Yesterday began with grey skies and a light rain. It was just a classic March day up North. It’s the time of year where you get teased by the threat of nice weather, outside activities and springtime clothes. One day it’s 65 degrees and everyone is running around in shorts, the next it’s 37 degrees and raining. This was one of those days.
We hit the road to Ann Arbor, ears still ringing, throat still raw from the night before.
Speaking of the night before…
The crowd in Champaign was full of energy, singing along with us on so many of the songs. It was a full on Friday night rock n roll show, loud and loose.
It’s our second show there in the past 4 months and this crowd nearly doubled the last. Seems like a lot of folks have caught the Austin
City Limits show and are being turned onto the band. Just another
windfall from having done that.
Thanks to Larry and everyone at the WHIP, good folks, making the Illini proud, we’ll be seeing you soon I hope.
The drizzle became a full on rain as we glided into Ann Arbor, one of my new favorite tour stops. We had a quick load and soundcheck and grabbed a quick bite at The Eastern Flame. 2 for 2 on dining experiences in town. Last time Zingermans (a must stop people) and this time some delicious middle eastern/ Indian cuisine. In my humble opinion they did a pretty great job serving both masters (which I don’t think is an easy thing to do).
I digress.
We played the Ann Arbor folk festival in January, which was a great introduction to Michigan. Certainly put us in front of some music lovers, which was a great primer for our return.
First show at The Ark last night, which is a legendary listening room and has hosted everyone from Doc Watson and Emmylou Harris to Ani Difranco and Lyle Lovett.
Small, theater style seated crowd, we were able to savor every note, nuance and dynamic. Great crowd, listening and focused but ready to rock and be vocal and loud. Well done audience people! Everyone else out there take note!
Good to see some old friends and meet some new ones, I hope we’ll be coming back again soon. Thanks to Anya and all the staff, first class people.
Hit the hotel, fell asleep around 4, which was actually 5 and got up around 7:30am. Hurts a little bit this morning.
Since Tuesday we’ve covered a lot of ground, from Memphis to Nashville and St, Louis, Champaign and finally Ann Arbor.
It’s 8:22am and we’re rolling across Michigan on I-94. Gordy is manning the wheel and we’re listening to the Jayhawks, Tomorrow the Green Grass. I’m trying to stop pressing the wrong keys as the van skips and hops across this bumpy torn up section of road.
One hour into a 24 hour trek, everything seems pretty right in the world. It’s March and it’s 39 degrees and raining. Headed back to Austin for SXSW for some musical March madness and hopefully some hanging out with friends.
If we haven’t said it lately, thank you for giving us the space to create and do what we do. I hope we’ll see you out on the road real soon.
Until then. Good morning.
March 14, 2010 8:32am
-ej
