Tour Diaries: San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle

Sunday night saw us playing the Warfield in San Francisco.
The six hour drive from Los Angeles was lovely. I was so immersed in an Iggy Pop biography that I barely noticed the endless fields of Cowschwitz or the rolling,golden hills that line the small towns inbetween here and there.

We arrived the venue at around 5. The Warfield is located downtown, at 6th and Market, right across the street from where I used to live. It's not the nicest of areas, actually it's quite dark and menacing, but the rent is cheap, and the melancholy air of the Tenderloin can be oddly inspiring.

Our soundcheck was nice and long, the first real one of our tour, and I think it ultimately drove our performance to our best yet.

It was such a trip playing there. It was one of the main venues I wanted to play in SF, the other being the Fillmore (which Lilofee had the honor of playing at in March).

My lovelies, Nico and Domonique came out, and my friend Crispin lent me his 65' Jazzmaster to play.

Which by the way is my current obsession. Jazzmaster. 62' Reissue. American Made. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes.

a 63'. LOVE OF MY FUTURE LIFE

Anyways, Nico made me an AMAZING pair of earrings.

"Tribal goth", she smiled as she handed them to me, reciting back to me the two words I had used earlier in the week to describe my current fashion influence.

Each earring has three long gold chains, bearing feathers, gold claws, and solid metal beads, and were indeed tribal goth.

I have watched Nico spend the last three years building up her jewelry design business, going from making her friends unique pieces to wear onstage, to selling out in every boutique store San Francisco. She has a knack for knowing what people want, and her attention for detail is impeccable.

I'm sure I'll post photos of the earrings up here soon. Meanwhile check out her webpage here.

The show went off really well, its quite different playing in a band that isn't mine. The pressure is definitely significantly less, but there is also something missing. It's so inspiring to be a part of this journey, and its definitely making me excited for when I get to do this with my own band!

Israel, the sweet security guy...

...super sweet on Dom

Nico and Doms

Crispin!

The Ramones sign the Warfield

Jerry Garcia's door

domonique is going to hate me.

Kurt's signature in the Warfield

After the show we drove to Sacramento where we stayed for the night, before heading to Portland the next day. I fell asleep to Law and Order: SVU in the background. Obviously I've already seen every episode ever, so there was no need for me to stay up.

The ten hour drive to Portland is laced with Family Guy, dreaming, and reading a book about Laurel Canyon in the 60's and 70's. It makes me hunger for things that I can't quite put my finger on.

Portland is green and beautiful, and perfect in a way I knew it would be.

We stay with one of Scott's friends in this beautiful gothic style mansion. The house reminds me of a medieval castle, all dark wood, and velvet blood red upholstery, with 16th century classical music drifting in the background.

We eat take-out Thai on fine China. Rich curry and brown rice, and the scent of candles in the air

Stories of days gone by float through the room, and I can't help but feel that I am once again too late for the good old days.

Or maybe these are them.

After dinner we go to a bar. Maria meets me there, and I've forgotten how vibrant she is. Full of energy and constantly changing.

I think about staying in Portland, coming to hang out for a while, changing scenes. I could do with tree-lined streets and rain for a bit.

Until I miss the sunshine.

Today I'm in Seattle. Sitting at the venue waiting to go on. Grunge is still alive here, flannel and beards and lumberjacks.

Hayden in the castle

Archi in the castle

Castle life Portland