MG adventures, again!
Over these past two days, Mark and I headed down to Massachusetts for one of the strangest Mountain Goat adventures I've had yet. Strange, but still much enjoyed.
I guess I'll start by saying that I've been sick for a few weeks now, and if we want to talk about strange things... It seems like every day there's a new problem that disappears and is replaced by another the next day. It started out with extreme chest pains, moved onto extreme stomach pains and nausea, to an awful headache, to intense ear aches, to a crazy cough. Cough was about where I was at before leaving the state, but I was finally feeling better besides, no side sicknesses or overall crappy feelings. I thought I was doing pretty good.
Headed down to Northampton, but stopped in Portland on the way to try Vietnamese food for the first time (fabulous). Made it down and met up with Cora quickly, then headed over to the venue. Re-united with Ally & Josh, who we met at the New York shows, which was really great.
The show itself was amazing. It was a fairly small room that was packed full, and everyone was singing their heart out. John Vanderslice was first, and lovely...John Darnielle (the first time I've seen him play a full solo set) was in high spirits and played an incredible and surprising set. ("Golden Boy"? Woah.) There was a wonderful moment where he started "You or Your Memory" and abruptly stopped and laughed because he was so taken aback by everyone starting to sing with him. Afterwards, talked with Vanderslice for awhile, who was honestly one of the nicest people (let alone musicians) I've ever talked to. Ended the night with a giant slice of pesto pizza and some Cherry Coke.
The one thing I didn't mention is that a bit before the show, my eyes started feeling funny, like there was something in them that wouldn't go away, but also like they were bruised. It got worse and worse as the night went on, and by night time I realized that I was going to wake up with my eyes crusted over. Low and behold, first thing in the morning, I was ducked into the dorm room bathroom trying to avoid people while clearing crust out of my eyes and staring at my incredibly swollen eyelids. And then, for another surprise, a girl came in to brush her teeth and asked what my tattoos were of, and when I tried to tell her, I could barely talk. After being sick for so long, and spending a night singing all out, I'd lost my voice. Awesome.
Only got to spend a bit of time with Cora in the morning before she had to head out. Mark and I wandered Northampton for awhile, stopping at Ultragal and Raven Books and Haymarket Cafe. A man outside of a science store that I wish I'd gotten to check out asked us, "Would you like some plastic creatures?", and then handed us little packets with toy lizards, frogs, and snakes. Bought some sunglasses to cover up my scary eyes, but then barely wore them because I hate sunglasses indoors. Eventually made the drive over to Somerville, where while debating whether or not to eat at Mr. Crepe, I saw John Darnielle across the street. I freaked out for a minute, debating if I should approach him or not; he never comes out after shows, and this could finally be my chance to talk to him and show him my tattoos...but did I really want to meet him looking and sounding as freaky as I did? Before I got to fully weigh out the options, he turned down a side street and was gone. Fuck.
The show itself was weird. In a theater that doubled as a four-screen movie theater. We were allowed to have food and drinks in the seated theater section, which I think was a first for me. It was fairly small and I could see really well despite being in the very last row. Mark bought me a popcorn, and I got a little weirded out by how different these experiences were. I don't like just hanging back with a snack...though it was probably what I needed, being sick again. Another great set from both guys. I really love the songs they wrote together for the tour about organ harvesting colonies on the moon. Wanted to talk to Vanderslice again before leaving, to let him know how much I appreciated how nice he was, but opted not to because I could barely talk anyways. Hopefully I'll have another chance when he tours again.
Now I'm home and have been reading and sleeping all day. Trying to find out if I'm going to have to work tonight or not. I called my mom to ask her to bring me some throat coat tea, and upon hearing my (lack of) voice, she got very motherly and insists that I probably have laryngitis and will probably have to go see a doctor. I hope she's planning on paying for that, because I certainly can't.
I took very few pictures this trip, partially because I was sick, and partially because I kind of just wanted to take it in...but here's what I've got:
Swollen eyelids. This picture doesn't even fully illustrate how ridiculous I looked.
Conrad just brought me some Thai soup. Mmmmmm.
I guess I'll start by saying that I've been sick for a few weeks now, and if we want to talk about strange things... It seems like every day there's a new problem that disappears and is replaced by another the next day. It started out with extreme chest pains, moved onto extreme stomach pains and nausea, to an awful headache, to intense ear aches, to a crazy cough. Cough was about where I was at before leaving the state, but I was finally feeling better besides, no side sicknesses or overall crappy feelings. I thought I was doing pretty good.
Headed down to Northampton, but stopped in Portland on the way to try Vietnamese food for the first time (fabulous). Made it down and met up with Cora quickly, then headed over to the venue. Re-united with Ally & Josh, who we met at the New York shows, which was really great.
The show itself was amazing. It was a fairly small room that was packed full, and everyone was singing their heart out. John Vanderslice was first, and lovely...John Darnielle (the first time I've seen him play a full solo set) was in high spirits and played an incredible and surprising set. ("Golden Boy"? Woah.) There was a wonderful moment where he started "You or Your Memory" and abruptly stopped and laughed because he was so taken aback by everyone starting to sing with him. Afterwards, talked with Vanderslice for awhile, who was honestly one of the nicest people (let alone musicians) I've ever talked to. Ended the night with a giant slice of pesto pizza and some Cherry Coke.
The one thing I didn't mention is that a bit before the show, my eyes started feeling funny, like there was something in them that wouldn't go away, but also like they were bruised. It got worse and worse as the night went on, and by night time I realized that I was going to wake up with my eyes crusted over. Low and behold, first thing in the morning, I was ducked into the dorm room bathroom trying to avoid people while clearing crust out of my eyes and staring at my incredibly swollen eyelids. And then, for another surprise, a girl came in to brush her teeth and asked what my tattoos were of, and when I tried to tell her, I could barely talk. After being sick for so long, and spending a night singing all out, I'd lost my voice. Awesome.
Only got to spend a bit of time with Cora in the morning before she had to head out. Mark and I wandered Northampton for awhile, stopping at Ultragal and Raven Books and Haymarket Cafe. A man outside of a science store that I wish I'd gotten to check out asked us, "Would you like some plastic creatures?", and then handed us little packets with toy lizards, frogs, and snakes. Bought some sunglasses to cover up my scary eyes, but then barely wore them because I hate sunglasses indoors. Eventually made the drive over to Somerville, where while debating whether or not to eat at Mr. Crepe, I saw John Darnielle across the street. I freaked out for a minute, debating if I should approach him or not; he never comes out after shows, and this could finally be my chance to talk to him and show him my tattoos...but did I really want to meet him looking and sounding as freaky as I did? Before I got to fully weigh out the options, he turned down a side street and was gone. Fuck.
The show itself was weird. In a theater that doubled as a four-screen movie theater. We were allowed to have food and drinks in the seated theater section, which I think was a first for me. It was fairly small and I could see really well despite being in the very last row. Mark bought me a popcorn, and I got a little weirded out by how different these experiences were. I don't like just hanging back with a snack...though it was probably what I needed, being sick again. Another great set from both guys. I really love the songs they wrote together for the tour about organ harvesting colonies on the moon. Wanted to talk to Vanderslice again before leaving, to let him know how much I appreciated how nice he was, but opted not to because I could barely talk anyways. Hopefully I'll have another chance when he tours again.
Now I'm home and have been reading and sleeping all day. Trying to find out if I'm going to have to work tonight or not. I called my mom to ask her to bring me some throat coat tea, and upon hearing my (lack of) voice, she got very motherly and insists that I probably have laryngitis and will probably have to go see a doctor. I hope she's planning on paying for that, because I certainly can't.
I took very few pictures this trip, partially because I was sick, and partially because I kind of just wanted to take it in...but here's what I've got:
Swollen eyelids. This picture doesn't even fully illustrate how ridiculous I looked.
Conrad just brought me some Thai soup. Mmmmmm.