Saturday, April 21, 2012

Post Osborne Tour.

I learned how to play the stand up bass in two weeks.  And then I played it for the Punch Brothers.  Dammit.  Mistake.
Going over the trip now.  Had a blast and met one gazillion cool people.  Mr. and Mrs. Leighs parents were outstanding hosts.  They even treated us to after show ice cream and booze.  That's one step away from just flat out throwing us a surprise party.  AND they sent me my boots after I forgot them.  I guess I need to send Sallie some mixes or CD's or something.  Oh, wait.  A postcard.
I'm going to take time right now to say, if you'd like a postcard from the band while we're on the road, just email us your address.  Leralynnband@gmail.com
It's not a guarantee, but it increases your chances.  Stamps aren't free, but on the main page, our cover of Ring of Fire is.
The best thing that can happen is when we laugh on stage.  During a song.  During the final song.  And we can't really finish.  You're welcome TV on the Radio.  Miss Lera and Myself caught a case of the giggles about thirty seconds to early in Knoxville.  No matter.  We got it back together in Nashville the next night at 3rd and Lindsley.  Our booking agent took us out to lunch just to prove to us he doesn't like chickpeas.
I used to think about how cool it would be if I knew the way a song went and then went to the bands show and then the singer would be like, "Oh no!  Our bass player can't play this song tonight!  Can anyone please help?!?!" and I'd get pulled up on stage and then I'd show Joe Perry a cool backup vocal for Sweet Emotion that they never sang before and he would do it every night for the rest of time.  Well, Ben got to play mandolin for Joan Osborne the last four nights of tour, and that was pretty rad.  See you in Davenport.
Mr. and Mrs. Leighs parents insist on only owning the coolest of things.
Why is North Carolina so pretty?
Bennet Lewis playing a weird tiny guitar with Joan Osborne.
NPR Mountain stage.  More people were there than what it looks like.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

New York to raLEIGH

New York.  Terrytown.  Old timey.  The venue held 840 people, and coincidentally, 840 people came to the show.  The good people of Terrytown are just wonderful people. Could be my favorite show of the tour so far.  Could be.  And its right next to Sleepy Hollow.  Yeah.  That's right.  Sleepy Hollow is a real place!  Ichabod!
Side note.  Quiozno's on the New Jersey turnpike is awful.  I couldn't eat mine and Ben was upset that he ate his.  We're officially a Subway band now.
Then New York City happened to me.  And Ali.  What a delightful person.  What a laugh.  And she's one of those people who laugh at the fact that they're laughing and it just goes in a circle.  Me and Lera got in a fight with a guy who runs a karaoke bar.  And then we ran away and got separated and I got lost in Manhattan, which turned into a big ordeal.  And now I have a bruise on my arm.
Sent post cards.
Got up at 5:30 AM, so that I could sleep in the van while Ben drove us to raLEIGH!  Leigh runs Raleigh pretty well.  She keeps the city clean.  And she makes waffles.  Maybe.  I'm watching her try right now.  Actually enough time has passed now to confirm.  She does indeed make waffles.
The good news is that soon I'll get to see Mr. and Mrs. Leighs' parents.  The sad news is that we're about to Leigh-ve her and head on down to Charlotte.
The good news is that my girlfriend gave me a cd with The Welcome Wagon on it.
The bad news is that Lera has a cold.  Watch out.
"It's so hard to sing when you have a cold, and then it takes like two weeks to get better."- Lera Lynn
My easter celebration.

Team NYC

Leigh painted this art for Ben.

Look at Leigh.  Trying to make waffles.  

Friday, April 6, 2012

Alexannapolis


Alexandria vs. Annapolis.
The first two shows as a trio are complete.  And my fingers are covered in blisters.  This upright bass is a monster.
Typically, Alexandria would win this due to the fact that Hotel Monaco has robes and is one block away from where I enjoyed my post show Chipotle burrito.  But, Roy went to the Naval Academy, so that really swings things the Annapolis way.  I'm just not sure yet.  
Oh my gosh!  We're on tour with Joan Osborne.  And she's on tour with Richard, who gets my vote for best bass player on this tour.  Everyone in her band is just amazing.  And they're cool.  It's all working out just fine.  But CK isn't here, so we're writing post cards to him.  
This is interesting- every time we order food, I'm glad that I got what I ordered instead of what Lera ordered.  It never misses.  No matter what city, restaurant, bar, club, gas station, food cart, grocery store... I just order better.  I believe I've mentioned it before, but the secret is to as often as possible, get the BLT.  I cannot stress this point enough.  Because it's not even really filling.  It's light, but it's bacon.  And often it's on Rye.  
We drove through the nation's capitol yesterday.  Lera's first.  We showed her where government is made, tried to find the White House and found the Arlington Cemetery instead, so we decided Lera wouldn't get to see where Obama lives.  And also, Lera will believe just about anything you say about history or government if you say it with confidence so I also showed her the underpass where JFK was shot.
Onward.  Tonight we storm Philly.
Alexandria vs. Annapolis or what is commonly cited as the Roy vs. Chipotle debate.

Hotel Monaco.  Lera looking famous.  Ben looking rad.

"That's it?"- Lera Lynn.

Hello Ck.