Kansas Kow Kakes

There are a few things that Bearkat and myself do to keep busy during the down-times when we're not driving or playing. One of our favorites is playing the game Cribbage. I think its become a ritual for us to play at least one game of cribbage before our set every night.

Katy carefully counting her 15 2's, 4's, 6's and 8's

Along with teach Katy how to play Cribbage I have also been trying to teach her how to shuffle. She's gone leaps and bounds since that first session. She's progressed from shuffling back and forth in her hands (in essence, just moving them back and forth) to being able to do quite an impressive bridge. She's a faster learner... but she still has to work on her shuffling face.

FTW

We progressed from Minneapolis to Lincoln, Nebraska (listening to Bruce's record "Nebraska" as we drove in and while we drove around) where we played a quaint show at a place called The Meadowlark Cafe. This was the first place that we didn't know anyone so we were a little worried that we weren't going to find a place to stay. Luckily, the fine baristas at the show made some space on their floor so that we could sleep. They even made us breakfast in the morning! And to think, I thought Nebraska was full of serial killers and asshole cops (thanks Bruce).

The next show was one that we were both kind of dreading: Hays, Kansas. We had no idea what to expect, considering every time we mentioned the name to anyone they would either groan or say, "Really?". So, as you could imagine, this set the bar pretty low. We pulled up to the venue and immediately noticed that the entire town smelt like cow pies and that the place was equip with the appropriate precautions.

Needless to say, they wouldn't let me in with my AK but they let me in with my R/C rocket launcher... RATS!

The place was completely empty (I'd assume from the banishment of firearms in the establishment) but we made ourselves at home and played a game of cribbage, had some coffee and thought about how much power these guys actually produced for the town:

Amazing (Don Quixote would have had a fit!)

As it turned out, as soon as the show started people came piling in to hear some sweet sweet indie-folk-rock. The only problem with the show was that I kept getting freaked out when I looked to the back of the room and saw that there was (or what I thought was) a very attentive Italian chef staring straight at me.
I made a few attempts to create banter with this stone faced listener but eventually figured out that he wasn't actually breathing... the paramedics showed up minutes later. I hear he is in critical condition but he has a good chance of coming out of it. God's Speed.

Probably the best part of the night we found in the tip jar. I'm going to say, hands down, this is the best tip we've gotten from the whole tour.

Katy called dibbs on it (Rats, AGAIN!)

After the show resulted in our first through the night drive to Boulder, CO, a good 6 hours away. Katy manned up and took the wheel for, what turned out to be, the brutal drive because I obviously was not in a fair enough state to do it.
Top: Me trying to be some sort of Star Wars character.

Bottom: Katy double-fisting mysterious liquids to stay awake.

A few creepy rest stops and me crushing a loaf of Gluten Free bread later, (I'm so so sorry, Katy!) we made it to Boulder where we slept in a Safe Way (western grocery) parking lot and waited to see what the day had for us. It turned out to be a beautiful day. We walked around Boulder, laid around the many parks that they have and took in the great scenery of the Rocky Mountain Foot Hills.

Beautiful.

After our relaxing day we made our way to the show where we met up with some old friends. First on the guest list was Kyle Butz (former Bearkatian) and he brought along with him his charm and his freshly printed counterfeit money to buy CD's with.

Yes, that is a check book style, rip away, wallet of $1 bills... only in Missouri.

Next we had Kyle James Hauser who was actually playing with us that night. Honestly, he ripped it up on the banjo so hard that it made me not want to even play my set... I'm definitely an inferior musician. He was also a gracious enough to let us stay in his amazing house (a communal living mansion... you might say) that night... which had such things as:

An indoor pool (not operational)
Some fancy cooking apparatus (before).
After
and a rock climbing wall (Kyle, as I found it, is a master).

The next morning we went our separate ways and we set out on our long drive up to SLC, UT. This was another place that we were kind of leery about going to because of its reputation as the capital for the Mormon faith. Don't get me wrong... to each his own... but they are a little bit crazy. The thing that really gets my goat was their campaign funding for the repeal of the gay marriage law in California... how the fuck is it legal for a source from another state?! Either way... we sported equality with pride.

What you can't see is that we were right outside of the Tabernacle when we took this picture (Suck it, Mormons!).

But, to our surprise (again), the town was full of tattoo parlors, coffee shops, bars, adult book stores and amazing guys like this:
This is David and Glade. Both AMAZING musicians. Glade's songwriting and smooth voice had me wide eyed and jaw dropped and David's David Rawlings like guitar playing (again) made me want to stop playing my guitar. Its hard playing after people like this because I don't actually play half of the instruments that I end up playing... I just sort of fuck around for a while until something decent comes out... either way, I am humbled by guys like Glade, David and Kyle... thanks for letting me play on the same stage as you, truly.

Also, playing that night was this guys:

The Pinball Machine

He accompanied us on most of the songs. Providing flourishes of revving engines and bells that I know I've always wanted on my tunes (especially "Screen Door", it was a nice touch). Thank you Pinball. You are truly a fine player.

We were going to do another night drive but were lucky enough to stay with some people who were at the show who living, literally, right down the block in one of the coolest lofts that I've ever seen. Its always been a dream of mine to live in a place like this: Downtown, above a local business and wide open spaces inside.










Thanks again Chelsea and Vanessa for letting us stay at your sweet place.

For all of the fears that we had of this place... we turned out to meet some pretty amazing people.... and plus, the Mormons aren't all that bad. I think they've got the right idea about somethings.
Until next time (more road eating and the west coast!),
Cheers,
Luke