy!'s in one afternoon!). We strolled to a bar on main street (one of the two open businesses... it was that or the bowling alley) and slowly made our way into the hearts of Carrington residents.

Well.. at least the bartender. We went to the local burger/ice cream joint during the Father's day special. It was a strange mix of awkward smiles and glances... but just often enough we got genuine welcomes. Even a wink here and there, Rob reports, from the cashiers. And the food was pretty much amazing as well.

After feeling somewhat comfortable with the townfolk and the situation at hand (it was an absolutely beautiful day in this town, by the way) we went to the gas station to buy some beer and set up camp. Then we awkwardly returned to the bar, since alcohol can't be sold in normal stores. Whoops.

Anyhow, by the end of the night we were roughing the outdoors. By watching Boondocks on the laptop plugged into the RV outlet. We covertly drank our beers in coffee cups until a rally race of drunk dirtbikers flew through the city park at nearly midnight. So with the tension out of the air, we relaxed the rest of the night away, and we're all snuggled in to wake up and hit the mechanic at 8am, and continue on to MINNEAPOLIS! Woowoo.

Carrington North Dakota

A quick tour of our first BIG STOP!

Why not, Minot.

A land of majestic beauty.

North Dakota

Big news folks! Noah crapped his pants last night!!!

Big news folks! Noah crapped his pants last night!!!

Missoula was great. We played at our pal Andrew's house and there were plenty of old friends, cheap scotch, and rock and roll - so much, in fact, that the cops came, but not before everyone finished playing. Win! Jay and I then drunkenly ended up in downtown Missoula at 3 am and got dinner bought for us by our pals in the band Candyland Liberation Front. Jay asked for a coffee cup from the waitress and ended up walking around the rest of the night sipping a mixture of gravy and corned beef hash out of it through a straw. Gross.

Meanwhile, Noah, Danielle, and Andrew were walking back to the house from the bread dumpster, boxes in hand, when Noah stops dead in his tracks.

Noah: "I have to poop."

Danielle: "Noah, we're 3 blocks from the house."

Noah: "It has to happen now."

All in one movement, Noah put his box of bread down on the sidewalk, jumped over the white picket fence of a nearby house, and then began moaning uncontrollably. A few minutes later he emerged with a sheepish look on his face.

The next morning we all awoke to Jay singing Bonnie Tyler in the shower while drinking a shower beer.

Snow...

'Big sky' country decided to be 'big pissed off cloud' country on our way to missoula tonight.  I know the weather has been lackluster back home, but we didn't expect to face snow today. 

It's 6am here, and our good friend andrew is practicing for us as we drift to bed. Full events and lots of good stories tomorrow.

And away we go.

Spokane bound. More to come.

One Week

Just one week left until we hit the road!  Tons of exciting ideas are coming up, be stoked!  Spokane and Missoula best be ready for our return.  Speaking of those two towns, they're the only ones i've personally visited outside of Washington DC.  I'll write more about them rather soon.

We'll be playing our kickoff show tomorrow at the Red and Black Cafe, come by and dance along.

p.s. stay tuned for a fantastic science segment

Taxpayers w/ Good Luck!

Our friend Evey got some cell phone pictures to tide us over until the video comes around on the Good Luck show! This was all a fun time and a half. Thanks to everyone who came out!