So many cities are hard to get shows in.  A look at our current "TBA" status on our tour schedule will illustrate that.  Why are these cities so hard to get shows in?  Because the market is so flooded with amazing bands?  Amazing bands who want to play shows every night? 

No.

Cities are hard to get shows in because stuck-up, pretentious booking agents think they have something to gain by putting made-up obstacles between bands and shows.  Even when their roster for the night is completely empty.  These booking agents don't actually take the time to listen to bands that they book, but look for the "tell-tale" signs of a "professional" group that exist within an email or two.  That, or they're just wussies, afraid of giving a band a chance.  As though a band would put together a musical show and a tour package just to rob that promoter of 10-30 dollars!!!

But every once in a while, even in the biggest of cities (as I just learned...thanks Andy Bodor and the Cake Shop!) there is an honest individual who just wants to book a decent show.  They're not shooting the moon, and they're not attempting to outrank themselves or every other club in the history of hipsterdom.  They're just doing honest work. 

This is the caliber of person that exemplifies to me the spirit of Carbondale, Illinois.  To the naked eye, not very many opportunities exist in Carbondale for any kind of artistic expression.  But the experience of Kentucky Nightmare--and many other bands, for that matter--proves otherwise.  The citizens of Carbondale that I've met are either enthusiastic hard-working musicians, or enthusiastic hard-working music lovers.  People there get SO excited about music, and actually allow it to penetrate their bones.  You know that "Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots (due credit to the World Famous Scraps)" mentality that exists at most "hip" venues, where the crowd refuses to show any sign of being emotionally affected by the music or even the musical performance?  Not the case in Carbondale.  The bands, the audience, the sound guy--they all really get into what is going on, and move with it, and lend their beings to the musical experience, as if they understood that, after all, the COMMUNICATION is what makes the musical experience even noteworthy.  Otherwise, it's just a bunch of math.

Math and flat-dick, tight-jean-wearin' mathematicians.

And there really are people there in Carbondale who believe in the possibilities of the people and the culture residing in the city.  And they act on that belief.  They don't deny people what is actually available out of cowardice or a pompous presumption of protocol ("Please send an actual CD 6-8 weeks prior to the date you are looking for.  NO BOOKING DONE VIA INTERNET.")  They put "it" together in the moment that "it" needs put together.  Despite whether the timing is good or bad, but because it needs done.  With elbow grease and energy and enthusiasm. 

Much due respect to Carbondale, Illinois, and to all the cities like it, and people that far and wide embody that spirit of celebration of music, life, and possibility!  That's why we're so excited to kick-off and end our February 2009 tour in Carbondale.

That, and it's just northwest of the beautiful Shawnee National Forest.  By the way, southern Illinois is second only to south-central Indiana in beautiful landscapes east of the Mississippi River, in my book.

But south-central Indiana still takes the cake.

Hello, friends!

Many of you have asked about lyrics to some of the songs.  Here, now, are the "actual" lyrics, to settle any arguments or disagreements, and to soothe general tension over the desire to know exactly what the words are...

See You Dance  Why you sitting on it?  You should be wiggling it, because your Money Maker could burn the baker through his mitt.  I know you’re feeling the flow.  I see you tapping your toes.  Come on, pretty lady.  Don’t you think that maybe you should do whatever you want to?  Do Si Do around your beau.  Give me a chance because I only want to see you dance.  Falling fast in the groove.  Feel it fit like a glove.  Nights are for dancing, the morning is for making love.  And I love you, love the things you do, love your open arms, too, and I want you to stay, but right now I want to make you move.

Going Back To Lucy  (Oh, I. Oh, I) So alive tonight.  Like I like alot.  Going back to Louisiana via Tennessee.  Everybody Watusi.  And I would never want you to be anyone but me.  Summon summer (or, "summin’ summer"), 1, 2, 3.  Easy life like I like.  Don’t she like me when I’m always falling from a tree.  All the way always talking.  No, she never use them arms on anyone but me.  Is that the leaves or me shaking?  Lady eyes like I like.  And I would never want you to do anything but be.

Ways of the Gods  Run through fire with one leg at the knee.  All paths rise and run along.  Strung right along to the beat.  This could happen to me.  Ways of the gods.  A congress of 90 bosses, and 81 agree you’ve got to strive to be god.  Strive to do it better.  Launch over fire.  This takes ambition.  Things have got to get done.  But why should I want these things?  Now all the pirates agree.  Wise off to god.  That makes him very angry.  He’ll face the wrath...

Caroline and I  You ought to slow down.  You all move too fast and cut a crooked path.  You didn’t even ask if you could block my lane.  Won’t you let me pass?  We’re moving out of town, Caroline and I.  Across the county line, we’re breaking all bounds.  We’re gonna settle down.  Take all our time, sighing by and by.  Our roots will grow down.  Work is a rumor.  I’m sick of being broke.  Confidence is low.  I look at Caroline, and she looks back at me.  We see eye to eye.  Oh, I can finally breathe and sing my song to the clouds and get to know the trees.  You ought to slow down.  You all move too fast.  It’s never going to last.

Moving Pictures  If you don’t shut your mouth, I swear to god, I’m moving out.  I’m going to be gone awhile and you won’t find me because I’m gonna be gone a while.  Yeah.  I’ve got a song kept in my head for when I’m low.  When I get high, these pictures, they just roll by.  You stayed up all night for this morning ride.  When you get by, don’t you notice everybody?  Waves so low run in my nose.  When I get high, don’t you know why?

The Bird That Wouldn’t Call  Here we go, I gotta laugh.  Neck out like a giraffe for my tall grace waterfall.  This too shall pass.  See who laughs last.  Lost thoughts spinning around.  I want my baby now.  Almost got it all.  The one bird won’t call.  I wake up just the same almost every day.  Work is done, then I’m gone to try and swing away aches and pains, sing my song.  Way before too long come the wind and the rain.  Then the night starts to fall and the sun makes its crawl.  All the birds cease their call.  Lady, we’ve got to fall.  Somebody’s got to die, and lover, that’s me on the wall.  Here we go, I gotta learn.  Watch out, boy, you’ll get burned by your own words.  Flaming swords.  This one won’t pass.  Nobody laughs last.

Money (a lot)  When I walk through the city, I step over dimes.  I kick quarters out of my way when I’m walking through the city.  I really like money a lot.  When I walk through the lovely, American city...  What is there to say?  I had this revelation in eleventh grade.  These things scatter.  None of this matters.

Let’s Get In Love  You remind me of a secret.  And (oh, yeah) I’m going to keep it locked up in my lips until you kiss it out.  Let’s get in love, woman.  I can’t shake ideas this great.  Everybody knows where they got burned, and every single one of us will return.  Love will lead us to water.  Love sets us on fire.  Down on my knees right in front of you, asking what more I have to do for you to say the words I wait to hear.  Love sets us on fire.

The Latest Sound  The latest sound I think I’ve ever heard is coming down the rift, and I don’t think.  I know what to do with this gift.  Poor little boy.  My mind is on cruise control, I got no worries.  My baby’s on birth control, we’re in no hurry.  My nation’s on world patrol, inciting fury.  Flexing the guns around the world, the villains scurry.  Good people die and they’re not coming back.  It’s 1, 2, 3, for good.  Make something sweet your own.  The latest sound is taking over.  This can’t be happening!  Poor little boy, too good a toy to set down now.  I don’t believe in monsters, but I see one.  Bicycling around the world until I got scurvy.  I chewed the lime and then I spit it out.  It’s 1, 2, 3 for me.  I can’t take it and I can’t shake it now.

Lyin’ and Cryin’  Someone told me a lie.  That coward is going to pay pain or some hefty sum.  Either way, they’re gonna pay.  If I told you a lie, I’m sorry.  I don’t know what came over me.  Let me go be alone because I wanna cry.

Equinox Song  You’ve got to take your time and do it right.  Too much time is passing you right by running circles in the sun.  And if you just hang tight, it will be all right.  Understand there is no promised land unless they promised you this one.  And if you sold your parasol, you don’t even need that thing at all.  Bring when you’re glum brazen ways of having fun.  I’ve got a mind to make you mine, all mine.  Summer’s coming, lazy days in woods.  Oh, my goodness will be done!

The Challenger  Take a number, fool.  Back into it.  Because I’ve got your number, buddy, yeah, and I can do this.  Push into that pull.  Take her favour.  I take her up to the top of my elevator.  Because I’ve got a number for Tracy and I can light fires, pitch tents, and lay hardwood floors.  And I can be cool as a player, dissin’ every regard except yours.  When you see that wall, crash into it.  I’ll set the telephone in the hall and I’m going to sleep right through it.  A gasoline and matchstick tower burns in an hour.

Of course, if you’d rather pretend I was saying something else, that also works.  Whatever makes you feel good about the songs.  Enjoy!

Luv,

Simon