Tracks 35-42: I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet) (June 16, 2008)

42. “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)” – The White Stripes (June 16, 2008)
Greetings from the Loneliest Road in America. The sunset over Austin, NV last night literally took my breath away – I’ve used that expression countless times, but this is the first time I’m not exaggerating. I understand why people live in the middle of nowhere. It is stunning.

I have another 800 miles to do today so here’s a really quick recap – and a ton of pictures – from the past week in California:

35. “Slave to the Traffic Light” – Phish (June 9, 2008)

36. “California” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (June 10, 2008)
My time in LA was pretty much spent either dozing on the beach or practicing yoga and mediation. The traveling all but knocked me out, and I was fortunate to catch up with friends and reenter my body. On my way to Monterey I stopped at Amoeba on Sunset, my favorite record store, and I loaded up for the ride. The Coconut Records (Jason Schwartzman) album is addictive. I also got Jakob Dylan’s new album and skipped through several soundtracks looking for a particular song by Gustavo Santaolalla that I heard in a yoga class – it’s the last track of the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack, The Wings.

37. “West Coast” – Coconut Records (June 11, 2008)
The ride up I-5 was pretty uneventful – lots of oil rigs and industrial farms, both organic and conventional. It was bizarre to see these giant billboard farmers in place of real humans:

Monterey Live is a beautiful venue. Played with some guys from San Diego and I’ve come to the conclusion that all musicians from San Diego wear funny hats. From the show:

38. “Going up the Country” – Canned Heat (June 12, 2008)
After Monterey I drove up to Santa Cruz and stayed with a friend on the beach. It was heavenly. I slept until noon. She loaded me up with scones and almond cake and I headed up to Bolinas well-rested and well-fed. This time US-1 was easier to navigate, as it was still light out and there wasn’t torrential rain. The fog was thick and billowing in parts:

It was good to be back at Smiley’s. Bolinas is a trip. I was very excited by my accommodations – here is a tour of my room and also a video of me singing “Tonight I’m Gonna Dream About You”:

39. “San Francisco Bay Blues” – Richie Havens (June 13, 2008)
Friday I couldn’t ignore the fact that the next time I’d be getting in the car it’d be to head East. Even though I’m running low on fuel and I’m looking forward to a writer’s break, I get sad every time I leave California. Whereas heading West is exhilerating, going back East feels like a retreat. I guess it’s a product of being raised in a fast-paced Northeastern culture – I haven’t mastered the art of the Great Eastern Sun.

Fortunately I wasn’t allowed to mope – I spent the day with Tony, a new friend I met at Smiley’s the night before. We met up at Pt Reyes, where I had the strawberries of my life at the local market:

Beautiful. Then we rode out the the Pt. Reyes Seashore and down to the 150-year-old lighthouse and 10-mile beach. It was so foggy that the cypress trees were raining! Very Harry Potter.

Then I headed back down to San Francisco. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a lot of ghosts in the Bay Area, so I had low expectations. But the show at Amnesia was by far my favorite West Coast date. I got to see friends I haven’t seen in years, and the crowd was a lot of fun. I also met a really cool NYC musician who had just come from The Love Guru premiere, for which he produced and arranged some songs.

40. “California” – Joni Mitchell (June 14, 2008)
I drove out to Nevada City, CA and checked into the National Hotel, a historical landmark from the gold-mining days. My room had a lot of character and I plugged up holes in the shutters with wash cloths:

The KVMR show Saturday morning was even more fun than February. Thank you to all of you who called in! Larry, the host, is really easy to talk to – interested and interesting – and after the show I learned that he is quite the road warrior. In recent years he’s hiked from Mexico to Canada by himself on back roads – how appropriate that his show is named “Backroads.” He’s the one who recommended US-50 instead of I-80 to Colorado.

After the Gold Rush right next to the Crazy Horse Inn – very exciting for a Neil Young fan:

Saturday night was really special because after the Cozmic Cafe show I stayed at a friend’s house and we spent the night talking about love, non-attachment, ego, boundaries, being flowers…. In the morning we went to aSacred You nondenominational service and then went back to her house where she used her pendulum to blend flower essences and essential oils for me to take on my journey.

41. “Cowgirl in the Sand” – Neil Young (June 15, 2008)
Sunday afternoon I drove through Lake Tahoe and well into Nevada – I’m about to change time zones for the eighth time this month!

Middlegate Station – a one-building town. The cowboys here are the real thing – not the black hat-wearing Nashvillains. I didn’t know how to use the old gas pumps. Whoops. My engine was smoking pretty good and all three patrons of the motel/saloon/gas station/mini-mart came out to give their opinions. It’s funny, but I’ve never felt safer among strangers – when you’re in the middle of nowhere I guess you need each other. However I was pretty freaked out when I started seeing lights in the sky after dark and envisioned my own abduction… fortunately I’m still here. Next time you hear from me it will be with a Telluride update!

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 (June 5, 2008)
32. “Aeroplane” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (June 6, 2008)
33. “Coast to Coast” – Elliot Smith (June 7, 2008)
34. “Crosstown Traffic” – Jimi Hendrix (June 8, 2008)
35. “Slave to the Traffic Light” – Phish (June 9, 2008)
36. “California” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (June 10, 2008)
37. “West Coast” – Coconut Records (June 11, 2008)
38. “Going up the Country” – Canned Heat (June 12, 2008)
39. “San Francisco Bay Blues” – Richie Havens (June 13, 2008)
40. “California” – Joni Mitchell (June 14, 2008)
41. “Cowgirl in the Sand” – Neil Young (June 15, 2008)
42. “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)” – The White Stripes (June 16, 2008)

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

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 7: CALIFORNIA!!! (February 2, 2008)

I made it! The trip from Bellingham to Nevada City – and now Placerville – was SPECTACULAR! I left at midnight and arrived in Nevada City the following midnight, stopping only once to sleep for three hours outside Seattle. So that’s a total of twenty-one hours behind the wheel, and I’ve got the posture to prove it! Because of the storms my only option was to take 101, which is kind of funny because a week ago I was looking at the map, regretting that I would be so close to the Redwoods and the Oregon dunes without the opportunity to see them… wish granted, I suppose! Once the dizzy spells subside I will upload pictures. Among the incredible things I encountered – a beached baby whale in Seaside (so sad), elk feeding on grass in the Redwoods, and snow, snow, SNOW! I’ve been soaking my poor feet in the tub and now all the door-slamming ghosts of the Cary House and I are excited for the Placerville show tonight!Here’s a clip:

Winter Tour Blog 6: Yikes (January 29, 2008)

* My MySpace account was hacked! I don’t know what that entails, but I thought you should know in case any naughty things happened. *The past weekend was the extreme-sports version of performing songwriter. On Friday I left Bolinas not a moment too soon, as local roads were soon flooded! My exhaustion/weather-anxiety got me all sorts of turned around and I was quite surprised to find myself cruising over the Golden Gate Bridge – not exactly the direction of Salem, OR….However, the gods were smiling upon me – drool and all – and after a butt-numbing 12-hour drive through sleet, rain, and snow, I pulled up at The Blue Pepper right at 7PM. It was nothing short of a miracle. The show went very well, as did the show in Portland the following night. Though, on my way to Portland late Friday night an unidentifiable animal dashed in front of my car and missed my bumper by centimeters! Probably the scariest moment of the trip – so far. It was too big to be a dog… kind of shaggy like a sheep (but I’ve never seen a sheep run that fast!)… cream-colored. Any thoughts?Portland is a very friendly town. It’s the kind of tap-them-on-the-shoulder-and-they’ll-give-you-a-smile kind of friendly, rather than a welcome wagon friendly. Which I like. Maybe it’s that Northern boundary thing that I’m used to. I like a little space (understatement). Whatever it is, it’s an authentic kindness, even towards a non-polka-dot-or-stripe-wearing non-smoker like me. That’s a lot of hyphens right there. The coffeehouse music is downright depressing, though.I stayed on in Portland a couple extra nights because of threatening weather, which keeps getting pushed further and further down the week. Very frustrating. I’d rather have no forecast than a worthless forecast. Which brings me to my Plan For A Better World…After three days of basically flipping between the Weather Channel and “Ballot Bowl 08″ (thank god for people like Stephen Colbert and John Stewart) I’m really sick of people talking about “change change change” and then not really SAYING anything or offering any specific plans for change. There’s more fluff coming from the mouths of (most of) these candidates than the clouds above the Cascades. So I’ve been thinking about explicit things that would better the world, or at least the road world:* Each lane of the highway should have a designated cruise control speed, which would result in seamless, stress-free driving.* All gas pumps should have that little lever on the handle which allows for warm car sanctuary while fueling, granted that no one abuses this privilege by spending a half an hour ogling beef jerky inside the food mart and holding up the filling line.* Trucks must obey lane restrictions, and ideally have their own lanes with dividers. This way we can still share the road, but I won’t freak out on those mountain passages.* Fruits, vegetables, and bakeries in gas station food marts.* Hot water dispensers built into dashboards like Tim Allen’s cocoa dispenser in “Santa Clause” (a person could choose coffee, cocoa, tea, etc). Hmmm… a rice cooker would be nice, too.* People who refuse to use the left lane for passing, or worse – those who clog it – should be tagged and confined to separate (unpaved) roads, along with people who don’t use turn signals and people who drive at erratic speeds.* All restrooms must have hot water, soap, and a hands-free way to exit.* No vanity plates should be allowed, for the collective self-respect of our species (TUNE GUY? YOGINI? NTR BOY?!)* And, of course, accurate, up-to-the-minute weather and interstate advisories on the radio, web, and television – at all times! I don’t want to watch your kids making snowmen when I am trying to figure out whether or not I’m headed for an avalanche!!!Ok. Now that that’s out of the way – There are lots of cool nooks in Portland. My favorite thing about the city is Powell’s City of Books. Wow, I was ready to move in! The perfect place for a cold and rainy day, or a sunny day for that matter. I picked up a bunch of books and an audiobook for the long haul back to CA this Friday. But first – I’m playing in Bellingham, WA Thursday night! I’m very excited because this is my first time in Oregon and Washington. I feel a certain wholeness now… like I’ve been staring at a puzzle with the upper-left-hand chunk missing, and now I have the satisfaction of clicking in those pieces. The four corners.All-in-all life is good, despite the wasted hours on CNN and WTC. I’ve been particularly upset about the recent death of the young man that’s been all over the news. Right now some people on TV are talking about this “breaking news” involving an US Weekly report and drugs, and it’s all pretty sickening. Aside from the fact that US Weekly is not exactly the most reliable news source, I’m wondering – if drugs are involved in someone’s death, does that make it less tragic? Is that individual all of a sudden deserving – even guilty – of his fate – the hounding, the prying, the loss? Should we be less mournful? I am endlessly amazed by our capacity to turn on a person. It is so, so tragic.Well, I don’t really want to end on such a sad note, but I don’t want to glaze over it either, so I’ll leave you with some pictures. Stay warm and dry, unless you’re reading from Sydney or something, in which case please send me a one-way ticket from Seattle.

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!