Good morning, Nashville. This house is messy. Did we just sleep here?

After the debacle that was breakfast the day before, we really wanted some good food to start the day off. Someone, I think it was Tim, said he knew of the place to get pancakes: the Pancake Pantry. He was right. The pancakes were excellent. So good we don’t have any pictures of them.

Back in van, we left Nashville for Bloomington, IN. Along the way, Tim started his quest for the perfect michelada. A michelada (or cerveza preparada), for those of you who don’t know, is a Mexican beer cocktail consisting of beer, lime juice, and assorted spices served in a glass with a salted rim. In Tim’s case, Clamato was the spice, Tecate was the beer, and the glass was a styrofoam cup. Classy. Did I mention Tim was also driving?

HAHAHAHAHA! Just kidding, that’s not funny. I shouldn’t joke about drunk driving. Don’t worry, Moms, we’re responsible people who understand that a car is a weapon.

Mike’s studio, Sound Workshop, in Bloomington is primarily a recording studio and secondarily a DIY space where Mike has concerts. Up first was Dust from 1000 Years followed by Datus followed by us followed by When We Might. If you were to ask me how the show went I’d say that it sounded a little something like this…

Music on the Radio

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Fancy Drinking Time

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Thanks, Mike, for recording the show.

The ever-asking-about-swimming Rachele learned that the folks we were staying with (thank you When We Might for being such gracious hosts) had access to a pool. So we and approximately ten others went for some night swimming. Good people, good pool.

After swimming we went back to the apartment to sleep. Being the paranoid New Yorkers that we are, every night we had someone sleeping in the van to watch the gear. This night Tim, Rachele, and Lily volunteered since there was only so much room on the apartment floor. At around 6:00am there was loud knocking on the front door of the apartment. The hands behind the knocks belonged to a few heavily mustachioed police officers who were looking for the owner of the blue van parked outside. Apparently, the folks in the van had opened the doors since it has a tendency to get rather stuffy in the van overnight. Neighbors leaving for work in the morning saw three somewhat disheveled people sleeping in a rather messy van and assumed that they were vagrants (meth heads maybe?) who had broken into the van to sleep. These neighbors called the police who came and dragged our three comrades out of the van and demanded to know who they were. Sleepy, hungover, and disoriented, the three eventually managed to convey that they were in a band and staying with people in the apartment building. Luckily, Lily knew which apartment we were all in and could direct the cops to the owner of the van inside (JP). JP, being the respectable person that he is, was able to square everything away with the police. Thankfully, this was the only time we saw the cops this whole trip.

Next time on JP and the Gilberts: Chicago, IL, hour-long detours, bi bim bap, and more.

Yours now and forever,
Alex

Night time / the sky opened up and spoiled our sleep outdoors / make for cover of van / sleep / oppressive heat and humidity wakes me early / grapes of wrath on the steps as others slumber / eventual signs of life / the eventual cup of coffee prepared by host / showers for some / some did not shower / pile in van and head for breakfast / post noon at Gene’s means lunch only / meat and three / lack of vegetarian options / “creamed corn isn’t meat” / steak needs A1 / steak needs more than A1 / all back in blue chariot and pull for Nashville / fruit stand for peaches / make stop at WalMart for oil change / disperse within / beer, games, knife, freezer packs, film, canteens, Styrofoam cups,  etc. / wait too long for oil change / kwik lube / massage chair / running a racket / back on road winding through Blueridge Mountains / sleep, talk, games, music / East Nashville / Little Hamilton Collective empty at arrival save for grapes / town for tequila, vindaloo, and Chipotle / oppressive heat and humidity follows us back to LHC / no one but the heat and humidity and followed us back to LHC / cut sleeves off of shirt / other band is present / Cum Dad is present / dry van / run for beer / 18 cold ones / electric JP and the Gilberts / three songs no shirts / Cum Dad is performing / space helmet / Holy Mountain / Tim passes out in the van / overalls full of grapes / love notes written in marker on your skin / load gear / Rachele inquires about swimming / drive to apartment complex / we don’t know anyone who lives here / hop a fence / swim with tequila / refreshed we hop again and make back to van / crash at Dad’s house some in hammocks some on the floor some in the van

It’s morning in Lynchburg, VA. Where do you get breakfast?

Like a beacon on the hill—Waffle House guided us to affordable sustenance. Not only did we get food, we were also treated to some wonderful conversation with the aging gentleman sitting behind us who, according to him, was “the other white meat” and “nineteen with forty years experience.” He too used to play in a band and their bass player would get so drunk he’d “lay on his belly and play behind his head. Jimi Hendrix had nothing on him.” He also told us about the six-plus surgeries he’s had. Thanks God for universal health care.

Okay, enough about breakfast. Let’s get moving.

We arrived in Greenville, SC in the middle of a thunderstorm. We were playing at Horizon Record’s Monday night music series. If you’re ever in Greenville, be sure to stop by this store, the selection of new and used records is something. Out friend Aaron works at Horizon and he had set us up with the show. Datus played first and melted some faces.

And then we played.

The show ended pretty early (around 8:00) so we figured we’d try to find somewhere else to play. Once again, Lily and Tim’s wizardry was able to score us a show last minute this time at Rhythm and Brews in nearby Greer. Thanks for having us, R&B, we all had a great time.

After our second show we made our way over to Aaron’s house where we played some more music and enjoyed some good company. Day three of the tour done. Tomorrow, off to Nashville with a stop at Walmart.

Love always,
Alex

Here are some more photos from the day: