April 8, 2004
home-home-home

Home - weird. It's good, but a little confusing being in one place for more than three days without a plan to leave. I'm now in the full on job hunt mode, well, as much as I can be. I hate filling out applications and trying to sell myself. Just have a conversation with me, for the love of.... somethin'.

I'm experiencing a lot of free alone time, and I have to admit that it is a little confusing and motivation hasn't kicked in yet.

I've started writing some music for the circus band and am on the hunt for drums. I think I might try to pull off playing some drums for the circus, we'll see what happens.

The desert has been dripping in rain ever since we got home, which means lots of swimming and tubing this summer!

Well, I don't have much to say - I just wanted to sign off for a little while.

Thanks to everybody for a fabulous tour!
Anne Dawson Cullerton

Sunday, March 28
Santa Fe, NM

Back home after a long tour. It feels really good to be here with families and friends and sweeties. Although, all I want to do when I
get home from tour is hide and be alone for awhile. Wednesday we all start 3 intense days of recording in Questa, NM, which is north of Taos a bit.

We're recording 5 songs, in hopes that someone will want to produce our next CD. We'd love to do it ourselves, but sadly we have no $.

Thanks to all of you for a fabulous tour. Thanks for all your encouraging notes and feedback, sweet applause, and buying our stuff!

We'll see ya'll next time around.

xo,
SJ

Monday, March 22

We've turned the corner toward the west, toward home and the wide open range. We are on our way to New Orleans (not exactly the wide open range, right?) after a fantastic breakfast at The Coffee Cup restaurant in Pensacola. (No Grits, No Glory) We're hanging at the End of The Line for a minute saying our goodbyes to Kent. Was just remembering the last time we came through here, we slept on these very couches in this home away from home cafe. Was like the childhood dream of getting locked in the department store or the museum overnight!

Our show here yesterday was sweet in the old Handlebar. We played a slow Sunday afternoon gig while Jimmy, the owner of the bar, fixed up a barbecue for all the regulars. Florida's been good to us. Made new pals in Gainesville and had a great show.

It's hard to believe that we are a week away from home and jumping into some brand new madness we will undoubtedly create for ourselves. In the meantime, here come the beignets!

Amy

Sunday, March 20
Savannah, GA

Today is an international day of protest against the U.S. occupation in Iraq. We're in Savannah, on our way to Gainesville, FL right now. I sure wish I could participate in the worldwide protests today. Dang. That's one thing about being on the road so much, you really loose out on being apart of a community in that way. We were all hoping that we'd be able to join in on the actions wherever we were. Drive, drive, drive. Sometimes it feels like I'm driving my life away. We still may make it in time for Gainesville anti-war festivities.

I'm sad to leave Savannah. It's been lovely. Gorgeous weather, and relaxing days filled with long walks and funny photo shoots with arty nice boys. They took photos of our tattoos and shoes, hands, guitar cases, back of our heads... stuff like that. It was the most chill photo shoot I've ever done. Except when I had to fake sing, while they took a close up of my mouth. That one was embarrassing.

We had a last minute show last night out on Tybee Island. It was great. A good crowd and delicious food. Our show on Thursday was awesome. Our Savannah shows are always a treat. Such a generous crowd in terms of appreciation and attention. It was packed in there. We had a super flattering article in the weekly. The owners of the Sentient Bean where we played are really nice women. It makes all the difference in the world to play in places that support music and community and peace work, and are generally good people and good to work with. Go to the Sentient Bean for yummy organic coffees and food.

I'm looking forward to our show tonight at the Ark. We have a dinner waiting for us with our hosts when we get there.

K, See ya,
SJ

Thursday, March 18
Savannah, GA

Howdy folks. Savannah is so nice right now - eighty degrees and paradise in the shade. We had a show in Jacksonville last night. We were a little skeptical in the beginning because of the lack of bodies in the room, but the bodies that were there were so fantastic and loving. I've learned that I'll take a room full of twenty people that totally appreciate our music to a room full of a hundred drunken people hardly paying attention.

Yesterday was a little trippy to say the least. Amy and SJ and I meandered around the St. Patrick's Day parade, where a group of bagpipers got hit by an out of control float - no deaths thank god! The day then hurled itself into the most fucked up dining experience that I've ever endured. Basically the menu lied and served imitation crabmeat as real crabmeat, which I can't eat. I have a strange allergy towards white fish that well, makes me puke. We overheard the table next to us duking it out with the owner for their money back because they were served imitation crabmeat, which was followed by the splashing of fake crab into my soup off of my shocked little spoon. We demanded our money back from the owner. I was accused of drinking beer which would make me puke, and then told to go to the emergency room. He was such a jerk it was incredible. Anyway, it turns out that I didn't puke and we even got our money back after he claimed that he didn't have a refund policy. Some people really amaze me - the greed will come back to bite you in the ass every time. I'm sure that all of you will sleep so much better after hearing my long-winded story.

Ten days until we land back in Santa Fe for a long-awaited break. I hardly have been at "home" at all since last September. My memories of what that means are pretty vague. Sometimes the adjustment period is a little rough, but I can't wait anyhow. I have a new living situation, a converted dog who actually likes people now I hear, and I am actually going to get a job. Santa Fe has been my home base for a couple of years now, but I don't quite feel like I have my thing happening there yet. I'm looking forward to "figuring it all out."

I'm gonna go take a walk in the sunshine.

Bye for now --
Anne

Sunday, March 14
Greensboro, NC

It's late, and we just finished our show at Gilford College. It went really well. There was a lot of enthusiasm in the audience, and some nice familiar faces too. In the back of the room, there was some serious interpretive dancing going on. Lots of pushing and leaping, and contact improve kinda moves. There was also a shaker egg lady in the crowd, feeling the love and wanting to jam with us while we were on stage performing. During the third song, I couldn't take it anymore, and had to ask her to stop.

My feelings on shaker eggs is this...

A.) They are a lot harder to play than one might expect. I've only met a very few in my life that can play them well. One is Bitch, of Bitch and Animal. She can really make those eggs sing.

B.) If you are not one of the chosen few, please reframe from playing them ever. They look simple and innocent on first sight, but they can go wrong very quickly and without you noticing. Before you know it, the rhythm is all fucked up, and you're a goner.

Last, but not least; C.) Be it a shaker egg, tambourine, harmonica, whatever. Never "jam" with the band that is performing on stage from the audience without asking them first. It's truly hard to focus, and it can really mess up the band.

The shaker egg lady took the news well, and was slightly embarrassed, but recovered with dignity and grace. After we poached the egg, the rest of the night was fabulous.

Last night in Chapel Hill was rough. Not so many people came out for us. The ones that did were lovely in spirit and in fashion, but they were few and far between. Tucce had a coughing fit due to the intense smoke in the room. It's called the Cave because of the 7 ft. ceilings and no window thing. We've been in tobacco country, and it's been super hard to sing lately.

The night before at Club Hairspray in Asheville was our North Carolina gem. We performed with a Burlesque troupe called The Rebell's. We had met some of them in Baltimore when we performed at the Charm City Kitty Club on our last tour. It was a great show, and we got to stay and hang out with some super inspirering people. Club Hairspray was where we performed with Vaudeville Hoolihan two years ago. This was a tour we did with some of the aerialists from the One Railroad Circus, and with The Dolly Ranchers. We did clowning, fire, trapeze, ariel hoops, stilt walking, juggling all set to TDR songs. It was a fabulous show, but unfortunately, we were touring the east in early September, and all the sudden, the World Trade Center fell, and all hell broke loose. That tour was filled with a lot of cancelled shows, discussion if we should even be performing at all, and low attendance. It was weird to be back at that club, and be reminded of all of that.

I was also reminded of one of my favorite names in show biz that night. In the dressing room, there was a picture of a lovely drag queen with her name underneath in big bold letters...SUMMER CLEARANCE.

Out tour is coming to a sudden end in a couple weeks. Guess I should try to get some sleep while I can.

Sarah-Jane

Wednesday, March 10
Santa Fe, NM

Okay, I s'pose it's time to write in the old band journal. Not something I do too frequently you may have noticed. I'm also the other one on stage with a mic in front of her who tends to keep a zipper on her lips except to sing. Guess I'm shy or something, maybe just shy in certain ways. If you put me on stage with the One Railroad Circus and ask me to ham it up on the trapeze, that I can do! But somehow being onstage with just a mic and the songs is a whole other thing! I get SHY!! But yesterday one of my sisters (I have six of them) asked if I ever write in the journal 'cuz she said she's been reading it keeping up on where we are. After that it helped me put a face to who might be out there, interested in reading this stuff and that makes it a bit more real for me. So let me see here...

Tomorrow morning we leave Santa Fe and head east. First to Chattanooga, a place I always felt was mythical. Much like other places due east. It wasn't until being in the band that I ever visited many of the places we now routinely play. New York was like that for me too. I think I had some strange cartoon version of what New York was before I had actually come to see it for myself. Much more human than what I had created!

I look forward to heading east. Especially to Savannah, a home away from home as it is where Lorie Jean and her sweetie, Greg live. We have spent many a night sleeping on their floor--or coffee table as the case may be. And it will be nice for LJ to be home for a minute on the road. Also just the dang fans in Savannah make it feel like a home! I love the trees of course, with their drippy moss and the fancy tea house in the middle of town and all the gorgeous gardens in the squares.
It's late and the road beckons. Sweet dreams

Tucce

Tuesday, March 9
Santa Fe, NM

Wow! The Taos Ski Valley was about as opposite as they come to ABQ. Hundreds of people in this smoky basement bar at the ski resort called The Bat Cave. Hardly anybody listened or cared that we were there. We did have 3 over zealous (and over intoxicated) fans sitting close to the stage hooting and waltzing with their jackets mimicked to be their dance partners on the dance floor. We signed their ski valley map, and they tried to kiss us to no avail. We sang Hallelujah, I'm a Bum...and dedicated it to all the newly unemployed seasonal workers there. That song, and Too Drunk to go Home, were the big hits of the night. We were glad to get out of there.

We leave tomorrow for Chattanooga. Maybe we'll see some of you there.

-SJ

Monday, March 8
Santa Fe, NM

Finally I've gotten a couple nights of descent sleep. Something about being home I guess. Anne and I have had really intense insomnia on this tour so far. It was getting dangerous and slightly psychedelic for me.

Our show at Backroad Pizza here in SF Friday night was truly trippy. I was so exhausted, my stories on stage were making no sense, my voice was tired and raw, and I was seeing things that weren't there. We had a whole day of rest on Saturday, except Amy and I had a Wise Fool meeting at noon that day. She and I have parallel lives in that way. We both work with a theater co./circus co./puppet co. here. So we get home from tour, and go right into Wise Fool stuff, or the One Railroad Circus rehearsals, or ... It's a challenge for sure. Both projects are important, so we make it work as best we can.

Last night we had a fabulous show in Albuquerque. A house show with our hosts Neal and Jeff. It was a treat to play in a listening room, for people who were there just to see us. A needed and refreshing change to loud bars, cigarette smoke, and social functions we tend to host with our shows at times. They've done 58 shows there over the course of many years, and said that our show was the most successful they've ever had in terms of attendance, sales, and door. We were done at 9pm! We were home at 10:30! That part rocks!

We're headed out to Taos in a few hours to play a private party for the Taos Valley Ski Resort employees. I'll let you know how it goes.

-SJ

Sunday, March 7
Santa Fe, NM

Well, we made it back to Santa Fe for a couple days of rest and relaxation before we head out East. Actually, there's not much time to rest, we have three shows in the five days we are here, but there is something about not having to pack up and move every day that makes it seem positively luxurious.

We had a great time in Tucson, despite playing to a small crowd (Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, and Carolyn Marks were playing down the street on the same night). I love the Hotel Congress - it's my favorite hotel in the whole country, and every time I stay there I have crazy adventures and chance encounters with old friends and meetings with new friends, and this time was no exception. I'm not going to go into it all right here, except to say that it ended up very late at night at a bar with a grand piano, a photo booth, and a solid repertoire of old country favorites being sung by yours truly, among others...

I'm excited to say we will be back at Michigan this summer, Saturday afternoon on the Day Stage!

Yippee…

See you down the road.
Marisa

Friday, Feb. 27
San Diego

Well, here we are folkin' out at the folk alliance. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. There is some great music, and some bad music.

The whole air of everyone trying to sell themselves sort of puts me off. If our music doesn't speak to you, and the way we normally talk, walk, and appear doesn't do it for you, then I sure as heck ain't puttin' on a special face for you. Anyhow, we've had a couple of showcases thus far, some okay and some pretty dang boring. Our strategy for this evening's showcases is to maybe commune with some Bushmill's.

I fell in love with a guitar today. I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna have to go buy it. It's an old Stella, probably from the mid 50's and it's deep red with a whitish trim. I don't even want a guitar, but I don't think I can walk by it - there's just somethin' about it.

We have a handful of friends that showed up this morning, and also Maddie Girl Slim - it's so nice to be around a sweet dog. We ate fantastic fish tacos, and I'm sure we'll be cruisin' the beach tomorrow.

We'll be in Santa Fe a week from today. I can't wait to get some rest and hang out with my people for a couple of days. I'm gonna go now.

Bye
Anne

Thursday, Feb. 24

Well, here we are in sunny Southern California, after a fantastic show in Santa Cruz last night. I love the way our audience there has fancy claps and dances and they always sing along. I said it last night, and I'll say it again, Santa Cruz and Olympia need to have a fancy clap contest.

We played on KPIG Sunday morning, and then didn't have a show until Monday night, this gave almost two whole days of much needed rest. Our shows this past week have all been so much fun. Lots of people coming out to see us, and lots of old friends and family to catch up with. I truly feel blessed.

We'll be heading down to San Diego on Thursday to participate in the Folk Alliance, half amazing celebration of all different types of folk music, and half weird business co-modification of music. We'll get to see so many people with whom we've shared shows over the past few years. I'm pretty excited about it. Wish us luck. Then on back to the desert and heading east in Pogo, our trusty van.

See you out there somewhere.
Marisa

Friday, Feb. 20
Santa Rosa, CA

Last night we played at Michele's Restaurant here in Santa Rosa. It was a packed show, and totally enthusiastic. There was an erotic chicken shadow puppet show that was one of the opening acts. I have to say, at first, I was a little worried. But it was actually rather brilliant and kinda great. We also played with the Devil Makes Three out of Santa Cruz who are fantastic. Look for them.

Our show at the Alibi in Arcata was crazy and fabulous. The sound was so fucked up at the beginning, I've never quite felt so out of sorts on stage before. The bass was booming, and the sound guy was at a loss for the first bit of the show. The sound guy doubles as a higher up in the Church of Elvis. He was possibly going for a whole new sound for us, trying to channel a bit of the King. It finally got settled out, and turned out to be fine.

We just got some more good showcases added to the Folk Alliance in San Diego which is great. For those of you who don't know, the Folk Alliance is an annual conference that changes location every year (last year it was in Nashville). There are workshops like how to record and distribute your own record, festival applications, touring in the UK, and on and on. Then there are showcases of bands all night long for 3 or 4 days. Literally thousands of bands come from all over the world. You showcase mainly for people in the industry like festival promoters, and small indie label people, and bookers and stuff. It can be really annoying and weird. There are some pretty bad acts, and then there are phenomenal musicians too. It's a big mixed bag of skill and information. I get off on it. Last year Tucce and Anne got totally overwhelmed which is quite easy to do. It's fun.

We're off to San Francisco now. We're trying to beat the traffic, so I better go.

SJ

Tuesday, Feb. 17
On the road from Grants Pass, OR

We just had some fabulous shows in the Pacific Northwest, much to my surprise. I've sort of been a grump about the northwest because of all the rain. After living in this area for five years and now living in the land of endless sun, one little raindrop kinda sets me
off - but the amazing fans out here made the rain seem pretty negligible.

We've had the pleasure of staying with really close friends and eating wonderful home-cooked food. I made sushi last night for LBK and Cooley.

Sarah-Jane visited the Korean women's health spa close to Tacoma and was gone for about eight hours. As her fellow band mate I did have a few moments of worrying about her whereabouts, but she's good at taking care of herself, especially when there is a spa involved.

Tomorrow night we are playing in Arcata, my hometown of five years, so I'm pretty excited about seeing some old friends and eating certain foods - noodle soup from Japhy's and a carrot shake from Wildflower cafe.

I miss the desert, I miss my sweetie, I miss my friends, I miss my dog, but the road is still good.

Anne

Thursday, Feb.12
Seattle, WA

The Sunset Tavern show was a lot of fun last night. Ben Weaver opened Who is a friend of Jack Norton form Minneapolis. We played a handful of shows with Jack when we were east last fall. They both have very similar fashion and sounds. He told me my voice was a mix of Victoria Williams and Iris Dement. Funny, because not too long ago, someone else said the exact same thing. Random but true.

The sun is out, which is incredible to feel. Everyone went out for breakfast, and I opted to stay home alone (well, Lorie Jean's here
too). I often opt for alone time on tour when I can find it. The social calendar can get pretty packed.

Today we drive and play in Astoria, that glorious costal hide-a-way that's always been so good to us. Last time we played there, we stayed with a lady from the radio station who had a cowboy museum in her living room, and over 300 poodle paraphernalia's in her bathroom. Not sure the plan this time. It's our last show with the Kitchen Synchs tonight. So long grunge boys. We'll miss you.

I guess I better go pack up my bags. My stuff seems to have scattered all over Bee's house.

Sarah-Jane

Monday, Feb. 9
Olympia, WA

What a whirlwind of miles and shows it's been. We've been on the road for a week and a half now, and finally we're here with friends and a little rest. We played in Port Townsend last night at a youth run cafe with the Kitchen Synchopators. They're fantastic! Resinater guitar, washboard, and wash tub bass. Really big sound and lots of energy. We have a couple days off, and we're headed to Seattle tomorrow to visit with friends, and play a show at the Sunset Tavern on Wednesday.

Tours been good so far. It's cold and damp up here. I feel like when I'm in the desert, I miss the coast so much, and when I'm in the Pacific North West, I miss the dry desert air. Some of us took a hike by a river where there were tons of rotting salmon that had come to spawn, and then died. Rafiki (Laura's Dog) rolled in it, and is now penetrated with the smell of ass. After being washed with tomato sauce and vinegar, he now smells more like salmon cacciatori than dog.

Our Vancouver show was great. We played in a big old hall to a full room, and had a great time. Lorie Jean's been with us playing accordion, and it adds such a fullness to the sound.

There's a big dinner tonight at Cooley's and LBK's with folks form Portland coming over. Taco bar. Yummy. Anything but fish sounds good tonight.

Sarah-Jane