Bret's Tour Journal

7/26 - Portland, OR

The trip so far has been nice and smooth. In fact there have even been a couple interesting cases of synchronicity on the drive out here, the type that couldn't be planned.

After a leisurely car packing session, JB, Django and I rolled outa Santa Cruz around 8:30pm Sunday night, getting us into Shasta City around 3:30am Monday to the beautiful home of a gracious friend who (synchronicity numero uno) just happened to be up at that moment to tell her neighbor to turn off that water valve keeping her awake, dammit. Yes, you read that right, it was 3:30 in the morning, and she was out in the yard. What are the chances? You can't plan stuff like that.

But wait, it gets better.

After a full night of restful sleep and a relaxing breakfast, we hit the health food store for a cold drink, where (synchronicity numero dos) we ran into the rest of the band stopping for the same reason. The rest of the guys left Santa Cruz this morning around 8:00am and caught up with us in Mt Shasta City briefly. Again, what are the chances? We exchanged the usual insults and were on our way.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, unless it's a relief, and since we had miles to go before we slept, our car split town, leaving Matt, Mark, Steve, and Kerry to enjoy being out of their car for a change.

Now we're all enjoying the hospitality here at The Shelton Palace in Portland, giving thanks for hospitible people and appreciating the cycle of generosity that is easy to find when you give.

Oh, one more thing, Matt scares easily. And at this point he thinks that the word "gullible" really isn't in the dictionary. Don't tell him, 'kay?

Don't move, Matt, there's an owl right over your shoulder. Just turn around slowly....

7/29 - Portland, OR

A couple shows down and a couple brain cells left. We rest here in Portland after playing fun shows in Hood River and here. Hood River is a beautiful little town on the Columbia River.

I've been enjoying my role as self appointed mentor of the band. It just makes sense, considering I know everything. It's always fun to tell people what they're doing wrong. Besides, I think Steve (the new guy) won't really feel accepted until we've hazed the shit out of him. I'm doing my part to heap ridicule upon him constantly so he feels like part of the team, because that's just the kind of friend I am.

We've discovered that Oregon closes some highways down altogether for construction late at night. This can cause confusion for Californians, who are generally used to at least one lane being open on highways pretty much all the time. In addition to that, we've learned that traffic lights here will stay green for nobody for a long time while you wait at the red light.

We now have a few days off, and may hit some hot springs or do some camping. We shall see. It's been nice running into new and old friends. Good folks out here in P-land, though people aren't as relaxed here as in California.

Mark is having fun running up a huge phone bill talking to his girlfriend. Constantly. He's been talking to her for the past couple hours now, and that's just today. I am not making this up. In fact I believe he's spent at least as much time on the phone talking to his girlfriend as he spent with those two stripper backstage the other night. They were very friendly, but it was the double jointed belly dancers that really brought a smile to Mark's face.

We think the lipstick will come out of his shirt in the wash, but none of us had ever seen anyone attempt that maneuver with a bass before.

8/6 - Chico, CA

Sorry I haven't been writing in the tour journal. Been a while since we've really spent any time in civilization that we weren't either sleeping, driving, playing or eating.

Here's a run down of what we've been doing....

7/30, 7/31, 8/1 - Black Sheep Family Reunion, Cottage Grove, OR

Wow what an experience!! We played a private camping festival on an incredibly scenic piece of property. We did the late night set from about 2:30 am until about 7:00 am on Jerry Garcia's birthday. It was awesome watching the sky get light while playing. There were a few technical difficulties early in the show but the show must go on and everything worked out in the end. Other bands on the bill earlier that night included Albino, who were great, and an all star band on Bobby Vega, Scott Law, Dale Fanning and Chip Roland. They ripped it up until around 2:00 am and we went on soon after.

This was waaay out there and we weren't near a town or any internet.

8/3 - Eugene

Had a good time playing a little coffee shop in Eugene monday evening. Stayed with some friends there in town.

This is where things get hectic, as it's the first night of four nights in a row in four different towns. We haven't spent any time chilling out between then and right now. Just playing, driving, eating, and sleeping.

8/4 - The Provolt Grange near Williams, OR

Woke up, rolled up the sleeping bags, had some food, and drove south.

This was another one that was waaaayy out there. Very cool experience playing for this community of freaks. Had a good show and some people came out. Stayed with some folks at some houses that are even more way out there. So out there that they have no pluming and all the houses have rainbow-style pit toilets. Really cool people out there in Williams. Sustainable living type culture.

8/5 - McKinleyville, CA

Woke up, rolled up the sleeping bags, had coffee, and, once again, drove south. Feels good to be back in California.

Played a nice club in McKinleyville called 6 Rivers Brewery, near Arcata. We actully had a decent turn out at this one. Saw a couple old friends.

We have been styled out big time and have had friends offer their homes for us to crash, and have only had to get a hotel once so far.

Unfortunately there has been an undercurrent of tragedy around this tour, and our keyboard player had to miss the McKinleyville and Chico shows for a funeral. He's going to meet back up with us tomorrow for the show in Tahoe, and unfortunately there is another memorial service Sunday for someone else that was a friend of a couple band members. In fact as I've been writing this, some old friends have been talking about death right over my shoulder. We dance the dance of the dark as well as the light to make harmony.

Once again, didn't get a chance to hang out, after sleeping, got up, rolled up the sleeping bags, had breakfast at a li'l restaurant, and drove here to Chico...

8/6 - Chico, CA

Last night played The Bean Scene. Had a good time. There were a couple people at the show.

Typing this at the house of a friend in Chico who makes amazing batiks and tie dyes. He was gracious enough to invite us to crash here at his house.

Today is our first day off since Sunday, which wasn't really a day off because we played the sunrise set and then had to load out and pack up. No plan yet for today except rest and eat and socialize. We'll see what happens.

Time to go get some breakfast! More soon.

8/7 - Chico, CA

It's nice to have a day off. I really am glad to not have to set up the drums again today. Tomorrow we split for Tahoe for the last gig of the tour, then it's home sweet home tomorrow. It's been a fun and educational trip but I am ready to get home and sleep in my own bed. And go surfing.