Brunch With T-Pain

Back from the tour! (In other words, no more 25+ hour bus rides.. waking up in other states, etc – for now, at least.) It was supah-dupah fun times. And especially fun times hanging out with the baby-kin. Sammy and I had a blast babysitting them, eating with them (not to be confused with “eating them” .. heh), watching violent movies with them, watching The Daily Show With Jon Stewart with them.. It was, indeed, a blast (who came up with that term, anyway? was it like “ooh explosions are cool they should be analogized with fun times” or is it just like, one of those unexplainable cultural things – hot dogs, for instance… or porta-potties [? totes random ?] – GET ON IT, MYTHBUSTERS). Oh, and watching Gustafer Yellowgold, this awesome-weird kids music-art thingy show, with Tallulah.

Um, we had to stop in the middle of nowhere, we got out and looked at what seriously could be the freakin’ real-life Windows XP wallpaper or something. Rural California (or wherever we were) is/was so beautiful. Somebody get a Holga over there – and post it on Tumblr!

Ever since I first came on tour when I was six, I think, I’ve been hooked. I don’t know if it’s because I really like traveling, or if it’s just because I love being on the road and backstage and seeing Wilco nearly every night and, not to mention, my whole extended family (the band, crew). It is pretty interesting seeing all the different cities and venues we go to, and then all scenery and monuments and whatever. I have to say, I am really lucky to even have the opportunity to visit so many cool places. *warm appreciative smile*

I think my favorite shows of the tour were definitely The Greek Theatre (Berkeley), and Red Rocks, Colorado. The Britt Pavilion (Jacksonville, OR) was pretty fun, too, but nothing as special – to me – as the first two. The Greek Theatre is such an amazing venue. It’s designed to be very ancient coliseum-y (or at least that’s what it looks like) and, apparently, it’s a great place for rock shows. [Oh, remember my tie-dye? After writing that post, that day, I went on stage for a couple seconds to show San Francisco what "they" had done to me (jokingly, of course). You can sorta read about it here, but you kind of "had to be there." And for the record, I am not six inches taller than my dad (yet?).]

Red Rocks was amazing. Amazing. Aaaammmmaaazzziinnggg. The crowd, the place, and the bands (Wilco and Okkervil River) were all incredible. I think it had to do partially with the stunning beauty of Red Rocks – it’s a semi-natural amphitheater, well, made out of rock, basically in a mountain outside of Denver. Everyone was singing along (and I mean singing along, even on the usually non-sing-along-able ones) and it looked like a generally happier, excited-er crowd than I had ever really seen before.

O hai sedimentary rock – in a dressing room.

Hi grasshoppers on an apple!

Duuuude.. nature.

Yes, this area definitely needs some restoration… (reminds me of this sign)

Besides the awesome venue/crowd, Wilco and Okkervil River were both “on their game” that night. And as if that wasn’t enough, we (we, the band) rented a camel suit and may or may not have forced two of the crew members to get in it/walk across stage during the show in it. During it’s second appearance, Sammy and I came out pretending to be its trainers and led it around and stuff. Finally, we both played cowbell on Hoodoo Voodoo with Glenn.. I think it was my favorite show of the tour.

Speaking of “my tie-dye,” I’ve heeeard that some idiots on the interwebz were actually insulted by my dad’s sarcastic anti-hippie banter..? Have a sense of humor, anyone? Maybe it was just conveyed wrongly by someone, and they weren’t actually at the show (it is known that sarcasm does not translate well over text sometimes). But, I mean, really? At least he/she didn’t ask for his/her own monitor..

There was one show, at “The Winery” that was really weird, fun-ish. Uumm.. Some guy in the audience asked my dad if he could, uhhh, have his own monitor? Because apparently it was “hard to hear” where he was sitting… And we’re preeetty sure (positive, actually) that he wasn’t joking. Eh, that was a weird night. But the venue was cool! Not as cool as Red Rocks, but it was still pretty cool. It was in a mountain, also, and there were wine-vine-growing things everywhere outside and gigantic barrels that they use to make wine, I guess.

Finally, happy record release day, um, last Tuesday! Wilco (the album) is finally out. Yes, I love it. Then again, if I don’t say that, I might not get fed. WHAT? Just joking. No really. I’m kidding. DON’T QUOTE ME ON THAT, KIDS.

Oh yeah, it’s the 4th of July (yesterday)! Whoooooo happy fireworks whoooo! Go be American and stuff. yesterday. BUT HEY. There’s no wrong time to be American (p.s. why is that not a cheezy country song? expect it on my next solo album.. hahaa chuckle chuckle hah).

T-Pain likes trains, too.

Okay, the jet, er, bus-lag must be getting to me; time to go eat breakfast. ’till we meet I write (?) again – I didn’t even mention L.A. and Leah and Charlie and everyone! (Oh, and L Magazine, your hope has come true – via this tweet, no less. Link! ((aand sorry for all the parentheses)))