Before we started on our west coast tour, Lisa had a little birthday celebration at a karaoke bar, and Lisa was master of the mic (surprise, surprise).
Justin with his loyal fans Lisa and Danny.
I did sing karaoke for the first time. Lisa and I sang Step by Step by New Kids on the Block together, although there are no good pictures to prove it.
The next day, we hit the road for Seattle.
Approaching Seattle from the highway.
Seattle is a really pretty city. If it were a clear day, I would have been able to see mountains past the cluster of downtown and industrial buildings. But the clouds were thick and low, affording me only a glimpse of the mountain range called the Olympics. Also, the city is hilly. Even downtown’s streets and buildings were undulating.
After Seattle, we headed back to Portland for the night.
Talkdemonic’s show at the Doug Fir was pretty incredible. It was sold out and totally packed. Afterward we had a hairspray party in the greenroom with a can of aqua net that Lisa picked up earlier to de-static her dress. Everyone in the show and their friends were in on it, no bangs were spared.
Next we drove to Eugene, Oregon, and from there all the way to San Diego.
Oregon
Oregon
Oregon
Somewhere. Probably California.
Kevin and Giz.
California
We drove till late and stopped at the only place we could in the desert. All that was there was our hotel and an IHOP attached to a gas station. We had an evening hot tub sesh even though the air was cold. In the morning we woke up and ate at IHOP.
This was across from where we stayed. The dirt and dry bushes stretched for miles. I caught a tumble weed here and then threw it back.
California
When we were just about to San Diego, we stopped at a beach that was right off the highway.
Lisa and the van.
Kevisa
Kevin was tossing pretzels to the seagulls and this one is about to win the prize.
Once we got there, we had some time to walk around San Diego before we headed to the Casbah, one of my favorite venues. It’s located right next to the airport so if you’re outside you can see and hear gigantic airplanes boom overhead, almost grazing rooftops.
Talkie D at the Casbah
Talkie D at the Casbah
The next day, after having breakfast on the beach, we made our way to Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to meet up with Gail and Ross from Boston, who both now live in LA.
The view out the door of our house of stay.
Lisa and Willie at a bar after the show.
The following day, we headed to San Francisco where Talkdemonic played at the Rickshaw, another really likable venue.
On the road.
Happy cows. I need not include the antithesis of this scene, “cowshwitz,” the cow factory farms we also witnessed along the agricultural California highway.
A quickie jump-out-of-the-car then jump-back-on-the-road picture.
After SF, we drove all day up to Portland.
Mt. Shasta through Lisa’s blue blockers.
The end.
