sarahsaturday

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

The Downtown Eatery is a new venue in Redding, and has the potential to become legendary, if you ask me! Matt Matlock puts a lot of work into booking and promoting shows here, and it's all-ages with a bar and delicious food and desserts (including vegan options). Everyone who ran the show/venue and came out to see the bands was nice, welcoming, and supportive. It was really inspiring to discover such a strong independent music scene on that long drive from the Bay area up to Oregon. Every band should stop and play here!

After the show, a group of us went to the Sun Dial bridge, which is beautiful at night! Then we all stayed up way too late hanging out and talking and looking at rad photos that Matt has taken at all the shows they've had so far. I hope they make a book of photos someday!

Big thanks to Matt, Tina, and Lili for a rad 20-hour hangout, haha.

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009 -- Yummy vegan lunch and then the drive to Eugene!
EUGENE, OR
COZMIC PIZZA
w/ NYGHTOWLL

Monday nights are always hard, especially at a pizza pub that isn't supposed to be having shows on Monday nights until summertime. Nevertheless, this show ended up being a lot of fun, thanks especially to Nyghtowll who played a really cool electronica set and brought out a bunch of friends!

Before the show, I did the EIY Talk Radio show from the car via Skype and my AT&T wireless card. It was kinda hard to hear my co-host, Dean, but I was able to answer all the IMs and hang out on the show for the first hour or so. Technology is amazing!

We decided to drive to Portland after the show, to crash at my friend Krist Krueger's house, where we spent the next three nights.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009 -- "Portland Hates Sarah" Day
PORTLAND, OR
KELLY'S OLYMPIAN
w/ REVERSE DOTTY

Tuesday started out great; we got brunch with Krist, set up camp in his living room to work and do laundry and relax before the show.

The laundromat was directly across the street from Krist's so I figured it was safe to leave stuff there and walk back to grab it, right? WRONG! After doing a couple of loads, I realized I had forgotten to wash my handmade G,NA shirt that I wear on stage every night (the one in all the pics). So I washed it in the sink and walked it over to put in the dryer for about 15 minutes. Twenty minutes later I walked back to grab it, and some chick was loading her laundry into the dryer where my shirt had been. I asked her where the shirt was, that had been in the dryer, and she said all that was in it when she opened it was the dryer sheet. We went through all of her laundry, and then I searched the entire place, and it was gone. Stolen!

Needless to say, I was supremely bummed. So we looked up the nearest AmApp and art supplies stores and headed out early to get supplies to make a new shirt. My friend Valient Himself (from Valient Thorr) called and when I told him the news, he offered me make me a new shirt as well. Rad!

After that, we headed downtown to the show and to meet up with Niki (fistinthesky.buzznet.com) who was the first Portland winner. Also at the venue when we got there was Josh, a friend of a friend who came out to support. So things started looking up for the day, but Portland still wasn't done messing with me.

During the sound check, my laptop started freaking out and playing all the backing tracks really distortedly through the headphones, and nothing I did would fix it. With only about 15 minutes before I was supposed to go on, I freaked out and called Wyatt who was at a St Patrick's Day party. Thank goodness for genius tech geek friends, because after troubleshooting some things, he figured out the issue and I was able to get the tracks to work.

The only other crappy thing that happened was that I left my cell phone in the bathroom, and when I realized it and went back to grab it, it was gone. So for about five minutes, I thought my phone had been stolen. But then some girl came up and told me she found it and gave it to the bartender. *PHEW!* Me without my phone is like... Me without my arms and legs! Or something!

Finally it was show time, and my set went off without a hitch. I even had some drunk guy in the front who was dancing and yelling about how much he liked my songs -- always makes for a fun show.

Reverse Dotty was amaaaaazing, totally weird and fun and dance-y. It ended up being a great show.

Afterwards, we parted ways with Niki who had to work early, and went to get food with Krist and his roommate Becky, then back to the house to work some more.

Finally got to bed at about 4am, feeling totally defeated by Portland.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2009 -- Maybe Portland doesn't hate me after all.
PORTLAND, OR
MISSISSIPPI PIZZA PUB
w/ MEAN GIRLS, PARIS CAN WAIT

Woke up late, walked to get food with Krist, then set up in the living room to make my new shirt. I could only get big stencils so I decided to take the design in a whole new direction. I was pretty stoked on it until I realized I had messed up the spacing, and ran out of room for the last "E" in "ARCHITECTURE" on the front of the shirt. I just put it on the back. EFF IT

Load-in was a bit earlier so we headed over to meet the second Portland contest winner, Kimberly (kimberlymarie.buzznet.com), and her friend Lynsey. Niki also made it out to the show again, as did Josh. So it was a veritable crew!

This show was similar to the other pizza pub venue, in that the bands pretty much run the show themselves and pay for a sound person out of the door. Lauren was our sound girl for the evening, and from the moment she started blasting Mariah Carey during load-in, we knew she'd be a blast. Once the first band, Mean Girls, started sound-checking, we knew the whole night was going to be crazy. And we were right!

Mean Girls is three guys playing dance-electro pop songs with no vocals, but lots of random yelling from the drummer. Hilarious.

I played second, then Paris Can Wait (Liz Kelly) played last. She was an aboslute riot and had the entire room doubled-over with her stage banter. But when she was singing, her voice and melodies totally mesmerized us. It was a great way to end the show that started out sort of stressfully.

WATCH THE VIDEO WE MADE AFTER THE SHOW: CLICK HERE!

After the show, we all parted ways, and Sumner and I headed back to Krist's, where we ended up staying up late watching "Royal Tenanbaums."

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009 -- Another laundromat trip, but this time I kept my eye on it.
SEATTLE, WA
RE-BAR
w/ THE CRILLS (PUNK ROCK KARAOKE)

After yet another delicious Portland brunch, we headed toward Seattle, to my friend Sara's house. Got there with enough time to stop by, say hi, and drop off our stuff.

This show was the first installment of Punk Rock Karaoke at the Re-Bar, and I was supposed to play between two sets of karaoke.

Jen (xjennersonx.buzznet.com), the Seattle winner of the Buzznet/Macbeth contest, who also helped me with both Seattle shows via SeattlePunk.org and her promotions company Ear Candy Northwest, met us at the show. My friend Sonya, who I went to elementary, junior, and high school with (and had not seen in almost 12 years) also came out to the show, which was insane! Sara and her friend came later, as did Thom and others from SPO, so it ended up being a fun, intimate show.

After the first set, I got up and did my show, and after that we called it a night rather than getting The Crills back up for a second set. Big thanks to Chas who put the show together with Dan from The Crills!

Post-show food was at a cute late-night diner on Broadway, then it was back to Sara's to watch "Wall-E" and fall asleep on the couch.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009 -- Total camp-out day at Sara's house until the show!
SEATTLE, WA
THE FUNHOUSE -- ARI'S BIRTHDAY!
w/ THE THEM, DEAD UNCLE STEAMER, POTBELLY, THE SKEXIES

Thom from SPO helped get me on this show, and I'm so glad he did because a DIY tour isn't complete without at least one crazy, honest, old-school, beer all over the floor, fists in the air, punk rock show! That's exactly what this show was, in celebration of local scene supporter and former house-show-thrower Ari's birthday.

I played first and was scared that it might not go over well with the people who had come out to see some straight-up punk bands, but amazingly it was really well-received and everyone was very supportive. For the rest of the night, all the growly singers would thank all the bands before them, including "Crazy Architecture" -- which might need to be the name of my next album.

WATCH A VIDEO OF THE THEM HERE!

Thom wanted me to play another set at the very end of the night, but someone kicked a water pipe and broke it, so they had to shut off the water in the club after the last band and kick everybody out. But hey, I was ready for it!

My friend Jessi, whom I've known since the Wisco days when I was recording pre-G,NA demos with Beau in the apartment he and Jessi shared, came out to the show, which was rad.

Big huge thanks to the SPO family for welcoming me into the fold. I can't wait to work on more projects with that community in the future -- especially if I get to go on tour opening for Butt Trumpet!

After the show we had to skidaddle back to Sara's to try to get some sleep before the next day's super-long drive to Nampa.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009 -- This little piggy went drive, drive, drive, all the way to Nampa.
NAMPA, ID
THE FLYING M COFFEEGARAGE
w/ A CASSANDRA UTTERANCE, WE WON THE SCIENCE FAIR

What an amazing show! I'd been hearing great things about this venue but it definitely surpassed my expectations. After driving through crazy rainstorms and forgetting about the timezone change, we got there JUST in time for A Cassandra Utterance to go on. They're a great band on the EIY website (http://earnityourself.com/acassandrautterance) and it was awesome to finally see them live. Logan from We Won The Science Fair played a solo set after my set, and it was amazing! Just a great show all-around.

I met tons of rad people after the show, and the staff at Flying M was incredibly nice. I wish there was a coffee shop venue like this in every city!

We all decided to caravan to Salt Lake City to stay at ACU's house for the next couple days. The trip ended up taking about 6 hours, and we arrived at the house a little after 5AM to pass out.

HERE'S A VIDEO FROM THE START OF THE TRIP!

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009 -- Changing of the guard! Bye bye Sumner, hello John Oakes!
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
SUGARHOUSE COFFEE
w/ KILIONA (from A CASSANDRA UTTERANCE)

After getting barely any sleep, we got up and headed to the airport, where I dropped off Tour Manager #2 (Sumner) and picked up Tour Manager #3 (John). After getting situated in the "tour bus," John and I headed to the show.

This was a mellow little show that ACU helped get us on. It was a rad coffee house that is the only place open late on Sundays in SLC. We played early and hung out for a bit at the coffee house before heading back to ACU's house to cook a big pasta dinner with salad and garlic bread. YUM

After dinner we all settled in while snow began to fall outside, and we listened to records (Earth, Wind and Fire, Lionel Richie, Doobie Brothers, Oingo Boingo, and more), baked some cookies, played Duck Hunt, and just chilled.

It started snowing and we had a photoshoot!

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

WINNERS:

• Mar 10 2009   North Hollywood, CA (21+) *WINNER: panasonicyouth.buzznet.com
  
• Mar 11 2009   Santa Barbara, CA (21+) *WINNER: xxrccola.buzznet.com
  
• Mar 12 2009   Fresno, CA (21+) *WINNER: iriswasabi.buzznet.com
  
• Mar 17 2009   Portland, OR (21+) *WINNER: fistinthesky.buzznet.com
  
• Mar 18 2009   Portland, OR (21+) *WINNER: kimberlymarie.buzznet.com
  
• Mar 19 & 20 2009   Seattle, WA (21+) *WINNER: xjennersonx.buzznet.com [1ST RUNNER-UP: katxlovely.buzznet.com]
  
• Mar 29 2009   Barstow, CA (All Ages) *WINNER: megannicolephotography1.buzznet.com