"croon with me tonight"

tonight was a toe on untouched turf. a chance to sit on the coveted monday night saxon stool and croon a bob tune. many friends paid respect and owned the throne. bruce hughes had the mc honors and led the pack. some showed wishing bob would too, but for those in the know knew what to expect and good times were had. good to see everyone safely back from holiday travels, and glad the frequents didn't boo. some even bought a FRUNK. stronglove. not sure i would i have bought that one. truthlove.

home is where the home is

house was full long before doors, and the line to get in was 100 deep or more. good to see, but unfortunate for those that didn't make it in. i would give a thousand handjobs to the homeless if that happened in the other regions. show was ok. band energy was lackluster. catching up with the monday night regulars was good times, but it's a dog with no mustard. "good to see you, glad you are well, but we got to go". you can't be a prophet in your own town. so, let's roll. move this. do this.

wine country

san diego is the last stop before we dead head back to austin for the holidays. a solo show at rancho bernardo winery with KPRI and the setting is serene. a near 600 pack round the quaint fake farm house front porch while bob plays a solid set, and i see no gap. a good event, and good time. new fans were made. many left with the lovely creatures album, and that page has turned. we wait for earl to get some rest, then we start the long trek home. in other news, jay thomas says hello!!!

"don't cry for me santa rosa"

methamphetamines, dancing chair routines, "don't cry for me santa rosa", and thai cuisine. no shortage of stage fun tonight. some of the show was good, but mostly a jerk off session. if you like that, you had fun. if you don't, you might have left early. then, a quick pack and ride down to the san diego side for a solo show. mount up.

cigarettes and cigars. cigarude.

how did spending your dime and time in front of a chance, while chain smoking on an oxygen tank as your face turns to leather become an exciting life plan? who knows, but sparks, nevada is where people go to do just that. house was full, show was good, and many new fans were made. band played the safe set and left it at that. some solid moments happened too. lots of merch sold. particularly, lovely creatures. a good sight to see, but i was in the weeds. after show gambles leaves me financially wounded. after show room service feast leaves me physically wounded. i'm bent for santa rosa in hopes of sunshine and time to rid my brain of the past 24 hours.

ice trucking

the 25 hour wintry death trek from spokane to boise was anything but smooth, and when there was a patch of smoothness, i imagined "this is what that guy from weezer was thinking before he cracked his ribs, and how long 'til impact?". neither comforting thoughts. then, i looked outside, and again stared straight into the whiteness. only, this time there were large semi-trucks and tractor trailers on the left, and large trees to the right. "keep it steady earl, boise is out there somewhere, i swear." and like the fear of being stuck on the side of the road with limited amounts of coffee supplies, you start thinking about "who you would eat first". choices you might make in the near future. tough to say. we showed up 30 minutes before the set, threw the gear on stage, and ran with it. bar jams and clams that deed was did. the storm broke temps to rain, and we headed for sparks. "cut her loose boys, she ain't gonna make it to sky country anyhow".

gaining little ground, but definitely gaining pounds

winter is here, no escaping its breath or the smell of the ballard farmer's market hot-n-fresh. mini-doughnuts, soo0 good! and when it's cold out, warm yourself with a cup of coffee from any shop on the block, and lots of sweets. i had some doughnuts, a couple creme filled croissants., and chocolate. i'm caught in the warm sugar web, and have become unrecognizable. the Tractor Tavern was a good time in the neighborhood. fun, vocal crowd, in droves, decked in poofy michelin man jackets. the band burned a few pre-show pastries with some sweet n' tasty. a mix of hits and extended jams. a success and good time in these cold weather climbs. my coffee intake is increasing.

"portland- i wasn't ready to end it either"

we were headed out for Bend, OR, but the wintry mix would not allow us to leave Portland. not a bad city to be snowed in by any stretch, so, what do you do? well, a few of us spent our day in the doug fir lounge area and filled that void with some good food, music, and vintage shop cruisin'.

"portland- don't stop til you get enough"

bruce cancels, brandi fills, howie starts the day with our hospitality, and bob schneider steals. the show that is. over 1200 show shareholders not afraid to brave the cold and support. band played a solid "live" radio set with mindful steers clear of any FCC turbulance. in a sentence, this is the KINK's (portland) version of the KGSR (austin) anniversary and holiday party. great venue and celebration. set was short, but the bag was filled. crowd was receptive, buzzing, and could not get enough. santa delivered his post-show goodies in the form of Voodoo Doughnuts. the guilt is high, the thighs are heavier, but turning it down is an impossible try. "bundle up boys, there's a front movin' in, and i ain't about to tell your ma why we's late for supper again".

this party's got sauce and age

Photo by Todd Wolfson

the KGSR 19th anniversary party at the University Of Texas Student Union Ballroom was a big time filled with big names, like Salt Lick BBQ. a cattle call of another kind. the one that comes after the one that produces the later line of people standing, wanting, waiting, salivating for a drop of the sweet n tangy. the meat is tender, but the love is in the sauce. if you thought you would hit the line later in hopes that it would shrink you were fooled. the band played a solid set. a night of hits and hats. there were many beautiful people out and all the acts were solid. some impressive, some classic. a Cactus Cafe production, so there was good supply of coffee.

hand claps and city maps

the day starts with a trip to kbco- studio c in boulder for a brief full band performance and interview. band cranks it out like cookies and we head for the theater where show 2 setup starts. the sun hides, colder temps arrive, while the theater warms from a stride stopping delbert mclinton photo decked in a pair of brown z-cavarichis posing in front of a 91 ford escort beneath the marquee shine. its true. show started solid and maintained energy throughout. band finds legs for the short set and finishes it with hair on the chest. crowd was appreciative but confined to cages. colorado fans find the lining with back beat hand claps during 2002. to each their own.

denver on ice, not just a great ice skating show

the historic paramount theater in denver, colorado

we descended into the landing approach for what felt like most of the flight only to hear "kkkkkssshhh..uhh..we are traveling too close to another aircraft at the moment so we are going to have to wait to land....kkkksssshhhhhh". perfect. i looked outside and gazed straight into the forever whiteness. not settling. i felt lumped. in the stomach. we made it to the show and it started slow and that became the tempo. "this must have been what they were talking about". later it grew some nubs. not limbs, not nuts. just nubs. not even toes. but it grew, and by the saving grace of 40 well trained sled dogs it was able to drag itself to freedom. a standing "o" even. well, not all of us.