Let it Begin in Dallas

You'll notice (that's all of youze reading this) that I will now be jumping around from catching up on my EuroBlog and my new U.S. tour blog. That being said.....

What is it with tornadoes and torrential rainstorms in Texas? I don't really need an answer, it's just rhetoric. I was lucky enough to make it out on time from National Airport in Washington when a flight on a competing airline, leaving a half hour later than me was canceled due to nasty weather conditions in Dallas, TX. I had no problems getting in. The rest of the band didn't have such luck getting out of New York, but we all made it, safe and sound.

I don't ask much from a hotel, clean sheets, clean or no smell, CLEAN bathroom, cable TV is nice, quietness, and possibly free Wi-Fi. An abundance of easily accessible electrical outlets is a nice perk too. But for the most part, just be functional. The sales manager at the front desk was so happy to greet me and rave about how the hotel (Hotel Indigo) was brand new and a gem in the downtown area. The bright colors of a purpley- blue & egg yolk yellow were either making me nauseous or want to go to the promenade deck for shuffleboard and a rum colada. The room was nice, even nice enough to get room service since it was pouring rain and I really didn't feel like braving that. Back to the functionality gripe, have the trash can in the bathroom in the same place as the sink (the shower & toilet were in a separate room from the sink), have towel hooks or rings for the hand towels, have the bath towels actually IN the same room as the shower. Maybe I'm nitpicking, maybe I'm just bored, but I'm just trying to be constructive here, no hard feelings. All in all, a nice place.

I did take a quick walk in the morning down to Murray Street coffee over in Deep Elum, the hipster part of Dallas where the now, as of our show is closing it's doors. They told us the landlords were jacking the rent up so they are being forced to leave. Rumor has it a House of Blues is opening in town. Sounds shady to me. Had a great Tex-Mex dinner at Sol's Taco House, and not so great time mixing the show from behind the bar, being jostled by the bar backs and bartenders girlfriends (who took it upon themselves to do lights unknowingly. Don't worry mama, pressing your backpack, pursey thingy into the lightboard turning on all of the yellow lights on stage is an extremely flattering effect. Nice touch).

It was a sold out show, everyone was in a good mood, not even the lake being formed from the leaky roof in our dressing room could ruin it for us, but it was high time to high tail it the gem of Texas, Austin.

R.I.P. Gypsy Tea Room

PS - Mike's Movie Tip: Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects" (in that classic B-movie, Texas Chainsaw, Russ Meyer, Roger Corman vain). Dig it, blood, guts and all!!!