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From Tom:
So apparently the border guards are Ghosface Killah fans (see Bellingham setlist notes) because we had the easiest border crossing weâve ever had. It was great that it was only about thirty minutes into the drive -for once we didnât have to cross at 6 am. We got to Vernon in the morning and Lu decided she wanted to spend the afternoon on the bus by herself just trying clean it up and organize things. As bad as this bus is she still wanted to make it as good as it could be-no matter what itâs still our home for the next two weeks.When we first started to plan this July/Aug run we had two offers -Grass Valley CA, on 7/19 and Billings on 8/3. Upon asking Lucindaâs booking agent to fill up the dates and make this a good run, he said âwell Iâll see what I can do -there are just not a lot of places to play in between thoseâ. Well he did a great job. Olympia, Bellingham and now Vernon, BC are all places we have never been before and weâve truly loved playing these places. Great appreciative (and more) audiences, great theatres, great people all around. You never know what to expect when you go into places youâe never been before -but this string of shows has been a real surprise- the kind that makes a tour memorable.
A day after the terrible shooting in Lafayette, LA, we added Luâs song Lafayette to the setlist asa tribute. Lu has not played that song in several years, but she decided to give it a try. After some false starts as a result of trying to find the proper key -her lyric book hadnât been changed from the last time she played it years ago-she called out Stuart to join her even thought he had never played with her before. What couldâve turned into a disaster turned into a very special moment. Thanks Vernon for hanging with her as she got thru that.
I know everyone has been asking for pics of the bus (and Red/Fred) so I will post a couple pics with some background info. From the outside it looks like an ok bus but itâs on the inside -and how it rides -that really tells the story. The pics will also look better because of all the work Lu did during the day. I think it will be easier to explain the shortcomings of this with a list:
1) We think the bus was in flood at some point because it has a moldy musty smell that wonât go away no matter how much disinfectant
2) Most of the lights barely work or donât work
3) The window shades wonât stay up unless we use empty pizza boxes
4) No wi-fi so no internet
5) Tv doesnât work
6) Stereo doesnât work (which drives Lu nuts)
7) Very little storage for food
8) No sink
9) All of the shocks and springs are completely shot so the bus rides like a small boat on the high seas. Standing up while the bus is moving is like being on a trampoline.
10) When you re sitting in the back of the bus it feels like the back half is going in a different direction than the front.Ok that kind of explains some of it.
But thanks again Vernon. And follow the bouncing bus to Calgary.
From Tom:
After the endless drive to Olympia it was great to have a nice short JUMP to Bellingham, so bus time was minimized. Had a great quiet day to catch our breath. Canât believe we havenât played Bellingham before. Beautiful city, beautiful theatre.
Knowing that some people were coming to this after being in Olympia and Seattle, we mixed up the setlist from both of those shows. We got Burning Bridges back in for the first time in several shows, as well as Those 3 Days, Fruits of My Labor and Out Of Touch, with Lu was just thrilled with after the show -as she put it âStuart absolutely rocked on the endingâ. After lowering the key a half step she was also very happy with Fruits Of My Labor- thatâs a favorite of a lot of us and it worked really well going into Are You Down. We need to keep that one in the set more -but we say that about a lot of songs âthere are so many that that we are trying to work in. Walk On was also added to the solo section -I believe that is only the third or fourth time it has been played, but weâve been wanting to get that one in. Itâs going to be in the new Meryl Streep movie Ricki And The Flash and it will be the next single from DWTSMTB and it sounded really great.
So we get on the bus to head to the border and Red (the driver) gets on ready to roll with his Fred Sanford groove on (I mean this lovingly) heâs still got the red outfit going on except that tonight heâs sporting a red and black Ghostface Killah t-shirt. Now, I love that Red/Fred is throwing down for the Killah, but letâs just say that after the some of the recent border crossings weâve had it might not have been the obvious choice of attire. Now this is no knock at all on GK* but just sayin’, between laughs we are really hoping the border guards are Ghostaface Killah fans.
You gotta love it. We should be recording this. Thanks again Bellingham. On to the border.*After the sensitivity in the previous travelblogue about rural Tennessee, it is probably best to offer a the disclaimer now and say that I hope this does not offend our friends and fans of hip-hop -it was just really funny at the time.
From Tom:
Chapter 2 of The Last Bus Left. The first hour and a half after leaving Grass Valley we went no faster than 40 mph on a two lane highway -our driver had it on advisement that this was the shortcut. We were all wondering whether the bus could even go faster than 40 mph. Facing a what we expected to be a 12 hr drive we knew that we were in for a loooong drive. And it was. After 15 1/2 hours we finally made it to Olympia. Our bus driver was all decked out head to toe in red -from cap to tennis shoes. And we were all completely shocked to learn that his nickname is, here it comes -his nickname is Red. Go figure.
We ended up having a great night off in Olympia, with a great meal, and great service at Anthonyâs -and then we closed the night off at a great pub called the Brotherhood (one of the things weâve talked about adding to this mini tour blog is places we love as we criss cross the globe).
I knew the minute Lu walked out and saw the standing, and extremely enthusiastic crowd that it was going to be a good night. And from beginning to end it was. Really great versions of East Side of Town and Seeing Black. As a little nod to Kurt Cobain, who hung out in Olympia and loved Leadbelly, Lu did a version of Leadbellyâs In The Pines (also known as Where Did You Sleep Last Night). In themiddle of an awesomely boisterous audience you couldâve heard a pin drop. A great moment.P.S. -For those asking for pics of the bus I will post a couple with the Bellingham setlist.
PLACES WE LOVE
The Brotherhood
Anthonyâs Restaurant
From Tom:
In the interest of getting these caught up I will be brief. During the show Lucinda gave a shout out to Obamacare withstanding the appeal -basically she just said that everyone deserves a chance for healthcare. And of course we got a letter saying that basically politics doesnât belong in entertainment and they were upset that it was mentioned and that they come to shows to âget away from all thatâ. Ok -sorry.
From Tom:
Opened up the hotel room and what did it say above the bed. No Sleep âTil Brooklyn (see attached picture). After 4 shows in a row and then the 92Y event that was very appropriate. Generally we donât let Lu do more than 3 shows in a row to save the wear and tear on her voice and otherwise, but once in a great while there is no choice but to do 4. Knock on wood, she is as tough as they come.
After being warned all afternoon that it was probably going to rain, thankfully it didnât -it turned into a beautiful Brooklyn night. It was a packed park -we were told it was as many a 8000 strong, and were completely with Lu and the band. Essence and Unsuffer burned back to back and once again Foolishness turned into a forum for current events, as Lu put it as the final notes drifted off into the air, âThanks for letting me testifyâ.
From T.O.:
With this being the her first Fatherâs Day since losing her dad, we were all wondering if Lu would it thru Compassion without a little breakdown. It got a little touch and go for a second but she got thru it. But a moment we were all watching.
A couple of âleg of the tourâ song debuts with Nightâs Too Long and Howlingâ Wolfâs Come To Me Baby which Stuart got roped into playing, even though he had never played it before. Heâs pretty good at flying by the seat of his pants. As Butch and David know you got ta be ready for anything at any time with Luânothing like a little spontaneity to spice things up.
From Tom:
Every night is different and tonight was no exception. It was an extremely loquacious Lucinda in Keene as she told stories before and after many of the songs. Foolishness went to epic proportion and included improvised section about Charleston, racism, personal freedom and ended with an endorsement of Bernie Sanders.
Other highlights included the first appearances of both West and Copenhagen, both requests. West was possibly as beautiful as she has ever sung it. Also of note was a very focused tight version of Those Three Days.
