Day 4 – Highland’s Ego Stroke - or – LexTown Plan Melt Down

Crawling from our burrow above Bloodroots house, we peeked through the windows to find some snow dusting the trees. The roaring river that gushed beneath the house the night before had calmed to a sedate and deliberate flow. After some coffee from our new percolator and a moment to check the weather, we departed for Lexington. We’d slept a bit late, so time was tight, but we hit the winding Kentucky highway with bravado and sped through the mountains.

The terrifying weather from the night before had left a breath of snow across the treetops on the peak of each mountain, and it looked as if the hills had donned a wooly scarf of pure white. The road rose and curled and dropped through the line of elevation, bringing us alternately through the snowy realm and the grim grey and brown standard winter in the hills.

While cruising down the mountains toward the rolling green of horse country, we attempted a few calls to our Lexington friends to no avail. We pulled off the highway for some dollar burgers and WiFi to try some real communication. McDonalds treated us well after some hours of running on only coffee and we got up the new blog and sent some feelers out to LexTown. We were a little concerned about time before the show, so we rolled on to Louisville. Finally we contact Ricky, who tells us that Tara worse for wear. Apparently she has Bubonic Plague, so we offered to null plans for a visit until a later date when everyone is healthy. This left our agenda wide open.

We filled our free time by using a big clean public bathroom and browsing through a Books-a-Million. We were perusing the bargain DVD section when Lindsey, of Dead River Company fame, called us up and offered to meet us at the bar. Over some beers she explain the disintegration of that group and the madness that ensued afterward that brought her from New York to rural Kentucky.

The set was great. Some people came out to see us again, and a few saw our website and stayed for the whole set. We played as hard as we could right up to 2 hours, and thought best to release the poor people before we beat their ears to death. Alan Cannon kindly helped us set up the house PA and recorded the show, some video and some audio. He does all sorts of stuff!

Lindsey kindly invited us to sleep at the farm she stays at with friends. We’re here now. It’s beautiful. Now, a day off.

Tomorrow… Nature trails, Farm House, Lindsey’s new apartment, Matt Steiner.

Big Thanks to Tammy at the bar, Lindsey, Alan, and Tyler, Jay, and Kristin, Lindsey and Kristin, Derrick, Erin, and everyone who came out.

Day 3- Goodbye Staunton, Hello Hills – or – A Night In The Evil Dead House (the friendly version)

After sleeping a little too late, we hung out with Pat, Rev. Bill, and Jess for a bit before rolling out. One last break ride down Johnson St. brought us to Sun Spots to say goodbye to Molly. With a quick stop at Wal-Mart for our daily rations of fruit and prepared subs, we fired up the GPS (now called the Gypsy) and chose a route along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a bit more time consuming, but much more exciting than driving I-81 south again.

We were treated to the majestic sight of rolling Appalachians marching into a dense fog, and rivers of clouds surging across the trees and following us down the highway. It was certainly more pleasant than annoyed truckers and hawk-eyed state troopers.

We arrived at Acoustic Coffeehouse an hour before our set. We were met at the door by a bustling group of four, The Bloodroots Barter, unpacking a veritable theater set of animal skins and liquor bottles mounted on mic stands and such. They had a beautiful merch set up, including strings of tiny red lights and handmade CD cases. They greeted us warmly, and complimented us by saying they had seen our sticker and heard our name at a number of the spots they’d been playing.

Setting up was a breeze as they had hooked in a bunch of mics already. In moments we were rocketing through our set to a very good crowd, including some familiar faces. We had lots of fun, and even got a few dancers. Tips flowed in generously, and it was a good night.

Bloodroots Barter followed with a real spectacle. They slammed through tune after tune of bluegrass, swing, and country with genuine abandon. We like Bloodroots Barter and you should to.

After the set, Casey of Bloodroots Barter offered up their spot to us for the night. After a harrowing 2 hour drive through sleet and snow across twisting mountain roads, we arrived a their place, perched precariously on a hillside, leaning over a roaring creek like a drunken spring-breaker over a flushing toilet. To get to the front door we crossed a bridge resembling Sean Connery’s final walk in The Man Who Would Be King.

Inside we shared some cider and some experiences in the music world. And after stoking the wood stove, we all turned in. Blythe and I crawled into a tiny loft space with a warm, soft bed, where we slept like a pile of warm soft puppies. (Check our Facebook tomorrow for pictures of the house)

Tomorrow… Snow capped hills of Kentucky, Kambucha, a Lexington reunion and Highlands Taproom on the Lord’s day.

PS – Thanks to Jim, Steve, Laura, Vincent, Morgan, Jorja, and everyone who made our night at Acoustic Coffeehouse great.

Day 2 – Social event of the Season? Or Darjeeling Not Limited But For Lack of Booze.

The morning was sunny and brisk when we woke and stretched in the Chop House (home of the Judy Chops). In need of coffee and breakfast, we prowled the town a bit. Stopping in a Sun Spots to see Molly was a treat, as we were invited to watch some glass blowing and got the lowdown on where to get a strong cup of coffee (Blue Mountain Coffee). Next we perched ourselves on a sun-speckled bench by an ancient railroad bridge and munched on Wal-Mart scones with our Blue Mountain black brew.

We wore the afternoon on with Rev. Bill and Jess the drummer, dining on sandwiches and quaffing several mid-afternoon highballs until it was time to pack up and head to the new Darjeeling Café space. We had played at the last night of business at the old spot, and we felt a sense of completion performing at this evening’s event. Mary Beth and Jack, owners of Darjeeling have had plenty of trouble getting this space together, and they’ve essentially renovated the whole thing. This night was a bit of a cold open, a private event for family and loyal customers to become acquainted with the new space.

We traded sets with the Judy Chops to a relaxed and polite crowd. It was a pretty sedate evening, decorated with mint tea samples and tofu hors d’oeuvres. The Galt Line and The Judy Chops are a little more used to a rowdy drinking crowd, but for this night we all slid into lounge mode and played it cool. We played through the event and packed out. After congratulating Mary Beth and wishing everyone a good night, we went on back to the Chop House for some drinks. Some whiskey, Jager, and PBR later we found ourselves at the Pompeii Lounge, dancing to Mike Davis, putting his touch on some great covers.

All the excitement and fun put Blythe right to sleep, so we had to be lame and hike the hill to the Chop House a little early. We capped off the night with some PBR and season 5 of Futurama (New on Netflix!).

Tomorrow… goodbye to The Judy Chops and Staunton, hello to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Johnson City TN! Plus, dangerous curves ahead.

Day 1 of The Galt Line Wild West Party Tour

An easy first day for the Galt Line Wild West Party Tour. After some Mexican for lunch with the Mom and a quick stop at Guitar Center, we were on our way. We blasted down I-66, rocketing into rural VA. Thrilled to see the DC Metro area in the rear view mirror, Blythe expressed excitement by promptly passing out in the passenger seat. Soon we were rolling in to Harrisonburg (while listening to Charlie Sheen’s coked up radio call-in rants on Hollywood Babble-on), and we did what any progressive, forward thinking, on the road, salt of the earth, modern minded musical group would do. We went to Wal-Mart as fast as we could to pick up some food and some things we forgot.

With some time to kill, we strolled through a CD store (a true anachronism). Blythe picked up an Elvis collection and Janis Joplin, Live at the Winterland. 

Next we listened to music and snacked in the unassuming parking lot of WXJM. The right and honorable Rev. Bill was kind enough to secure us a spot on the show that he does with friends Molly, Molly, and Buck.

They've got a morning zoo meets Austin City Limits thing going on here, where they joke with the bands, then let them play a few tunes. Its truly great radio programming, and one might wonder what the media world would be like if commercial radio took a page out of their book.

We play a sloppy, but energetic set, and chatted with the hosts about donuts, meat, zombie ants, and underwear. Big thanks to all of them for having us on. We followed up the show with some beers and whiskey at the Judy Chops’ bitchin’ cool house. Here we were spoiled with our own room and access to a shower. In a few short days, life will be a little tougher (and a lot smellier). More thanks to the Judy Chops for their hospitality.

Tomorrow… hills, glass blowing, railroad bridges, coffee and a Darjeeling cold opening (Staunton VA social event of the season?).

COVERAGE! Thank you, Rachel Leon & Leesburg Patch! The Galt Line's show at a tiny coffee shop in a rural VA town is COVERED!

We nearly fell over in shock and glee when the superb Rachel Leon introduced herself to us at Shoes Cup & Cork Club in Leesburg, VA this past Wednesday.

She was there for US!  To listen to our music!  And to write about it!  For Leesburg Patch!  Woo hoo!

Here's the article:

http://leesburg.patch.com/articles/the-galt-line-is-right-on-track

She was as sweet as she could be and we can't tell you how happy it makes us that she calls us "punk and rockabilly dance music."  She doesn't call us folk at all (just says we nod to it, which we do)!!  She also asked questions that dug to the root of what we're up to.

She even used this kickass picture taken by the sharp-eyed Karl Gary:

Here's a highlight:

"Their lyrics are wry and raw, and touch on everything from drinking too much, to surviving a bad job, to discovering a bedbug infestation. Crawford sings in a voice like whiskey and honey - smooth and warm, with a kick. They use guitar, ukulele, bottle caps, and foot stamps to create their highly rhythmic music that gives a nod to American folk and dance traditions, while still sounding new. "

So THANK YOU RACHEL LEON and all the good people at Leesburg Patch!!!  
And to Shoes Cup & Cork Club for having us!  Can't wait to go back on April 13th :D