Day Two: Bearsville, NY

These are warm up shows. But they are feeling good; playing Talk Talk Talk in it’s entirety is a great, deep feeling and the crowd seems to be with us the whole way. Despite some technical stuff for everyone and string break in So Run Down tonight is great; i love kicking off with Dumb Waiters – its huge! A friend actually said it needs to be even heavier so ‘note to self: heavier.’

Bearsville seems like a cool place; not a million miles from Nevada City – sort of hippy, woodsy. Shame it was raining hard the entire time we were here – the fall colours have been stunning but not photograph worthy under the dark grey sky… Spoke to Noah on the phone – he recorded Cripple Crow up here with Devendra. I miss that guy; strangely enough i had texts from almost every member of the Pleased in the last few days. Reunion now.

This town has a lot of history for the Furs – Forever Now was recorded here, John has lived this way for years, and Ann Sheldon who used to play cello for the Furs lived and died here. Car accident on new year’s eve in 1984. Mars wonders if her ghost will be playing with us tonight.

Lunch at the Little Bear Cafe. Nice place next to the venue with a river running alongside the dining room – nice. We decide its a movie by the fire kind of day but sound check is calling. “i like the shoes and the whole look” some condescending investment banker said to me on the way out. Why? Banker. Sound check is weird but ok – some amp stuff. I’m not getting in to it. The show is great despite everything. So there you go.

Saw Maggie and some other fur friends aftershow. I missed a couple of faces that were supposed to be there. Talk with a few fans that were very excited by the show and then we’re gone. Shotgun with Bob Dallas down south to Elizabeth for the night… Weary and 3am.

Then the weirdest coincidence occurs. Amanda and I are standing outside the hotel and this young dude comes up and we have the ‘you guys are in a band’ chat. Except this time when we tell him the name of the band he loses his mind. Turns out he’s the nephew of Ann Sheldon. He was named Ansen after her. He’s blown away to hang out with us at 4am. Maybe Mars’ musing from earlier is not so far off. Not only that; none of us are supposed to be here – we switched hotels at the last minute and he missed a flight and was here by default. It a good experience but all add to the strangeness of this day.

Sleep comes down at 5.30am. Portugal is going to be rough!

Nice little review here.