Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated the two-year anniversary of the current lineup of Like Trains & Taxis. Although completely unintentional, I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than by setting two band records. The first was playing a show in Seattle, which is the farthest from home we've ever played—and the second was playing our eighth consecutive show, which is the most shows we've ever done back to back. I think of these coincidences as an auspicious sign of what's in store and, as we start to head east, I am reminded of how lucky we've been so far.

The people we stayed with in Scottsdale, AZ took us to dinner at the restaurant where one of them works and we were treated to nachos, mixed shots, and an audacious pink tower of cotton candy. The two lovely girls came out to support us at our show and even made breakfast in the morning.

We met up with some old friends at our show in Long Beach, CA and in L.A. we rode beach cruiser bikes alongside the Pacific while admiring shorefront houses with their enormous tinted picture windows and stylish outdoor patios. After a breathtaking drive north through the mountains and vast windmill farms, we arrived in Berkeley to give an intimate show at a local student's house / D.I.Y. venue. Playing in his living room for a handful of attentive listeners sitting just an arm's length away reminded me of what music must have been like before it was turned into a billion dollar industry.

The next morning, we left early to tackle the ten hour drive to Portland where we played two shows in the same night. Now, without a moment to digest the whirlwind of recent activity, we press on toward Minneapolis. It won't be long now...