September 4, 2008:



Hello all, PF here, sitting in Stansted Airport at 11:30 PM, just wasting a night for my 5:00 AM check-in to Bologna, and I figured, hey . . . why not communicate with our beloved faceless electronic masses?



So the first ever UK tour has come to an end, with much fanfare and acclaim. We finished our trip with an excellent gig at What's Cookin' Leytonstone. Our hosts, Steve and Allie, are possibly the guardian angels of traveling bands, opening up their house (which is decorated with the finest of visual stimulus, just check out our London Pics if you don't believe me. They fed us, wined us, put up with us, all with panache and humor. ON top of that, they also convinced us all that Rod Stewart actually has some worthwhile, listenable music (specifically the Jeff Beck Group album "Beck-Ola")



The gig has a lavishly decorated stage, surrounded by pictures of every country and western star you might ever think about, including a great backdrop, painted by Allie, of Freddy Fender on a bucking bronc. Yeeha! The opening band was from NYC by way of Berlin, the Cowboy Killer. Rough and rowdy jug band blues. Good stuff.



So now we've all parted ways. The Admiral is off for a month of traveling to unknown locations, fiddling his way into the hearts of many; Special Ed, Ben and Jake are headed home to Richmond, to the real world of American politics and cheeseburgers; and I'm off to Italy to see my little wifey, and eat garlic-y foods.



So, let's talk highlights (as much as possible, in chronological order):

Busking in Glasgow and meeting our accordion playing pal, Graham, as well as Cy and everyone at Laurie's Pub.

Our three days with the Wilders, the bestest honkytonk band in the world. And with these folks is another highlight . . .

Playing "Summer of '69" in Irvine, Scotland with the Wilders, an amazing surprise, to say the least.

The entirety of our time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in The Fabulous Spiegeltent.

Every Single employee of the aforementioned Spiegeltent.

Winning a Herald Angel and also Playing at the Herald Angel Awards.

Our gig in Aberdeenshire at the Tin Hut. Also included in this expereinec is the heroic quantities of fine Scotch that our host Fraser poured into the gullets of Ed and Ben.

The Second Annual Maverick Festival in Suffolk, where we met the Southern Tenant Folk Union as well as our new best banjo pal, Helen.

Our stay in London, including Steve and Allie, as well as Helen.

Last, but not least, our competent and hard working Booking Agent/PR man/detail oriented fiend, Loudon Temple and our constantly badgering, fast talking driver/tour manager, Gerald, both of Brookfield Knights

There are so many other highlights, perhaps someone else in the band will make some input, but that's about all I can muster at this point.



Our next gigs don't start until October 10th, so keep your internet ears out for news of gigs, as well as new album news and other Shortbus miscellany.



Ciao!

PF "Off to Italy now" Shortbus