Silvertone Files: The Weekend Through Arizona

On Monday evening, we slowly made our way back to LA after several days of touring through Arizona. This time of the year is the perfect time to be there - the weather cools down so much - which is usually to biggest reason to stay out of Arizona - since from May to October it can easily hit the 100 degree mark. This trip we almost got snow in Flagstaff, Phoenix was nice, and Tucson, was incredible - I almost didn't want to come home.
As mentioned in the previous blog, the show in Flagstaff went well, and the next day after breakfast in downtown we hit the road south for Phoenix. It's an awesome drive that displays some amazing Arizona scenery - you can catch a glimpse of the red rocks of Sedona and the valley where Cottonwood lays, and the old mining town of Jerome that overlooks it off to the west on the side of the mountain. It was a good drive and we stopped off in Cave Creek before heading into the city which was beneath grey skies - rain was on its way.
While we were hanging out, relaxing at Janey's, we heard that a dust storm, a haboob, was on its way through Phoenix. It missed us since we were so far north but as we drove into town, the dingy haze of dust lingered throughout the air. We got to the gig, the North 51 Grill - on the north side of Phoenix and got ready for our set that evening. We saw Rick, the now former owner of the bar, who has been very cool over the years - booking me whenever I've needed a break from LA - and so it gave the night a bittersweet feeling. Overall, though, it went well and afterwards we went out to my friend Jim's place where we were going to be staying that night.
Jim is an old friend that I met through Eddie and he and his wife bought a house not too long ago. When we got there, Jim and his friend's were having a jam session in the front room. The place was nice and big and he now has a big music room that's filled with guitars, basses, a banjo, a mandolin, a drum set, amps, and footpedals - and that night we stayed up late switching around instruments and having fun.
In the morning we all went out to breakfast and Matt and I got our stuff ready for the drive down to Tucson. Before that I had heard about a party in Tempe - not too far from the campus of ASU, and a band I know from Austin, SHURMAN, were going to be playing. Unfortunately they were going on at 5pm, and we had to be down by Tucson by then. But I figured we'd stop by and check out the scene. It was a pretty awesome set up - in one of the off-campus housing spots. It took some time getting in because at first we couldn't find the proper entrance and then you had to register through a website, and the ID check - but once in it was cool. There was a good size stage set up, food cooking, beers flowing, and people just slowly pouring in. We stayed and watched a band for a bit and then hit the road.
I was looking forward to Tucson - I guess it's a feeling similar to how I feel about Flagstaff - it feels familiar - and the town is active and laid back. I've already been there several times this year and even in the summer I felt good there. Tucson also has a good music scene. One of my favorite bands is from there: Calexico - and Neko Case, who is one of my favorites does a lot of her recording at a studio there. The last time we played there in early June it went well - we had a good crowd, enjoyed the beers out at the Nimbus Brewery, and Matt introduced me to some good people.
We were set to play from 7 to 10 on Saturday night out at Nimbus again. We pulled into town and made our way there - which is south of town in an industrial area - generally saying, in the middle of nowhere - and briefly we got lost on the way. But soon we found the right street and got our stuff in and set up and got ready to play. The beers are pretty good there - although I wasn't too impressed with the IPA, but everything else was cool. A few of my friends came out, including the family that we were going to be staying with during our time there. The music and the sets went along like they should've and the people that were there liked us, and before I knew it, we were done. Also what was done was the kitchen - and we didn't get anything to eat beforehand. So we headed downtown after our goodbyes.
Downtown was busy that Saturday night. We walked by the Congress Hotel where we stayed the last time we played in town. The Congress is a cool old hotel that has a venue where bands play and they have a DJ too some nights. Things were jumping there, but we walked down to the The Grill which has a venue attached to it called the Red Room. It was crowded but we found a place at the counter and ordered. There was a punk band playing next door and they were pretty good. After we finished eating (can't remember what it was) we looked over and caught them finishing up - a three piece that had a tight sound - and a crowd of people were gathered around. I should have gotten the name.
We made the drive out to where we were staying - which was on the north east part of town - just outside the Tucson city limits, close to the mountains. It's a bit of drive from downtown that winds through the hills and during the daylight you can see some amazing views. Some friends that I met through my good friend Eddie Elliott have a house out there and a little trailer that they keep on the side. I stayed there with Eddie in June when he played a house concert there and it's pretty nice. I was looking forward to the morning to see the view of the mountains.
Rain falling on the trailer roof was what woke me up the next day. Outside, clouds were moving across the sky - and inside the house there was a cup of coffee calling my name. The family was up and we talked about the show last night and also the Day of the Dead parade that was happening in town that evening - All Souls Procession which Matt had said we needed to stick around for. I was intrigued and couldn't wait to see what it was all about. Thankfully the rain moved on and we headed out to check out the town before we had to go downtown.
We stopped off at a Bookman's, which is a big used book store - and it also sells CDs and DVDs, video games, music instruments - a little bit of everything. I picked up a few CDs and then a few doors down picked up some new cowboy boots from a Buffalo Exchange which is a used clothing store. The boots called to me and after I put them on I knew I had to have them. From there were hit the Barrio Brewing Company for lunch - decent chicken quesadilla and a good IPA - hoppy like an IPA should be.
By then it was about time to head downtown and get ready for the night out on the street. Down on 4th Street lots of people were walking around with their faces painted - dressed in black. Matt went looking for makeup and as the sun kept going down we made our way to the Congress Hotel to meet up with friends, including my friend Tricia, who's teaches at the U of A. While waiting at the Congress we saw some very interestingly dressed people. The costumes were impressive and I was really looking to seeing everyone in the parade. Before the procession, Tricia and I got a little snack at Maynards which is where the old Tucson train station is and it's across the street from the Hotel Congress. It's nice inside there and we hung out and caught up over some food and drinks.
By the time we got out, the parade was going. We walked over and stood watched everyone go by. There were many amazing costumes and so many people. I guess it's the largest Day of Dead parade in North America - I think that's what I heard. Something like 20,000 people were there watching and taking part. I was so glad that we had decided to come at that time so I could see it all. Our night ended up at a bar down the street playing pool - 9 ball since the 12 ball was missing, and playing darts and later made my way back to the trailer out by the mountains.
In the morning I wasn't looking forward to heading back home. I wanted to stick around for at least another day - and driving 8 hours back to LA didn't sound all that great. Still, after breakfast back at the Congress, we were ready for the drive. We said goodbye to that great desert town and headed northwest on the 10, back towards California and our final gig of this little run - at The Cinema Bar.
After a long drive where we got stuck in traffic right at the border for no good reason, and typical Southern California traffic as we got closer to home, I was dropped off and I got ready to head up for the gig. To tell the truth, I wasn't really feeling it. The night before had been fun, but it had also been a late one, and I was beat, and I also had to be at work the following morning at 10 - so I really couldn't wait until the night was over and back in bed. Our show at The Cinema Bar wasn't the best but it went all right and we played only one set before we packed everything up and I headed home to sleep.
So overall it was a fabulous trip. We were able to see some amazing scenery, we missed some bad weather (rain really isn't that bad), we were able to see lots of good people, stay with some very cool friends, and of course play some music. The food was good and decent, the beers awesome - and then the parade - which was truly spectacular. I'm hoping to head back in February - which I'm also hoping to head to Memphis later that month too, and then Austin in March for SXSW.
Can't wait for the new year - although there's plenty to do with the rest of this year
yours truly,
Jeremiah