The nice thing about not having stayed in any hotels (so far) is there is no checkout time, which means we can sleep in and take our time getting out—which is exactly what we did yesterday. Since we were in the area, and who the hell knows when we're going to be around again, we spent some time wandering through the French Quarter in New Orleans for an hour and a half (Charles has been here before and was awesome enough to stay in the car to watch the gear). There were street musicians on a few corners within close proximity of each other. The architecture was pretty fantastic. Lots of signs for the Saints. I thought it was funny that the New Orleans Police Department acronym is NOPD; they were actually selling t-shirts and things to raise funds for the policeman's fraternity or some such thing.

Charles told us about this sign—a plaque, actually—by a Knight of Columbus headquarters in memoriam of the "children killed by abortion". Maybe if these clowns had enough money to spend on sanctimonious plaques to affix onto their building they could spare a few bucks to, I don't know, help people out after they're born as well. Just a thought.

Anyway, we ventured all the way out to Jackson Square and had lunch. Tommy and I had a po boy (mine: ham & swiss; Tommy's: fish) and Jen had a jambalayah platter (a-m-a-z-i-n-g... I don't even like shrimp and I thought it tasted amazing). Couldn't do much else beyond that. Would love to come back here to do some less touristy things, but the clock's ticking... Would liked to have seen the 9th Ward, too, but we were running late as it was. It's pretty fucked up an entire section of New Orleans is still a wreck four years after Hurricane Katrina. No goddamn excuse for it.

Around 7:30 or so, we dropped off our stuff at the Barisal Guns' HQ (dubbed The Yellow House). Clicks is a billiards place with a sweet stage. I learned that we were up against some LSU homecoming parties and things, but I think we still managed to get asses through the door. There was also a Golden Tee 2010 there—FYI, Fan The Fury is included in that game's Hit List option along with some other bands—and I played a few holes to check it out. (Lest I seem like some empty corporate shill, I actually do love playing Golden Tee.) I only had enough cash for a couple of holes, though, and didn't get around to actually hearing it.

The set went well. It was probably the best show of the tour so far. I had a bit of a bad night onstage. My tuning pedal is apparently now on the fritz, and my guitar would cut in and out if I hit it the wrong way. This tour is many things, and one of them is the Henry's Stuff is Breaking Tour. Barisal Guns was pretty awesome (and thank goodness they were... they have a gong and it would have been disappointing if they sucked). I was impressed. They put on a really good fucking show. Robin and Mark (from the night before) came by and caught the show.

Some funny stuff: 1) some drunk person kept trying to talk us into giving her free stuff. She was hilariously thwarted. If it were financially viable to give this all away I'd do it; but gas ain't cheap, and this isn't a charity. She happily settled for us signing a drumstick and a guitar pick. 2) When we were on our way back to the Yellow House, we saw some guy in a pickup truck chugging a tall can of beer at the stop light. That can't be legal, can it?

After the show, the BG kids had an after party. They were awesome enough to cook us a pizza (we were starving). We shot the shit all night and generally had a good time. They've got a place to crash if they're ever in Massachusetts.

At a gas stop in Louisiana en route to Little Rock right now. Lady Jane tells us it's an eight hour drive. Google Maps and the citizens of Baton Rouge tell us it's about five or six hours. We shall see who prevails.

Henry

Labels: tourdiary