Tour Notes (early fall)

There was this really great morning where we were driving through Scotland and there was this flock of pheasants all over this field. It was amazing. There must have been 50 of them. Feeding and roosting in the morning overcast mist. The grass was so green and they were surrounded by these ancient, well to me anyway, gray stone fences. I felt far away from Brooklyn finally. I had never seen anything like Edinburgh before.

One afternoon April and I walked frantically around Bradford. It was drab and everything was shut. Most of the architecture was stained black on one side from an industrial revolution since past. The scene was almost abandoned. On purpose. I was bitching about something to April and I saw a pigeon taking off about 4 feet away. Really low. I jumped up and touched it mid flight. Its wings felt like old newspaper. It jolted a minute, as surprised as I was, and flew on.

These folks in Leicster put on a last minute show for the tour in their practice space. In the end it was a good idea to do it because i had a really great time. RIP the black horse (BLX) mixer tho. smoking. dead. Andy from Diet Pills gave me his mixer for the show and to finish the tour with. BMF=Best Mates Forever. "cider is the drink of kings"!! Andy, you are so hooked up you dont even know it yet.

Man, Matt and Nooshie are the best! We love you guys. You helped us out soooo much.. These folks picked us up at the airport, helped us get our gear sorted, put on a show for the tour, and just generally showed our lame asses a good time.

People like this is the reason why I tour, and continue to tour. A friendly hand. It gives me faith in humanity, and inspires me to act as such.

We suck because we almost never take photos. I think April may have a few in her digital from this tour that we may be able to share. Most of the time that sort of stuff just gets erased and never uploaded. Besides, words can describe a million pictures.

Ta!

UK tour dates

Sep 8 2008 8:00P
Old Blue Last London Shoreditch, London and South East
Sep 9 2008 8:00P
The Junction- Bristol Bristol, Midlands
Sep 10 2008 8:00P
Big Wheel Liechester, South
Sep 11 2008 8:00P
Old Angel- Nottingham Nottingham
Sep 12 2008 8:00P
The Fenton- LEEDS Leeds, East
Sep 13 2008 8:00P
Henry’s Cellar Bar- EDINBURGH Edinburgh, Scotland
Sep 14 2008 8:00P
1 in 12- BRADFORD Bradford, Northwest
Sep 15 2008 8:00P
Le Pub- WALES Newport/Wales, Wales
Sep 16 2008 8:00P
Lark in the Park- LONDON LONDON, London and South East

All of these shows are with TOMBS and Planks. Extra advanced thanks to the folks in Planks for letting us use their gear, and ride with them. Planks is this excellent band from Germany, and Im not just saying that because of our affiliation with them as of present. As of now we havent even met them...cool right? April and I are VERY VERY lucky to be touring with both TOMBS and Planks.

So, as I said earlier all three bands are on an LP that will be available at all of these shows. The LP`s also come with a download card so you can load it up on your MP3podphoneberry etc. Go for it man. No one cares.

I am extra stoked about this tour because I have NO FUCKING IDEA where any of these places are, or what to expect. Its been a long time since I have felt this way about a tour. Its kind of like starting a new job. NO FUCKING IDEA.

The end of summer. Trying to be good. Working on some new BLx stuff. Working with a drummer... it`s been fun. Three words: Minimalist Blues Punk. Coming soon, but not as soon as I would actually want. I beat myself up inside out for it. Its always been this way.

Finally, in closing, I want to thank you dear reader, for following this hyper punctuated blog..some times I think "why do I even bother with this shit"???..But honestly this all comes out at the most passionate and frustrated times of my day.

best,

AP

Slim Harpo

Brooklyn Show Announced

Hey. Man. We agreed to do a loft party show this coming saturday at 470 Flushing here in Brooklyn. Everyone has been writing in and coming up to us and asking when we were playing NYC again, so we took it. I have been preaching to April about how I only want to play with my friends lately, so this is it.

My old Seattle friend Paul plays in the band Dead Doctors. They are last out of the two bands.

This will be fucking raw and awesome. We havent played here since January. We will have copies of our LP available after our set.

Dog Days

I have been learning Delta Blues Slide and Aprils van just got towed. The man really sucks. I have been working for almost 20 years and I know I dont like working for someone else. I guess I knew it all along.

Anyway, on the table..and in HEAVY rotation: Big Joe Williams, Fred McDowell, Slim Harpo, Elmore James, J.B. Lenoir, John Lee Hooker (check: "Leave My Wife Alone"), Elmo Williams etc...

After the UK tour, I`m waiting for my next move.

Promises Promises

Tombs/Planks/Blx Split

I just got a listen to the test pressing of the Tombs/Planks/Blx split for the UK tour. Im really happy.

Its a 12" tour vinyl, 300 copies only available on the UK tour we all are up for in September. Tombs invited April and I over to their space and we contributed vocals and "electronics" to a couple of songs and a little filler in between songs. It was super extra cool to work w those guys as they are super awesome buddies of ours and just plain talented. Good company.

The whole session lasted for one late sunday night and was totally painless. When we were done I thought to myself, "thats it"?..soo easy and natural. April fronted the vocals on the song "Cheval Noir"...its one of my favorite performances she has given since I have been working with her.

Mike told me, (Mike Hill of Tombs), that there will also be a download card included in the vinyl. Yeah, those guys fuckin rule and such.

The heat here is making me really really crazy. Sorry to anyone I have been in contact with in the last couple of days.