We’re drivin’ drivin’ drivin’ and we’re never ever stoppin' ... I’m realizing right now that my entry in this journal actually starts on the day before it’s supposed to and ends the day after. Anyway...

...I spent last night hanging out with our gracious Spokane hosts, Andrew and Josh of Rand-Univac. It turns out that Andrew (bass player) is a Nomeansno fan and that started a bro-out music listening sesh that lasted until 2am. I fell asleep shortly after on their living room futon.

In the morning, I was the first up, so I went on a little walk in search of a mailbox. Thirty minutes later, and through the driving snow, I arrive at the ‘local’ Fred Meyer and drop off my postcard. I arrive back at Andrew and Josh‘s, frozen to the bone, only to be followed in by Andrew with Fred Meyer grocery bags filled with breakfast makings he just bought. Ooohhhh damn.

Those guys whipped up a mighty fine breakfast, complete with cheesy eggs, waffles, coffee and orange juice. We said our goodbyes and thanked our new friends before leaving Washington toward Missoula, Montana. The alternately rainy and snowy drive lasted about four hours and was accompanied by the sounds of arguably the finest artist in the “trucker country” genre, Red Sovine. Red is an ugly, ugly man who sings - or narrates, rather - tear jerking tales of crippled kids, cheatin’ wives, and Large-Marge style phantom truckers. It’s pretty appropriate considering every other passing vehicle is a big rig commandeered by a sensitive gentle giant, I’m sure.

We show up at Jay’s Upstairs at 6:30 and meet the guys from Belvedere, a Canadian group who spent most of their day struggling to get over the border and having to destroy some of their own merchandise when Border Patrol determined it was contraband. They were super nice and excited to start their five week U.S. tour. We retired downstairs to the bar to drink some discounted green beer left over from St. Patty’s day.

We opened the show and it was a lot of fun. Before we were a minute into our first song, Colin the bartender brought shots of Jagermeister to the stage - ON FIRE. Yep, they were fucking on fire. I swore to Jeebus not too long ago never to drink Jager again after an incident that left me and by buddy Shane simultaneously vomiting in my kitchen. I didn’t account for Jagermeister flambee, however, so down the hatch!

Next up was Belvedere. They played an extra fast set cuz their drummer was deathly ill and wanted out of there, but they were great. Missing 23rd, from Ventura were good, too - a bit on the standard hardcore side, pacing singer, etcetera, but they were pretty good.

We said our goodbyes and headed straight for Provo, Utah with Logan at the helm of the Great and Mighty Ak-Mak. I stayed awake to keep Logan company and we bumped some old school rap to entertain ourselves. “Niiiiiightmaaaaares, every night” goes Dana Dane. At like 3am, Logan began channeling the ghost of Redd Foxx. I swear I’ve never heard these kind of things come out of Logan’s mouth. I won’t repeat any of it cuz I value my friend Logan’s trust, but God it was funny.

We stayed up until the sun came up over the majestic Idaho skyline - but I couldn’t hang much longer. I am not a big coffee drinker, but I drank a huge cup to stay awake and now I felt as though my body were a stripped concrete building and small charges were going off throughout my structure. I was being demolished. We were playing Surfer Rosa as we entered Utah and I fell asleep at song two.

Josh