After a frantic day and a half teasing the house back into a semblance of cleanliness for the summer tenants, the band departs for Albany, NY in a cloud of dust. Yes, even a herd of turtles can raise dust clouds. After a successful first show that night performing with local band Alta Mira, Sam and I head south to CT while Harris, Dave, and Auyon opt for the northerly delights of Lake George. Had our very first show of our first real tour split us up already?
Fear not, dear reader. The very next day, Sam and I (with help from my mother’s car) liberated the band’s newest and possibly most handsome member from a car dealership in Monsey, NY. A vision in maroon, his capaciousness and functional air conditioning had us crowing all the way up to Lake George. After trying out a variety of celebrity names (Tommy Hanks, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Abraham Lincoln), we finally arrived at Chauncey. Where he been all our lives?
Reliability at First Sight
We enjoy some slick water-skiing (Auyon’s first time, see pics) and a Burn Notice marathon up at Dave’s family’s house (The Woodshed), which tides us over until our next gig in Saratoga Springs. Our outdoor show wins over a number of summer passersby, and we pit our Muse cover against that of Saving Atlantis, a pop-rock outfit with some serious 80’s flash-and-dazzle.
Trials
Perseverance (Unfortunately Still Wearing Boy Shorts)
The weekend passes by quickly at the lake between boat outings and CD printing (at this point we are still hand-stamping and burning our new EP). The following week sees the beginning of our famous 13 gigs in 13 nights experiment. We begin in downtown Hartford, continue along to Block Island where we lend an electric cello to the ferry service for a night (as described in an earlier post). After one gig in Portland with a special guest appearance by the soundguy’s rental cello, we rock Boston’s cute little face off at “Church” (no, we explain more than once, not a real church obviously, but a rock club). The next day, we move our outdoor show at Williams reunions under the overhanging roof of the hockey rink and get our alumni spirit on. Having had obviously not enough gigging, we decide to play yet another show that night at a small music festival in Turner’s Falls, north of home in Mass. Turns out this place has super-cool fans and some of the best tea we’ve tried.
Missing Cello, Friendly, Last Seen Here
CDs printed, some drying required
We sleep that night for approximately 13 hours, so that we’re ready to put on our birthday suits for our dear friend Matt Earle’s mom. Because it’s her birthday. And it’s a nice party. Where one wears a suit, am I wrong? We ride out the night with acousticy vibes, succulent BBQ, and modest portions of something I can’t remember for some reason that may have had Campari in it.
Next night, we bunk at Dave’s family’s non-lake house (less watery but just as nice-y) after a performance at Two Boots Pizzeria in Bridgeport, CT, where we are paid in part with spicy pizza. The next night is nothing short of momentous, as we join Caitlin Canty at Brooklyn Bowl, where we are served Blue Ribbon food in a dressing room, given a real soundcheck by not one but two soundpersons, and treated to Brooklyn Brewery beers and a game of bowling (again, can’t recall, but I probably won– knowing me).
The Sweet Energy-Efficient Lights of Brooklyn Bowl
And the very next night, wouldn’t you just know…it was so crazy that…
Excited for the next gig though, weren’t you? Wait for Part Deux, faithful readers, my fingers are getting crampity right about now…
busk till dawn
You’d think that during a hard-earned month off, that members of the band would be doing things like, maybe, NOT performing or playing music. But you’d be WRONG! Because Auyon and I have been traveling Europe, playing music on the street with two good friends. While obviously the other members of our band are totally irreplaceable, it happens at the moment that Harris has been replaced by Auyon’s little brother, Aroop; Don has been replaced by our friend Daniel Yudkin; and Sam has been replaced by the city of Salzburg, Austria.
We actually cannot wait to get back to the states and Northampton to begin our second full year together. For the time being, however, you can follow our European adventures at www.busktilldawn.com. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you in September!