Day 24: Madison, WI

Tonight our last show with Willy. Sad times, the band is so good together. We're at the Majestic Theater, a half a block from the state capitol building. Tonight Jason's playing at a huge arena in town, about three miles away. At one point our show was going to be cancelled because a local promoter was worried about the two shows competing. We're on at the same time but planning to meet up with J and Tricia after. Everything we're doing with Willy - touring and being his backup band, and recording our voices, cello an sitar on his record - is originally what Jason said he wanted to do with us. They both had a similar vision of collaborating with us, and while we did do a lot of songwriting with Jason (which we haven't done with Willy yet), it's all happening with Willy.

First time on TV

Today we played a morning show in Milwaukee, "Morning Blend." It was our first time on TV! We played backup band for Willy on two of his songs, in between segments about cat adoption and gardening. Real cats! Very fun. We've done radio appearances for the past two days, first the local public radio station and then a rock station. I've gotten used to early mornings!

Tonight we play the Pabst Theater, one of the best venues around. Have I mentioned that too much yet? We open with a 45-minute set and then we join Willy on his set. It's going to be a long day and a long, glorious night.

NYC PHOTOS 2/3: Food

Pickles at Spitzer's

Gnudi from Spotted Pig
Bacon wrapped prune wrapped poached pear at Spotted Pig
Ramps at Diner
2pm Manhattan at Harlow & Sons
Rockland Bakery
Bagel closeup
Bagel birth
Baguette in the gutter outside of Rockland Bakery

NYC PHOTOS 1/3: Walk Across Williamsburg Bridge

Day 20: Milwaukee's where I found it

A few days in Milwaukee to rehearse with Willy P. and then play the Pabst (one of the greatest venues I've ever played) for his cd release party. This might be the coolest and most soul-feeding thing I've ever done. Willy P. is one of my musical heroes; I've been a fan for ten years. His level of musicianship and artistry is stimulating and inspirational but also very challenging. I'm blown away that I get to do this.

Milwaukee is a great city. Eat at the Bean and Barley, Public Market, Waterfront Deli. Drink at the Swinging Door and Spy Bar. See music at the Pabst Theater. That's only the little that I know so I'm sure there's tons more. Beer, cheese, meat. Good times.

Day 18: Chicago for four hours

Really Chicago for 21 hours, but four hours of free time. So far this has been the only way I've experienced this great city. I took a walk down to the aquarium and platenarium. Didn't go inside, just enjoyed walking and the nice weather.

Day 17: Sturgis, MI

Today I mindlessly checked out in the van for hours and hours as we drove from Nanuet, NY towards Chicago. My day actually began in Brooklyn. I stayed at Ben's. In the morning I took two trains to Penn Station, then due to a change of plans beyond my control, I had to take two more trains to Grand Central. Then I took an actual railway to Tarrytown, where Ruba picked me and Mona up to go back to Nanuet. We got in the van and started the 16-ish hour drive to Chicago and I fell asleep in a hot sweat (because it was a hot day) before we reached the freeway. I took a driving shift going west on I-80 for a few hours, taking us from Pennsylvania into Ohio. After that I read a pretty but poorly edited magazine called "Diner Journal" which is related to the yummy spot I ate at yesterday called Diner, then watched The Godfather. We've been checked in to our hotel for a couple hours now and I only just realized that we're in Michigan. Sturgis, MI. I generally am aware of where I am and what day it is, etc. But once in a while I let go of being in touch with that sort of information and I do feel a kind of addictive sense of freedom from it. I love that about what I do but it doesn't seem sustainable either.

I have tons of pictures of all the food I ate in NYC that I'll post asap!