Robert:

276 Rave On - Buddy Holly

If I see the end of Never Been Kissed one more time on this tour... we're going to have some problems... Let's be off, off to Houston...
posted by Robert at 9:40 AM ***

Robert:

277 Entrapment - Naked Raygun

We are in Alabama, newly in Central Standard Time: 4:49 PM (only to be lost this weekend in a spring forward). I'm nearly sweating in the van. It's hot. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This is a driving day off in between Orlando and Houston, and i'm starting to develop cabin fever. It first comes with a wave of personal paranoia. Looking over my shoulder... Todd skipped out on breakfast this morning (Shoney's) to shop at a nearby Gainesville strip mall. Halfway through (real) coffee number two, he arrives with a present. He has purchased a DVD copy of Charlie's Angels, which 3 of us have never seen. Maybe it was the fever, but i thought it was pretty funny. Not hilarious, though. I haven't been in the van that long, i guess. The metropolis of Mobile looms up ahead at the end of this lengthy bridge, which i've traveled more than a few times... in one short 10 hour period.

It was one of the first few Braid tours, and our touring compadres, Castor decided to break down near here - en route from a scarcely attended drunken house show in New Orleans to a promising night of rock in Pensacola opening for (drumroll) Snapcase and Refused. Sweet heavens, the rock! Roadside, shaking their fists at their simmering van hood, they decided to skip the show and stay in Mobile for repairs... That night, after we played, i drew the shortest straw and had to drive back to Mobile to get the stranded boys. We drove back to Pensacola to stay with our good friend, Colton. The next morning, i drove them back to Mobile to pick up their restored vehicle. I know that bridge. While i traversed it to and fro, Refused and Snapcase rocked the kids, and the next day, i'm sure some swimming was done in C's swanky backyard pool. But i missed out. Oh well. These things happen.

We're listening to Shiner's "Starless."

Last night's show was just incredible. A packed house at the Sapphire for us, Atom, Har Mar, and Mock Orange. Brilliant. Even the terrential downpour outside could not dampen my mood...

...and when there was no more beer, i drank Damon's St. Pauli Girl NA.

...and at the last minute, we joined in a round of Jaegermeister shots with the bar staff.

...and as we were leaving, we traded barbs with some of the 'cool' club-goers of the place next door. Actually, Dan and Mark did. I hung my head in embarrassment and pleaded for Damon to pull the van away from the mess.

Tonight we will be indulging in a long-awaited Mercy Meal, hopefully at an Olive Garden somewhere between here (Mobile Greyhound Park - exit 10) and points two hours ahead (New Orleans?) on Interstate 10... famed, as i'm told for drug trafficking.

Happy Birthday. I love you. I miss you.

I wish i could sleep in here... However, being the old man that i am, i threw my back out early in the tour and can only take so much of the necessary excruciating pain associated with concocting a comfortable position in the first row of passsenger seats. I've tried it and it doesn't work. I'm finally starting to work off those precious few swimming pool laps of yesterweek. Again, i'm an old aching man waiting (wading) for the Adult Swim hour... I'm psyched to get to Pachyderm, so i can start my new swimming exercise craze. That's right. And when I get home for a good stretch of time in May, I may look for a safe place to swim in the tay (new cool way to shorten the word 'city'. are you getting all of this?). A new chapter. A rebirth. Can't let a few sore muscles get me down... I feel great. In great shape. For a change.

Thanks to everyone who has thusfar participated in my new obsessive project. I still have no idea of size or scope or time frame. Is it still an obsessive project if i can truly say that i don't give a furry flying squirrel about those three issues?

Infinite Jest is slow going lately, with the wide array of van distractions. Hum's "You'd Prefer an Astronaut" right now, actually. When we're not watching DVD's, Todd and I are playing analog Scrabble (I have a comfortable lead in the ongoing tally). All other times, I'm trying to find the right funking LT dialup numbers for all of these cities, kneeling behind a hotel room desk, trying to disconnect their useless phone... or i'm at a show, pacing, worrying about the dumbest stuff... My dentist suspects i've been grinding my teeth a lot lately.

Welcome to Mississippi.

It don't snow here, it stays pretty green, i'm gonna make a lot of money and i'm gonna quit this crazy scene, oh i wish i had a river i could skate away on...

There is a grand concept in the air about the summer. About bands. About music. About the land. Of course, I can't tell you about it.

Bigmouth Strikes Again.

This is where i leave us. Just o'er the border. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for the OG. The glorious Mercy Meal that will soothe the savage empty growling stomach. No show tonight, so i may just have to treat myself to some vino. Maybe Merlot. Maybe Reisling. Hopefully Shiraz.
posted by Robert at 10:20 PM ***

Robert:

278 You're So Vain - Carly Simon

I told someone in Camden, NJ, that there would soon be a song on the list that nobody would like...
posted by Robert at 11:09 AM ***

dan:

i am dan...




thanks for the discount. sage..///

gainesville






alWaqyse a plEasuRes..

that sspanish for ;have a good time..'

peace outg-
posted by dan at 2:13 AM ***

Robert:

Stealing my thunder.

It is 4:59 PM, but it feels like noon. I tossed and turned from about 2:30 to 3:30 AM as Nick of Time buzzed away in the background from outside the covers over my face, begging, pleading ruthlessly for me to pay ultimate attention to its plot. Keeping me from sinking any level deeper. I can barely keep the headphones in place, gently blasting Mingus at Antibes - just enough to drown out Christopher Walken, Johnny Depp and Roc. It worked after an hour. I slid off the phones and rolled over (nary a worry that i may actually roll on top of the phones or the CD-man and damage them...). I swam about 3 laps in a cicular pool with a radius of about 20 feet a few days ago. I have been overwhelmingly sore ever since. Pathetic. Last night, in bed, every time i tried to stretch out my legs, i was treated with a 5-10 second aftermath of intense muscular discomfort.

I have never seen an alligator in the wild. i am chomping a fine Floridian apple nicked from a Lake City gas station - in constant fear of hitting the core... With a name like mine, you'd assume otherwise, but it wasn't until recently that i started enjoying that fruit that rhymes with m'family moniker... i am in similar constant fear of the ends of that fruit. Can't eat em. Toss em.

The song on the van radio: "Rabbit in Your Headlights," that UNKLE song sung by Thom Yorke. We chat for a short period of time about the video... videos... Have you seen that new Fatboy Slim video with Christopher Walken? Pretty cool, especially at the end... gotta hand it to Spike.... Apparently Alklaine Trio are getting treatments for a "Mr. Chainsaw" video... If we do a video for "Every Turn," perhaps i'll try and get David Morse to dance in it. Either David or one of my other hated actors, Ryan Philippe, Christopher MacDonald, Yahoo Serious.

There is a chill in the air. Shouldn't it be warmer here? The papers said a high of 80, but i still need my sweater. The green one i plan on wearing every day of this tour. There is no sun, just a constant grey threat of rain. It could come at any time. As we're pulling into Gainesville, as i torment my muscles, a-swimmin' in the rooftop pool that awaits us, as we're playing tonight, with our set time of 1:30 AM... Does that mean we're actually playing two shows tomorrow?

IMPORTANT: SET TIME TONIGHT IS 11:30!!!

Exit 81. I-75. Ft. White / Lake City. 35 minutes till connection.

We may just have to skip the ritual Ichetucknee cruise this time around.
posted by Robert at 5:21 PM ***

Robert:

279 Alphabet St - Prince

I'm at a Holiday Inn Express in Macon, Georgia. It's late and we're brewin' the TCT.
posted by Robert at 1:38 AM ***

Robert:

280 King Soon Swing - Gauge

Athens has an amazing all vegetarian restaurant called The Grit. We'll definitely be making another stop there today before we roll on to Atlanta...

Things are going well, but there were moments of pure agony at around, oh, 11:15 or so. What were they? See for yourself April 12th here.

We've got 2 hours left to enjoy this Holiday Inn, complete with hot tub, pool, and masseuse. Or maybe I misread that last one. I think it might have actually said 'laundry facilities'.

And also, my birthday is coming up.

And ninthly, why not spread the 'news' ? (didn't we talk about this, boys?) At The Drive In breaking up?
posted by Robert at 10:58 AM ***

dan:

i am here...drinking coffee with Damon....decaffee before bed to make you sleep like little freakin' small humans.


tomorrow i will sit in a small tub with bubbles and relax to the smooth jams of warren g and all his homeys word..what it is...excuse me ..holmes. what it is.


tonight was fun cause we had a few heinies and looked for stuff in the van and forgot what or where the pool was located...wound up in the fitness room on the tred mill with 5 miles to go..

eight miles south of cromberg people were mistified when they found out that they never actually witnessed what has been called the lifting struggle with the unified statement from hey mercedes....the rock band.
posted by dan at 2:00 AM ***

dan:

help...I haven't blogged in a while....can someone hand me one of these please..

thanks to all the cool folk I've met on this trip..
It aint over yet...and the weather keeps getting warming. you know what I mean..

peace out-

posted by dan at 6:29 PM ***

Robert:

281 Team Player - Liquorice
282 Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes - Paul Simon

Oh no! The first day of 2001 that there was no posts made! A shame, really. Those dumb hotels in College Park were not accomodating to LT... We've got a long day at the Athens hotel tomorrow, so we'll talk more then.

posted by Robert at 9:23 AM ***