Asheville, NC

Day 2 in the Corpo van:

Bummed Pinback's hotel room off them last night. They are rock and roll enough to rent a hotel room just for the showering facility. 2 empty double beds a-going: happy corpo. Graham and Dudley are getting very close as there is no chance for rotating these positions.

It was an easy enough 3 hour ish drive to Asheville, NC. God I've just realised how unqualified I am to make that statement slouched back in the passenger seat digesting service station hash browns with my feet up on the dash. I've just remembered the mighty rain (and crappy wipers) as we sped through South Carolina. Not helped by the splashback from the MILLIONS of long haul trucks on the interstate. Skies brightened as we came to NC, and all the hippies came out in Asheville. It s a realy lovely town, great collegey buzz - but not at all preppy. Au contraire, its like all the indie kids of the red states gathered in this town to make great vegetarian chilli (go 'Beanstreets') and host cool bands. This evening in the town square there's all this bluegrass music going on, the streeets are full, there's such a good atmosphere around, and the sun is out. Good jums as Joss (if that is his name today) would say. The venue is great. I think theres a lovely sound, but what do I know about these things. I flog shirts. In a huge contrast to Dublin gigs, the small crowd that does gather for the first support come right up front for the band, creating a bit of an atmosphere in what is other wise a fairly large emptyish space. So i abandon my merch a couple of times for photies (to follow tomorrow) and remind Mark to tell the audience we need somewhere to stay. I turn around, walking away, when some total hot blonde young lady leaning against the stage shouts back at him 'you can stay with me' in her southern drawl. Luckily I am positioned just behind her and her friends to do my second double take in as many days and shout back "no you can't". Ah the witty banter. spit I got 3 very quick offers after that wagon though. So we're staying with Blaine 30 minutes up the mountains. I'll tell you more if I'm still alive tomorrow.

This place has free beautiful oatmeal stout. Yumness. And big showers which I availed of. I figure if what Mark told me is true (you may not get a shower every day) then goddammit I'm gonna have 2 in 1 when I can.

Interesting factoid: Did you know there is a Bat Cave, NC? What an amazing place to live. I wonder does everyone have red rotary dial phones. I bet loads of people call themselves the commissioner. The Riddler from the original TV show died the other day aged 72. I hope he was wearing his green spandex when he shuffled off this mortal coil.

Repeatedly posting during Pinback may be construed as rude.
G'night. J