1. Played an instore as “Franklin Bruno & Friends” at My Vinyl Underground in Portland, OR (4/20), with local bands Big Top and Field Drums (ft. Jeffrey Underhill from the White Sisters/Honeybunch/Velvet Crush and Rachel Blumberg, drummer for the Decembrists, Michael Hurley, others) and Big Top. Played a few songs solo, others w/ Jean Cook, Trip Grey, Rob Carmichael. Set included “Inexpressive,” “Milkcrate,” “Sad and Afraid,” “Enemies of Song,” “Flag Pin,” and covers of “International Church of Pancakes” (Wckr Spgt), “Model Worker” (Magazine), and “Another Bridge” (Everything But the Girl). Jenny sang “Tempting” and “The Loyal Oppositions.”
2. Played two shows w/ Tsunami/Ida in Seattle (4/18) and Portland (4/19); Steve Turner joined us for the “Academy”/“Courage” encore in Portland; Ida’s guests included Rebecca Gates of the Spinnanes. Calvin Johnson came to the Seattle show, which was nice; also saw an old college friend, Doug Brody. Also played a radio session at Seattle’s KEXP, which will be broadcast at a later date: 4 songs from the Tsunami set, and the Liqorice arrangement of “Keeping the Weekend Free.”
3. Saw my cardiologist in NY, Tue. 4/15, just before leaving on tour. I didn’t have blood work this time, so there wasn’t much new to go on, but she continues to be happy w/ my progress re weight, exercise, diet. Coming up on 2 years this July since my heart attack and 3x bypass.
4. Had a conversation about Kenward Elmslie and the Tulsa School w/ a bookseller in Portland who happened to bring him up (we were talking about poetry presses, and he said that he couldn’t sell Song Cave’s reprint of The Orchid Stories). Kinda talked at him about the subject like a nut/monomaniac, but he wrote later to thank me, and even made an intstragam post about the guy (me) who “made his week” in the store. (Part of a generally excellent day of book shopping + buying records at the instore that night.)
5. Saw Nels Cline Konsentric Quartet at Le Poisson Rouge (Mon. 4/14) w/ my friend Scott Jacobson.
Cardio 3 days of 7 - 1 trip to the gym at home, and 40 min. morning walks in Seattle (well, Shorline) and Portland. Eating healthy, overall, but still struggling not to overdo carbs on tour. Will see if weight has changed when I get to Upland next week.