11/03/08 DAY 00 SXSW 2008

South by South West,
Lets do this.

So we left a little late today, drive was long, cramped and a little stressful. That's okay, that's part of it. It felt good to be driving far away again; it's been a long time. I forgot how much I enjoy looking out into the grassy expanses off the highway. We got to Colin's house (one of Becky's friends from high school) around 7:30 after stopping downtown at the convention center so Becky could get her press credentials. Made a loose schedule for tomorrow, cooked some dinner, played some guitar hero, and now it's 11:09pm and I think we're all ready for sleep. Big days coming up, lots of walking, watching, waiting, drinking etc. Tomorrow my plans are to see the Death Set, Bowerbirds, Evangelicals, the Blow, YACHT, the Cool Kids, Zookeeper, and the bottoms of the glasses of manty a free bloody Mary. I'll let you know how much I get accomplished.

Oh, I've never done this in a Road Life string of blogs but I think I'll do a roll call.
Me, I'm sethy. Yep.
Becky, She's my girlfriend and the whole reason I'm here. Thanks Becky.
Chris. He's our backseat companion.

More on us later, I'm ty ty.

bye bye.

10/07/07 Norman, OK

Hello home. You are as exactly as I'd like you to receive me. My bed is as unmade as the morning I left you there three weeks prior. My curtain was already drawn and successfully blotting out the setting sun as if to say "welcome home little guy, why don't you enjoy an early evening nap?" Which is exactly what I did. I kept my shoes on in case Becky got here before I woke up and I dreamt about deserts and highways. Perhaps it was as a recalling and recapitulation of what my brain has stored in the last few weeks. I woke up sweaty and decided to listen to some jams. I turned my stereo up loud and listened to whatever the fuck I wanted to. Alone Time. We left five till 8:00 and loaded in at the Opolis located four blocks from where we live. It's strange how Norman feels exactly the same as it did as when I left. As though time were stopped, the movie paused. Save for the random structures that seem to wait for me to leave town to newly erect or newly fall like the new liquor store within walking distance or Sonic drive-in raised on Lindsay Street. Dinner was nice, soup at Bison Wiches. The show was bittersweet. In a business sense, the turnout was dismal for a hometown return show. In a friend sense it was lucrative and successful. I took in as much Zookeeper as I could, knowing it was our last time playing with them for a long while. I played the tambourine on I Live In The Mess You Are real hard for them. Later that night we went to the bar and all had drinks. After that they came over to the Halfie despite their impending 14-hour drive to Atlanta to hook up with the Good Life for a weeks worth of dates. Most of us drank beer and a few drank coffee and in a sobering moment Chris Simpson and Seth Woods performed for us acoustic renditions of Two Part Invention and Modern Life. Look, I don't cry really that often. And only really when I'm touched by something beautiful instead of things that are sad. Depressing things dehydrates me; truly incredible things pull my tears out like the morning warmth does the dew. I cried a little when they sang those songs for us. I felt as present as I did standing in the ocean a week prior. And I guess if I could pick my favorite moment from the entire tour that would be it. Lying on Scott's bed, ten minutes before our woeful goodbye.

10/06/07 Austin, TX

It took us a while to get moving today. College football makes these guys move like molasses. Which is fine, but I know if I wanted to stick around because there was a live feed of some sort of competitive poster printing match going on I'd get loaded up into the van whether I liked it or not. Once we at lunch (4:00pm) it was one at one of the only places I find redeeming in San Antonio and it is an authentic Mexican restaurant called Mama Margery’s. Then we went to see Kenny at the Buckle he manages in a cool outdoor mall and to the apple store because among the tens of things Nick has lost on this tour his Mac book charger was the most recent. Unfortunately, the apple store did not have any in stock. Then we drove the hourish to Austin and I slept the whole time. It was great sleep. The kind where you have to wipe the drool out of your moustache. When I woke up we were in front of Emo's. There was an early show going on so we couldn't load in yet so we walked six blocks to my friend's coffee shop, Progress Coffee, and all got some tasty coffee treats and read neat magazines. I sat outside and talked to my sister Emily on the phone for a good while about how my niece is going to an outdoorsy camp and how she's (my sister, not my niece, Ashley is totally stoked!) so nervous about it. Chiefly because she won't be around to tell her "not to step in the bear poop". Parents are funny in that way. I don't care how young you are; you're not going to step in a giant pile of shit on purpose. And if you do nail it, BAM, lesson learned: "Stepping in huge piles of shit is really not all that great. I am never doing it again." So Emily, if you ever read these accounts of my quasi-interesting exploits, let me assure you that Ashley has got it under control. Even if she steps in something undesirable, she's gaining something valuable.

How the hell did I wind up way over there on that tangent? Anyway, Emo's was great, really good staff and a stage manager that just all together had all of his shit in one sock. And our drink tickets scored us any beer wanted. It was fun seeing Zookeeper play their hometown, they had an accordion player and a piano player that joined them for their entire set. It was wonderful. We're staying with a very solid dude named Pierce. Though, I think he spells him name differently than that. He and I talked for a long while out on his porch; I really enjoyed his insight and vantage point.

Tomorrow, tomorrow we drive home. I'm ready for that. I'm excited for that. Don't ask me why because just don't.

10/05/07 San Antonio, TX

Dang it if I'm not totally discombobulated. The overnight drives always make me feel so crazy. But I had fun; Scott and I nearly finished The Kid Stays In The Picture and had deep convo about deep stuff. That's always good. We also saw tons of deer. Throngs of them. My rough estimate is about 30. The majority of the drive was small highways except for I-10 there at the end so we saw a lot of animal life. Every time we'd see a deer or a family of deer we'd both tense up and go "oh god" for fear that they may dart in front of us but they were all pretty blasé about us driving by. Scott said he saw a giant rabbit standing on its hind legs but I think he was hallucinating by that point. There was also no moon at all for the majority of the drive so everything that emerged from the darkness by the illumination of our headlights was some sort of creature until it came into focus. The sleep after completing the all night drive is always weird because, though I am beyond tired when I finally get to lay down (6:00am this time) I am completely addled by all the coffee and brain energy used to keep myself alert. We are staying with our friend Kenny who Scott has known for several years. He's a solid dood. So the show tonight was a lot of fun. It had all of the right ingredients to be no fun at all but regardless we all had a great time. The bush league promoter made Zookeeper open and then put two locals after them. If I had a confrontational bone in my body I would have given that guy what for but I don't. The culmination of little sleep, lots of lone star and playing after midnight made for a fun performance. At one point Scott did a high kick in my direction and my glasses flew off simultaneously by happenstance. It was awesome; it looked as though he just totally wailed me in the face with his Rod Lavers. It took me a while to find my glasses. So Austin tomorrow, we'll see you there.

Well Lookie here.

Here's some pictures I've taken.

Look at moon in the background! Sanfrancisco.

Yes please. Huntington Beach.

Look at those Zookeepers smilin'. Sacramento.

Did you know Blizzards were good? I had no idea!

I bet you are wondering why my hair is sticking up in the back. Well pal let me tell you. A SEAGULL SHAT IN MY HAIR.

Look at these Bozos.

Two of my favorite things. San Diego.

10/04/07 Midland, TX

Oh glorious audio books. Thank you for your wondrous time passing abilities. Scott and I listened to about three and half hours of Robert Evan's autobiography The Kid Stays In The Picture on our way through Barren Wasteland New Mexico on our way to Midland Texas. Robert Evans was a radio voice turned actor turned studio executive turned producer from the 50's through the 80's. And man are his stories crazy. Patton Oswald has a hilarious bit on Feelin' Kinda Patton about Bob Evans on ESPN. I can't do it any justice here so if you haven’t heard it just agree with me. There is not much going on in Midland. I think high school football was invented here, i think I heard someone say that. We’re playing a little college in a conference room. Pretty strange. The kids are nice though. We did not find anywhere to stay so we’re, much to our chagrin, drive through the night to San Antonio. Seven hour drive from Albuquerque to Midland, five and a half from Midland to San Antonio. I think Scott and I could be truck drivers, I’d be his wingman and we’d learn new languages and listen to books on pod.

10/03/07 Albuquerque, NM

These last couple of days of the tour consist of some hefty drives and time changes, the hefty drives are allowing me a lot of time to read. The time changes are making me tired. I think I slept in the back of the van for a couple of hours but honestly I can't remember if that was today or yesterday or tomorrow (I often update my blog retrospectively a day or two later). On this tour, we've either been getting buy outs or fed by the venue. Naturally I hope for the buyouts because it's 10 bucks I get to put in my pocket, $3-$5 of which I actually use for food and then hold on to the rest. Plus there is always a little bit of apprehension getting fed by a promoter or venue. Sometimes you'll get a great quizno's party tray, or perhaps even a well prepared, home cooked meal. Equally chanced though (perhaps more so) is the prospect for luke warm mystery meats, peanut butter and a loaf of bread or diet orange crush knock off and funyuns. Well tonight the Launchpad ordered us pizza from a local joint called "Punk Rock Pizza!" If I had my way, I don't think I'd ever dine somewhere who's name psychologically triggers the stench of poor genital hygiene and never-washed hands. I do not have my way. The pizza wasn't bad actually, but you wouldn't eat that burger if you saw the cow get knocked. Just like I probably wouldn't have eaten the pizza if I saw the circumstances of its preparation. There have been a couple of shows that for some reason or another the promoters haven't taken the whole tour package, just Lydia and Umbrellas, no Zookeeper. This is one of those nights and those nights are always a little slower. They played at a bar across town. If we weren't so beat we would have gone to see them. Instead we went to our motel (number two of the tour) and slept. Long drive tomorrow to... Midland TX? Oh great.

10/02/07 Phoenix, AZ

Sorry, I haven't had Internet connectivity in the past four days. I'll get caught up now. We drove through the night; I've had 4 hours of sleep. Let’s do this.

So today we did some waking up early and breakfasting at a diner. It was pretty good. Scott picked us up at 10:30 and we started the trek towards Phoenix. Finally leaving California. Finally leaving this time zone. I was starting to get used to all of it. Not LA mind you, I'd lose my mind living there. The 7-hour drive to Phoenix went by strangely fast, that seems to happen when we don't really listen to anything and I just zone out really hard. I also read for a long time. This book, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, I'm really enjoying it but it also makes me really sad. Phillip Kaufman made it into a film in 1988. The cast seems pretty stellar; I'd like to see that once I finish the book.

We played the Modified tonight, a very cool art space with a stage and modest PA. I don't know why but tonight was the most energy I've felt while playing on this tour. Maybe it was because it was loud, or cramped, or the deluge of shit crashing down around me and needing an avenue of outlet. Whatever the source, it was good. I always have fun playing, but this was more elation, I found myself smiling and chuckling at my own nuances and those of my band mates’ performances. Who knows what that means.

Tonight we're staying with a tender christian named Sam. He really warmed my heart with his hospitality, offerings of good beer and wine. He shares his house with a roommate named Seth and a 61-year-old transient named Herbert that freely comes and goes, I gather mainly to use the shower and restroom. At first of course I reacted with a cursory "whoa, a homeless guy lives here? Is that safe?" when he told us. Then I felt like a fucking asshole. It's easy to use words like "transient" and "homeless" because it neatly removes some of their humanity thus exonerating one from compassion. Perhaps this if for a different post altogether. Or perhaps just not at all. Anyway, I found a lot of comfort in his small house; I slept soundly and woke up of my own accord.

10/01/07 DAY OFF LA

When I woke up this morning I read an Interview with Jason Schwartzman in the LA times about the Darjeeling Limited and George Clooney about political involvement and his role in the film industry. I wish the Norman Transcript had such illustrious interviews. We ate at an incredible Mexican joint called Las Barcas. I had two chicken soft tacos for under $4.00. wooooo! And they were so good. I find much culinary fulfillment in authentic Mexican cuisine. We were right by the beach so we went. It was beautiful; we went to the end of the Huntington Beach Pier where a SEAGULL SHAT IN MY HAIR. That son of a bitch. I got over it. It wasn't too messy, no white residue. I think he just had too much to drink. So I went and stood shin deep in the ocean and watched the waves picking up the surfers for the better half of an hour. Every time I stand and look out into the ocean it's a rare moment where I have a memory come to the surface about the last time I did this and then I have the same conversation with myself and say "this is when I feel the most present to myself. Not thinking ahead, or looking back, just looking out into water painting the horizon blue." Or something to that effect. It's not always such forced poetry but you get the idea. I've only stood and looked out into the ocean a handful of times, but that's always what happens. It's a good feeling. After that I had a Blizzard from Dairy Queen. Then we went to Starbucks and I had some iced vanilla brew. After that, H&M where I scored a very swank sweater vest. Then Scott dropped us off at the girls from the Hollywood show's house. Now I'm sipping a Whiskey and Diet. Man, besides shit in my hair, today was such a good day! Now I'm sitting at their kitchen table, no one is here except for Sammy, Nick and I, all of the ladies are in class. They left the side door unlocked for me. It's very serene in here. I have a fan blowing my hair; I'm blogging and enjoying my cocktail. Feels like home a little, nice and relaxed. I actually didn't feel like I was in someone else’s house until I walked into the bathroom a little bit ago and saw the slew of tampons in the trashcan. Then I realized quick "I don't live here." I had a good laugh. I imagine we'll just drink and listen to jams all night. Seems perfect. See you tomorrow.

9/30/07 San Diego

Wow, this is an interesting venue. It's called SOMA, and is what used to be a movie theater in a shopping center. The green room is behind a door you punch a code into and climb some stairs that lead you into what is an empty floor that used to house the film projectors. Every single thing I have touched has been sticky. Every scent I've smelled has a vintage popcorn finish. The sound system is huge. Huge. There are two stages at this place, we played the side stage, which is probably 300 cap, the main stage is 2300 cap. I guess it's three of the theaters combined. I know this because I counted number of projector windows that there are up stairs that stare into it. If there was going to be a zombie apocalypse, this is a prime location for it to start just based on its dramatic lighting alone. Everything is shadowy. Every third door is locked. Roof access. Palm Trees. There should always be palm trees with zombies. Mainly because California is so expendable.

Scott's lady Megan came with us, I like that because I like her. The old drummer of Umbrellas, Brandon came as well. He rocks. And he's 6'9". And he has a blonde beard. Love that. So when we back loaded our amps I didn't really pay attention, I just put my cab in front of the headlining band's bass cab. So when the time came for us to play, I found myself positioned in the middle of the stage with Nick to my left and Scott to my right. Oh I felt awkward. Everyone was looked at me as though I'm the singer. Star of the show. Crap. I just faced Sammy all-night and laughed. The show went well. Worst stage sound I've ever experienced but we made it through. So I have my niche markets where the ladies inexplicably love me. Washington DC is one of those places and Now I guess San Diego has made the list. I had four girls (three of them together) come talk to me at length about how "precious" I am and how "cute" my glasses are and "I just love saying your name, 'Sethy.'" Kinda awesome. Kinda. I'm not big on being regarded as a novelty but it's fun now and again. Only one of them bought something. Thanks. Being hott doesn't but food in belly. We drove back to Huntington Beach and stayed at Megan's house. I slept the sleep of the dead. That felt good.

9/29/07 Fullerton, CA

Based on my evening there, Fullerton is one of those OC towns filled to the gills with ridiculous cars, ample fake tits, oxygen bars, cool restuarants that close after six months and reopen as something more "now" and $400 throw-away trends. Which if fun for me, I only have to do it for a night. I bought some smokes at a smoke shop (my first of the tour, sue me I'm stressed) and the vendor bought a fag from me for .50 cents and we sat and talked for the duration (approx 5.5 minutes, they were european cigarettes) he said he'd been to Oklahoma with his boyfriend and proceeded to tell me stories about it. Inaccuracies abound. As he told me about Oklahoma like I'd never been there, I wondered if he'd even been there. And then, after blandly nodding, drawing smoke and waving the cigarette in my hand to further support my corrections of his impreciseness I realized that maybe the story I tell of Fullerton is one he'd correct and scoff at in the same manner. Abrubtly 5 men came in looking for cigars to smoke at the bars later while scouting for bone-prone babes. That's not what they said, just what I assumed. So I ducked out and wandered back to the venue. This show got moved two days prior due to some sort of city coding or zoning indescrepency at the original venue. The new location was about 50 yards away at a place called plush lounge. Very nice, set up more for dance parties and casual drinking but it worked. Tiiiiny stage. I like being cramped like that though sometimes, even if I am coordinating my movements with the headstock of Scott's guitar as not to get the shit knocked out of my head. Lots of people came out, that was fun. I had plenty of good convos with the zookeepers. Those guys are so rad. Tonight we're staying with some nice ladies we met in Hollywood that don't live too far from Fullerton. Their house is totally killer. They just ran to the liquor store, I've got a bottle of whiskey with name in it.

9/28/07 DAY OFF, CA

So today was a day off with George and Lauren. We had a good day, real relaxed. I did laundry, read, played some acoustic guitar, washed my body. Then we went to Beverly Hills, went to the H&M and drove down Rodeo Drive. That was weird. Saw the Paramount lot, that wailed. For dinner we ate a fine little joint called The Birds. Nice and cozy, more of a local spot so I didn't feel as much like a tourist. After that we bought some Boddingtons and some Spaten Premium, took that home and watched the new Office episode. Gosh Darn It. That was so good. After that we watched the Hotel Chevalier. It got me pretty excited about the Darjeeling Limited. Not an exciting day, but mostly good. I received a call from Kimber (my sister) that my cousin's husband died in a car wreck, leaving a widow and three boys. I don't really know how to process it. Emily (also my sister) said some pretty right on stuff in her blog about it. Life's rough. I guess that's about it.

9/27/07 Hollywood, CA

After the San Fran show we drove for about 70 miles and then got a motel, first one of the tour! That’s pretty good, sometimes we get several motels on the road, and that's expensive. Luckily, we've known some very fine people all along the way that have graciously offered their domiciles to us. I don't know if I touched on this before but in Salt Lake the couple we stayed with actually have a room in their house that is just for traveling band. Two bunk beds, wireless router, and a board for staying bands to leave notes tacked to. It wailed. Anyway, that was a while ago, back to Pacific Standard Time. I don't really like staying in motels because my overactive, over-vivid imagination over thinks the idea of the literal thousands of people who have slept in the bed I'm sleeping in. Laid their head on this pillow. Coughed into it. Copulated on it. Died in it. Eeeewwww.
Luckily, I had some drinks that helped put me to sleep at the bar after the show so I got some z's in the back of the van and then I just walked in when we arrived at the motel room and immediately fell asleep. I woke up at 7:00am feeling pretty skeeved out so I got up, washed my beard and brushed my teeth and messed around on the ol' lappy tappy until the other dudes woke up. I remembered at 9:05 that these places have breakfast until 9:00. I said, "shoot".

It was a good drive from San Francisco to Hollywood, we didn't listen to any music almost the entire way until we were getting into town and I put on Cat Power's Covers Record. We got here kinda way early. Like, 3:30 and load in was at 5:30. Luckily the promoter at the Knitting Factory was there and let us come in. The Knitting Factory is a weird place. The way to the green room is verbatim the Cleveland scene in Spinal Tap. A winding catacomb littered with pipes. The green room even had big pieces of meat and cheese and tiny pieces of bread. It wailed. Becky, I think it's just about time you see that movie. After loading in and sitting around for a while, Scott and I went down the street to get some slices of pizza (this is before we found out that they had disproportionate sandwich ingredients). Hollywood Blvd is more like the state fair than any Californian would like to admit. A culmination of textbook stereotypes, any food on any stick and an endless supply of crazy peppered with sadness. And lots of American Apparel stores.

So on to the show. This bullshit band fronted by a rejected American Idol backed by Nashville session musicians opened the show with their lavish video shoot. Evidently, instead of renting the Knitting Factory out for their shoot, they piggybacked on our Tour's show to make their video without telling anyone. It was ridiculous. And pushed the show back an hour. That was lame. Other than that, the show was good. I've been getting to play tambourine in Zookeeper on the song Î live in the mess you are. I love that song.

We are staying with George and Lauren in Pasadena, That's always nice, I love them. Tomorrow is a day off of funness. I'm stoked.