So, for the three people that have been following this religiously - and undoubtedly the ACL organizers themselves who are always looking for ways to re-invent the wheel - here’s what I can take from this incredibly memorable weekend:
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Well ACL 2008 has drawn to a close and, like an exquisite piece of chocolate cake, I held on to that very last bite.
Even though I no interest in watching the so-called headliner, The Foo Fighters, I hung around long enough to suck in what little was left of the festival. Yeah, again it’s sad, I’m going to have a hard time waiting a year to do this again.
Dallas Green aka City and Colour
Amazing how you get efficient after a couple of days. Once you know your way around the area it becomes second nature.
I saved myself the trouble of another walk or another adventure on the transit system (my area kind of shuts down service later in the evening). I ended up getting $5 parking about three blocks north of where the shuttle leaves from. A lot more efficient and I enjoyed driving downtown Austin, which is nice and a lot smaller than the Toronto driving I’m more used to. Getting to the hotel was pretty easy.
Got to the park around the same time today. Nothing in the a.m. really excited me and I really wanted to have a full breakfast for the first time in my entire tour (really). Ate at Denny’s. Nice place. Nice people.
As surprising as this may seem I only saw three and half sets on the first day. I waited till around 1 pm before heading towards the shuttle that would take me into Zilker Park itself. Part of the reason was to avoid the potential rush (the line was still long but I’m sure it was shorter than earlier in the day) and there simply was nobody on the bill I needed/wanted to see early. I ended up in the park by around 3:30 (after the bus, getting my wristband and hopping the shuttle).
I spent a good half hour just getting acquainted with Zilker Park and checking out the stages, the arts and the various venues. It’s a big place and the grass needs some serious watering. Who was to know that the highlight of the day, musically, would also be the first band I saw.
Many themes to today’s events.
The first is Ouch. I (stupidly) decided to walk to downtown which I estimated at around four miles. It was likely something like that but felt like a lot more. Problem was there’s no direct walking route to downtown from where my hotel is located. It’s a lot of crossing roads and re-direction. No idea what total mileage I did today but everything south of my waist is basically worn out/down and everything north is crisp and slightly burnt (it was very WARM today).
I ended up taking a taxi back to the hotel at the end of the day, which was an adventure in itself (they’re not as plentiful and diligent as I would have hoped). Plus I was so beat I would have had to camp out on the way to make it home.
Can you fall in love with a place in just three hours? I fully comprehend that I’ve been anticipating Austin for some three months or so but this place is already great by what little I’ve seen so far.
As is always my luck (good fortune/karma) I tune to Austin’s music station (ME, it’s called) and they are showcasing one of my favourite bands, Midlake.
Tomorrow I plan to start out at Republic Square (the state capital building) and work my way over to Sixth Street, which is apparently the artsy district around here. Keep in mind, I still haven’t even made it to the concert itself - which is an adventure in itself.
The drive went well today, just over three hundred miles. I could have driven another hundred or so since you have so much energy late in a roadtrip since you know you’re near your destination (self-fulfilling).
This will sound really corny but I’m feeling a real communal spirit here, already. Even though we’re separated by nationalities and borders and ideologies, we all share in that common goal - to be happy. Whatever leads us to that end result, is what most of us want, but few of us ever pursue. Lives of quiet desperation is what most of live.
How can you live like that? I can’t. There’s only one alternative and it’s really not so bad.
(Editor’s Note: Internet at this Days Inn truly sucks. I had so much trouble getting and staying connected last night I just gave up. That is buy one of the issues with this particular hotel)
Those who know me should expect a partial drawl by the time I return. In the Lone Star State I’m learning fast to draaaaggg ouuuutttt thhhemmmm wwwooorrddddssss when I speak. Hot weather can do that to a person.
Speaking of hot weather it’s 30 degrees Celsius which, for people around here, seems like no big deal (since most I’ve seen are wearing (long) pants which would pretty much be suicide for someone like me.
I left Sikeston Missouri this morning (after taking a handful of cotton from the cotton field beside the hotel. I put in 460 miles today and I’m spending the night in Mount Pleasant, Texas. I’m roughly 300 miles from my hotel in Austin and should get there in about 4 and half hours.
Was really impressed with Southern Missouri and even moreso with pretty much the entire state of Arkansas (beautiful). I thought there wasn’t such a thing as an Arkansas State trooper until I saw about ten cars within about 30 miles - sheesh).
Theme for today was smells instead of sights. The farmland provided a lot of really nice nasal injections.
I got a little distracted watching a crop duster in Missouri (those who know about my thing with flight will understand) but eventually kept me eyes on the road.
No dead dogs on the Interstate (thankfully) today but I believe the one dead one I did see was a wild boar/razorback/warthog. It was defintely too fat and hairless to be any dog I’ve ever seen. Of course if that locals inbreed why wouldn’t their pets?
I have but one regret (and it’s not about giving a single measly life in the name of whatever it is I stand for) and it’s that me, being in Austin, means I’ll miss my first chance to see Black Mountain at The Opera House in Toronto on the 27th. Black Mountain are quickly becoming a favourite.
Their music is very seventyish and they have that brooding Led Zeppelin vibe although I’m not much a fan of Zeppelin. I would describe their stuff as more of a re-birth of the best parts of arena rock, while steering WAY clear of the undesired Bon Jovi factor.
Black Mountain’s material has that smoky, latenight, two-minutes-till-closing vibe. Amber Webber - the co-lead singer in the band and their only female component reminds me a lot of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane/Starship in both her demeanor and her voice.
Black Mountain doesn’t sound like they’re from the seventies, they sound like they’re still in the seventies. Sincere anthem rock is how I’d describe them and how I’ll also lament getting the chance to see them while I’m down here with the chance to see 130 other acts. (I’d trade ten of them for one shot at Black Mountain).
Maybe next time..
Didn’t polish off as many miles today, probably around four hundred which means I have around two days to go another 800, or so, miles (775.5, to be exact).
Odd and interesting day again. Not sure where the Bible Belt officially starts but I believe I’m in it. Just south of St. Louis I passed a metal cross some 60 feet high. Pretty much next to it was a whole field of old-style simple western crosses which I took to be an historical burial ground until I saw the billboard beside it proclaiming “400 children die each day through abortion.” Talk about ramming the point home.
In a few days there has already been a couple of themes:
(1) evidently Rascal Flatts really wants my business because, some two hours after I started driving this morning I, once again, re-joined the Bob That Head Tour (around Effingham Illinois) which I’ve discovered is heading for Oklahoma (I’m not. Yippee).
(2) unbelievably, another dead dog today, although this one wasn’t missing his head like the one from yesterday. I would say this one was a Jack Russell considering the colouring and size that I recognized. It hurts to see that at the worst of times but when you have one of your own you keep thinking about, well..
I also need to brush up a little on my U.S. geography (or get a clearer map). I was expecting to enter Missouri right after leaving Terre Haute but there’s quite a little arm off of Illinois you have to go through before you hit Mizzou. At least I’m not a general leading some troops (i think it’s over THIS hill boys..)
As mentioned, I saw St. Louis from a distance today (circumnavigated the city) which was kind of cool - seeing the Arch - but the bigger thrill was crossing the Mississippi River which is one big mother of a waterway. I can certainly see how this plays both a part in American history and is also a great source of national pride. I wouldn’t exactly call it beautiful (the part I saw) but it does have a real sense of grandeur.
Very frendly people these Missourians (assuming that’s what they’re called).
I sixty nine (hee hee)..
Apparently I knocked off 514 miles today.
I’m at the Super 8 Motel in Terre Haute Indiana, but a simple spit from Missouri.
The day started leaving London at around 10:30 and I entered the States (which sounds kind of dirty written that way) through Sarnia on our side, Port Huron (or as my Mom calls it, Port Urine)
Interesting that three songs (random play) into the state of Michigan, I was serenaded by relatively-local boy Stevie Wonder with his Boogie on Reggae Woman (editor’s note: not many reggae women seen near Flint).
I’ve discovered that Indianans (Indiana-ites?) evidently have the largest selection of license plates in the country (world?). Most provinces and states have but two or three varieties of colours and themes but those from Indiana have at least a dozen (estimated) that I saw.
I twice drove by a trio of trucks carrying all the gear for the Rascal Flatts 2008 tour, which would be exciting if I was a fan but, since I’m not, it was slightly painful (their current tour is called Bob That Head which proves sexual innuendo still sells in the sticks).
By far the most disturbing sight of the day was that of a decapitated hound dog who obviously got too close to the death trap known as the Interstate. It automatically made me think of my girl Toto who, I’m glad lives nowhere close to a major road (once is enough).
I should get into Missouri, Tennessee and possibly Arkansas by tomorrow. In all reality I have a good buffer already created since I don’t reservations in Texas till Wednesday (better pace myself).
I’m hearing they have a surprise parade planned for me (unconfirmed, though)…