sarahsaturday

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009 -- Tour kick-off show
LOS ANGELES, CA
UNIVERSAL BAR & GRILLE

It's easy to forget, sometime, just how many wonderful, loving, supportive friends I have. The tour kick-off was a huge success, and everyone I love was there to see me off. It was like that part at the end of the wedding reception when everyone gathers outside and throws rice at the bride and groom as they head off on their honeymoon; only, my groom was a crazy wall of lights that I made out of a shower curtain and some duct tape.

Leslie and Mark were at the show, and hopefully got some good pictures in the dark to post online!


Photo: Reza Asgari


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 -- Get in the rental car with Wyatt (Tour/Tech/DrinkTicket Manager Extraordinaire for the first leg of the tour)
SANTA BARBARA, CA
VELVET JONES
w/ CROOKS & LIARS, TONY SLY (NO USE FOR A NAME)

Eddy Numbskull has never failed to put on a killer show. He used to help my old band out whenever we came through SoCal on tour, so when I called him up five years later about my new project, he came through once again -- or twice, as he booked Wednesday's and Thursday's shows.

Rosalie (xxrccola.buzznet.com) was the Buzznet winner for this show, and she met me and Wyatt (Tour Manager #1) at the venue early with her friend Aaron (countlesshours.buzznet.com). We all went to get pizza, then came back for the show, which was a blast. The room was packed and all the bands were really good and really nice. Crooks & Liars have some amazing songs and will hopefully be playing out more (so I can open for them) and Tony Sly from No Use For A Name was awesome, and super nice. Just good vibes all around!

Watch some videos from the show HERE!

After the show, we ended up crashing at two extreeeeeeemely drunks girls' apartment, which was an adventure in itself. I was awakened a few times throughout the night by random drunk people wandering in to the apartment and trying to sit on the couches that Wyatt and I were occupying. Needless to say, it was one of those situations that are sucky while you're in them, but hilarious the next morning when you start to recall the details of the evening. It was really nice of Jess and Macy to let us crash, and we appreciate the stories we got out of it!


Aaron, me, and Rosalie!


THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009 -- Wake up way too early and drive a million hours to Fresno.
FRESNO, CA
CLUB FRED
w/ DEVIL MAKES THREE

Another Numbskull show means another great night! Eddy came to hang out at this show, which was amazing because I hadn't seen him in almost 5 years. Big Tim who was running the show is one of the nicest dudes ever, and the Devil Makes Three guys/girl were amazing! Everyone was really receptive to my music even though the other bands were straight up punk/bluegrass (a movement I've been backing for years, BTW). By the end of the night the entire room was one gigantic dance party that never seemed to end. And we didn't want it to!

Iris (iriswasabi.buzznet.com) was the Buzznet winner for this show, and she met us at load-in and hung out with us aaaaaaaaaaaaallllll the way until 3AM when we finally took her home.

After the show, we went out to get Thai food with Eddy Numbskull, Big Tim, the Numbskull crew that was working another Fresno show that night, and the Devil Makes Three crew. What an outing! We dominated the restaurant and had a blast. Afterwards we were totally exhausted, and dropped Iris off then went back to meet up with Eddy who graciously let Wyatt and me crash in his hotel room.

Everyone on the west coast should get involved with Numbskull Productions and go out to support all his shows. He is a shining example of a DIY/EIY scene supporter who has been bringing great bands to venues on the west coast for 20 years!

Read Iris's journal entry about the night HERE and give her a buzz/comment!


The lovely and talented Iris Wasabi, with some weird girl.


FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009 -- Hooray for showers and short drives!
SACRAMENTO, CA
HOWE PARK HALL
w/ HERO'S LAST MISSION, FFG, TRACK FIGHTER

The first all-ages show of the tour, and what better place for it than a community center in the middle of a park?! Wyatt and I got there early and camped out on a blanket on the grass with our computers.



The show was the first show they had put on there, in an effort to bring inexpensive, all-ages shows to the area. I'd say it was a great success with over 100 kids showing up and a great line-up of bands!

After I played, three girls came up and introduced themselves to me: Megan, Sammi, and Juliette. We all hung out the rest of the night and talked about music and bands and photography and all kinds of stuff. Turns out Megan is an active scene supporter on the EIY website and didn't even know it was my website! So we had a great time hanging out.

*Megan just started a new Buzznet profile for her photography! Check it out HERE!

When the show was over and we all loaded out, we all headed to Denny's with HLM and FFG, and some of the kids from the show. We had a crew of about 30 people but managed not to get too rowdy. The "Taking Back Bacon Burger Fries" on the menu caught me by surprise (read my interview with Matt Rubano on EIY, here) and gave me a good chuckle.

Hero's Last Mission let Wyatt and I crash at their house that night. It was another 3AM-er but at least we got to sleep in the next day!

A big huge thank you to Julian, who got me on the show AND ran the sound for the night AND played drums in HLM. You're one of the hardest working guys I've met in a long time and you're going to go far!

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009 -- Hooray for sleeping in and exploring Sacramento!
STOCKTON, CA
BLACKWATER CAFE
w/ COURTNEY HOUSTON, REGGIE GINN, CHELSEA WOLFE

Middagh hooked me up with this show and it was (I know you're getting tired of hearing it, but...) yet another rad, interesting, fun show! All female performers playing totally different styles of stuff from soulful piano to cute acoustic rock to moody slide guitar stuff. It's always fun to be a part of an all-girl lineup and remember that there are just as many talented females in the music biz as there are stinky dudes.

Megan and Brian from Sacramento drove down for this show, which ruled! And Dean (my co-host on EIY Talk Radio on Monday nights) sent his friend John to support me and find us a place to stay.

Thank you to Linda for putting us up and letting us play pool in the garage until 3AM!


Wyatt, me, Megan, and Brian!

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2009 -- Tour Manager swap! Dropped off Wyatt at the Sacramento airport and picked up Sumner, who will be on the road with me for a week!
REDDING, CA
DOWNTOWN EATERY & LIBATIONS
w/ TATTON WHITE, JOHN TRE & LILAIC LOVE, LAST WORKHORSE