The Past Week

July 24th. Boston, MA @ The White Haus. Before we did anything in Boston, we got lost, trapped in our car. We circled and zig-zagged the many one way streets of downtown Boston searching for Massachusetts Drive. We'd passed it, of course, but had been in the wrong lane and gone underground, through a tunnel, for that one intersection, that most important one. We spent 30 minutes frustrated and driving through Boston's zany traffic. A street beggar gave us a hot tip to "go until you have to turn right, then turn right again when you want to," but his directions did not pan out for us.

July 25th. Boston, MA @ All Asia. We played first of seven bands. The money earned from the bar's cover charge was distributed based on each band's draw. One person showed up during our set: we made eight dollars.

July 26th. Philadelphia, PA @ The Mitten. We played an arcade machine of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker at a comic book store in Olde City. Dave End and Nick at The Mitten made us delicious vegan burritos. We ate sorbet and I smoked mullein. It rained. During yet another painful rendition of "Beuys Don't Cry,"I left the room and played my bass from an adjacent hallway. I just can't stand to see Shelby get all worked up.

July 27th. Danbury, CT @ The Heirloom Arts Theatre.We played with iji, Watercolor Paintings, Math the Band, and Total Dick. The venue was packed thanks to the local favorites, Total Dick. Unfortunately, all the fans of Total Dick are (apparently) meek accountants and notary publics. They did not seem especially predisposed to enjoy our music. Many of them unlatched briefcases and laptops and did office work during our set. However, oddly enough, everyone set their work aside and paid close attention during our performace of "Need 4 Nite-russ."

July 28th. Ypsilanti, MI @ The Dreamland Theater.
Near mile marker 146 on interstate 80, somewhere in Ohio, there is a rest stop. Inside that rest stop, there is a Nescafé vending machine that dispenses hot beverages. This vending machine offers, among other options, a Cappuccino of the flavor Butterfinger Frothe. Try it. (Below is a photo of Bimbo, Betty Boop's good friend.)

July 29th. Ypsilanti, MI (no show). We took a pleasant and short trip to the neighboring town, Ann Arbor. On the road, we noticed that the right rear tire of our overloaded station wagon was clunking loudly and rhythmically as we drove. We decided to ask a mechanic to check the problem out. He told us (and this is my clumsy, second-hand paraphrasing) that the wheel drum was bent and damaging the hub and the ball bearings, and that the cylinders were leaking and also damaging the ball bearings. We paid $525 for repairs. At a nearby Salvation Army, I paid $1 for Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary, St. Alphonsus De Liguroi's Preparation for Death, and Anthony Burgess's The Pianoplayers. A great deal.

July 30th. Bloomington, IN @ The Schoolhouse. If you're in Bloomington, stop into TDs CDs and LPs, especially if you're in a touring band. They have a mighty selection of dollar-priced CDs, cassettes, and vinyl. Quick estimate: around 750 titles. The price for these titles is dropped to zero for touring bands.