Tracks 12-15: Midwest… (May 20, 2008)

Saturday I got to Illinois a little early and stretched my legs at Kickapoo (seriously) State Park before heading to Sleepy Creek Vineyards. The fields were an eager green and I had a feeling this was going to be a great show. I always know what a show’s going to be like well before I arrive at the venue. It’s strange, but I’m never wrong. I’m sure my attitude and expectation have something to do with the outcome, but I can’t control who shows up – and I always know when it’s going to be an especially good crowd. I was not wrong. Saturday turned out to be my favorite show to date.

I drove past the young vines and into the gravel lot, which I was excited to see was quite packed an hour before show-time. Joe, the owner, welcomed me into the large tasting room – a lodge, really – which smelled woody and buzzed with conversation. Tricia of Tall Tale opened and played a great set on her electric guitar – kind of a cross-between John Mayer and Alanis Morissette – and the audience was incredibly attentive as the wine flowed and the windows behind the stage fell dark. I was really anxious to play – even though my set at Lazy Daze in Indianapolis was a mere nine hours earlier, this was a rare crowd.

I started with “U,” which has become my favorite opener, and though I should have been exhausted, as my set progressed I felt myself blossom before their attention like the baby crops stretching toward the sun. A performer is only as good as her audience and by the third song I was no longer “playing and singing” but “being played and sung” – I was positively radiating their energy. At one point I felt intense light pouring through me – an experience I’ve felt mere flickers of in meditation and previous performances – and this is before I tasted any of the wine. After I finished I was told that there had been an incredible lightning display behind me! Pretty far out.

Saturday night was my first standing ovation (!) – an affirmation that I was not the only one who felt something special had occurred beneath that sprouting vernal dome. I have never been so inspired to create, sing, play, and keep touring as I was – and I am – by the generosity of this audience. To those of you who were there, thank you. It was an honor to meet you.

After a quick wine tasting I was very ready for bed. I’m not usually much of a red drinker, but the Henpecked is outstanding, and I’m waiting for a night off to uncork my bottle. I also took home bottles of the delicious Sour Puss – a sweeter white than the name implies – and the Bashful Ewe, as rose is my favorite. The most interesting, however, is a wine called Bull-Headed, which tastes quite bloody. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tasted, and I’m going to TRY to wait until I get home to share it with my meat-eating friends… we’ll see. I’m thinking it’s a very good source of iron… It should be a vegan diet staple.

I headed back to Kickapoo after a night at the vineyard, and the glowing young leaves felt like a perfect reflection of my mood. I practiced yoga while a nearby party celebrated multiple graduations – that “nahhhh nah nah nahhh nahhh nahhhhhhh” processional song played at least ten times while I was there in the grass. Then I headed south to Evansville, IN to play Penny Lane Coffeehouse. After confirming that I was in Central Time (it’s a very confusing part of the world to be in) I had some free time, so I had a nice vegan wrap courtesy of the venue and took a walk through the neighborhood. I walked along the sparkling Ohio River and the Vietnam Memorial while I enjoyed some chocolate from Sleepy Creek. Sundays tend to be quite funky for me – probably due to years of not looking forward to the start of the school week – and I quite like playing shows on Sunday nights. Especially after such a perfect weekend.

The Penny Lane set was very enjoyable. The audience was, again, very attentive and supportive. I’ve sold a remarkable amount of CDs in the past two weeks – as many as I sold in my entire winter tour! I appreciate people putting their economic stimulus to good use…it sure is helping to stimulate my economy, as yesterday alone I put $100 in my gas tank and it’s now, sadly, empty.

After a good night’s sleep in the company of Phishheads I had quite a haul to Omaha yesterday… as you can see, I started to really lose my mind (pretty cool carrot, huh?). I love Omaha, though, and the drive through the farmlands was lovely. Much prettier than January – especially as I have so many more hours of sunlight this tour. The PS Collective show was pretty dead, but I honestly didn’t mind as it was Monday night in Omaha and I’d played four shows in the previous forty-eight hours. Plus, tonight I’m playing Mick’s Music & Bar, which is where I played last January. I love this spot. It’s open mic night, so if you get there early be sure to bring your guitars!

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)

Track 11: Consolers of the Lonely (May 16, 2008)

“Consolers of the Lonely” – The Raconteurs

Yesterday I drove through TN, a second of VA, and KY… and later through OH and IN. The highlight was seeing buffalo grazing along the highway! When I got to Lexington the sun had come out and I stretched my legs a bit, thanks to a sweet man who gave me directions (and bought my CD on the spot!). Lexington has a beautiful downtown, where the old and new meet as seamlessly as babies and old ladies at a church function. I took a lot of pictures and cloud-gazed in Thoroughbred Park.

The Common Grounds show proved that the generosity and kindness of the aforementioned man is hardly an anomaly in this part of the world. Met some lovely people before packing up and heading on to Indianapolis, where I played this morning. The ride was tough, as I was out late Thursday night and I started slapping my face with an hour left to drive. I listened to the Raconteurs new album, which has been in my CD player since I left for tour, 2500 miles ago. I’ve listened to some French language-learning CDs, a book on tape, and Flight of the Conchords at night when I need to laugh to stay awake (though smiling deliriously has caused some of my fellow drivers to think that I am soliciting their attention… learned that lesson). But ultimately, it’s been Consolers of the Lonely.

After hours of listening I have decided this is one of my favorite albums of all time. I listen to mostly older albums and artists – Dylan, Mitchell, Young, Cohen – and Jack White is really the exception. His vision is so precise and all-consuming that I find myself listening to White Stripes and Raconteurs albums repetitively – something I NEVER do with contemporary albums, which are usually like bad crab cakes, as my sister would say – lots of filler (note: I do not eat crabs or other animals). On first listen I had to restart track 10 several times because the opening riff and drum entrance are so sublime I couldn’t believe my ears. How perfect that the lyric kicks in “Hey, now that you have my attention…” And the ENTIRE ALBUM is filled with moments like that, from Jack’s staccato “If you’re looking for an accomplice…” to the last chord. And it’s not just Jack, of course – what really distinguishes this album from their first (which I absolutely love) is that the band has grown stronger as a whole, and as individual parts -Brendan Benson’s voice is stronger, the arrangements are more sophisticated, the songwriting tighter – I wasn’t planning on this little update to turn into a review, but I cannot say enough about this album. It is such a firm link in the chain connecting rock and roll’s past and future – that is the true mark of genius. And every song succeeds in presenting songs that are raw, soulful, and explosive in a way that is simultaneously contained, controlled, and polished.

I arrived in Indy, thanks to the boys, around 3AM at what was the shadiest accommodations yet. And that’s including last fall and winter tours, too… this place was NOT OKAY. I checked in – immediately regretting it, but I had to perform again in less than seven hours and needed sleep – and some dude loitering in the shadows started following me so I booked it to my room like a squirrel on speed. I bolted myself inside, heart racing, and watched him through the peephole as he waited outside my door for a minute. I immediately thought of Ananda – I had left her in full view in the back of my station wagon, since I didn’t have time to run back for her while making my escape. What to do? My life or my guitar? I thought for a second and decided to go back for her. I expect any good parent would do the same for her baby. We both lived to tell the tale, and I just finished playing here at Lazy Daze.

On to Illinois tonight, for a show at Sleepy Creek Vineyards… I sure like the sound of that…

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)