“Going to California” – Led Zeppelin
“Aeroplane” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Coast to Coast” – Elliot Smith
“Crosstown Traffic” – Jimi Hendrix
Here’s a recap of the past few days (5000 miles) -
Wednesday:
Three Roots in Tempe. Maybell Park (aka Stephen) played a lovely acoustic set before heading off on an 18-hour Greyhound trip to Yosemite. A very soulful guy. I made some new friends and thoroughly enjoyed my rice and beans. Played sans mic which is always fun and intimate and appreciated because people tend to be silent and I tend to not hit my head on the mic that isn’t there.
Thursday:
Drove from Phoenix to LA. Left arm is now very tan.
Friday:
Flew to Atlanta over the desert I’d spent the better part of the week driving through and rented a sweet Elantra that reeked so badly of smoke that when I rolled the window down before leaving the lot the woman at the Hertz booth made a remark about the stench. At this point I was very exhausted and wanting to get on with my journey so I didn’t switch cars. And, I confess, I enjoyed singing “Laaddaayyy… step inside my Hyundai” to myself over and over while driving to Roswell with all the windows down (saw Beck sing this while thrashing on a bed lowered from the ceiling of Radio City on Valentine’s Day several years ago. That is the exact moment I officially became a woman). Note: the Elantra has a tiny rear windshield. Backing up scared me. Second Note: Eric Lichter does a spot-on version of “Debra”.
As usual, the Georgian skies were magnificent. Stayed with the most incredible family I have ever met – the family of the Natalie I met in Austin last week. Her mom cooked a delicious veg dinner and took in this stranger like (my attention was just called to motorcycle revving outside and for a few moments I could not recall what state I was in. It’s okay now – Los Angeles. I’ll keep repeating that until it sticks) one of her own. I fell in love with these people. I realized immediately that the universe sent me to Atlanta not just to perform but to meet and be inspired by this family.
Something else that made me grateful – the plane didn’t crash. That was a relief. Sat next to nice business man on his way back from Australia (28 hours – no, thanks) and devoured NYTimes. I usually get flight terror but I was quite happy not to be driving. I haven’t had much reading time this trip. Also got Rolling Stone with 100 Greatest Guitar Songs and was fairly satisfied, although there are always going to be cruel omissions. When I saw YEM was included on the list I flipped out though – this is my fave Phish song and Phish has been overlooked throughout its career. Very exciting and well-deserved. One question that must be asked of RS – where are all the ladies at?
Saturday:
Slept embarrassingly late and enjoyed NYTimes again. Natalie’s mom made me oatmeal and it tasted much better than when I make it, of course. Watched Hillary’s beautiful speech – first TV for me in well over a month as I’ve made a point to cut it out of my diet. Trying to eliminate all forms of pollution. The way this election was manipulated by the media makes me sick. Not to mention all the mind-numbing shows (I want MY MTV). It’s really overwhelming. I need silence.
Anyway – later had lunch with Natalie at Aladdin’s in Roswell, GA. The Vegetarian Delight was delicious – basmati, hummus, baba ghanouj, tabouleh, falafel, pita – I give it a 10. Then I went to Eddie’s Attic Shootout! Upon arrival I met The Smart Brothers, who ended up winning the competition (very deservedly!), and had the pleasure of hanging out on the porch with them as the sticky evening grew slightly less sticky. The Shootout was a lot of fun because Eddie runs it so well and the musicians were really down to earth – there were no egos backstage (which is pretty tremendous, considering there were 22 songwriters competing for $1000, recording time, and other goodies). Hung out with Arlo Finch and Dave McKnight, too – excellent songwriters and musicians and an absolute riot. Eddie’s is always a good time.
Sunday (today):
After a mere two and a half hours of sleep I was back at Atlanta airport (the little girls banging around outside my motel room, who were just giggling deliriously, are now sobbing – when will these parents learn?). Got a nice fat Sunday Times and got to read all about my girl Hillary again. Also read a nice write-up of my buddies at WDVX, as Knoxville was featured in the Travel Section (okay, now one of the girls is screaming bloody murder. Laura might have to intervene…. That takes care of that. I thought they had to have been across the hall they were so loud, but they were several doors down. How do parents let their kids behave like this? Don’t mess with an ex-nanny.) The smog over LA today was shocking. It was like being under a screened tent. However I was very happy to land, as this is probably my second favorite city in the US. I stopped at Merkato in Little Ethiopia and had the veggie combo – five different vegetables with tomato salad and tons of injera. The collard greens and cabbage were only fair – bland and oily, respectively – but the split peas and lentils were fantastic. It was enough for two hungry people and afterwards I was quite uncomfortable as Atlanta airport didn’t really have veg options and I had worked up an appetite for two meals (okay – just had to call the front desk. These people don’t want Laura knocking on their door again. Things could get ugly).
Checked into this noisy motel and showered and then sat in traffic for quite a bit and finally got to the beach. Only had an hour or so but it was enough to reset to ocean rhythm. Then went to a fantastic restorative yoga class at Exhale in Venice. Whereas some restorative classes go little beyond an hour-long child pose, the instructor, Aaron Reed, led us through a series of hamstring openers (hallelujah!) and a variation of supported fish pose that undid at least 1000 miles of driving. I loved this class, appropriately titled “Relax Deeply”. If I went to this every Sunday I would be a different, better person.
Okay, I need to go to sleep. But now there’s apparently a dog fight in the room above mine… can’t put out the fires fast enough. You’d think people would be a little more considerate at midnight on Sunday. Playing fetch with your dogs? I have earplugs, and it’s like they are right here in the room with me. I’m hearing at least three different barks. Ridiculous. If I ever get to sleep again – Room 5 show tomorrow night in LA!
PS Don’t leave open chocolate bar in glove compartment unless you want fondue.
The Ultimate Road Mix So Far…
1. “Escapade” – Janet Jackson (May 6, 2008)
2. “Cars Trucks Buses” – Phish (May 7, 2008)
3. “Heart of the Country” – Paul & Linda McCartney (May 8, 2008)
4. “Why Georgia” – John Mayer (May 9, 2008)
5. “Runnin Down A Dream” – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (May 10, 2008)
6. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd (May 11, 2008)
7. “I’m So Tired” – The Beatles (May 12, 2008)
8. “Tennessee Jed” – The Grateful Dead (May 13, 2008)
9. “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” – The Beatles (May 14, 2008)
10. “Tennessee Blues” – Steve Earle (May 15, 2008)
11. “Consolers of the Lonely” – The Raconteurs (May 16, 2008)
12. “Midwest” – Sound Tribe Sector Nine (May 17, 2008)
13. “The Big Country” – Talking Heads (May 18. 2008)
14. “Everyday Is A Winding Road” – Sheryl Crow (May 19, 2008)
15. “Omaha (1994 – Live at Elysee Montmartre) – Counting Crows (May 20, 2008)
16. “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” – Bob Dylan (May 21, 2008)
17. “Bandits” – Buck 65 (May 22, 2008)
18. “Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus” – Medeski, Martin, & Wood (May 23, 2008)
19. “Highway 61 Revisited” – Bob Dylan (May 24, 2008)
20. “Girl From the North Country” – Bob Dylan (May 25, 2008)
21. “Texas Flood” – Stevie Ray Vaughan (May 26, 2008)
22. “Hard Sun” – Eddie Vedder (May 27, 2008)
23. “Take Me To the River” – Talking Heads (May 28, 2008)
24. “Down South” – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (May 29, 2008)
25. “Southern Man” – Neil Young (May 30, 2008)
26. “Southern Cross” – Crosby, Stills & Nash (May 31, 2008)
27. “She’s Leaving Home” – The Beatles (June 1, 2008 – Sgt. Pepper anniversary!)
28. “Road to Nowhere” – Talking Heads (June 2, 2008)
29. “Road Rage Breakdown” – Blockhead (June 3, 2008)
30. “Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo” – Ennio Morricone (June 4, 2008)
31. “Going to California” – Led Zeppelin
32. “Aeroplane” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
33. “Coast to Coast” – Elliot Smith
34. “Crosstown Traffic” – Jimi Hendrix
