To the people of Mobile, Alabama I say "Kudos" to you. You made me feel like a puritan compared to your party antics. 3:30 a.m. and you are still paying to get into clubs.
After eight hours overnight from Mobile to Tampa we arrived very exhausted to very welcoming friends. Thank you Eric and Evette for the hospitality and the tour of City of Ybor. After a brief nap we played at a skate park which had just recently hosted "Ska Fest" the night before (We found the flyer and noticed a band called "Chupaskabra"). Before we left I tried to find an opportunity to eat alligator because my curiosity had the best of me but I was unable to find the right time.
On our way to Athens, Georgia we thought about how interesting it would be to run into Michael Stipe of REM fame but knew how low the likelihood was. The city of Athens has so far been one of the most scenic stops we have made as we walked around aimlessly admiring the preservation of historical buildings and the thriving family-owned businesses. It was nice to see something we don't see often in our own city. During the show itself we were told repeatedly to "..turn it down." by the bartender. At his last request we decided to oblige and turned our performance into a "quiet set", lowering our amps and switching drum sticks with brushes. It was different. Outside the bar as we spoke with friends we noticed Michael Stipe walking to his car with an unknown assailant.
Two hours after the following afternoon we arrived in Atlanta. We stopped by the Coca Cola Factory and the Georgia State Aquarium only to find out that both cost more money than we were ready to pay. We ended up at the CNN building because it was the only free tourist attraction within walking distance. The show went well as we played in the basement of an art collective, making it the first time I had ever been in a basement. People were surprised to hear that back home no one has a basement.
Currently we are in Brooklyn but there are still great stories to tell in between Atlanta and Brooklyn, including a comatose survivor and Ace of Cakes but for now we are running late and my time on the internet is limited. Wish us the best.