Berwyn, IL
Flint had hooked us up pretty nicely hotel-wise, so we hung out as late as possible the next morning, when I finally got a chance to take a driving shift. Four hours of counting eviscerated deer and raccoon corpses later, we were in Chicago.
By which I mean Berwyn. But really Chicago. And I'll say this: if we played nothing but Christian clubs the rest of this tour I would go home happy, provided they're all run like the Night Lite Cafe. Their mission is simply to provide an all-ages venue free of not only alcohol and cigarette smoke, but judgement and pressure. We were treated fantastically, fed well, and all for the low cost of watching our filthy mouths for the night (almost successfully).
Quasi-locals Leper opened, who I knew of by reputation as the Gothest Goth that ever Gothed. I was not disappointed. As I made a point of telling them, even with as little Goth that I listen to these days it's still great to see it done *so well*. Big ups to them for earning the theatrics.
I half want to consider last night the *real* start to the tour, if only because everyone's sets both sounded and went over much better. Of course there is the small manner of Andy being sick enough to spend almost the whole time asleep until it was time to douse him with meds and Emergen-C and drag him up on stage. We did two-thirds of our intended set, more than twice what I expected to get through. So good on him, as he continues to sleep it out downstairs at present.
Current location: Brian and Katja's apartment in Wicker Park(?). From where I'm sitting I can see a ST:TNG uniform, a framed Achewood print, three NES consoles, and Settlers of Catan. I think we leave before they get home from work, but they should be coming out the show tonight in Chicago-proper if we didn't leave them too exhausted last night by barreling in here at 1AM to commandeer their living space with sleep. Hoping they do, as they seem like people with whom I'd get along famously.
Chicago itself is a bit wet and a bit cold and a bit gray. Went out for Subway and stopped to take a picture of a particularly depressing vacant lot, while Tony and Branden focused in on the syringes. Now I've been on Beeeatrice for a few hours getting antsy; in hindsight I probably could have Urbanspoon'ed a coffee place within walking distance, but now we only have like an hour before needing to take off for tonight's venue (which is crazy close, but we want as little to do with Chicago rush hour as possible). Plus Tony's just come in from Walgreen's and looking around apparently there really isn't much around here. But we have hospitality, and that goes so much farther.
Either way, it's a part of Chicago I didn't get to see the last time I was here. Digging back into Dhalgren now, and looking forward to Darkroom tonight.
By which I mean Berwyn. But really Chicago. And I'll say this: if we played nothing but Christian clubs the rest of this tour I would go home happy, provided they're all run like the Night Lite Cafe. Their mission is simply to provide an all-ages venue free of not only alcohol and cigarette smoke, but judgement and pressure. We were treated fantastically, fed well, and all for the low cost of watching our filthy mouths for the night (almost successfully).
Quasi-locals Leper opened, who I knew of by reputation as the Gothest Goth that ever Gothed. I was not disappointed. As I made a point of telling them, even with as little Goth that I listen to these days it's still great to see it done *so well*. Big ups to them for earning the theatrics.
I half want to consider last night the *real* start to the tour, if only because everyone's sets both sounded and went over much better. Of course there is the small manner of Andy being sick enough to spend almost the whole time asleep until it was time to douse him with meds and Emergen-C and drag him up on stage. We did two-thirds of our intended set, more than twice what I expected to get through. So good on him, as he continues to sleep it out downstairs at present.
Current location: Brian and Katja's apartment in Wicker Park(?). From where I'm sitting I can see a ST:TNG uniform, a framed Achewood print, three NES consoles, and Settlers of Catan. I think we leave before they get home from work, but they should be coming out the show tonight in Chicago-proper if we didn't leave them too exhausted last night by barreling in here at 1AM to commandeer their living space with sleep. Hoping they do, as they seem like people with whom I'd get along famously.
Chicago itself is a bit wet and a bit cold and a bit gray. Went out for Subway and stopped to take a picture of a particularly depressing vacant lot, while Tony and Branden focused in on the syringes. Now I've been on Beeeatrice for a few hours getting antsy; in hindsight I probably could have Urbanspoon'ed a coffee place within walking distance, but now we only have like an hour before needing to take off for tonight's venue (which is crazy close, but we want as little to do with Chicago rush hour as possible). Plus Tony's just come in from Walgreen's and looking around apparently there really isn't much around here. But we have hospitality, and that goes so much farther.
Either way, it's a part of Chicago I didn't get to see the last time I was here. Digging back into Dhalgren now, and looking forward to Darkroom tonight.