...18 years ago...

Woke at 9:30. Cleaned up, packed up and left for El Paso TX about 11 AM. Stopped in Albuquerque for gas and discovered that our radiator hose was leaking all over the place. Luckily the station would fix it right away. Took 40 minutes and $21 dollars - on our way.

Yet another bit of van trouble. At least this time we didn't have to lose a day (or a show).

Dave R. drove until Truth or Consequences New Mexico. We ate good food. I drove the rest of the way. Got to the Sound Seas warehouse. 'Edge' was there. Waited 5:30 to 7PM. People showed up at 7:30 - we loaded in. Sodas 30 cents! Hung out. Last night's band's equipment was still up. Dave R., Rod, John and I went to look for phone - took about 10 blocks - call Dallas. No show it seems - have to call back later.

You have to love a place with a name like Truth or Consequences. Sound Seas was in an industrial area. The 'club' if I can really call it that, was just a metal shack with what I remember as a garage door to close it up. Later on in our career, we'd go back to El Paso and discover that the 'club' moved. Where you might ask? Way outside town in a quonset hut on a pig farm. We got there only to find out the sole source of electricity was an orange extension cord running from the farm house 100 yards away. There was one microphone. We only agreed to load in and play after the promoter collected enough money for our guarantee that night (He did and we played the show). Off in the distance you could watch porn on the large drive in theater. We didn't play El Paso ever again.

Back to gig - equipment is gone [the previous night's band's]. We flip coin -'Edge' goes on first. OK. Bass player overplays. Drummer is OK. Guitar player is odd - OK voice - too preachy. Long set - crowd OK. We set up and play. Joe breaks a string on Hü Dü. The set is fucked already. Changes string and tunes. Off we go. Sloppy set - missed queues etc. OK ending. Crowd liked it anyway. Payed $60 dollars.

"Hü Dü" was the name of some tune we played - an opening instrumental maybe. I hope Rod, Dave or Joe can help me remember.

Left about 1:45AM - straight for the East. Stopped at diner and ate. Called Dallas - no answer. We'll go to Austin and stay with 'Glass Eye'. I drive until 5AM. Saw jack rabbit. Dave R. drives. We eat in Fredericksburg near LBJ ranch - Johnson City. Good tacos. Dave R. drives, then Dave Blood. Arrive at 'GE' house 3PM in the afternoon.

Fredericksburg TX is very strange. It's like a German 'flavored' town in the middle of big 'ol Texas. The drive took forever through Texas. I always hated this route. It your coming from California to play in Austin as we did often, you have to go this way. Nice to finally get to see our friends - the band Glass Eye.