Tag: dive bars

Root 66: Blank Range’s Roadside Favorites

Posted on by Editor

Name: Blank Range
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Latest Project: Vista Bent

Pizza: Sally's Apizza in New Haven, Connecticut. We got in right before the original owners sold the place. We can assume the Apizza just wasn't the same after it changed hands. We took down the whole pie at a brisk but not quite shameful pace and, as we were climbing back in the van, several members were heard saying, "That was the best pizza I've ever had." Bold claims, Sally's backed it up.

Truck Stop: Czech Stop. Nothing says SXSW like a 13-hour haul to West, Texas, for Czech Stop's sweet and savory kolaches. We were so excited to fill our empty stomachs with said treats last year that we almost backed our van over John Moreland while trying to peel into a parking spot. Either he failed to notice how close our vehicle came to barreling over him or he was walking through the parking lot high on kolaches and just wasn't phased. Either way, we're really sorry for our reckless behavior and promise to be more cautious next year.

Coffeehouse: Any place in Portland or Seattle that looks like they take coffee real serious. We don't get that thick-ass, syrup-ass mud in Tennessee, so whenever we make it out to the Northwest, we grab everything we can.

 

Man a #HotShot would get me through this Monday… • • • #HotShot of #HotShots by @wrenneevans

A photo posted by ______ Range (@blankrange) on

Dive Bar: The Brass Rail in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Where do I even start? The Brass Rail is not only one of the best dive bars, but it's also one of the best venues in America — a real bastion of culture and the center of a scene. From what I can tell, everyone in Ft. Wayne that's artistically inclined will end up at the Brass Rail on any given night of the week. It's just where people go. Whether that be the poet/comedian "Nitwit" who gave us his CD filled with aggressively filthy limericks interspersed with smooth '70s rock and banjo scrags, or Ben, the tambourine-wielding "front man" of Heaven's Gateway drugs, rarely seen without his pinstriped tights on. They're all there, they all want to hang. Because everyone heads there anyway, there's always been an audience for us, even when nobody had any clue who we were. This place sells more PBR than anywhere else in the Midwest. That's not hyperbole; that's what the owner stated as fact. It's probably because they serve it in 32 oz mason jars for $2. We played here on one of our first tours when we could barely get on a house show. Our friend got us on the bill and we had such weird, wonderful time that we've made it a stop ever since. One time, there was a party after the show where he made dozens of pork chop sandwiches nobody ate. One time, Grant pulled on the back door so hard he ripped the handle clean off. When he brought it up to the bar, ashamed, the bartender gave him a smile, a laugh, and another PBR. This place rules. John Ross rules. You should go to the Brass Rail.

Record Store: Ragged Records in Davenport, Iowa. One of the best used collections I've seen. They've got tons of obscure and/or hard to find records in the rock 'n roll, psychedelic, and folk regions. One of the few places I've found that will actually have copies of the classics behind the name placard, not just Kinks '80s records or four copies of Bob Dylan's Saved. There's also a great vintage store in the same building called Trash Can Annie's, great stop all around

Bookstore: There was a spot right next to House of TARG in Ottawa where I found Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges. I'd been looking for that for a long time and could never find it anywhere in the States. Great used collection, but because they had Borges, it sticks out in my mind.

Gear Shop: Heyday Music in Asheville, North Carolina, has some great stuff. Mostly vintage and weird, great amps and an eclectic guitar and vintage keyboard collection. It’s also right next to a great record store and the Moog Synthesizer factory. You can definitely spend some time on that stretch, especially if any member of your party takes interest in head shops, as they are plentiful in Asheville

Backstage Hang: Saturn in Birmingham, Alabama. We're actually headed to play the Saturn tonight as I write this. Best green room we've ever been seen. There's a pool table, record player, ample sleeping space where bands can crash after the show, stocked fridge, and just all-around great hangs. The owners have toured a lot and they really know how to make a band comfortable on the road.

Highway Stretch: The finger of Idaho a little east of Couer D'Alene on I-90. The road winds around a giant lake passing through beautiful, deciduous tree covered mountains. We love taking time to drive on Highway 1 and going through Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, stick out. Too many to name, we really get into the scenery.

Day Off Activity: We like to play disc golf, when we remember to bring the discs in the van. Camping has also become something we aim for on days off, especially when we're out West. In September, we showed up at a park in the middle of the night and all the campsites were full so we parked at the end of the camping area and laid our sleeping bags out under the stars. We didn't notice the flags and spray paint on the ground, but quickly realized we were sleeping in the middle of a cross country race course when throngs of middle school kids came running by.

Tour Hobby: We always try to hit vintage shops, record shops, and bookstores, if we have time to kill. We also get into going to parks. We spend portions of time coming up with alliterative names for coffee, specific to location (I.e. Montana mud, Seattle syrup, etc.)

Driving Album: Marquee Moon by Television. I feel like this changes a lot. Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel was one for a while.

Root 66: Reckless Kelly’s Roadside Favorites

Posted on by Amy Reitnouer

Name: Reckless Kelly
Hometown: Austin, TX
Latest Project: Sunset Motel

Tacos: Living in Austin, Texas, is like living in taco heaven. There’s a taco on every corner and you really can’t go wrong. We are currently involved in a breakfast taco war with San Antonio, which I believe we’re winning. They have some good tacos, too, but for my money, I’d have to say that Maudie’s has the best tacos in town, and if we’re gonna get specific, Pete's tantalizing breakfast tacos are the bomb. Flour tortillas filled with eggs, potatoes, cheese, sausage, and serrano peppers. They are already hotter than the fiery bowels of hell, but I like to put a little of their fantastic salsa on there, too … really ties the room together. 

Burger: One of the greatest little greasy spoons in the world is a little dive called Brown’s Diner in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a little café with about an eight- or 10-stool bar that’s usually filled with songwriters eating their world famous cheeseburgers and fries while washing it down with a Budweiser for $1.10. We’ve been known to log in some serious sessions there … the kind where you order a second cheeseburger a few hours later because you’re still there and smelling those burgers will get you every time. I’m pretty sure they’ve never cleaned the grill, which may be the secret to the success of the cheeseburger. The also have a world class jukebox, filled with classic country.

Record store: Bop Street, in Seattle, Washington. It used to be right next door to the Tractor Tavern where we almost always play. They’ve moved a few blocks away, but as far as I know, are still alive and well, which says a lot in this day and age. I was in there once looking for a British copy of Revolver and the owner asked me what I was looking for. I told him I didn't see one, and he took me down to the basement where he had what he estimated to be 750,000 albums and three full shelves of Beatles. He had about 20 copies of Revolver, and I picked one out. I bet he had several hundred Beatles albums, an instant stamp of approval in my book.

Book store: Kevin and Dustin Welch always told me about City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. It was on my list for quite a while before I finally made it in and, since then, I don’t miss an opportunity to stop in when we’re in town. I was on a big Steinbeck kick a few years back and was having a hard time finding some of his lesser known works. City Lights had them all. I think I spent a couple hundred bucks on Steinbeck alone and then had to haul a huge bag of books all over town for the rest of the day, but it was worth it. I still don’t think I’ve read them all yet.

Backstage hang: Speaking of San Francisco, there is a festival there called Hardly Strictly Bluegrass that is our favorite backstage hang. The festival is put on by the Helman family and they treat the artists and fans like royalty. It’s free to the public and there are no corporate sponsors, so basically, it’s all about the music. The back stages are all set up with comfy couches, chairs, and everything you might want backstage. The staff is second to none and they aim to please. They also have artist-only pathways between stages so you can easily get from stage to stage to watch other bands or get someplace fast, if you need to jump up and jam with someone. 

Gear shop: It’s called Austin Vintage Guitars. They have a huge collection of great old guitars and amps. They also have the best amp service in town and, for my money, the world. It’s the kind of place where, if you’re not in the market to buy anything, you better not go in, because there’s always a guitar or amp calling your name and making you re-evaluate your current financial situation: “Well, I guess I could sell the car, and do the kids really need new shoes?”

Listening room: There are some great listening rooms out there … but when someone says “listening room,” I immediately think of the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. We played there with Robert Earl Keen a few times when Robert used to take us out on the East Coast with him when we were just getting our feet wet. They have a strict "no talking over the band" policy, and it was one of the first places I’ve ever seen people really listen like there was gonna be a test at the end of the show. It’s a beautiful room. I’ve heard a few people say things like, “I don’t like the Birchmere because they won’t even let you talk …” I’m always thinking, "Exactly."

Music Festival: I may be biased, but my favorite festival is one that my parents have been putting on since I can remember. The Braun Brothers' Reunion started in Stanley, Idaho, about 30 years ago and was held there on a flatbed stage at the scenic city park. We moved the fest to Challis, Idaho, about 15 years ago, and have built a permanent stage on the driving range at the local golf course. The driving range is a perfect natural amphitheater where fans spread their blankets, set up chairs and awnings. Kids will be rolling down the hill and tossing frisbees around while the music plays in the background. The views are incredible and the little town grows from about 800 to about 3,400 over the three-day weekend. Almost everyone camps out in RVs or tents since there are only a couple hundred rooms available, so there are all these little makeshift villages of people who return every year and reconnect with other music fans they’ve met there over the years. What started as a couple local bands playing to a couple hundred people from the back of a flatbed trailer has turned into a three-day event with acts like Chris Hillman, Alejandro Escovedo, Robert Earl Keen, and the Randy Rogers band. The list goes on and on … It’s a unique festival and we’re really proud of it!

Driving album: My favorite driving music lately is live Bruce Springsteen bootlegs. I have a place up in Idaho that’s exactly a four-hour drive from the airport to the front door, and my friend Dale is a big Boss fan so he always sends me Bruce bootlegs. Since he varies his set list so much and plays for almost four hours a night, one show will pretty much get me home, and another will get me back to the airport. It’s a great way to pass the time on a drive that I’d otherwise be getting pretty sick of.

 

Not a bad view from tonight's show at #LazyGators in Lake Ozark, MO!

A photo posted by Reckless Kelly (@recklesskelly96) on

Car game: Our favorite car game as kids was “Name That Tune.” The rules were simple: We’d crank up the radio and the first person to yell out the artist and song got a point for each, and a bonus point for getting both. If you guessed wrong, you lost a point. We also had what we called a lightning round, which was when dad would hit the scan button and it would stop on every station for about five or 10 seconds. You could really rack up the points during a lightning round. If dad was falling behind, he’d always stop on the oldies station for a few songs and kick our asses.

Dive bar: There are so many great dive bars out there that it’s hard to narrow it down to one favorite. I have my favorite one here in Austin, but I don’t want it overrun with hipsters, so I’ll tell you about another one … Mary’s Club in Portland, Oregon, is one of the best dives ever. It’s a little hole in the wall with cheap drinks, classic drunks, and great bartenders. It’s also the oldest topless bar in Oregon, but you’d hardly know it was a strip club except for the topless dancers who pick their own songs on the jukebox that’s on stage, and sometimes they have to borrow a buck from someone to get started. We’re not really big strip club guys, but in a world of great dives, this one is right up there … and there just happens to be a topless dancer in the corner.

Highway stretch: Of all the cool stretches of highway in America, I’d have to say the coolest and most breathtaking one is Route 1, or the Pacific Coast Highway, out in California. You’ve got the ocean on one side and hillsides on the other. You pass through Big Sur and a bunch of cool little overlooks along the way. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the road! I’ve written a lot of songs about the road and that stretch of highway has inspired a few of them. I camped out on a cliff overlooking the ocean for a few days one time and wrote songs. When I left, a guy pulled in with his camper and asked if he could take the spot when I left and that he had always tried to get that particular site for years and couldn't believe his luck. Since I was flying out, I gave him a few leftover bottles of good wine a friend in Carmel had given me. I thought he was going to cry. Pay it forward! 

Root 66: Lowlight’s Roadside Favorites

Posted on by Amy Reitnouer

Name: Lowlight
Hometown: Asbury Park, NJ
Latest Project: Where Do We Go from Here

Burger: Milwaukee is Beer City. There is a buzz about the place, as if the entire town just pounded three rounds and is onto the next. Where there is beer, there are burgers; and we found a mind-blowingly good one at Sobelman's Pub 'N Grill. Friends of ours ordered something called "The Beast" — a huge bloody mary with an entire chicken sticking out of it, which also includes an additional four beers to chase it all with. We were intrigued, so we went there for dinner and we were not disappointed. We got a round of brews and burgers, all of which was beyond perfection. We highly recommend.

Backstage Hang: By far, our favorite backstage hang is at Codfish Hollow in Maquoketa, Iowa, which is an amazing barn-turned-venue out amongst the cornfields of the Midwest. Underneath the barn where the main stage is, there's a gated green room area. There's a beautiful spread of food prepared by the barn's owner, Tiffany Costello Biehl, drinks as per the bands' requests, and a couch made out of hay stacks. The hospitality extends to Tiffany's house slightly away from the show area, where she welcomes all the bands to hang out, rest up, shower up … whatever they need. In addition to the farm animals milling about, there's also artwork to be seen all over the vast property. It was a really friendly, fun, engaging environment, and by far the best "backstage hang" we've ever experienced.

Tourist Attractions: Two things here: Colin, our drummer, has been a life-long dedicated Chicago Bulls fan. He was one of those 10-year-olds who was not from Chicago, but became obsessed with Michael Jordan in his prime and has never turned his back on the team since. But for all of his travels to and from Chicago throughout the years, Colin had never seen the statue of MJ that sits outside of the United Center where the Bulls play. So our pilgrimage to the Michael Jordan statue stands out in our minds as one of the better tourist attractions we've been to. 

We also visited the Mars Cheese Castle in Wisconsin on our way to Milwaukee. That place is ridiculous! Enough cheese for a nation of mice. At our show later that day, Renee mentioned over the microphone that we had stopped there. The audience was quick to tell us that it's a tourist trap and locals don't go there. We figured as much, but we maintain that we had fun and it is worth pulling over for, if you're from out of state and looking to stretch your legs and munch on some cheese curds.

 

A photo posted by Lowlight (@lowlightnj) on

Driving Album: This isn't an album as much as it is a mix or playlist, but we had one entire day that we dubbed "Lords of Synth" day — named after an Adult Swim special of the same name where they parody Vangelis, Wendy Carlos, and Giorgio Moroder. We started off with Vangelis, cranking "Titles" as we left Chicago and began our journey to the next gig. There's nothing like listening to the most epic music ever composed while you're waiting in a Wendy's parking lot. On the highway, we segued into some Wendy Carlos, and then the anchor leg, as we neared our destination, was Moroder. There was a twinkle in our keyboardist Dana's eye as new keyboard inspiration was settling in. Lords of Synth day was one for the books.

Day Off Activity: Laundry. You never know when something like laundry is going to get interesting. We were hurting for some clean clothes and found a random laundromat deep in the farmlands of Illinois. What we thought would be an innocuous stop ended up being an experience! We had some downtime as our clothes were flopping around in the laundry machines. Dana and Colin decided to play catch, while Renee decided to go to the back of the parking lot with her guitar and work on some songs. A man next door who happened to be mowing his lawn noticed Renee wearing her hat, as she always does. He stopped what he was doing and came up to the fence and asked her if she wanted some hats of his that didn't fit anymore. He then brought back two beautiful cowboy hats, boxes and all. We were all amazed, confused, grateful. We resumed playing catch and guitar as some laundromat regulars filtered in. They were a little perplexed by the "music in the parking lot" and asked Renee to come inside to play for them. She played them some Willie Nelson and Townes Van Zandt songs, an impromptu concert in the laundromat! Then the owner of the joint took us next door to her house, where she gave us vegetables from her garden to take with us on the road. Unbelievable. These are the kinds of beautiful, unexpected moments that only happen on tour. Cheers to the Holiday Laundromat in Moline, Illinois!

Also: Hiking. Seems obvious, if not a little mundane. "It's our day off, let's take a walk!" Some of the most memorable experiences we've had on tour have been breaking out our walking boots and hitting the trails — be it in Racine, Iowa, in the cliffs above Lake Michigan, by the flowing waters of Shohola Falls, Pennsylvania, or amongst the saguaros of Tuscon, Arizona. After spending so much time in bars and the van, getting out into nature and going for a hike becomes particularly refreshing for both body and mind.

Car Game: We've got a couple of car games up our sleeves, but the highlight of this past run was a music trivia game that Colin brought. It was probably made in the mid-2000s but also dealt with trivia going back to the '60s. We all thought we were music gurus, but our bassist Rey won in a landslide. Although luck of the draw kept giving him throwaway questions like, "Who was the lead singer for The Doors?" he still showed an impressive range of knowledge from Extreme to Destiny's Child. This game also featured the game-show host excellence of our guitarist, Derril Sellers. He really had the timing down and brought some drama into each question. When you have nothing but time, in a van, these kinds of activities are crucial to stay sane. 

 

A photo posted by Lowlight (@lowlightnj) on

Dive Bar: The Grub 'n Pub in West Branch, Iowa. We pulled into a Days Inn pretty late after one of our shows. As soon as we saw that there was a bar in the hotel, the mood instantly changed from "Let's have a ramen and go to bed" to "It's on!" Our whiskey neats were filled to the brim and dirt cheap to boot. We rocked the jukebox and mingled with the locals. One man called Chi Chi — we came to find out later that his name was really Todd — was particularly memorable. He spoke of his hardships and wore it on his face like a character from a Steinbeck novel. He also kicked our asses at pool. A few of the other patrons found out we're a band and were excited to come to the show the next day in nearby Iowa City. They didn't show up. We think maybe they forgot.

Breakfast Joint: Bang Bang in Chicago. They specialize in biscuits and pot pies, breakfast or lunch foods. We weren't expecting a mouthwateringly amazing breakfast on tour, but Bang Bang delivered. Terrific coffee, terrific food! Bang Bang!

House Concert: Ca d'Zan House Concerts in Cambridge, Illinois. It's a really pleasant, homey environment with both an indoor and an outdoor space for the bands to play, depending on the event. The house belongs to John Taylor who once worked with Daytrotter. John moved out to the suburbs of Illinois to raise his two kids, as well as host shows on his front porch that he had built with the exclusive purpose of being a stage for his events. We had such a great and attentive audience the night we played and met so many cool people. It was a beautiful night there — one we won't forget. 

 

A photo posted by Lowlight (@lowlightnj) on

Podcast: When playing music every night and listening to quite a bit of music driving around, it's nice to break it up with someone talking at you for a little bit via a podcast.  Marc Maron's WTF was is our most frequented. He gets such great guests and he's such a stellar interviewer. A few episodes to recommend are his talks with Werner Herzog, John C. Reilly, and Louis C.K. Maron has a brilliant way of both guiding the interview, and also knowing when to take a back seat and let the interviewee do the talking.

Highway Stretch: There's a stretch of road on Highway 20 approaching the historic town of Galena, Illinois, that is a breath of fresh air from the mostly flat, endless cornfields that encompasses the Midwest (within our experiences of it, at least), making it a memorable area of the highway to be on. It's still farm country, but it's hilly and scenic and beautiful. Lush green farmlands and pastures stretching for miles speckled with grazing cows here and there in the distance. It's just dying for some reverbed-out lap steel to be its soundtrack, wafting in the distance. It's also home to Blaum Bros. Distilling Company, which not only makes great whiskey, but also has Big Lebowski, Bill Murray, and Star Wars paraphernalia scattered about its bar like it was curated just for our band. That bit of road could easily be the backdrop for one of our songs. We were happy to come across it in our travels.

Root 66: Austin Lucas’s Roadside Favorites

Posted on by Editor

Touring artists spend so much of their time on the road that they, inevitably, find all the best places to eat, drink, shop, and relax. Want to know where to find the best burger, beer, boots, or bunks? Ask a musician. Better yet, let us ask them for you.

Name: Austin Lucas
Hometown: Bloomington, IN
Latest Project: Between the Moon and the Midwest 

Burritos: Taqueria Cancun – San Francisco, California. Super prawn burrito. I've lived in the Bay Area multiple times. There are many burritos worth talking about on both sides of the water. This one is probably the best burrito in existence. You better like shrimp, though, because you're going to get your fill in this massive burrito that is the size of my forearm.

Pizza: Frank Pepe's The Spot – New Haven, Connecticut. Pepperoni & garlic pizza. There's so much amazing pizza on the East Coast, why argue about whether Brooklyn or Manhattan has better pizza when you could just go to New Haven and find out theirs is the best?

Burger: Don's Downtown Diner – Bellefontaine, Ohio. Cheeseburger w/bacon & all the fixins.

Health Food: The Wild Cow – Nashville, Tennessee. Grilled tempeh with lentils & kale.

Day Off Activity: Europe – visiting castles. USA and Australia – Hiking.

Dive Bar: White Water Tavern – Little Rock, Arkansas. The Whitewater is the place I wish I was playing almost every night. The drinks are cheap, the staff is friendly, and top-shelf artists grace its stage almost nightly. Nashville might be the home of country music, but this dive bar that's burned down and been rebuilt three times is more important to me and my touring friends than any place in Music City.

 

The places that we rest.

A photo posted by Austin Lucas (@austinlucasmusic) on

Backstage Hang: Tractor Tavern – Seattle, Washington. There's a saying in the music business: "Bands who can't draw crowds draw dicks." There are no dicks drawn in the backstage at the Tractor.

Radio Station: WSM, 650 AM – Nashville, Tennessee.

Highway Stretch: The Pass at Coeur d'Alene on I-90 in Idaho.

 

I love old painted wall advertisements. Even if they're for coke. #rva

A photo posted by Austin Lucas (@austinlucasmusic) on

Music Festival: The Holiday Hangout – Little Rock, Arkansas. This festival is thrown by Last Chance Records every year in December. Only 150 tickets are sold, and it'll be most of my very favorite bands and songwriters mingling with our raddest fans at the Whitewater Tavern for three days.

Record Store: Landlocked Music – Bloomington, Indiana.

Gear Shop: Elderly Instruments – East Lansing, Michigan.

Photo credit: Max Threlfall

Root 66: Al Scorch’s Roadside Favorites

Posted on by Editor

Touring artists spend so much of their time on the road that they, inevitably, find all the best places to eat, drink, shop, and relax. Want to know where to find the best burger, beer, boots, or bunks? Ask a musician. Better yet, let us ask them for you.

Name: Al Scorch
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Latest Project: Circle Round the Signs

Tacos: Stay away from any "tacqueria" with reclaimed wood counters, Ball jar light fixtures, and single word names. Instead, you wanna look for places named after a specific region in Mexico that are frequented by construction workers and families.

Pizza: Glorious Mother of All Things Delicious and Tasty, we venerate you. Pizza, mystic font from which all other snack-life flows, we raise your name in exaltation to the highest Heavens. I always hit Dante's Inferno for pizza in Chicago, Illinois, when I get home from tour. Hail Satan.

Health Food: Your best bet to actually eat a vegetable on the road is the hot bar at a nice organic grocery store. Of course, there are your national chains, which do the job, but I love finding locally owned health food stores in small towns run by people dedicated to making their town a rad place with thoughtful food options. Real Food Market & Deli in Helena, Montana, is my favorite discovery like that. So good!

Roadside Diner: As suburban sprawl erases roadside towns and Americans find themselves less and less willing to leave the safety zone of multi-national chain dining establishments, the diner is in grave peril. There are still vestiges of hope, though, like the Whistle Stop Diner in tiny Frontenac, Minnesota, about an hour south of Minneapolis on Highway 61, right along the MIssissippi River. Old Town Café in Bellingham, Washington, is also incredible. You look out over Bellingham Bay as you eat, and it's just lovely.

Truck Stop: On the road, the band and I like to pretend we are a dysfunctional, argumentative family and have fake fights about whether we are a "Love's Travel Stop family or a Flying J family." The joke is that all those places are the same except for the regional tchotchkes. I still regret not buying those gator teeth at the Love's in Southern Mississippi on the way to NOLA. Real talk.

Dive Bar: Another dying breed of Americana as our nation's tastes turn toward highly designed bar environments that blend modern minimalism with vintage accents that make you feel like you're actually inside Instagram. The Cinema Bar in Culver City, California, is a true gem, especially considering how close it is to Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It feels like my grandpa's basement and is jam-packed with mementos, artifacts, and wood paneling that have all legitimately been there since the '60s, if not earlier.

 

Keep your van kitchen on point for health and focus #raekwonthechef

A photo posted by Al Scorch (@alscorch) on

House Concert: The Roots Hoot House Concert series in Rhode Island is amazing. Dan and Liz have been throwing these shows at their home for almost 15 years and have cultivated a fantastic community of music lovers and supporters from all walks of life. Music means so much to them and it is immensely revitalizing to play their house and be reminded of the healing power of music and community.

Tour Hobby: Far and away our top tour hobby is thrift store shopping. Not only does it yield sweet threads, new tapes to jam, and useful bric-a-brac, but it allows you to learn a lot about where you are. It's exactly the same as an archeologist digging through ruins and inferring information from artifacts, except we get to do that in real time here in post-industrial Anthropocene America.

Book Store: I love bookstores almost as much as thrift stores and Denver, Colorado, has got some amazing bookstores. There's the Tattered Cover, of course, which is huge and the selection is amazing. But my fave Denver book nook is Kilgore's Books and Comics. A really well-curated used bookshop with a well-read clerk who is happy to help. Their Western U.S. History section is incredible.

Car Game: Charlie taught me an awesome game that we've been playing for years now called "Old, Phone, or Burger?". When you are behind someone who is failing at driving (drifting across lanes, going really slow then really fast, etc) you yell "Old, phone, or burrrrger?!?!" and everyone has to guess why they are driving so terribly. Then, as you pass you get to see! Usually, they are old or on the phone; but man, when they are driving and eating a giant sandwich, that shit is the best.

Radio Station: Hands down 89.3 the Current in Minneapolis. I was going to guitar building school up in Red Wing, Minnesota, back when the Current started and I listened to it early in the morning making breakfast every day. They always played mellow folky music in the morning and it was just so perfect. I have so many fond memories associated with that station.

Driving Album: Karen Dalton, In My Own Time, for sure. Just check it out, if you don't know. Roll on, buddies.

Photo credit: Nick Karp