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7 March 2003 Austin, TX I've been mailing postcards home, which will be scanned and uploaded here when I return. Fear not, the nine-day gap will be filled eventually. Last show with Dani tomorrow night. I'm going to miss her. Who would've thought that we'd make such ideal travelmates? Or that I'd never get tired of her songs, but rather come to understand more and more of their meaning with each show, and slowly fall in love with them all? The woman even puts up with my sleeping diagonally, and with my appalling cluelessness behind the wheel. (I'm not telling how many missed exits I've tallied up this tour.) Unlike San Francisco or New England, horizontal space is hardly at a premium in the southwest. Highways stretch languidly with huge overpasses, and seven blocks from downtown you already feel as though you're back in the boondocks. Empty lots and patches of wild growth crop up everywhere. There's rarely a need to build upward -- the A/C bill is the limiting factor in the desert, if anything -- so unless you drive right into town, you might hardly notice it's there at all, a subtle sprawl of one-to-two-story buildings. We've had our amazing shows and our slow nights, and the occasional bizarre turn that's par for the course with indie artists. Very glad to have recorded the Genghis Cohen show last Wednesday (L.A. how I love you!). Claire de Lune and Muse Cafe were similarly glow-inducing. (New litmus test for Really Good Show: if I can muster the nerve to perform "Passage.") The Red Room was noisy and smoky; the fans showed up in impressive number, but there were few places to sit and absolutely nowhere to get a good listen. Ah well. Lesson learned. At least we had a lovely afternoon with Randy and the sound crew at Tucson's KXCI. Also, college friend-of-friend Paul Kerschen provided us with a fine sofabed, an adorable cat, and several humiliating games of Scrabble. Last night at The Vintage Bar was both entertaining and puzzling. Once again the fans showed up in droves. There was much attentive listening and appreciative noise. And just noise, in general. You wouldn't have thought a wine bar would be rowdy, but the social chatter rose to a loud hum before the show began and never died down. There was a brief temptation to pull a diva move, and sit blankly without playing until everyone shushed. But what the hell, I thought. You've been spoiled by the folks from the first week. Don't be so full of it. In the end you're an entertainer; people came tonight to have a good time, let them have it however they want. So we played, and we had fun anyhow. Special thanks to Jim Darechuck and "Metro" Annie for bringing everyone out on an unlikely Thursday night (the big rodeo had arrived in Houston). I sang John Denver's "Annie's Song" in hopes that would make a decent thank-you present. We're off to explore downtown Austin. SXSW kicks off tonight.
- VT
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