Kay Hanley

I just got home from the Knitting Factory where Michelle and I went to see a band called Haim that we are absolutely in love with. They are 3 sisters in their teens from the Val (holla!), write weird, amazing pop songs and can play their asses off. Mish and I left with a new sense of hope that the next generation of bands might not be lost to the cult of posing and selling out after all. 

After the show, Mish and I stood out on Hollywood Blvd. in front of the club talking shop for about 20 minutes before we finally realized that our kids were asleep for the night and that we could actually stay out if we wanted to. With great vigor and vim, we skipped across the street to the Roosevelt for a drink and somehow managed to avoid the papparazzi who sneakily pretended to not notice us. Hint: if you ever find yourself in that part of Hollywood, don’t be afraid of the Roosevelt. Even though you have every reason in the world to loathe the vapid, disgusting, cultural and moral bottom feeding that the owners have chosen as their “re-branding” mission, you will be pleasantly surprised as long as you avoid the mucky muck. Go directly through the front doors and find Dakota, which is the steakhouse there. It’s really comfortable and chill and the staff happily sidesteps the douchebaggery usually associated with the Roosevelt.    

We started rehearsals today for the Hannah/Miley gig at the Houston Rodeo, which takes place this weekend. Highlight from today’s rehearsal? Singing backup vox on Achy Breaky Heart and I Want My Mullet Back with Billy Ray Cyrus.

My favorite verbal exchange??

candice: “i cant wait! i haven’t been to a rodeo in sooo long!!”

me: “…….” 

I’ll post new pictures and stories as soon as possible, but right now I must sleep.  I will leave you with a picture of me and Angie C (now shaw) whom you Boston people may know from the ‘FNX days. Angie and her sweet little family just moved to LA (redondo beach, actually) but we haven’t been able to coordinate and hang out. That is, until the MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSsTONES SHOW LAST WEEKEND!!!!! We had a blast. I really wanted to see The Streetdogs, but sadly, I missed them. The Bosstones made me and Angie feel like we were at the Rat in 1991 again. Thanks Joe the Kid for the list action and also for being a sweetie.    

last hurrah uh-huh, do it again!!

 xok

Well, I guess that’s it. I’ll leave you with our final soundcheck from Miami…

{vidavee id=”4825″ w=”320″ }

Thank you for reading - I’ll see you back in LA!

xok

We played a show in Lafayette, LA. tonight but I woke up with the flu this morning so the charm of this bustling metropolis was a bit lost on me. Previous to this bummer, we got to spend a few minutes in Austin.

I love Austin, Texas. The food, the music scene, the bazillion bats that fly out from under the Congress St. Bridge. I have had some good times in Austin, not the least of which was Cleo’s triumphant SXSW appearance in 1994 which led to our record deal and subsequent worldwide underachiever-ness. I wouldn’t trade a moment. Except for a couple of moments but mostly I wouldn’t trade a second.

I have a bunches of rad friends in Austin so I crammed as much action packed pal time as I possibly could. First up: Tex-Mex and karaoke with the kids from Cruiserweight! Stella, Ernie, Dave, Yogi and his fiancee Nicole took Stacy & me to a place called Trudy’s and it was pretty awesome, as Tex-Mex usually is. Especially when served with a Mexican martini. Yum.

muy bueno

dave showed up!

stella covers cleo.

i got chills!! they’re multiplyin’….

The next day, I was able to wrastle up a last minute lunch date with my sexy friend, Lynette. She and I met 20 years ago when our respective bands used to play together and later when we performed in Boston Rock Opera. Lynette is going through a yucky divorce, yet she is still one of the funniest, most upbeat people I know.

some things never change.

We rolled into New Orleans last night and I couldn’t go out because I seriously have the flu. I spent my night wracked with chills, not sure if I was going to be able to get up. I want my mommy.

xok

Jamie and I were having a quick lunch in the hotel restaurant here in Duluth when I heard a bunch of people laughing. When I peeked around the corner (i’m nosy) I saw a pack of older women raising the roof around a private dining room table. I felt an urgent need to investigate.

Meet the Sassy Red Hatters of the Red Hat Society - Lillburn, Georgia chapter!

“The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.”

- Sue Ellen Cooper, Queen Mother

Dude, I am SO signing up. I am quite fond of both verve and humor but elan? Come on, now. SOLD.

xok

I wrote an essay for my friend Jill Sobule’s blog on Yahoo. Check it out. There are tons of nasty comments from stupid idiots, but pissing off idiots makes me happy. Usually, I am asking for it but in this case I was definitely not.

My awesome sister-in-law Justine Ungaro took the photo. You can check her out on my blogroll to the right.

xok

p.s. gigantic thermometer courtesy of my neighbor bill nye the science guy.

We leave for the venue in Oakland in about 45 minutes, but I feel that I should say good riddance to my sad little hotel room here in San Fransisco. I’m not complaining because each of my rooms up until now has been fabulous, but I feel justified in at least noting the decor:

Nothing says “home-y comfort” quite like heavy, old polyester drapes with swoopy valances. You don’t even want to see what’s behind those, btw.