ahh the blog sat stagnant and dank.
microbes formed, divide, formed again.
sorry.
i find it interesting at this point in my
musical outing that folks seem to read this
joint.
hmmmm.
Portland, Maine
I really love Portland. I love the feel, the spirit,
the hutzpah of the place. Most of New England has
a great independent, stand alone, "yeah, we're here"
type of sense to it. just covered in maple syrup or
served with lobster.
Dave and I pulled into town early... we actually went
to Newportsmouth first... drove around the town and
went to the maritime museum and spoke with Dorah? I can't
seem to remember her name... note to self... this is
why we blog some time within the vicinity of the event.
Anyhoo... we learned about the building that houses the
museum... pretty cool stuff... Robert Miller, America's first
architect, designed the place... two humongous bouys stood
outside, guarding... or accenting like steel geraniums.
After goofing around there for a while we slipped on up
to Portland. The Dogfish Bar and Grill was the venue...
we were certainly looking forward to the show, Lawrence...
whom maybe reading this very blog, and his sister were coming
to the show...
A note about Lawrence... you can see his wiry frame gliding
up and down Thames street, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes...
some sort of book review tucked under his arm... as Sir Thomas
Browne observed he is "a gem of the old rock."
Having Lawrence and his sister, Gretchen there allowed for warmth
and optimism. That was not the case with the show. The P.A. situation
was less than idea... I was getting shocked every line I crossed while
emoting lyrics... I really had to sing with my eyes open, that only
I could emote at a safe measured distance.
from 8-11 we were largely ignored by folks... kind of a let down
based on the anticipation we felt. not a failure... by anymeans...
however, that night we stayed in the attic apartment of Gretchen's
house. as she showed us the digs, she commented, "this is America's
cutest apartment." It was. Walls were a light blueish and the door frames
and trim were painted green, red, and golden... it ws as if
we slept in Richard Scarry book.
On to Dover, NH.
Do you sense my flagging attention to blogging?
We hung out in Portsmouth during the day... we met a neato
musician... Dave Talmage... he played banjo, guitar, and
accordian... we chatted and I drank arrogant bastard beer...
then we purchased some tasty, albeit expensive coffee... and shoved
off for Dover.
I had been to Dover several times over the years... usually at
night, for some reason... after lapping the town several times
looking for the venue, we found it... an old Mill? on the water...
Fury's Publick House... 25 foot ceilings... nice bartenders... stage and
PA were adequate... the food? superb... hand breaded wings with some
high end dipping sauces... mmmm... and sierra nevada celebration
ale on tap... oh and old speckled hen... scrumptious...
We were up first... so we threw our stuff up on the stage... and I went
to set up the merch... and so this guy comes up and introduces himself...
he says that he bought Sugarbird off of CD baby, liked it... and subsequently
bought our back catalog and everything we have put out since... he even mentioned
that he had been watching our website for updated info on the tour... he and his
wife drove up from Worcester, MA to see the show... I was floored... we talked
for a while... and by no means to I take Baltimore fans for granted... but
I was just kind of shocked that someone out there would buy these discs... like
them enough to come out... from an hour away...
Dave and I scrapped our plans to phone in the show... and instead decided to bring
our A game. Lil' joke there... we always have our A game on. :) Good times...
About 50 or more people there... and they listened to what we did... and clapped at
the appropriate pauses... I have to thank Jon Nolan for setting that show up! It was a great night...
The other bands on the bill, Whiskey Kill and the Molenes... both threw out some rocking sets! It's been a long time since I watched some bands, that I don't know at all, going for some type of big rock sound... Hopefully we can get those guys to Baltimore soon!
Okay... Money... Here's the final Breakdown
Total Money Earned (less cd sales): $304
Total Money Spent (less personal spending):-$243
-$55 Tolls
-$7Parking
-$112.00 Gas
-$69 Hotel
Money Paid to Band: $60/2= $30 apiece.
Short ride to financial independence. :)
Grimm
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