After a nice couple of days off from playing we were back to work. Our first show back was at a small bar not too far away that a really nice Texas worshipping lady named Tia runs. Her big ass 1970s Chevy Suburban was a sign of what was inside. The place was decked out with Americana, but nicely so, and not too Betty Boop. We sound checked and went into the kitchen for dinner. Ribs, colesaw with ham and cashews and horsemeat stew. Horse. I shit you not. We were all a little freaked out, because being pretend cowboys, eating your companion just seems wrong. We were unanimous: it is really, really tasty! After dinner, Tia was pouring shots for us as Gert was yelling from the kitchen for her not to get us drunk. It was all fine, we played well to an enthusiastic crowd and then headed back to our little house in Lichtaart.
    The next night found us at Popcenter 013 in Tilburg, Holland. We'd played there on the last tour and had an idea what to expect. You couldn't get more opposite of an experience than the previous night. 013 is a large music complex with three different rooms with different shows of different sizes. The large room had Golden Earing playing, that's right, Radar Love Golden Earing. We had our own dressing room with stocked fridge and the works. We had some time to kill before our show so we walked around and then had a beer on a terrace. We might as well be wearing clown costumes as people were staring at us constantly. It's kind of a fun but awkward experience, like you're a circus animal. The show was fun but we prefer the smaller bars over large stages and big sound. Mark had to tell the guy running effects and lights that we really don't need or want the fog machine turned on. Our driver for the night, Dax, asked if we wanted to go to Cooperville for a night cap. That's a pretty popular small club near our house. We figured it would be fun and when we got there, we decided to do a few songs acoustically. The crowd dug it. This one regular wanted to sing a song with us, so she and Scotty did a great version of Jackson. Nice. Afterward we sold a couple of cds to some people, one of whom was a really drunk kid. A little while later he got up from the bar stool to leave and I saw him weeble wobble and wondered how things were going to work out for this poor boy. He got several steps towards the door and fell flat on his face, out cold, spread eagle with our cd clutched in his hand. I don't know just what to say about that.
    The next day we had beautiful spring weather again so we all walked to the next town over. A bit of a stroll, but the exercise was welcomed. We found the local watering hole and sat outside and enjoyed our 475th fantastic Belgian beer. We had slept in as much as possible and tricked our bodies into thinking it was earlier than it was in anticipation of the upcoming evening's show.  We were playing another pubcrawl, this time with a 10:00-10:45 set, 12:00-12:45 set, and 2:00-2:45AM set. We wondered how the hell we'd be able to handle it, but when the time came we ended up playing until 3:15 with all of the drunken encores. It was nuts, really fun, but wore us the hell out.  The next day we had an early show scheduled way up in Holland, which meant getting picked up early in the afternoon and riding for several hours. Jan, our driver, picked us up a little late and then we ran into really bad traffic which put us at the club way late. We had to get right on stage, play a set, shove down some food real fast, then play another set. The place was cool but it was a European biker bar. They all wanted to hear blues and we weren't giving it to them. Still, as usual, they were all really nice. We were stoked when we left because Jan was instructed to drop us off at Patine, in Antwerp, where we'd be staying for three nights. We showed up, threw our stuff in the beautiful apartment that overlooks a really fantastic square, and headed downstairs to settle in. We enjoyed a couple of beers with Jan on the terrace and said goodbye to him and hit the sack.
     The next day was warm and clear. A little breakfast and coffee and we were out on the town. Antwerp so rocks. It has all the hallmarks of a great European city but also just has a good feel to it. Later in the afternoon Andy and I went to the train station to meet Guphy, who stayed with us for a a couple of days. Once she showed up we had an hour to kill before Scott Miller showed up as well. Afternoon beers on the terrace, of course. Scott showed up and we were off to yet another cafe for beers. Scott and I got bad news from Guphy that a close friend of ours had passed away the previous day. The news put a sad cloud over us that still sticks with us.
    Scott wanted to go to this bar called the Kulminator but it wasn't open until later. We went to a random place and had a few tasty treats served by a knowleable and freindly girl named Lara. They were playing good music and when Supergrass came on we wondered if it was a coincidence since Andy had a Supergrass tee shirt on. It wasn't. Lara is in a band and loves music, so of course we invited her to the show that night at Patine. Later on we were back at home base and everyone was welcomed by another suprise. Mark opened the door to walk out and our friend Tine from Germany yelled Boo! We all had an extremely good meal out on the terrace made with love by Annime, William's wife and co owner. Later we were all set up and the place slowly filled up with friendly faces. We played a quiet and fun show then went next door for a few too many Orvals.
    Belgian beer burns pretty clean but at a certain point you can still manage to get a hangover, such was the case with the following day. We moved slowly but after some breakfast and coffee were feeling much better. We basically spent the day walking around the main part of town. Scott had to get back to Paris so we saw him off at noon. We all kind of split up and Scotty, Guphy and I spent the afternoon stumbling around together, while Mark and Tine did the same. Chris was out and about and we all ran into each other at various points. Scotty, Guphy and I accidentaly found the Kulminator and even though a beer didn't sound all that good, it seemed like the right thing to do. It was easily one of the coolest bars I've ever been to. Dark and cozy, a whole wall of beer bottles and clutered up with Belgian beer paraphenalia. The beer menu was about an inch thick. This place not only has most every Belgian beer made, but they have vintages. They had every Chimay Blue from 1981-present. I was able to buy a bottle of Westvleteren, a super rare beer because the monks only distribute one case to each supplier. 10 damn Euros for one 12 oz bottle.
    After more walking around we all met back up at Patine because William offered to take us to a Morraccan restaurant since we refused to let him pay us for our show. He brought along an amazing bottle of wine and we all sat outside and enjoyed a wonderful meal with great conversation. It was so nice to get to know him outside of band business. We really look forward to seeing he and Annime in California in June. Good folks. Afterward we went to the cafe where Lara worked because we had planned on exchanging cds. We sat there at the base of the cathedral and enjoyed the crisp night air and people watching. Afterward we went back to the Kulminator, this time it was full and full of smoke. Still a great place.
    The next morning we navigated our way back to Lichtaart by way of trolly, train, bus, and walking. That night we were back to Holland again with Jan. This place is a governmenmt subsidized music center in a turn of the century orphanage. Beautiful high ceilinged bar with lots of wood, just our speed. We ate dinner outside in the courtyard. The young guys who worked there were cracking up at our conversations. One kid said that Mark is like his dad, spouting useless information. We played to a decent crowd for a Wednesday, and a few of the people really liked it and wanted us to stay and drink and play all night. We told them we'd love to but had to go, making Jan take the fall once again, which he was okay with.
    Yesterday we had a full day of hanging out around the house. We made some much needed repairs to our bass, played cards and learned a new song. Gert picked us up and took us to the town of Lier, which was close. We had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be one of the coolest city squares we'd been to, and the club was right on the square in a old building on the second floor. They normally have quiet jazz acts so we played a semi-acoustic set to an attentive seated audience. We all agree it was like an old world, smaller version of The Palms. We explained a lot of our songs, which the crowd appreciated. As cultural ambassadors we explained that just becuase we dress like cowboys doesn't mean that we support Bush. We explained that we all voted for and love Obama and the whole crowd cheered. That felt so much better than the way we all felt touring previously while that dumbass was in office. One guy told Scotty that our type of music is viewed kind of like world music. Strange. We had a good time and were invited to the next cafe over for an after party. We had a good time talking to the locals.
     So now I wrap this up. Gert picks us up to go play up in Holland again. It will be a late night, then we get picked up early tomorrow to play a chateau in the Champagne region of France. Four hour drive, two sets, hotel, leave early morning. When we get back on Sunday afternoon we are playing two sets at Cooperville, then straight over to the Ace Cafe for two more sets where we expect to see many of the friends we've met along the way. We'll get only a few hours of sleep then we will be back aboard the silver wings to the states. Time flies. See you all in sunny California.