1/19 Sacramento, CA
Fox and Goose
RTP power trio hits it. Val digs out her new silver sparkle Danelectro electric guitar. New vibe and flavors with some new songs, arrangements and Pat Spurgeon (Phantom Drummer) behind the kit. Full room, appreciative.
1/20 Santa Rosa, CA
Aroma Cafe
Difficulties. A hoarse voice that won't cooperate. A very full room, but perhaps a bit less attentive than last time. New fans made themselves known...Thanks Kanteen, Jeremy, Jesse and Monique for stopping by.
1/21 San Francisco, CA
Bottom of the Hill
"A foreboding feeling" is how Dan Olmstead from The Evil Triplets put it. Laryngitis, car troubles and all the little things that can go wrong, like when you put something down and it falls over - you know it's going to happen but you do it anyway. Why? Fate? We put in a 5 song set. That's all Val's voice could endure. Brave. A good set, nonetheless. The end of a great Evil Triplets set was decided by Dan saying "it's all over but the arguing." Classic.
1/23 Los Angeles, CA
Mr. T's Bowl
Just as it looks like Lucio and the Phantom Drummer will be playing a complete improv set, Val's voice makes an amazing recovery. This time the elixir is Jack Daniels. A bit rougher than the previous choice of Maker's Mark, but effective.
1/24 Los Angeles, CA
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Oh, let me stay in that world just a little bit longer.
1/24 Long Beach, CA
Que Sera
More things are breaking, falling over. A crusty, but rocking set? Amazing what the lack of stage monitors will do. No one bought Pat a drink for his birthday, so we plan to extend it until he gets one. Thanks to Skie and Kevin for the crash spot!!
1/25 Phoenix, AZ
Willow House
Long shadows in the fading desert light take us to a place with something real going on. Really great set. Very stripped down. Quiet but with more dynamics and real fire than we've had all tour. Played lots of material we haven't had a chance to. Val's voice is 85% back and sounding great. It's still Pat's birthday.
1/26 Tucson, AZ
7 Black Cats
Everyone always sends you to the trendy, "cheap" Mexican places that aren't cheap. So much for recommendations. This is all starting to feel like a tour now. The groove is together and we're playing well. We opened for new friends, Uber Alice - four gals who know how to rock. We were so fired up after their set we hopped in the van, cranked up X's first record and sped back to Phoenix through a desert winter monsoon. Kat from Uber bought Pat a birthday beer, but we've extended it another day just for the hell of it.
1/27 Phoenix, AZ
Modified
Uber Alice kicked ass once again. Good songs, thick guitars and lots 'o mojo. We pulled off the best show of the tour in response. All the dynamics of the Willow show with some rock to boot. Quick, book us another week we're starting to have fun! Modified is a great venue. Good art and good music with no bar people to deal with.
Can we come back?