Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Idaho

6:25 AM

I know, it’s early. Ask my eyeballs, which feel like someone slashed them with razorblades and soaked them in rubbing alcohol. We left the hotel bright and early to get a leg on this drive to Denver. Yes, that’s Boise, ID to Denver, CO. Around 830 miles, nearly a third of the way across these great United States. Let us not forget that we lose an hour during the journey.

Boise seemed as drab as one might expect of a city in the state of Idaho. But perhaps that is an overly harsh, generalized statement from a dude raised within a six-hour drive of New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, Baltimore and New Brunswick (the envy-worth of that last one is arguable). The show was decent. 40-50 kids, typical technical difficulties, small stage we did not use, much to the consternation of the drug-addled looking sound guy (is there really any other kind?). The kids were quite appreciative of us coming out here. I mean, it’s Boise, ID. Not exactly the cultural hotbed of Western Civilization.

Whenever I find myself in these places, I ponder what it must be like to live in them. I grew up at the Jersey shore nearly a spitting distance from the Atlantic Ocean and 50 miles from NYC. Southern California thus far comes as close to my homeland as anywhere we’ve been, and SoCal is on an entirely different existential trip. This is America. Most of it is pick-up trucks, southern accents, chain stores, beef jerky, religious emblems and American flags. This, as Josh commented, is why George W. Bush is president.

7:07 AM

In other news, our show in Cleveland, OH on May 2 fell through. Allegedly, the kids doing the show neglected to pay a deposit to reserve the space. Of course said kid also failed to notify us that the show was cancelled. Someone else from the area posted this information on a messageboard. Someone else might be able to set up a show. This is DIY hardcore. We will track down Jason, the offender, and deal with him summarily, harshly, Jersey-style.

Also, Matt cracked me in the dome-piece last night with his bass. I thought it was Billy striking me with the mic. Upon impact, everything flashed for a second. This morning there’s only a small bump on my forehead, not much larger than a nasty pimple. That makes two whacks to the head and one to the jaw, in addition to a bevy of bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes all across my arms, elbows, legs, knees and hips. I used to judge the quality of a set on how damaged I was the next morning. As John McClain would say, I’m getting too old for this shit.

7:16 AM
As indicated earlier, eating has been difficult. These long drives limit time and availability for decent sustenance. For me it’s doubly hard. I need a grocery store. I’m ready to ravage a head of lettuce. I’d eat a block of tofu whole, unseasoned and raw. Maybe Denver will be an oasis of fine vegetarian/vegan dining in a desert of Carl’s Jr. Jr. and Mickey Ds.

7:43 AM

It’s sunk to the point where Minute Maid orange juice “from concentrate” tastes refreshing, as if I just pulled the fruit off the branch and squeezed it into this plastic bottle. That, my friends, is a commentary on the beverage selection in this desolate nowhere we now inhabit. Indeed, you think about food a great deal during these long drives with nary a nutritious meal in sight. Sometimes a vast bowl of salad hovers along the horizon- but it’s just a desert mirage. How sweet those thick, dark leafy greens drenched in roasted red pepper dressing would taste right now. I can feel the fibers of the leaves crunching to green mush in my mouth. It’s been 27 days on the road.

7:53 AM

We were met with extreme signs of poverty when we rolled in Idaho. Outside one house stood a makeshift sign announcing “Chuckleberries For Sale.” What the hell is a chuckleberry??? Is this a regional delicacy like boiled peanuts? What’s up with boiled peanuts anyway??? Perhaps a chuckleberry is a mutant, Frankenstein concoction by a bored, hard-working self-starter. Maybe genetic modification has reached the DIY level out here in Idaho.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

a chuckleberry is a type of red currant. its pretty commonly grown out west.





johnny

Unknown said...

1574meiqing
michael kors outlet online
abercrombie and fitch new york
ralph lauren outlet
hollister jeans
burberry outlet
mont blanc
coach outlet store online
ralph lauren outlet
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet online
ray ban sunglasses outlet
hollister clothing
cheap oakley sunglasses
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ed hardy clothing
michael kors outlet
ray ban glasses
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors
abercrombie store
hollister kids
michael kors outlet
burberry sale
retro jordans 13
coach outlet online
christian louboutin outlet
ralph lauren outlet
longchamp outlet
ray ban sunglass
louis vuitton
michael kors outlet online
cheap oakley sunglasses
cheap jerseys
michael kors outlet
abercrombie
toms outlet
true religion
oakley sunglasses
christian louboutin outlet
coach factory outlet

mmjiaxin said...

ray-ban sunglasses
nhl jerseys
coach outlet online
celine outlet
christian louboutin shoes
nike trainers
ugg outlet uk
ugg boots
louis vuitton outlet online
oakley sunglasses
discount ugg boots
ugg boots
golden state warriors
parajumpers outlet
canada goose outlet
juicy couture tracksuit
cheap ugg boots
ugg boots on sale
hermes birkin bag
louis vuitton outlet store
mm1120

xumeiqing said...

151230meiqing
hollister clothing
the north face jackets
ray ban wayfarer
michael kors handbags
gucci shoes
abercrombie and fitch
oakley sunglasses
coach outlet
louis vuitton handbags
coach factory outlet
ray ban sunglasses
louboutin pas cher
louis vuitton
abercrombie & fitch
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin outlet
mont blanc pens
polo ralph lauren outlet
ugg boots
vans shoes
coach outlet store online
ugg boots outlet
oakley sunglasses
ugg clearance
ralph lauren polo
nike air huarache
ray ban sunglasses
ed hardy clothing
adidas superstar
marc jacobs

Anonymous said...

2016-4-18 xiaozhengm
tiffany outlet
oakley sunglasses
tory burch sale
polo ralph lauren
michael kors handbags
true religion outlet
louis vuitton
toms shoes
hollister kids
coach factory outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet
coach factory outlet
adidas shoes
toms shoes
toms shoes outlet online
ray ban uk
christian louboutin outlet
coach factory
ugg boots
tods shoes
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton handbags
cheap oakley sunglasses
burberry outlet
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton bags
fitflops sale clearance
nike air huarache
michael kors handbags
coach factorty outlet
coach factory outlet
oakley sunglasses
coach outlet store online
louis vuitton outlet
ralph lauren
timberland boots
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbags

Unknown said...

pandora jewelry
michael kors outlet clearance
hollister kids
nike air max
tory burch handbags
coach handbags
oakley sunglasses
coach outlet
nike air force 1
mont blanc pens
20172.24wengdongdong

Unknown said...

20170615 junda
cheap oakley sunglasses
ralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren
christian louboutin shoes
nfl jerseys
michael kors outlet online
michael kors handbags
louis vuitton outlet online
cheap ray bans
coach outlet online

Unknown said...

yeezy 500
hermes handbags
calvin klein outlet
michael kors outlet online
christian louboutin shoes
oakley sunglasses
tom ford glasses
ferragamo belt
michael kors outlet
chrome hearts

Unknown said...

converse shoes
roshe run
chloe sunglasses
givenchy jewelry
basketball jersey
curry 2
wedding dresses
tommy hilfiger
chanel handbags
air more uptempo
2018.7.14chenlixiang