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Vanessa -- diary August 3 We're now in week four of the tour, and I think everyone's starting to feel it. I know I am. Things have great - I'm having a blast - but I caught a cold this week that I've been trying to fight off, andI can't seem to shake it. It's tough getting enough sleep these days, which doesn't help...and I can't exactly take a day off work either. The best I can do is drink lots of liquids, and try not to pass my cold on to any of my bus mates...could be a problem.Time is flying by for me. It seems like I eat breakfast, and then all of a sudden it's time for the press conference, and the day whizzes by before the finale is happening on the main stage again. It's kind of surreal in a way, because not only is it difficult to keep track of the hours that pass by, but I've really reached the point of hardly knowing where I am, what city we were just in, and what day of the week it is. I'm constantly looking it up in my tour book, or checking my watch for the date. That must seem very odd to anyone in the outside world, but I think I can safely say we're all feeling it on tour. Our days off are always enjoyable, of course. Athough I usually try to catch up on some work in the evenings, during the day I try to get out and see what ever city we find ourselves in. The last couple of places we've stopped at - Philadelphia and Boston - have been my favourites so far. In Philadelphia, I took a walk down South Street which reminded me quite a bit my old neighbourhood in the East Village of New York. I only ran into one other crew member from the tour, which really surprised me, and in all honesty, it was quite nice not to see people from work for an afternoon! In Boston - a city I'd never had the chance to visit before - Jen and I took one of those very touristy trolley tours of the city -- which is a little pricey and kind of cheesy, but really is an excellent way to see alot of a city in very little time, with a bit of a history lesson thrown in (if you can hear the driver/tour guide over the din of the trolley motor). We got off at Newbury street, an area I had heard much about, and walked and shopped a bit along there, before heading back to the hotel. Oddly enough, we also never ran into anyone from work, but we did see Chrissie Hynde as she was leaving her hotel. Funny to have a celebrity sighting of someone you see just about everyday anyways. While there have been many, many changes in the artist line-up over the past few weeks, there have been a handful of standouts for me....Cibo Matto were wonderful to see...they were so much fun to watch play everyday, as they have this distinct energy and freshness about them that made it so exciting to have a band like them on Lilith. It was obvious too from the number of crew and other artists that showed up at their gig everyday that they were a hugely popular around here. Beth Orton was another favourite artist of mine to see on Lilith again this year. I had seen her play last year in New York City in the very packed and sweaty Westbeth theatre, where she blew everyone away, and had everyone laughing along with her (she has a really wonderful,very british sense of humour) with her banter in between songs. Of course, she did the same on Lilith, and never disappointed each day she graced the B-stage during her short stay with us on the tour. Luckily, she returned for one date the other day in Rochester, where she graduated to the Mainstage. She appeared to be having just as much fun in front of the sizeable crowd, cracking jokes, and even appearing giddy (in her very sweet, endearing way) to be in front of such a big Lilith audience. We all loved Beth, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one to miss her and her crew as soon as they left. Last I heard, there was a growing movement amoungst theLilith crew to convince her to change her plans and come play Jones Beach on Friday. I wish. Luscious Jackson were also a huge favourite of mine to see - a band whose departure I dreaded and whose presence on the mainstage is also greatly missed. I'm sure they opened up many ears to their brand of vibrant, soulful urban pop (I'll stop trying to describe their sound right there, there's no point...), making new fans everynight - Lilith concertgoers who may not necessarily go see them otherwise. The band members were a fixture around the Lilith backstage, often checking out other artists' sets, clearly showing their support. They were also part of one of the most unique and interesting collaborations the Lilith tour has seen so far, when Bonnie Raitt joined them onstage for a song during her one-day visit to us in San Francisco. That was quite an unexpected surprise and very cool to witness. A favourite moment for me so far was when Jennifer and I went for a ride on the rollercoaster at Hershey Park across from the venue the other night, and Jen broadcast our screams over her radio to Jocelyn....At least, I think Jocelyn was the only one who heard them. We have a commemorative photo of the experience - of Jen with her radio up to her mouth, and me, mouth wide open, screaming my head off. It's even framed in a Hershey Kisses themed cardboard frame. Doesn't get any tackier....maybe that photo will even make it to the web site soon. The next few days will take us through Connecticut, New York City (where I'll get to see my dog Lillie, yay! - and will get a much needed haircut), and New Jersey. After that...I'm not exactly sure, I'll have to check the tour book.... |
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