Incredible night at The Bunkhouse Las Vegas with Kid Theodore. To Everyone who helped out with gas money, you are the most amazing human beings we love you

Neet O

Finally the opportunity to blog blog has smoothly struck, I write from the Schwartz residence here south of Tucson on a lovely Arizona morning after nearly 14 hours in the van yesterday. Tonight: The Bunkhouse Las Vegas with Kid Theodore.

Our first trip to Austin went incredibly well and we sincerely thank all of our families for helping make the trip a success, all of our new friends in Austin helped introduce us to an incredibly receptive town and we can not wait to return. MANY THANKS!!!

pet area-somewhere on the 10 between Austin and Fort Stockton

Levi's/Fader Fort

although I look very upset in this photo I was actually quite happy-this is after we did a quick last minute interview at east village radio-everyone there was very very nice they broadcasted the entire week

Drew-"Fort Stockton" Burrito-Dinner
Julios tortilla chips-a Texas Staple
Drew-Happy Belly
Motorhead stage set-up at the outside stage at Stubb's-Marshall Stacks

Stubb's BMI Howdy Texas Party

Boredom in Van=Red photos of everyone looking very

Day 3-of these days that is

THIS PLACE IS TOO OVERWHELMING

BLOG TO COME SOON....MUST SLEEP NOW EARLY MORNING YET AGAIN TOMORROW. SO MANY SHOWS....SO MANY PEOPLE. PICTURES TO COME SOON.

Day 1-of these days that is

Tuesday March 16 2010

12:30 AM- Leave U.S. Border Patrol station after 5 hour stay....learn both singing and "Marco Polo" playing is prohibited while in the cells.

12:31-3:59- Mindless driving on the 10 East.

4:00- Somewhere in West Texas I tell Drew who is keeping me company in the front seat that I'll drive for another hour then he has to take over.

5:00- Switcheroo

5:01-9:00- While Drew and I are passed out in the back two rows Nick and Mike finish the drive to our hotel just outside of Austin.

9:05- I innocently scare the kind woman behind the front desk at the hotel when I stumble in looking like a crazy person....Nick and Mike eat breakfast....Drew and I close the blinds and pass out again. Never underestimate the power of a mattress.

9:30-Noon- Listen to The Bowerbirds, fall asleep very quickly, somewhere in a dream remind myself that their new record is indeed as amazing as I knew it was when I was conscious.

1:00 PM- Depart for Austin, we stopped here for gas once, but this is will be our first time setting foot downtown. The clouds proclaim their emphatically peaceful presence over the traffic that has gathered on the freeway around Exit 234.

3:00- Drew and I eat some delicious sandwiches at Stubb's BBQ...we discuss how irritably well we have eaten since we left Los Angeles...get the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw if you are ever at Stubb's (Nick told me the potato salad was better, but I'm a sucker for cabbage)

5:30ish- Watch Caitlin Rose (Nashville) play an amazing set...Motorhead was next door sound-checking very loudly but she still sounded great.

6ish- Watch Rey Fresco (Los Angeles) play an amazing set

6:30- Have the good fortune of playing our first show in Austin at Stubb's BBQ-yeahhhh!!!

8-9:30- Wander around Austin looking for shows/beer/food. This place has what seems to be an endless amounts of venues. Good Pizza. Good Chips too. "ritas".

10:30-Midnightish- Hang out at "Rusty Spurs" watch Foster The People play outside on the patio.

12:30 AM- Collectively realize we need to get some sleep-on the way back to the van run into Britt Daniel-no big deal--he gives us veteran tips on how to sneak into his show tomorrow night-now we comprehend that this time of year in Austin is fucking insane-we are thrilled for what lies ahead.

-Matt

Hello there inter web. I write from my phone here in downtown austin, we got in at 9 this morning after a long stop with the border patrol last night, more soon

Ah Ha Fa Fa

We have had a very enjoyable last 48 hours since we left Los Angeles en route to SXSW . We carry on this evening with a show here in Phoenix, Arizona.

Things...

The Troubadour last night was an unbelievable treat, it had been quite a few months since the last time we were fortunate enough to be a part of a show there. We realize the time was strange and we sincerely appreciate everyone at The Troubadour helping us out and especially those of you that were kind enough to spend the early part of your Monday night with us.

This Thursday we will be departing for Austin, which we are anticipating to be one of the most awe inspiring experiences of our time together, we begin our trip with a show in Las Vegas at The Bunkhouse as part of The Neon Reverb festivities happening all weekend. We will be sharing the stage with our friends Kid Theodore who we were fortunate enough to meet last week in Long Beach and we anticipate it to be a remarkable night.

-Here is a nifty poster for the event-

Plenty more to come in the next 12 hours. Thanks again we are incredibly excited for the upcoming weeks and hope to plan another Los Angeles show towards the end of March. The last week here in town has been great.

KSCR-RAD-THANKS-

Oh Mew Sack

wish we were here

but we were indeed here...although it does not feel as though it was real

Tuning An Electric Piano

One of the greatest instruments to have ever been made is the Wurlitzer Electric Piano. Its complicated approach on amplifying the sound of a key striking a tine is unparalleled and nearly untouched. Quite possibly the most intriguing intricacy of this instrument is its innate ability to lose its tuning. Many things can cause this phenomenon...such as: hitting the keys too hard or jarring the instrument with a tough bump amongst many other things. Placing all these unique factors on an instrument can take it's toll and truly require an expert hand to salvage maintain its unscathed state. I was in a very un-unique position as the owner of one of these fine instruments when one of my keys went a bit flat a couple months ago. I at first ignored the problem and continued to play my parts as normal....as the problem persisted the note continued to get further and further out of tune. Following this I was forced to find different ways of playing many songs and this was a bummer.

Today I had the great fortunes of visiting one of the great keyboard technicians ever, he has built himself an incredible space with awesome help and is the deepest lover of vintage keyboards I have ever met. Watching my instrument get worked on was an unbelievable thrill and I wish that I had a comparable level of expertise .

Earlier today I was very concerned about being forced to play out of a computer this evening in Long Beach at one of our favorite hangouts-the one and only DiPiazza's. Instead I am thrilled to be fortunate enough to have the help of a really talented technician of sound. Thank you Mr. Rich

Also we have been working on a very interesting set for our show tomorrow evening at The Hotel Cafe. We will playing a couple songs that our very important to us that we seldom get the opportunity to play. If you are up to the challenge of staying out late...we would love to share the evening with you.

-Matt