Back in the South

two more shows on this tour. i'm at the beach with Liz, my father, my mother, and my brother. Nathan is in Chapel Hill, David is in Asheville, and Ben's in Kernersville.

Friday: show in Chapel Hill at Nightlight. 9:30pm
Saturday: our final show of the tour: winston salem, at the Werehouse, 8pm.
mum
thank you everyone who supported us during the tour. We plan on touring again as soon as we can. west coast. mid west. east coast.
Liz and I have a house with two housemates in Austin to rent we'll have a band room, and bedroom, and another room for guests, Liz's art, etc. about 4 miles from UT Liz says she wants to study biology at UT I say I want to score films we both want to tour and be on the road as much as possible over the next few years so we will no. 9 no. 9 no. 9 no. 9 no. 9 no. 9
-
-
(
(

Velvet Crayon

We're on the road now from Asbury Park NJ to Philadelphia. NYC: The Lit Lounge last Thursday, Sidewalk Cafe on Friday - - both downtown Manhattan - - fun shows with responsive crowds. After the shows, Liz, Ben, and I went camping in Farmingdale NJ, near Owen Thomas' and Mike Ackley's old stomping grounds. We camped for two nights, playing with music and fire. While David was brushing his teeth at his brother's apartment in Manhattan, and Nathan slept soundly at his aunt's house in Queens, we emptied a large container of lighter fluid on an already-blazing fire that lit up the 3 am woods and sky like a big hunk-uh-burning-love.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
We all met up in Red Bank NJ on Tuesday at the Fixx to play a show. There, we met the booker who had put us on the bill (Ben), and ended up staying at his place by the ocean after mention of bountiful tequila. The apartment was roomy, comfortable, and cozy, and had a pristine view of the NJ shoreline from a large balcony. As the booze overflowed from our mouths, 4 am trips to the black ocean were made. I stood on the sand with the ocean knocking at my knees. I battled the idea of jumping into the dark sea to bodysurf a wave back to shore; with drowning being more likely, death was saved for a later time.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
We spent Wednesday with Ben (NJ Ben) and went to a punk show at Asbury lanes, right accross from the Stone Pony. As we pulled up to the show, a fireworks display started right in front of us on the beach, so we walked closer until the smoke from the launching pad was in our nostrils. After the grand finale we went to the punk/metal show until midnight when we left for Ben's friend's apartment, also by the ocean (less than a block from Ben's place). Another tequila night ensued as Tracy and Ben refused to stop pouring shots. Another trip to the black ocean. Another "the sun is a'risin'" bedtime. I woke up at 2:15 pm, David looked at me and said do you want to go get chinese food and I said yes so we walked five blocks to main street and did.

And go to myspace.com/velvetcrayon
We played a show with this guy in Ewing NJ. Eric he said his name was so I believed him and I hope he believed my name was Stuart because my parents gave me that name as I trust his did likewise.

Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer

Yesterday afternoon I should have been walking the streets of New York City, but instead I found myself riding in a pick-up truck down a bumpy gravel road in the middle of Pennsylvania hill country. How did I get here? I'll tell you how:

Sunday afternoon: The Baker Family minus Ben hit the road from State College, PA, where we were staying with Alex Sell, a friend from Asheville now attending Penn State. Our plan was to meet up with Ben and his Dad, Chip, in Hazleton, PA, for Ben to join us back on the road for the rest of the tour. Then we would only be a few hours away from our destination, NYC. I'm driving, going about 65mph on Highway 80. I hear the words, "Deer" "Liz" and then silence. A deer jumps right in front of the car. I immediately know I am about to hit this deer straight on. My instincts kick in: apply brakes, hold the car steady. BAM. The deer goes flying into the other lane, another car hits it, swerves, almost flips. I pull over, hands shaking, hyperventilating. THE SECOND TIME WE ALMOST DIED.

The suburban and trailer had to be towed to the nearest town, Danville, PA (Population: 4,897), where we would be stuck until the car was repaired. After staying the night at the Quality Inn, we got up early to meet the guys at the Chevy dealership right when they opened, not knowing if this would take a few hours, or a week to fix. A couple parts were ordered, and Thank the Lord! it would be fixed by the next morning. Thankfully, Chip Dehart is a friendly guy, and he hit it off with one of the guys who worked there, Doug. Doug was a really nice guy, and he offered his cabin next to his house for us to rent for the night. So there I was, riding in Doug's pick-up truck down a bumpy gravel road in the middle of Pennsylvania hill country. We pulled up to the cabin just outside Danville in Mayberry, PA. Oh my Stars, what a place! Green hills all around us and a beautiful trout stream running right outside the screen porch. This turned out to be our best day
off. We relaxed, played music out by the water, ate spaghetti on the porch, and sat in a field nearby where I saw 2 red foxes with bushy tails scamper away in the distance.

Back on the Road,

Liz Baker

Grant Hill

Check out:
Stephen Tribou and the Vancant Sea
myspace.com/thevacantsea
(
)
After the show at the Lava Lounge in Pittsburgh on Thursday, one of two without Ben, we stayed with Stephen, who grilled burgers for us at 3am. Liz destroyed his head of lettuce.

We're leaving State College today to pick Ben back up. He had to leave to Kernersville for a couple days to finish up his high school exams. New York is next week. We're looking forward to spending time with our great late friend, Owen Thomas. I haven't seen him in a year ::: myspace.com/wylietoms
Let your NYC and Brooklyn friends know we're playing on June 11 at the Lit Lounge, and June 12 at Sidewalk Cafe.
,Stuart

In a state of gluttony

Today finds the baker family in State College, PA on one of too many days off in a row.  For those of you that don't know Alex Sell, let me tell you - he is quite an asshole.  He cooks succulent meals that I often dream of for months after, he always has a seemingly endless supply of any sort of drink one would ever want, and he is accommodating to the point of absurdity.  

Basically, I don't want to leave this place.  

Cici's pizza was much preferable.  At least with Cici's, you're ready to leave after ten minutes or less.  I've known Alex for a few years now, and it almost seems like he's getting more and more generous all the time.  

Alex(ander) and his girlfriend Jess(ica) have hosted your baker family for the better part of two days now, and I'm getting just a little too comfortable here.  Sorry Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Philly, Chapel Hill, and Winston - I don't think I'm ever going to make it out of State College.  We're probably eating better than you are at this point.  I don't mean to belittle everyone else who has given us amazing food on the tour, but you'd have to pay a lot of money at a restaurant to eat this good.  

- David Barrett

Calatrava

We are on our way to Toledo, OH right now, bellies full of CiCi's All You Can Eat Pizza Buffet. We have been to Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee since the last time we blogged. 2 of our laptops were stolen in Chicago, which is a big fat bummer.

We loved Milwaukee and Milwaukee seemed to love us. We played at Points East Pub and were very well received. It was wonderful to hang out with my Aunt Becky and to see Lake Michigan. I highly recommend visiting this city.

Our show at The Dark Room in Chicago was really cool. We played with a band called Mr. Gnome from Cleveland. Excellent! www.myspace.com/mrgnome

Life on the road is tough at times, but we are having a total blast! We already have some great memories in Waffle Houses and city parks. We have met some incredible individuals and I am amazed at how welcoming and generous people have been to us.

Lots of Love,

Liz Baker