Wednesday, January 31, 2007

February is knockin'. One month of vacation remaining.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Snapshots from the roadtrip to Naco, Mexico:
Kate, from Bisbee, AZ, took these pictures.


Unos vaqueros de la calle.


Due to the glare, the swim-suited model on the cover of the note pad appears to be morphing into the likeness of the Virgin of Guadalupe.


Kate & Rocko in front of the former Naco discoteca. It was shut down, apparently, due to cocaine trafficking.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

If anyone has ideas for some February shows in the NW, before I leave for North Dakota for nine months, email me at rappincowboy@hotmail.com. Thanks!

I like to get paid $200 per show, but I'm flexible.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

In the tradition of 199 DUZ and 319 JOE, Excalibur is a true road warrior. We're back in Olympia minus a single breakdown, crash, or traffic ticket. Well done, old man Buick.

Yesterday's soak at Skinnydipper Hot Spring, outside of Boise, was euphoric and sulphuric. I witnessed sunrise from a series of 102-degree, sandy-bottomed pools cradled in the bosom of a hoarfrosted mountainside. A deep emerald river ran a quarter mile below. God's jewels are abundant throughout the American west. There have been too many scenic highlights on this journey to describe.

Friday, January 26, 2007

I am at the Mr. Sandman Motel in Boise, Idaho, about to embark into the dark wilderness and find Idaho's #1-rated natural hot spring--Skinnydipper. Excalibur is in the stable, rugged and ready. We ventured 700 miles yesterday; by today's end we'll have sallied 600 more.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Howdy from Monticello, Utah. Back in the desert again. May the hot springs reveal themselves, and undress me with their eyes.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

My laptop isn't working for some reason, so I've regressed to using small town libraries. I'm somewhere near Durango, Colorado, at the moment. Earlier today I visited the town of Pagosa Springs, CO, and soaked in a pool there. My time in Albuquerque was spent with my friend Kristina and her nine-month-old daughter, Senida. We hiked to Spence Hot Springs the first day and took a tram to the top of snowy Sandia Peak the next. Yesterday I headed north in search of the magnificent hot spring resort of Ojo Caliente. I found it and then continued north to Antonito, CO, where I found a stuffy, staticky hotel room for $36.

Oh--I almost forgot to mention the Albuquerque house concert! It was unforgettable. Thanks Nancy, Mark, Allison, and Amy, who made it happen, and everyone else who paid $10/each to attend. Now I can afford to get back to Olympia. I'll be in Utah by sundown.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

I left Bisbee, AZ, at midnight last night as the snow began to fall. I heard that five inches were predicted, and I didn't want to get stuck there and miss tonight's house show in Albuquerque. I found a hotel in Deming, NM, at 3:30 a.m. Right now I'm in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. It's a warm and sunny day here. An hour ago I soaked in a hot spring that overlooks a slow-moving, green river. In the distance were snowy mountains. If possible, I want to explore a few other desert hot springs before returning north.

Two days ago I visited Mexico with my friends Kate and Rocko. The town we drove to is called Naco. Next year I'll drive into the Mexican interior and find some hot springs there, as well. I'll also go to Mazatlan and snorkel a bit.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Greetings from Bisbee, Arizona. Tomorrow I might visit Mexico. Bisbee is a bohemian paradise, so obviously I'm enamored. When I played here last year, I made friends with an artist named Kate who let me stay in an apartment she owns, which she wall-papered with thousands of colorful post cards. She's letting me stay there again this year. The room, like the town, and like Kate herself, is beyond my descriptive powers. Wish you were here.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Last night's audience at Modified Arts was sparse, but enthusiastic. I sold a lot of Lebanese Chiclets and Jackie Chan tea. Phoenix is a sweet town. The two bands I played with, Teague Cullen and Pocahontas, were great.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day! It is one of my favorite holidays. I plan to practice nonviolence at tonight's show. No more Flagstaff fistfights for me.

I'm presently staying at the home of my cousin Annie and her husband, Ellery, in Phoenix. They are seven months pregnant with a boy named Jalen. Annie and Ellery are a testament to Dr. King's dream of African-Americans and European-Americans being able to "join hands . . . as sisters and brothers." Or, in this beautiful situation, as husband and wife.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Tonight's show, in Flagstaff, was the opposite of last night's. Instead of sweet toddlers, there were aggressive twenty-somethings.

Getting here was daunting. I drove through two hours of blizzard, arriving just in time at the Hotel Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge.

My friend Dmitri, from the fine band Golden Boots, sat in on drums for my whole set. The weirdest part of the evening was when a belligerent drunk guy continually requested G.G. Allin songs. I was drunk, too, and eventually decided to punch him in the face. (I'm ashamed.) He swung back a couple times in retribution. His friends bought me a beer as a peace offering. Eventually, the guy started one too many fights, broke a light, and was officially kicked out.

Owen Ludwig, who booked the show for me, was able to get me a free night's stay at the historic Hotel Monte Vista. The room was painted gold and had chunky metallic cherubs affixed to the ceiling.

Friday, January 12, 2007

San Diego is redeemed. I just had the coolest show at Elaine & Mark's house! It was filled with dozens of toddlers who got up on stage with me and danced around throughout the set. There were a few times where I couldn't sing 'cause I was laughing too hard. Here are some pics. And here is a write-up of the show by Elaine on her blog.

Now I'm about to go paint the town red with my pal Michael Yungman. Tomorrow I'll be in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Hanging out with Cousin Jeff, here in Fullerton, has been recharging. We've watched a lot of movies, eaten a lot of sushi, and listened to a lot of songs on iTunes. Jeff is a generous 29-year-old with a big heart. His parents, Brad & Jo, who live three blocks away, are great, too. It was a good idea to visit without having the distraction of nightly shows.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Southern California is baking. It was 87 degrees today in Los Angeles! Right now, I'm at my cousin Jeff Sand's bachelor pad. We just watched The Illusionist, starring Edward Norton, on his gigantic-screened plasma television set. I plan to hunker down here for a couple days before rambling to San Diego on Friday, and then Flagstaff, AZ, on Saturday.

And, by the way, the picture to the left was taken at the KAOS radio station last month by the divine Ms. Sarah Elizabeth Alexander. She took a lot more that will appear, in due time, on this website's publicity page. My friend Aaron Rosenblatt took several pictures in Oakland. I'll be using them, too. It's gettin' about that time to update my image.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

I just stumbled across this on YouTube's website. That's Jonah aka "Blandow Charismium" beatboxing and Chad aka "Garf" on drums. I'm not sure who videotaped it, but it's from the Seattle show at Sunset Tavern last month.

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I'm in Los Angeles, tonight, at my ol' pal Asher D. Dudley's apartment. Asher used to play with Camo and me in the Workhorses of Yesteryear: Nashville's Finest Hip-Hop Jug Band. Now he works as an on-air graphics operator for a national TV station. (That's Asher's picture to the left.)

Last night I played a show in Oakland at a punk rock barber shop/cafe. A few friends showed up, including Jen Grady and her boyfriend Quinn and her girlfriend Sasha. We all went bar hopping after the show and then spent the night at Sasha's, high in the Oakland hills.

The weather is idyllic today, and the flowers and trees smell sweet.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Greetings from the Ashland Hostel in Ashland, Oregon. I've made friends with a dude named Drunk Dan from Walla Walla, Washington. He lives up to his name, too. Cool guy, though. Likes to talk about parasitic bugs and stuff.

I'm exquisitely exhausted this evening . . . I believe I'll hit the sack early so I can be fulla fire for Oakland tomorrow night.
California bound. Home of Barry Bonds, Katie Holmes, the Terminator.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Greetings from CrimethInc. central: Salem, Oregon. Now down to Corvallis.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

The stars aligned last night. Great, fun show in Portland. Crazy merchandise sales . . . Yes.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Hedonism. 2007 is off to a fun start. And seven is a good number, I think. A lucky number.

The last few shows in the Northwest have been great. All but one pair of cowboy boots have sold, and my stock of CDs, shirts, and pillow cases are rapidly going, too. The New Year's show on Orcas Island was notable for many reasons. The best part was that they hooked Sarah and me up with a cabin for two nights and lots of gourmet food and libations.

Last night I played in Anacortes at the Department of Safety with Dennis Driscoll and one of my favorite bands--D+. The place was packed (thanks Bret and DoS!). After a rocky start I found my groove. Lots of little kids were in the audience, which always makes me happy. One 12-year-old named Willow had "Scapegoat Song" memorized.

Tonight's show is at the ABC House in Olympia with Calvin Johnson and Froseph. Tomorrow's is in Portland. Today's Portland Tribune had a sweet little article on the show, and they used a picture that Sarah took last week. I look a little surly and burly, it's true. I haven't shaved in a month.