Welcome to the Jungle. Caspar -> SFO

Descending into Caspar by van last night, the road had everyone in the band clutching their seats, wide eyed, preparing to shuffle the mortal coil. The road out of Caspar was no less dramatic, but after a truly jubilant night at the Caspar Inn, the gang seems less concerned about the realistic possibility of the van, the gear, and the Monarques themselves descending unwillingly into the Pacific. Lee sits on the swaying van’s floor with his headphones on, staring off, an actual living saint. Feet with their newly painted toenails are out in the breeze. We pass through Mendocino as a silly, zany, disheveled breeze and refuel ourselves in this little town set up above the sea. As we follow 101 south into a California heat wave, the folks in the sweltering back seat are reduced to wearing far more skin than clothes, and we sleepily roll through the Golden Gate’s sunny arches thanks to Rich’s unfailing skills behind the van’s giant wheel.

lee wakes up

Talia

Mendocino

We’ve got a downtown hotel and rush from check in to the venue (Hemlock). After a few days and nights on the road, this is usually the point where you lug everything in, set it up, and just get it over with, but Jared & the Children prove that they are completely bigger than anything and bring a super energetic set that gets the night going on the right foot. They’ve got pro gear, they’ve got gigging experience, and dammit, they’ve got a pro ‘tude. These nights are becoming a spending mess of tambourines and microphones as Monarques and the Grown Children share the stage, and it’s simply good clean fun. (The author has to confess that he missed Social Studies’ closing set in order to trade his drink tickets for something from the top shelf, but regrets this choice after hearing from everyone else that they were great and completely sounded like angels.)

Jared Mees Feets

Hard Cor Cor

Josh looks like Costello

In a maneuver that you shouldn’t try at home, after packing the gear out of the Hemlock, Rich backed the van, with trailer, down a one way alley into a four lane San Francisco avenue. If you’ve ever driven with a trailer, you might know that this is totally impossible and that I’m a liar, and that’s just fine if that’s what you want to think. Both touring bands pile into the incredible Tender Loving Empire ultra yellow airport shuttle bus machine thing, and after a sloppy but splendid rendition of The Lion Sleeps tonight, head to Beauty Bar to mingle with Portland musical comrades Y La Bamba and Typhoon, who also had shows in San Fran tonight. The bar is full, the energy is huge, everyone is struggling with mixed success against the fatigue, and San Franciscans doing things in the photo booth that I will not honor with the written word. By the time that last call forces everyone into the streets, a very patient police officer is needed to get everyone going on various their paths home. Javier of the Grown Children has the good sense and willpower to return to the bus using only cartwheels and proves that he lives his life just like he plays on stage.

There’s almost enough beds to sleep on. Most members of the band are accountable for. We made it here and made it through the night alive in one big, messy piece. This is fun.

- James