Tracks 31-34: Coast to Coast (June 8, 2008)

“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

Track 30: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (June 4, 2008)

“Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo” – Ennio Morricone

Back at the Mandala Tea Room in Scottsdale – they have free wireless. That is a good thing, as Martha might say. Why doesn’t Starbucks have free wireless? I am not a fan of Starbucks, but as they have stores EVERYWHERE it would be very convenient for my parking-lot wireless hunts. And, as they are a big corporation, you’d think they’d be able to afford it verses the little independent places, which almost always have free wireless. But I guess that’s just the way it is for the little guys… like independent musicians who give their music away for free verses major labels.

Anyway, I just finished sending out the June Newsletter and cleaning my inbox. Now I am ready to reward myself with some vegan dessert and hopefully get out and enjoy the sunshine before I play Three Roots tonight. If you’d like to join the mailing list visit the official site and enter your address at the top of the page.

Today’s song is one of my all-time faves from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I thought I should slip this ultimate desert-song into the playlist before I head to the Pacific tomorrow. Right now the guys at the tea room are playing Radiohead again – I always forget how much I like them. I think it’s because Radiohead fans tend to overwhelm me. I suppose that’s how people feel around us Phishheads. You can’t even compare the two.

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)

Tracks 27-29: Road Rage Breakdown (June 3, 2008)

“She’s Leaving Home” – The Beatles (June 1, 2008 – 41st anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!)
“Road to Nowhere” – Talking Heads (June 2, 2008)
“Road Rage Breakdown” – Blockhead (June 3, 2008)

Before arriving in the desert a lot of people told me that 100 degrees in Phoenix wouldn’t seem so hot because it’s a “dry heat.” Guess what? It’s really hot. Dry and hot don’t cancel each other out – they feed each other, as any girl scout knows. Or does she? Are girl scouts allowed to camp and build fires or just sell cookies? My only knowledge of girl scouts are Thin Mints and Troop Beverly Hills (haven’t tried that recipe but it looks like a darn good natural alternative).

Above is a picture of the Alamo – after leaving Houston Sunday morning I drove through San Antonio and I thought I might as well go see it while there. I was very amused by all the people walking by – “Where is the Alamo? What is it? Is this it? What happened here?” – as with anything, I refer to Wikipedia.

I snapped a few pictures outside the mission but I didn’t linger as it was scorching and I had a lot of driving ahead. If you want to know what the rest of Sunday and Monday were like stare at the following pictures for eighteen hours or so:

By the time I reached Tucson my eyes needed a rest so Dorothy, my trusty copilot, lead me to the exact Whole Foods I visited a couple years ago with my then-boyfriend on spring break (I’m not a Cancun kind of girl. I wanted to see Saguaro National Park, Kartchner Caverns, and Sedona’s Red Rocks.) Back then it was still Wild Oats and we were on a licorice root hunt to try to quell my chronic cough. I thought the cause was the desert dryness, but it turns out I just needed to get something “off my chest.” The body never ceases to amaze me. I try my best to listen.

I talk to myself a lot (in the car all day, every day), and I especially like to check in with the past selves I cross on the highway. Life is like a record that spins round and round and round (who else is thinking of Dead or Alive right now?) which is also why I tend to listen to the same albums upon returning to that region. I am rambling. Anyway, I was delighted that a lot of the organic produce was on sale – the above carrots were unbelievably flavorful, though I couldn’t help noticing how bizarre it was to be buying all this fresh produce in the middle of the desert. I love coming to the Southwest, but these cities sure are examples of humans’ relentless desire to mold our environment to fit our needs. There ARE some local farms in the area, but nothing that I could pursue late on a Monday night.

Today I treated myself to a meal out for the first time since the beginning of spring tour. I went to Mandala Tea Room, an all-organic and all-vegan restaurant and tea room, as you might’ve guessed. The people were very friendly and they had the most beautiful urinal arrangement I’ve ever seen (see above). I had the totopos (nachos) to start and the appetizer portion was enormous. They were delicious. I had also ordered the macro platter which came with a delicious side of root vegetables and kale. I ended up taking half of everything home, which made a nice pool-side dinner. Yes, I spent most of the day horizontal. Tried out Burt’s Bees new sunscreen when I couldn’t find the kind I like and burned badly on my back. Annoyed. I don’t recommend it. Sure, I was sweating buckets but I reapplied after every time I swam and I am not typically a burner. Besides, it’s outrageously expensive (though 100% natural). Can’t complain though, because I didn’t sit behind the steering wheel once today! Tomorrow I am playing Three Roots in Tempe with Maybell Park opening.

A case for Brita filters:

The June Newsletter is going out tomorrow – if you aren’t on the monthly mailing list sign up here for tour updates and free mp3 downloads.

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)

YEEEAAAA!!!! (February 18, 2008)

CDs are prepared for take-off!CLICK HERE:One more time: YYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!!!I’m writing from Santa Fe…… which is very beautiful. The Phoenix show was great, largely because of a dear fellow Phishhead. There’s no quicker way to bond. The next morning, as I blasted “Slave To A Traffic Light” across a long stretch of desert (in which there were no traffic lights), I started to go road-crazy for the first time. Really, really, road-crazy. However when I pulled up at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame there were many friendly faces to set me straight. Stephanie, the manager, took me in the back and showed me Jesus in the office door. Literally. This knot in the wood is mind-blowing. I learned that the scary guy from No Country for Old Men was a big fan of the Monday night karaoke while they were filming in the area. I would’ve liked to have seen that. I also got to facilitate a blind date after my set, which was exciting. Everyone was off-the-charts friendly and fun and I was pretty giddy by the time I went back to my room and passed out. I don’t know if its the beauty or the altitude, but people here are so so so so NICE!Yesterday I took my snowshoes for a climb after I bought a new camera. My old one died. It hasn’t been right since the European tour (I think I took too many pictures, quite honestly) and ever since Portland it’s been dying from time to time. It can no longer be revived. Fortunately there was a lovely family-run camera shop downtown. It’ll take a while to recover from the (astronomical) unforeseen expense, but one cannot be in Santa Fe without a camera. That’s just criminal.Speaking of which, I have been strapped to my laptop all morning while booking and trying to figure out my summer tour route – if you would like to see me perform please buy the new CD! Your support is what makes touring possible. Also, please send me a message knowing which cities to visit! I’ll be coming back to the West Coast and picking up more dates in the Midwest, as I expect there will be less snow in June. For now it’s time for another snowshoe break!

Winter Tour Blog 9: Outlaw the Air Hanky (February 14, 2008)

For the love of your mother. How some individuals think this is an acceptable form of behavior is beyond me. I refuse to be the victim of your snot rockets. I’m going to take it upon myself to begin fining people. Yes, I am going to make a badge this afternoon. Gross.Anyway, here you go:Despite the multiple offenses of the trail, I had a lovely, lovely hike yesterday at Squaw Peak. (I have since learned that the city is renaming this unpolitically correct park, but since this is what all the signs say, this is what I’m calling it). It felt really good to MOVE, though I was horrified by how out of breath I got. I’m calling it the altitude Videos are a lot faster than typing, and I want to take advantage of another beautiful day. I’m heading towards the cold soon – NOOOO!!! So hear are some more absurd laptop video blogs.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv0po1bkiTI&rel=1″>There you go. Again, Happy Valentine’s Day. You know you love it.

BE MY VALENTINE – Free Download! (February 14, 2008)

Happy Valentine’s Day!I’m checking in from a Starbucks in Scottsdale, Arizona where this sad, cynical soul just shouted, “Happy Valentine’s Day – the most RIDICULOUS holiday!” Poor thing.I realize this can be a holiday of mixed emotions, and so to spread a little love I am making “U” available for FREE DOWNLOAD! Just go to MySpace and then “Download” on the player. This is a limited time offer, so make sure you do it within the next few days! Love is fleeting.You can purchase the remaining fourteen tracks of “Boys & Eros” at Digstation. The physical album (you know, like CDs) will be available on CDBaby today or tomorrow! iTunes and all that jazz will follow. Love takes time.The past couple of weeks on the West Coast have been pure bliss. If you haven’t checked out the pictures, check out my “On The Road” album on MySpace or the “Pictures” page on the website. I’ll be playing in Phoenix tomorrow night and then Santa Fe on Saturday. The remaining dates are on the profile page.Thank all of “U” for coming out to the shows and supporting the new album!

Winter Tour Blog 87,921: Best Week Ever (February 10, 2008)

Ok, so it’s only Blog #8, but it feels like it’s been a lot more. I write this as I watch the 50th Grammy Awards in my motel in Hollywood. I’ve been working hard (on my tan) the past few days and now that I will be in the motel for the evening, I figure this is a good time to catch up on the blogging. So far the awards are getting off to a slow start. Prince should’ve performed. That’s always a good way to kick things off.Anyway – this week has been filled with some of the best days of my life. It kind of feels like it’s been three years, and I will try my best to recap.Seattle was so windy that I had to walk at a 45-degree angle – this was in between the two major storms that hit the NW last week and the icy air from the water was fierce! Seattleites are tough, though, and I was shocked by how many people were trotting around without a coat. (Hey – what’s with “awarding” The Band with Lifetime Achievement and then in the next sentence going on to talk about how The Beatles were the greatest band in the world? I mean, of course they WERE, but The Band had a ten-second tip-of-the-hat and then this crazy Beatles medley that I am now witnessing started. If you’re going to give a band an award, then give them an award, you know?) I even saw one dude shuffling around in shorts and a t-shirt! But this is hardly the most remarkable thing about Seattle (neither is the Space Needle – it is so tiny!) – The Farmers Market. Oh. My. God. After checking out the Experience Music Project (skip it) I walked over to the market for lunch, and I ended up walking six laps through the different stalls. I was so overwhelmed by the options that by the end I was carrying my tongue up and down the street, which worked out well because (Oh dear – Kanye is singing to his Mom right now, and I am having a moment….) my hands were cold. I ended up having the best Japanese food of my life. Then I got a bag of fortune cookies and chocolate-covered cherries for my buddies back home (sorry, guys, but before you get too excited – neither made it out alive) and as it started to rain I ducked into the movies for a double-header – No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood. Holy mackerel. Both were phenomenal, as you probably already knew, but DAMN – do not see No Country For Old Men when you have to go back to a sketchy roadside motel. After that There Will Be Blood was practically lighthearted, and I think this warped my judgment when I called my mom the next day, raving that it was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen (that holds true) and not at all disturbing. In fact I might’ve said it was humorous. I guess it’s all relative. But after that dude with the air tank Daniel Day Lewis was a regular riot and I was looking for any reason to laugh. The kid from Little Miss Sunshine was stellar, too. The SOUND – music and effects – blew my mind, as did the landscapes. If you haven’t seen TWBB I REALLY recommend seeing/hearing it on the big screen while it’s still out.The show up in Bellingham (Tina Turner is so hot I cannot believe my eyes/ears) was fun. I really dug the venue and look forward to returning in the summer. Lots of cool people and any place with peanut shells all over the floor makes me happy. After the show I began my insane trek to Nevada City via 101. I have learned that driving at night with the windshield wipers on makes me dizzy, so I was happy when the sun came up (“Hey There Delilah” better win) and even happier when it stopped snowing. (Damn it). The sky was a deep royal blue, silhouetted by tall fairy tale trees. Really beautiful. I admit I was dreading the drive, but it was quite enjoyable. I took nearly 500 pictures, wrote lots of poetry, listened to “On The Road” on CD, and talked to myself more than a little. The highlight was driving through the Redwoods before and after sunset – the low fog and eerie shadows were really inspiring, and it’s remarkable I didn’t get into an accident as I poured into my notebook while navigating the windy mountain roads in the dark. I also got to see ELK grazing, which nearly sent me off the road. The Oregon dunes and coast were also something I’ve always (man, I’d love to play with the Foo Fighters) wanted to see. This land never ceases to amaze me. It’s more and more beautiful (Dave Grohl is so cool it hurts) the further I go.I’ve never seen a whale, and there was a beached baby whale being explored by a bunch of school children, which was very sad. I looked it up in the news afterwards and apparently she got caught in a fishing net and, wounded, washed up on the shore.Between the tsunami hazard zone signs of the coast (what help can they really offer?), the grim weather reports on the radio, highway alerts, and challenging driving, my adrenaline was working overtime and there was no chance of nodding off. Still, I was very happy to check into my motel in Nevada City at midnight on Friday. It was really pretty – even more so when I woke up and (leopard skin electric guitars are not ok) it was pounding snow! Man, I was wishing I could chill in the hills and put my snowshoes to use. But the radio show was SO MUCH FUN! I have no idea what was said, as I didn’t really sleep the two previous nights, but I do know that it was fun. Larry was a great host, and I was more than a little flattered to have been invited to the station when I listened to KVMR the next couple days – they play some serious stuff. I particularly liked the Queen Bee Blues Hour (I think that’s what it was called – you can listen online) on Sunday afternoon. Before I get ahead of myself, though – Cozmic Café! That was Saturday night. Definitely my favorite show ever. Chris, the woman who runs the space, is incredibly sweet, and thanks to her there was a great crowd (even on a snowy/rainy night!) The audience was the most attentive, “into it” crowd I’ve played for, and I nearly sold out of CDs (so it’s a good thing the NEW ONES arrived this week!) I’ve never felt so appreciated as an artist, and I will definitely be back sooner than later. Also, I just really loved Placerville (AKA “Hangtown” – see left). Driving from Nevada City, I went through old mining towns, and history hung thick in the air. The energy in Placerville was striking, and I wrote (I guess they’re giving away Lifetime Achievements like deli tickets this year) quite a bit in the afternoon before the show. If you saw my ridiculous laptop video blog you know that I stayed at the Cary House, which has a lot of activity. As soon as I walked in, WHOA – lots of spirits. I took a bath and felt someone come into my room, but it was very non-threatening and rather peaceful. I just said what I always say – “please don’t show yourself.” That pushes me over the edge. As I was heading out to the show I learned that the hotel is known to be very haunted and it was featured on the Travel Channel and whatnot. I slept with the bathroom light on, just in case. (I feel like the Grammy’s just can’t get off the ground tonight – ok, just as I write that, Feist is going to perform… she was on an SNL rerun last night and totally blew my mind. She looks nervous.)The sun came out on Sunday for the first time in two weeks (this Kid Rock duet is a bit awkward, and rather endearing) and I pulled over in Folsom to unroll my yoga mat along the river. It was gorgeous:The trees are rather seaweedlike:Then Sunday night I played at Brainwash in San Francisco, which is a brilliant place – a huge laundromat with a (yea! The Foos won) stage and full menu so that doing laundry is less painful. I hate laundry. I still haven’t done it, and I’ve been gone a month. Yes, I am gross. But I wear clean clothes when I perform, so you’re safe to come to shows. Just hope you don’t run into me on the highway.Anyway, Brainwash was cool, and a girl named Rashi who works there is even cooler – she let me crash on her floor. She lives in a big yellow house in SF with ten people and assorted dogs and chickens. The rooms are colorful and incensey and after a deep sleep we enjoyed hot croissants and tea. (I love Stevie Wonder.) The house is on a hill and there’s quite a spectacular view of the city from the sunny kitchen. Yes, it has been sunny and warm all week!!! After she sent me off with bags of bread and bagels and Odwalla juices I rolled down the windows and cranked up the radio and decided I had officially entered heaven. I drove along the coast…… stopping once again in Santa Cruz to stay with my friend. Another deep sleep and hot breakfast later, my motor skills were beginning to return (say what you will – when he has a guitar in his hands, John Mayer is hot). This time the skies were clear so I was able to savor the views of the bay while I practiced yoga on the balcony. At this point I was really feeling like a brat. Here’s a view from her house:I hit the road again and flew down I-5 to Altadena, where I opened for The Bladerunners. They were fantastic, and really great guys. The highlight of the night was reconnecting with an old high school friend, who invited me to stay with her. We caught up on high school peeps – oh geez – and in the morning I walked a couple blocks down to Venice Beach, where I enjoyed being worthless for most of the afternoon. The delivery man met me on the boardwalk with your copies of Boys & Eros, which was very exciting.My friend works for an agency and she graciously got me on the guest list for Wednesday nights’ showcases, so I got to go to The Troubadour. Inward Eye was the first band, and watching them was like getting a workout. I have no idea how they move so violently and simultaneously play so proficiently. They are (young) brothers from Canada and it is apparent that they practice really hard. Afterwards we went to Knitting Factory to see a few other bands – the headliner was Bedouin Soundclash (a hit with the ladies). I found myself standing among people from the top agencies and labels and suddenly, as I scratched my matted hair and unearthed pockets of sand, I wished I had showered, or at least looked in the mirror since 8AM. Oh well.Ok – I need to speed this up. Lestat’s in San Diego was a great spot, and by far the best sound system/engineer I have ever experienced. My guitar sounded so good I couldn’t believe it. Very fun. I stayed with a sweet girl and her parents, who loaded me up with Sweethearts and assorted snacks before sending me off. I played at Gypsy Den on Friday night with Laura Tssagaris from DC, and I absolutely loved her. Not only is she a killer musician (and a road warrior) – she’s a really positive person with a kickass sense of humor. Go see her. I crashed on the couch of another person from high school and, upon arising, planted my butt back at the beach. It hit 85 yesterday. Yes, that’s 85 degrees! Heaven. Last night I played the Blue Room in Long Beach – not my favorite. There was some miscommunication regarding show time and (high) ticket prices, so I apologize if anyone was inconvenienced. Today I was back at the beach, drifting in and out of sleep like the seagulls who run in and out of the surf. (Ok, this Amy Winehouse performance is the most hyped-up telecast I’ve ever seen… it’s 4 in the morning in London! That’s rough)That’s pretty much the best recap I can summon at the moment (this kid wailing on the piano is unreal). I have a few days off to catch up on work, and then I play Arizona and New Mexico at the end of the week. I am beginning to book May/June, so keep an eye on the calendar and if you want me to play your city/town, buy Boys & Eros! Touring is very expensive, and I can’t do it without you. THANK YOU! I’ll let you know when they’re up on CD Baby this week!

Winter Tour Blog 5: The Coast (January 24, 2008)

Driving through Arizona into California……the silhouettes were beautiful:The energy of the highway changed dramatically as I went through Barstow and approached San Bernardino Sunday night and the empty roads of the Midwest and Southwest became the arcade insanity of LA. Yes, the video-game drivers got my adrenaline pumping and I was more than a little eager to crash, not into the guardrail (dear god those gusts are powerful!), but into a sweet budget motel.Alas, the first I tried were booked, and so I found myself drifting further and further out to sea with no place to lay my weary head. But if I have learned anything from prior trips to Lalaland it’s that this is a magical city wherein magical things happen. I mean, last time I was here I met Tom Petty, who you should know, is my childhood hero. Times infinity. So just as I was growing irritable I saw a sign for Vermont Avenue, and since Vermont has always been a place of home for me I thought this was a sure sign (ignorance is bliss). Pretty soon I found my way into a Travelodge that looked sketchy enough to be affordable and well-lit enough to be acceptable. The price was far more than I had wanted to spend, but as I stood in the steamy, fluorescent office I saw Tom Petty on the cover of the current LA Weekly I realized that not having to get back into the car was worth the splurge.The title of the LA Weekly article was “A Sound Map of Tom Petty’s Los Angeles.” Can you imagine my delight when – after hauling anything of value upstairs, and encountering a sweet little mouse on the way – I opened the paper and read that this very Travelodge (1401 N Vermont Ave) is where Tom lived while recording his first album?! Far out! A much-appreciated sign, indeed, and enough to distract me from the roaches skittering in the bathroom.Check out the view – oranges outside my window!I had a chance to stretch my legs Monday afternoon before the show, and I strolled along the beach below the Santa Monica Pier:Please deliver hammock here:Genghis Cohen is a great spot, with a really intimate listening room. The seats are set up kind of like pews, with miniature lanterns. I dug it. When the sound man, George, asked where I was coming from I told him that I had narrowly escaped three major storms so far; between the Northeast and the Midwest, I have departed mere hours before some serious snow-dumping. He joked that I was going to make it snow in LA…. Did you catch the weather today? That was me Thankfully, there was no snow on my ride up to Santa Cruz, though it POURED rain. Good rains always make for good clouds:Sunset behind; rainbow ahead. So, so beautiful:I arrived in Santa Cruz rather road-weary and ready for a good sleep. My god, was I spoiled! I stayed with a family friend who lives on a cliff overlooking the water. And I mean OVERLOOKING – you look out any window and right THERE is the beach. And the water (usually goes along with the beach).The view from a downstairs window:I could hear waves crashing on the rocks as I fell asleep, which is possibly my favorite sound in the world. That, and the dryer. (Such a sweet lullaby). So I was well-fed and well-slept upon rising, and after receiving a tour of Santa Cruz I was quite ready to cancel the rest of the tour and spend my life strumming my guitar on the sand. I definitely felt at home, thanks to this angel who housed me, and it was a treat to have the company. She sent me off with a bag of pistachios from her ranch and a brownie from Gayle’s in Capitola – life on the road can be very, very good.I departed, a little reluctantly, for Oakland, where I checked into my sketchiest accommodations yet. Bulletproof windows, various police activities, car alarms throughout the night (of course I had to run and peak out of the bulletproof window every time) – I was a long way from my cliffside paradise. However, the Alameda show went very well, mainly because I had the pleasure of playing for some musicians who were very into it. Each person I meet who “gets it” is such an energy boost, and I am very grateful to you guys (you know who you are). Plus I probably had the best salad of my life, so thanks, Peter.After my eventful night of window-peaking and neighbor-shrieking I headed to Berkeley, my former home and the scene of my official quarter-life-crisis. As I exited onto University on this rainy afternoon, Leonard Cohen sang “The rain falls down on last year’s man,” and it felt very appropriate. I drove through a lot of old haunts, and of course popped into Amoeba on Telegraph. Crazy to see the same faces hanging out front, three years later. I also visited the Cheeseboard, which I admit I am glad I live 3000 miles away from. No willpower. I split a Wolverine with a girl who sleeps on a very soggy stoop off Shattuck and I took two sweet baguettes for the road, though only one made it that far. I guess some things never change.Berkeley Bowl… how I love thee:After doing the necessary drive-bys I hit the road again, and headed north to Bolinas. The sky began to clear and I thought how nice it would be to arrive at the coast to see the sunset. Little did I know that I’d be cruising around the forest well after dark trying to find this mystical place. Here are some pictures from before dark:As I snaked along the cliffs, the division between sky, road, and water disappeared…and this is not where I wanted to be spending the night:My quest felt very Harry Potter, but without a wand or a summoning charm or a marauder’s map – not to mention cell service – and I was getting a wee bit nervous cruising on this wet, foggy evening with Mr. Cohen, whom I eventually silenced, deciding I needed all of my senses for navigational purposes. Fortunately I came across a little town called Olema and some very helpful people at the bar clued me in. Twenty minutes later I was checked into the nicest hotel of the trip, courtesy of Smiley’s, a bar that really reminds me of the Spirit Store in Dundalk. Sure, both are quiet coastal towns with good music – the guys I played with tonight were excellent – but even more than that, it was the people in attendance who made the evening so enjoyable. I had the pleasure of meeting a group of bird conservationists who were – as one might expect – attentive listeners and some of the sweetest people I have ever met in my travels. I’d be a very lucky girl to come back and play here again.Here I am expressing my relief upon arrival:This weekend I’m up in Oregon – check the calendar and I’ll see you there!

Winter Tour Blog 4: The Road (January 20, 2008)

3010 miles down! It’s kind of sickening that I got my car serviced last week and I’m already due for another oil change. Good thing I am a cool driver – are you?Here’s a video of a new song, “The Road,” from Friday night:You can see/hear that I got a bit flustered by movement outside the car near the end. Those shadows can be spooky “The Road” is one of fifteen tracks on the new album, “Boys & Eros”! The artwork is finished, and I LOVE the way it turned out:I spent last night in Flagstaff, AZ, and my cozy motel off Route 66 was heaven after the previous night. Who knew the temperature dropped into the teens in the desert? Lesson learned. If you connected Arizona, New York City, Vermont, and Paris, you’d have a pretty good picture of what my heart looks like. Maybe Berkeley, too, since five is a more hearty number. It was a long ride through the desert, though I stopped for lunch in Albuquerque yesterday. I haven’t been stopping much, but roots have begun to sprout from what used to be my butt and any excuse to get up and move is welcome. Gas station rest stops are becoming more and more fascinating.For those interested, these were this week’s gas prices:$3.35 Wilton, CT$2.99 Montville, NJ$3.08 Lamar, PA$3.40 Howe, IN$3.26 DeKalb, IL$3.10 Iowa City, IA$2.98 Grimes, IA$2.98 Council Bluffs, IA$3.00 Percival, IA$2.87 Overland Park, KS$2.80 El Dorado, KS$2.88 Canute, OK$2.90 San Jon, NM$2.84 Albuquerque, NM$2.84 Holbrook, AZDinner was at Café Ole in Flagstaff last night – delicious! They don’t use lard for their paper-thin chips, which is a darn good thing. The feeling in my legs is slowly returning.Here are some pictures! Oh – and don’t miss the Genghis Cohen show tomorrow night (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!) – it’s going to be a special one. I get these premonitions… so 7:30PM sharp!