Heading Home
I’m at the Columbus airport now enjoying the free wifi that would exist in every airport if there was any justice in this world. Last night we played the Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, and (no offense other cities) it was the best show of the week. I really liked the room, and the audience sat through three hours of very different music, seemingly enjoying themselves a great deal the whole time.
The all-around good feelings were no doubt enhanced by the presence of Sometimes Why, with whom I was completely smitten by the end of the night, as I suspected I might be when I checked out their stuff earlier this week. They, like, play instruments and everything, because they are real musicians. But they’re also wonderful songwriters with beautiful voices, really nice sparse arrangements, and delicious bluegrass harmonies. I’m trying to avoid calling them Sirens, but I don’t think I can because THEY ARE SIRENS. Seriously, I had to plug my ears with beeswax and everything.
All of which should not detract from all the other shows this week, each of which was awesome in its own way. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us, everyone who hung posters and sold merch, and Paul and Storm for letting me ride around in their van. A few more stops this month: Johnny D’s in Somerville, MA on 12/12, Mo Pitkin’s in NYC on 12/15, Milkboy in Ardmore, PA on 12/16, and Jammin’ Java in Vienna, VA on 12/17.
Columbus Destroyed
Not really – I hear that some traffic lights were out here and there, but as far as I can tell Columbus survived the double attack of high winds and a good JoCo soft rocking. Sturdy folk, you Ohioans. Thanks for coming out to see us.
Tonight: Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, and then tomorrow we go home.
Also: Monday I’ll be on WNYC’s Soundcheck at 2 PM, talking about how I invented the internet. I hear there may even be call-in opportunities…
Birthday Presents (or at least, that’s what I’m calling them)
John Scalzi did a little interview with me for the Dayton Daily News (registration required at DDN, but the full interview is on his site). Thanks John!
This robot spin art machine uses Code Monkey in its soundtrack. Also, it’s a ROBOT SPIN ART machine. Thanks Vern!
The Random Signal podcast has an interview with me that I did with Jason and Mur a million years ago when John Hodgman and I were in Chapel Hill, NC. Thanks Jason and Mur!
As Dethroner reports, and Hodgman points out to me, a cargo container fell off a ship and thousands of bags of Doritos washed up on shore in North Carolina. Thanks Poseidon!
Tonight: Little Brother’s – bring your momma. If anyone is driving there from North Carolina, please bring some of the Doritos you collected from the beach.
Tour Update
Well, here we are again mid-tour and I haven’t posted one update. What the hell is wrong with me? I need a Treo, that’s what’s wrong with me. All this time in the car and no internet access makes me very sad.
Anyhoo, I’ll say this about Birdy’s in Indianapolis: I got the 13-ball multiball on the Apollo 13 pinball machine. You know what? Turns out, too many balls. It’s not as much fun as you would think. There was a small but enthusiastic crowd, a smoke machine, and some kind of crazy stage light show, so everything turned out OK.
Tuesday was Schuba’s in Chicago. Nice big crowd, all juiced up on crazy juice – also, Centipede. It was a pretty even mix of our respective fans, so I think we all came out winners on this one. Nice work people.
Wednesday, The Intersection in Grand Rapids. We stopped at a fried chicken place on the way out of town (Cap’n Hook’s Fish and Chicken, which in retrospect should have tipped us off) and regretted it the rest of the day. Note to self: next time do not order fried gizzards. Really big crowd, mostly Paul and Storm folks, but they were also very good to me. I kind of wish there hadn’t been a punk band making loud boomy noises in the other part of the building during my set, but what are you gonna do?
And we just returned from Wilbert’s in Cleveland – I was a little off here I think, I kept forgetting where I was and what I was doing. But there were many nice people who clapped and laughed in all the right places, and at least a few who were REALLY excited about Mandelbrot Set. Then we ordered pizza and did a little podcast interview/round table with Len and Nora of Jawbone Radio – this was the first time I’d ever met them in person. What a couple of assholes. Kidding!
Tomorrow: Little Brother’s in Columbus. Saturday: Canal Street Tavern in Dayton. Also, Friday is my birthday – who wants sheet cake?
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