Day 4 of our California adventure and all is super-well. I'm sitting in the Red Fox tavern getting ready to play. The day before yesterday we had a day off. Woke up 3 hours north of San Francisco. I took a dip in the pool, and we drove to a diner in a strip mall. All feeling a little cooky, over-excited; couldn't decide as a group how to spend our day. Finally we agreed upon Muir Woods, the famous old growth Redwood forest just across the Golden Gate bridge. We wanted to see some real piece of California. So we drove there... by the time we'd wound our Puppy up and down all those hairpin curves she was a little steamed at us. The deep dark soul-moving forest couldn't have been a better way to spend an afternoon and we all went off wandering for hours. I loved how the entire forest floor was covered in heart-shaped sorrel leaves. I saw a giant banana slug and immediately noticed that their slime was all over the sorrel. I cried thinking about these trees standing here, being alive for so long as we humans have been bumbling along, lifetimes bursting and fading, messing up the earth, messing ourselves up getting in fights, sitting in rooms... the trees jusr stand there simply with the sun, wind, fires, the night, the banana slugs and hearts all covering their feet. As John Muir said (I paraphrase), when walking in these woods, a journey OUT is really a journey IN. I felt lucky to be taking it with a group of such amazing people, my friends in the band.
The drive into the city, through the heart-stopping valleys, next to the misty pacific and over the Goden Gate was the perfect way to ease back into society. We landed at my cousin Ben's warehouse to park the trailer. He is a member of the club trio Pance Party and we got a tour of their sweet studio/ warehouse/ headquarters (use to be Journey's!!!). We got to see some of his mate Casey's bright stencil art sitting all around, getting ready for his first solo show (can't remember the name). Then we had some amazing sushi, they drank world-class beer at Tornados (while I slept in the van) and we called it a night.
Last night at the Boom Boom Room..... what can I say? It was more than I ever could have wished for! Amazing crowd of family and old friends plus lots of unexpected rub-lovers, great energy from the crowd, extremely hospitable crew holding down the bar. I can't wait to come back again soon. But I suppose we still have to finish this tour first. So we drive on. Until next entry...
Kalmia
+ Rubblebucket
Kalmia... Hi! I just saw you guys at HSMF for the first time. WOW! I haven't been able to stop listening to your stuff since my return. I really loved you and your bandmate's stage antics and, as it goes without saying, your sound and musicianship is incredible. I LOVE that you spent your time here in lovely CA at the Muir Woods. Isn't so amazing there? I live in the East Bay and I spend as much time as possible over there. Isn't so beautiful how the trees grow in families? Yes, I too was a bit emotional the first time (and frankly every time) I visit. Wow, well... I am now a huge fan and can't wait for you guys to come back to the west coast. You should try and visit the Channel Islands down south if you get a chance as well.
ReplyDeletecheers,
Chris