Monday, March 7, 2011

If you can't beat em, join em (in the kitchen for a dance party)

We made it to Sam Bond's Garage in Eugene, OR just in time to check out the last 30 minutes of the open stage bluegrass jam (strings only) and eat yummy pizza, sandwiches and vegan cookies.  I set up the merch booth right next to Olin's group, who that night actually had their own merch girl, Dezi, who also happened to house us and some Olin boys that evening.  She's a cute junior at the U of O studying biological anthropology and business, and dreaming of promoting bands after graduation.  Given that she's hosted four bands in the last month in her house in Eugene, I'd say she's well on her way.

Zak, a 40ish man reading the paper when we came in, struck up a conversation with me about being on the road.  He'd worked for the BLM and the National Forest Service, and talked about traveling from February to October.  Each subsequent year on the job, his sleeping set-up became more sophisticated.  By the end he had a cool trailer with bunk and propane stove, which he pulled behind his truck and right into the campsite each night.  Now he's staying in Eugene as a consultant for waterways and invasive species management.  He says that Eugene is the kind of spot that bands look at as a fuel stop on the way to Portland or San Fran (depending on their directionality).  I wonder though what the local music scene is with the vibrant college community, and if maybe Zak was just a little wistful for his days on the road.  That sparkle in his eyes talking of forest restoration in the Pac NW, and following the snow line up, down, and all over the Cascades tells me my assumption is a solid one.

Sam Bond's is a pretty awesome hang-out.  There's a huge stylized tin longhorn chained up over the stage, and a mini barnyard door at the back to load and unload the equipment.  All the benches and tables are of rough-hewn logs and the beers (all local OR micro-brew) are served in mason jars.  Holla Eugene.  The sound was a little cooky last night, especially when Olin took the stage.  That definitely didn't deter their number one fan, a drunken graying gentleman who got a crew to move tables and dance for the last few songs of the set.

I thought after such a chill night at Sam Bond's that the evening would progress likewise, but Ryan got a fire in his eye, and Devon wanted to make a good night of his first with the band, and Geoff really likes Burlesque, and Noble is always down when he's got on his mohawk knit winter hat.  We ended up at 2 am outside of John Henry's after a very loud, obnoxious burlesque show where Iron Maiden featured prominently (some of the worst Burlesque I've ever seen, actually).  The scene at the house was likewise rowdy.  Dezi is a very accommodating hostess (thanks Dezi!).  She was happy to keep her sharp grey boots and red-hot lipstick on for dance parties in her kitchen.  She's also happy to supply the band with a sailor's hat, a jar of corn whiskey, and some colanders when the shirts come off.  Ryan, Noble, and Geoff just love to take those shirts off and rub all up on one another, and anyone else consensual enough to join in.  Devon is more happy to supply DJ capacities if Noble will relinquish the ipod for a moment.  And Thor is happy to also step it with his old band mates til 4, even as though his straight-edge ways means that his fuel is far different than the rest of the crowds...

We all crashed on the floor of Dezi's loft.  The last night's conversation turned to lady friends and music - as all conversations these days tend.  After Devon confessed how hard it was to break up with the three girls he'd been seeing for the one he really likes, Ryan turned to me to whisper from the folds of his sleeping back.  That's why we love Devon so much - he's such a lover.  He loves em all and when he loves your songs, he plays them so, so well...

Yeah, there's that, and there's also Devon's sage advice.  Don't use names!  Then you won't mix them up!  Each girl gets a unique nickname, especially the one's you care about.  But given names.  Only to be uttered to the favorites...

Aura was freshest of us all this morning as we stretched out the kinks from floor sleeping.  She was smart enough to hear the homecoming from bars last night and stick the earplugs in.  I might just have to get a pair of my own, though thus far the excitement is enough to keep me up...  If you can't beat em, join em.

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