Day 12 - Wild West Tour

We're in the section of the tour where we aren't playing much, because we're driving through areas without much live music scene, and the show I did get fell through at the last minute. It's a bummer to see a perfectly good weekend go to unused on tour, but we're having fun anyway. We're going to do some street performing to make up for it. 

Leaving Marfa, we drove back up through the beautiful Davis Mountains, all the way to Pecos. 

From Pecos, we drove up to Carlsbad, NM to spend the night in a campground. 

Jayson and I got up with the sunrise, he ran several miles and I did much-needed yoga. Suzi slept. 

Made breakfast, packed up, drove to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I have been there a few times as a kid, but it still amazed and took my breath away. My pictures don't do it justice at all. 

After Carlsbad was the long drive to Alamogordo,NM. We took the southern route past the Guadalupe Mountains and El Paso. 

My grandparents had given us a few country western song books, so as I drove, Jayson played chords and Suzi read lyrics. We learned several songs, and at Guadalupe Pass we pulled over at a scenic overlook, and played "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" in front of El Capitan. Forgive me if I didn't sing it quite right, I learned while driving, and we couldn't do more than one take with a 7-year old camera operator:

http://youtu.be/xOr0Sc2IHY8

Day 9 - Wild West Tour

Since we had a show in Marfa, we thought we should go see Big Bend since it's so close. It's one of the few places in Texas I have never been.  Until now. Big Bend National Park is the big bend in the Rio Grande which gives West Texas it's familiar shape on the map.  What makes it so special is a combination of geologic factors: as I understand it, an ancient mountain range spanning the state (mostly eroded or buried now) was formed by plate movements in the time of Pangaea. The activity caused a string of volcanoes, which erupted and left behind beautiful formations that we now call The Davis Mountains, and Big Bend. The basaltic layer collapsed in the Pre-Cambrian days, which left us with the massive mesas and buttes, and the Chihuahuan desert strewn with volcanic rocks. That kinda sums it up, but really it's just beautiful scenery. 

You should visit in the fall, winter or sunrise. We didn't get there early enough to stand the heat. 

After our show at El Cosmico, we had all our gear plus the PA system to break down and put away, in the dark, cold desert wind. By the time we all got to bed (or cot as the case may be), it was around midnight. The night was restless and cold, with no sound barrier against anyone who passes by the tent talking and laughing with friends or starting their motorcycles before sunrise. So we tried to sleep-in a little, which meant 9:00am. Made breakfast of oats, boiled eggs and cherries, and hit the long road to Big Bend. The drive there is just as awe-inspiring as you could imagine.  

Excuse the bug-stained windshield. 

Big Bend:

The temperature reached 105 degrees fahrenheit, and I think the humidity was strangely high, estimating between 40-50%, due to the weather system moving across the state. We were roasting. Poor Suzi was miserable, and a bit delirious, dehydration was trying to take hold. Nothing like a nagging mom making you drink water every 4-5 steps!  The air-conditioned scenic drive was better than the hike. 

We drove back to El Cosmico in Marfa, exhausted and coated in sweat. Off to the west were huge storm clouds with wicked lightening, whipping winds, and a bit intimidating for sleeping in a tent. We showered in the open-air stalls cold water and let the wind dry us while we watched the lightening show. Behind us was a beautiful setting sun. We didn't see the actual Marfa Lights (an inexplicable anomaly much like the northern lights), but we had a nice view just the same:

https://instagram.com/p/3SgmRvB3FY/

Day 8 - Wild West Tour

I'm writing these posts from my phone, so if the formatting is a little off, I apologize. 

We were in Lubbock, Texas for a few days, and played a set for my sister's graduation party. Also got to finally meet my little nephews who live in Houston. Suzi loved playing with them, and the novelty of a stranger being family. 

Texas has been getting a ton of rain, so it's unusually green and lush in the otherwise arid regions. Good for us going to the desert, but lots of dangerous conditions in East and Central TX. Strange to see Lubbock so green, that's not how I remember it. 

We stopped in Lone Star Oyster Bar to play a few songs at their open jam night. The crowd dug it, and the house drummer did a nice job following our songs. They called for an encore. 

https://instagram.com/p/3GBrGKzKAi/

My high school friend Jerry Serrano, trumpet/guitar/keys/talented musician, played a few songs after us. If you're in the area check out his music. 

https://www.reverbnation.com/jerryserrano

I should also say how wonderful it is to go to my grandmother's house, the safety and predictability is an oasis from the road. I wish I could see them more than once a year at most, and I worry each time it could be one of the last. It's painful saying goodbye each time.  We spent a few hours going through old family photos, one of my favorite things to do. 

Here's one of my great grandmother, on the left:

A painting by my grandmother. 

 But anyway, this is a band blog, good as it is to see family while on tour.

We left Lubbock and drove southwest to Marfa, through the Davis Mountains on the way. I think it's about a 4-5 hour trip, but we stopped a lot to look around. Where this picture was taken, the air was thick with the fragrance of blooming flowers. 

Arriving at El Cosmico, http://elcosmico.com/ we got our tent assignment (alas, we didn't get to stay in a teepee 😭). The lobby/gift shop was full of treasures, and sweet ladies running the show. 

Our tent was across a small field, and beyond that was an outdoor community kitchen. 

The three of us unloaded our gear, made a simple dinner from our food box, and set to work putting the PA together and all of their sound equipment. 

We played that evening to an audience of locals and travelers who were staying at El Cosmico. I played bass for one set, and drums for the second set. Suzi came up a lot and played harmonica, tambourine and shaker as usual, but I noticed her working extra hard to listen to what she was contributing to the music.  During Sing Sing she turned to me and whispered "Mom, I'm trying to get the people to clap". 😊

They took this picture:

https://instagram.com/p/3M48ecEWFd/

That night was cold. So cold we slept in knit caps and our sweaters and windbreakers. No pictures of that. :-)

Day 4 - Wild West Tour

The first three days of this tour are done, they were the toughest. Lots of driving, late nights with early mornings. But it was worth every tired moment. We're flying Dan home today and continuing on as a duo for the next 3 weeks, but I'm sad to see him go. These shows so far were all fun, but I think last night in Denton stood out for all of us as the best, as far as our own performance and energy level. The crowd seemed to really dig it too. 

Two nights ago we were in Jackson TN, and I got to see my old friend and new mommy Alice Calvery perform with her heartbreakingly beautiful voice, while I HELD THE BABY!!  Josephine was 7 weeks old, I had the privilege to swaddle her and rock her to sleep.  I've still got it. I have no pictures of her and I together though. 

<insert precious baby photo here>

The venue that night was the lobby of The New Southern Hotel, which is connected to Alba Coffee, who hosted the show. When I arrived I was given the most glorious latte, and Suzi made friends with two little boys whose Mommies were there to see the show. I'm proud of her heart, and her ease at making friends, even though they were considerably younger than her. 

That night we drove on to Memphis, just to get an inch closer to Denton on the map. Our host that night had a very nice house and an equally nice old dog and a Wurlitzer. I don't play piano unfortunately, but Suzi and I couldn't resist attempting "Woodstock" by Joni Mitchell. Another thing I like about Suzi, she loves Joni too. Blogger won't let me post a video, maybe it's because I'm working from my phone.  Here's a clip: 

https://instagram.com/p/2_SvlSh3Mk/

The first night was the show with R.Ring in Louisville KY. I'm a big fan of their minimalist folk punk. 

The  two other bands, Quail Bobes and The Fervor were really good, Quail Bones had an obvious Ramones influence and pulled it off really well, while The Fervor were more psychedelic, featuring beautiful female vocals. Our host that night also hosts house concerts, so we're planning on coming back to Louisville in the fall to do one. 

Finally getting around to blogging

We're getting ready to leave for our Wild West Tour, and I'm steadily crossing things off the to-do list.

This tour is a little unlike other tours we've taken, as we'll have many more days off to hike/camp/explore/adventure out in the wilds of New Mexico and West Texas.  This means we'll be taking camping gear with us for the first time on tour, which has lead to may more packing and logistical planning for me.

Oh, by the way, "Me" is Sarah, the lead singer of Shivering Timbers.

Jayson, Dan, Sarah

Anyway, back to the packing.  We decided to get our own tent instead of borrowing one, which made me and Jayson feel like proud new home-owners all over again.  The thing is huge, fits 8 people.  So we're thinking of hiring more bandmates along the way just to fill it. 

It engulfed our entire living room.

But I like to nest, so having this much space in which to do so makes me really happy.  Last time we camped was at a festival in Rhode Island in a too-tiny tent, smashed against the walls and each other, elbows in ribs, feet in face.  It was one of the worst nights of sleep.
I'll post pictures of the massive tent in action somewhere in the desert. For now, it's back to work, I have packing to do.