We couldn’t have asked for a better first day of our tour. We had a beautiful drive out to Frostburg, where the leaves are just starting to turn.
We got to Bar Monkey around 5 pm, with plenty of time for a slow and easy set up. The weather was crisp and cool, perfect for an outdoor show on Bar Monkey’s awesome patio. We were thrilled when Mark Penny from National Road showed up with brushes and a snare drum!
We got to Bar Monkey around 5 pm, with plenty of time for a slow and easy set up. The weather was crisp and cool, perfect for an outdoor show on Bar Monkey’s awesome patio. We were thrilled when Mark Penny from National Road showed up with brushes and a snare drum!
It was a little empty at first, so we hung out for a while with Jimmy, Bar Monkey’s kickass owner (and prospective mayor of Frostburg), and an awesome painter named Steven. We were having a ball but were also eager to play, so we dove into our set, while people started showing up. Mark fell right in, seamlessly spicing up our tunes with his bitchin’ rhythms. He had never even rehearsed with us and it felt like he’d been with us for years. It was great, we can’t wait to play with him again.
The Galt Line went for about an hour and then Captain Ronzo took the stage. Bar Monkey turned on some awesome yellow, green, blue, and pink stage lights for him.
We were happy to see some of our favorite Frostburgians. It was so cool of them all to come out on a Monday. They are all such hard working folks.
Before we hit the stage again, local potter extraordinaire Josh Brown traded us t-shirts for his gorgeous hand made chalices.
It seems like we would have had to trade him for our whole bag of shirts for it to be even close to fair. They are incredible works of art. He makes them in 3 separate pieces, then binds them together and adds his breathtaking glazes. Truly spectacular. We were drinking beer from them for the rest of the night and will be doing so for the rest of the trip.
We played a second Galt Line set until our crowd had to retire, it would be Tuesday soon after all. But Frostburg, like many of our other favorite places, is just as much fun after the show. A few more familiar faces showed up, as well as some wonderful new people.
Our bitchin’ booker and barkeep, Jes, made us mind-blowing banana nuts pancakes, which we greedily devoured while sipping some more beer in Bar Monkey’s upstairs bar. We got to see their full sized monkey suit, complete with oversized bejeweled crown.
*Can't find the picture!!! AAACK!*
When the bar was ready to close, we headed over to Dante’s across the street. We sipped Magic Hat with all the killer people hanging out there.
(Dante's is the place with the yellow sign. My phone wouldn't take a good night shot.)
They’re going through renovations this month, basically doubling in size. We can’t wait to see the new place. (Update from date of typing-11/11/10, the new space is DONE!)
Eventually Dante’s hit last call and we made our way back to Bar Monkey to sleep on the outdoor stage. The breeze was fresh and the stars were out. It was a beautiful night.
We heard about all sorts of awesome local artists (one metal worker has a bunch of amazing pieces in Dante’s) and some great bands to check out, including Brent Amaker and The Rodeo, The Black Diamond Heavy’s, The Bambi Molesters, Elf Power, Ghost Finger and the Incredible String Band.
Overall, yesterday was a very chill and extremely enjoyable way to start off the tour. It sounds cliché but Bar Monkey, and all of Main Street, really, is so homey and wonderful. The people really know how to have and show us a good time. We can’t wait to go back.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Don't just sit there! Say something!