Spring smells like travel and camping

There's been something about the air the past few chilly mornings that reminds me of camping when I was a kid with my family, Dad getting up before everyone and making a fire for hot chocolate and oatmeal and coffee. Our dog Stanley excited because we'd come out of our tents, and me and Matt with blue faces from drooling on our new sleeping bags in the night, not quite colourfast.

And it's also reminiscent of Jen and me taking that little red car down through the southern states, every penny wish coming true, treacherous drives in North Carolina, misty Smoky Mountain mornings, Mammoth Cave camping where we saw the biggest spider in the world, actual Mammoth Cave where we really saw the biggest spider in the world. I don't know what it is, but I just put coffee on the stove, got a hint of the outside air and all these images were flashing through my mind.

We've got one more date left on this Spring Tour - the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern on May 29th. It's freeeeeee.

Then NXNE on the Friday (June 8th) at 1am at the Dakota Tavern (after playing in the Shelby Lamb Band, same night, Cadillac Lounge at 9pm). Next morning (Saturday) we get up and pack 'er up and head to Wakefield, QC, to the Black Sheep Inn, playing with Nathan Wiley. Busy weekend.

The thing that feels really great right now is how much these out of town shows are making our band feel - good and close. Not that we weren't before, but I think mileage under our feet somehow gives you a connection. I was looking around at this band the other night, talking to a friend I hadn't seen in a while, and it struck me that I truly love everybody in this band, and did so before we assembled in our ragged way. There's not a whole lot I wouldn't do for any of them, and like I said, that's before we get into band talk - these people are my dear friends. Uh oh, I'm about to wax on all of the people who are involved in the whole wheel, but let's leave it with the band. The wonderful, funny, good-looking, ridiculous, super band of giants and heroes and one nerd (it's up to you to decide).

Tour/NXNE/Wakefield/CD RELEASE!!

There's a lot going on in the next little while - the big thing is our CD release party on Thursday, July 19th, 2007 at the El Mocambo with guests TBA. The EP is called how we think about light, and we just sent everything to manufacturing this week. Thanks to the perseverence and perfectionism of Mark Vogelsang, who is currently in Montreal seeing the Arcade Fire and getting another tattoo.

We're still on our tour of one-offs, we played Hamilton last Wednesday and we have Burlington this Friday (May 18th) with The Maevens, and following that is the Horseshoe on May 29th . I have wanted to play the Horseshoe for so long, this is really exciting. We have a couple of surprises lined up for that show - AND IT'S FREE!!!

We do all of the pre-press for the EP release before NXNE (we showcase at the Dakota Tavern on June 8th at 1am).

Then we hit the road the next morning to Wakefield where we'll play at the blacksheep on Saturday June 9th with Nathan Wiley.

And then I'll sleep a little bit before our release.
Yeah. I probably won't sleep.

London at the Alex P. Keaton

...was so fun! We had a terrific time playing with Les Kilt and Feast. Steve couldn't play that night, so that was too bad, but Shelby had her voice back (she'd lost it for the Boat show - which was also super fun), so that was good.

I like it there. Rowdy.

Tomorrow night I'm getting back in a minivan with my old pals David Picco and Jimmy Rose and we head to Hamilton City to play Dire Straits coversongs with sick riffs. Shelby can't come, so Jimmy's going to play guitar in her place. Mr. Picco might come up and do some vocal harmonies.

Oh yeah, Mark's back in a few hours and we're mastering tomorrow.
I've seen the album artwork, and it's beautiful. As usual. That Jimmy Rose can make a nice thing, let me tell you.

xoxo